fallout3
Latest
Fallout 3 due for simultaneous release
Speaking with videogaming247.com, executive producer Todd Howard for Fallout 3 said that unlike the last Bethesda Softworks release, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, their latest title will launch simultaneous across all platforms.The Xbox 360, PS3 and PC versions of Fallout 3 are expected to launch in the third quarter of 2008 and takes place 200 years in the future in a post-apocalyptic Washington, DC. We personally can't wait to see what the title has to offer especially considering the team is looking for inspiration from various forms of media, specifically Cormac McCarthy's 'The Road.'
Fallout 3 to get simultaneous release on PS3, Xbox 360, PC
PS3 owners worried that Fallout 3 might come to their system of choice later than Microsoft's box(es) can put their fears to rest. Executive producer Todd Howard said that Fallout 3 should (unlike the company's last big release Oblivion) see a simultaneous release. "They should all be the same date," he said. "That's our plan."It's definitely happy news, but we're going to wait until a bit closer to the game's Q3 release before we go get our SIXAXIS-shaped champagne flutes out of hock. As evidenced by a bevy of PS3 game delays, programming for the system is apparently about as predictable as raising mogwais.
Fallout 3 interview reveals world size and voice actors
Quite a lot of tantalizing news concerning Fallout 3 was dropped by Peter Hines (Bethesda Softwork's VP of marketing) in a recent interview. He compared the new game to another Bethesda RPG epic, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and revealed that Fallout 3's world would be a smaller size at around 50-80% than that of Oblivion's. A smaller world for Fallout 3 is actually befitting in the sense that interesting locales in a sparsely populated post-apocalyptic wasteland would logically be more far-in-between than that of the bustling Imperial Cyrodiil in Oblivion. Another revelation was in the voice acting department; when questioned about criticism on Oblivion's lack of voice acting, Hines replied that Fallout 3 would have "two or three times more" than that of Oblivion. Hines also declared that Ron Perlman, will reprise his narrator role as he did in the first two Fallouts. Liam Neeson has also been added to the roster doing the voice of the main character's father -- a character central to the plot of Fallout 3. There are quite a few more interesting bits in the interview, so you might want to have a read of it for yourself. [Via Kotaku]
Fallout 3's world '50 to 80 percent' as large as Oblivion
It's said that bigger is not necessarily better, and it's a mantra that Oblivion dev Bethesda seems to have subscribed to for their next sprawling adventure, Fallout 3. In a massive interview with Gameplayer, Bethesda spokesperson Pete Hines said that, though no one had walked Fallout 3's post-apocolyptic D.C. from end to end, it's probably 50 to 80 percent as big as the world of Oblivion.That said, it's not necessarily bad news. Fans of the series (or opponents of walking) might be relieved to hear that Bethesda is taking the quality over quantity route. Not to mention that 50 percent of Oblivion's land mass is still pretty darned big. Check out the rest of the interview for a vaultful of other non-geographic info.
Next Gen compiles best of 2008: GTAIV on top
Next Generation has put together its own list of the best upcoming games of 2008, a popular thing to do at this time of year. Their list has an interesting twist though: estimated sales numbers. Each game is given a three month sales projection derived by taking sales of previous entries in a franchise (or similar games in the case of new franchises) and tacking on expected sales increases for 2008. Most titles are nestled somewhere in the 300,000 - 900,000 sales range. Undoubtedly though, the one game predicted to blow the competition away is none other than Grand Theft Auto IV, projected to sell between 3.5 and 4 million copies. The only titles close to this number are Fable 2 which could go as high as 1.3 million and Fallout 3 and Halo Wars, both of which could break 1 million. Granted, these are all merely predictions, but we'd say it's a pretty safe bet that Grand Theft Auto IV will be the game to beat in 2008.[Via Evil Avatar]
Design a Fallout 3 perk, win notoriety and gaming gear
In celebration of Fallout's 10th anniversary, new IP owner Bethesda Softworks have opened a contest for the aspiring Vault Dweller to design their own perk to be included in the upcoming Fallout 3. The winner will also receive a bunch of gear for either PC or Console gamers (there are separate packages for each, listed on the contest page).You don't have to possess artistic talent to enter, opting instead to use one of Bethesda's 15 pre-made sketches. However, if you want to submit your own art work, photo or whatever, you're more than welcome to. Contest ends 11:59 p.m. ET on October 31.
