GiantLizardKing

Probably because this one has had the fastest turn around from Japan to Europe in the states, especially considering the poor performance in Japan.

Fallout 3-2

I don't think you understand the concept of linearity in game play. In Fallout 3 what you have is more of a tree or graph structure with the order with which you decide to approach the events in the game as opposed to a line. You can bypass the main questline entirely and go take on quests anywhere on the world map and explore content that the main questline wouldn't bring you anywhere near until 15 -20 hours into the game, which is the way I approached the game. From everything I've read none of this is the case with FF XIII.

There is also non linearity with regard to how you develop you character, the effect you can have on the game world around you, as well as the effect you have on the entire narrative with respect to branching choices you make throughout the game. From what I understand FF XIII doesn't incorporate any of the above non linear game play devices.

You could make the argument that in both games you will eventually hit all of the major plot / quest points as you progress toward the end of them game (which I guess is what you are trying to do), but that does not make them both "linear". Fallout 3 is essentially as far from linear as a game has gotten thus far.

None of that is to say that FF XIII bad game.