Company News Bethesda to Fallout PnP: Cease and desist

[Araanor]

I'm not shedding any tears for Fallout PnP but Bethesda could've told them off from the start instead of making them waste three years.

Yes, because three years ago they owned the IP.

... oh wait ...

"[Bethesda] are stating that Interplay never had the rights to license a Pen and Paper to GCG under their license of Fallout from 2004 before the purchase of the IP"

More like one year.

Okay.

Instead of focusing on a few important issues

While you have a point about knee-jerks, I think it's pretty safe to assume a lot of the commenters here are not familiar with Fallout PnP. Going by the information given in the news post Bethesda does come off as a bit evil.

 

[Atrokkus]

People tend to forget that GCG is NOT a fan project, and NOT a noncommercial one either. Moreover, GCG was the first to make legal threats to FAN projects, so really Bethesda is the benefactress here, especially considering the overall crappiness of GCG's project.

HOwever, there is a huge gap of information between that vague recount of the 2004 "pact" between Interplay and Beth and today's claims of Interplay's legal inability to issue any licenses after said agreement. I wish Bethesda could comment on that, it would surely win more support for them.

 

[Lurkar]

I think this topic proves pretty much why nobody listens to the Fallout fans.

Instead of focusing on a few important issues, that you might reasonably be able to change, you knee-jerkedly start bitching about everything that is done by your enemy. Even when it's the getting rid of a fucked up abomination.

This is what you say when a Fallout PnP is started (which I kind of agree with):

That's part of the problem with this from a business stand point. If you're going to make a Fallout PnP commercial product for any other reason than quick-buck license whoring, then you should make the system itself as close to the original CRPG as possible so players can gel with the tie in product from either side of the equation. If one uses one system and the other uses another, completely different system, then you have the problem of the same setting with two completely different sets of rules.

It's as dumb of an idea as if Interplay had decided Baldur's Gate needed to use SPECIAL.

It's amazing, that even with all the claimed circle-jerk sessions of teamwork, they're still this clueless of the art styles. Except for Vault Boy, and that doesn't take much effort at all, in particular the one with one leg melting while the other is perfectly fine while standing IN the toxic waste. BRILLIANT! Rolling Eyes

The equipment designs are from a "WTF?!" period of styling, clearly indicative of the artist's dilligent study of linework on local glassware, in particular mirrors. The placement of these items in advertisements, in particular the Metal Gear style idiocy, matches the crackheaded "intro" GluttonCreeper tossed out a bit ago as a "sample" of their work. Said intro, along with a laughable cover piece and a sample of how they skullfucked the traits into munchkinfesting garbage to indicate that they were similarly clueless about the rules as well as the setting, was universally mocked even by the fanficers from AOL.

Too bad the "artist" didn't recognize the two free loading screens that put the comic style into clear perspective, yet I suppose most of these kids think you mean wrestling when you tell them "EC Comics style".

The common excuse that GCG pulls out is that the released work is "unedited"...well, they've got until Dec (more like Jan), which is when Herve wants it released.

Unfortunately for them, they have an editor that kept bugging me to do their job for them (Eronarn), until I publicly pointed out that they are the editor, they can bother to learn about the setting and other material in context, or simply stop pretending to be doing a job as an editor. Or pay me for me doing their work for them (which, of course, they were far from willing to do, given how low-budget this shit is).

Having played only Fallout 2 once doesn't quite cut it. I think after GCG posted some idiocy about their moderator (spoQn), and their moderator even showed up for a moment at DAC (the GC forums moderator had never seen the DAC forum until recently, and yet supposedly "found" the GC forums as the second registrant), but has since been absent from the spammed GC forums.

And when it's closed down:

The irony of Bethesda trying to prevent a Fallout based pen&paper RPG just spits in your face, doesn't it?

What.The.Fuck.

The devil has a name. Bethesda.

Great job, guys.

That's because, for all our moaning and pissing, we still think it's vaugely dickish for Bethesda to just, seemingly at random, shut it down.

Also, it doesn't bode well for other fan-made products of Fallout.

