Interview Pete Hines on Fallout 3

[LlamaGod]

would that be considered an opaque wall?

 

[Killzig]

Also, how likely would it be that your house would be robbed in a realistic world? Very unlikely.

Incidence of occurence would have to be related to how often you're at the house. Or in the region... "zone" .. In a "realistic" world if you were known to be leaving town (PC RPG protaganists are usually known to be off going on some major expedition) for a few weeks your house would be targetted by burglars. That's usually what they look for. Or they case the place to hit it when everyone's out. So if "realistically" you were to go off to hack at foozles in a dungeon on the other side of the continent, you'd probably arrive to a home that's been ransacked.

 

[Voltare]

nahhh....they're gonna take out shotguns,or at least nerf 'em to where they're utterly useless( like morrowcrap's spears)

 

[bryce777]

We're trying to move the series forward, keeping it fresh and cool

in other words duming it down for console and making it a 3d shooter.

At least a shooter might have some good action. More like a 3d snoozer. Or a rage inducer, for most codexers. I will have to play it eventually after it's in the bargain bin, if only to let myself go ballistic. I'll play the first two back to back before starting, just to maek sure the rage is as full as possible....

 

[aweigh]

shotguns do blunt damage now har har har

 

[bryce777]

I really hope they don't have guilds and guildmasters in fallout 3....

 

[Killzig]

I really hope they don't have guilds and guildmasters in fallout 3....

why? They had them in Fallout 1 and 2?

 

[kingcomrade]

No, they didn't.

Guilds are basically quest dispensers in TES, which is lame. Imagination isn't exactly Beth's strong point, but seriously. Also, you have to cater to the retards who need a compass who can't find characters to give them quests without someone holding their hand. They need guilds because otherwise they wouldn't know what to do.

 

[Killzig]

Brotherhood of Steel.

And you're problem is BethSoft's poor design. Not having the "guilds" themselves won't get rid of that problem. It'll just force them to pursue some other avenue to perpetuate insipid game design.

 

[Lumpy]

Guilds are fun because they offer another type of accomplishment besides material rewards - ranks. Yes, ranks weren't properly implemented, but they were there, so doing a guild quest was much more rewarding than doing a miscellaneous quest (of which there were plenty).

 

[Killzig]

Yeah, because lord knows what really matters in a game is getting a different word displayed in the same field of my character sheet. Not the countless hours slogging through generic fedex quests to get it. :evil:

 

[Levski 1912]

Guilds are fun because they offer another type of accomplishment besides material rewards - ranks. Yes, ranks weren't properly implemented, but they were there, so doing a guild quest was much more rewarding than doing a miscellaneous quest (of which there were plenty).

I agree, but only if the rewards for advancing in a guild were actually meaningful besides a new title on your character screen. Say, advance in the Thieves' Guild, and receive control of a gambling den in the poor section of town. Just an example.

 

[MINIGUNWIELDER]

*jots that down*

 

[Blacklung]

I've been playing FO2 lately and I love it. So hearing about this information has me worried. F0 is an intelligent RPG game with wonderful dialog, mature content and fresh approach to RPG settings (Where else do I get a semi scifi almost present day RPG?). None of these aspects have really been tackled well by Bethesda in the past. In fact they have even tried to avoid these approaches in the past and even now.

In Daggerfall there are obvious signs that prostitution would have been allowed. There were nude women or half nude women in taverns, bits of text in the source files which fit into this area, and Bethesda even admitted to throwing this out because they thought it might hurt sales. Bah, I'm not the kind to really condone prostitution or use it, but it's here, and it is probably never going away. It is the mature world and if you can't accept that, grow up. Having this sort of thing in FO made it feel more true to life, especially in such a miserable place where that sort of activity would be accepted and welcomed. Beth better not screw this one up.

Ok, so Morrowind did have drugs (skooma, moonsugar, alcohol) so perhaps this shows some promise for them.

I can't think of even one inovative quest that Bethesda has made. Fedex and kill shit is the most I've ever seen. To do any of these all you needed was basic literacy and the ability to use a mouse and keyboard (or XBOX controller). I remember so many wonderful quests in FO2 and different ways to complete them. Help deliver drugs to the enclave, blowing up an outhouse to find a giant rat, sneak through Navarro, repair the reactor, become a pornstar (geeks dream :D), a plethora of super sluthe detective quests, the list goes on and on. All I can say is that Beth better get some new workers dedicated to their quests here. Keep those unimaginative, horrible PR people like Todd and Pete away from this stuff.

Speaking of imaginative, there are only a few games like Redgaurd and (I think) Battlespire which had some wonderful dialogue from Beth. If we get indexed NPC's I don't think a riot would be too uncalled for. FO would not be the same game if all I could say was "Rumors" "Who" "Jobs" etc. Also, cussing, while bad in excess, can actually add a feel of realism, especially to this series. I noticed that MW avoided such things like the plague. I don't think you can really have a post apocalyptic world without some angry person shouting "fuck it."

