Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Crysis composer Inon Zur scoring Fallout 3http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/crysis-composer-inon-zur-scoring-fallout-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/crysis-composer-inon-zur-scoring-fallout-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/crysis-composer-inon-zur-scoring-fallout-3/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

No matter what platform we choose to take on Fallout 3's radioactive wasteland, we will be doing so to the musical styling of seasoned game music composer Inon Zur.

If Zur's name isn't familiar to you, it's likely you've hummed along to some of his more notable tracks heard in games like Crysis as well as each of the three expansions to Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War. And speaking of three, a trio of the songs Zur created for Bethesda's hotly anticipated RPG are available to listen to on the official Fallout 3 website, from in-game tracks "Megaton" and "Into the Wasteland," to a bass-heavy title track that has us climbing the walls in our underground shelter in the march up to the game's release this fall.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>bethesdafalloutfallout-3fallout3inon-zurinonzurmusicJason Dobson2008-05-08T05:00:00+00:00Bethesda: There will be no demo for Fallout 3http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/21/bethesda-there-will-be-no-demo-for-fallout-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/21/bethesda-there-will-be-no-demo-for-fallout-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/21/bethesda-there-will-be-no-demo-for-fallout-3/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


click to enlarge

Cake, pizza, fabric, all things you can take a chunk out of to judge the quality. But Fallout 3, it's more like a Jenga tower or a baby: Taking a sample slice out of it won't end up well for anyone. To that end Eurogamer reports that Bethesda's Pete Hines says there will be no demo for the sprawling action RPG.

"When you build it as one thing, there's no way to portion off a section and have it stand on its own without putting the whole game in the demo, which we're just not going to do," Hines told the publication. But honestly, if at their heart demos are to help consumers make wise buying decisions, do you really need one for Fallout 3? We'll be fine waiting to have our minds blown by the whole package. In the interim, enjoy these three new screenshots Bethesda released today, to take the edge off.

Gallery: Fallout 3

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>bethesdademosfalloutfallout-3Justin McElroy2008-04-21T13:15:00+00:00Fallout 3 Collector's Edition sounds delightfulhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/14/fallout-3-collectors-edition-sounds-delightful/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/14/fallout-3-collectors-edition-sounds-delightful/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/14/fallout-3-collectors-edition-sounds-delightful/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Did you know that it was scientifically possible to desire Fallout 3 more than you already do? We didn't until this morning when we saw the (unconfirmed by Bethesda) listing for the collector's edition of it at Gamestop. For $70, you'll get a Vault Boy Bobblehead doll, a hardcover book of art and a behind-the-scenes DVD. Oh, and the whole thing comes in a metal Vault-Tec lunch box. Yes. Please.

There's also a date for the game of October 7, but that could just be an estimate. As far as we're concerned (thanks in part to today's announcement) the official date for Fallout 3 is "Not even close to soon enough."

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>bethesdacollectors-editionfallout-3fallout3limited-editionJustin McElroy2008-04-14T11:00:00+00:00Joystiq impressions: Fallout 3 (360/PC/PS3)http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/10/joystiq-impressions-fallout-3-360-pc-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/10/joystiq-impressions-fallout-3-360-pc-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/10/joystiq-impressions-fallout-3-360-pc-ps3/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


click to enlarge

In a hotel conference room, Bethesda's Pete Hines recently demoed the latest version of the Fallout 3. He trudged through a collapsed building, firing a machine gun at ambling, radiated mutants. The gore made me wince a little, with blood gurgling from zombie limbs. Earlier, he shot the head off another enemy, and blood arced straight out of the neck, as if it was trying to reach the brain one last time.

Only minutes earlier, he'd shown me how the player's character grows up in an underground bunker, with those moments acting partly as tutorial and partly as a character creator. Your father, for example, stays hidden in the shadows after your birth until he checks out how the infant will look grown up. Players use a medical gadget to see (read: design) their appearance, then he emerges with roughly similar, paternal features.

We've covered the game a few times before, so in addition to my general impressions, I talked with Hines about some recently revealed features.

Gallery: Fallout 3


The number of Fallout endings has been a talking point. "We're up to over 500 now," Hines noted. I asked further about what that means. "That's the big thing. 'What does it mean?' It's not 500 completely different things that happen at the end of the game." Fallout 3 follows the spirit of the prior two games by mixing together a slurry of possible cut-scenes and story elements.

