Fallout 3 due fall 2008

[UPDATE] Teaser trailer reveals release date of Bethesda's much-anticipated postapocalyptic RPG, hints at Ron Perlman return; hi-def version inside.

Fallout 3

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After weeks of taunting gamers with concept art, Bethesda Softworks has released the first teaser trailer for Fallout 3. Although brief and cryptic, the two-minute-plus trailer does answer some questions about the much-anticipated title--and might allay many fears of fans from the series.

First and foremost, the trailer dates Fallout 3. Though it did not reveal any platforms, Bethesda now plans on releasing the "next-generation" role-playing game in fall 2008. Bethesda's most recent RPG, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, was originally scheduled for a fall 2005 release, but was delayed until spring 2006. It debuted on the PC and Xbox 360, but was eventually ported to the PlayStation 3 as well. [UPDATE] The game has now been confirmed for all three platforms.

Secondly, the trailer indicates that Fallout 3's designers are attempting to stay true to the spirit of the acclaimed first two fallout games. The original Fallout (1997) began with a retro "Indian head" television test pattern. It then showed an ironic 1950s-esque newsreel of power-suited soldiers happily executing prisoners to the tune of "Maybe" by 1940s crooners The Ink Spots. The camera pulled back to reveal the TV was inside a burnt-out house in the postnuclear ruins of a bombed-out city before fading to the "Fallout" title screen. Then, narrator Ron Perlman (Hellboy) spoke the line, "War. War never changes."

Fallout 3

At last!

After the same test pattern, Fallout 3's trailer begins with a 1950s-style radio warming up and then playing the Ink Spots' "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire"--which was reportedly supposed to be the original Fallout's theme. It then pulls back to show the interior of what looks like an Eisenhower-era bus containing various quaint personal effects. As the camera retreats further, it shows the bus is merely a shell, stacked atop a heap of twisted rubble in another ruined city. A power-armored soldier enters the frame and turns toward the camera. The trailer then cuts to the Fallout 3 title card as a voice-over again says, "War. War never changes." Speaking to GameSpot, Bethesda's Pete Hines confirmed that the voice speaking the now-iconic line is indeed Ron Perlman. However, he declined to say anything further about the actor's involvement in the game.

Oh, there will be vaults...

Thirdly, the trailer contains many clues about what the actual game Fallout 3 will look like. Primarily, Hines confirmed the trailer is entirely in-engine, meaning that when players finally step into the postapocalyptic RPG, it will look much the same. Also hidden in the trailer is a recruiting poster for the same war that preceded previous Fallouts, as well as an ad for bunker maker Vault-Tec promising "A brighter future--underground!" A billboard for a car similar to that in Fallout 2 can be seen on a burned-out building outside the bus, and the radio bears a label saying "Radiation King"--a brand name from the original games. Finally, the soldier's power armor clearly bears a Brotherhood of Steel logo--meaning the chivalrous order will be back in the sequel--and its helmet design is almost identical to that on the box of the original game.

GameSpot will have more details on Fallout 3 as they emerge.

333 Comments

  • Matias1_G

    Posted Jan 19, 2008 2:53 pm PT

    I've been a long time fan of the Fallout series... and I know that Fallout 3 will let me down. It just won't have that same crude and vile humor that was so essential to the decaying society of the first two games. I think it will be more like Tactics, a game based on the series but drastically different in terms of gameplay and enjoyability.

  • RockaWuzHur

    Posted Oct 4, 2007 6:03 am PT

    This game is going to be truly one of the greatest games in modern history. Its innovative and its different. Its not some sissy turn based RPG. Its all action baby yeah!!

  • Demon9Tom

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 2:38 am PT

    Can't wait for this game

  • theshield2004

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 1:41 pm PT

    dudes who are B.I.T.C.H.N about long the wait is...you cant rush art. and i would hope it takes them as long as they needed, so they get it right. you rush a game, and then the results will show. i think they should take their time since, its been awhile since fallout tactics, so they have alot to live up to. either way, i know this will live up to, and hopefully preceed the previous games. and dnommyarr, if the world ends up like the fallout games, at least we will have an idea of how to survive.

  • dnommyarr

    Posted Jul 5, 2007 7:05 pm PT

    too bad by 2008 the world will be like that anyway and there will be no real need for a game. still can't wait!

