Bethesda: Our Factories Simply Cannot Make Any More Pip-Boys

[Steven Bogos]

Bethesda: Our Factories Simply Cannot Make Any More Pip-Boys

Bethesda's Marketing VP Pete Hines says that the factories simply can't make any more Pip-Boy special editions of Fallout 4.

The Fallout 4 Pip-boy edition [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/conferences/e3-2015/14076-Fallout-4-First-Details] has been one of the highest demand collector's editions for a video game we've ever seen, with most stores selling out of their stock in days and fans constantly hounding Bethesda to make more available. Some bad news for those of you who missed out: Bethesda's Marketing VP Pete Hines has made it clear that there will be no additional stock allotted to any stores, as their factories are already at full-capacity to produce what's already been ordered.

"We reached a point where we'd go back to the factories and they were like, 'guys, this is it, sorry. This is as long as we can run the lines and as many of them as we can make,'" Hines told GameSpot at Quakecon over the weekend.

He also cleared up a common misconception about the special edition: they haven't actually been made yet. "They're being made today, it's not like they're done and sitting in a warehouse. [The factories would tell us,] this is what the yields say. I mean, we don't make [the Pip-Boy Editions], and we'd go back to [the factories] and say, 'Demand for this is insane, we've got to make more.' And they'd move other projects off or shift stuff to other factories and it just came to [them telling Bethesda], 'Final answer: sorry, this is as many as we can make.' And we sold every single one of those that we could."

Hines said that the demand for the Pip-boy edition has absolutely eclipsed any other special edition the company has made. He stresses that it's not about "making them rare," but more about literally not being able to make any more. "We made a s**tload of Pip-Boys, and we went back and made more, and went back and made more," he said. "I keep seeing stuff about, 'Oh, you only did a few thousand." No--we did a ton of these things. I think we did more of these things than we did for any collector's edition we've ever done, ever."

So sorry guys, if you missed out, looks like you'll have to look on Amazon on launch day to try and pick one up for $500+.

Source: GameSpot [http://www.gamespot.com/articles/fallout-4-studio-cannot-make-any-more-pip-boy-coll/1100-6429223/]

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[ron1n]

Wouldn't it make more sense to just sell them as a regular merch item instead of making it exclusive to the pre-order? I mean, if the demand is there, why not take advantage of it?

 

[Dragonlayer]

Well, that's going to ruin my dad's day.

Captcha: Cold Comfort

I guess the fact that it's not Fallout 4 that factories can't keep producing is slightly comforting....

 

[KoudelkaMorgan]

Since the app to run it is unlimited stock, and 3D printers exist its not like you can't make your own and put your phone inside that.

Sure printers probably cost more than the collector's edition, but you can then also make ANYTHING.

 

[Bat Vader]

I'm one of those people that plans on selling one for $500.00+ I ordered two one for myself and one to sell. Had to do it through different online retailers though. Some of my friends think I am scum for doing it but I don't really care.

 

[harrisongrimms]

Headsup, you can buy these on etsy for around $100

Best part-
You can order it for any phone size. (Bethesdas cant because reasons.)
https://www.etsy.com/listing/241427027/fallout-pip-boy-3000?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=pip%20boy&ref=sr_gallery_7

If you dont lkke that one, they have other models. The most expensive is like $120
Dont support scalpers!

Bethesda, you done fucked up, if etsy can make your own products better, and more reliably than you.

 

[Jake Martinez]

The way this usually works is that they contract to a factory that produces various goods for a specific amount of time and order of goods. This usually means that the factory has to do a certain amount of tooling, order a certain amount of supplies, program machines and somewhat reconfigure itself for the run. This isn't an overnight process in order to get production up and running.

What Bethesda is essentially telling us is that the factories that they have contracted to do this work, who already have the set up, have already booked their future time with another customer, which is why they can't make any more at this time. They basically have two options: Wait until the factories in question have free time to do more runs and then buy those runs, or try to tool up another factory.

Even if they were to go and try and hire another factory to make the additional runs they want, it'd still take time to do so - so it's probably likely that they looked at the demand, factored in how long it would take for them to set up production again, and then just reasoned it would be more efficient for them to wait until they could do more runs at the factory that is already familiar with making the product.

So, I'm pretty sure that eventually they will make more. They may even make the pip boy as a stand alone product eventually. It's just likely they'll wait until they can figure out exactly how many more they want as well as when the factories in question have free time to book.

 

[Albino Boo]

Wouldn't it make more sense to just sell them as a regular merch item instead of making it exclusive to the pre-order? I mean, if the demand is there, why not take advantage of it?

There is a finite demand, its greater than expected but it's not huge. Fallout 3 sold 4.7 million units worldwide and that is not huge number. Setting up permanent production lines for a comparative limted market isn't worth it.

Since the app to run it is unlimited stock, and 3D printers exist its not like you can't make your own and put your phone inside that.

Sure printers probably cost more than the collector's edition, but you can then also make ANYTHING.

3d printers can't make the pcb, 3D printers can't solder the components onto the pcb, 3D printers can't make the lcd screen, 3D printers can't assemble the pcb with the screen and 3D printers can't put the completed pcb and screen into the case. In fact the only thing that 3D printers can do is make the plastic case but slower and more expensively than using an injection mold.

 

[JemothSkarii]

Well, this makes me feel less bad about cancelling my pre-order and dooming the Pip-Boy to the void. Still don't get why the store couldn't have assigned it to someone else, but that's another talking point I guess.

