Conformity In Fallout 4

In the post-apocalyptic wasteland of Boston, it is crucial to be able to make decisions and make them correctly. Fallout 4 is an exploration of a desolated world that once thrived on nuclear technology and embraced a 50’s esque culture. The Fallout series is known “to uphold an ironic distance between the wastelands the player explores and the past these spaces gesture back to” (Pemberton). The game challenges the social norms and themes of the 50’s culture that it inherits. Ideality, prosperity, and conformity are examples of themes of the 50’s and even today that Fallout 4 explores. Though there are many obvious forms of social commentary in Fallout 4, in game tools such as V.A.T.S. and S.P.E.C.I.A.L. provide a similar discussion of both

Sandwiched between World War II and the height of the Cold War, Americans in the 50’s were flooded with propaganda and popular culture that encouraged Americans of all ages to be well mannered and follow the rules. In Fallout 4 there is an abundance of messages regarding conformity that come in the form of comic-books, magazines, posters, television, and music. Though the game throws similar messages of conformity at the player through mixed mediums throughout the game, it definitely feels like the game wants you to think for yourself. Fallout 4 is not unique because it is an open world, non-linear plot game, but it allows the player to play the game with no strings attached. Missions, storylines, and combat can be approached and conquer in any way. This is ironic because the 50’s culture the game is based off of had very different guidelines. In the 50’s there was a set formula and image for success. However in Fallout 4, there are a variety of endings and no single one is the best. V.A.T.S. and S.P.E.C.I.A.L. serve as tools to help the player create their own path and improve

is the extensive perk system in Fallout 4 that allows all types of players to decide what they value in the game and improve their abilities. “Perks are a variation of the power-up mechanic” that improve specific attributes of the player’s character. S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stands for strength, perception, endurance, charisma, intelligence, ability, and luck. Each attribute can be leveled up with a point earned each time a player's character levels up. Once the base attribute is leveled up, more interesting perks become options in the same category. At high levels, a player will have access to 5 variations of all 70 perks. With so many options S.P.E.C.I.A.L. forces players to make decisions about which perks will cater to their play style. This forces the player to understand their play style and the potential challenges in Fallout. Off the bat I found myself running out of ammo frequently due to my bullet taxing play style and I struggled to find ammo in the Commonwealth of Boston. As I leveled up early on I combated this issue by increasing my level in the “luck” perk category, more specifically the perk that increases the potential to find ammo in the wasteland. A more passive player might try to improve their perception which can make the player more persuasive in conversation and hyper aware of enemies. S.P.E.C.I.A.L. basically inhibits conformity in the game because the game doesn’t give the player a handbook on which perks work