Official Fallout 3 Catch-All

I can't believe I missed this thread until now. Fallout is one of my favorite games ever, and one of the ones I actually managed to finish.

I'm definitely getting the version with the bobble-head, but I think I can live without the clock.

The real hard decision for me will be 360 or PC. I went 360 with Oblivion because my laptop wasn't in any shape to play it*, and 360ing from the couch is cool...but Oblivion was a good roleplaying game, and this is FALLOUT. I don't think I can live without the ability for people to mod it and such. I can only hope that the mod community is as active as the one for Oblivion.

*still isn't, but hopefully I'll have a brand new smokin' rig by then. Not like you care. About any of this. I may be a pathetic internet navel-gazer, but I KNOW myself, dammit!

I dare you to keep it this real.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

I can't believe I missed this thread until now. Fallout is one of my favorite games ever, and one of the ones I actually managed to finish.

I'm definitely getting the version with the bobble-head, but I think I can live without the clock.

The real hard decision for me will be 360 or PC. I went 360 with Oblivion because my laptop wasn't in any shape to play it*, and 360ing from the couch is cool...but Oblivion was a good roleplaying game, and this is FALLOUT. I don't think I can live without the ability for people to mod it and such. I can only hope that the mod community is as active as the one for Oblivion.

*still isn't, but hopefully I'll have a brand new smokin' rig by then. Not like you care. About any of this. I may be a pathetic internet navel-gazer, but I KNOW myself, dammit!

I dare you to keep it this real.

I'm getting the bobblehead PC version as well. Not pre-ordering yet to see if they throw in more crap.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

I can only hope that the mod community is as active as the one for Oblivion.

IMAGE(http://i.somethingawful.com/u/elpintogrande/oblivion1/part1_2.jpg)

UCRC wrote:
Fedaykin98 wrote:

I can only hope that the mod community is as active as the one for Oblivion.

IMAGE(http://i.somethingawful.com/u/elpintogrande/oblivion1/part1_2.jpg)

What's wrong with the Watermelon Atronach?

nsmike wrote:

What's wrong with the Watermelon Atronach?

I'd like to somehow respond to this by mentioning the Redguards but I can't think of a way to do it without sounding downright offensive. Except maybe this way.

LobsterMobster wrote:
# You can kill someone with a teddy bear. You have to find the teddy bear, then use it as ammo, and then get real lucky. But still, we love the option…

What, exactly, uses a teddy bear as ammunition?

My guess? The leaf-blower-vacuum gun.

Mr Crinkle wrote:

I remember the first game I played that featured degrading weapons and armor, Betrayal at Krondor. A blemish on an otherwise superb game. It wasn't fun there, and some developers still have yet to learn that it will never be fun.

He speaks ill of the Chosen Game! Burn him!

nsmike wrote:

What's wrong with the Watermelon Atronach?

Nothing. 'Cept next step is this:
IMAGE(http://i.somethingawful.com/u/elpintogrande/oblivion3/part3_5.jpg)

Or this. Or this. Or that.

EDIT: accidentally found this: 10 000 watermelons. I think that this should be next Sony Bravia commercial.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

The real hard decision for me will be 360 or PC. I went 360 with Oblivion because my laptop wasn't in any shape to play it*, and 360ing from the couch is cool...but Oblivion was a good roleplaying game, and this is FALLOUT. I don't think I can live without the ability for people to mod it and such. I can only hope that the mod community is as active as the one for Oblivion.

I'm in the same boat. While I veer towards the PC on multiplatform releases when it comes to RPGs, all the previews make it sound like it might be a better experience in the living room that my roommate might enjoy as well. Yes, there's mods but I'm afraid it'll be the same situation as Oblivion where most of the mods I was interested in were to correct issues with the port like the interface clearly designed for a controller.

kuddles wrote:
Fedaykin98 wrote:

The real hard decision for me will be 360 or PC. I went 360 with Oblivion because my laptop wasn't in any shape to play it*, and 360ing from the couch is cool...but Oblivion was a good roleplaying game, and this is FALLOUT. I don't think I can live without the ability for people to mod it and such. I can only hope that the mod community is as active as the one for Oblivion.