 

[Vault101]

after getting collectors editions for years the one that I might actually want I hesitated and now its gone...

oh well, I'll still have the lunchbox and the bobblehead....yay

 

[gact]

after getting collectors editions for years the one that I might actually want I hesitated and now its gone...

oh well, I'll still have the lunchbox and the bobblehead....yay

suffer in your regret muahahahah1!!! 1

 

[Dalek Caan]

after getting collectors editions for years the one that I might actually want I hesitated and now its gone...

oh well, I'll still have the lunchbox and the bobblehead....yay

Well, at least you get your own version of the Collectors edition. And it seems a lot of the stuff that comes with the Pip-Boy, other than the Pip-Boy itself, will be released separately.

I suppose it's only fair since you live on a continent filled with murder-animals.

 

[MegaGame]

Headsup, you can buy these on etsy for around $100

Best part-
You can order it for any phone size. (Bethesdas cant because reasons.)
https://www.etsy.com/listing/241427027/fallout-pip-boy-3000?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=pip%20boy&ref=sr_gallery_7

If you dont lkke that one, they have other models. The most expensive is like $120
Dont support scalpers!

Bethesda, you done fucked up, if etsy can make your own products better, and more reliably than you.

you dont want to support scalpers? but support whom sell products they have no rights to? People whom a basic stealing other peoples work and making money of it?

 

[Lotet]

I hope the year I decide to get a phone won't be a year of high priced pipboys. Eh, by the time that happens they'll probably release Fallout 5 with a new pipboy.

I'm one of those people that plans on selling one for $500.00+ I ordered two one for myself and one to sell. Had to do it through different online retailers though. Some of my friends think I am scum for doing it but I don't really care.

Of course you don't care, because you're scum

 

[Naqel]

I guess the fact that it's not Fallout 4 that factories can't keep producing is slightly comforting....

With how much of a step in the wrong direction the game is shaping up to be, I'm not sure that's very comforting either.

 

[Thyunda]

I think the problem here is that they started the factories making Pip-Boys too early. What they should've done was make more factories.

You just don't think things through, Bethesda.

 

[K12]

So Bethesda wants to get in on the whole Amiibo shenanigans then.

I don't have any patience for a large company saying it can't keep producing an item that they know many people would pay over the odds for. Are they allergic to money?

 

[Uhuru N'Uru]

What annoys me is the development spent on this and not spent on making Fallout 4.

The Pip-boy app, must actually be made by BGS (Bethesda Game Studios, the developer), the apps functionality is part of the games full developement schedule. A very limited and finite amount of time.

I wonder what planned features will be cut when time runs out, that's what BS (Bethesda Softworks, the publisher) always do. No delays to actually finish and polish BGS games.

Don't confuse these two, they are totally separate. Think BS=EA and BGS=Bioware. but if both had Bioware in their name, do they suddenly become the same thing?

Back to Pip Boy App, will it be useful.
Not really;

Collectors
They tend to buy for displaying and/or investment. The collection is the aim, at the extreme end, the box remains sealed, never unpacked.

Cosplay
Here the model will be useful, where appearances matter most. The more competitive Cosplayers will prefer the unique and individual custom built Pip-boy, than any mass produced version.

The only use for the actual app is it's intended purpose, playing the game.
Let's examine that purpose.

Immersion
This is one of the most popularly cited reasons, yet also the most incorrect of them.
Immersion means removing the interface between human and computer. In the perfect immersion of a Holodeck, to use a Pip-boy, you raise your arm and look at the Pip-boy screen, to use it.
In the PC's imperfect immersion, your avatar raises it's arm and looks at the Pip-boy screen, to use it.
Immersion is broken the instant the interface appears in the world (screen). Using any real life device turns an immersive world, back into a unimmersive screen.
The app completely breaks any immersion.

Gameplay
Once the novelty has worn off, using the app instead of the ingame Pip-boy, makes no real sense at all. The ingame one is a simple click and keeps you in the game.

Practicality
Wearing the Pip-boy, while playing the game, will be highly restrictive and most likely, uncomfortable from the start. Never mind for many hours.
If even streamlined wrist phones were practical, we'd all be using them already. Two handed operation is more convenient.
Phones with a useful screen size, are too big to wear on a wrist.

A wearable Pip-boy is a brilliant idea, for a collector's edition model.

A phone app to do anything, already done, ingame is monumentally, stupid idea for any game.
An unknown, but significant, number of development hours, will have been wasted on this marketing gimmick.
The physical Pip-boy is the reason for buying the Collector's Edition.
I doubt the app alone increased those sales at all.

The game will be worse because this app exists. Features that may have been added, may be forever unfinished. Bugs never fixed, even added by this app.

All for a sales gimmick, hardly anyone will use

 

[Fox12]

I'm one of those people that plans on selling one for $500.00+ I ordered two one for myself and one to sell. Had to do it through different online retailers though. Some of my friends think I am scum for doing it but I don't really care.

You're scum with $5000 : )

Makes me wonder how much I could fetch for me P.T. Copy of the PS4.

 

[Tortilla the Hun]

I think the question that would settle the whole, "Why don't they just make more?" argument is, "Does Bethesda actually own the factories?"

It sounded to me like the PipBoys were just a commissioned product and that these factories have other projects with deadlines and can't continue to allocate resources to the PipBoys without cutting into these other projects.