  • Full-Throttle

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 10:06 am PT

    Can't wait, even though it's a long way off.

  • unitled

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 1:46 am PT

    Humorguy_basic, how is this article 'using up space' that could be given to an editorial? This isn't a magazine. The space for articles is pretty much limitless.

    Also, people are talking about it now because Fallout was/is an amazing game, and they are understandably excited about a sequel; they've been waiting a decade to get a worthy successor.

    Finally, if there are only a half dozen AAA PC titles, what is there on consoles? Are you saying there's a similar selection of amazing games coming out on PS3/360?

  • kurt1234

    Posted Jun 12, 2007 11:20 am PT

    Not this fall but next fall. Thats a long time, and it probabley will get delayed.

  • DonutTrooper

    Posted Jun 12, 2007 3:47 am PT

    Game looks pretty good, but it took me a while before I knew what it was. Nice going on the hype machine, guys.

  • Humorguy_basic

    Posted Jun 11, 2007 3:09 pm PT

    It's Fall 2008 guys, maybe Spring 2009 on PC............So please move on to nearer things that actually MAY happen in PC gaming?! Or is this being talked about because nothing IS happening at the moment in PC gaming?! If so - how well does that bode for long-term PC gaming and games like Fallout 3 being released on that format?!

    I despair of all the heads in the sand when it comes to PC gaming....!

  • zaphod_b

    Posted Jun 11, 2007 1:04 pm PT

    Hmm, think I may need to pickup Fallout 1&2 from the Best Buy bargain bin.

  • jknight5422

    Posted Jun 11, 2007 12:55 pm PT

    I hope it has an NPC interactive interface similar to Mass Effect or NWN2 at least.

  • Orthrand

    Posted Jun 11, 2007 8:42 am PT

    Its almost definately going to be on all three formats. In terms of atmosphere I think Bethesda are going to to be okay. I dont really care about Isometric turn based vs real time vs first person.

    What does however matter is the leveling and loot schemes, (yeah id like to visit Solstheim in Morrowind but I can accept that i cant because my character isnt high enough level)

    It was always a special experience to finally get the power armor in the other 2 games, if it starts appearing on every bandit post level 30 or whatever ill eat the disk.

  • BlackLabel677

    Posted Jun 11, 2007 7:13 am PT

    that TEASER...wasnt disappointing...game doesnt come out for over a year...they wont have a trailer ready...the only purpose a teaser has is to show that they are actively developing and the tentative release date...and the power armor looks pretty sick...isometric, first person, third person...who cares...as long as it retains its humor, vast arsenal and quests, and general atmosphere..id like to see a revolutionary fallout 3...not a fallout 2 expansion pack

    the only real qualm i have is that bethesda seemed to produce oblivion for 360 and then release it on both (judging by the UI)...and since this game will be on both 360 and ps3...i hope they dont make that mistake and keep in mind that fallout 1 and 2...the only true fallout games...started AND ended on the PC...even the daily poll on gamespot shows that almost half of the people dont even know what fallout is

  • marheikk

    Posted Jun 11, 2007 6:24 am PT

    That trailer was disappointing.

  • Poodlejumper

    Posted Jun 11, 2007 5:53 am PT

    As long as they stick to isometric and don't try and make it like ES Oblivion (First-person), I'll keep optimistic.

  • Aliensexist66

    Posted Jun 11, 2007 12:19 am PT

    I liked the Trailer, kinda cool and nice!
    I hope Bethesda doesn't screw up the game format

  • combat1818

    Posted Jun 10, 2007 12:04 pm PT

    good god not another boring and overly long rambling from Humorguy_basic whom seems to have nothing better to do than research PAST trends BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORING

  • twiztiid

    Posted Jun 10, 2007 10:14 am PT

    After reading the comments I see many never did read the article since they are saying the trailer tells them nothing about the game. So I will make it easier for those that make uninformed comments.

    "the trailer is entirely in-engine, meaning that when players finally step into the postapocalyptic RPG, it will look much the same."

  • keymaster7

    Posted Jun 10, 2007 9:00 am PT

    i think this games graphics will be like crysis engine, this game must be a DX10 game, since its coming out Q4 2008 by that time most games will be DX10.

