Fallout 3 - Lead Designer Revealed [Archive]

Dhruin

October 29th, 2006, 17:15

It seems Emil Pagliarulo is the lead designer of Bethsoft's Fallout 3, revealing the position in a post on the Duck and Cover forums (http://www.duckandcover.cx/archives.php?topstory=14). Emil is known for work on Thief II, consulting work on Deus Ex: Invisible War and was the designer of the Dark Brotherhood quest line in Oblivion.
More information. (http://www.rpgwatch.com/show/newsbit?newsbit=2484)

r3dshift

October 29th, 2006, 17:15

If this newsbit really turns out to be true, then it's great news indeed! Emil is a great guy, and even thought DE:IW was crap, Thief 2 was marvellous and the DB questline is the finest in TES4.

Hence, I'd say he's an excellent choice.

Maylander

October 29th, 2006, 18:45

I still wish Obsidian Entertainment could make Fallout 3, to make it more like the original games. Oh well, among Bethesda devs I suppose Emil is the best choice.

Unregistered

October 29th, 2006, 19:31

I still wish Obsidian Entertainment could make Fallout 3, to make it more like the original games.
Why, exactly? FO2 was a desperate patch-job with little to recommend it. Why are all the diehard fans so afraid of change? I think Bethesda will do a great job.

I also think the "hardcore" Fallout fans won't be satisfied if they release anything other than t e original code from Fallout I.

Maylander

October 29th, 2006, 20:52

Fallout 2 was better than 1 imho, and the reason why I want the original devs on it is to create a world with consequenses - Oblivion is a childfriendly environment where you can do whatever you want and join whatever factions you want without any real consequenses. If we get that kind of gameplay in Fallout 3, they're just using the name to sell a lot, not actually staying true to the concept.

Corwin

October 30th, 2006, 00:17

I agree!! While Oblivion had better NPC's than previous games, they are still their weakest area, while Fallout had some of the best NPC's ever.

aboyd

October 30th, 2006, 00:27

Why, exactly? FO2 was a desperate patch-job with little to recommend it. Why are all the diehard fans so afraid of change? I think Bethesda will do a great job.

I think that -- whatever Bethesda does -- Obsidian would have done it better. So Maylander's comment makes sense to me.

Acleacius

October 30th, 2006, 01:27

The problem with Obsidian is the almost total lack of humor in their games, after that interview with Chris Avalone it is hard to back those guys anymore.
His comment was something along the lines of "Popbulture humor is Stupid".
Think about that then think of the orginal Fallout, System Shock 2 and 3, Bloodlines and almost every other great RPG.

Its certianly not that I mind drama or even playing a game which has no humor [if it fits the storyline] but to have an official company policy [Avalone's words] against it, that's poor conceptualizing and managment.
When I think back on KotOR 2, besides all the shortcuts, unfinished work and bugs it certianly had a serious lack of hummor, well imo.

Now on the other hand this is very good news as Bethseda has horrible story and character AI depth [inaine and monotone come to mind} so it will be a much better game all around than Bethseda could ever do.

Avantenor

October 30th, 2006, 03:24

I always thought, Planescape: Torment had a lot of humor? Morte, the conflicts between Annah and Grace, the crazy stuff you could do in the game, that was imho great humor although sometimes a little bit specific, sarcastic... It was Avellone, who had the most influence on this game's design (and of course Guido Henkel ;)). I see this kind of humor coming back in NWN2. I read descriptions about party interaction and it felt like PST. So, I don't think this statement is true.

Anyway, there is no room for discussions. Bethesda has the license for FO3 and no matter what, they will do it. I don't like their games, too, though Emil seems to be qualified for the job. So let's hope, it will be at least as modable as Oblivion. There will be enough passionate FO fans to bring us the true FO experience we want.

Acleacius

October 30th, 2006, 05:04

Avellone did say that in an interview he did within the last 4 months, think it was around the last big game convention.

I do agree there was humor in PT, I am not sure its the same as Culture humor.

I don't recall Avellone being in charge of PT, even if he was in charge, he must have changed his mind, that is his company stated policy.

Avellone isn't the sole owner of Obsidian so maybe it is just for the games he is in charge of and any other owners have there own poilicies over their games, dunno.

I certianly hope your right about NWN2, since I realise culture and/or humor is not stupid. ;)

bjon045

October 30th, 2006, 06:19

I believe he said no "injokes". i.e. characters with developers names being used in funny ways or jokes from the community forums - things like that.

Maylander

October 30th, 2006, 06:52

I always felt they had some very good humor - not only in PS:T, but also games like Baldurs Gate 1-2 had decent humor(Minsc and Boo anyone? Characters like Korgan and Edwin are also examples of great writing).

The thing about KotOR2 is that it was the first game for Obsidian after they launched, and they needed to publish something that would sell well in order to get enough cash to be solid. Remember, Black Isle may have produced some of the best RPGs ever(BG games, Fallout, PS:T, Icewind Dale etc), but they went out of business because they didn't have enough money in the end.

I have high hopes for NWN2 now that Obsidian finally has enough money to make thorough games, and also for a game in production they won't reveal anything else about than "it will remind you of Baldurs Gate" or "modern Baldurs Gate" or some similar quote.

