The intro to 1, 2 and 3 clue you in, but they're all years separated from each other (3 and New Vegas are only a few years apart, but take place on opposite sides of the continent).

Basically, the world kind of split off to an alternate version of our world in the 1950's, where the tech promises of the future from the 50's came true and things like nuclear powered cars took off. In 2077, during a war between China and the US, nuclear bombs were launched covering the world and ending the war in 2 hours, starting the apocalypse and turning the world into a radioactive wasteland with a highly changed (mostly destroyed) eco system and weather.

Each game takes place after that, the first around 100 years after in California, the second takes place in 2241 in Nevada and California, Fallout 3 takes place in Maryland in 2277 (mostly Washington D.C and the surrounding areas), and New Vegas takes place in Vegas and the surrounding Nevada area (and a tiny bit of California).

The first one has you, a vault dweller, going out to find a water chip for your vault. The second has you looking for a GECK for your village as a descendant of the vault dweller. The third basically has you looking for your dad who left the vault (and is less stringent on your freedom). New Vegas has you shot in the head twice at the beginning and waking up in the middle of a looming war between two factions and trying to find the man who shot you (if you feel like it). They all take place in the same world and have the same concepts as well as copious references, but you don't really need to play one to play the other like you would with, say, Metal Gear Solid. Of course you can enjoy the references more.

Most games generally have you playing as an isolated member of the world (a vault dweller in 1 and 3, a villager from an isolated tribe in 2), though New Vegas actually gives your character a bit of a past in the wasteland and some minor history.

(Fallout) The Vault Dweller of Vault 13, walking off alone in the wasteland.

(Falllout 2) The Chosen One standing with his back to a Highwayman you can find and drive.

(Fallout 3) The Lone Wanderer, with Dogmeat.

(Fallout: New Vegas) The Courier, walking off into the Mojave.

[QUOTE="rben21232"]

[QUOTE="smerlus"][QUOTE="rben21232"]

good example of what not to do^

[/QUOTE] Are you high? If you want to know about games you shouldn't play them or read a large document written by one of the writers?[/QUOTE]

I'm simply saying that you don't need to play every game to learn what fallout is all about. The only fallout games I've played are 3 and New Vegas and I've browsed the fallout wiki a little bit, and I would say I'm pretty knowledgeable about the fallout universe. No need to make things overly complicated; the fallout universe isn't particularly hard to understand.

[/QUOTE]

So are you saying he shouldn't enjoy amazing games just because you didn't, and he shouldn't get involved into side plots and character relationships just because all you did was browse the story online? Because that's a good example of what not to do, especially if it means missing out on some great games that enrichen an understanding of the universe and its characters.

I mean, really?

That said, I love every Fallout game (except Brotherhood of Steel, which sucked big time) and I can't understand why there are so few people that feel that way. If they aren't telling people to skip the first ones and play the new ones, they're doing the opposite, or just hating on Fallout 3 or hating on New Vegas and loving the others. They're all fantastic titles, maybe some aren't for everyone (Fallout 2 got some hate for being too wacky compared to the first), but its a stellar series all around.

[QUOTE="rben21232"]

[QUOTE="SPYDER0416"]

[QUOTE="rben21232"]

I'm simply saying that you don't need to play every game to learn what fallout is all about. The only fallout games I've played are 3 and New Vegas and I've browsed the fallout wiki a little bit, and I would say I'm pretty knowledgeable about the fallout universe. No need to make things overly complicated; the fallout universe isn't particularly hard to understand.

[/QUOTE]

So are you saying he shouldn't enjoy amazing games just because you didn't, and he shouldn't get involved into side plots and character relationships just because all you did was browse the story online? Because that's a good example of what not to do, especially if it means missing out on some great games that enrichen an understanding of the universe and its characters.

I mean, really?

That said, I love every Fallout game (except Brotherhood of Steel, which sucked big time) and I can't understand why there are so few people that feel that way. If they aren't telling people to skip the first ones and play the new ones, they're doing the opposite, or just hating on Fallout 3 or hating on New Vegas and loving the others. They're all fantastic titles, maybe some aren't for everyone (Fallout 2 got some hate for being too wacky compared to the first), but its a stellar series all around.

[/QUOTE]

To each his own, I guess. I've tried playing the original game before, I didn't find it fun. Sorry.

[/QUOTE]

To be honest I kind of hated it at first, but the impressive world still kept me going and after I got the hang of it I was in love with the game and had a grasp on my abilities. The first two games are super buggy (I guess its a series curse), but they are very awesome and classic RPG's in design that are remembered for good reason, and they definitely have amazing writing and neat quests to undertake.