Both FO games are also plentiful in the gore department. Hell it even has gore settings and a perk which exposes your character to the worst deathscenes imaginable. This is so important, but still it does add to the mature theme and give the game some realism. Daggerfall had plenty of gore from the dead creatures sliced up and covered in their innards and blood, but this was avoided in MW for much the same reason as nudity...hurting sales (Ridiculous if you are making a mature game, GTA shows this sales stuff to be utter BS...you actually gain more people through violence, albeit dumb ones). I don't think FO would be the same if I couldn't watch a chaingun seizure death dance, pop someone's head with a sniper rifle, blow of half of someone's body with a sniper round, slice someone in half with an laser blast, reduce them to cinders with an electrical jolt or flame thrower, or simply reduce identification to solely DNA testing because of death-by-rocket. Perhaps some may view this as over the top, perhaps a tad psychotic. But then again we're talking about a world suffering from the results of full realization of M.A.D., filled with mutants, Vault Dwellers, and Garden of Eden Creation Kits, and rats the size of bears (Well ok NY has these but whatever). Over the top is welcome in this world. Beth...don't fuck this up.

In fact, let me repeat that again for all of this...Beth...don't fuck this up. DON'T FUCK THIS UP.

 

[pseudo intellectual]

Beth...don't fuck this up. DON'T FUCK THIS UP.

I think expecting decent quests and writing out of Bethesda is a bit too much to ask for.

The problem starts with the producer and his concept of what an RPG should be. Todd Howard is clearly a graphics & action whore (to the detriment of quality content that abounds in FO2 as you state).

This same producer then hires writers and designers who share his design philosophy; manifestly horrid writers with little to no imagination (FedEx and Kill quests exclusively with poor characterization and uninspiring drama and story telling).

 

[Cimmerian Nights]

I think expecting decent quests and writing out of Bethesda is a bit too much to ask for.

I have a feeling we'll all be re-evaluating Tactics' RPG-ness after FO3 comes out.

 

[POOPERSCOOPER]

California, Present Day

The first shots of the marines rang through my head and brought my wandering mind back into focus. This is the funeral for one of the last Carebear members, Megatron. A man who once saved my life, but more importantly, he was my friend. Cancer ate him to the bone, like an enemy in the night. I set a guitar on his dead body and told him to “Rock on, old friend.”

As I walk back to my car, with my wife waiting inside, I see a man lighting a cigar underneath the shadows of a tree. I should have known he would come but I was never quite sure. He was now over 300 pounds and had to use a cane.

“You look like shit, what’s your secret?” said Killzig between his wheezing breaths for air.
“shut up why are you here?” I said.
“I have a mission for you”
“I’m retired, why don’t you get solid snake or sam fischer?”
“Cause I need….THE BEST”

“Come one, I’ll brief you on the helicopter” Killzig said.

I look over to my wife who has gotten out of the car and taken off her cloths and pumping her vagina with her finger and her thumb and the shape of it on her forehead. She gives me the crazy eye look but she knows what must be done and punches through the car window.

I jump onto the helicopter with Killzig and he begins briefing me the mission. The destination is E3 in Los Angeles.

Spazmo………………………………………as Spazmo.

I put on my leather chaps and a T-shirt. Killzig says “This is a knockdown mission with two targets and lots of civilians in the area.”

Pete Hines……………………………………as Pete Hines.

“What are the targets danger level?” I Said.
“It’s off the charts, extreme caution is advised.” I put on my leather jacket.

Todd Howard………………………………..as Todd Howard.

“Anything else?” I said
“yes, there is a hostage that must get out ALIVE, spazmo”
“HURRRRR.” I strap my shotgun to my back.

MSFD………………………………………..as MrSmileyFaceDude
We start closing in on our destination. “Spazmo there is one more thing. If you fail I will loose my bet with the other guys at work.” I get onto the Harley fatboy and start it up. I turn my head around to face Killzig and I say “Trust me.”

FALLOUT SITCOM: THE FINALE IN 3-D

“ZOMG thatz the best graphix I have ever saw” – IGN reporter
“Omg the back part of the helicopper is opening lol” – gamespy repoter

I explode out of the back of the helicopter with my harley while the helicopter is still in the air. I land on these two faggots that are crying because I broke one of their little bones. With the momentum and full speed I give the harley, I drive through the glass entrance sending glass shards everywhere that are stabbing people in the faces. I see an E3 map and I look for the Bethesda presentation time schedule…its just about to start.

