"War...war never changes"
The first thing that you see when you play Fallout 3 is a hula doll on the dashboard of a bus, which is eerily accompanied by a 40's big band song about setting the world on fire. The camera pans out to find the bus empty, with a teddy bear on one seat. Further panning reveals the bus is destroyed, along with most of the city it once belonged in. Next you hear a voice over explaining the world of Fallout. Basically, the world is in a state of nuclear holocaust, after a giant nuclear war. Unfortunately, the war still continues. Citizens must go underground into vaults set up by the government. However, most of the vaults were destroyed and the people in them were forced to emerge. Except Vault 101, which is" where you were born and where you will die"
Surely enough, I witness my own birth and choose my key attributes. Interestingly, my father is Liam Neeson. Liam Neeson names me Max Power (after a Simpsons episode that he loves so well. Actually, I chose the name.) Now I choose what I want my character to look like. Do I want to make a character that looks just like me, or should I make myself look ridiculous. Action hero or every man? I choose preset 2, which seems to be in between action hero and everyman. Interestingly, he looks a hell of a lot like Luke Skywalker, which is not much of a problem for me. I add a beard, because this is post-apocalyptic society and who does not grow a beard after the apocalypse. Basically, he's Mad Max.
Sadly, my mother dies of childbirth, despite the presence of much medical equipment. I get to learn how to walk when I'm a baby. I get to choose more attributes about my personality. I decide to add personality points to my intelligence, charisma, strength and luck. A good balance. You always want luck. Eventually, I grow up, into a ten year old, and I have a birthday party, which gives me a device called the Pip Boy 3000, which tracks my stats. I have various interactions with NPCs, which helps form my personality.
Next, I have to take an exam, to determine even more of my attributes. Next thing I know, I'm 19 years old and I have to escape the Vault or I'll die, since my father is now a fugitive. After killing the Overseer of the Vault, I escape into the outside world.
Fallout has succeeded in creating an immersive world that you don't want to leave, a great motivation to keep returning to the game. The evolution of your character also acts as a pull to return to the game.
I look forward to making progress in the world of the unknown
Nice post Dan - I hope you have more time to play this week.
ReplyDeleteYou wrote about the world that the game sets you in very well as well as your process of character selection. How do you think (if at all) to Gee's Identity principle? By spending so much time creating a post-apocolyptic identity, do you find any relation to your real-world identity?
You also said that this immersive world is very motivating. Why? Does this initial immersion and character creation process make you more intrinsicly motivated to escape the Vault? Or, are the motivations still extrinsic at this point in the game? Why? Do Malone & Lepper really apply to your gameplay at this point in your opinion?
I look forward to reading more as you progress!