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Interview: Bethesda's Pete Hines
Two years ago, our discussions with Bethesda were dominated by Fallout 3. Now, the publisher has four new titles in the pipeline: Fallout: New Vegas, Brink, Hunted: The Demon's Forge, and RAGE. Oh, and it also recently announced plans to dominate the world. At a press event each of those four upcoming games, we spoke with company vice president Pete Hines about future plans and, of course, Fallout: New Vegas. Read on for the full interview.
Fable 2 follows the breadcrumbs to Games on Demand
You've been able to download Fable 2 through Xbox Live episodically until now, but who has time for all that thumb stick manipulation, button pressing and dashboard navigation? Zeroes, that's who. Starting today, you can buy the game like a sane person: In one big chunk for $20 from Games on Demand. Additionally, Kung Fu Panda is now available for purchase through Games on Demand for $30. Major Nelson also announced that Fallout 3 is now available on demand in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, leaving India and Japan as the sole holdout territories that can't experience the joy of nuclear devastation with a single button press. Soon, guys. Soon. Xbox.com: Add Fable II to your Xbox 360 download queue ($19.99) Xbox.com: Add Kung Fu Panda to your Xbox 360 download queue ($29.99)
Xbox Live Marketplace release schedule for March
Though we already know the bulk of the March release schedule for new content on the Xbox Live Marketplace, Major Nelson's blog recently laid out how the rest of the month will play out. Tomorrow, we'll get our hands on Scrap Metal for 1200 ($15), next Wednesday will see the release of Perfect Dark for 800 ($10), and on March 24, we'll get our hands on the (somewhat) free Game Room hub. Oh, and the Games on Demand service got a bit crazier today with the release of Condemned: Criminal Origins for $19.99. If you're an insatiable value-hound, you should turn your attention to the upcoming Deals of the Weeks: The original Fable will have its price reduced to 800 ($10) from 1200 ($15) during the week of March 15. All of Fallout 3's add-on packs, including Operation: Anchorage, The Pitt, Broken Steel, Point Lookout and Mothership Zeta, will be offered at half price (400, or $5) during the week of March 22. For the rest of the schedule, including Avatar outfits and add-on packs, check out the list after the jump.
Fallout: New Vegas plot details surface from USA Today
Aside from a cursory description of the game's premise on its official website, we've heard very little about Fallout: New Vegas. Today, friends, that changes, with a USA Today feature that reveals the game's protagonist as a shot and left-to-die package delivery boy who finds himself in Sin City "and the surrounding area" in 2280. "You were a courier, and you were obviously carrying something that somebody wanted," Bethesda Softworks' Pete Hines says of the player's character. "Part of the story is finding out what you had and what they took." Hines additionally insists New Vegas will "feel" far different from 2008's Fallout 3 through one key aspect: the setting. "Vegas is up and running. It is not a ghost town. It still exists and thrives. There are casinos, and you can go down onto the Strip. It will have a very different feel from that standpoint." Perhaps unsurprisingly, Hines also notes that the New Vegas will "take you hundreds of hours to explore every nook and cranny" -- not unlike the 2008 iteration of the Fallout franchise. We'd be straight lying if we said we weren't unbelievably ready to invest that time in more of the Fallout universe this fall, even after all of last year's DLC.
Amazon: 360 Platinum Hits are buy 2, get 1 free for a limited time
Just in time for Valentine's Day, Amazon is now offering a special buy two, get one free deal on Xbox 360 Platinum Hits titles. The deal is fairly straightforward: just pop three Platinum Hits games into your cart and the cheapest of the three will be knocked down to the wallet-friendly price of zero dollars. It's really the perfect excuse to pick up some great games you might have missed, especially considering many of them have sequels out this year -- notably Fable II, Halo 3, Fallout 3, Mass Effect, BioShock and Dead Rising. You'd better do it quick though, as the offer is only valid through February 13 and only while supplies last. [Thanks, Goldenchild]
Best of the Rest: Alexander's Picks of 2009
Valkyria Chronicles "BUT THAT GAME WAS 2008!!11one!1!" Well, yes, in the strictest sense. Sega's strategy role-playing game, an epic tale chronicling the hardships and victories of Gallian militia Squad 7, was sent out to die by the publisher when it released in November 2008. However, word-of-mouth, critical praise and some discounted pricing helped the saga find a place in many people's lives (and hearts) by mid-2009. One of the most endearing mechanics implemented in the game was giving all the playable members of Squad 7 bonuses (or flaws) based on their neuroses, relationships and desires. Also, every character had a different personality that shined during their turn through little quips and order recognition comments. It gave the entire cast more depth of character, even as the player only saw a handful of the troops during cutscenes. Despite the requisite Japanese RPG flair and melodrama, there was a simple beauty and charm in the storytelling, while the gameplay introduced a great basis for iteration. Valkyria Chronicles is a series that, with love and attention, could become so much more. I look forward to returning to Gallia and hope future installments recognize that the delightful characters are as important to the series as the strategic gameplay.
