The making of Fallout Tactics: 'I sound like I'm down on it now, but I still love what we made'

We didn't call them memes in 2001. But insofar as viral internet jokes existed, hairy deathclaws became a meme. More specifically, they became a stick to beat Fallout Tactics developer Micro Forté with. The studio had invented a take on the iconic monster that was covered in thick fur—a natural coat which provided top-notch protection from the weather. "Because it looks like it's there in the sprite," lead designer Ed Orman says. "Now I actually think there's plenty of justification for doing variations on deathclaws.