Which brings me to an interesting point. We've all been wondering why Bethesda decided to buy the entire liscence. Perhaps they're going to start getting revenge for all the Oblivion hating? It's one thing to take sloppy seconds from Interplay in raping it's body, but now they're basically flexing their muscles and saying "You can't even make your little fan-boy projects on Fallout. It's ALL ours."

 

[The Idiot]

That's because, for all our moaning and pissing, we still think it's vaugely dickish for Bethesda to just, seemingly at random, shut it down.

Also, it doesn't bode well for other fan-made products of Fallout.

Which brings me to an interesting point. We've all been wondering why Bethesda decided to buy the entire liscence. Perhaps they're going to start getting revenge for all the Oblivion hating? It's one thing to take sloppy seconds from Interplay in raping it's body, but now they're basically flexing their muscles and saying "You can't even make your little fan-boy projects on Fallout. It's ALL ours."

Yeah, because FO d20 was a fan project.

 

[DarkUnderlord]

Well, Fan Made Fallout hasn't receieved a cease and desist yet. I seriously doubt we'll get one either. Bethesda relies on modders to fix their games. It wouldn't bode well if they started shutting them all down.

 

[Davaris]

I think this topic proves pretty much why nobody listens to the Fallout fans.

Instead of focusing on a few important issues, that you might reasonably be able to change, you knee-jerkedly start bitching about everything that is done by your enemy. Even when it's the getting rid of a fucked up abomination.

This is what you say when a Fallout PnP is started (which I kind of agree with):
Saint Proverbius wrote:
That's part of the problem with this from a business stand point. If you're going to make a Fallout PnP commercial product for any other reason than quick-buck license whoring, then you should make the system itself as close to the original CRPG as possible so players can gel with the tie in product from either side of the equation. If one uses one system and the other uses another, completely different system, then you have the problem of the same setting with two completely different sets of rules.

It's as dumb of an idea as if Interplay had decided Baldur's Gate needed to use SPECIAL.
Rosh wrote:
It's amazing, that even with all the claimed circle-jerk sessions of teamwork, they're still this clueless of the art styles. Except for Vault Boy, and that doesn't take much effort at all, in particular the one with one leg melting while the other is perfectly fine while standing IN the toxic waste. BRILLIANT! Rolling Eyes

The equipment designs are from a "WTF?!" period of styling, clearly indicative of the artist's dilligent study of linework on local glassware, in particular mirrors. The placement of these items in advertisements, in particular the Metal Gear style idiocy, matches the crackheaded "intro" GluttonCreeper tossed out a bit ago as a "sample" of their work. Said intro, along with a laughable cover piece and a sample of how they skullfucked the traits into munchkinfesting garbage to indicate that they were similarly clueless about the rules as well as the setting, was universally mocked even by the fanficers from AOL.

Too bad the "artist" didn't recognize the two free loading screens that put the comic style into clear perspective, yet I suppose most of these kids think you mean wrestling when you tell them "EC Comics style".

The common excuse that GCG pulls out is that the released work is "unedited"...well, they've got until Dec (more like Jan), which is when Herve wants it released.

Unfortunately for them, they have an editor that kept bugging me to do their job for them (Eronarn), until I publicly pointed out that they are the editor, they can bother to learn about the setting and other material in context, or simply stop pretending to be doing a job as an editor. Or pay me for me doing their work for them (which, of course, they were far from willing to do, given how low-budget this shit is).

Having played only Fallout 2 once doesn't quite cut it. I think after GCG posted some idiocy about their moderator (spoQn), and their moderator even showed up for a moment at DAC (the GC forums moderator had never seen the DAC forum until recently, and yet supposedly "found" the GC forums as the second registrant), but has since been absent from the spammed GC forums.

And when it's closed down:
Quote:
The irony of Bethesda trying to prevent a Fallout based pen&paper RPG just spits in your face, doesn't it?
Quote:
What.The.Fuck.
Quote:
The devil has a name. Bethesda.

Great job, guys.

Hey you're missing the point. Its all about fairness.

One company who many fans believe is damaging the brand, is shutting down another company's project, who many fans believe is also damaging the brand. If a big company is allowed to wreck Fallout, why can't the smaller one do it as well?