  • Humorguy_basic

    Posted Jun 10, 2007 6:05 am PT

    Combat11818 - First Vista - it's well known Vista sales are not doing well and new home PC sales are way down. It will be at least a year before even half of PC gamers have a Vista PC and Crysis is due out this fall. So I repeat, I do not think Crysis will sell as many copies as Far Cry, and based on Bethesda's track history I doubt that Fallout 3 will match the sales of Fallout. Just like Oblivion did not sell as many copies as Morrowind. The trends are constant and cannot be ignored!

    And hey, your comments about the future are as valid as mine, but so interesting your use of Far Cry, EVE, Fallout, Neverwinter Nights, Deus Ex, Castle Wolfenstein, Medal of Honour, Baldur's Gate and Max Payne. Because let's face it, these are all games from pre 2004. Says so much for the last couple of years, which is exactly my point! Talk about the last 2 years and you hear Half Life 2 and Oblivion over and over again. There has never been a time before now that we have seen so few quality AAA titles on PC that the same games are trotted out over and over again to prove the current 'success' of PC gaming. Go back 10 years and this didn't happen - there were just too many great games released every year!

    So 2 years is too far away. Is there so little going on in PC gaming now that we have to have these articles and 'trailers' so far ahead of a release date? Especially when there is so little information given out? So I still say the space could be better spent. Very sorry to disagree with you.

  • kok_warlock

    Posted Jun 10, 2007 5:21 am PT

    Yes, it looks quite good, I jjust hope they stay true to the original, at least in essence., I'm a bit worried about they using the same engine of Oblivion, even tho I enjoy it, it's a different type of rpg.

  • craver5

    Posted Jun 9, 2007 9:55 pm PT

    u should try this game...huhuhu

  • combat1818

    Posted Jun 9, 2007 7:50 pm PT

    vista taken up by the masses CHRIST MAN ITS ONLY BIN OUT 4 MONTHS your views are total poo poo to me as i am at a stage in life where i can comfortably purchase the hardware to play titles as and when needed,and if you consider £425 +£40 to £50 a game cheap for a gaming console then you must be living on another planet,oh yeah and like far cry wasnt a huge hit WOW isnt a huge hit?-EVE isnt that a huge hit?-the sims-fallout-neverwinter nights--fear-castle wolfenstein-deus ex--medal of honour-rtw--FALLOUT 1&2--baldurs gate-max payne list could go on and on and on and will continue to do so for many mant years, oh yeah and pc gaming bin around a bit longer than console gaming ,the real reason for the decline of sales over the last 2 years is consoles finaly caught up with pc,but now dx10 has arrived the pcs sales will pick up again--vista replaces xp replaces 98/me replaces 95 replaces dos blah blah blah.i myself only installed xp about 4 years ago---i just think your jealous coz youve only got a ps3/360/wii/dx9gpu and now feel insecure as vista has arrived and you cant afford the upgrade which technicaly means you are old gen and will have to play some games that are second fiddle to the pc version and if like you say youve bin a pc gamer for 20+years and now play consoles you have taken a step backwards my friend and just one more thing i worked for an independant games retailer for 7 years and NEVER have pc games outsold consoles THEY AINT EVEN IN COMPETITION WITH EM --anyway sod this fallout game its coming to console so its gonna be dumned down and rubbish just like your pointless and overly long ramblings on here--GOODBYE

  • Humorguy_basic

    Posted Jun 9, 2007 6:59 pm PT

    Combat1818 - not Crysis AGAIN! isn't it about time people saw the wood for the trees?! On the one hand the forums are buzzing with happinmess about Vista not being taken up by the masses. Home PC sales in the UK and Norht Amwerica are down over 30% in 2 years and you think a game that will need a PC most people haven't got and needing an OS that most people don't have the hardware to run and don't even want it are going to make Crysis anything other than a moderate hit? MArk my words, it will end up being bundled with DX10 cards and Alien PC's in order to get rid of copies!

    Just like with Half Life 2 over Half Life and Doom 3 over Doom, due to hardware demands none of the later games have matched the unit sales of the forebearers! Finally, we don't even know the hardware demands of this title, and given Bethesda's ability to produce bloated buggy engines (The whole TES series) that require ridiculous levels of hardware for just a little improvement in graphics and yet dumber, more simpler coding with each version, who's to say how much this will be dumbed down versus Oblivion and what hardware demands it will have!

