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Fallout 3 Launches Amidst Controversy

Earlier this week, Bethesda released Fallout 3 after a long campaign of defending and protecting the game's reputation from claims that it contained inappropriate content. Ads for the game in Washington DC's subway system were pulled after they upset some touchy travelers over the depiction of post-apocalyptic Washington landmarks. Shortly before the game's release, early trailers were removed as well. Earlier this year, the game was banned in Australia for its in-game use of morphine, causing the drug's name to be changed to Med-X. On the issue of sensitive content, Bethesda's Emil Pagliarulo wrote in Edge Magazine about the design decision to disallow the killing of children in the game. Gamasutra ran an opinion piece on the same subject, and the Washington Post discusses the role of Washington DC in Fallout 3. On the DRM front, the game does come with SecuROM, but Bethesda says it's only used for a disc check. Reviews for the game have been overwhelmingly positive so far, despite reports of bugs with the save system and occasional lock-ups.

2 of 397 comments (clear)

  1. From OS to game, the Developers don't care by wolfponddelta · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Since this was marked as Troll, I'll clarify. It really wasn't meant to troll, but was rather a commentary on what users have come to expect from computers.

    The majority of computer users are used to bugs and problems with software and hardware. They've come to expect it, as OS after OS is rolled out with major flaws and issues. And yet users still pay for this. They just assume the bugginess and crashes are the norm in the computer world, and developers rarely seem to provide them with any different viewpoint.

    When the OS they're using is shipped with known bugs and security holes, and the develper acts as though it's a customer service to fix their own flaws in patches. it becomes the norm. Other developers, of all types of products, follow suit. Unless users stop buying such products, or pressing the market for release dates before a product is ready, then it will continue. This is standard form, not an exception. in any type of software.

    It's up to the consumer to demand better, to not pay for the privilege of being a beta tester on release. If a company can't develop a decent product, then don't buy it.

  2. Re:SecuROM? Fail. by mmxsaro · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Shut the fuck up and get the Steam version you crybaby.