IGN PC is reporting that Interplay and Masthead Studios (the folks behind Earthrise) have signed an agreement to develop Project V13, aka the Fallout MMO.

Most of us have known of Masthead's involvement with the project since early 2009, however, what stood out about IGN's report is a statement from Interplay's Chairman and CEO Herve Caen:

"...This MMOG will have many unique features that we will disclose before launch of the public Beta in 2012."

Could we really be looking at a 2012 beta for the Fallout MMO? I suppose it all depends on how the Interplay vs. Bethesda trial plays out!

Read the full report here.

 Wow, I don't know how to feel on this one.  I like the fallout series, and I love bathesdas games...  I think the fallout MMO would be in better hands with bethesda...  Then again, I don't know much about masthead so they could be very capable.. I haven't been keeping track of earthrise.  .   .    A 2012 beta planned though... either way I'd like to see what they've come up with.

 Great, we can get some practise in an apocolypse mmo before the world actually ends in 2012 lmao.

I'm looking forward to this, I must say, despite what I'm about to say next...

Thing is with this sort of game and numerous others, is that the 'gritty' world they aim to create just ends up being downright depressing. In most games, a post-apocalyptic world is nothing short of a miserable, depressing wasteland. Even games like AoC and EvE are kinda grim and dull in their aesthetic. One's set in some dirty old fantasy world where no-one ever takes a bath and the other is set in space, which is called space for a reason - coz there's f.all in it!

I'm probably just talking crap, but I'm giving WoW a whirl again (oh noes) and I can really see the charm of gaming in a world that doesn't appear to be the very embodiment of the word 'decay'. I'm also playing Global Agenda and a couple of other 'happy' style games like Earth Eternal and after a day at work, it's kinda refreshing to log-in and be bathed in bright colours.

Maybe I've got S.A.D. or something...

Aryas

 Ah, great. Every even numbered year will be the year of people whining because they didn't get into beta. >.>

This could be awsome.But with the sueing going on over the liscense kinda doubting well see much.tho their was in discovery that betha was makeing a oblivion mmo.

Least  mmo companies are tyirng difrent ips an not following hollywoods remake recon reboot kick they seem to be on.

 Man Mike B, why go to IGN when the original source of this information comes directly from Interplay.....
 
Here is the official announcement/news report from Interplay. 
Clicky

 See, what I most love about the Fallout games is that while the world may be a depressing and dangerous place after the bombs fell, the player's actions have meaning, and if you play a good guy and even sometimes when not) the world is a better place when you're through with it. Some times it's improved for only some people, some times for everyone, sometimes some get screwed in the process, but overall the attitude is a positive one.

Fallout's world is a nuanced and complex place. I want any MMO to reflect that - not just grinding deathclaws for XP or their hands so I can make gloves to sell or something. And that, really is why I'm ambivalent about the MMO. And, well, it being in Interplay hands is not a boon, to my sight.

Originally posted by Auton

 See, what I most love about the Fallout games is that while the world may be a depressing and dangerous place after the bombs fell, the player's actions have meaning, and if you play a good guy and even sometimes when not) the world is a better place when you're through with it. Some times it's improved for only some people, some times for everyone, sometimes some get screwed in the process, but overall the attitude is a positive one.

Fallout's world is a nuanced and complex place. I want any MMO to reflect that - not just grinding deathclaws for XP or their hands so I can make gloves to sell or something. And that, really is why I'm ambivalent about the MMO. And, well, it being in Interplay hands is not a boon, to my sight.

See, the sad thing is...only Interplay can make this happen. Interplay were the ones who started Fallout.

Also, I understand timelines, but I have hated Bethesda's guts since they bought the rights to the Fallout IP. Not only did Fallout 3 completely fuck up everything Fallout 1 and 2 worked for, making little in the ways of depth and making all player actions except a few minor good/evil plot twists useless when working towards the ultimate cause of everything and by making there so little in terms of truly seeing different environments and different people, the fact that they would have the bollocks to pull this bullshit on the people that created the IP that they're so privileged to use absolutely infuriates me. 

Interplay created Fallout. Bethesda is never going to make a Fallout MMO. Let Interplay do what the fuck they want with their last project related to their own child.

EDIT: Guess I should have been more careful. I was sympathizing with the original Fallout devs now over at Interplay getting fucked over. Not the rest of Interplay.

I have no idea what game you played, but it wasn't the Fallout 3 I played, that's for sure.

Incidentally, Interplay did not create Fallout, they merely published it. The creators were Black Isle, where most of the members went on to form Obsidian once BI closed. Obsidian, incidentally, is doing a new Fallout game that will be 'similar to' FO3, according to them. It's called Fallout: New Vegas. But yeah, Interplay has no right to Fallout in and of themselves. And they sold the IP when they closed their PC dev branch. So my heart bleeds for them and their incompetence.

Originally posted by Auton

I have no idea what game you played, but it wasn't the Fallout 3 I played, that's for sure.

Incidentally, Interplay did not create Fallout, they merely published it. The creators were Black Isle, where most of the members went on to form Obsidian once BI closed. Obsidian, incidentally, is doing a new Fallout game that will be 'similar to' FO3, according to them. It's called Fallout: New Vegas. But yeah, Interplay has no right to Fallout in and of themselves. And they sold the IP when they closed their PC dev branch. So my heart bleeds for them and their incompetence.

Right right, my apologies. Nevermind about the publisher/developer mix-up. It's probably because of the original Fallout devs at Interplay and my being sick, something got messed up there. In any case, the point is that original Fallout devs are in Interplay working on the MMO and they sold the IP when their finances went south, as we see commonly in the game development industry.

In other words, I'm sympathizing with the devs and accidentally lumped the rest of Interplay in there.

I just don't know, anyhow. No matter how many times I could play through Fallout 3, I could never experience anything new with a different playthrough except maybe a secret area I missed. The whole reason to replay through Fallout 1 and 2 was the fact that every time, there would be a new undiscovered village of a totally new mix people waiting for you to pass through and mean something.

In Fallout 3, all that captured me was the desperation of Megaton and the need to not blow them to all hell.

In the original Fallout games, I felt a connection with every settlement I traveled to.

Maybe it's just me.

Originally posted by johnmatthais

 In any case, the point is that original Fallout devs are in Interplay working on the MMO and they sold the IP when their finances went south, as we see commonly in the game development industry.

But, near as I can tell, they're not. Obsidian is working (apparently closely with Bethesda) on a non-MMO, while Interplay is tapping MAsthead, which is Bulgarian, for the MMO.

 I'm curious to see if they go with classes or no classes, i shudder at the thought of a Brotherhood of Steel Prestige Class.

Originally posted by Joker2240

 Man Mike B, why go to IGN when the original source of this information comes directly from Interplay.....
 
Here is the official announcement/news report from Interplay. 
Clicky

Link was sent to me from IGN. Didn't see it come off the wire. Ah well! Thanks for your concern though! :) Use the tip box on the newsroom. Send us stuff! You get a neat title and credit in the story!

I thought Interplay retained all MMO rights when they sold the IP?  What claim could Bethesda have then?

Personally, I'll never touch another Bethesda game, they are technically "good", but lack any soul.  Fallout is a great example of this, the Bethesda version has almost none of the humour/charm of the originals, and that humour/charm is what made FO1 & 2 the great games they were...