Fallout 3!

[Izawwlgood]

I've got the Xbox variety reserved for tomorrow and what happens?! My Xbox 3 rings of death's itself yesterday in the middle of a Dead Space marathon!!! ARRGGH! I am without console for at least 2 wks.

[EdgarJPublius]

Games for Windows is actually a set of standards developed and published by Microsoft that includes compatibility requirements with hardware, drivers, etc.

No, the only hardware reuirement is support the 360 common controller where appropriate (most games fail miserably at this one). The list of requirements can be found here: Games for Windows: Technical Requirements.

Anyway, I'll have to wait and ee before I buy Fallout 3. I never really got into Fallout that much.

it also requires support of 64bit processes and multiple monitor resolutions.

[Amnesiasoft]

it also requires support of 64bit processes and multiple monitor resolutions.

Actually, that's support 64 bit WINDOWS, not 64 bit processors. Which is a software issue, not a hardware one.

And you got me on the monitor resolutions, I guess that qualifies as a hardware support type thing...

Back to Fallout: I'm curious, when they say the same engine as Oblivion, while it is easy to assume they're using the same collection of middleware tacked onto Gamebryo that powers Oblivion (because that engine is designed for an open world RPG, which is kind of where FO3 is headed), are we sure that's what they mean and not just that they'll be using Gamebryo? Because if they're only talking Gamebryo, there are plenty of games that use Gamebryo that are anything but "Oblivion with guns." (Civilization 4, Pirates, Empire Earth II & III).

[JayDee]

The feeling of being lost is important, but from videos it looks like once you've escaped it's an affair of "Go to Megaton and talk to people about Dad" and then they give you information and everything will be fine and easy if you just follow it like a sheep. Of course, it remains to be seen.

I fail to see how that is any different from Fallout 1 or 2. In both of those you had a trail to follow pretty much the whole way through. 'Go find Vic the trader and ask about the water flask' etc etc. If you did nothing but follow the obvious plot hooks you could get through the game fine and easy.

[BumpInTheNight]

Actually, that's support 64 bit WINDOWS, not 64 bit processors. Which is a software issue, not a hardware one.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I am under the impression that'd be an inherent condition any ways since 64 bit OSes won't run on non-64bit hardware. That's at least what various installs of windows and linux tell me when I accidentally start to install a 64bit OS onto 32bit hardware.

[Amnesiasoft]

It's the use of 64 bit Windows that tends to cause problems, not the use of a 64 bit processor. 32 bit Windows runs fine on a 64 bit processor and acts identically to if you were using a 32 bit only processor. So your program is perfectly capable of running on 64 bit hardware, it just doesn't interact correctly with the 64 bit software you're running.

[BumpInTheNight]

Aight well I just went and read the link, what they specifically say is no 16bit chunks so that its compatible with vista 64, that's the requirement.

[Amnesiasoft]

Sometimes I hate myself. I ended up buying the game on Steam. Only 10 more hours to go! Why do publishers hate Steam so much?

[BumpInTheNight]

Awe man you got jacked yo, I bought it from Direct2drive and its available to me at 10am EST(6 hours), though the little countdown clocky thing on that site says 3 hours.

[Amnesiasoft]

I don't like Direct2Drive. And either way, that still leaves the question of "Why do publishers hate Digital Distribution? I could have had the game 2 hours ago if I'd bought it at a store.

[BumpInTheNight]

For me its sweet convenience but yah in terms of getting a new release I suppose it'd be faster to camp a store but then I'd have to get dressed, unseal the vault door, fend off zombies and all that other stuff I've really come to like D2D, for the secure-rom titles they give you about 4-5 installs before it complains but they in turn have always given me more and promptly too. They're about the only game selling company that's also given me full refunds(well store credits) if I think a game really is awful and ask them nicely.

