Frequently Asked Questions

I answer many questions that have been asked over the last few weeks, so hopefully people can watch this video and refer back to it if those questions are asked again.

In brief, here's what I cover:

- This channel is to talk about the game development of my own games.

- I’m not trying to start a Kickstarter, make a new IP, or reform Troika.

- I don’t own the rights to Fallout, Arcanum, or Bloodlines, so I cannot make a remaster or a sequel. Contact Bethesda or Activision for questions about that.

- I do own the code for Arcanum and Temple but I cannot release it. Contracts and NDAs still apply. I have compiled them on modern compilers, for fun.

- I’m currently a contractor, working for several companies, including Obsidian. I’m not an employee of Obsidian or Microsoft or any other company.

- I’m working on TOW2, but as a contractor. I’m not the director.

- I’m not going to play other people’s games, or rank them, or review them.

- I didn’t work on Fallout New Vegas. It shipped the year before I started at Obsidian, so I have no stories to tell about it.

- I don’t want to talk about events I didn’t witness, and I never want to tell you what someone else was thinking or feeling or planning. Because I don’t know. I can just tell you what they did.

- I’m not going to do regular interviews with other developers, but as questions about my games accumulate that I don’t have answers to, I’ll invite old colleagues on to answer those questions

- Why am I doing this? I’m now the age my father was when he passed away. I want some of the stories remembered, and apparently I’m a better speaker than a writer. So you get videos instead of a book.

- It’s hard to tell true stories. Everyone remembers events differently. Even with my notes, people have disagreed with me. Often it’s a matter of subtle difference, e.g. we had made the Temple starting area for Fallout 2 early on, but it wasn’t a tutorial and it was skippable. That’s one of the reasons I implore you not to cast my stories with heroes and villains. That changes with perspective, either from different people’s viewpoints or the same persons viewpoint changing over time. As I’ve gotten older and my color vision has faded, ironically I see things less as black and white. I recommend you do the same.

[EvanChantland]

I'm glad you're doing these, Tim. It reminds me of some fun times. You were easily one of the best people I've ever worked with, it really came across that you cared about the game and the people working to make it. I'm also happy to watch these just to see that you are doing well.

[LahceneBelbachir]

4:36 "You don't wanna watch us stumble around in our own games..."
Oh but you're underestimating us Mr. Cain... 😆

[JohnPaulSaylor]

I would 100% watch you and Leonard play Fallout again. In fact, every time I start a new game of Fallout I always listen to the GDC talk you did about the development of the game, and then I watch the playthrough you did with Leonard. It's just wonderful. Thanks again for these videos, Tim.

[necronut]

Tim... I don't have a question at all. I just want you to know that I absolutely am still head over heels in love with Arcanum.

[londonjolly]

Thank you for doing this, Tim! Watching developers talk about the industry and making games as a whole is extremely insightful, and I'd put what you're doing alongside the legendary Bungie Halo ViDocs and Josh Sawyer's content on design (at first specifically New Vegas, unsurprisingly my favorite game drew me in) as priceless learning for whoever will be making the next great game.

[TylerMcVicker]

Love ya Tim; even with this FAQ, people will still be asking these same questions until you are no longer doing YouTube videos. I've been doing this for over a decade, and I'm still asked the same five questions.

[BarracudaYT]

Congrats on the 15k subscribers! Thank you for all of the stories and behind the scenes you're sharing with us!

[arbonthepirate]

Thank you for all that you have done over the years. Your games have always been a big part of my life.

[Seallussus]

I gotta say your channel is my new favorite channel.
There is just something about this format, your honesty, and how you seem to be just telling history not interested much in drama or vindicating your views. And obviously the incredible insights, goes without saying.
I just hope we get more content

[blakej]

It always feels good to prove the naysayers wrong. Kudos, Tim!

[MisterKisk]

Tim, you are an absolute treasure. It is a joy listening to you speak (as you mentioned, you're a great storyteller; but you also have a very endearing voice as well), and are a fountain of knowledge. Once I found out about your channel through reddit, I ended up binge watching all of your videos.

Thank you for sharing these stories with us.

[RockTB]

Tim, these are great videos. I truly enjoy hearing from you on all of these points. The insight into the industry, and into one of my favorite sets of games, has been amazing. Thank you!

[perplexedmoth]

I would have guessed you did C++ for Fallout and onwards. I am glad to hear you wrote portable C for Arcanum. Would you talk more about the libraries and tools you wrote in a separate video for those of us who are programmers (I believe a good number of people)? TTRPG and coding are two topics I love hearing more about from you.

[socialcooks]

I discovered your channel yesterday and really appreciate the invaluable lessons and stories that your proving to people aspiring to work in the gaming industry! I also think that many people would enjoy stories that aren't necessarily gaming related. I, for one, am really curious to hear how you developed your passion for chocolate and why you decided to make a blog for it :)

[LazarSutilovic]

First of all I just want to say, as many, many people have already said before me, you are a huge inspiration for me and probably my main role model, Mr. Cain. Watching these videos has quickly become my daily activity and I eagerly anticipate every new one. It's just amazing how insightful and fun they are at the same time, and how down to earth you are for someone who many people think of as a living legend and one of the most important people in video game industry.

As for the question, it's on the subject of perspective. I wonder, having made legendary games that used both types of perspective, which one do you prefer? Isometric or first/third person? Which one conveys atmosphere better in your opinion? In short, I'm interested about your general thoughts on perspective.

[FieldMarshall]

I dont know if you'll ever see this but just in case you do i just wanted to say you probably saved my life. Your games helped me get through some really tough times when i was a kid and im eternally grateful for that. I wasn't going to say anything but when you started talking about getting older and passing away i just didn't want to regret having the opportunity to say something and then later find it was too late.

[whiteegretx]

I loved this channel since it first started. Do whatever you want, but the way you are doing it now is what I love.

[defeatrecon]

A real gem of a channel. Looking forward to more stories! Congrats on 15k!

[ZeMalta]

Thanks for giving back to the community, Tim! Hope you and your loved ones are well.

[cristitanase]

Questions:
Can you remember the idea, concept and history behind the various substance consumables you can use in Fallout and their effects, from Nucacola to Mentos and Buffout. Did any of it caused any controversies, moral panics or issues during or after development?

How did you guys developed the AI of the party members? Any stories? How did you choose them? Who created them and such?

Some of the characters are animated and voiced, why? And why not all?

There are also "spicy" moments in Fallout like a brothel, adult movie studio, shutgun wedding, any stories about those? No one objected or had issues with them?

Did GECK had a story behind?

Was any talks about making merch, movies, comics, board games or any other type of extra content out of Fallout back then?

Oh... and the demo, the gangs fighting, was that inspired from a movie somehow? It was amazing btw.


Thank you for your superb work, and for the videos.