With the release of the Fallout 3 downloadable content "The Pitt", we contacted Bethesda to interview Jeff Gardiner in regards to the new download content. What is the Pitt? What does it add? What's in store for Fallout 3? Find out in here.
GamesRelay: So with the recent release of 'the Pitt', I'm sure you are aware of the venom that is filling gaming forums about additional paid-for-content that was not included in the original game. This is clearly directed towards the industry as a whole, but Bethseda seems to have received a somewhat warmer reception than other software houses when you released the Shivering Isles and the Knights packs for Oblivion. How do you think this additional gaming content has been received by Fallout fans?
Jeff Gardiner: I think our fans appreciate the additional content – they're story driven, and can be played right out of the box with any existing character. They also give the player additional tools via weaponry and perks they can utilize throughout the game as a whole. Given how big our games are and how long you can play them, it's pretty clear we hold nothing back while we're making them.
GamesRelay: Fallout 3 provided the player with a fantastic and immersive experience with some great retro futuristic themes. How does the Pitt build on the original content?
Jeff Gardiner: The Pitt allows the player to travel to and explore the city of Pittsburgh which was spared a direct hit during the nuclear apocalypse that preceded Fallout 3. It continues to build on the themes of the game – how to survive in a world turned upside down after the collapse of society. In Pittsburgh the player will enter a city run by Raiders, who have built their wealth upon the backs of slaves which they use to run an old Steel Mill. The player is faced with many morally grey choices, and the ultimate outcome of the city's fate is squarely in their hands.
GamesRelay: There has been an expected rumble in the forums about the playability issues users have experienced with the 'exclamation mark' errors on the DLC - what would you say to gamers who have experienced this?
Jeff Gardiner: We offer our sincere and humble apologies for this – it was a fluke, our main art file became corrupted. It was repaired and reposted in under 24 hours, so we thank everyone for their understanding and patience.
GamesRelay: What was the motivation for selecting Pittsburgh as the setting for this expansion?
Jeff Gardiner: Several of our developers were born and raised in the city, and it seemed like a great place for the DLC – we were able to capture the high-rise skyline, something DC doesn't have, even if it hadn't been bombed to rubble.
GamesRelay: What else does the Pitt bring to the Fallout experience and what are your favourite creatures/weopons that we should keep our eyes peeled for?
Jeff Gardiner: The Pitt features new creatures called Trogs – heavily mutated former residents of Pittsburgh who hide from the light and crave human flesh. There are also several new raider armors, even a stylized version of the Brotherhood of Steels' Power Armor. The new weapons include an "AutoAxe," a two handled melee weapon complete with a serrated rotary blade, great for sawing through bone, and a silenced scoped automatic rifle we've coined "The Infiltrator."
GamesRelay: Difficult question time - was this content you couldn't fit onto the disc or was this planned as an additional source of revenue?
Jeff Gardiner: We decided towards the end of Fallout 3 production to go forward with Downloadable Content. We never have, nor ever will, hold back content just to sell it as an add-on component.
GamesRelay: How many other expansion packs can we expect to see for Fallout 3?
Jeff Gardiner: We've focusing on the three we've announced.
GamesRelay: Will we be seeing a similar Fallout 3 "Game of the Year" edition hitting stores during the course of 2009?
Jeff Gardiner: We'll have to wait and see
GamesRelay: Can we expect any PS3 DLC appearing on the network?
Jeff Gardiner: As we've said previously our DLC is for Xbox 360 and PC.
GamesRelay: Patrick Stewart in Oblivion; Liam Neeson in Fallout 3; any familiar voices in future expansions?
Jeff Gardiner: We don't have any plans for big-named voice talent in our DLC.
GamesRelay: Bethesda has pioneered the evolution of the 3D RPG in recent times. Where else can the genre go?
Jeff Gardiner: I think there is plenty of room for growth. We've seen some very positive iterations on how dialogue is presented, and we're always trying to improve on the way we tell our stories. The more believable, the more immersed the player is the better. I don't think there's any end in sight to improving on that experience.
GamesRelay: What is next on the horizon for Bethesda - should we expect to stay in a turbulent post apocalyptic future, or could there be a possibility of returning to the medieval fantasy world of the Elder Scrolls?
Jeff Gardiner: We're still making games, I can tell you that!
GamesRelay: Aaaand finally, are you guys Imperial or part of the treacherous Rebel alliance?
Jeff Gardiner : As a child I really identified with Darth Vader. I guess that says a lot about my personality ;)
Our thanks to Jeff and Bethesda for taking the time out to let us interview them.
