Editor’s Note: The following contains mild spoilers for the first episode of Fallout.
It’s hardly controversial to say that the vast and expansive world ofFalloutis not the safest one. It’s a harsh and unforgiving former utopia that is filled with raiders, monsters, mutants, robots, and sometimes even aliens. Even if you’re a Wastelander who is fortunate enough to have some companions by your side, you’ll still need all the help that you can get. Are you tired of accidentally trekking into dangerously irradiated areas of the Wasteland? Are you frustrated by the lack of light in Radroach-infested cave? Or do you just really want to listen to the hottest tracks of 2077 while you explore the world left behind by The Great War? If you answered yes to any of those questions, thenyou need to get your hands on a genuine Pip-Boy— the latest in post-apocalyptic wristwear from the “totally-not-secretly-evil” Vault-Tec Corporation that will make you the envy of your fellow nuclear war survivors.
In a future, post-apocalyptic Los Angeles brought about by nuclear decimation, citizens must live in underground bunkers to protect themselves from radiation, mutants and bandits.
What Are the Origins of the Pip-Boy in ‘Fallout’?
Before the Pip-Boy (Pip standing for “Personal Information Processor”) becamea standard issue product for every Vault Dweller, the iconic device was developed not long before The Great War that destroyed the world. The advanced super-computer was developed by the Vault-Tec Corporation. Vault-Tech is the same technology company that is responsible for the creation of the elaborate and vast Vault Shelters throughout the country, as well as the “humane” cyanide drug, Plan D. Hopefully,the cute Vault Boy mascotthat’s plastered all over the company’s products doesn’t fool you, asVault-Tec as an organization is an incredibly unethical corporationthat puts profit above human lives.
Every Vault in theFalloutuniverse functions a little bit differently, but just about all of them have their residents utilize Pip-Boys. Most, such asVault 101 fromFallout 3, issue the devices to Vault Dwellers once they turn 10 years old, which is the same age when they’re allowed to start working and contributing to the Vault’s day-to-day operations.The Pip-Boy ultimately functions as an extension of the user, being a paramount resource for anything they do in the Vault. There have been various models and variations of the Pip-Boy present in the games, but all of them typically have the same basic functions.
What Features Does the Pip-Boy Have?
The Pip-Boy is primarily intended for use in the Vault, with some hire-ranking Vault Dwellers like Overseers having special privileges on their devices. However, with its limitless battery,the Pip-Boy is also just as applicable for settings outside the Vault. It has a number of vital and useful features that make surviving this harsh post-apocalyptic landscape much easier.
Given thatmost of the Wastelandis drenched in nuclear radiation, it’s handy thatthe Pip-Boy features a Geiger counter, allowing its user to avoid areas with deadly amounts of radiation. The Wasteland also features plenty of dark caverns and caves, most of which have nefarious creatures inside, so it’s a good thing the Pip-Boy also has a flashlight that makes it easier to navigate those spaces. The Pip-Boy also hooks up to a person’s vitals, so it’s able to diagnose diseases, radiation levels, broken bones, and more.
Some of the Pip-Boy’s other features are more for convenience and utility, andsome R&R is something one could really use in the Wasteland. The Pip-Boy is a phenomenal resource for storing all manner of information, such as notes, quests, inventory, and more. Most models also feature a cassette reader. Yes, even in the far future ofFallout, cassettes are still the primary method of data storage, and many of them feature audio logs, minigames, and music. Speaking of music, if a Pip-Boy user is lucky enough to be close to a nearby radio station (which there are surprisingly many of), they can also listen to some classic swinging tunes all while they’re outrunninga pack of Ghouls.
What Is the Pip-Boy’s Purpose in the ‘Fallout’ Games?
What makes the Pip-Boy a unique device in video game history is thatit actually functions as a diegetic way to include the games' HUD, otherwise known as a “heads up display”. That’s the term for all the important gaming information on-screen in a game that isn’t typically in the games world, such as health bars, quest markers, and so forth. Since the Pip-Boy is capable of showcasing all of that information, it gives the game the excuse to use the device as the game’s main menu. Should a player get themselves a suit of fancy power armor,the Pip-Boy’s info can sync up with the suit, making it that much more immersive.
How Is the ‘Pip-Boy’ Used in Prime Video’s ‘Fallout’ Show?
Unsurprisingly, all the residents of Vault 33 in Prime Video’sFalloutshow have a Pip-Boy of their own. We get to see its many uses throughout the pilot episode alone, with Lucy (Ella Purnell) using it to detect the radiation levels of the Vault’s intruders and when Chet (Dave Register) uses his special Pip-Boy privileges to open the Vault’s doors. We also see that the device is also used by Vault 33’s elder councilors to approve Lucy’s ill-fated marriage.The Pip-Boy props used in the show even had some limited functionality, giving the actors an even more heightened level of immersion.
The only main drawback to having such a device like the Pip-Boy in an environment like the Wasteland is thatit makes the person wearing it a significant target. Not only would a powerful device like that be valuable in navigating the harsh and unforgivable terrain, but it would also fetch the average bandit more than a few caps at their local settlement. Being entirely unfamiliar with the treacherous desert she’s now apart of, Lucy will have to use her Pip-Boy to its fullest extent if she has any hope of making it out of here alive.
FalloutSeason 1 is now available to stream on Prime Video in the U.S.Watch on Prime Video
