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Fallout 3 Van Buren Tech Demo Released

Posted by Zonk on from the meet-you-in-shady-sands dept.

gbridge writes "Over eight years since the release of Fallout 2, the original (pre-alpha) tech demo of Black Isle Studio's abandoned Fallout 3 Van Buren project has made its way into the public domain. It's obviously a long, long way from being even beta quality but fans are rejoicing that they finally have something of the cancelled project to see for themselves. Bethesda have also given Fallout fans something to look forward to by announcing that a teaser video of their own interpretation of Fallout 3 will be released in 33 days time."

41 comments

  1. This matters how? by ShadowsHawk · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I could be wrong, but I thought Bethesda announced that they were not going to use any of Van Buren. It might give us insight as to the original, but it certainly doesn't shed any light on the upcoming Fallout 3.

    On that note, Bethesda:

    1. Please make it turn based or KotOR style combat.
    2. Sandbox style gameplay
    3. Do not use the Oblivion style auto leveling.
    4. SPECIAL

    1. Re:This matters how? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      I am really looking forward to Fallout 3, but you people (the rabid Fallout nerds) who have these lists of what the game MUST be or they won't like it will be severely disappointed. It's been 10 years. The likelyhood of turn based combat is remote. Give it up. I hope for more than Post-apoc Oblivion with guns, but the idea that Bethesda will simply replicate FO2 with better graphics is ludicrous.

    2. Re:This matters how? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      On that note, Bethesda:

      1. Please make it turn based or KotOR style combat.
      2. Sandbox style gameplay
      3. Do not use the Oblivion style auto leveling.
      4. SPECIAL I really get the feeling from the developers that they're not even considering doing it anything like ye olde Fallout. Honestly, this would be my prediction:

      1. Oblivion
      2. With Guns

      From all the developer commentaries I've read, they make it sound like everything they've done in Oblivion was better than perfect, like as if nothing was wrong. All they do in that studio is pat each other on the back, even if what they accomplished was a piece of shit tied to a string. With that sort of "We can't do it wrong" attitude, I can't possibly see how they can do it right.
    3. Re:This matters how? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Hey, have *you* ever tried tying string around a piece of shit? It's not as easy as it sounds, pal.

    4. Re:This matters how? by Dan+Slotman · · Score: 4, Interesting

      What I really appreciated about Fallout was the lovely skill system, the perk system, and character customization. As long as these traits are preserved (along with the humor), Fallout 3 will be fun, and the exact details of how the game mechanics play out don't matter.

    5. Re:This matters how? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      depends how long it's been drying....

    6. Re:This matters how? by ShadowsHawk · · Score: 1

      They already said that they probably will not be using dark humor which is extremely disappointing. As far as game mechanics, it does make a huge difference. Turn based or pause action allows you to plan and manage your party actions. Without the party management, you have to rely on AI which means less effective combat control. Simply put, the game mechanics are very important.

    7. Re:This matters how? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Uhhh... I read that they would be. The game would be rated M. Granted, Bethesda has pretty much told everyone that ALL info that has been circling is rumor. We'll see in June.

    8. Re:This matters how? by hedwards · · Score: 1

      One of the things which really made fallout was the humor and the style of combat. I generally hate turn based combat in most games, but the way it was done was actually somewhat interesting. Taking that away would turn it very quickly into a third person twitch game which really doesn't strike me as as appealing.

    9. Re:This matters how? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The combat in the recent UFO games are a nice compromise between realtime and turn-based

    10. Re:This matters how? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      i actually thought one of the great things about fallout was the strategy its turn based movement point system brought.
      no one's done anything like it since the move to 3d.

      kotr's lack of interesting weapons, lack of important skills, lack of position and strategy, and klunky interface isn't really in the same league.
      turn based would be nice but kotr's not a great model.

    11. Re:This matters how? by Dan+Slotman · · Score: 1

      I said that mechanics don't really matter for the game to be fun. I didn't say they didn't affect gameplay. If the game if fun, I'll be satisfied.

    12. Re:This matters how? by skreeech · · Score: 1

      In Fallout 1 and 2 you can't control your party even though they are turn based. In fallout tactics you could control the party in real time or turn based.

