Vault 13 : A GURPS Post - Nuclear Adventure Vault 13 : A GURPS Post - Nuclear Adventure was an early working title for " Fallout " ( later also called Fallout : A GURPS Post - Nuclear Adventure before the GURPS license was finally dropped ) . Background . The game was initially intended to use Steve Jackson Games ' s GURPS system . GURPS is an acronym for Generic Universal Role Playing System and is a table - top role playing game system published by Steve Jackson Games . Originally released in 1986 , it is currently in its fourth edition . GURPS is designed to be easily applicable to any role playing game setting , and is played with six - sided dice . From the GURPS FAQ : GURPS " is a 3d6 skill - based system . It uses a point - based character creation system , and represents characters using four basic stats ( Strength , Dexterity , IQ , and Health ) along with advantages , disadvantages , perk s , quirks , and skill s . " GURPS " is designed to allow role - playing in any genre using the same game mechanics for all of them . " History . Initially there was a lot of skepticism coming from Steve Jackson as Interplay approached him with an offer . According to Scott Campbell , Steve Jackson only responded once he was offered up - front license money . Scott was appointed Lead Designer , as his previous project , " SimEarth " had been canceled . The first draft for the game ' s story was written down on a " night of many beers " . This draft was never intended to be used , and bears little resemblance to the Fallout universe . At this point , Interplay had still not decided what their first GURPS game would be about . After some time , the development team decided they wanted to do " GURPS : Wasteland " , based on the old post - apocalyptic game from Interplay . At the same time , Steve Jackson Games was working on " GURPS : Survivor " , which was a role - playing sourcebook with rules for post - apocalyptic adventuring . During the last meeting before Christmas break , it was revealed by Interplay ' s legal team that EA still had the rights to " Wasteland " , due to the fact that Interplay had recently released a 10th Anniversary pack containing the game through EA . Though this meant that they could no longer use the Wasteland name , they would carry on work on a post - apocalyptic game . The one that first proposed the idea of using Vault s was Tim Cain , who claimed he had dreamed it . Campbell claims that this one idea was what started the creative process for himself . The team laid down some simple rules : The game was supposed to be no holds barred . Anything would be allowed , even the killing of children . This was early in 1995 , and even saying the word " ass " was illegal from public broadcasting . Interplay wanted to push the limits on the game , and in order to give more depth to some of the characters of the harsh environment , the language was spiced up . Termination and legal issues . In early 1997 ( around 11th February 1997 ) , in the midst of " Fallout ’ s " development , Steve Jackson Games and Interplay terminated their deal . Apparently , Steve Jackson Games was satisfied with everything but the Vault Boy pictures in the character screen and the execution scene in the introduction . As the split between " Fallout " and GURPS became imminent , Steve Jackson remarked “ The GURPS implementation they ' ve created is ' worth ' saving . ” When the contract was referenced over approval rights , Interplay discovered several flaws , which in turn developed into a legal squabble over the contract itself . Eventually , the companies ended with a mutual decision to part ways . Chris Taylor , while agreeing that the split was a blow to the project , said " instead of compromising and making an inferior product - - Fallout will be produced with conviction . " The title was changed to the final version : " Fallout : A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game " and the SPECIAL character system was designed . GURPS sometimes appears as a terminal password in Fallout 3 and Fallout 4 . Notes . In the game files ' DATA directory , there is a file called VAULT13 . GAM which stores the global variables for the game . This dates back to when " Fallout " was first called " Vault 13 " . Gallery . As part of the 10th anniversery celebration for " Fallout " , here are 2 previously unreleased screenshots from the GURPS version of the game , courtesy of Chris Taylor . They were created when Scott Campbell was still in charge of the design .