RipTen Videogame Blog » Fallout

Fallout Belongs to Bethesda, Period – Rights to the MMO Taken from Interplay

Justin Carter — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:36:30 +0000

Bethesda and Interplay have finally reached a settlement regarding their dispute over the Fallout IP, mainly regarding the Fallout MMO Interplay announced five years ago. Regarding the MMO, Bethesda now owns it. As part of the settlement, the license “granted to Interplay to develop the Fallout MMO is null and void, and all rights granted to Interplay to develop a Fallout MMO revert back to Bethesda, effective immediately.”

The hits just keep on coming. Interplay has no ongoing right to the Fallout brand or any Fallout IP. They’ve also got until December 2013 before their rights to sell the original Fallout, along with the sequels Fallout 2 and Fallout Tactics, along with any merchandising rights associated with the properties. Here’s what Bethesda had to say regarding the lawsuit:

“The lawsuit against Interplay arose after Bethesda Softworks acquired all Fallout intellectual property rights from Interplay in April 2007, and conditionally licensed back to Interplay certain trademark rights to make a Fallout MMO, provided Interplay secured $30 million in financing for the MMO and commenced full scale development of the game by April 2009. Bethesda alleged in its complaint that Interplay failed to meet either condition of the license back agreement but refused to relinquish its license and insisted it would develop a Fallout MMO.

Back when the MMO was theirs, Interplay also subcontracted Masthead Studios to help with the project. That’s no longer the case. Masthead no longer has rights to the Fallout MMO, and they received no payments. Interplay, on the other hand, is receiving $2 million from Bethesda’s parent company Zenimax.

via Joystiq

Obsidian Wants To Go All Digital… To “Stab the Used Game Market in The Heart”

Catherine Cai — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:31:01 +0000

Obsidian Entertainment is apparently not a fan of the used games market, which is pretty understandable, considering the videogame industry doesn’t make any profit from used videogames. Online passes and undeletable saves have all been attempts by developers to chip away at used games, to no avail.

Obsidian wants to try a different approach. One that probably won’t anger fans quite as much, although it will surely piss off gamers that love “owning” their videogames in the form of a hard copy.

In a recent interview Obsidian’s Chief Creative Officer and keeper of all Fallout lore, Chris Avellone, says he wants Obsidian to go all digital:

“Our eventual hope is that we can stockpile enough resources to release our own titles digitally,”

“Smaller games can be very satisfying projects to work on, and it would be great to do that. But it’s going to take time for us to get there; we want to make sure we do it right.”

“Of course, one of the greatest things about digital distribution is what it does to reduce the used game market. I hope digital distribution stabs the used game market in the heart.“

Besides hurting the used game market, Obsidian will also no longer have to worry about ship dates since a digital release could be delayed without any monetary impact.

This is definitely an interesting move on Obsidian’s part. I wonder how much, if at all, Obsidian will be hurt by going completely digital. It’ll also be interesting to see if Obsidian has a lot of success with this method, and if other AAA publishers will follow suit.

via [VG247]

Five O’Clock Fan Art: Fallout Posters

Dylan Duarte — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:54 +0000

I hadn’t played a Fallout title prior to Fallout 3, but I quickly understood the loyalty of the fans. It’s an intensely interesting world and these fan-made posters fill me with all sorts of glee.

Five O’Clock Fan Art is perfect for wrapping up the work day. You don’t want to think anymore, you just want to look at awesome things. And there’s nothing more awesome than a well crafted piece of videogame fan art. If you don’t agree, what the hell are you doing at a gaming blog?

This poster and many more like it are the work of Erling Andersen. Be sure to check out his website for more.

Fallout: New Vegas Graphic Novel “All Roads” Now Available For Digital Download

Dave Oshry — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 21:00:56 +0000

What can change the nature of a man? Perhaps a platinum chip and a bad set o’ circumstances?

If you’ve never read the graphic novel “All Roads” that leads up to the story of Fallout: New Vegas and was penned by Obsidian’s Chris Avellone and inked by some of the best in the biz, then you’ve been missing out. Better yet, you can get it now online for just $2.99!

Bethesda had this to say:

We’re pleased to announce that “All Roads”, the 48 page graphic novel originally released in the Fallout: New Vegas Collector’s Edition, is now available via Dark Horse Digital. You can download the graphic novel, which tells the story of some of the characters and events that lead up to Fallout: New Vegas, from iTunes as well as the following iOS site: https://digital.darkhorse.com/profile/712.fallout-new-vegas/.

Do your thing, courier.

Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition Coming in February

Dave Oshry — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:15:27 +0000

As you may have expected, Bethesda has announced that an ultimate edition of Fallout: New Vegas (complete with all the DLC) will be available this coming February.

We’re pleased to announce the Fallout: New Vegas® Ultimate Edition will be available in retail stores across North America on February 7^th 2012 and throughout Europe on February 10^th. The Ultimate Edition comes complete with all of the game add-on content for Fallout: New Vegas - Dead Money, Honest Hearts, Old World Blues, Lonesome Road, Courier’s Stash and Gun Runners’ Arsenal.

For players who are seasoned explorers of New Vegas or just getting into the game for the first time, the Ultimate Edition expands beyond the Wasteland like never before with the Sierra Madre Casino, Zion National Park, Big MT research crater and the treacherous Divide now open for exploring. Along with new areas to explore, each of the four main add-on packs increases the maximum level cap by five levels, ultimately raising the cap to level 50.

If you haven’t had a chance to experience New Vegas yet, I highly recommend you get this. All the bugs have been ironed out and some of the DLC is superb. Throw in mods on PC and you’ve got yourself hundreds of hours of post apocalyptic gameplay.

For more information head on over to http://fallout.bethsoft.com

Cosplay Spotlight: NCR Veteran Ranger (Fallout: New Vegas)

Stephanie Gutowski — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 20:30:14 +0000

Good cosplay. Good cosplay never changes. Wait… no. It just gets better. Hey, you knew that line was going to show up here sooner or later. I just went with sooner. So I’ve been spending my time wandering the wastes in search of those punks who put a bullet in my brain pan and dug me a shallow grave, which means Fallout: New Vegas cosplay is the top query in my browser search history. I came across Kai “Grimdarkkommisar” Norman’s DeviantArt and found that my hunger was suddenly sated. I’d seen his Warhammer work some time ago and was overjoyed to find a familiar franchise represented in his gallery.

Kai made the armor and trench coat himself, which look downright authentic will all the weathering and distressing he’s done. The helmet even has working lights, which are a must-have if you do most of your good deeds at night. Even if you don’t consider yourself loyal to the New California Republic, you’ve got to top your hat to amount of work that went into this costume. The final product is a fantastic recreation of an iconic design. Battle-worn fabric can sometimes come across as forced, with obvious scissored edges are too-carefully-placed burn marks, but this jacket looks authentically worn out. Keep on doing what you’re doing, Kai. Your cosplay is mighty fine.

Photos by Jim3535.

Final Fallout: New Vegas DLC “Lonesome Road” Gets a Lonesome Trailer

Chris Carlson — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 17:00:45 +0000

Bethesda has released a brand new trailer for their upcoming DLC, Lonesome Road for Fallout: New Vegas. The DLC is scheduled to launch on September 20th for $9.99/800MSP.

“In Lonesome Road you are contacted by the original Courier Six, a man by the name of Ulysses who refused to deliver the Platinum Chip at the start of Fallout: New Vegas. Ulysses promises the answer as to why he didn’t take the job, but only if you make one last journey into the hurricane-swept canyons of the Divide, a landscape torn apart by earthquakes and violent storms. It’s up to you whether you take the job or not.”

Geeked-Out: Fallout Fan Creates Fully Working Pip-Boy 3000

Sam Naylor — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 21:36:10 +0000

An avid Fallout fan has created a real-life, working Pip-boy 3000 to sit on his limp, nerdy wrist.

On;y joking about the wrist, by the way. As you can see in the demonstration video of the device (below), it’s too full of electics to have a wrist placed inside. The Pip-Boy is made from a cast shell with an HTC Desire smartphone fitted inside. An “Arduino Uno with a USB host shield running microbridge” acts as “an ADB host for the phone. The Arduino then sends button presses to the phone via TCP over USB.”

Always cool to see stuff like this make it into the real world. Even better is the fact that it (mostly) works exactly as it does in the game, even if it doesn’t actually work as a wrist-bound item. Superb effort from all involved- Ripten certainly approves. Leave a comment below to tell us what you think- waste of time or beautiful dedication?

Hungry for more hand-made swag? Take a leisurely stroll through our Geeked Out collection.

Geeked Out: Fallout Monopoly, Pip-Boy Sold Seperately

Stephanie Gutowski — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 23:15:14 +0000

This homemade Monopoly board is perhaps the greatest interactive Fallout fan-creation ever. Tired of dominating Park Place? Then grab your Rock-it Launcher and make your stand at Galaxy News Radio. Classic Monopoly pieces have been given a post-apocalyptic treatment, Nuka Cola caps are officially currency, and now taking the G.O.A.T. might actually get you $200. Drawn cards will even give players perks from either Fallout 3 or Fallout:New Vegas.

