The United West Team modding group has released the first demo of Revelation Blues, a highly anticipated mod that reimagines Black Isle Studios’ canceled Fallout 3 project (codenamed Van Buren) within Fallout: New Vegas. This development marks a significant milestone for fans of the classic Fallout series.
The demo showcases Burham Springs, a haunting location set atop a perpetually burning coal seam, reminiscent of the real-life Centralia Mine Fire. The town’s backstory involves NCR soldiers’ failed attempt to flush out powder gangers at the Hoover Dam, resulting in mutants known as “gehennas” and “molechs” by New Canaan residents.
Van Buren’s influence on Fallout: New Vegas runs deep, with many elements from the canceled project finding their way into Obsidian Entertainment’s game. These include the presence of Caesar’s Legion, Joshua Graham, and the Big MT, making New Vegas an ideal platform for this reimagining.
The mod represents more than just a fan project; it’s an attempt to preserve and realize a crucial piece of gaming history. The original Van Buren was in development at Black Isle Studios before the studio’s closure, and its concepts significantly influenced the future direction of the Fallout series.
Parallel to Revelation Blues, developer Adam Lacko has been working on Project Van Buren (PVB), a separate endeavor aimed at reconstructing the original game using Black Isle’s development documentation and a leaked build. While Lacko recently joined New Blood as lead developer for their retro-futurist CRPG, his work on PVB continues, albeit at a slower pace.
The story of canceled Fallout 3 projects extends beyond Van Buren. Troika Games, founded by original Fallout developers Tim Cain, Leonard Boyarsky, and Jason Anderson, had their own vision for Fallout 3. When Bethesda acquired the rights, Troika’s concept evolved into a unique sci-fi setting combining magic with retro-futurism, though it ultimately remained unrealized.
This new mod represents a significant effort to preserve gaming history while offering players a glimpse into what might have been. The Revelation Blues demo serves as a bridge between the classic Fallout era and the modern games, maintaining the series’ rich narrative tradition.
