Fallout 3's Engine can't handle ladders.

[Dango]

Today at Quakecon, Bethesda game director Todd Howard addressed the apparently evident problem that Fallout 3 and Elder Scrolls Oblivion both don't have ladders. You can read about it here in this article:
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/111/1112469p1.html

According to Todd Howard, ladders caused problems for AI, so they were excluded from both games. Later in the rather short article, Howard said that this made them feel like "game development pussies."

So, what are your opinions? Do you think is pathetic? And did you ever notice a lack of ladders in Fallout 3 or Oblivion?

 

[Irridium]

Didn't notice the lack of ladders, save for the static ladders in Oblivion and the occasional ladder that led to another cell.

Either way, this is why Bethesda needs a new damn engine. Here's hoping they use idtech5 for their next game.

 

[Mrsoupcup]

Not really, this is kinda like the whole situation in the first Assassin's Creed were water kills you if you try to swim.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

I never really noticed it. As straight-cut as the games were, they really wouldn't have enhanced gameplay any.

 

[Luke5515]

Didn't even notice. stairs are okay. I like stairs. They're just fine imo.

 

[Gyrefalcon]

(Psst, edit the title if you can.)
On topic: Elder Scrolls had that ladder/staircase that went to the giant riding bug in Morrowind. They do have trap doors etc. but I think they just fade to black on them. Frankly a lot of games do that and it doesn't hurt the game play. Among the things I worry about in a game, a lack of ladder climbing action isn't on the list. As long as you can get out of room A before getting chomped by bad things, and can go back and forth between room A and B or floor A or B it is all good to me.

 

[Thedayrecker]

Eh, it doesn't really matter. I wasn't playing the game thinking "If only this game had climbable ladders! Then it might set off the most powerful orgasm I've ever had!"

 

[martin's a madman]

Stairs are the way to go.

 

[Dango]

(Psst, edit the title if you can.)

What should I change it to?

 

[Altorin]

they have ladders, just not ladders that aren't loading screen doors.

 

[Drexlor]

I never even noticed. It doesn't bother me at all.

 

[Alon Shechter]

I didn't really care. I like stairs. ladders remind me of my evil cat who almost stabbed my eyes and scarred my face when I was 3.
Stairs FTW!

 

[Lucane]

(Psst, edit the title if you can.)

What should I change it to?

To "Fallout 3's Engine can't handle LadDers" you're missing 1 "d" from ladder.

Fallout 3 had a few ladders but you just couldn't free climb they acted like doors from inside/outside an vice versa but yeah nothing I'd be to concerned about.

 

[Godavari]

Meh. It does speak to the horrible engine they use (seriously, that thing is just bad), but I wouldn't say that ladders were missing from either game. I enjoyed both and doubt that having any ladders would have really enhanced the game at all.

 

[Dango]

(Psst, edit the title if you can.)

What should I change it to?

To "Fallout 3's Engine can't handle LadDers" you're missing 1 "d" from ladder.

Oh, thanks, silly me, I changed it now.

 

[Knight Templar]

Ladders are always a pain in the arse. If there is somebody at the top I'm going to get killed, if there's somebody at the bottom I'm going to get killed, If I'm following/being followed then somebody is going to get lost, waste time standing around at the bottom or top, and get killed.

Stairs work. Now if we couldn't crouch, then we would have some problems.

 

[Altorin]

Ladders are always a pain in the arse. if there is somebody at the top I'mg going to get killed, if there's somebody at the bottom I'm going to get killed, If I'm folling/being follwed then somebody is going to get lost, wate time standing around at the bottom or top, and get killed.

Stairs work. Now if we couldn't crouch, then we would have some problems.

they were the bane of my world playing Alpha Protocol. especially those ladders in that Taipei mission at the train station. However, by the same token, the enemies were just as exposed when using the ladders.. Too many guys I've just filled with lead as they were climbing up or down a ladder.