Are you enjoying the game of Fallout Online? No, not the actual online game in which you adventure in a shattered wasteland, but the constant back-and-forth between Interplay and Bethesda over which company is allowed to work on the development. The game has been tied up in court for roughly forever, with Bethesda trying to block Interplay's further development via legal tactics, and while the first injunction was denied, the studio appealed to have the development halted.
It turns out that the courts remained firmly on Interplay's side, however, as the appeal has been denied and Interplay is in the clear to continue developing the game. Unfortunately, the game will still require express permission from Bethesda to launch, meaning that there's still no end in sight to the legal fighting and name-calling by both companies. For the time being, all that fans of the franchise can do is wait and see... assuming that Interplay remains financially able to develop the game after all.
Reader Comments (38)
Posted: Oct 26th 2011 6:42PM WheresWinPho said
Yay, Bethesda. Sue Everyone!
Posted: Oct 26th 2011 6:54PM (Unverified) said
@WheresWinPho
The comment sounded too similar to 'Scrolls' so we'll see you in court.
Love,
Bethesda Legal Team
Reply
The comment sounded too similar to 'Scrolls' so we'll see you in court.
Love,
Bethesda Legal Team
Posted: Oct 26th 2011 6:47PM J45neoboy said
Hated the single player games but would be more then willing to play the MMO.
I love Bethesda and I love Interplay. Hopefully this will be settled soon so new MMOs can come on the market.
I love Bethesda and I love Interplay. Hopefully this will be settled soon so new MMOs can come on the market.
Posted: Oct 26th 2011 6:49PM EndDream said
While Interplay is probably right in all this, the MMO they make will probably not even work. For that reason I wish Bethesda would win.
Posted: Oct 26th 2011 6:54PM Fabius Bile said
I wouldnt play it regardless who did it
Posted: Oct 26th 2011 6:55PM Graill440 said
Boycott bethesda.
Bethesda has some major issues with support of their products after the sale. I suggest folks steer clear of this company for a long while until they can deliver the service with the product they sell. Boycott? Yes.
On a side note, Bethesda states skyrim is a full console port down as i have found out, very disappointing. So tired of console games producing the standard for pc games, lazy devs. It will be a few years yet before the subpar consoles reach the level of good pc's but its coming and then the lazy devs will have to program again for the pc, sadly we wait.
Bethesda has some major issues with support of their products after the sale. I suggest folks steer clear of this company for a long while until they can deliver the service with the product they sell. Boycott? Yes.
On a side note, Bethesda states skyrim is a full console port down as i have found out, very disappointing. So tired of console games producing the standard for pc games, lazy devs. It will be a few years yet before the subpar consoles reach the level of good pc's but its coming and then the lazy devs will have to program again for the pc, sadly we wait.
Posted: Oct 27th 2011 2:34AM (Unverified) said
@Eamil right here
http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/06/08/e3-2011-the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-interview-consoles-are-our-lead-skew/
Reply
http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/06/08/e3-2011-the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-interview-consoles-are-our-lead-skew/
Posted: Oct 26th 2011 7:01PM (Unverified) said
Can't they work together, make it joint project? make it the best game they can with ideas and work from both sides?
Posted: Oct 27th 2011 1:33PM (Unverified) said
@(Unverified)
I think this falls under game-theory, if they work together the likelihood of success in increased by the individual gain (if successful) is definitely decreased, if Bethesda does it alone the likelihood of failure is increased by the gains (if successful) is definitely increased.
Unfortunately game industry is for the most part commercially driven, so they tend to prioritise profit over game quality. This is particularly notable when looking at the big name players in the gaming space (like EA and Activision) who tend to produce mass-produce sequels and licensed (sport, movie etc.) games of questionable quality.
Reply
I think this falls under game-theory, if they work together the likelihood of success in increased by the individual gain (if successful) is definitely decreased, if Bethesda does it alone the likelihood of failure is increased by the gains (if successful) is definitely increased.
