Earlier this week we received a request from someone asking about Fallout 5, and what we thought would be a good location for it. With the recent release of the mod Fallout London, it's got me thinking about what other interesting places could be use.
Sure, there's other countries outside of the USA, and there are a lot of great cities within the States as well. I feel like obvious one would be places like LA, or maybe even Houston Texas. Cities that nearly everyone knows the name of, and have a large population.
But what if this line of thinking isn't the best way to go about it? Fallout has always chosen unique locations that make sense, yet also contain many of the same key features. Dense city areas, rural outskirts, government districts, large bodies of water, and surrounding small towns tend to be some of the most common locations in a Fallout game. Not to mention historical significance, which gives the location even more of a reason to be remembered by.
Sure, these aren't the "rules" of Fallout, but it's a common trend many of them share. So what is a location that would be similar? Or better yet, what is a location that has ties to the Fallout series already, yet not visited or directly mentioned? As I was asking myself this question, it hit me. Something that has been in front of my face for years. Something I'm familiar with, and almost never discussed.
What if Fallout 5 were to take place in the good old Land of Lincoln; Springfield Illinois.
A Quick History:
Springfield Illinois was established in 1821, and was first visited by traders traveling the Sangamon River in 1818. During that time Springfield wasn't much besides a few log cabins, but over time more and more settlers moved in.Eventually the city gained enough fame, and was promoted to being Illinois' 3rd capital in 1839. This was largely due to efforts of Abraham Lincoln, who would one day go on to be our 16h President.
What often gets left out of the history books is the fact that Abraham Lincoln was a Surveyor.
He became responsible for establishing many of the townships within the region, and still to this day his records and monuments are an important part of the field. It's thanks to Lincoln that the area developed as quickly as it did, and eventually was looked upon by the entire country. While Illinois itself was dubbed "The Land of Lincoln," Springfield Illinois was the center of that.
 |
| (Official image of the Capital Building) |
Of course one misconception is the fact that Lincoln was born in Springfield, but in reality that honor belongs to Sinking Spring Farm, Kentucky. Lincoln himself did eventually take up residency in Springfield itself, but that's a much longer story. For those who are interested however, the Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum has you covered.
Springfield of Today:
The Springfield of today is quite a bit different from back then. Lincoln's home and other historic sites have been preserved, and visitors can tour them, but the city itself has greatly expanded. The older down town area, which is also where the government buildings are located, is densely populated by businesses, and a mixture of old and modern architecture. Tall buildings line the streets at the heart of down town, but smaller residential neighborhoods are also found throughout the area. Schools, churches, parks, etc, it can all be found down town.
 |
| (An older neighborhood near the capital) |
Moving past that however, you also have the more "modern" sections of the city. These areas have development that is much more spaced out, and feels more like a "newer" city. This is where locations like White Oaks Mall can be found, all of your standard fast food restaurants, and other stores and businesses. It's much more highway and interstate than it is condensed city, but also contains more residential districts as well.
Lake Springfield is the final "main" area within the City, and offers nearly 60 miles of shoreline. The lake is massive and runs alongside both industrial areas, as well as residential. It spans across the southern half of the city, contains multiple islands as well.
 |
| (Springfield contains multiple bodies of water) |
Outside of Springfield you can find a lot of grassland, farm fields, and wooded areas. Multiple small towns also border the main City, and are mostly made up of residential districts. Larger villages, such as Chatham, are also close to Springfield, and offer a similar businesses and living spaces. (And if you are lucky, you might even run into actor Chris Kattan, who many may know from SNL or "The Middle.")
Overall, Springfield and the areas around it have quite a bit to offer, and have plenty to do for tourists. Those who are interested in history can enjoy the Lincoln sites, while others can check out famous eateries like "Charlie Parker's Diner" which has been featured on Diners Drive-Ins and Dives.
But why would it make a good Fallout Location?
There are quite a few reasons why Springfield would make a good Fallout location. First of all, Illinois in general has an already established history within the series.
While Chicago has been mentioned numerous times throughout most of the games in the Fallout series, Springfield is the true capital of the state, and where the established government is centered. This gives reason to explore the area, and would allow the developers to do so without messing with any established lore. (Putting aside the mission in Fallout Tactics.)
Another reason isn't an official one, but still a part of the game's history none the less. While the mod Fallout London is huge right now, it's not the first Fallout mod to make an entire new game out of things. In fact, Fallout Alton IL did this for Fallout 3 back in the 2010s!
 |
| (Official screenshot from the Alton IL Mod) |
Alton is another history IL city, and is located 80 miles to the south of Springfield. It's the city many may pass through on the way to St. Louis, but it has it's own unique history attached to it. The mod itself is a full on recreation of the area, and features a unique story with all new characters. It is a game on it's own, and the largest Fallout 3 mod to date! But again, it's an "unofficial reason" to include more Illinois content.
From a gameplay perspective, Springfield simply offers everything you would want out of a Fallout game. The City has different types of regions within it, it has historic locations that can be used, a multiple building government district, and has a variety of locales in general. Springfield Lake provides a large body of water with multiple islands, and an industrial district, and smaller residential area offer buildings and homes that could be explored in the game. There is also the grass land and wooded areas seen throughout the city and outside, along with multiple streams that help break up the more flatter areas.
There really isn't anything that other Fallout games offer that Springfield doesn't contain, yet at the same time Springfield is also unique enough to stand on it's own. It's a location that is almost never brought up in any form of media, despite it's historical significance, and surprisingly, it's Capital Building is one of the largest in the nation.
Mixed with the Lincoln sites, there are creepy locations that have ties to the occult. One such site is none other than the "haunted' Dana-Thomas House, where Lincoln's wife attended séances.
 |
| (Photo via the Dana-Thomas Website) |
The house was completed in 1904 for Springfield women’s activist Susan Lawrence Dana, and is just one of the many known haunted locations around the City. Other noticeable mentions include the Governor's Mansion, Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield Theater Center, and lesser known "hidden" locations as well. Such as relics from the Civil War. As Springfield was chosen as a base for training and a major supply center, such locations can be found throughout the city.
Overall, there's a lot to Springfield than meets the eye, and that's just another reason why it would be perfect for Fallout. It's unlikely to ever happen, sure, but it's something to think about.
Post a Comment