GamingTrend Fallout 3 hands-on preview

[GamingTrend]

The control mechanics map perfectly to a controller. I didn't feel constrained in any way by the 360 interface.

I understand that the Xbox360 is their main development platform but would it have killed them to have at least one PC there so that we can hear about how the controls and interface for that handle?

Or is all that stuff about "built from the ground up on all three platforms" just a load of bull and they are going to port it just like they did with their last game?

Worrying about the PC control scheme would be the last of my worries, it's hard to mess up the best control setup available. It would have been interesting to see a PC version for the graphical comparison.

I wanted to see the PC version as well, for comparison sake and also to see if the interface has been changed to fit the platform. The Oblivion interface suffered badly from ultra-mega-huge-o-vision text so large you could read it from across the state. It would be nice to see an interface tuned for those of us who aren't 6' away from the screen. I've been reassured (now twice) that the interface for the PC has been built to fit the PC platform, but it'd be nice to see a screen or two, yea?


A big thanks to Brother None for the preview link - I appreciate it. I hope you guys gleaned at least a little bit of info out of my writeup. If not, enjoy the speed on the downloads for the trailers.

 

[Brother None]

Hey mr Burke, thanks for dropping by again.

I'm nervous about the PC gaming interface as well. Built from the ground up can mean a lot of things except what it literally means, and it's certainly no guarantee that it's actually any good.

But I believe some of the in-house hands-on demos were on PCs. At least one of the Polish magazines says as much.

 

[GamingTrend]

Hey mr Burke, thanks for dropping by again.

I'm nervous about the PC gaming interface as well. Built from the ground up can mean a lot of things except what it literally means, and it's certainly no guarantee that it's actually any good.

But I believe some of the in-house hands-on demos were on PCs. At least one of the Polish magazines says as much.

They had some nice kiosks set up in their space with only the TV and a controller visible. I just rang up Pete Hines and asked - he said that they were all 360.

And please, call me Ron or Knightshade or KS - the Mr. Burke thing just reminds me of the surly bastard from last E3's demo.

 

[Brother None]

And please, call me Ron or Knightshade or KS - the Mr. Burke thing just reminds me of the surly bastard from last E3's demo.

That's exactly why I like addressing you as such

By the way, I must say that this E3 has been extremely poor for getting information for this game - not unlike last E3 when all info was already gleaned from the pre-E3 showings.

It's all basically about V.A.T.S. and graphics, V.A.T.S. and graphics, no wonder it's getting so many RPG and Fallout fans down (though I've heard some negative responses from FPSers as well). I figure a lot of this is because of the short timeframe (as opposed to the 5 hours of PC Gamer and PC Zone), but still, I've seen oh so little on dialogue and quests. Is this the previewer's preference speaking or did Bethesda really put a load of restrictions on talking dialogue and quests?

Also, one thing I'm curious about, the first demo that we both saw had those typical stiff Oblivion dialogue interfaces: zoom into the face, the face jumps between every two lines, and there's no movement of anything other than the head while talking. Have they been polishing this quite a lot or not?

 

[Jesuit]

For what it's worth you can see dialogue going on in the background 26 seconds into this video.

The character's entire body seems to move and make gestures, though it seems a bit awkward, and I think you can see his face jump a bit towards the end.

Also in the 1up interview Todd Howard said they'd be polishing up dialogue and showing videos of it at a later date.

 

[Daimyo]

Idunno. when I read reviews, i think "Hmm, maybe it is a good fallout game?!", but then i read coments here and I realise it is not what Fallout game is about.

I think I should finally leave this forum, stop reading reviews about fallout 3, it just confuses me...

I totally understand your sentiments, sir - but leave the forum? Never

I have to say that is one of the more honest and well written previews so far. It was a good read as opposed to some of the V.A.T.S.tastic previews we have seen time and again.

 

[GamingTrend]

That's exactly why I like addressing you as such

Awesome.

It's all basically about V.A.T.S. and graphics, V.A.T.S. and graphics, no wonder it's getting so many RPG and Fallout fans down (though I've heard some negative responses from FPSers as well). I figure a lot of this is because of the short timeframe (as opposed to the 5 hours of PC Gamer and PC Zone), but still, I've seen oh so little on dialogue and quests. Is this the previewer's preference speaking or did Bethesda really put a load of restrictions on talking dialogue and quests?