Interplay trying to gather funds for Fallout MMO
Like a deadbeat dad promising to buy you a new bicycle "as soon as he gets the scratch together," Interplay is still talking about making an MMO based on the Fallout universe. They made mention of the idea last December, but, according to a new earnings statement, are perhaps a bit closer to beginning to realize it now that their debt load has been reduced from $59 million in December 2001 to less than $3 million.Whatever they're planning, they may want to get hoppin'. Their agreement with Bethesda states that not only must Interplay pay a 12% royalty on net sales of the MMO, but it must be in development before April of 2009, must have a minimum of 10,000 subscribers and must comply with "the quality standards of Bethesda." By the way, this week's understatement champion is Interplay Chairman Herve Caen who said, "Fallout Online will play a key role in the future of Interplay." Yeah, Herve. No kidding.[Via 1UP]
Fallout 3 screens show ludicrous gibs
There's nothing quite like ridiculously over the top violence to take the edge off, is there? It looks like the boys and girls at Bethesda are patently aware of this fact, as the latest batch of Fallout 3 screenshots have a bit of a gruesome flare to them. Of course, it's not all gibs. There are some nice shots of dilapidated structures, a nasty looking super mutant, and even a character or two. Check them out in the gallery below. While you're at it, don't forget to read Joystiq's E3 impressions of the game either.[Via Joystiq]%Gallery-4995%
Joystiq impressions: Fallout 3
In a dark yet comfortable mini-theatre, Bethesda executive producer Todd Howard guided us through the first 45 minutes or so of Fallout 3, played on an Xbox 360. Though a lot of what was shown and discussed was already revealed at their pre-E3 presentation late last month, but we did manage to glean new details on the title and its direction.The atmosphere of the game (and its soundtrack) is very akin to the 1950s look of the first two Fallout titles, yet as Ron Perlman explains, the nuclear destruction happens in 2077. According to Howard, we're dealing with the future as envisioned from the past ... and the future had nuclear-powered cars and apparently never changed their taste in music. (Not that we mind at all.)Comparisons to Oblivion are inevitable, so let's get those out of the way. As previously known, it does use an improved version of the Elder Scrolls game's engine, and you can really tell (for better and worse) with the animation "You can think of Oblivion as our freshman effort on next-gen platforms," said Howard. The movement was much more fluid, thanks likely to their new in-house motion capture capabilities coupled with the Havok physics engine. As many However, in this build, the facial animations (and, as later pointed out by Pete Hines, the gestures) are not at this point realistic, though the lip syncing is accurate. According to Hines, much of the development time between now and its Fall 2008 release date will be spent tweaking such things, and hopefully we'll get some moving eyebrows. Say no to avatar botox!
Seen@E3: you must be this tall to ride the bull
This cautionary sign, as presented by Bethesda VP of PR and marketing Pete Hines, is for the bull ride at the developer's E3 2007 party tonight. At the top is Wonder Woman. At the bottom is executive producer Todd Howard, who obviously won't be able to ride. In the middle is a goat-riding PIP Boy, which all equates to us really wanting this as a poster.
Overheard@E3: evidently, they do fail sometimes
Bethesda Softworks executive producer Todd Howard, in giving the Fallout 3 presentations, had two Xbox 360's on hand. One had the flashing red ring, but Howard noted it's because there were no AV cables plugged in. As to why he had a backup console, he quipped, "I do have a backup should one Xbox 360 fail ... evidently they do that sometimes."
