The Fine Print of a Fallout MMO
At last! Fallout 3 has swept into our gaming lives, and most people are happy. The game, in my opinion, is pretty damn good. Of course, with a good game like that, coupled with a heap of old-school game fans, it’s easy to get all moist on the mere thought of turning the Fallout universe into a MMO. I’m as excited as the next guy at the thought of having anything as cool as the Fallout series take a leap into the genre. In fact, I like the IP enough where I’ve actually based my theoretical game designs on Fallout (it was either that or Neuromancer, of course) and I even hang out at the craziest, most dedicated fan site that has ever existed for any game: No Mutants Allowed. In my limited dealings with real, actual people in the games industry, I’ve even been lucky enough to chat with a few of the former Black Isle and Interplay guys. So, it pains me more than anything to say: the Fallout MMO probably won’t happen for a long, long time. Sad Panda is sad.
Of course I can’t just go spouting stuff like that without some sort of logical argument. So, let’s take a look at the Fallout wiki site, that fills us in on some of the boring (although quite relevant) legal status of the Fallout MMO. Basically, it revolves around Interplay being Bethesda’s little bitch in every way, shape, and form. Remember a couple years ago when Bethesda bought the Fallout IP but Interplay retained the “rights” to a MMO? There are stipulations. Those are:
- Interplay has to raise $30 Million by April, 2009.
- Interplay has to start development by April, 2009.
- Interplay must launch the Fallout MMO no later than 4 years from starting development (April, 2013).
- Interplay must pay 12% of subscription fees in royalties to Bethesda if they somehow actually launch the game.
If any of these are not met, Interplay forfeits the rights to the Fallout MMO. (Source)
I want to point something specifically out in this little arrangement (which sounds more like a Mafia deal than a real business arrangement). The initial proposal for the Fallout MMO projected the cost of development between $75M - $100M. That means if Interplay does indeed secure the magic “30 Million” that they’re still over 60% under budget for actually making the game. Normally this wouldn’t be too big of a deal, as game studios normally don’t have a strict production schedule. Unfortunately, this situation is far from normal, and even if Interplay could start production on a Fallout MMO in 2009, they have a strict 4 years to get it out the door - no matter what state it’s in.
To compare, games like World of Warcraft and Warhammer had $70M+ budgets and took 4+ years to develop. Oh, and Warcraft had a team of vets from games like UO, Asheron’s Call and Everquest helming it up, not to mention Mythic having the Dark Age team at its disposal. Interplay has a couple of the original Fallout guys (Chris Taylor and Jason Andersen) - and, while talented, have no MMO experience whatsoever.
For arguments sake, we can assume that a Fallout MMO could be made in 4 years with the projected budget of $75M. That leaves us to question Interplays ability to secure investments. While the recent success and hype of Fallout 3 might reassure investors that the IP is workable as a MMO, putting money into Interplay is going to be a tough sell to anyone with money. We’re talking about a company that, 2 years ago, was over $5M in debt and had to sell it’s top IP just to not get their knees broken.
So, in a nutshell:
- Interplay, a company in financial disarray, needs 30M large to just start production on the game.
- Interplay currently staffs no experienced MMO developer of any sort
- Interplay has a strict 4 years to release the game, no matter what the state is
- Interplay then has to pay 12% royalty to Bethesda and can also not profit from any Fallout IP related merchandise.
In short, it’s not looking good for an Interplay based Fallout MMO. I have a gut feeling that of the $30M that Interplay needs to raise, they have about $29M to go. Only one public announcement has been made of investment (and it was for 2M shares of Interplay, not even $1M USD). Sadly I don’t think Interplay has the mettle or the personnel to be trying to keep everything all secret squirrel. Unless Santa comes with a fat check this Christmas, it looks like it’s going to be permanent lights out for good ol’ Interplay.
However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. This light is: ZeniMax Studios.