Avantenor is right though, this is not really something to discuss. Bethesda will make FO3, so let's hope for the best. Also, if it has modding capabilities like Oblivion, the old hardcore FO community will surely make mods to remove the "childfriendly" feeling of ES:O.

Corwin

October 30th, 2006, 09:34

Instead of worrying about who is making the next Fallout, maybe we should be encouraging Obsidian to make another Planescape!! :biggrin:

moxie

October 30th, 2006, 10:02

I sympathize with whoever gets to take on the Fallout fans. I don't think there's a more easily displeased collection of "supporters" out there. I'm glad to see initial positivity here at least.

As for humor and Obsidian, I think the idea is to avoid breaking down the fourth wall by sticking in real-world references that would take someone out of the game. Some game humor can feel like it's from a geek frat club that you aren't a member of.

magerette

October 30th, 2006, 10:54

Honestly, at this point in time, I don't see how anyone could do a Fallout 3 and make it work on the same level as the original.

The autopsy has been going on too long, and like the Star Wars "prequel" that Lucas finally got around to filming twenty years after the big hit, it's going to be very difficult to produce anything besides reheated leftovers.

Maybe its a good thing Bethesda's got it. At least they can come at it from a differerent perspective.

Briosafreak

October 30th, 2006, 11:03

Instead of worrying about who is making the next Fallout, maybe we should be encouraging Obsidian to make another Planescape!! :biggrin:

I'm game, let's start a campaign :)

damirko

October 30th, 2006, 14:39

I'm game, let's start a campaign :)

Me too, let's get rolling... Torment was finest example of highminded RPG ever

txa1265

October 30th, 2006, 15:44

Maybe its a good thing Bethesda's got it. At least they can come at it from a differerent perspective.

And maybe come up with an innovative name like (consults generic fantasy name generator) 'Unearlthy Lord of Fallout' ...

;)

crpgnut

October 30th, 2006, 17:18

I love Bethesda's products because they can be modded. As long as they make it moddable, Fallout 3 should do well. I don't really care about all the whiners. Fallout, as we knew it, is long gone. Does anyone think Dark Messiah is Might and Magic, just because it carries the name? I imagine Fallout 3 will resemble Fallout as much as Dark Messiah resembles Might and Magic VII-IX. If DMoMM was moddable, we might have hopes of seeing a crpg one day, but that isn't gonna happen.

Acleacius

October 30th, 2006, 18:23

Definatly an upside to having Bethseda dev F3, is the the Editor and if they can't get it right someone else will. ;)

xSamhainx

October 30th, 2006, 22:28

I love the TES games and the Fallouts as well, so I aint sweatin' it.

I'm certainly going to wait to see something anyway before I get fit to be tied about anything in the first place!

roqua

October 31st, 2006, 01:35

I loved the character creation in daggerfall, other than that, bethesda might be a fantastic action game designer company, but I think FO 3 should be an rpg. And it should have the same mechanics as fo 1 and 2. TB combat is a must. No TB=no FO.

Would everyone here that is happy to here Bethesda is making a game called FO 3 be as happy if somone bought the rights to Gothic and made it into a TB game, or RT w/ pause? Or the same with TES? No.

Who cares who designs what action game. This game has zero chance of being an actual Fall Out. I wouldn't mind at all if they just changed the name from FO 3 to FO: something else (like brotherhood of steel and tactics did). But calling a game part 3 entails a certain duty of obligation of making it jive with the series that came before.

If Predator 3 came out weaturing eddy murphy and bernie mac surfing in a slapstick comedy that happened to have a preditor killing people as a side story would that really be a predator 3?

What if spider man 3 was made into a musical with no crime fighting action?

Things have names for a reason, and a number 3 following something should indicate it gives the same gameplay 1 and 2 gave.

Corwin

October 31st, 2006, 02:29

You make a very good point Roqua, we do expect that a 3 means a link to 1&2. We saw that with the M&M series even though 6+ were quite different from 1-5. I would hope that at the very least FO3 has optional TB combat!!

aboyd

October 31st, 2006, 03:29

I think I'm much more concerned about perspective. Of course, the best idea I think would be to have a game that holds true to its predecessors, but in 3D -- same gameplay, same perspective, etc. However, I'm willing to shrug off changes to TB, as I prefer RTwP anyway. So such a change wouldn't bother me, although I acknowledge it would annoy the hell out of some people.

But the change that would be a deal-breaker for me is perspective. I want isometric, or at the very least some fascimile, like what the NWN camera evolved into. I very much need to pull back and see the battlefield and the NPCs that I command. If the game only offers a first-person view, then no matter how well-done every other aspect of the game is, I cannot buy it.

magerette

October 31st, 2006, 17:09

And maybe come up with an innovative name like (consults generic fantasy name generator) 'Unearlthy Lord of Fallout' ...

;)

Yes, and if you get the Alchemy Skill--er, Meds Perk--you can use leaves and radioactive roots to make your own Stimpaks!

@roqua
I agree it's a scary proposition to have an Elder Scrolls take on FO. The whole feel of the game is going to be radically different,especially if they go with the rotating camera, etc.
I'm kind of surprised not to see this news bit reposted on RPGCodex. They could debate this topic pretty well.