    Let's talk about the 6 or 7 measly AAA titles PC will get this year, even if they are Alan Wake and Bioshock, etc. You think half a dozen 75-85% AAA titles a year is going to have the PC competing with the consoles? And why would I spend £500/$800 upgrading my games PC for a piddling 6 or 7 titles, of which I may want 2 or 3? When for the same or less money I can get a console and have dozens of AAA titles to choose from covering a much wider range of genres?!

    I say all this as a 20 year+ PC gamer. The PC games market is a mess, and we're busy talking about a game due in 2008/9 and where all we have seen is non in-game movie trailer that hardly tells us anything about the final product! Let's face it, if PC gaming doesn't pick up in the next year or so this game could easily go the way of Bioshock and others. Released first on the consoles, where the profits currently are - and then, maybe, on the PC, depending on how strong the market is.

    Console games regularly sell in the millions. On PC we have the Sims and online WoW. That's pretty much it. Says a lot for the 'depth' of PC gaming- so talking about this game now is just ridiculous. It's a waste of space that could be given over to much more important editorial, in my opinion!

  • pettos91

    Posted Jun 9, 2007 3:21 pm PT

    ere we go, ere we go, ere we go!

  • bodylotion

    Posted Jun 9, 2007 9:34 am PT

    About the poll: I really could pick 3 choices of the 4. Ofcourse i know Fallout so option 4 wouldn't be the one to pick but choices 1-3 are all right to me.

    1: Not really a lot there. Looks like I get to wait 'til '08. : Whoever says there's a lot to see is just lying and we all have to wait to '08.

    2: That's Oblivion with power armor and guns, all right. : You could say it looks like that. 3: Boo! I want an isometric turn-based RPG from the 1990s, not this newfangled graphics stuff! : I Also want this so i have picked this one.

  • combat1818

    Posted Jun 9, 2007 7:30 am PT

    Humorguy_basic ------but yet pc's still the place to go for cutting edge games CRYSIS--BIOHAZARD-ALAN WAKE-and nearly all the decent and half decent ones will be released on pc aswell--and also are every PS3/360/WII game releases getting 75-99.9% dont think so

  • Humorguy_basic

    Posted Jun 9, 2007 6:47 am PT

    The PC gaming market is Sooooo stable at the moment and PC game sales are sky high, and there have never been more fantastic PC games released in such a long time that people are flocking to PC gaming, so all we have to think about is a fall 2008/spring 2009 game?!

    How ridiculous!

    We have a PC games market that is currently having the fewest number of PC game releases, sales are down 50% in 3 years and looking at Gamespots review scores, PC games are averaging a 54% review score so far this year!

    Fall 2008/Spring 2009 is such a long way a way, the whole PC games market will have to turn around long before this game ever smells a specific release date! Let's talk about that problem we have NOW, rather than editorilize on a non game graphic trailer talking about a game due in 2 years!

  • Dr_Thunder

    Posted Jun 9, 2007 2:00 am PT

    Only concern is the toning down of graphics for multi-platforms, and interface like other games. Some PC games should stay strictly PC.

  • Tashanvaliant

    Posted Jun 8, 2007 8:24 pm PT

    I've clocked 30 or more playthroughs on both Fallouts and I'm hoping that Bethesda will produce a game that will make me want to do just that. I have high hopes and full faith in them after that trailer. Hopefully they don't throw what they have down the drain.

  • Furo

    Posted Jun 8, 2007 8:09 pm PT

    It's just a trailer. It doesn't show anything about how the game will be but if Bethesda is making this game, I'm harsh playing it. I'm sure Bethesda can bring back all of Fallout's glory.

  • Rizer

    Posted Jun 8, 2007 7:59 pm PT

    Awsome intro! It matches the mood of the previous intros too! I can't wait to see a clip of the gameplay!

  • cliff122316

    Posted Jun 8, 2007 4:56 pm PT

    i dont see what all of your problem is with oblivion. i thought elder scrolls IV oblivion was a great game and many people agreed. It is a new era of gaming today. Publishers are not going to sell creating turn based RPG's. so while these games used to be great you cant realistically expect to see the big studios put serious time and effort into making them. Todays high graphics gaming world requires a different type of game play. get used to it.

