The developers of Fallout 2 didn't know their publisher was in financial trouble: "We weren't informed about Interplay's problems"

Interplay, the '90s RPG developer that was a powerhouse in the genre, has a legacy that is almost as defined by its persistent financial struggles as it is by its great games. Ed Orman, the lead designer of Fallout Tactics in an interview with PC Gamer contributor Jeremy Peel as part of a larger retrospective on the game, recalled the instability that affected the studio he was at, Micro Forte.

Orman said, "At the moment, I had no clue what was happening inside Interplay." "I remember thinking it was strange that we didn't speak to more people who had worked on Fallouts. But I think that they were busy with something else." Given the timeframe of Fallout Tactics (1999-2001), it's likely that this something else is one or both Icewind Dale Games.

Orman continued, "We spoke to Chris Avellone for a little while." "It became clearer towards the end that Interplay was exerting a lot of pressure."

Micro Forte worked closely with 14 Degrees East (a subsidiary of Interplay that focuses on strategy) for the majority of Tactics development. Orman said, "I think this insulated us from what was going on at Interplay."

Orman believes that while Micro Forte was only indirectly affected by Interplay's problems, the publisher's desperation to finish the game definitely increased the tension. "I'm certain we were not told anything about Interplay’s financial troubles or anything to the effect that they needed to get this out to make some money. We knew we could not let up.

"That was the real stress. This was the crunch moment. "I tolerated the sleepless nights, the stupid overworking and the stupid work that the game industry allowed at that time.

For more on Tactics' development and legacy, you can check out Jeremy Peel's full Fallout Tactics interview-retrospective, a look back at a game with heart and hairy Deathclaws that was misunderstood in its own time. If all this Tactics chatter has you craving some Fallout firefights without much roleplaying, then you can get Fallout Tactics on Steam, Epic, or GOG.