Fallout 3

[Asher]

I'll play whichever version comes out first and is the superior version.

[Felch]

There'll be XBL exclusives, right?

[Asher]

XBL and PC exclusive DLC, I think.

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by Asher
I'll play whichever version comes out first and is the superior version.

QFT.

[Nostromo]

Will it be as moddable as the TES games? If so, the PC version is the way to go. Normally, I don't give a **** about mods, but when it comes to Bethesda, a developer who's known for making stupid game design decisions, it can be useful.

[Solver]

The engine is the same as Oblivion, so I would guess that Bethesda are using similar tools as they previously have, given that much of the team is also the same. So chances are that modding ability will be comparable to Oblivion.

[Nostromo]

Here's an official answer.

9) Will the PC version of the game include some sort of SDK or level editor like Elder Scrolls games have? If not, might one become available via download in the future? And how about the console versions, what have you done to give them the same options PC players have?

It will definitely not be included on the disk. If and when one is available, it will be a free download. I wish I could promise that an editor will be coming and when, but I can't. Our focus is first and foremost the game, and it's a major undertaking getting an editor ready for release, and making sure the game plays nice with the data users create. That being said, we'd love to see it happen. We're really proud of our tools and what the community has created for Morrowind and Oblivion, it's really awesome stuff. It's one of those things that even if only a thousand people use it, they create enough great stuff that keeps the larger audience interested and going. I always found it a great "pure" RPG experience, creating your own stuff and sharing it, like a good DM. I still have "Stuart Smith's Adventure Construction Set" for the Apple 2 on my shelf. I have no doubt that Fallout would benefit from such a thing as well, so we'll see what happens, it's not something we can just throw out there.

As far as consoles go, that's not happening for this game and user content. It's something we keep talking about with Microsoft and Sony, but there are a lot of barriers there right now, from delivery to security. We'd love to see that happen. I'd love to see Oblivion content created by PC users available to all platforms, because the data is the same, most of them would pretty much "work" right away.

Summary: "maybe, we don't know yet."

[Solver]

They're playing it wisely by covering their asses just in case... if I recall correctly, the editors for Morrowind and Oblivion also got released separately later. The chances are probably good they'll also release it for Fallout.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Yep... also its interesting that they've been talking to MS and Sony about using the mods created on the PC to the XBox360 and PS3 versions of the game.

[El_Cid]

I wonder if we will ever see a Fallout 3 mod for morrowind?
It could potentially be better than the original game! bar the graphics of course

[DrSpike]

Unlikely, because the only people that would benefit are odd people who secretly want to play modern games but make up excuses as to why they dont.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Alinestra Covelia
What's more surprising is that it's happening in Australia, which I thought had a stronger tradition of personal freedoms free from gov't control.

Although it is also generally more conservative than the UK so that may swing the other way.

Even in the US, home of teh eevil Christian fundamentalist fascists who have taken all our freedoms, NO games are banned from sale. None. There ARE games rated AO - adults only - which the big retail chains like Walmart refuse to carry - but if YOU want to open a store and sell them, theres no law to stop you. And of course, this being puritan America, games are rated AO only for sex, never for violence or gore - an M rating which very violent or gorey games get just means retailers cants sell to under 17's.

And the ratings themselves are assigned by the ESRB, a private entity. Though its understood that if M or AO type games began to be sold widely to minors, thered be major pressure for govt action.

(note, there have here and there been instances of individual states trying to ban specific games, IIUC, but AFAIK those acts were always struck down in the courts)

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by DrSpike
Unlikely, because the only people that would benefit are odd people who secretly want to play modern games but make up excuses as to why they dont.

[Adagio]

http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/896/896095p1.html

Fallout might still get released in Australia:

The reason Fallout 3 was banned was because it contained references to real drugs like morphine. It is likely that all Bethesda has had to do is rename the drugs as fictional substances to allow it to be successfully classified for sale.

[Imran Siddiqui]

As long as they call it, say, M, its ok? That's funny.