Today's Xbox Live deal: 50% off all Fallout 3 DLC
Watch your head, folks, because prices are falling. Today's Xbox Live holiday deal of the day is targeted directly at DLC for Bethesda's critical and commercial darling, Fallout 3. If you're looking to add more intense VATS-related action to the RPG, each add-on pack is available for 400 ($5) a piece -- a 50% savings of your Microsoft-branded space bucks. New to the Fallout 3 universe? There are five DLC add-on packs for the (already) lengthy RPG. Arguably the most important -- and one you should tackle first -- is Broken Steel, which increases the game's overall level cap to 30 and allows players to continue playing beyond the conclusion. Also, a Game of the Year edition is available in stores, which includes all of Fallout 3's downloadable content -- making it cheaper if you don't already own the game to begin with. Add Fallout 3's Operation Anchorage DLC to your Xbox 360 download queue Add Fallout 3's The Pitt DLC to your Xbox 360 download queue Add Fallout 3's Broken Steel DLC to your Xbox 360 download queue Add Fallout 3's Point Lookout DLC to your Xbox 360 download queue Add Fallout 3's Mothership Zeta DLC to your Xbox 360 download queue [Thanks, Brett]
Fan-made Railway Rifle from Fallout 3 hits eBay
YouTube user ProfessorGigaton has a pair of videos showing off his latest diabolical creation: a life-size model of Fallout 3's Railway Rifle. If you're inclined to take on the project yourself, one of the videos features a full tutorial to help you create your very own non-working replica. Lazy, like us? The supposed professor -- we're waiting on his school transcripts -- is also selling the model featured in the videos on eBay. The starting bid is $45, and it's sure to look great with your Fallout 3-inspired cosplay ... and will definitely come in handy in the post-apocalyptic world of 2012. Source -- YouTube Tutorial Source -- eBay Listing
Fallout 3's 'Vault Boy' now delivering pizza, copyright infringement
Ever since Fallout 3's Vault Boy went to space in Mothership Zeta, we've been at a loss for where to find the congenial gent. Alas, we never expected to see his mercurial face gracing the cover of a Massachusetts pizza shop's menu. Expresso Pizza of Billerica, Ma. put the young lad to work on the menu's cover, holding a pizza and pretending he's a waiter. We all know you're a Capital Wasteland Wanderer, silly Vault Boy! The only question now is "How long until Bethesda shuts this down?" We contacted the Fallout publisher to find out its reaction, and were told, "Well he is a big part of our Fallout brand and is copyrighted, so, yeah, deciding on your own to use him to promote your business or product, or to sell stuff, or whatever, without getting permission from us ... not a good idea." Ruh oh! (Thanks, Dan) [Via BadCartridge]
Canadian PS3 Fallout 3 save files apparently not transferring for GOTY edition
A couple of threads over at Bethesda Softwork's forums reveal that Canadian PS3 owners are having a problem getting their previous Capital Wasteland save files to be recognized by the newly released Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition. Speculation by forum posters about the cause of the issue seems to revolve around either improper/outdated patching or that the GOTY edition isn't compatible with a version of the game sold in the region. We've been in contact with Bethesda this morning, which is aware of the problem and is currently trying to figure out precisely what the issue is before it makes a statement. We'll update as soon as we learn more.
PSN Thursday: More free Batman DLC, Broken Steel
The highlight in this week's PSN Update is that The Bats is back with more free DLC. Also, for Fallout 3 owners not planning to trade up to the "game of the year edition," the single most important piece of DLC for the game, Broken Steel, is now available from the PSN store for $10. For those who don't know, Broken Steel takes away "the ending" of the game and allows the (anti-)hero of the Capital Wasteland to continue their journey with an increased level cap. Check out the full update after the break -- and, sadly, no Trine. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
Fallout 3's Laser Rifle escapes the Capital Wasteland
Remember Harrison Krix, that talented mofo that made the Portal gun and that crazy awesome Big Daddy costume? Well, Krix has done it again, this time recreating the early-level staple of Fallout 3, the Laser Rifle. He's provided his usual ridiculously long step-by-step process on the creation of the almost-a-firearm, so give it a gander if you're so inclined. Now if only he'd make some replica Mirelurks for us to pretend-shoot at ...[Via BethBlog Twitter]
Fallout 3 GOTY edition, PS3 DLC dated
digg_url = 'http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/17/fallout-3-goty-edition-ps3-dlc-dated/'; Bethesda assured us that the Fallout 3 downloadable content packs for PS3 would be available starting at the "end of September," and, as promised, Broken Steel will be up on September 24. It'll be followed by Operation Anchorage and The Pitt on October 1, and Point Lookout and Mothership Zeta on October 8. Today, the publisher released an update for Fallout 3 to add trophy support for these DLC packs. In just a few weeks, PS3 owners will be totally caught up with Xbox gamers! Except, of course, for the ... many hours of gameplay required to complete any of these packs. Bethesda also confirmed the October 13 release date for the Fallout 3 Game of the Year edition, available on PS3, Xbox, and 360, and including the game and all the DLC. It will indeed cost $59.99, as retailers listed the title last month.