Chapter 3: Powa point
I’m doing Todd Howards nails who insists that he is equivalent of a Hollywood celebrity and must be treated like one. Some Asian immigrant is giving his hair a perm while Pete Hines is watching us with his solid black eyes.

“Is the PowerPoint ready, MSFD?” says Todd Howard.
“Yes, sir” I said.
“Mr. Hines, can you please give us a moment in privacy?” There is no response from Pete Hines he just grabs the Asian lady by the hair and drags her outside and closes the door behind him. Todd jumps from his seat and slams my face against the wall and draws his body ever so close behind me. He unzips my pants and lets them drop to reveal my bare ass. He slams my head into the wall one last time before putting his cock into my ass.

I scream at the top of my lungs but no one wants to get involved when they see Pete Hines in front of the door protecting it from intruders with his press release papers. I can feel my asshole being torn because of Todd’s massive pig cock. I feel like I’m about to pass out but then Pete knocks on the door and says “It is time for the presentation Mr. Howard.” Todd stops his animal instincts and removes his cock from my ass allowing me to drop to the floor face down. He grabs some Neosporin and injects the whole tube in my ass.

He pats me on the back as he leaves.


Chapter 9: THE FLOOR
I drive to the back of the auditorium to where the Bethesda presentation was supposed to be held, like the guy at the Obsidian booth said. I then hear a voice of a kid with a hotdog down his throat saying something like “BUFFEDA PRESUNTATun BEING HELD ON EAST SIDE OF stadium”

I peel out and accelerate full speed to the obsidian booth and slap that faggot in the face while on my way to the mission zone. I hear little girls calling the man, “Uncle Furgie.”

CHAPTER 1: BROADWAY

The stage goes dark while a man on a microphone says “Imagine if you will, a world filled with adventure and mystery. A world that has been lost for hundreds of years…only to then be found so that everyone can see for the simple price of admission.” A spotlight comes on and focuses on Todd Howard in the middle of the stage with his head lowered. He slowly raises his head to face the audience and after a long pause he shouts “I GIVE YOU OBIVILION.” Images of a dragon flying around a ruined castle filled with photo realistic graphics, shows up behind him. The audience gasps in shock and then claps and screams in joy. “No longer do we have to imagine what it will look like because now we can REALLY immerse ourselves in the adventure.”

The doors to the theater slam open with a mysterious fog flowing in. A man in the fog screams “TOODDDDDDDDDD, YOU ARE A FAGGOT”

Todd draws in a deep breath through his nostrils that sucks up all the fog to reveal the man of mystery. It’s a lone warrior on a motorcycle.

“WHO IS THIS WHO CALLS ME THAT?” says Todd.
“I am spazmo, the last of the carebears” says the lone warrior. The crowd is in shock for they are in the time of a legend.
“THY NOT CARE WHO THY IS BECAUSE THY WILL KILL YOU LOL” says Todd who then gives a nod to Pete Hines to go get him.

I jump out of my stalker position and dive on top of Pete wrapping my legs and arms around him and screaming like a girl. “WTF are you doing MSFD?” said Todd.
“I’m doing what I should of done a long time ago, DOGGY STYLE” I said.

Chapter 7: Hurry up god damnit
I see all three subjects. I’m supposed to kill 2 of them and the other I’m supposed to do something other than kill him; I don’t quite remember what it was.

I drive top speed down the alley toward the three with my shotgun drawn in one hand. I hit some baby on the ground that launches me and the bike into the air at the 3 subjects. The one named “Todd” dives out of the way and hits the XBOX key on the power point computer. The one with the black eyes waves a press release paper as a shield, but oh no that will not save you mister, and I take off his head with my front wheel sending him and the guy on his back into the worm hole with me.

The scenery changes to medieval times with dwarves running around when a dragon is destroying the place. A dwarf tries to grab my gun from my hand in my moment of daze but I punch him in the face. It felt like punching a kid in the face.

The dragon takes notice of us and I look back through the moving wormhole to see Todd playing on some xbox 180 controller, the faggot has control of the dragon. I remember the mission and look at the little girl still holding onto the headless body on the ground. She looks back at me and she reminds me of myself when I was younger. I offer my hand and say “Come with me if you want to live.”

Once she gets onto the bike with me we race off driving through all the dwarves in the way. I see the giant dragon flying behind us at massive speeds and begin to blow out fire. I grab the girl and put her in front of me to protect her from the heat. The massive heat catches my back on fire. I see the wormhole up ahead and look backwards at the dragon with my shotgun in hand. I fire at its foot and it moans like a cow before diving into the ground.

Chapter 13: Rock On
“GOD DAMN CAMERA SYSTEM GIVE ME A BETTER VIEW” says Todd. Spazmo and MSFD are coming towards me so like right and left are reversed for the dragon and it gets all confusing shit *SOB*.