PinkAxolotl whipped this up for her boyfriend, so there’s a very slim chance of you ever getting one unless you date her as well. We can dream, though.

The board is made of PVC plate and the images were pulled from stock resources across DeviantArt, the coolest art club on the net.

I gotta get me one of these…

Hungry for more hand-made swag? Take a leisurely stroll through our Geeked Out collection.

Fallout: New Vegas Lonesome Road Dated, Plus Two Additional DLC Packs

Chris Carlson — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:00:51 +0000

Bethesda has finally revealed the release date for their fourth downloadable content pack for Fallout: New Vegas. The DLC will be priced at $9.99 (800 MSP) and will be released on September 20th.

“In Lonesome Road you are contacted by the original Courier Six, a man by the name of Ulysses who refused to deliver the Platinum Chip at the start of Fallout: New Vegas. Ulysses promises the answer as to why he didn’t take the job, but only if you make one last journey into the hurricane-swept canyons of the Divide, a landscape torn apart by earthquakes and violent storms. It’s up to you whether you take the job or not.”

Bethesda also announced two additional add-ons, Courier’s Stash and Gun Runners’ Arsenal, which will be available the following week on September 27th.

Courier’s Stash gives players immediate access to four content bundles previously available only through pre-ordering Fallout: New Vegas. The Caravan Pack, Classic Pack, Mercenary Pack and Tribal Pack each offer unique weapons, apparel and aid advantages that will help you throughout your journey. $1.99 (160 MSP)
Gun Runners’ Arsenal increases the range of unique weapons, weapon mods, ammo types and recipes waiting to be uncovered in the vast Mojave Wasteland. $3.99 (320 MSP)

“We Have Been Waiting For You” Fallout: New Vegas Old World Blues DLC Trailer

Chris Carlson — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 22:27:43 +0000

Bethesda has just released a trailer for their upcoming DLC for Fallout: New Vegas titled “Old World Blues“.

“In Old World Blues you will discover how some of the Mojave’s mutated monsters came to be when you unwittingly become a lab rat in a science experiment gone awry. You must scour the pre-War research centers of the Big Empty in search of technology to turn the tables on your kidnappers or join forces with them against an even greater threat.”

Old World blues is the third piece of DLC for Fallout New Vegas and we be released next week on July 19th for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

New Fallout: New Vegas DLC Old World Blues Screens

Justin McCullough — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:55:39 +0000

Bethesda and Zenimax Media just released a few new screen shots for Old World Blues, the third add-on pack for Fallout: New Vegas.

The Old World Blues will be available on July 19th for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.

Here’s a little excerpt from the press release:

The residents of the Mojave have long assumed the trackless wastes of the ‘Big Empty’ are a no-man’s-land, a desolate stretch where no living thing can survive. In Old World Blues, you discover that is far from the truth….

For more info before the release date, head on over to the Fallout website.

Steam Summer Sale Day 5: Alpha Protocol, Homefront

Sam Naylor — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 17:27:17 +0000

Welcome to day five of the Steam summer sale. Today’s the day to try out some controversial titles: Homefront and Alpha Protocol.

This year the gimmick is the “prize booth”, where gamers can gain tickets (like you might at a fair) to buy DLC bits and bobs for various Steam games. You can get tickets but completing the achievements set out on this page. There’s also a competition to win the top 10 games on your wish list on the same page.

Of course, there are hundreds of games on sale which can be found by browsing Steam‘s categories, but the daily deals are where the real savings begin. Here is what’s on offer today:

Alpha Protocol 75% off
Homefront 50% off
Trine 90% off
Singularity 75% off
Bionic Commando series 50% off
Doom series 75% off
Fallout: New Vegas 70% off
Frozen Synapse 50% off
RUSE 66% off
Serious Sam HD series 80% off
Mount and Blade series 75% off
Bully 75% off

There are also deals on whole catalogues here for your delectation. Check back tomorrow for the next set of daily deals.

Today’s recommendation: the Serious Sam series. Not only is it named like my name, it’s one of the best frantic shooters you can buy today. You could also take Dave and Gavin’s advice on Alpha Protocol and Homefront respectively, but that’s your decision.