"For folks who played the original games, this isn't news. It's what the original Fallouts did, where you know, did you do this or did you do this? And which one of those you did plays that part of the cut scene."

As Hines moved around dark corners, he showed off the system that lets gamers choose to play as a real-time or turn-based shooter. Basically, you hit a button to activate turn-based mode, pausing the scene, and queuing up specific attacks to enemies. After running out of your attack slots -- these are based on the firing rate and clip size of a weapon -- the action plays out in a brief movie-like sequence. Other times, he lobbed grenades around corners in real time, giggling once when a random zombie arm flung back across our field of view.

Above ground, he showed off some of the Washington D.C. landmarks, saying that the city makes up about a fourth of the game. Fallout 3's entire area is smaller than Oblivion, but Hines says it's denser, with more to do and less traveling.


click to enlarge

I asked if downloadable content would follow in that game's path. Hines answered, "[Downloadable expansions are] certainly something -- given the popularity of the ones we did for Oblivion -- that we'll be looking into. Until we get through the content creation part on the [full] game, it's all theoretical."

He showed off a few voiced characters, including your father played by Liam Neeson, but most of the dialogue was still placeholder. Bethesda is working on finishing the rest of the game before the company can go back and add final lines, but Hines expects more than Oblivion, with roughly 50 to 60 different character voices.

As far as the total time of recorded lines, he worked me through the math, saying, "I don't know how many hours it is, but I bet it's a lot. 'Cause we're talking about having like three sound studios running 24 hours-a-day for the better part of a month just to get through everything we've got to record, then process and output. There's a lot ... more voice actors than we used [in Oblivion.]"

At the end of the hour-long demo, I especially learned that Fallout 3 will take days and weeks to ease into. From wry touches at the beginning -- the A button calls out "Da-da" -- to a helpful dog that understands your commands to bring back food and useful items, Fallout is full of depth. I'm looking forward to seeing the game's other layers with its worldwide, simultaneous release for 360, PC, and PS3 in Fall, 2008.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>bethesdafalloutfallout-3fallout3pete-hinespetehinespeter-hinespeterhinesrole-playing-gamerpgZack Stern2008-04-10T11:13:00+00:00New details, 'over 200 endings' for Fallout 3http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/new-details-over-200-endings-for-fallout-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/new-details-over-200-endings-for-fallout-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/new-details-over-200-endings-for-fallout-3/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Fallout fans can look forward to over 200 different endings with the upcoming Fallout 3, according to Executive Producer Todd Howard. Speaking on the OXM podcast (interview starts at 37-minute mark) Howard said, "Being that we are Bethesda, everything gets a bit big. So as of last week, we're over 200 endings. That is not an exaggeration, but it deserves some descriptions."

The clarification is that, like other Fallout games, choices you make in the game will affect aspects of the ending, so that figure is really a combination of many sub-endings. The real question, then, is how many times do you have to beat the game to see every sub-ending?

Howard also confirmed that Fallout 3 is twice the size than anticipated and close to the size of Oblivion. "The game is easily 100 hours," he said. Howard also goes into detail about the dog companion. Fallout 3 is still on track for release this Fall.

[Via Shacknews]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>bethesdafalloutfallout-3Ross Miller2008-03-25T20:00:00+00:00Fallout 3 to get simultaneous release on PS3, Xbox 360, PChttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/18/fallout-3-to-get-simultaneous-release-on-ps3-xbox-360-pc/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/18/fallout-3-to-get-simultaneous-release-on-ps3-xbox-360-pc/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/18/fallout-3-to-get-simultaneous-release-on-ps3-xbox-360-pc/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


PS3 owners worried that Fallout 3 might come to their system of choice later than Microsoft's box(es) can put their fears to rest. Executive producer Todd Howard said that Fallout 3 should (unlike the company's last big release Oblivion) see a simultaneous release. "They should all be the same date," he said. "That's our plan."

