Preview Fallout 3 nearly baked

[Saint_Proverbius]

Tags: Fallout 3

<a href="http://uk.pc.ign.com/">British PC IGN</a>(as if there's a need for a British specific version of IGN for the PC) has <A href="http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/861/861635p1.html?RSSwhen2008-03-24_153200&RSSid=861635">a preview-let</a> about <A href="http://fallout.bethesda.com">Fallout 3</a> being nearly completed. Since the rest of the world is hyping the 200 end scene thing, I'll point out this:
<br>
<blockquote>The podcast went on to talk about "Dog Meat", your artificial dog ally. The game allows you to team up with Dog Meat and one humanoid ally of your choosing. Any more allies and the game would get too hectic, asserts Howard.
<br>
<br>
It is possible to give Dog Meat fetch commands, but players shouldn't be too brash ordering Dog Meat around, as giving him careless orders could lead to his demise. "He has health and can die," said Howard. Bethesda is still tweaking Dog Meat's game play mechanics however, "We're playing with how much health does he actually have? How does he heal on his own? Do you have to heal him?" The team decided it didn't want to constrain players into constantly protecting Dog Meat, so Bethesda decided you had to be a real reckless player for him to die.</blockquote>
<br>
So, what's <b>Charisma</b> do in this game? Followers are fixed to one plus a dog, which is something <b>Charisma</b> determined in <b>Fallout</b>, so what does that attribute do now? Oh yeah, and "Dog Meat". Real original, guys!
<br>
<br>
Spotted at: <A HREF="http://ve3d.ign.com/">Voodoo Extreme</A>

 

[Brother None]

But Saint Dear, all this nonsense, 200 endings, it's already done, Dogmeat has RAI, etc. etc. is all from the same podcast.

EDIT: wait, you guys never posted on the podcast? linkz

 

[Hümmelgümpf]

I don't know whether I should laugh or cry about these professional journalists misspeling Dogmeat's name.

 

[Micmu]

So, what's Charisma do in this game?

You know that they'll find use for every stat, possibly as a simple modifier for countdown rate in minigames.

Bethesda is still tweaking Dog Meat's game play mechanics however, "We're playing with how much health does he actually have? How does he heal on his own? Do you have to heal him?" The team decided it didn't want to constrain players into constantly protecting Dog Meat, so Bethesda decided you had to be a real reckless player for him to die.

Same mentality which made PC start with 5x times the HP than any other NPC of the same class. RPG design gods.

 

[Andhaira]

Who cares what they do. Seriously, a dog is MANDATORY??

WTF? I don'teven like dogs, being a cat person myself.

Fuck bethesda. At least give us the fucking option...I hope we can choose NOT to have the stupid mutt.

 

[caliban]

WTF? I don'teven like dogs, being a cat person myself.

Weren't you more of a rat person really?

 

[Lumpy]

So, what's <b>Charisma</b> do in this game? Followers are fixed to one plus a dog, which is something <b>Charisma</b> determined in <b>Fallout</b>, so what does that attribute do now?

Fallout 2, actually. And it was fucking stupid anyway. If you can't see what's wrong with that, ponder on "Uh, you're a bit crowded there. Tell somebody to GTFO if you want me to come" for a while.
Higher CHA should unlock certain companions, but the total number should be mostly unrestricted (except when it makes sense in the narrative).

 

[Balor]

Well, I agree - simply liming followers by a stat (or 'dog and human', even "better") is stupid.
Indeed, some followers should join you only if you have enough charisma, and some followers refusing to join if you already have a particular member with you can also limit the party numbers from growing astronomical.

 

[bozia2012]

I don't know whether I should laugh or cry about these professional journalists misspeling Dogmeat's name.

I don't know whether I should laugh or cry about these rabid fanboiz confusing Dogmeat with Dog Meat (which is a complete new, original character).

 

[Hümmelgümpf]

I don't know whether I should laugh or cry about these professional journalists misspeling Dogmeat's name.

I don't know whether I should laugh or cry about these rabid fanboiz confusing Dogmeat with Dog Meat (which is a complete new, original character).

Completely new and original, eh? Separate would be a better word. Anyway, my point still stands: if you are referencing a character, or ripping him off, or whatever, do it right. Dog Meat, my ass, what kind of a stupid name is that?

 

[bozia2012]

I don't know whether I should laugh or cry about these professional journalists misspeling Dogmeat's name.

I don't know whether I should laugh or cry about these rabid fanboiz confusing Dogmeat with Dog Meat (which is a complete new, original character).

Completely new and original, eh? Separate would be a better word. Anyway, my point still stands: if you are referencing a character, or ripping him off, or whatever, do it right. Dog Meat, my ass, what kind of a stupid name is that?

I'm just teasing.