[Jack Saladin]

For some reason Fallout 3 has an RRP of 140 bucks here. Wtf? That the highest I've ever heard of a console game selling for - even higher than the usual rip off 120. Are they trying to pressure people into buying the collectors edition or something (which costs a whole ten bucks more)? I can't even import for less because our dollar just plummeted so my life savings are worth about ten american cents now.

So, uhh, might wait on Fallout 3. Dear economy, plz stop sucking.

[Jessica]

I just picked up the PC version for $60 (or, $55, with a $5 deposit). It's the same price as most games.
I almost wish I'd gotten the collectors version. Almost. But, I don't generally like spending more on a game for useless garbage.

I literally just started creating my character, so I have no idea how the game works. It looks damn pretty though. The intro screens with the acetate slides was cool, and the character creation is nifty as well.

[thecommabandit]

From videos and screenshots, the character creation and tutorial sequence looks really good. I think this is possibly the first time ever I'm looking forward to the tutorial of a game, only because it seems like quite an innovative idea (yeah it's probably been done before, but it's the first time I've seen it so whatever).

[Jessica]

Yeah.
Also, hearing the deep voice "War. War never changes" made me so happy.

[Jebobek]

I think hellboy should make an appearance, imo

[Xanthir]

Yeah.
Also, hearing the deep voice "War. War never changes" made me so happy.

It was an interesting contrast in MGS4 to hear Snake repeat "War... has changed." in his gravelly voice. ^_^

[SecondTalon]

I think hellboy should make an appearance, imo

.... What?

[Jebobek]

Ron Perlman (Movie's Hellboy) is well-known by Fallout fans for narrating the introductory movies in the series, including uttering the famous phrase "War. War never changes". I just thought it would be funny if they, for the sake of the humor, zoom out and see hellboy narrating.

[Upsilon]

I would have probably bought this on Steam and been playing already, if it weren't for my horrible, horrible, 56 kb/s internet speed.

[Jessica]

Ron Perlman (Movie's Hellboy) is well-known by Fallout fans for narrating the introductory movies in the series, including uttering the famous phrase "War. War never changes". I just thought it would be funny if they, for the sake of the humor, zoom out and see hellboy narrating.

It would be better if there was a cameo or easter egg of hellboy somewhere in the game. Because that would show that Betheda understands the fallout brand.

[Phen]

... It's out?

I had no idea it's be already. Then again, everything's been on standby for the last few weeks up to my exam. Which I finally got over and done with today. Guess I know what to spend tomorrow on.

[Wolf]

I got it for PC today and just started playing. I really, REALLY like the intro sequence. Although there was a small piece I didn't enjoy:

Spoiler:

Killing the overseer. Why oh why does Bethesda never give you a way to just knock people out? I wanted the girl to like me, not hate me forever.

Also, if anyone could give me help on this, it would be appreciated:

Spoiler:

Where the hell is the Family of Blood located? I checked all three places and didn't find anyone. Except for a few dudes down in the metro station, but they weren't the Family.

And of course they had to release this game the day before I have my math midterm. And then have another midterm on Thursday. Goodbye grades!

[Rippy]

I bought it today, and it HAD to be good after all the trouble I went through to get it. The first store I biked to, a department store about a 10 minute ride from home, didn't have it. Micro-Play (a video game chain around here, about 20 minutes away) didn't have it for PC, they sell mostly consoles games. Wal-Mart (same plaza as Micro-Play), again, didn't have it for PC. So then I figured, screw it, I'm gonna bike another 15 minutes to the EBGames.

Total trip time: 1:30. (though it was a fun ride nonetheless)

I could have bought it on Steam with the help of my dad (who has a paypal account). I could have waited until tomorrow, when I would be driving to the bank RIGHT BESIDE the EBGames anyway. But it was an adventure.