It's definitely happy news, but we're going to wait until a bit closer to the game's Q3 release before we go get our SIXAXIS-shaped champagne flutes out of hock. As evidenced by a bevy of PS3 game delays, programming for the system is apparently about as predictable as raising mogwais.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>bethesdafallout-3fallout3Justin McElroy2008-02-18T10:15:00+00:00Fallout 3's world '50 to 80 percent' as large as Oblivionhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/15/fallout-3s-world-50-to-80-percent-as-large-as-oblivion/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/15/fallout-3s-world-50-to-80-percent-as-large-as-oblivion/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/15/fallout-3s-world-50-to-80-percent-as-large-as-oblivion/#commentsFiled under: , ,


It's said that bigger is not necessarily better, and it's a mantra that Oblivion dev Bethesda seems to have subscribed to for their next sprawling adventure, Fallout 3. In a massive interview with Gameplayer, Bethesda spokesperson Pete Hines said that, though no one had walked Fallout 3's post-apocolyptic D.C. from end to end, it's probably 50 to 80 percent as big as the world of Oblivion.

That said, it's not necessarily bad news. Fans of the series (or opponents of walking) might be relieved to hear that Bethesda is taking the quality over quantity route. Not to mention that 50 percent of Oblivion's land mass is still pretty darned big. Check out the rest of the interview for a vaultful of other non-geographic info.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>bethesdafallout-3fallout3oblivionJustin McElroy2008-02-15T19:30:00+00:00Bethesda calls for Fallout 3 QA testers, shows new concept arthttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/09/bethesda-calls-for-fallout-3-qa-testers-shows-new-concept-art/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/09/bethesda-calls-for-fallout-3-qa-testers-shows-new-concept-art/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/09/bethesda-calls-for-fallout-3-qa-testers-shows-new-concept-art/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Are you the kind of vault dweller not wanting to seek life outside your safe vault dwelling but still longing for excitement? Bethesda is hiring Quality Assurance (QA) testers for the upcoming Fallout 3. Sure, you get to play the game before anyone else, but as an added incentive, Bethesda's Ashley Cheng notes that top testers usually get pulled to be interns for the company.

The developer diary for Fallout 3 has also been updated to give a profile for the Brotherhood of Steel, as well as show off some concept art for the game that you can also peruse in our gallery below. Fallout 3 is still slated for a Fall 2008 release.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>bethesdafalloutfallout-3jobsRoss Miller2008-01-09T13:30:00+00:00The Joystiq Holiday Weekend, 2007http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/24/the-joystiq-holiday-weekend-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/24/the-joystiq-holiday-weekend-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/24/the-joystiq-holiday-weekend-2007/#comments A Pip Vault Boy Gingerbread house (of Fallout fame) is delicious and delectable, especially the blood splattered outside the front door. We bet he ate the little gingerbread people and wiped his smiling face on the pavement. Congratulations to Andy Barnes, who submitted this image to Bethesda's blog and won a Fallout 3 t-shirt. Check out the highlights for today:

Joystiquery
Joystiq interview: NIS America talks PS2 love, Mana Khemia details
Today's angriest viral video: Judd Apatow, Rock Band and backlash
Weekly Webcomic Wrapup has gone fishing

News
Reminder: Rez HD is a trip
HD porn studio swayed to Blu-ray by PS3 owners
Patapon trailer delights some, terrorizes rest
NYTimes names Mass Effect game of the year
Rockstar distributing through IGN's Direct2Drive
Sessler speaks about X-Play format shift
'Safer Scotland' places anti-drunk driving ads in 360 games
New games this week: Santa hates you edition
Criterion (cockily) responds to Burnout Paradise criticisms
Blades of Steel, Donkey Kong Country 3 and Rolling Thunder 2 land on Virtual Console
SCEA trademarks 'Resistance 2'
Nintendo, Monster Hunter score big in part one of Famitsu's end of year list
Rock Band Weekly: All-American Rejects, 30 Seconds to Mars, The Sounds; PS3 delayed a week
Crytek gives community Crysis map pack for Christmas
Smallville's Kristin Kreuk to play Chun Li in new Street Fighter flick
Lost Planet star signed to G.I. Joe film
Steam's last-minute Christmas sale: 10-50% off everything

Rumors & Speculation
Rumor: Indian gaming company to buy out Sony Online Entertainment for $300 million [update]