  • hilanderhilande

    Posted Jun 8, 2007 6:37 am PT

    A trailer like this doesn't say anything to me.

  • _KwispY

    Posted Jun 8, 2007 6:32 am PT

    meh

  • Scott_the_Snow

    Posted Jun 8, 2007 6:12 am PT

    I hope that bethesba dosent reskin Oblivion, with the Fallout mythology. Sometimes this can be done as in the case with Warcraft adding space ships and guns giving us Star Craft. Fallout is a far different series, its pace and material is very different. This is a Mature title aimed at an older audience than Oblivion, but Fallout was very mature (prostitution, slavery, drug use, and Super Mutants interested in your naughty bits). I expect some level of S.P.E.C.I.A.L. (the combat model from Fallout) to survive, this system is radically different from the TES series. Fallout 3 may be the R rated game that 30+ gamers have been waiting for.

    Fallout and Fallout 2 both still work on XP, (dont know about Visa). I suggest giving them a try.

  • ocdog45

    Posted Jun 7, 2007 11:33 pm PT

    why have a trailer so soon for it then

  • DrZDO

    Posted Jun 7, 2007 9:00 pm PT

    Fallout's just about the best game ever (TIE Fighter?), Fallout 2 is great, but I'm sure Fallout 3 will be a painful letdown, even though the reviews will be great. Just as it was with Oblivion.

  • LaStOfThE

    Posted Jun 7, 2007 4:03 pm PT

    I'm drooling intensely....Best game in the worls makes a comeback!

  • StefanAngelus

    Posted Jun 7, 2007 11:15 am PT

    I was hoping to have F3 now on my computer but I see I need to wait......(At this rate: forever).
    Anyway, If Bethesda do the right work and the don`t kil what made fallout series so enjoyable for me. It will be worth to wait until next year. If not, I`ll continue playing F2, F1 and FTactics B.O.S. They`re excellent. I pray and wait.

  • Exostenza

    Posted Jun 7, 2007 11:12 am PT

    AnnoyedDragon: Completely agreed @ everything you said. Too bad Bethseda has to go and mess with good things. I hate how all the games these days have to be dumbed down for console players to be able to play. Ruins the games for the computer. Oh well.

  • AnnoyedDragon

    Posted Jun 7, 2007 9:20 am PT

    Bethesda has run out of ideas to rape their own classic for money so they will rape other classics instead.

    They are going to turn Fallout into a multi platform action RPG I swear, slowly destroying classics is what Bethesda does. Just wait for the "oooh, ahhh" eye candy screenshot teasers and scripted videos they try to pass off as gameplay, expect this game to baby the player around tough choices as well.

    *looks at the system support list*

    Oh god not another bloated multi platform interface, I have no faith in Fallout 3 whatsoever.

  • stalkerphil

    Posted Jun 7, 2007 8:16 am PT

    Only S.T.A.L.K.E.R. good enough!!!

  • El_Shabang

    Posted Jun 7, 2007 7:59 am PT

    To Built

    Why? I don't see why it's disappointing - I think you should give it a chance, far as I can see they've given the fans what they want ... including the referances to the past games :S

  • Built

    Posted Jun 7, 2007 7:42 am PT

    dissapointing...

  • _Pedro_

    Posted Jun 7, 2007 7:26 am PT

    Please dear god, Don't consolize this game!! If that is the case I will burn down Bethesada HQ for destroying two of the greatest pc rpg series. Fallout and Elder Scrolls.

  • Xzylvador

    Posted Jun 7, 2007 4:43 am PT

    Goosebumps, everywhere... Must... Have... this... Too bad it can't ever reach 1/10000000000th of the original is it's gonna be a game built to port Plz bethesda, dimme the original fallout 1/2 feeling back, thety were probably the best games ever made, no other RPG ever gave the feeling FO did.

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Jun 7, 2007 2:48 am PT

    I have to play the original Fallout yet!

  • Azghouls

    Posted Jun 7, 2007 1:38 am PT

    You gotta love the teddy bear - man that bear moves around!

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