The only thing they told us we couldn't talk about was if we happened to stumble into any dialog about our dad and why he left - obviously that'd be a spoiler and would ruin it for somebody else. A reasonable request in my estimation. The reason you are seeing so much on graphics and VATS is because of the time constraint. We were kinda tossed into the wasteland with 30 minutes to kill - we didn't get to a lot of dialog unless you (like some did) immediately ran to Metagon (the nearest city) and started chatting people up. Since we saw that last year I wanted to move on to something new - hands on with the combat. Apparently I wasn't the only one with this idea. As far as the negative reaction of FPS folk, it isn't that type of game. It isn't Call of Duty 4 with a dash of RPG tossed on top - the Ritalin-addled A.D.D. kids will have trouble with the slower pace of combat, nothing to do about that really.

Also, one thing I'm curious about, the first demo that we both saw had those typical stiff Oblivion dialogue interfaces: zoom into the face, the face jumps between every two lines, and there's no movement of anything other than the head while talking. Have they been polishing this quite a lot or not?

I didn't get to see much dialog, but it seemed a bit further away now. I didn't feel like I was 2" from the person I was talking to, but more a conversational distance. Again though, with only limited time I can't say that it is definately 'fixed'.

 

[GamingTrend]

For what it's worth you can see dialogue going on in the background 26 seconds into this video.

The character's entire body seems to move and make gestures, though it seems a bit awkward, and I think you can see his face jump a bit towards the end.

Also in the 1up interview Todd Howard said they'd be polishing up dialogue and showing videos of it at a later date.

Ahh, nice. Thanks for the link. It's better than the talking heads from Oblivion.

 

[Makagulfazel]

For what it's worth you can see dialogue going on in the background 26 seconds into this video.

Later in the video, the player has 5 options for something to say to the NPC. Not bad, but we have yet to see the quality of the dialogue.

What's up with the pipboy night vision camera thing? or is that supposed to be a map? I can't tell what it is.

 

[Seymour the spore plant]

this video

Some new info in there also, I think. Is the perk Todd can't talk about named "sandman", or did I hear it wrong? Plus, twenty bobbleheads being one for each stat? There has to be something iffy with his math or at least wording there.

 

[Makagulfazel]

this video

Some new info in there also, I think. Is the perk Todd can't talk about named "sandman", or did I hear it wrong? Plus, twenty bobbleheads being one for each stat? There has to be something iffy with his math or at least wording there.

I think it's 1 per special stat and 1 per skill. Or that may have just been speculation.

 

[Ausir]

Yes, there is a "Mister Sandman" perk in FO3.

I think it's 1 per special stat and 1 per skill. Or that may have just been speculation.

Yes. 13 skills + 7 stats.

 

[whirlingdervish]

ONLY 20 MAGIC BOBBLEHEADS!?! NO WAI!

are we sure they don't have a couple more bobbleheads that enchant our baseball bats with fire and cold damage, or give a 15% increased run/walk speed bonus?

why don't they just call them charms and make some with increased magic item find, or added poison damage over x number of seconds?!!?

If I wanted to play a fantasy a-rpg hack and slash, blizzard already has one that I like that doesn't insult my intelligence.

 

[Forhekset]

What's up with the pipboy night vision camera thing? or is that supposed to be a map? I can't tell what it is.

I think that's the map you're talking about, yeah. Looks very easy on the eyes.

See more here:

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Cbo_SGS0aYQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed>

 

[GamingTrend]

Always a million and one things you think to do after you leave - I wanted to see the map up close too. :/ Oh well.

 

[Otsegoflesh]

Having never played either MW or Oblivion, so without that frame of refrence, these were my two initial reactions to the demo videos.

Enemies especially looked clunky and move really stilted, awkward, just unnatural given the level at which most FPS are at today.
And the graphics, yeah we've only seen that downtown area, but it came off as very monotone to me.

You know, if you're going to gut the gameplay and enter the FPShooter arena, at least get that part right. I really can't see this game matching up to contemporary shooters based on what I saw in those videos.

you're absolutely right. i actually played oblivion quite a bit, and let me tell you that yes, the ai animations in fallout 3 seem to be almost exactly like those in oblivion. and by that i mean it is certifiably pants-on-head retarded. clunky as all hell. fps fans would do well to stay away, especially considering all the great fps games coming out soon, like stalker: clear sky, far cry 2, crysis: warhead, project origin, half life 2: ep3 ETC.

 

[The Dutch Ghost]

Is there a release date for Half Life 2 Episode 3?!

 

[Public]

Idunno. when I read reviews, i think "Hmm, maybe it is a good fallout game?!", but then i read coments here and I realise it is not what Fallout game is about.

I think I should finally leave this forum, stop reading reviews about fallout 3, it just confuses me...

I totally understand your sentiments, sir - but leave the forum? Never

It looks like many people stopped commenting FO3 reviews for some time. Probably they've got confused or pissed off just like I have.