Culture & Community
Happy (Holiday Name Here) from Aperture Science
Team Roomba perfects the art of Team Fortress 2 griefing
Get your head in the game with Wii remote VR display

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>dailyrecapfalloutfallout-3pip-boyvault-boyRoss Miller2007-12-24T23:59:00+00:00Fallout 3 Create a Perk contest winner selected, 'Grim Reaper's Sprint'http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/20/fallout-3-create-a-perk-contest-winner-selected-grim-reapers/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/20/fallout-3-create-a-perk-contest-winner-selected-grim-reapers/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/20/fallout-3-create-a-perk-contest-winner-selected-grim-reapers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

"Every time you kill an opponent, all your action points are automatically restored." So goes the description for the perk "Grim Reaper's Sprint," winner of Bethesda's Fallout 3 Create a Perk contest. The designer, Marc-André Deslongchamps of Montreal, will see his perk included in the final game as well as receive a package of PC-related prizes.

The contest, announced in early October, was in honor of Fallout's 10th anniversary. Eleven runner-ups and five random entries were chosen to also receive gifts; be sure to check out their submitted perks at the contest page. We're hoping to see some of these other perks, especially Kleptomaniac, find their way into Fallout 3 in some facet.

Now that we know one of the perks, anyone want to place bets on what the others will be?

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>bethesdacontestfalloutfallout-3perkspip-boypipboyRoss Miller2007-11-20T16:55:00+00:00Today in Joystiq: November 13, 2007http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/13/today-in-joystiq-november-13-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/13/today-in-joystiq-november-13-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/13/today-in-joystiq-november-13-2007/#commentsFiled under:

We don't know what makes us jealous of Bethesda developer Ashley Cheng more: that he procured a copy of Mass Effect early (thanks to Kmart) or that he drinks Nuka Cola (of Fallout 3 fame). Check out the highlights for today:

Joystiquery
Metareview: Crysis (PC)
Metareview: Assassin's Creed (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
Readers pick best webcomic: The Littlest Hashshashin

News
Fall Xbox 360 dashboard update revealed: download Halo December 2
See the first trailer for Lego Batman
Brash to make game based on Jumper
Watch NiGHTS transform into a fish, rocket in new trailer
PS3 DivX support announced
South Park's Timmy, Freezepop in Rock Band
Alone in the Dark confirmed for Wii, PS2
The Office game is better than you'd think
Tim Schafer would 'love' to make an XBLA game
MS confirms downloadable Xbox games, free Carcassonne for Live anniv.
NBC's 'Life' investigates Prince of Persia
Some LEGO Batman details to whet your appetite for vengeance
Fable 2, Alan Wake not cancelled either
Wii Photo Channel gets better, worse in December
Mario more recognizable in Canada than Prime Minister
Supreme Commander confirmed for Xbox 360
Haze on track for December release
Geometry Wars: Galaxies delayed to 2008 in Europe
Gametap's 'Re\Visioned' animated series concludes first season

Culture & Community
Study shows that parents avoid playing video games with their kids
Midnight launch for Rock Band keeps Best Buys open late
Zero Punctuation guy makes games too

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>bethesdabiowaredailyrecapfalloutfallout-3fallout3mass-effectmasseffectRoss Miller2007-11-13T23:59:00+00:00Design a Fallout 3 perk, win notoriety and gaming gearhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/03/design-a-fallout-3-perk-win-notoriety-and-gaming-gear/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/03/design-a-fallout-3-perk-win-notoriety-and-gaming-gear/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/03/design-a-fallout-3-perk-win-notoriety-and-gaming-gear/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In celebration of Fallout's 10th anniversary, new IP owner Bethesda Softworks have opened a contest for the aspiring Vault Dweller to design their own perk to be included in the upcoming Fallout 3. The winner will also receive a bunch of gear for either PC or Console gamers (there are separate packages for each, listed on the contest page).

You don't have to possess artistic talent to enter, opting instead to use one of Bethesda's 15 pre-made sketches. However, if you want to submit your own art work, photo or whatever, you're more than welcome to. Contest ends 11:59 p.m. ET on October 31.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>bethesdafalloutfallout-3fallout3Ross Miller2007-10-03T06:15:00+00:00