GameBanshee Feature: John Deiley Interview

We talk with former Black Isle Studios developer John Deiley about the division's final days, the shelving of Fallout 3, the cancellation of Baldur's Gate III, and more. This three-page Q&A provides an inside look at Interplay's closing of the studio, as well as many concrete answers from one of the former developers. An excerpt:
GB: At the time of the studios' closure, how much of Fallout 3 had been completed? How much more development time do you feel the title needed before it could have been considered "complete"?

John: The engine was about 95% done. You could create characters, use skills, perform both ranged and melee combat, save/load games, and travel across maps. We had a tutorial level done that would let you do all of the above. All areas but one had been designed. About 75% of the dialogs were done and at least 50% of the maps. We had character models and monster models.

If Interplay had supported us as they had promised and given us needed resources from other divisions we would have finished the game on time. Possibly even ahead of schedule.