Tim Cain Discusses Challenges of Remastering Fallout: Striking a Balance Between Originality and User Experience
Tim Cain reveals the complexities involved in remastering the original Fallout game, highlighting legal barriers, technical difficulties, and subjective design choices.
Have you ever considered that the original Fallout would be an ideal candidate for a remaster? If you did, you are absolutely correct. Tim Cain, the game’s lead, discusses the intricate process of remastering it, if and when someone ventures to undertake this task—highlighting that it is far more complicated than one might assume.
Cain often indulges in deep retrospectives about his previous work, providing insights that are typically informative and entertaining. In his latest discussion, he unveils a range of obstacles that a Fallout remaster would need to conquer.
First among these challenges are the legal hurdles: Bethesda, the current owner of the Fallout franchise, would have to approve the project, and re-licensing the music would also likely be necessary— a Fallout remaster without the iconic Inkspots wouldn’t be the same.
Beyond that, the original game’s antiquity presents its own problems: the audio and video assets are proprietary to older technology, and it was compiled with the now outdated Watcom compiler, which is afflicted with its own set of limitations.
Cain describes how some bugs in the original game are viewed subjectively; while some warrant fixing, others add character to the experience—such as the quirky behavior of AI companions. Cain raises questions about whether certain established bugs should be rectified in a remaster or preserved as part of Fallout lore.
Similar debates arise regarding game mechanics like difficulty settings or the Fallout user interface, prompting Cain to suggest practical fixes like reorganizing inventory systems to enhance gameplay without straying too far from the original vision.
Ultimately, while Cain expresses that he has no desire to tackle the legal maze, he is passionate about resolving technical issues. He notes that discussions around a remaster should be enjoyable and invites exploration of varied opinions on how to proceed, acknowledging that subjective decisions often breed debate.
In conclusion, while Cain sees potential for a Fallout remaster, he suggests it should retain a light touch—enabling it to function seamlessly on contemporary systems while respecting the original experience.
