http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america By Pentadact Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:32:02 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38472 Pentadact Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:27:35 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38472 Heh, yep, I just last night found the place you're talking about. It's awesome. There's a lot more diversity in Fallout 3 than I gave it credit for, but I'd still like to see more of it breaking up the rocky wastes that form 90% of the landscape. http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38471 Garg Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:02:37 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38471 "whatever inverted vegetation regrows 200 years after armageddon." Had to reply to this; there is some very odd vegetation in one area of the game, although it's quite out of the way and hard(ish) to find. But yes I would agree that the environments could have done with a bit more variety.
Had to reply to this; there is some very odd vegetation in one area of the game, although it's quite out of the way and hard(ish) to find. But yes I would agree that the environments could have done with a bit more variety.]]> http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38468 StalinsGhost Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:04:06 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38468 I love some of these screens. The Poisoned Sponge posted a bit about them on the Reticule a few days ago: I was quite happy to sit through and watch them all in the slide show :D J-Man: Important question: What do I buy? A: Fallout 3 B: Left 4 Dead Both of these. A) for the hugely atmospheric, largely brilliant RPG/FPS action. I've got a review here: http://thereticule.com/2008/11/08/fallout-3-the-stalins-ghost-review/ :) B) for being simply the best online FPS this year. Or so I think having played much demoage.
J-Man: Important question: What do I buy?
A: Fallout 3
B: Left 4 Dead

Both of these. A) for the hugely atmospheric, largely brilliant RPG/FPS action. I've got a review here: http://thereticule.c... ...st-review/ :)

B) for being simply the best online FPS this year. Or so I think having played much demoage.]]> http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38456 J-Man Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:01:23 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38456 Really? Fallout is better than L4D? I've played the 2 demo levels at least 10 times. http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38455 DoctorDisaster Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:47:17 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38455 You know you can use the mouse wheel to adjust the third-person distance, right? I find it hard to believe that I noticed something Award-Winning Games Journalist Tom Francis missed. In general, third-person is OK if you're outdoors and like to use VATS. Indoors the camera gets all up in your personal space and it's very awkward. Third-person if you're playing it as a shooter? There's a reason TPS is an Office Space reference and not a popular video game genre. Also, I have to agree with the others here that my Fallout 3 doesn't look that good. One of many drawbacks of console preeminence is that graphics don't scale as well as they used to. Except for the Source, of course (of course). L4D looks great!
In general, third-person is OK if you're outdoors and like to use VATS. Indoors the camera gets all up in your personal space and it's very awkward. Third-person if you're playing it as a shooter? There's a reason TPS is an Office Space reference and not a popular video game genre.

Also, I have to agree with the others here that my Fallout 3 doesn't look that good. One of many drawbacks of console preeminence is that graphics don't scale as well as they used to.

Except for the Source, of course (of course). L4D looks great!]]> http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38454 Pentadact Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:08:39 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38454 I'd pick A. I'm optimistic about C, but it's not going to be in the same league, and D doesn't look much fun from what I've seen over people's shoulders. B is great, but there are a few football fields between great and A. http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38453 J-Man Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:57:05 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38453 Important question: What do I buy? A: Fallout 3 B: Left 4 Dead C: Mirror's Edge D: Call of Duty: World at War A: Fallout 3
B: Left 4 Dead
C: Mirror's Edge
D: Call of Duty: World at War]]> http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38441 yns88 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:29:24 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38441 Wow, he's really right about the gaming photography bit -- those screens make the game look about twice as good as it actually does. http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38411 Jazmeister Fri, 14 Nov 2008 01:50:09 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38411 Woah woah woah woah. Allow me to reformat your words so you can better look upon what flippancy wrought this day: A pirate game. In which you play the parrot. ... If people could switch to third person in real life, you'd see them doing that corner-look thing a lot. Muggings would be altered forever. You could even have a face to face conversation with someone facing at right angles to eachother.
A pirate game.

In which you play the parrot.

...

If people could switch to third person in real life, you'd see them doing that corner-look thing a lot. Muggings would be altered forever. You could even have a face to face conversation with someone facing at right angles to eachother.]]> http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38410 Pentadact Fri, 14 Nov 2008 01:33:41 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38410 Jaz, it's a first-person game, but there's a key to go third-person. Whereupon it does that stupid back-and-to-the-right thing. Back, and to the right. Back, and to the right. I got Dead Space recently, and it's back, and so far to the right that you simply can't see half of what's happening to you. The only time this camera angle would be a good idea is in a pirate game in which you play the parrot. http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38408 spuzman00 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:03:11 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38408 Nonomu: Great idea. I think I'm going to do the same thing for Left 4 Dead when it comes out. Great idea. I think I'm going to do the same thing for Left 4 Dead when it comes out.]]> http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38405 Nonomu198 Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:36:25 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38405 My rig isn't dosen't even match the minimun system requirements. I guess I could just make a collage out of the thousands of thousands of Fallout 3 pictures around the net and use my imagination.

I guess I could just make a collage out of the thousands of thousands of Fallout 3 pictures around the net and use my imagination.]]> http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38404 Jazmeister Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:32:14 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38404 I see a lot of F3 shots suggesting it's part of the new ShoulderCam movement. What does it all mean, Tom? http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38400 Chijts Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:53:53 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38400 Great photos, and great job to Bethesda for making the place! I guess it would be even more haunting to someone who comes from D.C.. So if this is how it looks on a nice PC, how's it look on an xbox?
So if this is how it looks on a nice PC, how's it look on an xbox?]]> http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38399 Tentaculat Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:28:11 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38399 I played through the entire main story arc without realizing who the voice of President Eden was. It wasn't until the credits rolled that I had one of those "ahhhhh" moments. For some reason it made me happier than I already was. Fantastic game. http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38398 ZomBuster Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:22:44 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38398 Only thing that is missing make those screens incredible are shadows. http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38397 ZomBuster Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:21:22 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38397 I didn't realize that 2nd pic is 112, it looks so less.. awesome for me :( http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38396 Killa-Ewok Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:47:34 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38396 It's good Mr.Livingston isn't dead. http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38395 Smurfy Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:46:18 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38395 Have you considered that, perhaps, you're not playing it at all and just sit completely still in your chair imagining what it might look like? http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38392 Niteowl Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:37:12 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/index.php/2008-11-13-bethesda-ruin-america#comment-38392 Have you considered that, perhaps, you're still playing Fallout 2?