I've gotta say, so far I'm absolutely loving it. I love the humor, and how you can kill pretty much anyone (one of my gripes about Oblivion). My current character is supposed to be a drug-addicted homeless murderer (i.e. always chooses evil options), and in an hour and a half of playing he's managed to:

Spoiler:

- kill 13 innocent people (including an "OH SNAP!" moment when I sneak-knifed an innocent Vault-dweller, and found when examining the body that I had CUT HER LEG OFF. AWESOME.
- attempt to hire a prostitute (presumably Nova doesn't actually do anything?)
- kill a man for his drugs
- blow up Megaton
- kill Allistair Tenpenny immediately after blowing up Megaton and receiving the reward, and have a plaisant conversation with his bodyguard immediately afterwards (Mr Burke walked out before I could pursue him, but maybe I'll keep him alive in case he gives further jobs?

And no, I am not a terrible person. I intend to replay the game as a good character later, but the fun is always in being absolutely evil.

As for the overseer,

Spoiler:

What happens when you talk to him? I used VATS to blow his head off immediately after spotting him, so I figured based on the girl's reaction (what's her name again? Amita or something?) that there was a more diplomatic way of doing it. I was also trying very hard to make her like me, so after that happened I thought "wel, this is a lost cause" and tried to kill her. Unfortunately, she's the only character I've found thus far who won't die.

[Wolf]

My current character is supposed to be a drug-addicted homeless murderer (i.e. always chooses evil options), and in an hour and a half of playing he's managed to:

Spoiler:

- kill 13 innocent people (including an "OH SNAP!" moment when I sneak-knifed an innocent Vault-dweller, and found when examining the body that I had CUT HER LEG OFF. AWESOME.
- attempt to hire a prostitute (presumably Nova doesn't actually do anything?)
- kill a man for his drugs
- blow up Megaton
- kill Allistair Tenpenny immediately after blowing up Megaton and receiving the reward, and have a plaisant conversation with his bodyguard immediately afterwards (Mr Burke walked out before I could pursue him, but maybe I'll keep him alive in case he gives further jobs?

And no, I am not a terrible person. I intend to replay the game as a good character later, but the fun is always in being absolutely evil.

As for the overseer,

Spoiler:

What happens when you talk to him? I used VATS to blow his head off immediately after spotting him, so I figured based on the girl's reaction (what's her name again? Amita or something?) that there was a more diplomatic way of doing it. I was also trying very hard to make her like me, so after that happened I thought "wel, this is a lost cause" and tried to kill her. Unfortunately, she's the only character I've found thus far who won't die.

First off, I am in awe of all you've managed to accomplish so quickly.

And about the overseer. . .

Spoiler:

I just walked into the room (I don't know if I did or didn't have a weapon drawn), and he and his guard attacked me. So the only guess I can fathom (on the "being able to talk to him" front) is that you can leave the vault without going into that room (sneak past), and then maybe go back later and arrive at a more diplomatic solution? You also might just be required to leave her behind no matter what so she's written out of the game. Or maybe she'll show up later (as evidenced by you not being able to kill her). Who knows?

[Jebobek]

And about the overseer. . .

Spoiler:

I just walked into the room (I don't know if I did or didn't have a weapon drawn), and he and his guard attacked me. So the only guess I can fathom (on the "being able to talk to him" front) is that you can leave the vault without going into that room (sneak past), and then maybe go back later and arrive at a more diplomatic solution? You also might just be required to leave her behind no matter what so she's written out of the game. Or maybe she'll show up later (as evidenced by you not being able to kill her). Who knows?

To get the key from the overseer without killing:

Spoiler:

For me, after I killed his guard, he walked into a corner and talked to me still. I walked behind him, went into sneak mode, and took the key from him. He caught me in the act but I still got to keep the key. The girl likes me still when I left.