 

[mathboy]

Thank you for purchasing The Omega Syndrome from Australian Game Developers.

The key to unlock your copy of The Omega Syndrome will be sent to you in a separate email.


Regards
David Moffatt

 

[Davaris]

Thank you for purchasing The Omega Syndrome from Australian Game Developers.

The key to unlock your copy of The Omega Syndrome will be sent to you in a separate email.


Regards
David Moffatt

So what are you trying to say mathboy?

 

[mathboy]

That I thought that your reply was great enough to push me across the edge to buy your game, something I've been wanting to do for a while.

That and bribing you into agreeing with me on everything.

 

[Davaris]

I thought you'd miss understood my joke and I'd upset you or something!

Thanks for buying it, every sale is appreciated.

 

[Ratty]

Also, it doesn't bode well for other fan-made products of Fallout.

Which brings me to an interesting point. We've all been wondering why Bethesda decided to buy the entire liscence. Perhaps they're going to start getting revenge for all the Oblivion hating? It's one thing to take sloppy seconds from Interplay in raping it's body, but now they're basically flexing their muscles and saying "You can't even make your little fan-boy projects on Fallout. It's ALL ours."

Fallout d20 is not a fan-made project, bloody hell. It is a commercial project, and an unbelievably shitty one at that. BethSoft have done a lot of nasty things, but bullying Fallout fan projects isn't one of them, knock on wood.

 

[kingcomrade]

Does anyone have an Omega Syndrome unlock code? Plz help I'm desperate!!1

 

[Davaris]

Does anyone have an Omega Syndrome unlock code? Plz help I'm desperate!!1

Shhhhh! Don't tell anyone I told you, but you can one one here:

http://www.ausgamedev.com/

 

[Ausir]

Have you guys seen the Fallout d20 samples? It was the worst abomination with the Fallout name slapped on it since FOBOS.

Moreover, Glutton Creeper themselves threatened to sue the maker of a fan-made Fallout d20 PnP if he doesn't remove his game from his website and NMA, so I'd say they got what they deserved. At least Bethesda, unlike them, isn't threatening fan-made projects.

Oh, and Jason Mical wrote a chapter or two, yes, but he didn't get along with the Glutton Creeper guy too well and the rest of the stuff there is mostly crap.

And Jason's PnP isn't gone, it can still be downloaded in various places and a new version is being created using a wiki:

http://pnp.falloutvault.com

Unfortunately, The Vault wiki is currently down and in need of a new host.

 

[Shoelip]

Does anyone have an Omega Syndrome unlock code? Plz help I'm desperate!!1

Shhhhh! Don't tell anyone I told you, but you can one one here:

http://www.ausgamedev.com/

A little off topic but, you've got a very nice website.

I'd be interested in buying your game but I was put off by the combat-centric demo.

 

[Section8]

Does anyone have an Omega Syndrome unlock code? Plz help I'm desperate!!1

You have to equip the helmet, but only after you've taken the protein pill.

 

[The_Nameless_Prick]

Fucking retarded. Just give me an axe and I will raid Bethesda. No Glocks, just a nice, big Orcish Waraxe. I'll give them a taste of their own medicine. With any luck, I'll catch them staring at mudcrabs so their attention is extendedly diverted.

 

[Shoelip]

Fucking retarded. Just give me an axe and I will raid Bethesda. No Glocks, just a nice, big Orcish Waraxe. I'll give them a taste of their own medicine. With any luck, I'll catch them staring at mudcrabs so their attention is extendedly diverted.

Unfortunnately for The_Nameless_Prick, he had spent all his time working on his Axe Skill which no longer existed, rather than the new "Blunt" Skill that incoporated all non swordish melee weapons. Also, there were no good axes in the game. As such, when he assaulted Bethesda head quarters and smashed Todd Howard over the back of the head with his blunt orcish battleaxe Todd merely screamed like an infant and ran to Pete, who called the police. The_Nameless_Prick was gunned down in front of Bethesda HQ by the SWAT team. All the while, screaming defiantly... "Give me back my money you retarded monkies!"