When my dragon drops I hit the fire button because I’m pissed but then I’m like “LOL OH SHIT WORM HOLE”

Chapter 13: Rock on Part 2
The dragon makes a massive burst of fire that propels us at massive speed back through the worm hole and we see Todd Howard looking at us like a kid through a window. We catch Todd onto the front of my handle bars. We go through E3 audiotorium at 200 miles per hour making people in our wake burst into flames.

We are outside of the E3 and into the dessert as Todd slams his feet down making the bike flip over its front wheel. I grab the little girl and do a barrel role in the air so that I land on my back to protect her from the ground. We slide at least 20 feet and I can feel the rough dessert tearing my skin.

I look up into the sky and see the helicopter coming. I relax and look at the little girl and I see that she is crying.

“Why do you cry?” I said.
“Because it hurts and stuff” said MSFD.
“You’re such a little girl. You have to toughen up and stuff.” I said.
“I’m a fuckin 30 year old male you, asshole” Said MFSD.

At that moment Todd jumps at me and puts his hands around my throat. I grab a susan shot out my pocket and stab him in the face. His face starts to bubble and grow.

“GET TO THE CHOPPA, MSFD” I said. He jumps onto the chopper and I give Killzig the patriot look and he knows what must be done. He tells the pilot to lift off and get as far as way as possible. I whisper “Rock on, MSFD, rock on.”
I look Todd Howard in the eyes and say

“YOU ARE SUSINATED” before we blow up into oblivion…


Chapter 16: Candle in the wind

“MSFD your back, where is Todd and pete?” said some Bethesda employee.
“…they wont be with us anymore.” I said
“Well what are we supposed to do about Fallout 3? Is it supposed to be first person or isometric? Turn-based or real-time? What will the story be?” said the employee.


I look to the ceiling and see the ghosts of The Carebears staring back at me and Spazmo in the middle.

“Rock on, kid, just rock on” I said to the kid

I give one last look to the carebears ghosts and they give me a salute and I give one right back to them.

The End

(To get the 3-d effect you have to cross your eyes while you read and listen to this http://media.putfile.com/Depeche-Mode-- ... Are-People

 

[bryce777]

Brotherhood of Steel.

And you're problem is BethSoft's poor design. Not having the "guilds" themselves won't get rid of that problem. It'll just force them to pursue some other avenue to perpetuate insipid game design.

They are not really a guild. They can give you some loot but that's about it.

Theya re not the techno guild, their counterpart being the knight guild and the gunner's guild and blah blah blah.

A thieve's guild I can handle in a fantasy setting if it is done in a not entirely stpid manner because it is sort of traditional but really it is just lame.

 

[kingcomrade]

Oh that's what he meant.
Brotherhood of Steel is so not a guild that your meaning didn't even register with me. I thought you meant the game, which I haven't played, had guilds in it or something.

 

[aweigh]

I think expecting decent quests and writing out of Bethesda is a bit too much to ask for.

I have a feeling we'll all be re-evaluating Tactics' RPG-ness after FO3 comes out.

"What do you see my child?"
"Uhh... infinity."

"To crush your enemies! To see them driven before you, and hear the lamentation of the women!"

"Do you know what horrors lie beyond these walls? "

"Subotai: Hey, old man, where did you get all this stuff?
The Wizard: The dead... our gods are pleased with you, they will watch the battle.
Conan: Are they going to help?
The Wizard: No.
Conan: Well, then tell them to stay out of the way. "

 

[Jason]

Scooper's story is one of my all-time favorites.

“Why do you cry?” I said.
“Because it hurts and stuff” said MSFD.
“You’re such a little girl. You have to toughen up and stuff.” I said.
“I’m a fuckin 30 year old male you, asshole” Said MFSD.

 

[Killzig]

The BOS is a guild. You just can't "join" like in morrowind. You're not cool enough and fallout is just too fucking awesome for you. But as far as the game world is concerned, the BOS is a guild.

 

[kingcomrade]

No, it is not a guild in the sense that it does not operate like guilds do in Morrowind and will in Oblivion. It doesn't matter if is is "technically" a faction or guild because we aren't talking about things that are technically guilds. We're talking about quest dispensers.

 

[Lumpy]

No, it is not a guild in the sense that it does not operate like guilds do in Morrowind and will in Oblivion. It doesn't matter if is is "technically" a faction or guild because we aren't talking about things that are technically guilds. We're talking about quest dispensers.

It was a joinable faction, and I would have liked to get some quests from them. I always felt that the power armor was too easily earned.

 

[bryce777]

The BOS is a guild. You just can't "join" like in morrowind. You're not cool enough and fallout is just too fucking awesome for you. But as far as the game world is concerned, the BOS is a guild.

It is pretty much impossible to have a game without factions, but that does not make it a guild. Give me a break.