And now for annoying things:
1. When I was at the vault exit door the girl suddenly warps there for some weird reason then runs away saying "you've got to get out of here!" what the heck?
2. Not really a bug, but the strafing animation is really weak. I'd rather have non-smooth animation than see my person moonwalk for a meter before you see them run.
3. Picking up something by mistake in a town. There's no money bail, everyone just wants to murder you for picking up a box of maccaroni by mistake. Another time i entered a building by mistake and the robots started flipping out and trying to kill me. Town is the most dangerous place for me, I'm saving every 5 minutes.
4. Dumb AI, again. I was fighting peeps in the Super Duper mart near megaton, and instead of hopping over a 2ft. tall counter they run inside of a room, run through all the passageways, then runs out to a door next to me to shoot at me.
5. In the vault when I shot a guard in the face to kill him, his head falls off. No, handgun headshots do not decapitate people. But If we're going to go the ridiculous route, I might as well invest in the bloodspray perk and enjoy the rock-and-roll dismemberment.
6. Energy guns. You shoot someone with it and they have no visible signs of damage. But the killing blow completely vaporizes them.

in spite of these lil things this game is turning out to be pretty awesome. I enjoyed shooting a really rough guy in the right arm with V.A.T.S. so he dropped his automatic shotgun.

[Rippy]

And about the overseer. . .

Spoiler:

I just walked into the room (I don't know if I did or didn't have a weapon drawn), and he and his guard attacked me. So the only guess I can fathom (on the "being able to talk to him" front) is that you can leave the vault without going into that room (sneak past), and then maybe go back later and arrive at a more diplomatic solution? You also might just be required to leave her behind no matter what so she's written out of the game. Or maybe she'll show up later (as evidenced by you not being able to kill her). Who knows?

Spoiler:

The other thing that tipped me off was how I opened the office door with the key I got from his corpse instead of picking it like Amata suggested. So either you can sneak past the overseer somehow, or it's just some kind of mandatory plot twist that you end up having to kill him and take his key.

As for Amata, I'm wondering what actually happens between the two of you. I mean, you must be able to return to the Vault at some point, right? I'm just wondering if killing her dad affects the game ending (such as, if in one ending you're supposed to marry Amata but killing her dad, you know, changes things)

[Jebobek]

I'm not sure If my way was a bug (see above post) but I definitely got it without the overseer dying.

Spoiler:

He just stood there and called for guards the whole time, i just left him alone after I picked his pocket. The girl told me that she could not come with me because her place is in the vault, and she's the only one that can talk sense into her father.

[Endless Mike]

I just

Spoiler:

snuck past the Overseer and picked the lock to the office. I killed three or four guards along the way, though. And beat up Butch before skipping the test (which I shouldn't have done since it gets an achievement and you can ultimately remake your stats, anyway).

I will say in the first couple hours I played, I'm already way more into it than I ever got into Oblivion, and I do think Bethesda got it, mostly. Oh, and the character creation doesn't make horrific people no matter how hard you try not to, unlike Oblivion.

[Irrefutable]

I cant tell you how excited i am about this game. Just read the PCG review and the only complaint they seemed to have was that the ending was shite.

I never even got close to finishing the Oblivion main quest so i suspect this wont bother me in the least. The only thing that suprised me slightly is that it says that the map is around the same size as the Oblivion map. I found Oblivion uncomfortably cramped and with far too much cramped into the space there was. It felt a shade rediculous at the time so i hope Fallout 3 doesnt evoke similar feelings.

[Jebobek]

Fallout 3 kind of has to cramp itself, because I'm pretty sure theres no fast travel? correct me if I'm wrong.

By the way, I'm sure after playing oblivion and then this game, little to no people will argue against comparing this game to Oblivion. Its like a giant Oblivion mod. Fallout 3 is to Oblivion as Perfect Dark was to Goldeneye.

As far as I've seen, the voice acting is better. I'm also more immersed because kids exist in this world.

[Irrefutable]

The crampedness wasn't in itself a problem. It just seemed odd having the Lord of the Necromancers setting up shop a small 2 minute jog away from the home of the blades, which was itself a small stroll to a major goblin infestation which was a 1 minute sprint away from a haunted castle etc etc

[Xaddak]

There is fast travel, which I am only using because, as far as I can tell, there aren't any vehicles/mounts/anything except for the SIX BILLION motorcycles (and cars too, for that matter) laying around the streets/suburbs/hills/valleys/alleys, and pretty much EVERYWHERE else, but despite this I am expected to believe not one of them is in working condition because ain't nobody in the Capital Wasteland that likes going faster than a walking or running pace.