 

[The_Nameless_Prick]

:Braveheart: *cough* I meant :Boromir:

 

[Excrément]

I think this topic proves pretty much why nobody listens to the Fallout fans.

Instead of focusing on a few important issues, that you might reasonably be able to change, you knee-jerkedly start bitching about everything that is done by your enemy. Even when it's the getting rid of a fucked up abomination.

This is what you say when a Fallout PnP is started (which I kind of agree with):

That's part of the problem with this from a business stand point. If you're going to make a Fallout PnP commercial product for any other reason than quick-buck license whoring, then you should make the system itself as close to the original CRPG as possible so players can gel with the tie in product from either side of the equation. If one uses one system and the other uses another, completely different system, then you have the problem of the same setting with two completely different sets of rules.

It's as dumb of an idea as if Interplay had decided Baldur's Gate needed to use SPECIAL.

It's amazing, that even with all the claimed circle-jerk sessions of teamwork, they're still this clueless of the art styles. Except for Vault Boy, and that doesn't take much effort at all, in particular the one with one leg melting while the other is perfectly fine while standing IN the toxic waste. BRILLIANT! Rolling Eyes

The equipment designs are from a "WTF?!" period of styling, clearly indicative of the artist's dilligent study of linework on local glassware, in particular mirrors. The placement of these items in advertisements, in particular the Metal Gear style idiocy, matches the crackheaded "intro" GluttonCreeper tossed out a bit ago as a "sample" of their work. Said intro, along with a laughable cover piece and a sample of how they skullfucked the traits into munchkinfesting garbage to indicate that they were similarly clueless about the rules as well as the setting, was universally mocked even by the fanficers from AOL.

Too bad the "artist" didn't recognize the two free loading screens that put the comic style into clear perspective, yet I suppose most of these kids think you mean wrestling when you tell them "EC Comics style".

The common excuse that GCG pulls out is that the released work is "unedited"...well, they've got until Dec (more like Jan), which is when Herve wants it released.

Unfortunately for them, they have an editor that kept bugging me to do their job for them (Eronarn), until I publicly pointed out that they are the editor, they can bother to learn about the setting and other material in context, or simply stop pretending to be doing a job as an editor. Or pay me for me doing their work for them (which, of course, they were far from willing to do, given how low-budget this shit is).

Having played only Fallout 2 once doesn't quite cut it. I think after GCG posted some idiocy about their moderator (spoQn), and their moderator even showed up for a moment at DAC (the GC forums moderator had never seen the DAC forum until recently, and yet supposedly "found" the GC forums as the second registrant), but has since been absent from the spammed GC forums.

And when it's closed down:

The irony of Bethesda trying to prevent a Fallout based pen&paper RPG just spits in your face, doesn't it?

What.The.Fuck.

The devil has a name. Bethesda.

Great job, guys.

EDIT ; fuck, I never achieved to insert an image in this forum. how does it works?

 

[Ausir]

I think the artwork sucked. But iirc the content was OK.

No, it wasn't.

 

[Fez]

Frenchies aren't allowed to post images.

I'd pay money to see TNP go raging into their offices with an axe. I'd even pay up so he could have horse armor to go with it.

 

[Shoelip]

What would be really ironic is if Todd got stripped, castrated, and hung from a rope, then set on fire.

Just like all those poor guys in the game that the ESRB decided deserved a T rating.

 

[Diogo Ribeiro]

 

[Davaris]

Off topic...

A little off topic but, you've got a very nice website.

Thanks Shoelip. I chopped and changed the site six times before I finally settled on its current look.

I'd be interested in buying your game but I was put off by the combat-centric demo.

Yes there's quite a bit of combat in the demo, because almost everyone one in the base was killed by something that got loose and rapidly multiplied. However if your character is a diplomat, you can convince the soldier to help you, or you can try your luck using stealth and other thief type skills.

Of course there are more updates to look forward to, including additional dialogue and quests that will be added by an author called Stephen North. So feel free to check back in a few months, if you want to see those improvements and additions.

Back on topic...