# New Fallout 3 information **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 17, 2007, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fallout-3-information/408369 "2007-06-17T16:03:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fallout-3-information/408369/1 "2007-06-17T16:03:51Z")
Evening. I didn’t feel like rescussitating the old Fallout threads, since the information here warrants the attention a new thread brings. If a mod judges against, feel free to merge the threads or chuck me into the burning bonfires of Bliaske Tre. The new: (with thanks to Game Informer) > [@](#): > > The article is based on an hour long demo GI was given. I’ll list the high points > > - Game runs on an evolved version of the Oblivion engine. Third person view has been reworked since the verdict was that the Oblivion version sucked balls. > > - Game starts with your birth and your mother’s death in a vault hospital. This is essentially the character customization part of the game. Your father hands you up to have your DNA analyzed and you get to pick out all your character traits. Your dad takes off his mask to reveal similar traits to the ones you picked. > > - You grow up in the vault and as you grow you get your first book titled “You’re Special” which allows you to choose you baseline stats for each of your 7 primary aptitudes. You’ll also get your first weapons and wrist computer (menu) as you get older you’ll take tests to determine the initial layout of your skills and traits. > > - Every aspect of character creation is based on S.P.E.C.I.A.L. system. Of your 14 skills you can tag 3 to grow at a faster rate than the rest as you level up. > > - Battle system is called the Vault-tec Assisted Targeting System (V.A.T.S.). The article states. “While you’ll certainly be able to tackle enemies in real time using first person shooting, V.A.T.S. lets players pause time and select a target at their leisure”. Battle system still uses action points, but once you’ve used them up you’ll still be able to fight targets in real time while they charge back up. > > - Game is still violent and gory. One of the featured screens is of a guy’s head exploding in super gory detail. Apparently all gory deaths in the game will be in slow motion. > > - More than one way to play the game. Go balls out and kill people, or sneak past situations, or perhaps talk your way out of situations. > > - Enemies can target you just like you can target them, so you can get injured in very specific points on you body. This is in addition to an all new health/radiation system. This new system has you measuring how radiated certain things (like water) are and how they affect you when you consume them. > > - Karma system returns > > - XP based system, most XP comes from quests > > - Level cap is 20 > > - 9 - 12 possible endings based on your actions in the game > > - No level scaling like oblivion, you walk into a high level area, you die horribly. > > - There are NPC’s you can hire, but this is not a party based game. This info is all WIN for my sake, though I’m somewhat uncertain about the V.A.T.S. I don’t quite understand it - bullet time, with AP and/or real-time? Huh? ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fallout-3-information/408369/2 "2007-06-17T16:26:00Z")
I’m convinced. Unless some glaringly terrible reviews come out before release, I’ll be getting it the day it comes out. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fallout-3-information/408369/3 "2007-06-17T19:15:12Z")
I can’t f’n wait for this game. Oblivion bored me to death but I absolutely love Fallout and Bethesda is a good game maker so I have high hopes. I’m suprised they were given an hour long demo to play when last I heard, just a couple weeks ago, there wasn’t much done with the game so far. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fallout-3-information/408369/4 "2007-06-17T19:54:56Z")
> [@](#): > > Battle system still uses action points, but once you’ve used them up you’ll still be able to fight targets in real time while they charge back up. This looks very suspect to me. Choose one system or the other, but stick with it. And do the enemies keep fighting after they use up their action points, too? ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fallout-3-information/408369/5 "2007-06-17T20:10:20Z")
Okay, a few thoughts here, about the V.A.T.S. The way I read it was like this. You can pause to take aim like you would in Fallout 1 and 2 and it would play out real-time. Otherwise you can simply shoot at will. However, shooting at will also costs action points although you don’t take time to aim. I can imagine this shooting at will would be good for killing small animals once you get a lot better. The locations seem to be totally awesome. But really, there’s no way to say much for this game. Over at [nma-fallout.com](http://nma-fallout.com) (i think that’s it) they have a post from a guy named VaultDweller who writes a scathing review based on the information from GI. He lobs complaints about stuff like the fact that there seems to be missing gameplay options, etc. I think he is a bit premature in his criticism here mainly because we don’t know if this is what is happening here. It’s simply the take of the one guy who looked at it. Not much more to say. He goes on and on to talk about how the Brotherhood of Steel shouldn’t be around and how Super Mutants shouldn’t either. The truth is that it’s a different group of people doing the game now. Super Mutants were the end-game dudes in the first game, sure, but now they might show up in the beginning. So what? Maybe they have a reason for doing such a thing. We don’t know. Maybe it’s an integral part of the plot. This installment takes place about 30 years after Fallout 2. I do have to say that I don’t like the use of nuclear explosions here. The one where he takes that nuclear-based catapult? Maybe they are thinking of some kind of make-believe world where you could have some tiny nuclear device that produces a medium-sized explosion? I have no idea, but it is weird, especially considering how much emphasis they are placing on radiation this time. But I’ll buy it the second it comes out. I love all things fallout, and I’ll play it even if it isn’t what I truly wanted. But there is still a lot to be said for the original Fallout RPG aspect of things. All of this stuff must be based on a good RPG narrative. Why else is Fallout still so popular today? The stories were great. Everything was perfect. If the changes that Bethesda is making are improvements upon the old, underlying model, then I’m all for it. Hey that’s totally fine with me. But on the other hand they better not screw it up. It better have a good story and loads of interesting choices. ---