It’s not the coolest name for a game studio, but whatever. This studio is Bethesda’s little secret. At the moment, they’re officially working on something that seems to be interestingly uninteresting. They bought a MMO game engine license that makes it look like they’re doing, well, something. What I think they are doing is just biding their time. They are probably just laying the groundwork for their potential Fallout MMO, which they’ll have rights to in either May 2009 or May 2013, whenever Interplay decides to concede victory and try to escape the country without being killed by their investors.
ZeniMax and Bethesda will have exclusive rights to the Fallout IP and MMO as soon as Interplay officially voids the contract. From the above keypoints, it’s probable that this will happen. The MMO industry is a fickle and dangerous business to be in. Bethesda has both the talent (and more importantly) the cash to back a huge MMO project. In fact, when you think of it, Bethesda was pretty sly about this whole thing: they bought the Fallout IP rights from Interplay, probably discounted for the Fallout MMO rights. They then put these stipulations into the contract - knowing that they’d be done with Fallout 3 in Q4 2008 or Q1 2009 - enough time to revive the Fallout IP interest and then dive into the Fallout MMO in April 2009 - since they seem to know that Interplay can’t possibly raise $30M on this speculative venture.
So, maybe it won’t be a long, long time. Actually, ZeniMax seems to have their shit together (no surprise) more than Interplay for the Fallout MMO - as they’ve already got an engine picked out and possibly have a team (not just a couple guys) actually working on the game. They could have it out and humming by, say, 2011 or 2012 if things go well. To be frank, after Fallout 3, I think that Bethesda has a much better chance of making Fallout an “MMO that doesn’t suck” - which really hurts to say as a long time Interplay fan. So, I guess all that’s left for us to do is sit back and enjoy some Nuka Cola, since it looks like the boys at Bethesda have us covered.
Fallout Online - ZeniMax Entertainment
Coming 2012
That’s my prediction anyway!
The Fine Print of a Fallout MMO…
At last! Fallout 3 has swept into our gaming lives, and most people are happy. The game, in my opinion, is pretty damn good. Of course, with a good game like that, coupled with a heap of old-school game fans, it’s easy to get all moist on the mer…
[...] The Fine Print of a Fallout MMO « Les relations amoureuses oubliées des MMO [...]
useful info here? on this site? in a blog?
you just blew my mind.
i see it as possible still, i mean alot of games are made fast and cheap and then rushed out the door. i would totally rather see bethesda do it though, they take their time and do shit properly.
that was seriously a good read, thanks.
Very good read!
I love to see a well made Fallout MMO done right.
Dude I just filled the cup! Let Bethesda take the reigns on this .. PLEASE give us a Fallout MMO!!!!
BEVERLY HILLS, CA, Setember 22, 2008 – Interplay Entertainment Corp. (OTC BB:IPLY) announced today the launch of an all-new web site at http://www.interplay.com.
The site, developed over the last several months, is designed to improve the company’s communication with customers, investors, and partners. The new site includes forums based on past and future Interplay games, a customer support section, detailed information on the company and its products, and much more.
The company also announced that Chris Taylor, a game designer who was a part of the original Fallout game development team at Interplay in 1994, has rejoined the company. Taylor will serve as Lead System Designer for “Project V13,” the working title of Interplay’s next generation Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMO) currently in development. Taylor joins other original Fallout team members on staff at Interplay’s internal game studio, which recently opened an office in Irvine, Calif. Additional development staff members continue to be hired as the project ramps-up.
ZenimaX is more than probably working in a Elder Scrolls MMO. They already own the IP. And they already bought http://www.elderscrollsonline.com. A company doesnt buy a mmo engine to start develeopment over a IP they dont even still own in the hope that they will eventually get it in the future.
at least in the meantime we’ll have Fallen Earth to play?
I equally approve of this blog. Nice read.
OMG this is the best blog post ever. References, links, opinions and educated guesses rather then emotional pontification. I love you man.
