Fallout 3's Engine can't handle ladders.

[Michael Dagastino]

I noticed, but didn't really care. I find ladders some what game flow breaking anyway, unless it is done right (i.e, ability to jump onto one if it fits the character's ability. climb faster, shoot small arms to defend one's self while on a ladder, etc.)

They would be "game development pussies" if the AI couldn't handle stairs, or variances in elevation. That would be a problem (for professional programmers).

 

[Yureina]

Don't really care. Fallout is still awesome.

 

[SelectivelyEvil13]

Not a big deal in Oblivion, the only thing that I can think of that could have affected NPCs and the animations would be if they had war ladders during a siege, but that would involve same cells between the world and the cities anyways. If anything, I think that later issue is something a bit more problematic than a stair substitute.

 

[migo]

Well, good on them for working the level design to not have them. If there's a limitation in the game engine, the game should be designed so that limitation goes un-noticed.

 

[Snotnarok]

That would require them to add more than their awful animations. Bethesta: Great at making big expansive landscapes, just don't ask them to animate, ever.

 

[Zirat]

Am I supposed to care about ladders? I enjoyed the games without those things, so what would the big diffrence be if they made them?

 

[Nom Pretentieux]

Haha, I love how humble that guy was about it, like "We wanted ladders so bad because we couldn't do them, and that sort of makes us feel like game development pussies", I simply LOVE when people can just say straight out what they're thinking, that's a bit rare these days unless youre cliffy b, but then it just sounds retarded, SOOOEEH...

 

[triggrhappy94]

I don't blame them NPCs are always pretty prone to doing stupid things and/or falling into glitches.

 

[crazypsyko666]

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

You can shoot at things while climbing stairs. Stairs=OKAY.

 

[Fenring]

Didn't notice. I guess that goes to show how good their level design skills are.

 

[The Youth Counselor]

I never noticed the lack of ladders. Only the lack of life on their characters.

 

[grimsprice]

I got a Mod for Fallout 3 that tried to put a ladder into it at a specific point in the Mod. The mod was CUBE EXPERIMENTAL, and the ladder was nearly impossible to go up. It really is bad.

 

[King of the Sandbox]

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

Same. And they must have done something right, because it never even crossed my mind in the slightest.

 

[Moon_Called]

Actually, this really bugged me. The whole time I was playing Fallout 3, I was looking for ladders. I spent ages searching for ladders but I couldn't find any. How weak is that? Stairs? Stairs are for pussies, and inclined slopes? Phssssh. Next you'll be telling me it's got ramps OH WAIT MEGATON HAS NOTHING BUT.

Nah, I'm kidding. Fallout 3 was great. I can't say anything about Oblivion because I hated that game, but more because I found it boring rather than any real lack of correct methods of upward mobility. Fallout doesn't need ladders. Bethesda shouldn't worry too much about putting them in. I think that's something their fans will forgive them for.

 

[Mr. Gency]

Whether it was Far Cry or Rainbow 6, ladders just end up killing me or hostages I have to protect, so I would never miss them.

Gah, it was even worse online, it's like I have to wait for everyone to load the ladder animation while I hoped no one would see me with my pants down.

 

[Lacsapix]

this is pretty old news, There are a lot of games that are great with the lack of ladders and jumping.

 

[Israirie]

You mean Bethesda suck at making engines?! Who knew!

Sarcasm aside, Bethesda make great games but they should just give up on making their own engines. They've repeatedly shown they're utterly incompetent at it. Since id is now also a Zenimax company, and especially because John Carmack emphasized that they're going to start releasing much more comprehensive and user friendly SDKs (wouldn't want to miss out on all those pornographic mods at the Nexus would we?), I really hope they start borrowing id engines.

Plus this way we wouldn't have to witness things degrade any worse. Oblivion at least had decent, somewhat proportionally correct character models. Fallout 3's are pure unadulterated nightmare fuel. Everyone looks and moves like a freakish satanic bio-automaton - way scarier than the Super Mutants. It's small wonder my favorite pastime in Fallout 3 is a hearty civilian massacre.

 

[FretfulGnome]

I thought Bethesda licensed the Gamebryo engine. I didn't think they developed their own engine, I could be wrong though...