War Never Changes Zachary Brigner University of North Carolina Charlotte 10/24/2013

Zach Brigner 1

Background and Introduction As most people would see it, Fallout: New Vegas is just a video game. The game itself, as I play it, is played on the Xbox 360 and is classified as an FPS (First Person Shooter) RPG (Role Playing Game). The main mechanics of the game include control over a single character that is practically "built from the ground up" in a sense and allow the player to interact with the world at large as he or she sees fit. I on the other hand, see it a little differently, I see it as the imagination of game developers reflecting past and/or current events into possible futures based on potential outcomes of the events they are relating to. The most basic principal of this game is portraying everyday life in a horrific post-apocalyptic America. As the main character (The Courier) you encounter and interact with new era factions that each have their respective histories involving development after the "Great War" as the in game non-playable characters, or NPCs for short, call it. This paper considers how Fallout: New Vegas mirrors real life events, past, present, and future; more specifically I will compare historical and present day events and discuss how the game replicates real life political/military factions in an attempt to project how these outcomes may materialize in the future.

The Great War, that is discussed above and will also be mentioned later within this paper, is a prelude to every game in the Fallout series (including four games and three spin offs). The Great War itself you learn about all throughout the entirety of the series. It began October 22nd, 2077 and ended October 23rd the same year. The fighting alone lasted less than two hours, focused primarily between the United States, China, and the USSR, along with other smaller nuclear capable countries causing immense damage and destruction all over the Earth. The only

Zach Brigner 2

noteworthy event that preceded the Great War would be the Resource Wars. The Resource Wars started in April of 2052 and led all the way up to the start of the Great War in 2077(The Fallout Wiki, 2013). In the beginning, the Resource Wars started when many of the smaller nations began to go bankrupt. Starting in Europe, their dependency upon oil had reached an all time high and became heavily reliant on the Middle East's oil supply. But soon they resorted to military action due to the Middle East constantly raising oil prices. Somewhere between May and July of the same year the United Nations, already suffering, fell apart. In a series of heated debates involving natural resources, many nations withdrew from the organization, and by the end of July the UN had completely disbanded. In 2059 the Anchorage Frontline is established to protect American oil interests in Alaska. This causes tension between the United States and Canada because the US wanted Canada to allow military units to protect their oil pipeline. At the same time the US is also dealing with threats of invasion by China into Alaska to capture the oil pipeline. In the winter of 2066 the Chinese captured Anchorage and it is not recaptured by America until 2076. By 2076, only one year before the Great War, Canada backs down and ultimately allows the US to annex them and the pipeline swarms with military units and rioters are shot on sight to protect American oil interests(The Fallout Wiki; Resource Wars, 2013). One of the most obvious connections I see between the preceding events, such as the Resource Wars, relating to real life situations would be the Iran Iraq War as well as the Gulf War. These historical instances show just how real these fictional stories have the potential to be. It's almost wrong in a way, to not be able to relate the history behind Fallout to our history as a nation, and the history of other nations, and how far we are all willing to go to protect our most valuable interests.

Zach Brigner 3

Given historical and contemporary evidence, I truly feel that anything is possible, and that if we look back in history at any one major event, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, being slightly different, we would be living a completely different life today. Take into consideration the outcome of the Cuban Missile Crisis; The Cold War ended and America and Russia removed their respective military technology out of effective range of each other, effectively bringing peace to the world for a time(Cuban Missile Crisis, 2013). Now imagine for a moment that the cargo ship carrying the Soviet missiles were to have passed the blockade and been destroyed by U.S. forces ultimately plunging the world into all out nuclear war between Russia and North America. We would for a fact be living very different lifestyle if the latter had occurred that day back in 1962. It's ideas such as this one that intrigue myself as well as the developers and artists that create these games and their oddly beautiful landscapes and storylines. Literature Review Below are just a few of the most basic factions and terms that would be necessary to know in order to get a better understanding of what is being explained and possibly how they relate or contrast to each other as well s real life organizations. Terms: The Followers of the Apocalypse: They tend to the inhabitants of the wasteland, and also ensure that the horrors of the Great War are remedied and never repeated. To that end, they serve as protectors of knowledge in an era when it is so loosely appreciated. The reason I find this group specifically interesting is because it is unique. It is unique because it is very relatable to modern day groups such as doomsday theorists and even humanitarians(Fallout New Vegas Factions Backstory and Descriptions, 2013).

