Overview of Tim Cain’s Insights on Cult Classic RPGs
- Tim Cain, co-creator of Fallout, discusses the lack of sequels for cult classic RPGs like Arcanum and Bloodlines, attributing it to low sales figures.
- Despite their dedicated fan bases, titles produced by Troika Games faced significant commercial challenges.
- Merely achieving cult classic status is insufficient to guarantee a sequel if a game fails to perform well financially.
Tim Cain, the co-creator of the renowned Fallout series, recently shed light on why iconic cult RPGs such as Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura and Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines never saw sequels. According to Cain, these beloved titles simply did not garner sufficient sales to warrant further development. While Cain remains a prominent figure in the gaming industry, known for shaping successful franchises, not all his projects met with commercial success.
With a career spanning back to the 1980s, Cain has contributed to the creation of numerous titles, including the original Fallout and more contemporary titles like Pillars of Eternity, Tyranny, and The Outer Worlds at Obsidian Entertainment. During his tenure at Troika Games, which he co-founded, Cain helped develop some of the most distinguished RPGs of the early 2000s, including The Temple of Elemental Evil, Arcanum, and Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines.
Why Tim Cain Hasn’t Developed Sequels for Classic Cult RPGs
Cain remarked, “They’re like, ‘You made a cult classic.’ And I’m like, ‘The problem is the cult part.’ They didn’t sell well.” This reflects a harsh reality in the gaming industry: despite widespread critical acclaim and a loyal fan base, titles like Bloodlines struggled commercially. In fact, among Troika’s creations, Bloodlines was the least profitable, ultimately leading to the studio’s shutdown in 2005. At that time, alternative funding methods like Kickstarter had yet to become prevalent, meaning developers were constrained by traditional publishing models that prioritized sales performance.
Cain emphasized that while a game achieving sales of around a million copies often paved the way for sequels, those that only sold around 50,000 units were unlikely to receive the same treatment.
Although Cain has continued contributing to game development after Troika’s closure, he is currently focused on the anticipated sequel, The Outer Worlds 2, which was teased during The Game Awards and is slated for a 2025 release.
There’s a silver lining for fans of Troika’s legacy. After facing numerous development challenges and delays, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is expected to launch in the first half of 2025. Optimism surrounds this release, as it could potentially revive the franchise and prevent it from being relegated to the status of a mere cult classic once again.
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