Hedek
Sentinel
- Joined
- December 24, 2006
- Messages
- 203
Most of that is true, Hedek (I mean regarding the Bethesda could have done it on their own stuff) but I believe you are wrong as far as Fallout's popularity is concerned. I believe that it is because of rabid fansites like NMA and because of a very vocal hardcore fan base and lastly also because of Fallout's long term sales success that Fallout is a pretty perfect target for an acquisition. The name (the brand) is gaming legend. It doesn't really matter how many people have actually played the Fallouts in practice. The games are popular just from hearsay. Everyone with a bit of interest in computer gaming will have heard of Fallout since it is permanently listed on top 10 lists and is constantly being referred to by people as a comparison to other games. Fallout is everywhere. Fallout is a legend. It is right on par with -say- Ultima. There will be many, many kids today who have never played a single Ultima game but they will have heard about it. It has this almost mythical, mystic sound to it that makes it cool and interesting to the kids even if they won't really know what it is about. Same with Fallout. It's a marketer's wet dream come true.
That's why I think it made sense (from a business point of view) for Bethesda to acquire the Fallout license instead of creating their own IP. They are working with a franchise that has a "legendary" reputation from the start. They don't need to build it up on their own. If there's one thing you will never be able to buy with money it's time. And it takes time for something to become a legend so Bethesda took a shortcut by investing in Fallout rather than taking the risk that their own project would never reach a similar level of popularity. It was a pretty smart move and with all the talk surrounding the game their plan is working out very well so far. The legend of Fallout lives and there is a very good chance IMHO that Fallout 3 will be a smashing success for Bethesda.
That's where I fundamentally disagree with you. I believe there's a huge gap between what gaming journalists are interested in and what Walmart costumers just looking for a few hours of entertainement buy. The problem is that you, Moriendor, Rendelius, Calis, Desslock, etc, and me a few years ago don't represent the typical costumer. We are as you said people "with a bit of interest in computer gaming". The reason why you hear so much about Fallout 3 on the internet it's because the people who run these sites aren't typical gamers, most of them are 25+ and to THOSE people Fallout is a myth. So yes they are eager to talk about Fallout because it's something that means something to THEM!
The real costumers, those that are meaningful to publishers because of their sheer number, those guy don't know about Fallout, don't care about Fallout. When I talk to friends of my generation, ie. those that were teens when Fallout 1 came out most just heard the name once if not at all and yet these friends are still gamers despite their age (mostly mmorpg players). And the teens of today are too young to know about Fallout.
Are they ignorant? No they're normal, we're the minority.
Now where you're probably right is us that us debating and being that "hardcore vocal minority" leads non-specialized magazines and journalists talk about it and thus giving some exposure to a larger crowd. But the fact is, did Oblivion have that sort of purists and fanatics complaining and speculating all over the net? No, they still managed to get their game hyped anyway. Did it prevent it from selling well? Neither. So again you haven't convinced me why Bethsoft needed the Fallout franchise.
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- Joined
- Dec 24, 2006
- Messages
- 203