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Fallout 3 Van Buren Tech Demo Released

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."

17 of 41 comments (clear)

  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: 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.
    2. 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.

    3. 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.

  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. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

    1. 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?
    2. 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.

    3. 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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  7. 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
  8. 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.

  9. 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!

  10. "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.
  11. 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