Although it might seem logical for him to return to one of his classic RPGs, Tim Cain has explained in detail why he has no interest in creating a new IP or a sequel.
Tim Cain, the original designer and lead programmer of Fallout, is frequently asked the same question today: why doesn’t he make a new, original RPG, return to Fallout, or create a sequel to one of his other classic games such as Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura or Temple of Elemental Evil.
Cain has remained highly productive since the 1990s. After Troika, the studio he co-founded, stopped making games following Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines, he continued working on projects such as the now-defunct MMO WildStar and several Obsidian RPGs, including The Outer Worlds, which he co-directed. According to Cain, fans are constantly eager to know when he will make another classic-style RPG.
He believes that while reviving a game like Arcanum could be entertaining, it would not mean much to him personally. Even if it did, he lacks the rights and resources required to create a new CRPG from scratch. In the video, Cain explains that he feels no bitterness, only frustration at being asked the same question repeatedly.
To illustrate his point, Cain uses a painter metaphor. The painter is initially happy just to be creating art professionally. Over time, the paintings begin selling for enormous sums of money, yet the artist receives only a small fraction of the profits. Selling the work independently proves too expensive, and the painter eventually realizes that even the person making the frames earns more.
“I love making games, so it confuses people when they ask, ‘Why aren’t you making new games and IPs?’ Other people have made far more money off IPs I’ve created than I ever have. Not by a little, but by a lot. The people working on IPs I made years ago in teams are making more money than I ever did creating them. Imagine being asked that question over and over again. If you really care about what I want, I’m still making games, I love them, and they make me happy. I’m tired of making other people wealthy with my creations. Can you give me a reason that isn’t selfish – like wanting something new or wanting others to make more money – for why I should stop painting what I want? When a painting sells, everybody makes money”, Cain said.
According to Cain, the film industry has operated this way for decades. While labor and legal issues exist throughout the entertainment industry, it is no secret that many game developers perform thankless work for studios that ultimately consume and discard them.
Source: PCGamer