Anywayz I went off to gram.pl (which will be selling FO3 in Poland) and of course there's much rejoicing and fapping over "200+ endings". Every 10th post there's a discussion on permutations going on, but the 90% rest is happily ignoring it a posting shit "OMG! 200! IT HAS TOBE TUER!".

Oh, it's the same on all boards you say?

 

[elander_]

Fallout 2, actually. And it was fucking stupid anyway. If you can't see what's wrong with that, ponder on "Uh, you're a bit crowded there. Tell somebody to GTFO if you want me to come" for a while.
Higher CHA should unlock certain companions, but the total number should be mostly unrestricted (except when it makes sense in the narrative).

That may have been a compromise and not the best solution they wished to have. More character companionsare much more expensive to do than the rest. Just think about how many dialogs and talking head movies are needed for a character like Miro for example.

 

[Ion Flux]

WTF? I don'teven like dogs, being a cat person myself.

That would actually be pretty cool to have some kind of badass wasteland cat companion. It could jump on people like a larval alien facehugger while you nail them in the groin with your sledgehammer. Awesome.

 

[Lurkar]

I don't know whether I should laugh or cry about these professional journalists misspeling Dogmeat's name.

I don't know whether I should laugh or cry about these rabid fanboiz confusing Dogmeat with Dog Meat (which is a complete new, original character).

The new "Dog Meat" makes me feel they're REALLY going out of their way, above and beyond the normal call of dickery, to piss off old Fallout fans. It's not even subtle anymore.

Either that or they're trying to appeal to the Deviant Art "ORIGINAL CHARACTER DO NOT STEAL" group.

 

[JarlFrank]

"I'm hungry. Got any food here?"
"Sure, got some tasty dog meat."
"Dog Meat OH MY GOD WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM HE WAS MY COMPANION!"
"What? You have a piece of dog meat as your companion?"

 

[dragonfk]

Reading about "Dog Meat" immediately reminded me about our dog feature in "Fable 2". Maybe there is some connection between those ideas, maybe Pip Boy in FO3 will be located on your mechanical dog friend? Who knows what sick ideas are born in Bethesda Softworks, only God and I dont think he's glad he does.

Edit: Or does the statement "artificial" means something else than the fact the dog is a robot?

 

[Brother None]

Dogmeat is a junkyard mutt, pure and bred.

What Todd says is that he used his "radiant artificial intelligence" to follow the PC's commands

IGN kinda miswrote on going "artificial dog companion", but I dunno if they actually think it's a robot.

 

[kingcomrade]

They seriously couldn't think of a god damn thing besides directly ripping off Dogmeat, including his name?

 

[Brother None]

Eh.

I don't mind m'self, it's kind of a nod too Fallout, like Dogmeat was a nod to Mad Max. Actually naming him Dogmeat might be going overboard, but it's cool.

He looks like a terrier for some reason, unlike Max' dog. 'coz, y'know, Max's dog looked like this

 

[Cthulhugoat]

Fall out.

 

[Briosafreak]

Saint try tocheck my blog once in a while, so you'll find out about fallout 3 stuff before it gets old. You belgiums...

 

[slipgate_angel]

The game allows you to team up with Dog Meat and one humanoid ally of your choosing. Any more allies and the game would get too hectic, asserts Howard.

I hope he means keeping two companions at a time, rather than running into two recrutable characters in the entire game, because I for one am a player who appriciates the company of many recrutable NPCs.

Would be kind of cool if, at least one of Bethesda's games were like Radiata stories or Suikoden, unfortinantly, they must not like allies in there games.

 

[gc051360]

So, what's <b>Charisma</b> do in this game? Followers are fixed to one plus a dog, which is something <b>Charisma</b> determined in <b>Fallout</b>, so what does that attribute do now?

Fallout 2, actually. And it was fucking stupid anyway. If you can't see what's wrong with that, ponder on "Uh, you're a bit crowded there. Tell somebody to GTFO if you want me to come" for a while.
Higher CHA should unlock certain companions, but the total number should be mostly unrestricted (except when it makes sense in the narrative).

A person with a high charisma, would be more adept at handling relations between a large group. Keeping everyone happy, etc.

 

[Section8]

The game allows you to team up with Dog Meat and one humanoid ally of your choosing. Any more allies and the game would get too hectic, asserts Howard.

Yeah, must be real hectic with two companions and two enemies, since that's all the game can handle on the screen at any given time. There's been maybe one or two FPSs since Doom that have been anything close to hectic, and Oblivion wasn't one of them.

He should just come clean. "Companions? Are you serious? Did you see how much of a clusterfuck Oblivion was anytime we tried to give you allies in a fight? You've never seen retardation in such a pure form."

 

[Section8]

Also:

The games on paper when we get started…they’re alot smaller, and then as we go they get bigger…we can’t stop ourselves. We’re have tons of people with good ideas here, and if they’re good and fit the tone, we’re going to try to jam as much into the game as possible.