# Fallout 4: Now Playing **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** video-games-e-games\ **Created:** [November 9, 2015, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-4-now-playing/737122 "2015-11-09T18:01:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-4-now-playing/737122/141 "2015-11-12T22:15:49Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Why would you even consider the xbone? Because PC releases haven’t been as solid these last few months. I wouldn’t want to end up in an Arkham situation. But I haven’t heard any complaints, which is good. ---
**Author:** ![Unpronounceable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9de0a6/32.png) [@Unpronounceable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unpronounceable)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-4-now-playing/737122/142 "2015-11-12T22:27:07Z")
You _really_ don’t want this one for the xbox - while the framerate is worse on both consoles, the xbox stutters quite frequently, even dropping to 0 fps on occasion. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-4-now-playing/737122/143 "2015-11-12T22:29:55Z")
> [@Kinthalis](#): > > Maybe obvious, but did you try verifying the game files? Very rarely something goes awry when downloading or when decrypting if you preorder. There was one single file that needed to be downloaded but that wasn’t the issue. Thank you **Mr. Kobayashi** but those changes did not solve the problem either. I have done some twiddling but can’t seem to have my candy and eat it too. In 16x9, no matter what I do, I can’t get the lock picking to work, but I can get a full screen image. In 16x10, I can see the lock and the bobby pin, but I can’t get a full screen image. Maybe one of the things I’ve seen solves this particular problem but at this point I don’t remember. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-4-now-playing/737122/144 "2015-11-12T22:32:54Z")
Oh and as a topper, I can’t even open things using the console. ---
**Author:** ![Unpronounceable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9de0a6/32.png) [@Unpronounceable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unpronounceable)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-4-now-playing/737122/145 "2015-11-12T23:01:48Z")
Well, definitely keep an eye on the official forums, you’re apparently not the only one with the problem. It seems to be tied to specific monitor [resolutions](http://forums.bethsoft.com/topic/1548634-invisible-lockpicking-mini-game/). ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-4-now-playing/737122/146 "2015-11-12T23:02:15Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Oh and as a topper, I can’t even open things using the console. Clicking the door and typing “unlock” doesn’t work? Or it won’t come up at all? In some games you have to add -console to the shortcut link, although IIRC I was able to pull it up in this game. You can also use “tcl” to clip through, but this only works if its in the same zone. It sounds like you know what you’re doing and comfortable tinkering, so this is probably a stupid question that you already checked, but: did you update your video card drivers? Or if you are up to date, roll them back to an older version? ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-4-now-playing/737122/147 "2015-11-12T23:11:37Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > Because PC releases haven’t been as solid these last few months. I wouldn’t want to end up in an Arkham situation. > > But I haven’t heard any complaints, which is good. Uhm, you mean the ONE game? The game that has the EXACT same issue as Fallout 4 has on PS4 and Xbone, and yet plenty of console gamers are still enjoying? That’s the thing with “bad” PC ports. Even the bad ones are still BETTER than the console versions of the game. Check out PS4’s lovely Fallout 4 frame rate: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ul1EfLPFdbo&feature=youtu.be](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ul1EfLPFdbo&feature=youtu.be) Actually that’s a lot worse than I ever experienced on Batman Arkham Knight even before the patch. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-4-now-playing/737122/148 "2015-11-12T23:16:19Z")
> [@Unpronounceable](#): > > It seems to be tied to specific monitor [resolutions](http://forums.bethsoft.com/topic/1548634-invisible-lockpicking-mini-game/). It is a resolution issue. When I changed my monitor from 1280 x 1024 to 1280 x 800 it solved all issues with the game. I can now see the lock and bobby pin along with a full screen image. It just borks everything else I do but I don’t mind changing the resolution every once in a while. Still, I’ll be happy when there is a proper fix. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-4-now-playing/737122/149 "2015-11-12T23:50:29Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > It is a resolution issue. When I changed my monitor from 1280 x 1024 to 1280 x 800 it solved all issues with the game. > > I can now see the lock and bobby pin along with a full screen image. It just borks everything else I do but I don’t mind changing the resolution every once in a while. Still, I’ll be happy when there is a proper fix. Are you using a CRT monitor? Pretty sure those are illegal now 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Unpronounceable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9de0a6/32.png) [@Unpronounceable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unpronounceable)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-4-now-playing/737122/150 "2015-11-12T23:50:34Z")
Well, there’s some [instructions](http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/143/?)on Nexus that are supposed to fix the issue. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-4-now-playing/737122/151 "2015-11-13T00:07:39Z")
> [@Johnny\_Angel](#): > > Goddamned, but this Vault Dweller (I haven’t heard what the nickname is going to be this time) is bad ass from the minute you step out of the vault. Not only am I pretty good in a fight, I’m apparently already an expert machinist and I already know how to use power armor. The player character is called the [Sole Survivor](http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Sole_Survivor) this time around. The male Sole Survivor is a veteran, so it’s no surprise that he’d know how to use power armor. I couldn’t tell you if or how the female sole survivor would know how to use it (ROTC?). Maybe it’s my choice of perks, but I feel like less of a badass (when out of my power armor) compared to in other games. Or at least, enemies seem more dangerous. “That looks like a radscorpion in the distance. Good thing I’ve got the drop on it; a well-placed bullet from my sniper rifle should take care of it… Shit! Gotta keep shooting, it’s almost in melee range! Ow! One of these weapons is bound to deal decent damage to it… Okay, now that that’s over, I’ll check out this abandoned campground. _Oh, fuck, a yao guai!_” ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-4-now-playing/737122/152 "2015-11-13T01:00:13Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Why would you even consider the xbone? > [@Unpronounceable](#): > > You _really_ don’t want this one for the xbox - while the framerate is worse on both consoles, the xbox stutters quite frequently, even dropping to 0 fps on occasion. That’s just rubbish - I’ve been playing about 20 hours on XB1 and have zero noticeable performance issues. The game looks and plays beautifully. And judging by this thread, people are having a lot more issues on PC. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-4-now-playing/737122/153 "2015-11-13T01:07:42Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Question: > > I know that Dogmeat can’t die, but what about the other companions? When Cogsworth gets killed, he just lays there. I can’t figure out how to use a stimpack on him. If I hang around for a while will he get up? > > I’ve just reloaded the game each time because what will I do without my chipper robot deathbutler? You can’t stimpack him because he’s a robot (stimpacks are drugs / “chems”, which as it happens he also judges you harshly for using most non-healing chems), but you don’t need to. He’ll get back up, which I presume is the same with all companions. Codsworth is pretty bad-ass as a companion with his flamethrower + slice & dice, but his aforementioned judgmental nature every time I use a chem or pick a dialogue option that is less than saintly is getting on my nerves. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-4-now-playing/737122/154 "2015-11-13T01:15:56Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > That’s just rubbish - I’ve been playing about 20 hours on XB1 and have zero noticeable performance issues. The game looks and plays beautifully. And judging by this thread, people are having a lot more issues on PC. Yeah, the guy on a 5:4 monitor can’t pick locks. I’m sure that affects a huge number of people… Also, digital foundry says otherwise about the performance of the game: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPZXkdD1RwQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPZXkdD1RwQ) As does Giant Bomb. As does the video I posted earlier. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-4-now-playing/737122/155 "2015-11-13T01:30:13Z")
I found [this post](https://www.reddit.com/r/fo4/comments/3shl9i/fallout_4_tips_everyone_should_know/) useful for tips. And the Android iOS app is cool. It lets you do most of your Pip-Boy functions like equip weapons or use items without having to open the Pip-Boy in game. It seems like a battery drainer, though. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-4-now-playing/737122/156 "2015-11-13T01:32:41Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > That’s just rubbish - I’ve been playing about 20 hours on XB1 and have zero noticeable performance issues. The game looks and plays beautifully. And judging by this thread, people are having a lot more issues on PC. No, it’s not rubbish. If you have a good gaming PC, it would be insane to choose to play the game on xbone. What issue on PC are you talking about? One guy with a quirk that has an oddball resolution? Bethesda games are barely the same games on console and PC. No games are better at demonstrating the disparity in capabilities and options on the platform. And given how many people believe “cinematic” framerates to be either the same or superior to high frame rates, I wouldn’t be shocked if you weren’t able to perceive performance issues. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-4-now-playing/737122/157 "2015-11-13T01:36:45Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > No, it’s not rubbish. If you have a good gaming PC, it would be insane to choose to play the game on xbone. What issue on PC are you talking about? One guy with a quirk that has an oddball resolution? > > Bethesda games are barely the same games on console and PC. No games are better at demonstrating the disparity in capabilities and options on the platform. > > And given how many people believe “cinematic” framerates to be either the same or superior to high frame rates, I wouldn’t be shocked if you weren’t able to perceive performance issues. Dude, maybe let up on the console hate and just let people play the game the way they want to? ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-4-now-playing/737122/158 "2015-11-13T01:41:07Z")
Okay, a guy asks “I have a good gaming PC and an xbone. Which should I play it on?” If this isn’t a relevant time for me to list the merits of playing on PC vs console, when would be? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-4-now-playing/737122/159 "2015-11-13T01:47:26Z")
C’mon, it goes way beyond that. You’re not even playing the game, yet your first post in this thread was about how shitty the console version is. The other Fallout thread also managed to devolve (yet again) into an argument about consoles vs. PCs. You can answer a question about which platform to play it on (note that I also said PC, given those two choices) without taking it as an opportunity to once more hammer home your distaste for console gaming. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-4-now-playing/737122/160 "2015-11-13T01:55:29Z")
I’ve been extremely mild on consoles in this thread. I haven’t even ranted about how consoles are the reason they’ve furthered dumbed down and killed the dialogue in a game that used to be all about dialogue, for example. I’ve not bashed console users for playing on console - and I really do feel bad for them since they’ll never get to see the greatness the game will become - and I’ve only even talked about it when someone specifically asked, since he was making the choice, which to play on. The only thing I can think you’re thinking is snarky is this comment: > [@](#): > > And given how many people believe “cinematic” framerates to be either the same or superior to high frame rates, I wouldn’t be shocked if you weren’t able to perceive performance issues. But have you ever seen threads, or talked to people who are proud of the fact that they can’t, for example, tell the difference between HD and SD TV? I’ve seen people similarly who say they can’t tell the difference between 20-30 and 60 FPS, and seem proud of it. On that basis, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to conclude that one person failing to notice performance issues is definitive. Especially when we know consoles perform the same and have the same bottlenecks, and I’ve seen those performance issues myself in streams and in videos. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-4-now-playing/737122.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-4-now-playing/737122.md?page=9)