I'm in the same boat. While I veer towards the PC on multiplatform releases when it comes to RPGs, all the previews make it sound like it might be a better experience in the living room that my roommate might enjoy as well. Yes, there's mods but I'm afraid it'll be the same situation as Oblivion where most of the mods I was interested in were to correct issues with the port like the interface clearly designed for a controller.

No manga swords for you then, sir!

New update from another hands-on play through by folks from PSM3 magazine.

Fans from N4G.com posted scans of the article:

Scans of PSM3's feature of Fallout 3:

"Don't Worry, Be Happy!
It's the end of the world...
but you'll feel fine.
PSM3 falls in love with Fallout 3"

Lots of juicy bits of info, give it a read!

I read an interview somewhere that was a little disappointing. It said that there are only two armor slots, the head and the body, and that there's also clothing that can give you boosts to your skills (nothing like having to switch into a new suit of armor every time you talk to an NPC). No weather except for some different kinds of clouds; no radioactive dust storms, no rainstorms, just DRY. Also, no construction kit is planned, not even for the PC version. That isn't to say there will never be one but it's not in the plans right now. That particular bit of news makes it pretty certain I'll be playing this on the 360.

LobsterMobster wrote:

Also, no construction kit is planned, not even for the PC version. That isn't to say there will never be one but it's not in the plans right now. That particular bit of news makes it pretty certain I'll be playing this on the 360.

But... But...

Why, Bethesda? Why? I wanted to give you lots of money, and, and now...

I heard a depressing rumour that I might not be seeing Fallout 3 on Australian shores. Apparently it might get banned for showing drug use, morphine specifically...

It annoys me no end that the Australian government still sees gaming as a children's pastime, refusing to give us an R classification for game. *grumble*

Redwing wrote:

I heard a depressing rumour that I might not be seeing Fallout 3 on Australian shores. Apparently it might get banned for showing drug use, morphine specifically...

It annoys me no end that the Australian government still sees gaming as a children's pastime, refusing to give us an R classification for game. *grumble*

Check NMA. Thats horsecrappola.

Here's the interview I referenced, so you can see it for yourself Azure.

Link

Redwing wrote:

I heard a depressing rumour that I might not be seeing Fallout 3 on Australian shores. Apparently it might get banned for showing drug use, morphine specifically...

It annoys me no end that the Australian government still sees gaming as a children's pastime, refusing to give us an R classification for game. *grumble*

Yeah, you guys have poisonous spiders big enough to wrestle but it's the games that'll hurt you. If you've got an X360 that's compatible with US/European releases I'm sure a goodjer will help you get your mitts on one.

boogle wrote:

Check NMA. Thats horsecrappola.

Ahh nice. I tend to avoid NMA... the vitriol there is quite astounding. It pretty much confirms what I read on the Gamespot article on it, and the rumour is almost certainly only that. But it's still a worrying thought, it wouldn't be out of character for the OFLC.

LobsterMobster wrote:

Yeah, you guys have poisonous spiders big enough to wrestle but it's the games that'll hurt you. If you've got an X360 that's compatible with US/European releases I'm sure a goodjer will help you get your mitts on one.

No X360 I'm afraid, giant spider ate it ... I'm sure I'll get myself a copy for my PC somehow anyway. Perhaps they'll release an Australian version where I'm injecting "Chemical-X" into my arm instead of Morphine or something, seem to remember good ol' Duke3D doing something similar with steroids in the N64 version. *memories*

Redwing wrote:

Perhaps they'll release an Australian version where I'm injecting "Chemical-X" into my arm instead of Morphine or something, seem to remember good ol' Duke3D doing something similar with steroids in the N64 version. *memories*

Isn't that the stuff they used to make the Power Puff Girls? Y'know, I bet that show would be a lot more enjoyable if you assumed it was all just a drug-induced hallucination.

LobsterMobster wrote:

Isn't that the stuff they used to make the Power Puff Girls? Y'know, I bet that show would be a lot more enjoyable if you assumed it was all just a drug-induced hallucination.

Those pills Roger Ramjet takes ain't proton pills!

LobsterMobster wrote:

I read an interview somewhere that was a little disappointing. It said that there are only two armor slots, the head and the body, and that there's also clothing that can give you boosts to your skills (nothing like having to switch into a new suit of armor every time you talk to an NPC).

