Tim Cain
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Fallout co-creator hopes to "make one more game" before his second retirement from RPG development
Fallout co-creator Tim Cain has expressed a desire to develop one more RPG before retiring from the industry again. Cain, who has had a long career with companies like Interplay and Obsidian Entertainment, feels he is running out of topics for his YouTube channel and is currently working on an unannounced project at Obsidian.
Quoteworthy
Fallout co-creator Tim Cain has expressed his desire to develop one final game before retiring for a second time. Cain, who was instrumental in the creation of the original Fallout titles, is considering his next steps in the industry.
Fallout co-creator wants to make one last game before he retires 'for the second time'
Fallout co-creator Tim Cain is winding down his personal YouTube channel, where he has shared insights into the game industry for three years. He feels he has conveyed most of his stories and knowledge, and is considering retirement for the second time, though he may still contribute to games at Obsidian Entertainment.
Fallout co-creator says too many gamers "like hating things," which "doesn't lead to a better game" for devs: "I just tapped out, and that's sad"
Fallout co-creator Tim Cain has expressed his frustration with the current state of online gaming discussions, stating that many gamers seem to enjoy negativity. He believes this environment is detrimental to game development and has led him to disengage from online forums. Cain laments the loss of constructive conversations, which he feels have devolved into unproductive criticism.
Fallout co-creator says non-linear design is all about never assuming how players will act, illustrates his point by fantasising about an NPC guard he seems to really hate
Fallout co-creator Tim Cain discussed his principles for non-linear game design, emphasizing that developers should not assume player behavior. He illustrated this by fantasizing about an NPC guard and stressed the importance of understanding the core goals behind a game's setting, story, and mechanics.
We owe Fallout to an admiral and his officers teaching its designer to play D&D in 1979
Fallout designer Tim Cain discussed his first experience with Dungeons & Dragons in 1979, which was taught to him by US naval officers. This early exposure to tabletop roleplaying significantly influenced his approach to game design, including his work on Fallout, Arcanum, and The Temple of Elemental Evil.
Fallout co-creator Tim Cain says good level designers shouldn't "assume anything the player is going to do in…
Fallout co-creator Tim Cain emphasized that non-linear game design requires developers to avoid assumptions about player actions, such as expecting them to interact with NPCs in a specific order. He highlighted games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for their freedom, contrasting them with the more restrictive mission design sometimes found in Rockstar Games' titles like Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption.
Fallout co-creator Tim Cain is "looking forward" to generative AI for games, TV, and his doctor appointments in dire predictions: "Like a game and you want more content? It'll just generate it"
Fallout co-creator Tim Cain expresses anticipation for a future where generative AI creates games, TV shows, and even medical diagnoses, envisioning dynamic content generation for entertainment and personalized healthcare. He predicts AI will allow players to customize game mechanics and storylines, and for dead MMOs to be revived with AI-generated players. Cain also suggests AI could serve as personalized diagnosticians and nutritionists, though he acknowledges the need for regulation and raises questions about creator compensation.
Tim Cain says he got hired at Interplay because he knew THAC0 better than the other guy, and went out of his way to…
Legendary PC RPG developer Tim Cain recounts how his deep knowledge of Dungeons & Dragons' THAC0 system helped him secure a job at Interplay Entertainment over another programmer. He also discusses the influence of GURPS on his career and the development of Fallout, noting that GURPS was initially considered for the game before the SPECIAL system was created.
D&D's most annoying rule helped Fallout co-creator Tim Cain get his big break at legendary RPG studio Interplay…
Fallout co-creator Tim Cain credits his knowledge of Dungeons & Dragons' THAC0 rule with helping him secure his first major game development job at Interplay. Cain explained that during his interview, his ability to recall specific THAC0 values for different classes impressed the hiring managers, leading to his role at the legendary RPG studio.
The future of RPGs is isometric
The isometric role-playing game genre is experiencing a significant resurgence, driven by the success of titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and Disco Elysium. This trend sees developers embracing the classic top-down perspective, bridging the gap between modern AAA RPGs and older, more hardcore cRPGs, with new projects emerging across indie, AA, and even AAA studios.
Fallout co-creator Tim Cain says less is often more in game design: 'As a very wise designer once said to me, a…
Fallout co-creator Tim Cain emphasizes that less is often more in game design, warning against feature creep and overambition. He advises designers to know when to stop adding elements to a game to maintain focus and clarity of purpose, citing examples from series like Assassin's Creed and God of War.