Vault Boy says Fallout 3 stuff on Xbox Live Marketplace
You heard right. Just in time to celebrate Independence Day in the good ol' US of A, we can now download the gorgeous Fallout 3 trailer on the Xbox Live Marketplace -- in 720p glory mind you -- and admire what a post-nuclear apocalypse Washington, D.C. might look like. A little too unpatriotic for the 4th of July? Then why not just download a pack of Fallout 3 gamer pics going for 100 Microsoft Points (about $1.25) featuring Vault Boy (of course) and a Brotherhood of Steel image. Want something a little bigger? Try a Fallout 3 theme for 150 points (about $1.87) featuring the gorgeous concept art we've been seeing for months. Or don't. Exercise your freedom to choose.%Gallery-3507%
Bethesda shows off some Fallout 3
Our friends over at Joystiq got a chance to take a look at Bethesda's Fallout 3 and even though the franchise has been on hiatus for a while, the game sounds like it'll be sure to please. Fallout 3's story takes place 30 years after the previous in Washington DC based Vault 101 where you live among the many survivors. But then things get a little mysterious when your father goes missing, so you take it upon yourself to hack the computer system, open the vault, and crawl outside for the first time. The game is quite reminiscent of an Oblivion feel, but the overall tone, graphical improvements and odd weapons like the Suck-o-Tron give Fallout 3 a unique tone and a lot of promise. Go ahead and check out Joystiq's full preview and additional list of Fallout 3 factoids that they learned after grilling the Bethesda dev team. But don't get too excited just yet fanboys, because this little gem is slated for a Fall 2008 release.Read - Fallout 3 PreviewRead - Additional Fallout 3 details
More Fallout 3 details than you can shake a nuke at
There were so many great tidbits revealed at Bethesda's Fallout 3 press event that we couldn't fit them all into the basic overview. For you obsessive fans, here are some more notes on what the game will, won't and might include: The game takes place 30 years after the events Fallout 2. The events of the much-maligned Fallout: Brotherhood and Fallout: Tactics never happened in the universe of Fallout 3. The game will feature a day/night cycle and changing weather. There will be 21 collectible bobbleheads hidden throughout the game for Easter egg lovers. The game will feature 20 licensed songs from the '40s that will be played through radio stations accessible via your on-arm PIP-Boy and radios peppered throughout the game world. There will be no drivable vehicles in the game, but you can travel between locations through subway tunnels. There are children in the game, but the team isn't sure yet if they will be killable as they were in the previous Fallout games. The game will have no multiplayer mode and no demo is currently planned. Downloadable content and player-created mods are being considered, but nothing has been finalized. The game will feature nine to 12 endings based on how you've played it. The game's version of Washington D.C. will include iconic landmarks and the general topography of the real city, but will not be a street-by-street recreation. The downtown area represents about one quarter of the in-game map. There will be fewer non-player characters in Fallout 3 than in Oblivion, owing to the game's post-apocalyptic setting. Almost all the NPCs will be killable. You'll be able to hire mercenaries to aid you as in the first Fallout game. You won't have much direct control over them. Among other statistics, the demo's loading screens contained a mysterious metric of "corpses eaten." "We're not talking about that stuff," Executive Producer Todd Howard said when asked about the stat. Also see: Joystiq First Look: Fallout 3 %Gallery-4331%
Joystiq First Look: Fallout 3
Take a revolutionary, genre-defining series of games. Put it into legal and developmental limbo for a decade or so as the rights get juggled around like a hot potato. Then try to update it for a new generation of hardware and players as an obsessive, tight-knit group of fans watches your every move.No pressure, right?Since Bethesda Softworks got the rights and started work on the next Fallout game in 2004, Executive Producer Todd Howard has been well aware of the expectations bearing down on him and his team. "The myth of Fallout has grown over those years that people haven't played it," he said at a demonstration of the game at the company's Maryland offices. "I think the game is great, but each year it gets better and better and better in people's minds. I'm not saying the game isn't awesome, but it's that myth of it. ... I think the expectations for Fallout 3 came back in a big way."So does the early build of the game live up to the lofty expectations? Continue reading to find out.
Scans of early-build Fallout 3 show much promise
Finnish magazines get all the love. Well, at least when it comes to recent press on Fallout 3. Finnish magazine Pelaaja grabbed a few scans of the game in progress and we must say, it seems to be coming in line nicely, following details already laid out by Bethesda. These scans look great, even if they are a little blurry (likely due to the fact they are scans and not pure screen shots of the game in progress). The character models appear to be fleshed out with texture-a-plenty and we'll bet the lighting will hold similar Oblivion-like bloom effects upon the game's release. The Fallout franchise certainly has its fair share of rabid fans, so it was extremely important that Bethesda carry the torch with gloved hands, as to not disrupt or crack the foundation already set in place. Without a preview of the game, it's far too early to tell if the plot will hold firm on the foundation set by former developer Black Isle, but the scans show mighty promise. The colors are fairly drab and muted, kept to a palette rich in silver and brown (perfect for a post-apocolyptic setting such as this). Also, the scans confirm Bethesda's previous confirmation of using a modified Oblivion engine and keeping the 1st and 3rd person perspective for RPG narrative. We've put all four scans into a gallery and will be updating with more scans and screen shots as they come in. Fallout 3 is quite a ways off, scheduled for release in Fall of 2008.
