"I will overlook sh**ty game mechanics for hours if I'm enjoying the story": Skyrim and Fallout veteran says RPGs "live and die" on narrative

GamesRPGFallout"I will overlook sh**ty game mechanics for hours if I’m enjoying the story": Skyrim and Fallout veteran says RPGs “live and die” on narrativeWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. GamesRPGFallout"I will overlook sh**ty game mechanics for hours if I’m enjoying the story": Skyrim and Fallout veteran says RPGs “live and die” on narrativeWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Bethesda) A former Bethesda developer who worked on both Skyrim and all three of the studio’s Fallout games says RPGs “live and die” on the strength of their story. Jeff Gardiner served as project lead on Fallout 76, and also worked acrossSkyrim, Fallout 3, andFallout 4. Before joining Bethesda during Oblivion, however, he also worked onActivision’s 2005 Fantastic Four game. During an interview with theBoss Rush Network podcast, he was asked about the differences between making the game in someone else’s IP, and getting to play around in a more original franchise. “It’s a little scary to work outside of an established story,” Gardiner replied. “You’re creating things whole cloth. It’s a shocking amount of work that I wasn’t even really prepared for. We spent a lot of time working on back history and story, and making connective tissues.” All of that is extremely important, Gardiner says, because “these RPGs, they live and die on the story.” “I will overlook shitty game mechanics for hours if I’m enjoying the story.Hours, in an RPG. And you have to have really compelling characters, a narrative that’s pulling you through, and those are all the things I remember most. I don’t remember all the rats I fought in turn-based Fallout, where it took me 20 minutes to kill a freaking rat, but I remember story,” the project lead says. Gardiner turns his attention from there to theFallout TV show, suggesting the success of that project stemmed directly from an understanding of the games' “setting and tone:” “It was enough connective tissue and glue for Jonah Nolan and the showrunners to make an amazing series out of.” It’s an interesting perspective, and personally not one I think always rings true. When it comes to something character-driven, like The Witcher 3, I think Gardiner is spot on. But for Bethesda’s RPGs, I was much more interested in design than story, particularly when it comes to Skyrim - you can weave me the wildest narrative you like if you’ve got a good stealth archer that you can give me. Elsewhere,Gardiner says he got into fights with his Bethesda colleagues over the RPG’s most notoriously heavy item: “You can’t just give the player everything they want.” Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more CATEGORIESPC GamingPS5Xbox Series XNintendo SwitchPlatformsPlayStationXboxNintendo CATEGORIES More about falloutYears before Fallout 76, the RPG’s co-creator had doubts about making a Fallout MMO because it “wasn’t designed to have other players"Fallout creator wishes he made different genres in the RPG series like a “really good FPS” similar to Borderlands or an adventure game all about stealing from VaultsLatest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"See more latest► More about falloutYears before Fallout 76, the RPG’s co-creator had doubts about making a Fallout MMO because it “wasn’t designed 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from Vaults Years before Fallout 76, the RPG’s co-creator had doubts about making a Fallout MMO because it “wasn’t designed to have other players” Years before Fallout 76, the RPG’s co-creator had doubts about making a Fallout MMO because it “wasn’t designed to have other players” Fallout creator wishes he made different genres in the RPG series like a “really good FPS” similar to Borderlands or an adventure game all about stealing from Vaults Fallout creator wishes he made different genres in the RPG series like a “really good FPS” similar to Borderlands or an adventure game all about stealing from Vaults Latest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"See more latest► Latest 26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time” 26 years later, 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bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1 Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1 Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”