Project V13 FAQ

This is a list of Frequently Asked Questions about Fallout Online.

See also: Fallout 3 FAQ

What is Fallout Online?
Fallout Online is a working title for a possible future post-apocalyptic Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game set in the Fallout world, an alternate universe based on 50s sci-fi pulp fiction, as if the world had stopped in the optimistic 50s and found itself on a dystopian post-apocalyptic reality. It will be a spin-off of the Fallout series, which includes Fallout, Fallout 2 and Fallout 3.

Is Fallout Online the official title?
No. Since no title has been officially announced, the name Fallout Online (or FOOL) is used by Fallout fans to refer to the possible future Fallout MMO. The official title will be known after the game is announced.

Is Fallout Online really in development?
The game has not been announced yet, however, Interplay has licensed the rights to a Fallout MMORPG from Bethesda and hired Jason Anderson, one of the creators of Fallout, to work on an unannounced MMORPG project, and since Interplay is working on only one project, the project being Fallout Online is a pretty safe bet.

Who is making Fallout Online?
While the game has not yet been announced, since Jason Anderson, one of the makers of Fallout, has been re-hired by Interplay, it's fairly certain that the game will be created by Interplay's new development division.

Wait, wasn't Interplay dead by now?
After selling many of their assets, including the Fallout franchise, Interplay seems to have risen from the dead again. Among other projects Interplay has said it wants to develop are sequels to Earthworm Jim, Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, Descent, and MDK, provided it can find the financing.

But didn't Bethesda own Fallout now?
Yes, Bethesda Softworks owns the Fallout franchise now. In April 2007, SEC filings were made showing the purchase of the entire Fallout IP to Fallout 3 developer Bethesda Softworks for $5.75 million USD. While Bethesda now owns the rights to the Fallout MMO IP, clauses in the purchase agreement state allow Interplay to license the rights to the development of the MMO.

Will Interplay be able to raise enough money?
Specific requirements were stated in the agreement that if not met, Interplay would immediately lose and forfeit its license rights for Fallout. Development must begin within 24 months of the date of the agreement (April 4, 2007), and Interplay must secure $30 million within that time frame or forfeit its rights to license. Interplay must furthermore launch the MMOG within 4 years of the beginning of development, and pay Bethesda 12 percent of sales and subscription fees for the use of the IP.

On June 30, 2008, it was announced that Interactive Game Group, LLC (created by Frederic Chesnais, former Chief Executive Officer of Atari, which now also owns MicroProse) purchased 2,000,000 shares of Interplay stock, as consideration for entering into a game production agreement.

What if they don't?
On August 1, 2007, ZeniMax Media Inc., parent company of Bethesda Softworks, announced the creation of ZeniMax Online Studios. The division will be headed by Matt Firor, a well-known expert in the field of online gaming, and will focus on the Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMO) market segment. It might work on a Fallout MMO in the future, if Interplay fails to gather enough money for their Fallout Online project.

When is it going to be released?
Unknown, since the game is yet to be announced. However, in order to avoid violating its contract, Interplay would have to launch the MMORPG before April 2013.

Is it made by people who made previous Fallouts?
In November 2007, Interplay reopened in-house development and hired Fallout developer Jason D. Anderson as creative director for an unannounced MMO. The game is most likely to be Fallout-related, given that he is the contact name of Interplay's jobs appliance and that Fallout is referred in the job requirements. It is currently unknown whether any other developers of past Fallout games will also be working on this project.

What is the character system? Is it SPECIAL?
No details about the character system have been disclosed yet, but it's very likely to be SPECIAL. Here's what Jason Anderson had to say about the character system:
 * True character development is another thing I would like to see improved. It seems like most MMOs have reduced characters to a grouping of stats and a configuration of skills. I don't want to go into details about my ideas at the moment, but I will say that I believe there needs to be a feeling that you are making choices in the world and at the very least I believe these choices should affect your character personally.

What will the playable races be?
The available races are not known, but known races in the Fallout world include humans, super mutants and ghouls. Mutant raccoons and furry talking deathclaws are much less likely candidates.

What will the playable classes be?
If the SPECIAL system is used, the character creation system is most likely to be classless.

Where and when is the game set?
The exact setting is unknown, although it can be presumed that the game will be set somewhere in the post-nuclear former United States of the Fallout world.

What is the storyline of the game?
Since the game has not been released, no details on the storyline have been disclosed. Here's what Jason Anderson had to say about MMO storytelling methods:
 * I think the core storytelling methods used in current MMOs could be improved on. A lot of the concepts of the worlds I've visited feel very convoluted to me. When you have a couple thousand quests that are given out sporadically, it is very hard to keep the story together. The story can easily get lost in the noise produced by the designers attempting to be creative with their quests. And this can make the world lack cohesion.

Are Fallout Tactics and Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel treated as canon?
Bethesda does not treat the events of Fallout Tactics and Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel as canon when developing Fallout 3 and it's very likely that the makers of Fallout Online won't either. There is no official word on that yet, though.

Is Van Buren treated as canon?
It is unknown whether the story of Van Buren, the cancelled Fallout 3 by Black Isle Studios will be treated as canon, although it is unlikely.