"You so much as breathe, and I'm gonna fuckin' end ya."

The words may as well have been coming directly from Bethesda. It felt like the company was challenging me, daring me to write anything negative about their new sequel to Black Isle's classic RPG series. I was very skeptical of whether the company could match the tone and content of the original titles. As good as Bethesda is, the bar was set very high ten years ago.

But based on what I just played--and I had free reign to explore the world at whim--I came away feeling good about the game. Fallout 3 is not Fallout 2.5, and that can be a little disappointing at first, no matter how irrational a feeling that is.

But Fallout 3 is undoubtedly shaping up to be a solid game in its own right, and one that clearly takes many significant cues from the previous titles--from the opening scene, to the wonderfully realized PIPBoy menu. Oblivion: Fallout 3 this is not... Read more

Bethesda sends along new Fallout 3 screenshots, to go along with the trailer they released yesterday. Don't forget to check out the walkthrough on Shackvideo too.

Bethesda sends along the E3 2008 trailer for Fallout 3, their action role-playing game in development for PC, PS3 and X360. The video offers gameplay footage starting at about the two minute mark. During Microsoft's E3 press conference today, Bethesda announced plans for DLC on PC and Xbox 360.

Bethesda game director Todd Howard just announced that "substantial" Fallout 3 downloadable content will be released exclusively on Xbox 360 and PC.

Due for release this fall, Fallout 3 will hit PS3 in addition to Xbox 360 and PC.

No further details of the DLC were mentioned.

Bethesda demonstrated Fallout 3 during the Microsoft press conference at E3. Bethesda game director Todd Howard took us through a short gameplay session.

The demonstration began with the Vault character leaving Vault 101. He first ran into an iBot, broadcasting patriotic music.

He then showed how radios can be used to pick up transmissions from different factions, such as the Enclave. Highlights:

• A perk for enemies to die in "ridiculously violent ways."
• Raider gets afraid and runs off after getting hit with the laser rifle. "Screw this!"
• You can ride an elevator to the top of the Washington Monument.
• Showing off Fat Man, mini-nuke launcher that just too out three guys with a few little mushroom clouds.

In-game drug use was the reason behind the OFLC's refusal to rate Fallout 3 (PC, PS3, 360) in Australia, a move that essentially banned the game from sale.

Going by documents acquired by Australian Gamer, the OFLC took issue with the title's "visual representations of drugs and their delivery method [which] bring the 'science-fiction' drugs in line with 'real-world' drugs."

Bethesda's post-apocalyptic role-playing effort has players using drugs, referred to as "chems," in order to augment their character's abilities, such as health, stamina and intelligence. The OFLC further noted that Fallout 3's "strong violence" is well within the limits of a MA 15+ rating.

Like many other once-banned titles in Australia, such as Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3, 360) and Digital Extreme's Dark Sector (PS3, 360), an edited version of Fallout 3 that addressed the OFLC's grievances is expected to arrive in place of the uncensored original edition this fall.

Bethesda's upcoming post-apocalyptic RPG Fallout 3 (PC, PS3, 360) has been banned from sale in Australia following an RC rating from the Office of Film and Literature Classification, according to a Kotaku report.

Australian law stipulates that any games rated above MA 15+ cannot be sold or demonstrated, effectively banning Fallout 3 from sale in the country.

It is not yet clear which factors in Fallout 3 prompted the Refused Classification rating from the OLFC, a government agency which rates games and other forms of media similarly to the US-based Entertainment Software Ratings Board.

The Fallout series has regularly incorporated mature elements and themes such as prostitution, drug use, and violent imagery. No details were specified on the OLFC's listing for the game.

Many games slapped with similar ratings have been edited to remove the offending content and resubmitted for rating, such as Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3, 360) and Digital Extreme's Dark Sector (PS3, 360).

Developer Bethesda has released three new screenshots from its post-apocalyptic RPG Fallout 3, detailing the game's combat and skills as well as the Megaton Bar.

Over on the game's official forum, Bethesda employee Todd Howard revealed that the PC edition will not, as past Bethesda games, pack an editor to allow user-created mods.

"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," he explained. "It's a major undertaking getting an editor ready for release, and making sure the game plays... Read more

Developer Bethesda has unleashed a few new screenshots from its upcoming post-apocalyptic role-playing title, showcasing guns, books, and dogs.

Fallout 3 is slated to arrive on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this fall.

Updated: Responding to questions about the Fallout 3 Survival Edition's worldwide availability, Bethesda marketing VP Pete Hines told Shacknews that Amazon will likely not be able to ship the bundle to customers outside of the United States.

"It's ultimately up to Amazon and where they will ship to from Amazon.com vs. Amazon.de or whatever localized URL folks would use," Hines said.

Original Story: Publisher Bethesda Softworks and retailer Amazon.com today revealed the Survival Edition of Fallout 3, an Amazon.com exclusive.

Along with all the goodies of the previously announced Collector's Edition--which will be available at retailers worldwide--the Survival Edition contains a life-size Pip-Boy 3000.