Unfortunately game industry is for the most part commercially driven, so they tend to prioritise profit over game quality. This is particularly notable when looking at the big name players in the gaming space (like EA and Activision) who tend to produce mass-produce sequels and licensed (sport, movie etc.) games of questionable quality.
Posted: Oct 26th 2011 7:05PM JoeH42 said
Just a lovely reminder that gaming companies aren't going to let a fun game stand in the way of them making money.
We'd like to think that companies that provide so much fun entertainment are better than this but they're not. However, I think it's largely a case of a bunch of jerks at the top ruining things for everyone. They're the ones in charge of making money and so that's what they focus on. Meanwhile the majority of people actually working on the game are designers/creators and programmers and suchlike who want to create a good and fun game are focused on doing that. So it's unfortunate that a couple of pricks ruin it for everyone but that's how things work.
We'd like to think that companies that provide so much fun entertainment are better than this but they're not. However, I think it's largely a case of a bunch of jerks at the top ruining things for everyone. They're the ones in charge of making money and so that's what they focus on. Meanwhile the majority of people actually working on the game are designers/creators and programmers and suchlike who want to create a good and fun game are focused on doing that. So it's unfortunate that a couple of pricks ruin it for everyone but that's how things work.
Posted: Oct 26th 2011 7:25PM mmogaddict said
Well now they have lost this case, maybe they will rethink going after Mojang which is an even weaker case than the Fallout one (Which I actually thought they had a decent chance of winning).
It's a shame that Fallour Online is being developed by Interplay/Masthead - you just know it's going to suck balls.
It's a shame that Fallour Online is being developed by Interplay/Masthead - you just know it's going to suck balls.
Posted: Oct 26th 2011 8:08PM (Unverified) said
@mmogaddict
They lost an appeal on their injunction, which would have stopped Interplay from continuing to develop the game while the actual lawsuit went forward. Losing it doesn't have much bearing on how the final case will play out. The reality is that we have a lot more to look forward to in the legal battle.
Reply
They lost an appeal on their injunction, which would have stopped Interplay from continuing to develop the game while the actual lawsuit went forward. Losing it doesn't have much bearing on how the final case will play out. The reality is that we have a lot more to look forward to in the legal battle.
Posted: Oct 26th 2011 7:34PM EdmundDante said
It's all about greed isn't?
You'd think both companies would sit down and act like adults.
But noooooooooooooooooo
You'd think both companies would sit down and act like adults.
But noooooooooooooooooo
Posted: Oct 26th 2011 8:15PM DiscordSK said
@EdmundDante
They did, they wrote out an licensing agreement stating the requirements Interplay needed to reach in order for them to hold onto the MMO porition of the original agreement.
Interplay did not meet them, and has been pretty much going broke dragging their feet. At this point, from what I've read, they are deep in the red and have next to no hope in ever finishing this game.
Somewhere between Interplay not abiding by the original agreement and them going broke, Bethesda sued.
Its basiclly about who holds the Fallout MMO IP. Bethesda as the owners of the IP in general, a company lately appearing extremely greedy verses Interplay who's broke, incompetent when it comes to managing games and money also employee payrolls and possibly can't use the toilet without making a mess (Last one hasn't been proven, the rest are facts :P).
Reply
They did, they wrote out an licensing agreement stating the requirements Interplay needed to reach in order for them to hold onto the MMO porition of the original agreement.
Interplay did not meet them, and has been pretty much going broke dragging their feet. At this point, from what I've read, they are deep in the red and have next to no hope in ever finishing this game.
Somewhere between Interplay not abiding by the original agreement and them going broke, Bethesda sued.
Its basiclly about who holds the Fallout MMO IP. Bethesda as the owners of the IP in general, a company lately appearing extremely greedy verses Interplay who's broke, incompetent when it comes to managing games and money also employee payrolls and possibly can't use the toilet without making a mess (Last one hasn't been proven, the rest are facts :P).
Posted: Oct 26th 2011 8:50PM HokieKC said
So interplay is allowed to work on the Fallout MMO but Bethesda can prevent it from launching. Strange decision.
I predict this MMO is vaporware.
I predict this MMO is vaporware.