**Author:** ![Montgomery0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/0ea827/32.png) [@Montgomery0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montgomery0)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fallout-3-information/408369/6 "2007-06-17T20:12:29Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] This looks very suspect to me. Choose one system or the other, but stick with it. And do the enemies keep fighting after they use up their action points, too? [/QUOTE] Yeah, my thoughts exactly. Fallout 1 & 2 battles were all about strategy. An FPS with “action points” is still just an FPS. What I’m going to be sad about is that there won’t be any need for targeted shots. I mean why bother with “Head Shot” when you can just do it yourself. I think that’s what I’ll miss the most about F1&2, you could gauge how well you were progressing by the % chance of exploding body parts. Now people will just continue the inane jump around in circles bit that they do with all other FPS’s. Of course, I’m still hoping that I’ve read the description wrong and this hybrid system is truly wonderful, but I’m not going to hold my breath. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fallout-3-information/408369/7 "2007-06-17T21:24:22Z")
Well, the part I read seemed a bit more leaning towards the thoughtful play way; basically, bunny-jumping with your balls to the walls and going Quake 3 Arena will be a _very_ bad idea. The data points behind my theory are as following; 1. Ammo is scarce. The article promises you’ll always be looking for alternate ways through a hotzone, whether it be sneaking or oiling your tongue. The emphasis on broken weaponry and in a world where new weapons manufacture has reached a virtual standstill, one would figure scarcity of ammo would be a consequence. This is also a “cheap” way of instilling suspense. 2. (Follows 1) Therefore, you need to make your shots count. Something tells me this won’t be the hair-trigger aiming game that competetive FPSes (CS, Painkiller, Quake 3, et all) are and you’ll basically _need_ to take a slow-down or pause to make your shots count. Hitting a charging mutant in the knee or blowing off a leg gives you ample time to get away or finish it at leisure. Similarly, shooting that enormous club-swinging super-mutant in the arm or shoulder is said to give significant stat penalties for said creature, resulting in a far weaker blow. (Of course, I’m paraphrasing from the article here) 3. Slow-motion facilities organ explosions. Who doesn’t want organ explosions? I’m not saying the new system will be the best thing since sliced and fried bread, but I _am_ saying that it’ll be far from Oblivion with guns. There’s room for both tactical thought and gleeful malice in placing your bullets. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fallout-3-information/408369/8 "2007-06-17T23:03:54Z")
[QUOTE=Merkwurdigliebe] Over at [nma-fallout.com](http://nma-fallout.com) (i think that’s it) they have a post from a guy named VaultDweller who writes a scathing review based on the information from GI. He lobs complaints about stuff like the fact that there seems to be missing gameplay options, etc. I think he is a bit premature in his criticism here mainly because we don’t know if this is what is happening here. [/QUOTE] The NMA people are, well, nitpicky to say the least. I think you’re right to be cautious. As it is, it sounds good to me. I’m hopeful. Not sure how the action points/free for all is going to work or the targeting thing, but so far i’m hopeful. ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fallout-3-information/408369/9 "2007-06-17T23:29:34Z")
[QUOTE=Revenant Threshold] The NMA people are, well, nitpicky to say the least. I think you’re right to be cautious. As it is, it sounds good to me. I’m hopeful. Not sure how the action points/free for all is going to work or the targeting thing, but so far i’m hopeful. [/QUOTE] I’d just like to add, that this idea of it being an FPS is really without any basis. It’s entirely possible that you click on the person to shoot, yet where you click doesn’t determine where it’s aimed, meaning, a click on the enemy means, shoot at him. Ever play a normal RPG that’s 3rd person? You click on something to shoot at it, and your guy goes away shooting at the bad guy. I see no difference here, except you can pause to take an aimed shot. I don’t think they’ll give you the benefits of an aimed shot unless you actually spend the AP to do it, don’t you? ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fallout-3-information/408369/10 "2007-06-18T00:11:53Z")
Might work as in another game i’ve played, though that was an RTS. The keypad is mapped to body parts - 8 is the head, 4 and 6 the arms, and so on - and you just hold them to change the cursor to a “Target Head” mode instead of just “Shoot”. Yeah, there’s really no way of knowing at this point what it’ll be like to play. The Oblivion engine (Gamebyro) was also used to make Civ IV; it’s versatile, and likely it won’t just be Oblivion with guns. ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fallout-3-information/408369/11 "2007-06-18T10:14:26Z")
I don’t really get what the big deal was. To me it seemed pretty clear. The V.A.T.S. would be where you pause to aim and watch it play out as your AP goes down in real time, at which point you could aim again, or simply (take a shot) like you would in the original. I never considered that a normal, un-aimed shot could could like an aimed one. ---
**Author:** ![Grossbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba8739/32.png) [@Grossbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grossbottom)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fallout-3-information/408369/12 "2007-06-18T12:50:03Z")
I saw the preview, it looks fantastic, but Bethesda likes to talk things up that they can never quite manage. Remember Radiant AI for Oblivion, every NPC has an AI and acts according to motivations & etc.? The whole article reeks of PR nonsense, and I’m sure they’ll make the attempts, but the result will likely be analogous to a raider standing in the corner of his tent eating stimpacks while asking the other raiders if they’ve been to the well lately. “Why yes, the well has plenty of water for everyone. Goodbye!” I’m so immersed. ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fallout-3-information/408369/13 "2007-06-18T14:04:59Z")
[QUOTE=Grossbottom] I saw the preview, it looks fantastic, but Bethesda likes to talk things up that they can never quite manage. Remember Radiant AI for Oblivion, every NPC has an AI and acts according to motivations & etc.? The whole article reeks of PR nonsense, and I’m sure they’ll make the attempts, but the result will likely be analogous to a raider standing in the corner of his tent eating stimpacks while asking the other raiders if they’ve been to the well lately. “Why yes, the well has plenty of water for everyone. Goodbye!” I’m so immersed. [/QUOTE] Oh please…don’t let it be like this!