Fallout 3 gameplay details revealed
The latest issue of Game Informer has the first concrete details of Bethesda's Fallout 3. Those who were worried of Post-Apocalyptic Oblivion should find some solace in the amount of Fallout style that has been retained.Though it does run off of a modified Oblivion -- which is no surprise, considering the in-game teaser featured a Powered Armor soldier that looked strikingly similar to an Elder Scrolls knight -- the developers have reworked the third-person view due to the "negative feedback from its last role-player," CVG reports. The health system allows you to hit enemies -- and subsequently lets enemies hit you -- in specific points on the body.Remnants from previous Fallout titles include: The Karma system! Bethesda is touting 9 to 12 different endings based on your actions in the game. The ability to sneak and talk your way through the game. Maybe we can still talk the final boss into self-destructing. Turn-based combat is possible using Vault-tec Assisted Targeting System (V.A.T.S.), although once your action points are used up, you will revert to real-time combat until they charge up again. Radiation poisoning. As indicated from the trailer, Ron Perlman Liam "I'm your daddy" Neeson will appear in the opening of the game as your are born in a vault hospital, showing traits similar to the ones you choose for your character. Fallout 3 is set for a Fall 2008 release.%Gallery-3507%
Fallout 3 making its way to PS3 consoles in Fall 2008
The teaser trailer came up earlier today and in case you haven't seen it, we've embedded it for you after the break. Although it's too early to determine specifics between the PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, the teaser still gives us a taste of what Bethesda has in store for its first go-round with the fan favorite. Bethesda purchased the Fallout franchise from Interplay back in April, giving them free reign on the upcoming sequel, and thank goodness Todd Howard posted his proclamation about caring for the franchise, lest crazed fanboys do something ... crazy. Bethesda's Pete Hines described the teaser as "in-engine," and goes on to say it's "not real-time" but that it was created using game assets in an in-house designed engine. So, in other words, it's not like the 2005 E3 trailer for Killzone, got it? Fallout is projected for a simultaneous release on all next-gen consoles (and PC) for Fall of 2008.
Fallout 3 will fall in Fall (2008)
Fallout, it's one of those games that you either A) love or B) have never played. Thus, it comes as no surprise that the first official trailer of Fallout 3 has caused undo stress on the Intertubes and rushing streams of data to burst from the weakened joints. The trailer reveals nothing in the way of gameplay, but it does show off some very pretty in-engine footage. If you've been salivating for some post-apocalyptic goodness, look no further. Oh, and in case the headline didn't tip you off, the game is expected to drop in the Fall of 2008. For the completely obsessed, you may now download the trailer and play it repeatedly for the next year and a half.Also, for the record, we'd like to add that Ron Perlman needs to do more video game work. That guy is like butter, makes anything better.[Via Joystiq]
Fallout 3 set for Fall 2008 release
Get to a shelter! The apocalypse is nigh! Well, it's somewhat nigh. In fact, it's very close to almost bordering on the status of being considered nigh. If the just released teaser trailer for Bethesda's foray into a world wrecked by nuclear catastrophe is any indication, Fallout 3 is set to leak out of a suspicious cannister in Fall 2008. Alright, so not particularly nigh then.The trailer (which is currently creating a bandwidth apocalypse on Bethesda's site) doesn't give away much along the lines of gameplay, but provides some assurances that obliterated cityscapes and dilapidated vehicles will be completely represented in all their glorious, err, incompleteness. Perhaps Fallout's new caretakers really do care about the revered RPG franchise. Bethesda's Pete Hines even cares enough to offer some answers to questions you were just about to ask: The trailer is in-engine, those are the Ink Spots you hear and yes, that's Ron Perlman's gravelly voice.