More Fallout: New Vegas DLC Incoming in July

Aaron Alexander — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 08:33:08 +0000

Bethesda have announced that the next piece of Fallout: New Vegas content is on the way. “Old World Blues” will hit the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 on Tuesday, July 19th.

An update for the game will be released before the new piece of DLC is released, which will improve the games performance and stability during gameplay. Keep checking RipTen for more Fallout news as it surfaces.

GOG.com and Interplay Team Up for Summer ‘Staycation’ Offer

Matthew Sims — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:16:43 +0000

GOG, better known as Good Old Games, is teaming up with Interplay to deliver 50% savings on all 32 Interplay titles in the GOG.com catalog. Interplay was a giant in the 90′s releasing such classic games as Fallout 1 & 2, Earthworm Jim 1 and 2, and MDK 1 and 2.

A Staycation is where you stay at home to save money, and with these classic games going as low as $2.99 you can save some cash and enjoy some classics you may have missed.

Be sure to check out the classic Fallout games, they are easily the highlight of the bunch. You can check it out at GOG.com where games are always DRM free.

This Staycation event lasts until July 4th.

Check Out This Awesome Pip-Boy 3000 Replica

Dave Oshry — Thu, 26 May 2011 00:22:01 +0000

Few things are better at helping you along your way in a post apocalyptic wasteland than a trusty Pip-Boy. This staple of the Fallout franchise is useful for keeping you up to date on your quests and letting you know just how close you are to an irradiated death at all times.

Well, this has just been brought to our attention. It’s one hell of a replica:

UPDATE: We have found out who made this magnificent piece of post-apocalyptica!! He goes by the name of Chanced and he makes all sorts of Fallout replicas!!

Yes, that’s an iPhone in there. So, this thing tracks your quests and gets crappy reception! zing!

Some of his other replicas include Nuka Cola bottlecaps, a Laser Pistol and what appears to be a second Pip-Boy replica made from that god awful Pip-Boy clock that came in the Amazon collector’s edition of Fallout 3. Yes, I’m still mad about that…

Want to get all nerdy about Fallout with me? Shoot me an email at Dave@RipTen.com or find me on Twitter @DaveOshry

Fallout Movie That Never Got Made is Finally Revealed

Dave Oshry — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 08:05:04 +0000

Did you know that there was once an Interplay Films? Did you know that they almost made a Fallout movie? Well, that movie never came to be, but the writer who was to script it has finally revealed all the details.

According to The Vault:

A Fallout movie script was to be written by Brent V. Friedman. Several studios were interested in the concept, but before a deal could be consummated, Interplay Films was disbanded around 2000 and the movie was canceled.

Friedman never did get to write a full script, but he did pen a 15 page film treatment which more or less tells the tale of the entire film. I highly suggest you read it for yourself. Personally, I think it wold have made a pretty damn decent action flick in it’s day.

The film was to be loosely based on Fallout 1. Yet, there are certain things from the Fallout universe that are definitely missing such as The Brotherhood of Steel. However, Vault 13, theVault Dweller, The Overseer and The Master all play starring roles.

After finally revealing this information, Friedman told The Vault:

It was surprisingly fun to read it after all these years (it was written around 1998 when Fallout 2 was released). There are some things I would definitely change (obviously, there are many outdated references, etc.) but there are also scenes and aspects of this story which I still love.

What do you think? Would this have made a great film? Would it have achieved the cult status of the original games?

I fear those answers are forever lost beneath the sands of the wastes…

[Thanks, as always, to Ausir]

New Fallout: New Vegas DLC Coming Next Week? (Bethesda Says No)

Dave Oshry — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:51:18 +0000

UPDATE: Bethesda has denied these claims – We knew it was too good to be true!! :-(

It’s time to bleed out your Honest Hearts and Dust off them Old Bones, New Vegas is gettin’ some new DLC, and it’s the haps, baby!

We’ve known for a while that the next installment of New Vegas DLC will likely be Honest Hearts – but apparently just one month after that we’ll be getting some more DLC entitled “Old Bones” Better yet, this is no timed exclusive baby, it’s coming to all platforms at once! Ya dig?

According to TheVault:

Play.tm reports based on information from UK retail sources that the next two Fallout: New Vegas add-ons will be called Honest Hearts and Old Bones. As previously announced, unlike Dead Money, which was a timed exclusive on the Xbox 360, they will be arriving on PS3, PC and Xbox 360 at the same time.

Honest Hearts is reportedly due to arrive in the UK, France and Germany on the 22nd of March on Xbox Live PSN and Steam.