Zach Brigner 4

The New California Republic: The New California Republic, or NCR for short, is a democratic federation based in California, with holdings in Nevada, Oregon, Mexico (Baja) and along the Colorado River. The NCR emphasizes many old world values, such as democracy, liberty, and the rule of law. Though most would speculate that the Republic cares most about its' money. By post-apocalyptic standards the NCR's economy and standard of living are vastly superior to anything anyone could have dreamed of upon its founding in the year 2189(Fallout New Vegas - Factions Backstory and Descriptions, 2013). The Crimson Caravan Company: Started out as a small caravan outfit that specialized in high risk jobs that include delivering water to incredibly dangerous areas surrounded by high radiation and almost certain unavoidable conflict with the harsh environment and the creatures that thrive within it. Other caravan drivers considered them insane, but with a combination of high pay and specific hiring standards for their caravan guards, this meant that they were able and willing to .provide services that others simply refused to. This ultimately benefited them as they grew to become one of the most influential and powerful caravan companies in the wasteland. The New Vegas Strip: Originally known as Las Vegas in the Wasteland before Robert House revived its reconstruction. It is a city built upon the remains of Las Vegas, located in southern Nevada. Unlike the other major cities of the United States, Vegas emerged from the atomic fire of the Great War relatively unscathed, with most of the major damage caused by the downfall of society in general. The survival of the city itself is owed to Robert House, who in 2065, predicted that nuclear conflict between the USA and China would ensue within the next 15 years. Fearing he was correct, House focused his considerable number of resources toward protecting Las Vegas. Using his considerable intelligence and vast wealth, House built an army of, what are basically a robot police force that he can remotely control called Securitrons; some to tend to the

Zach Brigner 5

strip, but the bulk of them were hidden away to be used at a later date for another purpose. He also had his own casino, The Lucky 38, outfitted with radar jamming systems, a laser defense network, missile arrays and life support systems. He alone is the only reason that the great city survived and is the central economic hub of the entire Mojave Wasteland(Fallout: New Vegas, 2013). Histories & Effects of Nuclear Conflicts A nuclear war would involve a lot less fighting and would be a hell of a lot shorter than either world war. This topic almost exclusively relates to my paper because of the amount of damage depicted and quantified not only within the game but during the war as well. As games become increasingly more realistic, the possibilities of comparing real world nuclear outcomes to game simulation is increasing. Here, I will discuss some historical nuclear events past and present in order to consider how nuclear conflicts can drastically effect our day to day lives. Many people have been quick to forget the kind of horror that the second world war brought upon the world. The horror of the second World War shows that the world has endured devastating loss that can occur when neither side has regard for the other (David, 2012). In my opinion, Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the single two greatest devastations that ever befell Japan, or the world for that matter. The details about the end of World War II and the major bombings in Japan are all too relevant to the topic most frequently discussed within this narrative. My topic mainly being a comparison of the post nuclear war depicted in the game, and how it relates to events past, present, and future. These bombs that hit Hiroshima on August 6th, 1945 was approximately a four and a half ton uranium-235 bomb, dropped from a B-29 bomber, and had an effective blast radius of nearly five square miles and killed 80,000 people almost

Zach Brigner 6

instantly. The second, that devastated Nagasaki was a five ton uranium-235 bomb that fell on August 9th the same year and, due to the topography or Nagasaki and its location in a valley, destroyed a mere 2.6 square miles and killed an estimated 40,000 people. The devastation from these weapons still haunt the people of Japan today and will for generations to come ("The Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 2013). To this day, many people dont understand the complexity and tension involved with the Cuban Missile Crisis. Under the Kennedy administration, this 13 day conflict was thankfully resolved. It is, unfortunately, the closest the world has came to erupting into World War III and initiating its first nuclear conflict (Cuban Missile Crisis, 2013). The main view that this piece portrays is an incident in which the fate of the world could have been very different if even one thing had transpired differently that day. Consider for a moment that the Russian transport ship crossed the embargo line and the world broke into a massive nuclear conflict. America would have destroyed the ship and most likely initiated a preemptive strike on Russia. Russia would have most definitely retaliated and the majority of civilization in the worlds' great super powers of that time would be reduced to next to nothing. Not only that, the land itself would more than likely be unusable for centuries due to irradiation from the fallout. All of these events that are so lightly understood by many today, were critical moments in history that, to this day, affect the way we live our lives. Current Nuclear Conflicts & Issues Many nations and groups, mainly the UN and Iran participated in nuclear talks in 2009 that involved discussions based around Iran wanting to develop a nuclear energy program. Iran claims that they only wish to enrich uranium to further its use for energy and that weapons are

