Fallout 3 (PC version)

[cuddly_tomato]

Ok, so I got the game on Xbox360 and really enjoyed it, only to hear a cacophony of voices screaming at me that the only real way to derive any enjoyment from video games at all is to play them on PC. So I relented, went out and shelled out for Fallout 3 on PC, and awaited what would be my rite of passage into this elite group of PC gamers.

First off, installation.

After clicking on numerous "I agree" tabs, the game began installing. I went off and had a nice bath while waiting for it to install. Came back and realized it wasn't quite done yet. So had a coffee and watched some TV while I waited. Came back and saw it wasn't quite finished installing, but was getting close, so now I had a bit of a drive around on Saints Row 2 on my Xbox360, having a good old blast. This, I reminded myself, wasn't just gaming time spent doing something else, it was tribulations hurled at me from above... to test my commitment to the divine way of gaming.

Finally installed!

I was greeted with a nice little windowlet thingy asking me do I want to play the game, or mess with options, or do something else entirely. I don't know why "Exit" is on there as it doesn't seem to do anything.

It was with great expectation I clicked "play"... this was it! Leaving behind my console days and playing games as they should be played! Horraayyy!!

I waited...

and waited...

and waited...

and waited...

and FINALLY....

I got to another start screen, the same one that appears in the console version.

Oh well. No biggie, I can surely click "play" again if it means playing games as they should be played! So it was, once more with trepidation, and once more with the profound knowledge that I would soon be not just playing Fallout 3, but being Fallout 3, I clicked "play" once more!

Whoohhooo!!! I finished the game!

It was disappointingly short compared to the Xbox360 version, which had me wandering around wastelands, doing quests, slaying super mutants, and avoiding those yoi goi things. The PC version just seemed to throw me back out into my desktop. Not even an ending cutscene or credits.

On reflection I suppose I should have clicked the "send error report" button, just incase it unlocked some other missions, but all in all it wasn't too bad. Nice menu certainly. With intro music!

 

[Pressure]

Try playing it again after restarting your computer. It did the same thing to me and that fixed it. If that doesn't work try reloading the game. I'm assuming that your computer exceeds the minimum requirements.

Also if there is still a tab for Fallout at the bottom of the screen. Hit that and the game will run just ignore the warning.

 

[cainx10a]

I have heard that patching the game would cause the crashes to occur more frequently; I have an above average PC, and have yet to crash in long gaming sessions in Fallout 3. And considering I purchased the game off D2D, I guess you can say it's better than Steam which will automatically update the game at launch.

So bottomline, don't install the first patch that came out. Oh and the G.E.C.K, or the editor for PC is already scheduled for release. So you didn't make any loss with this purchase.

 

[cuddly_tomato]

Basically, Fallout 3 is the best selling [http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/fallout-3-tops-us-october-pc-chart] PC game around right now, but is performing woefully compared to it's console variants [http://www.product-reviews.net/2008/11/17/fallout-3-sells-most-in-series-xbox-360-has-55-of-sales/].

Having tried it, I am not at all suprised. It's certainly going to be my last foray into PC gaming with games that also appear on consoles, and likely my last PC game purchase made by a company that isn't Egosoft or Infinity Ward.

 

[Xojins]

Don't worry, my computer can't even play Bioshock.

 

[Zippy1313]

I think that I would enjoy the 360 version much better, thanks.

 

[Laughing Man]

Having tried it, I am not at all suprised. It's certainly going to be my last foray into PC gaming with games that also appear on consoles, and likely my last PC game purchase made by a company that isn't Egosoft or Infinity Ward.

So my car broke down the other day and instead of phoning the break down guy and telling him what the car was, where it was and what I was wanting him to do to get it fixed I decided that I would rant on about how great my neighbour's Renault Megane was before telling him I was gonna give up driving forever and storming off in a huff....

 

[curlycrouton]

So this is basically a "PCs r t3h l0se!!1!" thread.

Helpful!

 

[Phantom2595]

Looks like somebody's PC is a piece of crap.

It takes me all of 5 seconds to start actually playing the game(and maybe at most 10 minuites to install). How long does it usually take you to start playing on 360?

Anyway, it was pretty funny.

 

[Siuss]

So, instead of assuming "That stinks my PC can't run this.." We have jumped to "ZOMG PC Gamers are teh failz and don't know wat they r talking about this iz teh sux!" Maybe you just need to gear up so you CAN enjoy the visceral experience of Fallout 3 on the PC.

 

[Twilight_guy]

Um, next time propose a topic for discussion.
From what I have seen Fallout 3 requires a pretty good computer, although you might have gotten a bad disk.

 

[cuddly_tomato]

Um, next time propose a topic for discussion.
From what I have seen Fallout 3 requires a pretty good computer, although you might have gotten a bad disk.

This is a topic for discussion. Perhaps it is time PC gamers stopped letting software developers pull this crap on us. If we purchase a product we expect it to work. It used to be like this in the gaming industry, then more and more glitches started appearing, and we accepted it more and more. And now we are at the stage were we actually expect to purchase products that are unfinished and are likely to fail. This is lunacy, and our blind banner waving, fanboyism is what has created the situation.

We need to stop buying products that don't work, and we can't get refunds for. Although with piracy so rampant nowdays I think most people have already decided not to buy.

My PC is running windows XP service pack 3, with a 8800 GTS graphics card, an E6600 duo core processor, and has 2GB of RAM. It should run this game or any reasonable game out there right now, Those are common bits of kit.

 

[cuddly_tomato]

I'll just ask again before the lock, what's the purpose of this thread?

If someone is wondering what version of Fallout 3 to get - avoid the PC version obviously. That is the assessment of someone who has played, or at least tried to play, both versions. That is what forums are for. If you don't like it nobody is forcing you to read or post here. At least I don't think so, it is a possibility as you have more posts in this thread than anyone except for the Op.

 

[cuddly_tomato]

I'll just ask again before the lock, what's the purpose of this thread?

If someone is wondering what version of Fallout 3 to get - avoid the PC version obviously. That is the assessment of someone who has played, or at least tried to play, both versions. That is what forums are for. If you don't like it nobody is forcing you to read or post here. At least I don't think so, it is a possibility as you have more posts in this thread than anyone except for the Op.

Oh right so that entitles everyone who prefers the PC/Xbox version to make a thread about it right? Jeez, I wonder why they haven't already!

No, it entitles anyone with an opinion to post in a thread on PC/Console version, a thread which I searched for and could not find. Thus it entitles me to make one. What it doesn't entitle you to do is troll said thread in an effort to get it locked because some of the points raised bother you.