| Fallout 3 | 
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| From: Bethesda Softworks
Category: Video Games
List Price: $49.99
Buy New: $42.00
You Save: $7.99 (16%)
Buy New/Used from $41.45
Avg. Customer Rating:   (167 reviews)
Sales Rank: 126
Format: Cd-rom
Platforms: Windows Vista, Windows Xp
ESRB: Mature
Media: DVD-ROM
Edition: Standard
Batteries Included: No
Age: 17 - 20 years
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 0.1 x 0.1 x 0
MPN: 12690
Model: 12690
UPC: 492411402427
EAN: 0093155126909
ASIN: B000UU5T7E
Release Date: October 28, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Fight for survival against terrors of the outside world, radiation, and mutants after nuclear fallout | | • | Latest in human ability simulation affords unlimited customization of characters | | • | Expansive world in modern super-deluxe HD graphics | | • | Features ability to pause time in combat, target specific body parts, and queue up attacks | | • | 1st- or 3rd-person perspective |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
For 200 years, Vault 101, a fallout shelter, has served the surviving residents of Washington DC and its environs, now known as the Capital Wasteland. Though the global atomic war of 2077 left the US all but destroyed, the residents of Vault 101 enjoy a life free from Giant Insects, Raiders, Slavers, and yes, even Super Mutants. Yet one morning, you awake to find that your father has left the comfort and security afforded by Vault 101 for reasons unknown. Leaving the only home you've ever known, you emerge from the Vault into the harsh Wasteland sun to search for your father. Fallout 3 is a singleplayer action role-playing game (RPG) that combines the horrific insanity of the Cold War era theory of mutually assured destruction gone terribly wrong with the kitschy naivety of American 1950s nuclear propaganda.
Mind-Blowing Artificial Intelligence - Radiant AI, America's First Choice in Human Interaction Simulation. Facial expressions, gestures, unique dialog, and lifelike behavior are brought together with stunning results Eye-Popping Prettiness - Witness the harsh realities of nuclear fallout rendered like never before in modern super-deluxe HD graphics
Amazon.com
The third game in the Fallout series, Fallout 3 is a singleplayer action role-playing game (RPG) set in a post-apocalyptic Washington DC. Combining the horrific insanity of the Cold War era theory of mutually assured destruction gone terribly wrong, with the kitschy naivety of American 1950s nuclear propaganda, Fallout 3 will satisfy both players familiar with the popular first two games in its series as well as those coming to the franchise for the first time.
Welcome to the nation's capital.
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The Brotherhood of Steel is a powerful ally.
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Customize characters with your Pip-Boy.
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The Story: Vault 101 ? Jewel of the Wastes
For 200 years, Vault 101 , a fallout shelter, has faithfully served the surviving residents of Washington DC and its environs, now known as the Capital Wasteland. Though the global atomic war of 2077 left the US all but destroyed, the residents of Vault 101 enjoy a life free from the constant stress of the outside world. Giant Insects, Raiders, Slavers, and yes, even Super Mutants are all no match for superior Vault-Tec engineering. Yet one fateful morning, you awake to find that your father has defied the Overseer and left the comfort and security afforded by Vault 101 for reasons unknown. Leaving the only home you've ever known, you emerge from the Vault into the harsh Wasteland sun to search for your father, and the truth.Key Features: - Limitless Freedom! ? Take in the sights and sounds of the vast Capital Wasteland! See the great monuments of the United States lying in post-apocalyptic ruin! You make the choices that define you and change the world. Just keep an eye on your Rad Meter!
- Experience S.P.E.C.I.A.L.! ? Vault-Tec engineers bring you the latest in human ability simulation ? the SPECIAL Character System! Utilizing new breakthroughs in points-based ability representation, SPECIAL affords unlimited customization of your character. Also included are dozens of unique skills and perks to choose from, each with a dazzling variety of effects!
- Fantastic New Views! ? The wizards at Vault-Tec have done it again! No longer constrained to just one view, experience the world from 1st or 3rd person perspective. Customize your view with the touch of a button!
- The Power of Choice! ? Feeling like a dastardly villain today, or a Good Samaritan? Pick a side or walk the line, as every situation can be dealt with in many different ways. Talk out your problems in a civilized fashion, or just flash your Plasma Rifle.
- Blast 'Em Away With V.A.T.S.! ?Even the odds in combat with the Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System for your Pip-Boy Model 3000! V.A.T.S. allows you to pause time in combat, target specific body parts on your target, queue up attacks, and let Vault-Tec take out your aggression for you. Rain death and destruction in an all-new cinematic presentation featuring gory dismemberments and spectacular explosions.
