“War. War never changes.”
I think we all know the purpose of war.
Gaining territory, disputes between rival nations, politics… all to resolve conflict and eventually achieve peace. And yet, that peace never seems to last.
It’s now the 21st century. Technology has achieved feats unimaginable in previous centuries. Humanity should have left the dark ages behind. So why are we still going to war? Has the purpose of war changed? Have we lost our freedom to choose whether to extend a hand or to close it into a fist?
I believe the answer can be found in the most unlikely source: a video game.
This short film essay explores how Interplay Entertainment and Bethesda Game Studios’ post-apocalyptic Fallout video game franchise employs player freedom of choice to reveal why individual choices and personal actions matter.
Video and post produced for Multimedia Storytelling course Fall 2022.
SOURCES:
Video
Bethesda Studios; Fallout 3 Trailer; Bethesda Softworks; Rockville, Maryland; 2008
Bethesda Studios; Fallout 3 Operation Anchorage Trailer; Bethesda Softworks; Rockville, Maryland; 2009
Bethesda Studios; Fallout 4 Cinematic Trailer; Bethesda Softworks; Rockville, Maryland; 2015
Wayside Digital; Fallout Red Star; Wayside Creations; City Unknown; 2013
Music
Inon Zur; Fallout 1 Metallic Monks; Interplay Interactive, 1997
Inon Zur; Fallout 1 Vats of Goo; Interplay Interactive, 1997
Inon Zur; Fallout 1 Desert Winds; Interplay Interactive, 1997
Inon Zur; Fallout New Vegas End Slides theme; Obsidian Entertainment and Bethesda Softworks; 2010
Inon Zur; Fallout 4 Main Theme; Bethesda Softworks; 2015
All other footage featured in this video is gameplay from the Fallout series.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ronald Sit is a student majoring in Media Studies at the University of San Francisco. His hobbies include playing badminton, video games, and violin in his spare time. He hopes to work in the film industry in the future.
