5/18/2000 Later
Just noticed that Gamespot have posted
a
preview of Arcanum of Steamworks and Magick Obscura. The game
looks pretty sweet! Also there is a new
patch out for Revenant, the
Diablo type game from
Cinematix. The only reason I mention it is because this patch
adds the ability to create and maintain dedicated game servers for
Revenant. A sweet innovation to say the least. I'd say that this
game deserves a look. Considering it has been out for a while you
can probably find it on the cheap. Be warned that a gamepad is the
preferred play method.
5/18/2000
The questions keep coming into the Fallout: BOS forums.
- Q) Will choosing between male and female greatly change
character interaction like it did in FO2?
A) No.
- Q) Will doctor and first aid skills be usable in combat?
A) Tentative yes. We are looking at rebalancing some AP costs
and skill usages.
- Q) Are you forseeing more or less weapons in F:T than in
FO2?
A) About the same. Some more variety, however.
I tell you guys. I am looking forward to this game, but I also
am longing for some good role playing games as well. Arcanum should really satisfy that
urge. Hopefully we will see some more info on that soon. If you
haven't played
Planescape Torment yet don't wait. Go get it now!
5/18/2000
More commentary from the Fallout: BOS forums.
- Q) Will there be more accurate critical hit graphics?(chest
doesn't explode with a critical hit to the head)
A) Not really. The problem is the number of different
animations we can create. The number is very similar to what you
have seen in previous Fallout games.
- Q) (kind of a repost) since the game's music will be in .mp3
format, will you be able to have FO:T play your personal .mp3's
without having to hack into game code to set the directory for
it?
A) Hmmm. I don't know the actual answer to this (not that
that's ever stopped me before... :), but it depends on how we end
up doing the audio. If we make it play according to a map (like a
desert vs. a city map) or an event (like combat), then probably
not. If we make it play randomly (which I don't see us doing), then
I don't see why not. If you ask Karl _real_ nicely, he might be
able to add an PLAY RANDOM MUSIC option to the Options screen. I
don't think that would be a very difficult thing to do, but it's
completely up to Karl (ie, it's not something they have to do for
us).
If that's not a hint I don't know what is! Hey, I think being
able to play some of your own MP3's is a pretty cool feature. The
Sims allowed you to do that by swapping your own MP3's into certain
directories. If you guys want to see something like that in the
game I would suggest that you get over to the Fallout: BOS
forums and let your voice be heard! Also, here's hoping the
next Fallout game uses a nice 3D engine, like the one that Black
Isle bought from Monolith, so that they don't have to worry about
creating gobs of source art for every new animation.
5/17/2000
The Fallout
Tactics: BOS forums have a lot of great info coming out of them
as the developers are answering a lot of questions over there. Some
info about FT follows:
- Q) Can we choose a character's armor color?
A) You may choose skin, hair and team color. Thats
all.
- Q) Can we see special effects (colored lighting and other)
without 3d graphic cards?
A) Two of the screenshots shown on the webpage demonstrate
colored lighting. This is without 3D graphics cards. The main
benefit for owners of 3D cards will be increased game
performance.
Sort of like Diablo II as I indicated below. -H
- Q) Will the character generation be the same as in FO and
FO2?
A) Almost identical.
- Q) This message board is still really buggy.
A) We know. Actually we have new software flexin behind the
curtains and almost ready to go. It's way cooler. Much more stable
and tweakable.
Good to hear! That message board needs an update.
- Q. In multiplayer will it be possible to have more than one
human player controlling a single squad?
A. No. But you can play team games.
5/16/2000
Saw at the Tactics forums that new Fallout
Tactics: BOS
wallpapers have been posted at the MicroForte (developer of
Fallout Tactics) website.
5/15/2000
The Fallout Brotherhood of Steel
website has been updated with an FAQ for the
game. Looks like it is basically XCOM meets Fallout (which is not a
bad thing of course). They say they are using DirectX to enhance
gameplay, but they also mention that it is a 2D engine. DirectX is
used in a number of different aspects of game development including
sound and basic 2D graphics card support. Perhaps they will add
some 3D effects into the game, but it looks like the game is going
to be largely composed of 2D tile based artwork. They could be
doing something like Diablo II which is supposed to be a 2D
graphics game with 3D accelerated special effects. Personally I
liked the 2D graphics in Fallout, they really worked quite well,
but I gather it was a bitch to model them, which is why they didn't
include any new animations in Fallout 2.
5/15/2000 Part Deux
Hey folks, I was just thinking that while this is
a page devoted to Fallout. There is nothing preventing me from
talking about some other great RPGs out there. For instance Planescape Torment. I
just saw over at
CompuExpert that they have it on sale for 22.90 plus shipping
for the next 15 hours (8:30PM EST here). That is a good deal for a
great RPG. I played through the whole thing and it is awesome. I
liked it a lot better than Baldur's Gate. There was a ton of story
in Planescape. If you liked Fallout you will like it. I guarantee
it. If you have trouble with it, I found a decent Planescape
walkthrough that helped me out a bit on some of the more
difficult puzzles.
5/15/2000
Well, I decided to update the site design. It was
annoying me. I hope that this helps people get around the site
better. Notice that I didn't eliminate the ugly background for all
you people that love it.
5/13/2000
The new game
Fallout Brotherhood of Steel has been announced by Interplay.
Looks awesome, they seem to be going for a cross between XCOM and Fallout. Hopefully they will
still include a good amount of RPG elements. Screenshots are
up at the Interplay website. BTW, check out that XCOM link if you are interested in
classic games as the Mythos guys have available for download some
of their old ZX Spectrum games on their website.
I ended the poll, the results were 41% for keeping the new
design 18% for changing to a black text on white background and 41%
wanted another option. I guess none of those people were web
designers as I got no additional suggestions for designs. So, until
I get tired of the current design I'll leave it the way it is.
5/1/2000
I know this is off the subject of Fallout, but I am selling my
car. It's a 1987 Buick Grand National. I have a page up for it. Check it out if
you are interested in fast cars. Oh yeah, here are some links to
items about the new game Arcanum of Steamworks and Magic Obscura
from the designers of the original Fallout. This game looks really
cool. I'm sure you guys and gals will like it if you are coming
here!
4/24/2000
Well, my poll has brought in a few results. So far
"What? there aren't any other options?!" is in the lead. Keeping
the same design is second. All I can say about the lack of design
choices is, tough crap. If you are a web designer I give you full
license to send me alternate design schemes other than black text
on a white background. Otherwise, keep it to yourself. If you
haven't voted yet, what the hell are you waiting for? The fate of
that ugly background rests in your hands! I think I'll leave the
poll there at least till mid May or so.
4/20/2000
Okay I've managed to resist updating
this site, despite many temptations to go back and play Fallout 2
and finish the walkthrough up. Can't do it. Don't want to do it.
Fallout 3 will probably be out within the next year anyway. Keep
sending questions my way and I'll try and answer them. I do have
one thing to add, I've posted a poll regarding the site design.
Yeah, I know you all love the hokey background, but I just want to
make sure, so check out the poll at the top if you haven't
already.
|