The next pack, Old Bones is reportedly dated for the 26th of April again on all formats. This title is surprising, as we’ve known that the titles trademarked by ZeniMax at the same time as Honest Hearts were Old World Blues and Lonesome Road. If this is true, it means that either one of these (likely Old World Blues) was renamed, or it is an extra one aside from these three, which would make the total number of add-ons 5, just like the ones for Fallout 3. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

So if these sources are correct, Europe will be getting new DLC as soon as next week!! No word yet as to when the US will see this DLC.

So while everyone else is out playing Crysis 2, us RPGamers can kick back and relax with Ulysses and pals.

Bethesda: “The license is ours. Fallout belongs to us.” Interplay: “ORLY!?”

Dave Oshry — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 12:50:35 +0000

On today’s episode of, “Tales of Our Post-Apocalyptic Lives” – Bethesda says Interplay has the rights to nothing. Low and behold – Interplay isn’t having it. Drama ensues. Dun dun dunnnnnnnnn *cue dramatic music*

Be sure to check out the last episodes of, “Days of Our Post-Apocalyptic Lives” here, here and here

People on both sides of the argument have been giving their two cents to various gaming outlets. Of course, our good buddy Ausir who runs TheVault has compiled it all so guys like me can make sense of it all. Here goes:

Eric Caen, Presidente of Interplay recently told Eurogamer that if the sale of the Fallout IP is terminated due to this whole legal mess – the Fallout franchise may end up coming back home to Interplay. The original deal was for three Fallout games and DLC – meaning that the next game after New Vegas would technically be Bethesda’s last. This obviously sparked some interest around the net – here is his full statement:

We sold the Fallout IP to Bethesda in exchange for a certain amount of cash and the right to do the Fallout MMO,” he said. “If they refuse to let us do the game, then the sale of the IP is terminated, and they will be allowed to do only one more Fallout, 5.

“But in that case, the IP will come back to us, and of course, we will complete our work and release the Fallout MMO.”

“The original licensing deal was for three games and their DLC,” Caen continued. “So they already did Fallout 3, then Fallout: New Vegas, and they can only do one more Fallout, 5, if the sale of the IP is cancelled by the court.

“We will love if we have to do Fallout 6 and sequels. But we will see what happens in court. It can be this year or later… We have the back-up of our shareholders to fund this fight.”

But does a Fallout MMO really even exist? You bet your irradiated ass it does. According to Caen:

“Since early 2009, we have a virtual Fallout world that exists and grows every day. We don’t want to release too many elements because of the litigation. We don’t know yet when we will reveal more. Sorry! “Our team, led by Chris Taylor and Mark O’Green [two of the creators of the original Fallout], loves Fallout and what we are putting together. We all hope we will be able to show you soon more of our work, and that you will like it.”

However - VG247 also reached out to Bethesda’s Pete Hines for comment. He had some interesting things to say:

“We own the rights to the MMO,” he said when asked if Caen’s comments were true. He continued: “We own the rights to everything Fallout. The license is ours. Fallout belongs to us. That’s what I’ll clarify.

“Beyond that, I’m not commenting on anybody else’s comments. It’s a legal matter. A specific MMO or project or any of that stuff, the lawyers are all going to sort it out.”

Once again – to summize: Bethesda says they own everything Fallout and Interplay is more or less entitled to make jack squat. However – Interplay thinks they have a real case here and if the sale of the IP ends up being terminated they may end up with the Fallout franchise again sometime in the not so distant future.

Stay tuned as the drama continues on – “Days of Our Post-Apocalyptic Lives!!”

Interplay Calls Bethesda’s Fallout Claims, “Absurd”

Dave Oshry — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 06:42:49 +0000

Can’t we all just get along? No? Ok, then how about we get this mess sorted out and get back to making games.

Not long ago, Bethesda Softworks stated that Interplay was only given rights to use the fallout name and not any other elements or assets from the franchise. Well, Interplay has responded calling that claim, in a word, absurd.

According to Interplay’s Lawyers:

“First, this is not only absurd, but is specifically prohibited [emphasis Interplay's] by the agreement because Interplay was only granted a ‘license and right to use the Licensed Marks on and in connection with its FALLOUT-branded MMOG … and for no other purpose,” the filing added.

“It was not the parties’ intent that Interplay create, for example, an online baseball game or poker game called ‘Fallout.’”

I don’t know . . . a Fallout poker game sounds pretty sweet to me. In all seriousness however, the fact that Interplay was given license to make a Fallout MMO and can’t use any elements of the Fallout universe is absurd.

Source: TheVault (Thanks as usual to Ausir)