Rumors fly after actor’s announcement.
The speculation can be traced back to a tweet from vocal performer Erik Todd Dellums, who played the iconic role of Three Dog in the outstanding return of the post-apocalyptic role-playing game franchise, Fallout 3.
“To all my #Fallout3 and #ThreeDog fans: There may be more of the Dog coming! Fingers crossed!” Dellums tweeted on Wednesday. He was then inundated with requests for more information, to which he only responded, “How was that for a tease! I was given permission to release that tease, so fingers crossed.”
Since that tweet, Dellums has been silent on the topic – though he certainly tweets about a lot of other things. All we really know from this is that some kind of project is in the works which may or may not include a major Fallout 3 character, but the obvious inference is that this project will be a new Fallout game; possibly Fallout 4.
It seems obvious, however, that there must be a Fallout game in the works. We’re due for one, and unlike Valve, Bethesda knows that the real money – and loyalty – is in franchises.
There are a few things we can reasonably expect from the next Fallout game. First, it will likely use the new engine Bethesda developed for Skyrim. Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas both used the Oblivion engine to great effect, but there is no reason to use it again. The Skyrim engine allows the same type of game play, with better graphical possibilities, more stylistic dialogue sequences, and more granular and varied skill-types, and since Bethesda owns both, it would be very strange not to see it used.
Second, it will take place in a new city. Every Fallout game to date has given us a look at some new segment of a devastated version of yesterday’s world of tomorrow. There were rumors last year that the next game would be set in Boston, but this was only based on some reported sightings of Bethesda personel around the city. Personally, I don’t think it’s likely. Boston is too similar to the previous Washington D.C. setting. I think they would want a place more distinct. Some place snowy would provide some great new themes and story opportunities, but it might be too similar to Skyrim. Perhaps the Hawaiian Islands would be fun. I can see the box-art now: a fully suited Brotherhood member in front of a palm tree with nā lei around his gorget. I’m not sure how Three Dog would end up there, however. That would be quite a feat with the technology available to him in-canon.
Of course, for all we know, Dellums’ tweets could have been referring to another project. Maybe it’s a Fallout film or a very-late-stage Falout 3 expansion. These seem unlikely though.
Bethesda has not commented on the rumor, but if they gave the actors permission to announce their potential involvement, they are likely close to going public with some information.