Zach Brigner 7

the furthest thing from their minds. Many people believe the exact opposite and do not want Iran to enrich uranium simply because that is also a step closer to weaponization and Iran having nuclear capability would be bad news for keeping peace in the middle east(Eyder Peralta, 2013). This is pertinent to my paper because it illustrates how fearful people become when something harmless like wanting a better, more reliable energy supply, is twisted into nuclear war and aggression simply because of a hunch. I do not know much about Iran and their nuclear program as it stands today but them weaponizing uranium and using it on their enemies would mean all out war erupting in the middle east and eventually consuming the entire world without a doubt. North Korea, on the other hand, has almost always been discouraged to have a nuclear program, especially when they consistently perform missile systems and nuclear tests while at the same time denying the accusations that other nations put toward them regarding these programs. As of May, 2012 the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name) declared that they intend to continue their research into their nuclear program due to the hostility brought on the United States. An unidentified spokesperson for the North Korean Foreign Ministry stated "We had access to nuclear deterrence for self-defense because of the hostile policy of the U.S. to stifle the DPRK by force and we will expand and bolster it nonstop as long as this hostile policy goes on,"(Paula Hancocks and Jennifer Rizzo, 2013). I feel that the main point being shown by this article is the very real threat of some nations who have no regard for the requests of other nations, whom only wish to insure their own safety and peace of mind of their people. The biggest thing that this article brings to the table however, is how close we constantly come to the world erupting into all out war. Nuclear Conflict and Gaming: Assessing Outcomes

Zach Brigner 8

If there is anything that is depicted well above all the rest in Fallout: New Vegas, it would have to be its retro-futuristic style alongside its surprisingly rich storyline. Retro-futuristic is an interesting term pertaining to this game. Simply put it is classic-futurism. How that pertains to the game is unique, the entirety of Fallout's game play is based in post-apocalyptic 2279 yet the style of the game, the clothes, cars, houses, music, and sometimes even dialogue feels like it belongs in the 1950's(The Fallout Wiki, 2013). For a moment, consider the kind of inspiration behind designs like such as those that have been explained above. Much of what I notice about the games seemingly classical feel, places it almost exactly around the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Which brings me to wonder where the creators of the game, as well as its landscape, want the player to feel a part of. Could they have reached into the past and pulled these styles forward in order to resurrect some part of history that could have been a major turning point in history? But I digress, overall I feel like this will further my research as a whole because this article gives a very general overview of any and all things I would need to know pertaining to the game itself. However, I would have to delve into specific inquiries in order to obtain specific answers. "It's terrifying to watch, and to me, is one of the best depictions of how unbelievably, fundamentally different nuclear war is from conventional fighting. It isn't to conquer, it is to destroy. It's not a 'wow' scene, it isn't exciting. It's horrifying, and unbearably tragic." (Tasteless Depictions of Nuclear War, 2013). The above quote references a scene from the movie Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Many people have talked and criticized the designers of the Fallout series for their depiction of a post-apocalyptic landscape and lifestyle. Something that is very apparent to most people is that everyone has a different idea about what life would be like if the world ever resorted to using nuclear weapons. Nothing is more opinionated than the depiction of any outcomes' post-apocalyptic scenario. This article will definitely help further any

