• Light/Dark
  • Ever wanted an RSS feed of all your favorite gaming news sites? Go check out our new Gaming Headlines feed! Read more about it here.

Bethesda helps terminally ill 12 year-old fan play Fallout 76

SFLUFAN

SFLUFAN

Member
Oct 27, 2017
4,388
Alexandria, VA
Eurogamer article

Just days after doctors told Wes' family they thought it best to stop his treatment, he realised he probably wouldn't get to play Fallout 76, due out in November. In a Facebook post, Wes' parents revealed Matt Grandstaff, assistant director at Bethesda, drove four hours from the company's headquarters in Maryland to the family home with not just a copy of the game, but a prototype of the Power Armor helmet due to come with the Power Armor Edition of the game, signed by Bethesda Game Studios chief Todd Howard.
 
JCG

JCG

Member
Oct 25, 2017
2,532
That's a nice gesture. If this was what he wanted, which it certainly seems so, then fine.
 
Last edited:

Deleted member 34714

User requested account closure
Banned
Nov 28, 2017
1,617
Glad Bethesda complied and allowed it to happen. It's fucking sad to hear people with an expiration date.
 
Tailzo

Tailzo

Member
Oct 27, 2017
7,916
Thinking about this kid, dying so young, and their parents, having a child that will rest in peace long before his time.... It's incredibly sad.
 
Everybody Lies

Everybody Lies

Member
Oct 28, 2017
6,207
Heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. I hope that Wes has a blast with it and that it takes him away from his reality for even just a moment.
 
Futaleufu

Futaleufu

Banned
Jan 12, 2018
3,910
User banned (3 days): inappropriate commentary and inflammatory thread derailment
It's a nice gesture.

However the Fallout series is not appropiate at all for someone who is 12 years old.
 

Deleted member 41931

User requested account closure
Member
Apr 10, 2018
3,744
Sad to hear he's likey going at such a young age. I hope he can recover.

Its really cool Bethesda let him play the unfinished buidl of the game. I've never heard of another dev doing that, its mormally just a box of merchandise and a copy of an already released game.
 
Zacmortar

Zacmortar

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
7,383
Shit like this breaks my heart, im actually crying jyst reading about that

Futaleufu said:
It's a nice gesture.

However the Fallout series is not appropiate at all for someone who is 12 years old.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
He literally will not live past 12

I normally think similarly, but if a child can literally see their death coming, there isnt a limit to what they should be allowed to enjoy
 
J_ToSaveTheDay

J_ToSaveTheDay

Avenger
Oct 25, 2017
18,787
USA
I have to assume that some devs are online playing with him, too, which I brazenly choose to believe is the case.

... Good on Bethesda either way. Such a nice thing to do in such a horrible situation.
 
CountAntonio

CountAntonio

Member
Oct 25, 2017
21,700
Really hard to comprehend things like this. Life can sure be cruel. I hope the boy enjoyed the game. Anything to make him happy.
 

Pog

Banned
May 19, 2018
248
I held my friend's hand as he died and he was crying that he was going to die before saving Aqua in Kingdom Hearts 3. Life can be cruel.
 
Jockel

Jockel

Member
Oct 27, 2017
678
Berlin
Futaleufu said:
It's a nice gesture.

However the Fallout series is not appropiate at all for someone who is 12 years old.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
While I agree, I don't see the harm in this particular case.
I kinda wish for the boy that they at least would have let him keep that copy, so he could play a bit more. But of course I understand why they wouldn't.
 
TheSpaceBetween

TheSpaceBetween

Member
Jan 11, 2018
9,653
These stories are always so heartbreaking to read. It also speaks to the power of videogames, and those that make them though... That they can bring happiness even in the darkest of moments. Life is so unfair :(

Futaleufu said:
It's a nice gesture.

However the Fallout series is not appropiate at all for someone who is 12 years old.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Would you tell your 12 year old child, who is literally going to die within months, that it's not appropriate for them to play this game?
 
Last edited:
Nolbertos

Nolbertos

Member
Dec 9, 2017
3,310
Poor kid, glad he got to enjoy the game. Wasn't there a Star Wars one, where a dying cancer patient got to see Star Wars Force Awakens prior to its release and LucasArts flew to his house for a private viewing??
 
LonestarZues

LonestarZues

Member
Oct 27, 2017
15,977
Atolm

Atolm

Member
Oct 25, 2017
5,826
Futaleufu said:
It's a nice gesture.

However the Fallout series is not appropiate at all for someone who is 12 years old.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

It's not like he's growing past 12. Aproppiate or not means nothing here.

The only thing not appropriate in this case is a 12 year old dying because we lack the knowledge to save him.
 
JigglesBunny

JigglesBunny

Prophet of Truth
Avenger
Oct 27, 2017
31,075
Chicago
Incredible stuff, this along with the Smash Bros. story really helps to remember that this is an industry made up of genuine people who just want to make products that will make us happy.
JCG said:
That's a nice gesture. If this was what he wanted, which it certainly seems so, then fine.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Why does this come off as really reductive and a bit condescending? Don't know if that was your intention but this reads like "ugh, if that's what made him happy then whatever."
Futaleufu said:
It's a nice gesture.

However the Fallout series is not appropiate at all for someone who is 12 years old.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Yeah, I'd hate for him to take his knowledge of violence, mature themes and swear words to the grave with him. Fuck off with this.
 
Nolbertos

Nolbertos

Member
Dec 9, 2017
3,310
He's a dying kid, that M rating doesn't mean jack if he won't live past this year. Plus he gets too spend some time playing his hobby one last time. If a dying kid wanted to play Wolfenstein 3 or something, I'm sure Bethesda would accomodate too.
 
Atolm

Atolm

Member
Oct 25, 2017
5,826
Zukuu said:
Why would you ever "stop treatment" tho? What are the downsides to it?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Didn't you see the McCain (the politician) situation a few weeks ago?

At some point some cancers will become terminal and therefore there's no point in keeping with the treatment, considering they usually have tremendous side-effects. The effort is put in alleviating the pain and the suffering in the days or weeks left.
 
Springy

Springy

Member
Oct 28, 2017
2,213
This is a nice thing for Bethesda to do, and a terrible situation for the family. Any joy that boy can have is priceless.

Futaleufu said:
It's a nice gesture.

However the Fallout series is not appropiate at all for someone who is 12 years old.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
He is a fan at 12, he probably started playing Fallout at that age.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
You read the subject of this thread, and your overriding urge was to insinuate poor decision-making on Wes' parents? Like, what kind of person thinks this way?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.