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Tomorrow marks the launch of The Pitt, the second of three downloadable content packs for Fallout 3, and our anticipation and excitement for the game was tempered by our need for information about the new update.
So we took a few minutes and peppered Jeff Gardiner, the lead producer on Fallout 3, with all of our questions about The Pitt and the general direction of Fallout 3 in its post-retail lifespan. He gives us some insight into why the Vault Dweller keeps traveling outside the geographic confines of the Capital Wasteland, what's included in those three new perks, and what to expect inside The Pitt. You'll get an idea of just how big The Pitt is, how to start the quest line, and whether or not you'll see any new followers in the Pennsylvania area.
Hit the jump, we're talking about The Pitt!
This interview is a joint effort between Larry Marcum and Patrick Cassin, with contributions from Jay Van Beveren
The Pitt marks the second of three downloadable content packages you're offering for Fallout 3 on the PC and the Xbox 360, and it's the second time you're leaving the environs of the Capital Wasteland to see another state. What prompted you to take so many trips outside of Fallout 3's home?
JG: Foremost we wanted to explore areas that are a part of Fallout history; both Pittsburgh and Anchorage have stories from the original Fallout lore. Also, we can take more risks with entirely new areas than we can when we alter the original content of the game, so they make great creative playgrounds for us to explore.
Why was Pittsburgh chosen as the location for this piece of DLC? Why not Niagara? I hear the Falls are lovely this time of year.
JG: I'd love to explore Niagara Falls as I'm an Upstate NY native. Alas, there were more Pittsburgh natives on the staff so that won out. Pittsburgh is a great setting for Fallout; it wasn't directly hit in the nuclear onslaught. Unlike DC, there are actual skyscrapers. The bridges and the river set it apart as well. Our art department has done an outstanding job capturing the feel of the city.
How will the player initiate the quest line for The Pitt?
JG: The player will receive a mysterious radio broadcast which will lead them to a slave who has escaped from Pittsburgh. This slave has hatched a plot revolving around a potential cure for radiation, a cure that will not only help the slaves, but humanity as a whole. The player then travels through an old underground railroad and needs to gain access to the locked down city. How they do this, and what they do once their inside, is entirely their decision.
Does the content for The Pitt scale for players? Will level 5 players still be able to enjoy The Pitt as much as those capped out at Level 20?
JG: Yes, we scaled the content so that it's an enjoyable challenge at any level.
Compared to Operation: Anchorage, how many hours of content are we looking at for The Pitt?
JG: Roughly the same, but there are more repeatable quests and reasons to re-visit The Pitt once the questline has completed.
Will this piece of DLC be as combat-oriented as Anchorage? Or will players be afforded more opportunities for exploration and discovery?
JG: No, this content is much similar to a core Fallout 3 quest. There are many more opportunities for explorations as well as options to minimize combat. There is an entire settlement to explore, complete with sidequests, unique personalities and different objectives depending upon the player's moral bent.
Since your followers must remain in D.C., will you encounter any unique companions in the 'Burgh?
JG: No, we haven't added any followers in Pittsburgh.
Achievement junkies will need to scrounge the city for 100 hidden steel ingots. How large of an area will The Pitt encompass, and can we bring a metal detector?
JG: The Pitt settlement is an area a bit larger the Megaton, with a lot more 'vertical space,' thanks to the Raiders installing catwalks. There is also a huge steel mill and a few dungeon areas to explore. No metal detectors allowed!
Can players revisit Pittsburgh once the quests are finished, or will their excursion be a one-time trip?
JG: The players can revisit The Pitt and there are a handful of repeatable quests, unique vendors, and the city will be affected by the decisions the player made to solve the quest.
Are you prepared to release any further information regarding the perks in The Pitt?
JG: Spoiler alert! There are three: Auto Axpert, Booster Shot and Pitt Fighter. The Auto Axpert increases your killing efficacy with the new AutoAxe, Booster Shot increases you radiation resistance, and Pitt Fighter increases both radiation resistance and damage resistance!
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Are things still on track for an April release of Broken Steel, the third DLC pack for Fallout 3?
JG: Broken Steel will be out in late April or early May, depending on how things go with localization.
Once you finish with Broken Steel, will you consider doing additional downloadable content packs for Fallout 3, or will you close the Capital Wasteland chapter at that point?
JG: Nothing is ever set in stone but right now our focus is on these three.
Any chance PS3 gamers will be able to get a taste of the DLC for Fallout 3? Possibly in a "Game of the Year" edition further down the road?
JG: The DLC is for 360 and PC versions.
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