Liputan6.com, Jakarta - The Fallout franchise has captivated millions of fans worldwide with its unique and immersive post-apocalyptic narrative.
Originating as an iconic role-playing (RPG) video game series, Fallout has now reached the small screen through a successful TV series, reimagining the horror and intrigue of a world devastated by global nuclear war.
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The core story of Fallout centers on the events of the "Great War" that happened on October 23, 2077, a devastating nuclear conflict that lasted only two hours but permanently transformed the Earth's landscape into a barren and dangerous wasteland.
Amidst this devastation, humanity sought refuge in underground bunkers known as Vaults, built with the promise of safety but harboring dark secrets.
A Closer Look at the Fallout Franchise
Fallout is a post-apocalyptic role-playing (RPG) video game franchise set in the United States after a devastating global nuclear war.
Originally created by Interplay Entertainment and now developed by Bethesda Game Studios, the franchise is known for its rich worlds and immersive narratives.
A key event in Fallout's history is the "Great War," a global nuclear war that occurred on October 23, 2077.
Although it lasted only two hours, the conflict had devastating consequences, transforming the world into a post-apocalyptic landscape rife with danger and radiation.
Fallout's primary appeal lies in its unique retrofuturistic aesthetic, sharp dark humor, and the complex moral choices players must face.
These elements create a deeply immersive gaming experience, where every decision can have far-reaching consequences for the characters and the world around them.
Vault: Shelter or Experiment?
So, what is Vault in the Fallout franchise?
Vaults are massive underground bunkers built by the Vault-Tec Corporation, a fictional corporation backed by the United States government.
Officially, these Vaults were marketed as safe havens for select citizens to survive the threat of nuclear war.
Designed to house thousands of people, each Vault was equipped with enough resources to allow its inhabitants to survive for years, even centuries, underground.
However, the reality behind the Vaults' construction was far darker.
Most Vaults were actually part of "Project Safehouse," a large-scale social and psychological experiment.
Its true purpose was to study the effects of isolation, extreme conditions, and various social scenarios on the human population, not simply to serve as shelters.
Only a small number of Vaults were designated as "control Vaults" or "pure Vaults," functioning as intended without hidden experiments.
Cruel Experiments Inside the Vault
The Fallout universe is replete with examples of horrific and unethical Vault experiments.
One example is Vault 11, which was designed to test its inhabitants' willingness to sacrifice one person annually to prevent the death of the entire population.
Another striking example is Vault 68 and Vault 69.
Vault 68 housed only one woman and 999 men, while Vault 69 housed one man and 999 women.
These experiments aimed to study unbalanced population dynamics and their impact on society.
Furthermore, Vault 108 housed numerous clones named Gary, all of whom could only utter one word: "Gary!"
These experiments demonstrate the lengths to which Vault-Tec was willing to go to gather data on human behavior under extreme conditions.
Even so, not all Vaults were designed for cruel experiments.
Vault 76, for example, was one of the "pure Vaults" planned to be opened after 25 years, with the goal of allowing its inhabitants to rebuild civilization on the surface.
This vault serves as the main setting for the game Fallout 76.
Vaults in the Fallout TV Series: A Fascinating Expansion
The Fallout TV series, released in 2024, introduced several new Vaults, expanding the existing lore and providing a fresh perspective on the post-apocalyptic world.
These additions enrich the narrative and provide more depth to the Fallout universe.
Vault 33 is the main Vault, where Lucy MacLean's character originates.
This Vault is depicted as a relatively utopian and well-functioning community, focusing on agriculture and reproduction to maintain the population.
Its inhabitants believe they are one of the few remaining Vaults and are on a mission to rebuild the world on the surface.
Nearby is Vault 32, which was initially believed to have been destroyed due to a water system failure.
However, it was later revealed that Vault 32 was attacked and its inhabitants massacred by survivors from outside, who then disguised themselves as Vault 32 residents to launch an attack on Vault 33.
Vault 31 remains the most mysterious Vault in the series, serving as a "backup Vault" housing cryogenically frozen Vault-Tec executives.
Vault 31 residents were periodically awakened and sent to Vaults 32 and 33 to serve as Overseers, ensuring the continuity of the Vault-Tec experiment.
This suggests that Vaults 31, 32, and 33 are part of a long-term, interconnected experiment to preserve the Vault-Tec elite and their ideology.