The Fiasco that is Bethesda's Fallout 76

The Fallout franchise started with the release of the original Fallout game by Interplay Entertainment. The game was created to capitalize on people's fascination with war and with a post apocalyptic nuclear future.

The series since has had numerous sequels and spinoffs.

Fallout 76 was a much anticipated prequel to the series. However, it was marred with many issues and disappointed many fans.

The game was release for the PC, XBox One and Playstation 4.

Here are five of the issues that plagued the game.

People will get frustrated if they become victims of a bait and switch. This is how people felt when they paid $200 for the Power Armor Edition of Fallout 76.

The package should have included a canvas carrying bag, a power armor helmet, a steel book, a world map and 24 figurines. Yet, the package that arrived only had a cheap nylon bag that looked like a trash bag. With canvas bags selling for $10-$20 in Amazon, there was no need for Bethesda to cheap out on the bags.

To further rub salt on the wound, the promotional materials as well as the Power Armor Editions received by influences all had canvass bags. Why would Bethesda sully its name for $10 to $20 is beyond me.

Bethesda support gave all sorts of excuses such as the high cost of canvass to the shortage of canvass on why the bait and switch occurred.

In order to pacify its fan base, Bethesda has given 500 atoms ($5.00) worth of in-game currency.

With the threat of lawsuits, Bethesda promised to deliver the bag in a couple of months.

Only time will tell if Bethesda keeps its promise.

Nuka Dark Rum was supposed to be this cool novelty item with a uniquely shaped bottle. After all, the company they tapped, the Silver Screen Bottling Company had experience in creating alcoholic beverages that had tie-in with various media.

Among the company's creations are the James T. Kirk straight bourbon whisky and the Montgomery Scott blended scotch whisky. If a beloved franchise like Star Trek trusted Silver Screen then maybe this was a good choice for Bethesda.

The announcement for the product was made by Silver Screen on September 5, 2018 and this was supposed to be shipped on November 14, 2018.

This was a preorder and people paid $79.99 per bottle. This was priced as much as a premium bottle of rum but people could care less about the alcohol as they only wanted the uniquely shaped bottle.

After some delay, the product started shipping on December 12, 2018. Those who received their product were not happy with what they got.

Instead of getting an artistic glass bottle the shape of a nuclear warhead, people got an ordinary glass bottle encased in a plastic shell.

Bethesda did not clearly learn from the canvas bag fiasco and continues to bait and switch its customers.

Bethesda already failed its customers when it shipped a cheap nylon bag instead of the promised canvas bag when it shipped the Power Armor Edition. They insult the customers afterwards by offering $5.00 worth of microtransactions as compensation.

After an outrage from the community and the threat of lawsuits, Bethesda then advises their customers to send in support tickets to receive their canvass bags in a few months time. Then Jessie Tracy made a Twitter post on her account @JesscaTracy9 that the names, addresses, phone numbers, payment information and receipts were showing on other people's account.

Aside from Jessie, more people reported the same issue. Bethesda took down the site and fixed the issue but the damage was already done.

There was a time when hidden items, costumes and the like were gained by reaching certain milestones in the game. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion released in 2006 marked the start of marketing downloadable content for cash. It was a mere $2.50 but this was a bad precedent for the industry.

It did not take long for downloadable content and microtransaction to be out of control. Bethesda's Fallout 76 clearly shows this in the Atomic Shop where everything is overpriced. A Santa Claus outfit is 2000 atoms or $20.00. A red rocket sign is 1400 atoms or $14.00. These are mere digital cosmetic items which do not benefit you in game.

To add to this, assets used in Fallout 4 were recycled and were resold for outrageous prices.

Probably the best way for them to do this would be to create one DLC pack with all additional content in it and charge one flat fee. If gamers want to avail of these, they pay only one time. If they just want the game without the enhancements, they are also free to just buy the game on its own without the bells and whisltes.

Nickel-and-diming people is not sustainable. Eventually people will be fed up and leave.

The video gaming industry is plagued with releasing unfinished games which are still supposed to be in beta stage. Street Fighter V was released with a limited roster, no arcade mode, a very lacking story mode and a problematic online mode. No Man's Sky was supposed to be groundbreaking video game where you can explore the universe. The game however was full of bugs and all you did was mine minerals in seemingly empty worlds.

Fallout 76 is no different.

The game is full of bugs. From flying zombies to sunlight coming out of nowhere, the game was not fully finished and fully tested.

The game looks more like a modification of Fallout 4 than a brand new game.

In the past Bethesda has relied on modders to fix their games. Fallout 76 however does not allow modification as it will cut into their DLC revenue.

Releasing unfinished games at full price is simply not acceptable.