Fallout (video game)

Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game is a role-playing video game developed and published by Interplay Productions. In a mid-22nd century post-apocalyptic and retro-futuristic world, decades after a global nuclear war, Fallout's protagonist, the Vault Dweller, inhabits an underground nuclear shelter called Vault 13. After customizing their character, the player must scour the surrounding wasteland for a computer chip that can fix the Vault's failed water supply system. Gameplay revolves around exploring the wasteland and interacting with other survivors, some of whom give the player missions. The game's combat is turn-based; the player can perform actions on each turn until their action points are depleted.

Fallout's main creator, Tim Cain, worked on it at Interplay as early as 1994. It began as a game engine framework, inspired by tabletop role-playing game GURPS published by Steve Jackson Games. After a period of collaboration between the companies, the license was eventually dropped (Interplay citing creative differences—Steve Jackson objected to the game's excessive violence); Cain and designer Christopher Taylor then created a new character customization scheme, known as SPECIAL. Although Interplay initially gave the game little attention, development would ultimately cost $3 million and employ up to thirty people. Considered the spiritual successor to Interplay's 1988 role-playing video game Wasteland, Fallout drew artistic inspiration from 1950s literature and media emblematic of the Atomic Age. The game's quests were intentionally made morally ambiguous. It was released in North America in October 1997 and later in Europe, with modifications to comply with the European market.

Fallout received critical acclaim upon release, being praised for its open-ended gameplay, character system, plot, and perceived original setting, and is now often listed among the greatest video games of all time. It won "Role-Playing Game of the Year" from both GameSpot and Computer Games Magazine, and was nominated by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences at the Spotlight Awards. Among other games, Fallout has been credited for renewing consumer interest in the role-playing video genre due to its setting, as well as its open-ended plot and gameplay. Fallout was a commercial success, selling 600,000 units worldwide, and developed a strong fan following. It spawned a successful series of sequels and spin-offs, the rights to which were purchased in 2007 by Bethesda Softworks.