2015 Geek-A-Long: Fallout

“Yes, yes. Cardiology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry. Whatever your needs. You’ll find I can handle, well… I can handle just about anything.” – James (Fallout 3)

How do you pick only one scientist form the Fallout series? If you take the right traits and stack your stats correctly, you as the player become a hardcore scientist. Then there’s RobCo Industries, the largest and most influential computer and robotics company before the Great War, and the Vault-Tec Corporation, the company that designed and produced the vault systems that kept people safe during and after the nuclear holocaust. There are many other scientists out there in the Wasteland, but the one most near and dear to my heart is James from Fallout 3.

But before I talk about James and how he was voiced by Liam Neeson (my fictional father figure), I should probably bring those of you who have never played the games up to speed:

Fallout is a post-apocalyptic role-playing video game series set in an alternate history where atomic physics became the cornerstone of scientific progress after WWII. Things like nuclear-powered cars and advanced robotics were a part of every day life in the 1950s, and combined with cold war paranoia, the society locked themselves into a cultural stasis well into the 21st century. Everything changed in the year 2077, however, when the energy crisis led to a full out war between the US and China over resources, which resulted in an exchange of nuclear bombs that created the post-apocalyptic world you must navigate.

Back history aside, Fallout 3, which is arguably the best game in the series so far, follows the Lone Wanderer. (That’s you!) After the death of your mother, you and your father James lived in Vault 101. Depending on your choices, you become either a misfit or a good kid, but either way, your father eventually disappears under mysterious circumstances. This pisses off the leader of the vault, who sends security forces after you and forces you to escape out into the ruins of Washington, D.C. Assisted by a number of human survivors and hampered by super mutants, you must navigate the “Capital Wasteland” in search of your father. SPOILERS: You find him and the ending is sad.

Okay, now I should probably explain why Liam Neeson is my fictional father figure. Have you seen Taken? Not only does he have a soothing voice to read me bedtime stories, he would also destroy anyone who hurt me and rescue me from bad guys. It’s a weird long-standing inside joke. People closest to me don’t actually say, “Hey did you know Liam Neeson is the voice of Bad Cop in the Lego Movie?” They say, “Hey, your dad is in the Lego Movie!” Then, I squee and tell Megan-Anne our dad is in a new movie. Our family is weird.

Anyway, my dad does the voice for James, which totally isn’t the only reason why he’s my favorite scientists from the Fallout universe. I can’t remember how spoilery this is, so if you plan to play the game, avert your eyes and scroll down to the next picture.

Are the spoilees gone? Okay. Cools.

While James has extensive medical training, which is pretty awesome, he formed a group of scientists to work on Project Purity, and anyone that wants to bring clean and free water to the wasteland is number one in my book. Then there’s the whole dying to save your life thing. Also, James gives you a pip-boy and you couldn’t survive Capital Wasteland without it. I mean, if it weren’t for VATs, I wouldn’t have been able to play the game. I’m terrible at first person shooters. The VAT system made the combat more turn based and I actually got to play it on normal mode instead of the usual “cry-baby” mode as my brother calls it.

https://instagram.com/p/6BG5IbHy1j/?taken-by=jac_attacking

For this square, we chose the iconic Vault-Boy, who is the mascot of Vault-Tec. He appears in their adverts, manuals, products, and training films, but he is also used in the representation of various stats a player character can have. His prevalence made him a mascot of the Fallout series, and what better way to represent the scientists of Fallout than with this guy.

Before I end with the usual “get your pattern here” spiel, let me just say: WOOOOOOO, Fallout 4 is coming in November! I pre-ordered my copy last weekend. I can’t wait! I’m thinking about replaying Fallout 3 and New Vegas in the meanwhile.

Whether you’re knitting, crocheting, or cross stitching this square, you can download the Fallout pattern here. Instructions for both knit and crochet are listed in the pattern. When you’re finished making it, don’t forget to tweet or instagram your squares at me @jac_attacking or Megan-Anne @Doctor_Llama with the hashtag #geekalong!

If you’re having trouble with double-sided knitting, we have a how-to video here and a tutorial on crochet here. Want to hang out with other people making the blanket? You can find moral support in the Geek-A-Long group on Ravelry here.

~ Jac
Maybe next time I’ll tell you about my fictional mother figure.

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