Bethesda gets Fallout

[rk47]

hm. I duno, I see ME as a decent game but the side quests is a waste of time. It just gets in the way of it all, Mako Driving, Decryptions. Bioware obsession with mini games will extend to Dragon Age probably.

[Azazel]

Bumpage.

Fallout 3 refused classification (in Australia)
360 News | Hearts fall in disappointment.
In what may possibly be some of the most disappointing news for Australian gamers in recent memory, that magnum opus of post-apocalyptic gaming, Fallout 3, appears to have been refused classification by the Classification Board of Australia.

The Classification Board has yet to make it clear exactly why Fallout 3 has been refused classification. However, as the game features drug use and other potentially mature topics, it's possible that many aspects raised the concern of Australia's censors. Sadly, it appears increasingly likely that Australia will see either a censored version or quite possibly, no version at all. Games that are refused classification are not only not allowed to be advertised, they're not allowed to be sold, hired, or demonstrated at all within Australian borders.

It remains unclear as to whether the game will be made available in other PAL regions, New Zealand being a prime example. PALGN will be bringing you the latest on this issue as news breaks.
http://palgn.com.au/article.php?id=12088&sid=f151234a3baca5995b9386a46a7ac848

A bit annoying, since it means I'll now have to source either the New Zealand or UK version if I decide I want to play it (aka GTA4).

More interestingly is the fact that if the OFLC has had a chance to play through it (and ban it) it means the game should be real close to going gold.

[schild]

Not quite how it works. Generally rating groups are given a list of all the mature shit in a game prior to playing a near-final build. In this case it sounds like that's what happened as they refused classification. I would expect it to be censored before they get a playable copy. I recommend importing the american version.

[Azazel]

Having a 360 and no PS3 for the time being, it'll depend on the various region lockouts. I think according to play-asia, the US version of Oblivion was region-locked while the PAL version wasn't region-locked (go figure!).

Either way, if it's worth playing, I'll just do a GTA4 and import whichever (uncut) version works on my machine. Either way, F3 is coming soon!

[Lucas]

- Now, in my opinion, E3 Full Trailer is very good (especially the 'retro' part, they nailed it):

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/36202.html


- Gameplay demo by Todd Howard, on the other hand, is totally MEH. I realize that, in a situation like that and with limited time, you can't show off dialogues and relative choices, but at least give us a glimpse of other roleplaying aspects of the game (if actually present :P), not just lameass and brainless combat, damnit.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/36197.html

[Sky]

I love the part with the babies popping out and then the daughter's facial expression.

[Murgos]

I love the part with the babies popping out and then the daughter's facial expression.

Dad's expression was even better.

Also, I think the whole thing looked great.

[KallDrexx]

A bit annoying, since it means I'll now have to source either the New Zealand or UK version if I decide I want to play it (aka GTA4).

You should anyway.  You'll save about $50 that way even if it was sold in AU.  I learned that quickly when I lived down there.

[Brogarn]

- Now, in my opinion, E3 Full Trailer is very good (especially the 'retro' part, they nailed it):

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/36202.html

That was really well done.

[Yegolev]

Hmm.  The trailer did look good.  Cautiously optimistic, against my judgment.  Bloody Mess caused a lot of that optimism.

I don't know who that dog is, but he's not Dogmeat!  You can't replace my Dogmeat!  Waaaa!!!

[trias_e]

I'm probably just being a little bitch of a fanboi right here...that trailer was disappointing.  I don't know how to put it other than it feels like they are just ripping off the originals poorly.  It's definitely a je ne sais quoi type thing permeating everything they have released thus far*.  Maybe it's just a residual effect of the retarded 'Oblivion meets Fallout' music they put on their front page a while back.


*except for the bits about character creation, that has actually sounded kind of cool.

[Big Gulp]

I think you guys need to realize that a turn based, isometric game just isn't gonna fly nowadays.  At this point, what choice do you really have?  Are you willing to wait another ten years in the hope that someone will meet your demanding, old school specifications?

The game will come out, it'll be different but it'll still be good.  Suck it up, already.

[trias_e]

I'm not bitching about the gameplay format at all.  The more games that resemble Deus Ex in gameplay the better in my book, and this one might.

[Krakrok]

I don't know hot to put it other than it feels like they are just ripping off the originals poorly.

I know what you mean and I agree. I think the main difference is that the original Fallout theme stuff was copied from govt. documents, videos, and logos from that time period. The Fallout 3 stuff doesn't appear to be and therefore doesn't look authentic. It's like a 70s version of a 50s show.

The gameplay itself looks fine though a little gory.

[NowhereMan]

I just hope that they include plenty of actual roleplaying material along with that gameplay. I also hope that the VAT system is more than a version of bullet time with percentages, hopefully it'll be a viable way of going through the game rather than a one shot thing for the start of a combat enounter.

[DeathInABottle]

I don't know hot to put it other than it feels like they are just ripping off the originals poorly.

I know what you mean and I agree. I think the main difference is that the original Fallout theme stuff was copied from govt. documents, videos, and logos from that time period. The Fallout 3 stuff doesn't appear to be and therefore doesn't look authentic. It's like a 70s version of a 50s show.

Thirded.  And that's a great way of putting it.  Though I thought their choice of music was pretty good.

Speaking of, did anyone else get Fallout 2 chills when "A Kiss to Build a Dream on" started playing in WALL-E?

[tmp]

I just hope that they include plenty of actual roleplaying material along with that gameplay. I also hope that the VAT system is more than a version of bullet time with percentages, hopefully it'll be a viable way of going through the game rather than a one shot thing for the start of a combat enounter.

