Fallout lead Tim Cain worked 70+ hours a week for 2 years to make the classic RPG: ‘I’m glad things have changed, that was unsustainable⁠—but it was also absolutely amazing’

January 26, 2026 One Min Read

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Fallout lead Tim Cain worked 70+ hours a week for 2 years to make the classic RPG: ‘I’m glad things have changed, that was unsustainable⁠—but it was also absolutely amazing’

In a recent video on his YouTube channel, RPG developer Tim Cain discussed his daily routine while working on the original Fallout at Interplay Entertainment. He talked about the intense workload he took on and why it was more acceptable in 1995 compared to today. Cain shared details about his work schedule, including waking up early, coding tasks, and dealing with meetings. He also mentioned his financial struggles and the fact that he rented a room to a colleague during the game’s development. Despite long work days, Cain made time for programming extra features on Saturdays. Overall, Cain reflected on the challenges and experiences of working on Fallout during that time period.

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Cain often found himself in the office on Saturdays with other members of the Fallout team or employees from other projects. Despite some QA testers working late without overtime pay because they wanted to play more Fallout, Cain saw this dedication as a positive sign. While one Interplay executive was concerned about labor laws, Cain believed that working on something you love and seeing it improve was the most exciting part of game development. He acknowledged that this kind of intense work schedule may not be suitable for modern game development, but he still found it incredibly rewarding.