      --
      [20:36] wwwdot/.dotorg
    13. Re:This matters how? by WilliamSChips · · Score: 1

      I could be wrong, but I thought Bethesda announced that they were not going to use any of Van Buren.
      Yeah, I heard they were going to use Fallout 3 Harrison instead, but it crashed after only 8 hours and they had to replace it with Fallout 3 John Tyler.
      --
      Please, for the good of Humanity, vote Obama.
    14. Re:This matters how? by PaganRitual · · Score: 1

      1. Please make it turn based or KotOR style combat.

      NO. Turn based, or don't bother. Seriously. Pause time combat is shit. It made KotOR suck, and it wrecked the first recent UFO game as well. I know they want to make a game that will sell on consoles as well, but if the console crowd can't handle a game that actually stops constantly for the next turn, then screw them. Or tell them it's like Baseball or NFL, but with brahmin.

      And I'm afraid to think that number 3 even needs mentioning. The world-levelling system of Oblivion is the stupidest thing I've ever seen. If they ever pull that shit again then, well I'm not sure what I'll do, but you can rest assured it will affect no one outside my own personal world space.

  2. 33 Days? by Cheezymadman · · Score: 4, Funny

    It took me less time to get the water chip. Come on, Bethesda!

    --
    We're all going to die. i intend to deserve it.
  3. one of the great things about fallout by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    was the bloody mess perk. and i actually remember reading somewhere in an interview or comments section that this was specifically mentioned by someone at bethesda, i dunno if it was one of the lead developers or what, but the fact that they specifically recognized this one feature gives me high hopes.

  4. Sigh of relief by FinnMcGee · · Score: 1

    Now that I've had this taste of what Fallout3 was supposed to be. Another long wait for Bethesda to (hopefully not) mutilate this title.

  5. Fandom by Wilson_6500 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It matters for the fans of the Fallout series because we get to see what kind of game Fallout 3 was shaping up to be. Soon enough, we'll see what Fallout 3 _will_ be, and I have a gut feeling that lots of people are going to be disappointed when they compare the two.

  6. QUICK Torrent Link here by SilentOneNCW · · Score: 2, Informative

    QUICK Torrent Link here: http://tracker.uktorrents.com/details.php?id=230 It is a private torrent site, but signups are open.

    --
    games journalism blog
    1. Re:QUICK Torrent Link here by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Good link, friend. Thank you.

      Here's another torrent (47 seeds, 10 peers at the moment): http://www.demonoid.com/files/details/1140348/2631 3144/

      Two options above... or you could just wait for someone to up to giga.

  7. Fallout: Fans by hansamurai · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I wouldn't be surprised if some clever fans of the series started tearing into this tech demo and used it as a basis for a full fledged, community built game.

    --
    Reviewing just the first hour of video games.
    1. Re:Fallout: Fans by Samalie · · Score: 1, Troll

      God I hope so. I have no faith in BethShitia

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      09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
    2. Re:Fallout: Fans by Bagels · · Score: 2, Informative
      To be honest, I would be surprised if they did anything that constructive. From what I've seen, Fallout's "fans" have spent their time of late doing little more than moan and speculate endlessly about Bethesda Softwork's upcoming entry into the series. Some of their concern may be justified, to be sure; Bethesda has had their fair share of issues in the past, and their most recent AAA title, Oblivion, was no exception. So far, though, they've shown one poster and one teaser image for the game (both of which have appeared entirely in keeping with the "vibe" of the series), and for that they've received the most vitriolic stream of abuse and hatred that I've ever seen this side of fundamentalist religion.


      At least it will be interesting to see what happens when the proper teaser trailer is released. Also, I'd absolutely love to be proven wrong; Van Buren does look like a neat (if somewhat incomplete) framework to build a game around.

      --
      --- Bwah?
    3. Re:Fallout: Fans by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      It's super buggy. Without the source code you have no chance to survive.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    4. Re:Fallout: Fans by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hehe... Fallout 3 1/2 is already underway!

    5. Re:Fallout: Fans by ShadowsHawk · · Score: 4, Informative

      "From what I've seen, Fallout's "fans" have spent their time of late doing little more than moan and speculate..."

      You've obviously never been to No Mutants Alive (www.nma-fallout.com). There is a thriving mod community that is still releasing new mods and patches. I think your 'honest' opinion is either based on facts that you pulled out of your ass or you're trolling.

    6. Re:Fallout: Fans by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I doubt they will be able to do anything with it unless they have a license to use Granny.

