Fallout 3 Impressions

Rogue Keeper on 30/10/2008 at 11:33

There are also voices criticizing that you can get rich relatively quickly by just selling stuff you find around and that you can have easy access to heavy weaponry even in Megaton.

The pickpocketing system is allegedly flawed, because you grab every nonsense the person has and your inventory if soon full of junk.

The Karma system has been criticized a lot, Karma falls even if nobody sees you stealing things but you can quickly raise it by killing couple of bandits and everybody loves you.

Is this accurate?

denisv on 30/10/2008 at 12:25

I found it pretty hard to gather up any substantial amount of money since I had to pay for costly equipment repairs and visits to the doctor (healing crippled limbs, removing radiation). I spent the rest of the money on stimpaks, which are expensive and don't heal much.

Pickpocketing lets you select which items to get so I don't know what's wrong with it.

As far as I can recall, you only get positive karma for completing quests in good ways or rescuing slaves and not for killing random evil guys (unless they have slaves). Karma does fall even if nobody sees you do it but well... it's called karma. What were people expecting? The universe sees you touch yourself, obviously.

Karma is flawed in the way actions are weighted. e.g. I killed an entire town, guards and civilians, and my karma went from Very Good to Neutral. However there are no numerical values so I'm not sure about the details.

LancerChronics on 30/10/2008 at 12:33

Now the question is, would this strangle my PC's video card to death? (I can run Oblivion on high graphics if I use tweaks and mods...bah stupid 6800 go, I need a new comp, and processor.)

Oh and since they named it "Karma" of course they can get away with it. What doesn't make sense is how it sounds like everyone in the known universe can look at you, read your karma, and know everything you've done since you were born.

Rogue Keeper on 30/10/2008 at 12:43

Regarding the pressure on hardware, look at my last post here.
(http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1784084#post1784084)

I can't verify it but many people report it's decently optimized, so if you lower the details to around medium level and set a reasonable resolution, your 6800GO should cope.

I'm curious about other reports though.

Phatose on 30/10/2008 at 13:38

Do be aware, that like all modern multiplatform releases, the interface is designed with a severe case on consolitis, and they left out such basics as hotkeys to go directly to the inventory in the PC version. Aggravating, since you'll be going to the inventory a lot.

And it's got that whole 40point fonts on everything for the xbox crowd.

vurt on 30/10/2008 at 13:42

Quote Posted by BR796164

There are also voices criticizing that you can get rich relatively quickly by just selling stuff you find around and that you can have easy access to heavy weaponry even in Megaton.

I've had a difficult time getting cash + good loot is very hard to come by, the vendors doesnt sell anything good either. It was much, much easier in Oblivion.

Ostriig on 30/10/2008 at 14:06

Quote Posted by BR796164

There are also voices criticizing that you can get rich relatively quickly by just selling stuff you find around and that you can have easy access to heavy weaponry even in Megaton.

It was mentioned in some interview that the game was designed so that you'd find most of the weapons early on, but very little ammo for the "cool" ones. And I do think it sorta makes sense that it wouldn't take too long before you have access to all types of weapons, since this is an open-world RPG rather than a linear shooter, so as to allow you to invest your skillpoints in a manner relevant to your preferred playsytle. I'd see it as somewhat similar to the approach common in D&D games - in NWN, you don't have to wait until act 3 until you get a Greatsword, because it's a different type of weapon, not simply a "more powerful" one.

Or am I wrong, and heavy weapons in FO3 are simply more powerful, without any shortcomings to balance them against small guns?

Quote Posted by LancerChronics

Now the question is, would this strangle my PC's video card to death? (I can run Oblivion on high graphics if I use tweaks and mods...bah stupid 6800 go, I need a new comp, and processor.)

It appears that the game's (http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Fallout_3_FAQ#What_are_the_PC_system_requirements.3F) official minimum specs are indeed accurate. As long as you can play TES4, you should be able to play FO3.

Quote:

Oh and since they named it "Karma" of course they can get away with it. What doesn't make sense is how it sounds like everyone in the known universe can look at you, read your karma, and know everything you've done since you were born.

I was gonna say roughly the same thing. It's the whole idea of "personal alignment" versus "reputation", with FO3 going for a flawed implementation of the former, judging by others' impressions.

Rogue Keeper on 30/10/2008 at 14:22

Quote Posted by Ostriig

Or am I wrong, and heavy weapons in FO3 are simply more powerful, without any shortcomings to balance them against small guns?

Well, one dude complained about a radscorpion surviving a rocket blast... And considering you get bloody criticals all the time...

elkston on 30/10/2008 at 15:23

Quote Posted by LancerChronics

I have a notebook (Dell XPS 2) with a 6800 Go Ultra. I run Fallout 3 at 1280x800 with no HDR or Bloom, high textures, low water effects (no reflections), No Shadows, medium-high sliders on view, actor, & object distance, no AA.

I find the performance to be very smooth indoors and acceptable/good outdoors. My other specs: 2 GB RAM, 2.13 Ghz Pentium-M processor.

Ostriig on 30/10/2008 at 15:59

Quote Posted by BR796164

Well, one dude complained about a radscorpion surviving a rocket blast... And considering you get bloody criticals all the time...

Oh wow... :p