Oh, and I did The Power of the Atom, simply because every time I asked somebody in town what was around the town, the only answer they would give me is "Why the HELL would you want to leave the town?!" So I made them all suffer for it. I was trying to find the Citadel so I can learn to use my power armour, and I finally did, but they won't let me in...

[thecommabandit]

The map is about a tenth the size of Oblivion's and yes, there is fast travel, but you start out with no locations you can fast travel to. Once you've discovered a location you can fast travel to it as much as you want (at least, that's what reviews and previews have said. I can't say anything for certain seeing as the game doesn't come out here until Friday).I think the reason they made a smaller map was that they realised that that Oblivion was a huge expanse of lifeless dungeons and caves and rectified that by making sure most of the dungeons were at least decently crafted and given a fair bit of attention. In light of this, they had to make the map a bit smaller so they could actually release the game before the 360 became obsolete.

[SecondTalon]

Oblivion's problem was that the terrain was all too "Same" feeling. Sure, this region was a swamp, this area was rolling hills, this area was a forest, and this area was steep hills/mountains... but it all looked the same, regardless.

Especially coming from ash-waste giant-mushroom freaky-tower-town Morrowind.

That said, with Fallout taking place in a blasted wasteland, I'm hoping the areas actually have different feels. Can anyone say one way or another if it does?

[Phen]

About the overseer,

Spoiler:

I got the key and password first time around by threatening to hurt his daughter. However, I felt he was too much of an asshole to let him get away with it (I tried handing over my weapons first time around, just to see what'd happen), so I killed him. It was self-defence, but she still hated me.

Anyways, apparantly the game wasn't supposed to be sold until tomorrow, but one store I went to let me have it anyway. I must admit I cringed when I saw the radiant-AI thingy from Oblivion kick in at the birthday party, I just hope it's better this time.

[Xaddak]

Um? I thought that Fallout 3 had the same size world map as Oblivion.

[EdgarJPublius]

While the game does almost invariably lend itself to comparison with oblivion, I have no trouble believing they are distinct games.
There are still many 'oblivionisms' around as a result of the same developers using the same engine, but they are mostly the good or at least neutral ones. You can tell both games are using the same design philosophy, but everything about Fallout that I've seen so far is so much more polished than Oblivion. I haven't noticed any characters with 'multiple voices' even though they are all voiced, the smaller world means the dungeons are far better crafted, The school outside the vault is very well done for example, and I love fighting my way through the subway system to get around. The areas I've seen so far above ground are more varied than in oblvion, through clever use of buildings to led each area more 'unique' feel. In oblivion, all the trees were based on the same small number of models, and all areas used them in roughly the same proportion, in FO3, areas have their own variety and concentrations of architecture to set them apart.

As a stand alone game, I would say Fallout 3 more than hits the mark in terms of design. But how does it hold up to the Fallout Mythos?
Well, they've certainly ticked of all the right boxes, there's brahmin and ghouls and super-mutants all in a wasteland environment, The brotherhood of steel walks around in power armor etc.
But they've also managed to set it apart, it feels to me like Fallout grew up, but it's still Fallout, there's plenty of fun to be had, I loved some of the obvious commentary/satire in the Enclave transmissions, and the Museum of Technology, but there's also a darker side, the 3d models make some of the enemies a lot more scary/fearsome, the centaurs always managed to creep me out in earlier games, and in 3d they are even more grotesque, the various raiders manage to evoke the leather clad thugs from earlier fallout games, but to me, they seem more serious, more grown up. I was going to say something about how gibbing raider heads is a lot more brutal than any of the other games' death animations because you can see the brainstem, and step on the eyes, but then I remembered that one where you cut a guy in half with bullets and his entrails spill out the top of his legs... Also, crit hits with laser weapons still have a chance of vaporizing targets from early trailers I was afraid there wouldn't even be any energy weapons, but these are just as campy and fun as the originals, right down to the 'ZAP' sound effects
It seems as if they've managed to make Fallout's nuclear wasteland a lot more 'real' and more brutal. It feels like an environment that has to be survived. All while making an appropriate amount of pop-culture references/satire for a Fallout game. I think it does very well in both conforming to the Fallout mythos, and setting itself apart as a new game in that mythos.