- Mind-Blowing Artificial Intelligence! ? At Vault-Tec, we realize that the key to reviving civilization after a global nuclear war is people. Our best minds pooled their efforts to produce an advanced version of Radiant AI, America's First Choice in Human Interaction Simulation. Facial expressions, gestures, unique dialog, and lifelike behavior are brought together with stunning results by the latest in Vault-Tec technology.
- Eye-Popping Prettiness! ? Witness the harsh realities of nuclear fallout rendered like never before in modern super-deluxe HD graphics. From the barren Wasteland, to the danger-filled offices and metro tunnels of DC, to the hideous rotten flesh of a mutant's face.
System Requirements: | Minimum Specifications: | Recommended Specifications: | | OS: | Windows XP/Vista | | Processor: | 2.4 Ghz Intel Pentium 4 or equivalent processor | Intel Core 2 Duo processor | | RAM: | XP: 1GB System RAM
Vista: 2GB System RAM | 2 GB System RAM | | Video Card: | Direct X 9.0c compliant video card with 256MB RAM (NVIDIA 6800 or better/ATI X850 or better) | NvidiaDirect X 9.0c compliant video card with 512MB RAM (NVIDIA 8800 series, ATI 3800 series) | | Supported Video Card Chipsets: | NVIDIA GeForce Series 200, 9800, 9600, 8800, 8600, 8500, 8400, 7900, 7800, 7600, 7300, 6800; ATI HD Series 4800, 4600, 3800, 3600, 3400, 2900, 2600, 2400; ATI Series X1900, X1800, X1600, X1300, and X850 |
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| Customer Reviews: Read 162 more reviews...
 So good it almost got me divorced... November 18, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I spent a lot of time playing this game. Think Morrowind in a post-apocalyptic Washington DC, and that's what this game is about. If you aren't a fan of long dialogues and storylines this may not be the game for you. If you like a nice mix of action, adventure, and role-playing this game should be on your short list. It's one of my top games of all time.
 A Mister Freezie... a beta release Ah-gan. Sigh. November 17, 2008
3 out of 6 found this review helpful
It's a freeze and bug monster. You've got to be lucky with your rig to get it to run properly. The PC version is a very painfully obvious console port. No mini-map, quest or inventory windows... it's all done within the same system-stopping visual devise called a Pipboy (which I'm guessing is brought up with the A or "square" button on a controller). Attacking consists of only one (I repeat), one action. If the Pipboy is not enough to freeze your game, wait until you try to bring up the "innovative" combat targeting called V.A.T.S. (clearly another wincing console concept) when more than one enemy attacks. You can almost hear the game groaning and sputtering to a halt as your cursor does the molasses dance across the screen with a "glug... glug... gluuuugh."
Don't get me wrong. The game is fantastically beautiful. Truly. The environs are state-of-the-art and makes you really wish it would work properly. Running around the landscape makes it hard to go back to any other game. It's seriously like you're controlling a real-time movie. Stunning. Perhaps the technology is at the point where designers can build eye-popping worlds, but engine writers can't quite tame the beast yet (at least on the PC platform).
Mostly, I think it was a matter of The Suits saying they must release, so they released the latest beta and crossed their fingers (I wonder if the 360 & the PS3 versions are running fine?). The first patch on Bethesda's website was laughable. In fact, I think it caused more harm than good. No new word from the makers as yet (11/18/08). Silence. I hope they don't just take the money and run.
A couple other things...
The music is Hollywood good, very Batman Begins good. I mean, I'll load the game and just listen to the overture for a while before (attempting) to play. Hats off and the Oscar goes to: Inon Zur (of Crysis and Prince of Persia fame)!!!
AND Liam Neeson, Malcom McDowell & Ron Perlman voice actors? You gotta be kidding, right? Wrong! They're in it and not just hokey or superfluous either. It's top notch writing and storyline to boot. Again, it's playing a movie. Literally. Gawd, I wish this game would work. It would be my favorite game hands down.
I'd say hold off until they release some decent patches and the forums calm down. If I'm able to play the game without a crash during the course of a lazy afternoon, I'll change my rating.
PS-This game is screaming for mods!
Amazing November 17, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I can comment on this game in 2 ways.
It is Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion with guns.
OR
It is Oblivion with guns and so much more. This is a very deep game with complicated quests. You can get through the game or go deep and get the best rewards by making the best choices and exploring all quest/mission options! Definitely not fast paced 80% of the time but plenty to do, explore and discover!
A great game. Bethesda has done it again!
A game with Securom SUCKS November 17, 2008
0 out of 10 found this review helpful
So, I have to pay for a game and then I am not aloud to reinstall it as much as I like???
