Thoughts 28 Oct 2008 02:05 pm
Fallout 3
Bethesda released Fallout 3 at midnight at 2000 locations.
Just before the release they pulled all trailers for the game.
According to Bethesda pulling the trailers was done to comply with ESRB regulations.
From Guidelines: Violence
* Graphic and/or excessive depictions of violence
* Graphic and/or violent depictions of the use of weapons
* Graphic and/or excessive depictions of blood and/or gore
* Allusions or depictions of acts of verbal or physical abuse toward children
* Allusions or depictions of violent or degrading behavior toward women
* Allusions or depictions of torture or other violent acts toward animals
* Allusions or depictions of torture, mutilation or sadism
* Violence toward a political or public figure
* Allusions or depictions of acts of arson or fire play
Yeah I can see the problem. But they don’t let you set kids on fire any more. Doesn’t that count for something?
You notice they kept the trailers until the last minute and then pulled every last one of them in what looks to me to be a publicity stunt.
I suppose if you had something like $60 million invested in a game you’d do whatever you could to get that ol’ ROI.
After talking to a friend on the subject of Oblivion he came up with an accurate description of what Bethesda’s main problem is. Every quest is developed in isolation and then spliced in to the main game.
There are no alternative solutions so the main NPCs have to be immortal in order for any of it to play out to it’s neatly ordered solution.
The list of problems goes on. I was impressed by the graphics and unimpressed by identical dungeons, leveled loot and the same voice actors playing opposite each other while discussing mud crabs.
I wouldn’t say that the ongoing discussion of mud crabs and goblins annoyed me, but did you know that it’s impossible to kill everyone in the Imperial City?
Because I expect Fallout 3 to be a pretty but unimaginative replay of Oblivion, until I hear something different from someone whose expectations are similar to my own, I’ve decided Bethesda can get richer without my help.