Bethesda sues Interplay over Fallout

According to published reports, Bethesda Softworks is not happy with Interplay over Fallout. So unhappy in fact that it has decided to sue them. According to this Gamasutra report, Bethesda filed a complaint in U.S. District Court of Maryland earlier this month in an attempt to restrict Interplay from selling older titles like Fallout, Fallout 2 and Fallout Tactics. Interplay sold the rights to the Fallout brand to Bethesda.

The problem stems from Interplay selling that trio of games under the name “Fallout Trilogy,” which irks Bethesda, who happen to make the third game, Fallout 3. Interplay was previously allowed to sell the older games it created (Fallout 1, 2 and the spin-off Fallout Tactics), but Bethesda alleges in court that it want to put a stop to it because Interplay did not seek prior approval for packaging and marketing the game package.

Bethesda also alleges a breach of contract over an agreement with Interplay to develop a massively multiplayer online game based on the Fallout license. Under the terms of that deal, Interplay was required to find $30 million USD in funding and then begin development of the game by April of this year. This did not happen in the timeframe agreed to, says Bethesda.

We’ll follow this story as it continues to develop.

Good Old Games offers Fallout Blowout

Good Old Games, the DRM-free classics game distribution network, is offering a deal on all things Fallout related on the site for a limited time. This week, and running until Monday, April 27 at 11:59 p.m. GOG members can get 20 percent off every Fallout game availble on the site - along with a number of related extras.

This includes the original Fallout, Fallout 2, and the real-time tactical strategy spin-off Fallout Tactics. You can pick up all three for right around $14.37 USD. So what are the extras? 3 soundtracks in MP3 format, 9 wallpapers, 300 bits of artwork, the Fallout Bible with a special introduction by Chris Avellone (205 pages), a nifty set of avatars and the original manuals and reference cards that shipped with the retails versions of these games.

You can find out more by visiting www.gog.com/en/page/fallout_promo.

Carbine Studios Names New Design Director

Earlier this morning, Orange County based development house Carbine Studios, a part of NCsoft, announced it has named industry vet Tim Cain as design director of the studio’s as yet unannounced massively multiplayer online property. Cain has been with Carbine since its start back in 2005 and was previously a programming director for the studio.

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