That's double the amount of slots the first two Fallouts had.

LobsterMobster wrote:

Also, no construction kit is planned, not even for the PC version. That isn't to say there will never be one but it's not in the plans right now. That particular bit of news makes it pretty certain I'll be playing this on the 360.

The way he answered that question seemed to be along the lines of "there will be one, we just haven't announced it yet." Based on his answer, I would be very surprised not to see one.

I'm a little disappointed in the Oblivion-style fast travel system, though. Map travel in Fallout always felt like you were actually travelling, not teleporting. It made any travel feel dangerous. Wish they'd kept that.

Can't say I agree with him about the decision to merge Perks and Traits. To me, they're not nearly the same thing. Traits always had good and bad qualities and were, essentially, characteristics that you were born with or, presumably, acquired in your formative years. Perks are always beneficial things that are gained through experience.

Ah well. I'm not trying to bag on Bethesda, as I'm really looking forward to Fallout 3. I just don't get how they think of perks and traits as the same thing.
---Todd

I agree that traits are different from perks and it'd be cool to make them special (helps you flesh out your backstory and requires you to play multiple times, kind of like the "history" section of Mass Effect's character creation). However I've worked on a similar system for a game and I know very well the frustration of having two distinct elements so similar you yourself occasionally get them confused. And if you're getting confused designing it, you know the player will either get confused using it or will use it without thinking about it. Neither is ideal.

LobsterMobster wrote:

And if you're getting confused designing it, you know the player will either get confused using it or will use it without thinking about it.

I never got confused in Fallout(s). One you pick during character creation to define the overall flavour of your character. The other you select during levelups as bonuses to your character development--or pick up as tags based on your actions (e.g. gravedigger, child killer, expert excrement expeditor, etc).

That sounds to me like the design decision to amalgamate ammo types in DeusEx.

I see what you're saying Lobster, but I gotta agree with MoonDragon as I never found the distinction remotely confusing in Fallout 1 or 2. Still, it's a nit and as long as the game is fun and compelling I'm not going to dwell on the minutia.
---Todd

If the designers are getting these two simple pieces confused, maybe they should work on something a little easier? Like online Chutes and Ladders?

Quintin_Stone wrote:

If the designers are getting these two simple pieces confused, maybe they should work on something a little easier? Like online Chutes and Ladders? :D

Oh, that's the "eating" minigame. The chutes are esophaguses and the ladders are... best not elaborated upon.

Rumor no more, Australia is not getting Fallout 3. Crikey!

Rat Boy wrote:

Rumor no more, Australia is not getting Fallout 3. Crikey!

Well I look like an ass now.
*EDIT*

NMA wrote:

* The role of Charisma is lower than in previous games, Fallout 3 relies on combat much more than FO1 and FO2. However, we'll be able to use stealth throughout most of the game.

Curses. Curses indeed. That completely ruins the feel of the games. You didn't even have to kill most people in FO1.

Rat Boy wrote:

Rumor no more, Australia is not getting Fallout 3. Crikey!

Yeah I read that this morning, and it got me thinking. The rating systems in the world is just messed up...

If they want to make us all into that perfect human being, they better start to ban news too... They often have far more violent, objectionable contents...

The whole making certain NPCs invulnerable is kinda annoying too. I know it is not the developers' fault. They have to adhere to the draconian Rating Board standards... But come on, if someone goes out of their way to kill children in game and enjoy it. Then it is that person that may have some problems that he/she may need to get it checked out. NOT that the game is to be BLAMED for MAKING THE PERSON do such a thing and enjoy it!