VATS doesn't seem much like bullet time to me actually, but more like modern version of the turn based "stand there and exchange shots" experience from older Fallouts... as while your queued shots are being executed, the enemies are firing at you and you're rooted in place. Suspect the demo VATS was quite rigged for better effect, as the accuracy was way above what the shown percentages would suggest. So would guess these one shot kills aren't actually how it works in normal game.

For a sample of roleplaying material there's a PCG hands-on preview here: http://www.gamesradar.com/pc/fallout-3/preview/fallout-3-hands-on/a-20080714133932662026/g-20070327151320531089 ... has some mild spoilers for couple early quests but gives much nicer insight than these combat demos.

[Yegolev]

Yeah, you'd want to bump up the hit rate for a demo.  It was nice to get a headshot in Fallout but you'd better be damn sure your squaddie could pull it off or you would just be wasting ammo, or worse, perforating a teammate.

[lesion]

I liked the snippet of VATS mainly because of the turn shwip-beeboops.

The TV bit failed on subtle humour. Made me sad. Oh well.

[apocrypha]

Aha, *here* is the Fallout thread :p  Knew there must be one somewhere, sorry for the redundant thread earlier :)

After watching the trailers my first two thoughts were "Half Life 2?" and "console game!". Then I thought "where's the retro?". Now I'm thinking "oh who cares just let me play it!!11". Totally agree also that it's going to be the extent of roleplaying in it that makes or breaks it for me. If it's all combat and is too HL2ish then I will be upset muchly, but I really hope that won't be the case.

[K9]

VATS looks rather cool, although I thought the earlier teaser trailer captured the fallout "feel" better than the new one.

I'm siding with the cautiously optimistic crowd.

[Riggswolfe]

For a sample of roleplaying material there's a PCG hands-on preview here: http://www.gamesradar.com/pc/fallout-3/preview/fallout-3-hands-on/a-20080714133932662026/g-20070327151320531089 ... has some mild spoilers for couple early quests but gives much nicer insight than these combat demos.

That article reassured me a lot! Thanks!

[NiX]

Yeah, that article put me at ease after all the "Oblivion with GUNS!" claims from IGN and the such.

Part that sealed it for me:

I returned to Arafu to deliver the good news. With the quest completed, the people of Arafu had outlived their usefulness to me… so I killed everyone in town for no other reason than that I was tired of playing Mr. Nice Guy.

[Brogarn]

Ya... definitely looking forward to this game after that article.

[Nevermore]

They've certainly embraced the gore of the first two games.  I wonder if they'll do the same with the risque quests?

[Murgos]

They've certainly embraced the gore of the first two games.  I wonder if they'll do the same with the risque quests?

The Ladykiller perk was described in one the previews.  It give you enhanced conversation options with female characters AND a 10% bonus to damage to female characters.  Uh, not sure where exactly they are going with that but it's certainly suggestive...

[lesion]

That article reassured me a lot! Thanks!

http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/07/hands-on-fallou.html

[FatuousTwat]

That article could have been pared down to:

It looks great, sounds great, plays great, and the story is great, but I'm still going to complain about it!

[trias_e]

and the story is great

Umm, the article says the story is the problem.  When you call the writing fanfic material that's not a compliment.

Although I'd like to know how you can indict the whole game's story and writing through one brief play session....

(meh, he's probably going to be right anyways.)

[Murgos]

Meh, he's put Fallout 1 & 2 up on a pedestal, there is no way he was going to be happy.

The writing wasn't all that great, for the most part, in either of those games but the story all together and the interactions with the environment and the open-ended-ness of the play was very compelling.

Also, Brotherhood of Steel is already the black sheep of the series, only played for completeness sake.   It's been 10 years since Fallout 2, I'm just happy to get a post-apocalyptic game that tries for an open-ended and expansive world.

[Nevermore]

They've certainly embraced the gore of the first two games.  I wonder if they'll do the same with the risque quests?

The Ladykiller perk was described in one the previews.  It give you enhanced conversation options with female characters AND a 10% bonus to damage to female characters.  Uh, not sure where exactly they are going with that but it's certainly suggestive...

So I assume there should also be a Maneater perk as well? 

As for the story, didn't the reviewer say he wasn't allowed to do the main story quest, only a few of the side quests?  I thought it was fun that completing the one quest the 'good' way got you a house and some character customization stuff.  I'm a sucker for character customization stuff, though.

[tmp]

Umm, the article says the story is the problem.  When you call the writing fanfic material that's not a compliment.

He had half an hour to play the game, and the reviewers are told to stay the hell away from the main plot line to avoid the spoilers, iirc. And add to that, the actual complaints he makes are "i didn't particularly like the characters" and "it's trying too hard to be like the previous Fallouts" ... while he admits "the story and characters are suitably gritty and conflicted".

Given that i'm not sure if it's the story that's the actual problem in that review...

[tmp]

So I assume there should also be a Maneater perk as well? 

There is, it's called Black Widow though

[Lantyssa]

House decorating?  I'm sold.

I wonder if I can get both Black Widow and Ladykiller?

[FatuousTwat]

Umm, the article says the story is the problem.  When you call the writing fanfic material that's not a compliment.

He had half an hour to play the game, and the reviewers are told to stay the hell away from the main plot line to avoid the spoilers, iirc. And add to that, the actual complaints he makes are "i didn't particularly like the characters" and "it's trying too hard to be like the previous Fallouts" ... while he admits "the story and characters are suitably gritty and conflicted".

Given that i'm not sure if it's the story that's the actual problem in that review...

This.

I shouldn't have said the story is great, but come on... It really feels to me like he is searching for something to complain about.