Fallout: New Vegas Lead Writer Says There’s No Residuals Or Credit For Characters Showing Up In Other Media

The second season of Prime Video’s adaptation of Fallout is just a week from release. The show’s ensemble cast is about to venture into New Vegas, the setting of Obsidian Entertainment’s beloved spin-off.

The show takes place fourteen years after The Second Battle of Hoover Dam, the climactic set-piece of Fallout: New Vegas. The player-driven variability of the game’s narrative has meant that the show’s writers have had to get creative with how much information is given to viewers, but everyone involved seems confident ahead of the season’s release that the right balance has been struck.

John Gonzalez, New Vegas’ lead writer, recently reflected on the adaptation of his characters, in an interview with PC Gamer.

Intellectual Property, a Cruel Mistress

“It is very odd to see characters that I created showing up in other media,” says Gonzalez. “It’s also something where there’s no credit for that, there’s no residuals for that. And that’s something I understood doing the work early on. In some ways, I think doing narrative in video games is a little akin to doing comic book work.”

There have been numerous controversies over the years regarding the appropriate compensation of creatives, be they writers or artists, who have invented characters that have gone on to become very popular and/or profitable for companies. This is especially prevalent in comic books, given the contemporary popularity of superhero characters.

Related

Fallout: New Vegas Lead Writer Rejoins Obsidian, Immediately Shoots Down Sequel Hopes

Fallout: New Vegas lead writer John Gonzalez has rejoined Obsidian, and he’s already telling fans not to get excited.

“In the ’60s or ’70s, it’s like, ‘Oh you created Spider-Man? Good for you’. I mean, at least we know who Steve Ditko is, right? But it doesn’t belong to you,” Gonzalez continued. “That’s not the terms under which you do the work. So it’s weird. To me, it just shows that when Leonard Boyarsky and Tim Cain first imagined this world, I think that they did something that was a masterstroke.”

It’s a fairly accurate reflection on the nature of ownership and creation. Fallout is more mainstream than ever, but how many fans of the show could answer that Boyarsky and Cain created the series, if questioned?

Still, Gonazlez isn’t bitter about the use of his characters. In fact, he’s a massive fan of the show.

“I really enjoyed the first season of the show,” he revealed. “I thought there was some really admirable complexity in the way they explored the world. I mean, I think the Maximus character is a fascinating creation, a fascinating slant to take you into the Brotherhood of Steel. I’m fascinated to see where it goes.”

The premiere of Fallout’s second season releases on December 17.

Fallout

Release Date

April 10, 2024

Showrunner

Lisa Joy, Jonathan Nolan

Writers

Lisa Joy, Jonathan Nolan

• Ella Purnell

  Lucy MacLean