Also I agree with everything you said, and it’s sad but true. It’s getting harder to find funding for “out of the box” projects without an example of a successful template to show your investers to gain confidence in the project. The people with millions are not gamers, they may have never touched an xbox or ps3. They made their money crunching numbers and they understand sku’s and userbase uniques.
That’s why the guy who runs a company is a money guy, he pitches the projects in a mannor the investers comprehend and can get into. He dosn’t sell em on how cool it is to set zombies on fire with flame arrows. But when you come up with stuff out of the box, investers are less likley to chip in due to not having the data to sell the project to em.
Such a great world / enviroment as Fallout, It would be a crime to all gamers not to make an MMO. Someone needs a swift kick in the azz and get the ball rolling.
Great read Daedren. Thanks for this eloquent and thoughtful article. Finally! Someone who writes “a MMO” not “an MMO”…
[...] to write something mildly coherent, uncharacteristically calm and hopefully accurate in regards to the future of a Fallout MMO - specifically, one done by everyone’s favorite old school penniless game studio called [...]
One of the most interesting articles I’ve ever read on a gaming site. Nice work! (first time to your site so I’m going to bookmark this sucker…)
Incidentally, for all its pretty I couldn’t stand the writing of Fallout 3. The vampire clan quest broke my spirit in seven places. Absolutely terrible, banal, boring characters, and a broken conversation system where I could mention people I hadn’t even met yet.
If Betheseda make this MMO I hope the OUTSOURCE THEIR WRITING TO THEIR LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
“If Betheseda make this MMO I hope the OUTSOURCE THEIR WRITING TO THEIR LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.”
Might want to head back to an elementary school yourself, grammar pro. Think you hated the writing cause JOO C@n’T R3@D!
[...] r1ft Gaming Putting the Oh back in MMO The Fine Print of a Posted by root 3 hours ago (http://www.r1ft.com) Nov 6 2008 unless santa comes with a fat check this christmas it looks like it going someone needs a swift kick in the azz and get the ball rolling add your comment below or trackback from your own site powered by wordpress log in entries rss comments rss Discuss | Bury | News | r1ft Gaming Putting the Oh back in MMO The Fine Print of a [...]
[...] say that the island of Dugi World of Warcraft WoW for assistance have contributed to my success. r1ft Gaming - Putting the “Oh?” back in MMO » The Fine Print of a … To compare, games like World of Warcraft and Warhammer had $70M+ budgets and took 4+ years to [...]
Leave your response!
game design »
The Chauvinistic Virtual World
It’s hard to try and delve into a subject as controversial as chauvinism or sexism without pissing a lot of people off almost immediately. I guess a good place to start is why I would …
interviews »
Hell Froze Over: An Interview with Funcom’s Erling Ellingsen
Hi, I’m Daedren. You might remember me from other interviews like “Mark Jacobs: He Didn’t Call Me Back” and “Richard Garriott: Corp Por or In Vas Mani?” I write this not with a gun to …
MMO »
So Long, and Thanks for All the Rad-X
It’s with a heavy heart that I announce the imminent demise of a beloved game company: one that brought us Fallout 1 & 2, Earthworm Jim and Descent. While their recent accomplishments are nothing more …
Rants »
Daedren’s Guide to Living with Deathknights
I don’t like writing about Warcraft. I consider the game unchallenging, frightfully unimaginative and terribly addicting - but in the same time, I’m drawn to it for its familiarity. It’s the familiar and user friendly …
Reviews »
Review: Darkfall Beta
Darkfall Online is a game that is not for everyone. The nature of the game is such that you will either love it or absolutely hate it depending on your playstyle. If you are a …
Tag Cloud
WP Cumulus Flash tag cloud by Roy Tanck requires Flash Player 9 or better.
Archives
Latest Articles
Related Posts
Random Posts
Latest Video Post
Recent Comments
Most Commented
Most Popular