Well that Sucks, I am not going to buy this game as long this Securom software is on it.
Postal 3 is out! Oh wait... it's Fallout 3? November 16, 2008
8 out of 12 found this review helpful
What made the original Fallout so good?
It was the non-linear gameplay, the tactical turn-based combat, the game setting, and of course, Macgyver.
I loved the original Fallout. I bought that game the day it came out and I played the Hell out of it. Does Fallout 3 live up to the Fallout name? Does an original fan think it's a worthy addition? Read on to find out.
There was only one thing the first Fallout set out to do. Fallout wanted to be the role playing game that let you do what you want, let you go where you want, let you kill who you want. Role playing games before this never had this sense about them, all their stories were linear and were already set for you. There wouldn't be all these role playing games today that gave you choices if it wasn't for Fallout. It was the first game to put it into the mainstream.
Fallout 3 does a good job of letting you do what you want. You are allowed to be good or evil, killing the dog or saving the dog(remember that, original Fallout fans?). However, the dialogues in the game are unintelligent and leave you wondering if they tried hard to copy the first game's conversations, or if they just grabbed a student from the local college to do them. Either way, they did a bad job with dialogues. When you role play in a game and you get dialogue options, effort should be done so the options vary in being evil or good, so you don't sound like the opposite of what you are, and most importantly, so you don't sound like an idiot. Speaking of which, the dialogues in the original Fallout actually had idiot dialogue options, in Fallout 3, every option is an idiot option, even if your intelligence is set at 10. Dialogue is dumbed down.
The tactical combat from the first Fallout was almost perfect. What Fallout 3 does, is not improve on the tactical side of combat, it ruins combat instead. They changed turn-based combat into a real-time click-affair. All you do in combat is click the left mouse button as fast as you can to shoot your weapons at the enemies. In combat, you also get to use VATS, which lets you pause in real-time to choose specific body parts to target. But it's totally pointless. There is no reason to use VATS, as it offers nothing, nothing tactical, nothing. I have played 30 hours into the game so far(on hard setting), and I have yet to use VATS once. If you want to cheat, use VATS, because all VATS does is let you cheat. Fallout fans want to be challenged with tactical combat, not play a casual combat clickfest. Combat is dumbed down.
They did manage to get the atmosphere down to a point. It's really not hard to make something look apocalyptical, but to make it look right is harder to achieve. One thing in the game that you'll notice, is that they use lots of gore. Fallout was never about gore, but seems the makers of Fallout 3 didn't get that. You find loads of chopped up bodies all over the place, as if the level designers thought it looked cool to have rooms filled with 20 chopped up bodies all around. Gore is upped up, which means it's been dumbed down, because too much gore means you aren't trying hard enough with actual content. You go for the "shock factor", not the "content factor". The game is more like Postal 3 than it is like Fallout 3. They did get the 50's jibe down really well, and I love that part of the game. Kudos to them for keeping that part.
The story in the game as a whole isn't bad at all, I just wish it was written better. I loved discovering other real vaults in Fallout, and you get to do that in Fallout 3 as well. The main campaign is pretty short, but so was Fallout's. In Fallout you could beat the game within 20 minutes, can't do it that fast in Fallout 3, but it's still short in it's own right. There's plenty of side quests to do, just like in the original Fallout. The side quest's can be long to complete, having you run around talking to several people and going to several places before you are able to complete it, but the side quests haven't been that challenging(maybe because combat is too easy? Or is it because they have arrows that point you to where everything is?).
IN CONCLUSION:
Fallout 3 is like an open sandbox RPG. It lacks the depth of the originals and it appeals to the casual audience of today. It is not a traditional CRPG like Fallout, it is a console RPG ported to the PC. It lacks what a good port should, with bad controls and a bad interface.
The game needs patching. The game crashes constantly on me. I get a lot of slowdowns after a few moment of play, when the game starts it's perfectly smooth. The game has many software problems the developers need to fix.
Overall, the game is fun, and as an original Fallout fan, I see it as a good spin off set in the Fallout universe. I do recommend it to fans of the original, as long as they know they aren't going to experience what Fallout gave them. There's some nostalgia to be had here, with familiar characters you meet and things you hear, but it's not the CRPG you love.
One last note. They also changed the name of the guns in the game. If you needed any proof of the dumbing down of the game, even without all the other stuff, just look at the names. Dumbing down weapon's names to appeal to today's lazy casual audience? I just have to say, "give me a break".
There has been several Fallout clones over the years that try to copy the original, they never turned out so good, but lets hope someone does a good one someday soon.
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