Mechanics/gameplay wise, things are pretty good, combat is well paced and well executed, VATS is a good throwback to the old fallout combat system, without really interrupting the flow of a fight, And it's pretty damn satisfying to pop a super-mutant's head off with the the last queued shot in VATS, or riddle a feral ghoul with bullets just before he claws your face off.

The one complaint I have so far, is that sometimes, if you try to hit a target in VATS when you're behind some cover, all of your bullets will hit the cover regardless of your chances to hit.

[Jebobek]

That said, with Fallout taking place in a blasted wasteland, I'm hoping the areas actually have different feels. Can anyone say one way or another if it does?

The lighting effects makes everything grey and wasteland-y, but what Fallout has more of are interesting, memorable landmarks. There is peices of highway over there, over here is the ghost town, behind me is the Megaultra mart.. I don't have to keep checking my map or compass to make sure I'm going the right general direction.

The one complaint I have so far, is that sometimes, if you try to hit a target in VATS when you're behind some cover, all of your bullets will hit the cover regardless of your chances to hit.

Agreed, I know we should know better in some instances, but if we can see the target behind the wall and it looks like the gun clears the wall but DOESN'T, all the chances to hit should =0%. If there is a limb sticking out of the cover then that one should have a %.

Oh guys in Megaton with the sheriff, did anyone try

Spoiler:

Ratting out the bomb guy to the sheriff? I won't ruin it, but it leads to you being able to loot the sheriff's clothes without getting into trouble.

[Rippy]

Spoiler:

And beat up Butch before skipping the test

Speaking of this, I've run into a couple hilarious moments in the game due to the AI. One was when I knocked out one of Butch's friends in the classroom, and inspector didn't seem to mind the unconscious body and blood spattering directly in front of him.

Spoiler:

I also thought it a little odd that you didn't need to be hidden to plant the detonator on the bomb. I mean, I know the sheriff expects you to be taking a look, but shouldn't people freak out if you open up a LIVE NUCLEAR DEVICE and start poking around?

Oh guys in Megaton with the sheriff, did anyone try

Spoiler:

Ratting out the bomb guy to the sheriff? I won't ruin it, but it leads to you being able to loot the sheriff's clothes without getting into trouble.

First thing I tried was killing him, just because the dialogue choice was so hilarious. I succeeded (queuing 4 VATS headshots is an excellent execution method, even though I ended up having to knife him to death), but by then all of Megaton's security guards were after me and I promptly died. He had this sweet Chinese rifle I picked up, which is why I tried killing him in the first place.

I wonder what would happen if you managed to kill him and all the security guards? Would you be appointed sheriff, or would it just not do anything (in an Oblivion-esque fashion), or is it made to be impossible to escape from? (such as killing Captain Keyes in Halo, which spawns unkillable Marines)

It's tempting to try going back after leveling up a lot and killing him. For all I know his level could scale to always be higher than yours.

(Note: From now on, I'm foregoing spoilers unless it's either a) a main plot item, or b) a surprise people would rather find on their own. I hope this is appropriate.)


Edit: Also, does anyone know how you can change the graphics settings? Apparently the game thinks you're unfit to select your own graphics level; it's kind enough to tell you what level it has assigned for you, but doesn't seem to have any graphics options apart from things like brightness and gamma. My problem is that it's detected my [decent] hardware and decided I need High graphics, but it doesn't seem to factor my resolution into this, because I have a high res monitor (1680x1050). As a result, my frame rate is often very low.