Bethesda suing Interplay over Fallout MMO
Things weren't looking good for Interplay earlier this year and, uh, much hasn't changed since then. Even though the company had virtually no money, it still wanted to make the Fallout MMO, Project V-13. Well, Interplay's got another hurdle now: Bethesda. The Oblivion and Fallout 3 developer claims that Interplay infringed on its trademark, court documents show. Interplay disagrees, obviously, and says it still holds the rights to develop the title with Masthead Studios, even though it failed to commence the stipulated full-scale development by April 4, 2009. Gamasutra has more info on the lawsuit, which also mentions Interplay's licensing of the original Fallout games for digital distribution through services such Steam, GOG.com and GameTap. Bethesda says this has caused "immediate, substantial, and irreparable harm." But, hey, it's not all frowns and sad faces. Above this text is a neat piece of concept art for Project V-13 from Natiq Aghayev. Man, we never thought post-apocalyptia could look so good. Source - Court documents [Via VG247] Source - Gamasutra [image credit]
Fallout 3 gets the timelapse treatment, still not auto-tuned
Ever wonder what Fallout 3's Capital Wasteland would look like set to dramatic music, timelapsed, and shot in super high resolution? Now's your chance to find out! Eurogamer's Digital Foundry has given just such a treatment to the game via the PC iteration, cranked up to 11. (Is that even possible?!) The idea behind the video is to show what Fallout 3's engine was capable of -- and we think you'll agree that it meets some very impressive results. Check out the full video here ... or go get auto-tuned. Will you take the moral high ground or lounge in the gutter? The choice is yours!
2nd Fallout 3 DLC pack at retail Aug. 25; GOTY edition listed for Oct. 13
Following May's Anchorage and The Pitt combo-pack, Bethesda has confirmed with Joystiq that the second Fallout 3 DLC retail pack featuring Broken Steel and Point Lookout will hit store shelves on August 25 for $20 on both Xbox 360 and PC. You'll need Mothership Zeta – the fifth and "final" piece of Fallout 3 DLC – to round out your DLC collection. It's currently available for $10. If you're late to the Fallout 3 bus, you may want to consider holding off until October when you can pick up the previously announced Fallout 3 Game of the Year Edition which bundles the game with all five DLC packs. It's currently listed for $59.99 for the PS3 and Xbox 360 releases, and $49.99 for PC with an October 13th release date on both Amazon and GameStop. Unfortunately, Bethesda's not ready to talk about it until that last DLC pack is out the door so consider those prices and that date boring 'ol retailer placeholders.
Fallout 3's Mothership Zeta has landed
Attention Wastelanders, brand spankin' new DLC is available now for Fallout 3. The 'Mothership Zeta' DLC includes a new spaceship to explore, scads of new alien weaponry and plenty of space-faring action (in space). Check out the video above for a sneak peek. If it tickles your fancy, it can be had on Xbox or PC for 800 ($10). And remember, this is the final Fallout 3 DLC, so if you're looking for something new, this is your last chance. Probably.Add 'Mothership Zeta' to your 360 download queue[Via Major Nelson]
Mothership Zeta is 'final' Fallout 3 DLC [update]
It appears that Fallout 3's Mothership Zeta is the last DLC adventure for the (anti-)hero from Vault 101. MTV Multiplayer took note of the wording on Bethesda's website for the game, which states that the latest piece of content is the post-nuclear saga's "final DLC."We're currently following up with Bethesda to see if they have called it quits on the Wasteland, which means that the next time we'll be hearing from the world of Fallout will be during our trip to New Vegas next year. Come on, Bethesda. There's still some uranium to squeeze from the glowing stone.Update: Bethesda says "never say 'never,' but this is the last DLC we have planned."
Fallout 3 trailer enters Mothership Zeta
Whether you pronounce it Mothership Zeta or Mothership Zed-eta, the fact remains that the aliens are coming to cause some trouble in Fallout 3's Capital Wasteland very soon. Beyond a trailer of what to expect when Mars (Jupiter, Uranus?) attacks, there is also a developer's diary on the little details of the DLC's creation.Mothership Zeta will be ready to abduct our wanderer and our wallets on August 3 for 800 ($10) on PC and Xbox. The PlayStation 3 version will be available at a later date, and we'll let you know when the little grayish-green men inform us of that abduction date.
New Fallout 3 'Mothership Zeta' weapons and perk revealed
Fallout 3's Mothership Zeta is ready to teach the Capital Wasteland a lesson with a new perk and weapons. We'd previously received a communique about new weaponry, but Bethesda's Fallout 3 content guy, Jeff Gardiner, tells MTV that there's even more stuff to wrap an itchy trigger finger around.Beyond the Alien Atomizer and Drone Cannon, there will be a new rifle, the Alien Disintegrator, and the Cryo Grenade, which will freeze the enemy in its tracks. There's also the new perk, Xenotech Expert, which increases the damage of alien weapons. Hopefully, Zeta will also have plans to teach the wanderer how to make more ammo for these weapons once he's back on terra firma and searching the wastes.%Gallery-67909%[Thanks, Andrew]