The Survival Edition sells for $120 on the PC and $130 on PS3 and Xbox 360, mirroring the price structure of the Collector's Edition--$70 on PC, $80 for consoles--and the standalone game itself, which goes for $50 on PC and $60 on consoles.

Based on the wrist-mounted devices worn by characters in-game, the ... Read more

It looks like Albert is crippled. Who is Albert? Are you Albert? We'll find out when Bethesda's post-apocalyptic RPG arrives on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 this fall.

A piece of concept art of a decimated Washington, D.C. from Bethesda Softworks post-apocalyptic RPG Fallout 3 (PC, PS3, 360) has been circulated through a handful of news publications, reported as terrorist propaganda after an intelligence contractor said the image was used in al Qaeda-related videos.

The artwork (pictured left) was released as part of Bethesda's early promotional campaigns for Fallout 3, which takes place in and around the Washington, D.C. area decades after a nuclear catastrophe. The image appeared on the Daily Mail's website under the headline "Al-Qaeda's terrifying vision of a devastated America in the wake of a nuclear attack."

"This is the apocalyptic scene terrorists hope to create if they ever get their hands on a nuclear bomb... posted on an Islamic extremists' website ... Read more

Bethesda has just released a new batch of concept art from Fallout 3 (PC, PS3, X360), showing off some designs from the post-apocalyptic RPG due this fall.

Developer Bethesda today announced that Crysis composer Inon Zur will be taking on the duty of scoring the company's upcoming post-apocalyptic sequel Fallout 3 (PC, PS3, X360).

Zur is no stranger to video game scoring. In addition to Crysis, the Israeli composer has credits on projects such as Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal, Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones, and all three of the Warhammer 40,000 expansion packs.

Samples of Zur's Fallout 3 score were also released by Bethesda, available to stream on the company's website.

Following February's opening of a European publishing branch, Bethesda Softworks owner ZeniMax Media today announced the establishment of its Asian office.

Much like the company's publishing operations in North America and Europe, ZeniMax Asia K.K. will oversee the Asian production and distribution of Bethesda titles, such as Fallout 3 (PC, PS3, X360) and Star Trek: Conquest (PS2, Wii), under the Bethesda Softworks brand.

It will also publish Japanese editions of games from other developers, including the PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 versions of Rockstar's Bully and 2K Sports' Major League Baseball 2K8 on PS2, PS3, X360, and PSP.

Bethesda Softworks marketing VP Pete Hines revealed that no demo will be released for the studio's upcoming post-apocalyptic RPG Fallout 3, Eurogamer reports.

Hines said that a playable demo crafted around a portion of the game would prohibitively limit the experience, which is built around an open, explorable world.

"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 said. "And it doesn't really capture the fun of a game like an Elder Scrolls or a Fallout, where you can go where you want and do what you want. So no demo, sorry."

Fallout 3 is slated to hit retailers this fall. For more on the title, be sure to check out our hands-on preview.

Three new screenshots from Bethesda's Fallout 3 have made their way onto the internet, highlighting the festive atmosphere and zombie-slaughtering attitude of the post-apocalyptic RPG. Arriving in standard and bobble head-packing collector's editions this fall, Fallout 3 will hit PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. For more, check out our recent set of impressions.

Bethesda Softworks today confirmed reports of the Fallout 3 Collector's Edition (PC, PS3, X360), announcing the package for a worldwide release at multiple retailers.

The Collector's Edition was originally revealed last week when it appeared in a listing at game retailer GameStop's website. Packaged in a special Vault-Tech Lunch Box, the Collector's Edition includes a Vault Boy Bobblehead, a hardcover art book and a making-of DVD, along with the game itself.

Unlike the recently announced limited edition version of Kojima Productions' Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3), the Fallout 3 Collector's Edition will not be sold exclusively at GameStop.

While Bethesda's announcement did not include pricing information, GameStop's listing pinned the collector's edition at $79.99 on consoles and $69.99 on PC. The regular edition of the game is expected to sell for $20 less, making it $59.99 for consoles and $49.99 on PC.

Fallout 3 is aimed for a fall release.

Game retailer GameStop has pulled back the curtain on the Collector's Edition for Bethesda's post-apocalyptic action-RPG Fallout 3 (PC, PS3, X360).

Packaged in a special Vault-Tech Lunch Box, the Collector's Edition includes a Vault Boy Bobblehead, a hardcover art book and a making-of DVD, along with the game itself.

GameStop notes that the console iterations of the Collector's Edition will run $79.99, while the PC version clocks in at $69.99. The regular edition of the game is expected to sell for $20 less, making it $59.99 for consoles and $49.99 on PC.

Fallout 3 is slated to arrive this fall, with GameStop providing a tentative and wholly unconfirmed release date of October 7. For more on the title, check out our recent batch of impressions.

Bethesda today sent out a trio of new Fallout 3 screenshots to accompany its recent showing of the game.

Take a look at the images in a convenient gallery below, and be sure to give our full Fallout 3 preview a look, too.