Fallout 3 to have over 200 individual endings

by Terrence Stasse { Mar 26th 2008 at 7:00AM }

With most games these days we've learned to be happy, even impressed, if a game sports more than one ending. And even then most games with over one ending only have a total of two endings at all. For a game to have over 200 endings is absolutely unheard-of. In the case of Fallout 3 the 200 endings run the gamut of difference, from small story details, to the largest plot developments. So there will be gradations in the game's ending to the point that it will be difficult to impossible to get the exact same one if your second character makes different choices. This awesome news came from an interview with the games executive producer Todd Howard on the OXM official podcast. The interview has other tidbits and is worth listing, just as Fallout 3 will be worth playing.

Some of the best details of the interview include the fact that the game ended up being almost twice the size than they originally planned, and that it is now near the size of the Oblivion world. Not only that but the game "is easily 100 hours" which is great news for RPG fans as combined with the DLC, this game gets bigger and bigger all the time. For those who want to skip right to the interview in the podcast, it begins at 35:00.

[Via Joystiq]

Tags: bethesda, fallout-3

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

scaught @ Mar 26th 2008 8:18AM

Easily 100 hours?!?! So for those of us with jobs, spouses and kids we should probably not pick up this game.

CaptClarity @ Mar 26th 2008 8:22AM

"'Fo1 has 19 different endings, with 360 possible permutations. Fo2 has 47 endings with 1,105,920 permutations. If 200 is the number of permutations for Fo3, they are seriously behind. That would correspond to maybe 10-20 endings. But I'm assuming they'd have to be talking about permutations since you should know when designing a game whether you'll have ~12 or ~200 endings. You don't accidentally hop from 12 to 200 endings late in the development process and send in an order for 188 additional voiceovers from Ron Perlman (because he will KILL YOU). With permutations it would be thinkable, at least.'

Bethesda AI programmer Jay Woodward appears to be in agreement here, as we calculate that 255 permutations only requires 8 different yes-no variables (2^8-1)." -- from No Mutants Allowed

http://www.nma-fallout.com

SadisticHam @ Mar 26th 2008 8:22AM

Or just manage your time better, that'd work.

I can see it now "Achievement unlocked - seen all 200 endings."

scaught @ Mar 26th 2008 8:38AM

@SadisticHam

Yes, I could manage my time better.....or I could create more time, i.e. stop going to work. In all honesty, there will always be jobs out there, but there will only ever be one Fallout 3!!

Scott @ Mar 26th 2008 8:45AM

I am excited for this one :) Haven't bought a game on launch day since Halo 3, and I think this one might be one I have to jump on instantly.

xenocidic @ Mar 26th 2008 8:59AM

Sounds promising.

abyssal @ Mar 26th 2008 10:12AM

what the fuck do they think i am, a disabled autistic loser in a wheelchair who can do nothing in life but to play games? what kind of freaking loser is going to see all 200 endings, im sure theres alot out there but GOD DAMN

George Arauz @ Mar 26th 2008 10:20AM

Why so damn many?

Neuromancer @ Mar 26th 2008 10:20AM

Don't get too upset, Abysmal. The 200 so called endings are mostly going to be variations on each other, I'm sure some of them won't be real major. That said, people that want to see every possible permutation of the ending are probably screwed.

Boff @ Mar 26th 2008 10:49AM

Abyssal, if someone is disabled or Autistic that doesn't make them a loser.

andyface @ Mar 26th 2008 12:47PM

Fallout 1 & 2 where fantastic, hopefully 3 will continue in that vein. If there's an achievement for seeing all possible endings I think there'll be lawsuits from people who've been fired after not turning up for work for weeks.

Anyway, Abyssal your comment is abysmal, considering disabled people as lower life forms is not a good thing to do.