Zach Brigner 9

research because it takes many opinions and compares them against each other. That along with most of the content being written by individual people voicing their opinions makes it very valuable for comparing real life ideas to the ideas depicted in the game itself. Entering the conversation Relative to this game, I have researched every major faction and the history behind so much of the games' storyline. Many people, including myself, find this sort of information very intriguing and vividly descriptive and explanatory. All of it of course being entirely fictional and in no way a prediction of what is to come of the world as we know it to be. What keeps me interested however, is the possibility and reality of every bit of it. Many major world powers today and throughout history have clashed over anything imaginable, yet the world lives on despite it all. In a special case however, nuclear conflict would reign supreme in destruction and devastation. Not only toward the general population, but the world itself as well. As anyone plays this game, they see it for what it is, entertainment. The dark side of that entertainment being, its horrifying truth within its description of this game's history and how very real the potential threat of nuclear conflict truly is. As Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw puts it, it is immersive yet overly involved for the player at times and unless you're used to playing games such as this you may have a difficult time adapting to the game play. This doesnt relate as much to nuclear war although it does give some perspective towards the game play and how realistic the creators made the game to be. From a general standpoint the artistry behind the rural landscapes and heavily populated areas couldnt have been described better by the people themselves that inhabit the game.

Zach Brigner 10

All of the factions in the game play a very key role in the developmental history described in the game. After the Great War many people rose out of great vaults that were built in foreshadowing of the oncoming conflict, and nuclear devastation some predicted would befall the world. As civilization does, groups of people formed together and grew into the major faction groups that are shown within the game. Out of the many groups that inhabit the game, I would say that there are eleven major factions two of which the game is mainly based around; the New California Republic and Caesar's Legion. Of these two groups the player can choose which to affiliate with and ultimately affect the outcome of the game one decision at a time. Conclusion So what? Why does any of this information above matter? I feel as though everyone who plays this game, Fallout: New Vegas or any of its predecessors, would like to believe that the world and life we choose to live inside the game is all fictional and is just good fun. Little do most realize how closely this game actually represents our past as a country and the world as a whole. Every major militaristic event, from World War II all the way through the conflict arising in North Korea, shows over and over how close this world comes to becoming something that is so easily dismissed as fiction or entertainment. Although I do agree that it is fiction and it is just good fun I also recognize the roots of creation this game and others hold inside human history. It takes a truly imaginary mind to create such a world that we are able to see and experience as fiction, yet relate to as if that could be the life we live at any moment.

Zach Brigner 11

Citations "Fallout: New Vegas." The Fallout Wiki. En.wikipedia.org, 19 Oct. 2010. Web. 29 Sept. 2013. <http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Fallout:_New_Vegas>.

Cuban Missile Crisis. (2013). The History Channel website. Retrieved 12:17, October 4, 2013, from http://www.history.com/topics/cuban-missile-crisis

Croshaw, Ben. "FALLOUT: NEW VEGAS (Zero Punctuation)." Www.youtube.com. Escapist Magazine, 23 July 2011. Web. 1 Oct. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XsACXSVhWY>.

"Tasteless Depictions of Nuclear War." Http://www.escapistmagazine.com. Escapist Magazine, 10 June 2013. Web. 1 Oct. 2013. <http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.410248Tasteless-Depictions-of-Nuclear-War>.

"Fallout New Vegas - Factions Backstory and Descriptions." Www.youtube.com. N.p., 22 Jan. 2013. Web. 2 Oct. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwY-fgc-6vc>.

Peralta, Eyder. "Iranian President: 'Prudent Moderation' Ensures Bright Future." Www.npr.org. National Public Radio, 24 Sept. 2013. Web. 4 Oct. 2013. <http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwoway/2013/09/24/225862419/iranian-president-prudent-moderation-ensures-bright-future>.

Hancocks, Paula, and Jennifer Rizzo. "North Korea Says It Will 'expand' Nuclear Program in Face of U.S. 'hostility'" Www.cnn.com. CNN, 23 May 2012. Web. 5 Oct. 2013. <http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/23/world/asia/north-korea-nuclear/index.html>.

David. "10 Most Devastating Bombing Campaigns of WWII." Online Military Education. NonGovernment GI Bill Resource, 17 Feb. 2012. Web. 08 Oct. 2013. <http://www.onlinemilitaryeducation.org/posts/10-most-devastating-bombing-campaigns-ofwwii/>.

Zach Brigner 12

The Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 2013. The History Channel website. Oct 8 2013, 3:42 http://www.history.com/topics/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki.

"The Manhattan Project -- Its Story." Www.osti.gov. U.S. Department of Energy, 23 Jan. 2013. Web. 08 Oct. 2013. <http://www.osti.gov/accomplishments/manhattan_story.html>.