Sorry to vent... Now to contribute to the thread:

Nice Preview summary of Polish CD-Action Magazine, provided by Ausir:

A summary:
* As far as locations and content go, the game is finished. Bethesda is mostly doing QA now. There are still some bugs and the game crashes from time to time.
* They had a predefined character - a strong male.
* They were told to steer clear from the main quest and were not allowed to talk about what they saw of it in the preview.
* To make escape from Vault 101 easier for the purposes of the preview, guards were removed.
* The game can be saved at any moment, and it's pretty quick.
* We leave the Vault with a PipBoy, a pistol, some ammo and a holotape with a message from the father
* Ammo is scarce and it's best to fight weaker opponents hand to hand.
* They go to Megaton by following a sign in Springvale showing the way to the town
* In Springvale, the Sputnik Eyebot was hovering over the street, broadcasting a speech of the Enclave president
* Megaton looks like a Wild West town. We have a good sheriff, and an evil saloon owner. The saloon has a prostitute, but she tells the player character that he's too young to use her services.
* We are informed that our Karma has changed after the fact. We also don't see any numbers - we just see e.g. a Vault Boy with angel wings and a "Saint" description. The developers intentionally hid the numerical value of your Karma.
* If we are caught trying to steal something, the person we tried to rob will first chase us, trying to recover his property. He won't be happy, but usually it won't end with a shootout, unless we already have a bad reputation. Well, it was enough to cause some trouble in Megaton for everyone to turn against us. What then? We can try putting our weapon down - if we didn't kill anyone, the situation will calm down.
* If we, however, do have blood on our hands already, the best way out is to quickly evacuate. Fortunately, a return is possible. After a few days the emotions drop down, and entering the town does not end with bloodshed. But still, people will know about our deeds and if we cause trouble again, they won't give us the benefit of a doubt this time.
* At first glance, it looked like they'd wanter around aimlessly. But only at first glance, thanks to the compass. Directions where we can find something interesting are marked with little triangles. We'll learn what it is when we get there (it can be a school taken over by bandits, a cinema with car wrecks, baseball pitch with dead bodies hanging from the fence, a small settlement at an overpass or a normal town). The compass can also show the place where we have a quest to do or a navigation point we put on the map ourselves.
* At first glance, Fallout 3 looks like a typical FPS.
* You use stimpaks on specific parts of the body, as hit points are divided among them.
* While throwing grenades and during hand-to-hand combat, while you can use VATS, you can't aim at specific parts of the body
* Choice of gender has been marginalized and its importance will be minimal.
* Lots of blood and profanity. Body parts can be disintegrated or vaporized, depending on the weapon.
* The PC version has the same interface as the X360 one, but adjusted to the use of mouse and keyboard. It works much better than Oblivion's. Both the PipBoy and the VATS work well with the mouse.
* You can assign hotkeys to items - e.g. weapons or stimpaks.
* Even with standard settings, the game looks better on the PC than on the 360 - better textures and longer line of sight.
* The lockpicking minigame is similar to the one from the Thief games.

Conclusion: "Is it Fallout? If you expect the same experience as before, it's safer to just play the previous games. But if you just want the brutal, post nuclear world, freedom and atmosphere, what I was shown is no worse than in the first Fallout. And it's the best recommendation I can give after a few hours of playing."

Sigh, so apparently FO3 is banned in Australia ONLY because of DRUGS in the game...

Kotaku.au via FO3 Blog wrote:

The report then states that “material promoting or encouraging proscribed drug use” is grounds enough to refuse classification. Furthermore, the use of morphine is highlighted, as well as its in-game effect: allowing the player to ignore damage.

I don't even know whether to laugh or cry at that morphine part...

* To make escape from Vault 101 easier for the purposes of the preview, guards were removed.

Wait, you have to fight your way out of the vault? Cool.

* If we are caught trying to steal something, the person we tried to rob will first chase us, trying to recover his property. He won't be happy, but usually it won't end with a shootout, unless we already have a bad reputation. Well, it was enough to cause some trouble in Megaton for everyone to turn against us. What then? We can try putting our weapon down - if we didn't kill anyone, the situation will calm down.

EXCELLENT. I was so sick of accidentally picking something up in a shop in Oblivion only to have the owner and the guards try to kill me over it. Geez, I'm sorry, I won't touch!

* While throwing grenades and during hand-to-hand combat, while you can use VATS, you can't aim at specific parts of the body

Aww man! One of my favorite Fallout moments was using a power sledge to hit a guy in the crotch so hard he exploded.

* You can assign hotkeys to items - e.g. weapons or stimpaks.

How can you hotkey a stimpack when you need to use it on a specific body part? (Right Bumper = Stimpack in Ass)

* Even with standard settings, the game looks better on the PC than on the 360 - better textures and longer line of sight.

Not on MY PC...