      This tech demo was released by the notorious NMA site mostly to stir up problems in the new Fallout 3 forums on the Bethesda boards. I say this because everything else they've done seems aimed at that goal.

    7. Re:Fallout: Fans by skam240 · · Score: 2, Informative

      I think your 'honest' opinion is either based on facts that you pulled out of your ass or you're trolling.

      Or maybe he's just discussing what he's experienced. Certainly the phrase which you quote beginning with "From what I've seen..." seems to suggest this. He may be misguided (I don't know on this count) but he certainly doesn't sound like he is either trolling or pulling things out of his ass.

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      I ignore Anonymous Coward posts. If you want to discuss something, that's awesome. Log in.
    8. Re:Fallout: Fans by Carthag · · Score: 1

      To add to the other comments, http://www.fifengine.de/ has also been started a while ago, which is going to be an engine remake for the Fallout series in the vein of ScummVM with additional features added.

  8. Shady Sands? by SilentOneNCW · · Score: 1

    Zonk obviously never got past the first level of the first game...

    --
    games journalism blog
  9. Fantastic - and funny. by pragma_x · · Score: 2, Interesting
    The tech demo guide is worth a read. It's good to know that those involved maintained that sense of humor that Fallout fans love about the game:

    Corporal Armstrong and you will have to make due with what you can scavenge in case you encounter this threat. You will be safe once you reach the Vault, which has been created with the latest technology and incorporates redundant systems to prevent any possible malfunction.


    http://www.nma-fallout.com/article.php?id=35862
  10. Missing Requirements by pragma_x · · Score: 2, Insightful

    5. Cold-War-Era Modernism
    6. Funny

    Seriously. Fallout just isn't fallout without it's dark humor and future-retro stylings.

  11. One very smart reason to release it... by Bishopus · · Score: 2, Interesting

    is to shut up all the 'if only Van Buren had come out!' talk from the Fallout faithful, both now and after the Bethesda game ships. The fact that it's obviously a flawed, unfinished POS engine and toolset combo should lay some of the idealization of the 'potential' Fallout 3 to rest. And of course it gives the truly crazy Fallout fans, who would never buy the Bethesda version but would complain every inch of the way, something to chew on for the new few years. Brilliant!

    1. Re:One very smart reason to release it... by k_187 · · Score: 1

      Honestly, there's a small but loud group that doesn't consider Fallout 2 to be Fallout. This is one of those situations where no matter how good Fallout 3 is, the fanbois will hate it.

      --
      11 was a racehorse
      12 was 12
      1111 Race
      12112
    2. Re:One very smart reason to release it... by FloodSpectre · · Score: 1

      How precisely does an "unfinished POS engine" lay to rest any idealization of BIS' Fallout 3? That's no different than claiming Bethesda's Fallout will suck after seeing the image and hearing the music on their Fallout website. I'm a Fallout fanboy and I check out NMA every day, but I'm willing to give Bethesda's version a chance, as much as I'd love to see one made by its true creators.

  12. "public domain" or "public"? by Anonymous+Freak · · Score: 3, Informative

    Saying that it has made its way "into the public domain" implies that the copyright on it has been waived, therefore anyone can do anything they want with it.

    The linked article doesn't mention anything of the sort. It makes it sound like it has "become public", meaning to become available.

    --
    Another non-functioning site was "uncertainty.microsoft.com."
    The purpose of that site was not known.
  13. Open-Source Fallout? by GrumpySimon · · Score: 1

    Are there any open source remakes of Fallout, or something that's similar? I'm up for a new RPG but sick of goblins and wizards.

    --
    henry -- the human evolution news relay
    1. Re:Open-Source Fallout? by John+Nowak · · Score: 1

      http://www.fifengine.de/

  14. Finally by jonaac · · Score: 2, Interesting

    No Mutants Allowed has tried to make this public for over three years now, when I was still working with them. This will give some closure, now that the discussions have to be focused on Bethesda's Fallout 3, and allowed us to give a salute to the people of Black Isle Studios, this was a labor of love to them. There's no source, but if one takes a closer look in the files with the proper tools, one finds more models, scraps of files for a variety of purposes, even stuff from Baldurs Gate3: The Black Hound, the cancelled BIS game that Van Buren was using the engine. Those were good times