Oxcgn Review - Fallout 3: Operation Anchorage

From the review: "The DLC really opens up a mixed bag of feelings. Anything to add to this rich and complex world that has been created is a bonus for any Fallout fan however some may feel short-changed upon completion.

While it adds to the game, Operation: Anchorage is essentially a scenario simulation that sees your character making his way through Alaska assisting in liberating Anchorage which has been invaded by the Chinese Red Army. While this doesn't actually expand the map outwards it certainly stacks more content on what is already available."

[REALgamer]

Doesn't really affect me. I found Fallout 3 to be good, but got bored and moved onto other games. Can't really see this DLC bringing me back.

Fable 2 however... =)

[Superfragilistic]

I haven't had the time to sink my teeth into Fallout 3 proper...

But Fable 2 is amazing. I'm on my second playthrough and stuff is so different from my first... heck I still check in on my first character just to see the changes that've taken place since I've been gone. That whole "Animal Crossing" social/economic simultaion side has consumed me, even when I'm not there! lol

But only buy the Knothole DLC when you've finished the game, otherwise it might spoil the game's focus on choice and consequence. ;)

[XboxOZ360]

I've yet to buy the Main game, so the DLC will have to wait. But it all sounds great actually.

Sometimes I wonder whether many gamers actually put all the time into these titles. Especially if they say they played them, didn't like them and return them, within a few days - or less sometimes.

How can one give ANY game a decent play in such a short time. Games like this could occupy a gamer for - hell - a bloody long time.

I'm not sure if I agree with the score,but seeing that I've yet to play it, it'll have to wait until I do too pass judgment of course.

[REALgamer]

Played about 20 hours?

In the end I got sick of grey and brown. I loved Oblivion (Fallout 3 follows the same blueprint) and loved it, especially exploring with the varied landscapes and beautiful views.

I know Fallout 3 is post-nuclear, but I couldn't stay interested in grey and brown dead landscapes. If you've seen one destroyed mutant-infested building you've seen them all. =P

[miasma]

Everyones different, i have sort of the same issue as you yet different. Loved Oblivion, finished it, took me about 209 hours. the thing that i didn't like about oblivion was the dungeons/caves were almost all exactly the same. Where fallout 3, i felt the 'underground' areas differed enough to keep it fresh. i do agree about the grey brown thing but it didn't bother me too much.

But, Oblivion made me want to play it twice, i am currently playing a new character, but only casually. Whereas, Fallout 3 was a blast for me to play, I spent about 80 hrs on it, beat it, but i don't have much interest to go back to it with a new character. I dunno. but i love both games...

[XboxOZ360]

REALgamer,

wasn't having a go at you, I started writing that when I was the first to comment, you just finished before I posted hehehe.

My comment is aimed at those who do not give games their fair due, yet diss them wherever possible.

I suppose it's hard to have a post-nuclear war torn landscape and not have it devoid of colour. Ever walked through a war zone or fire ravaged town . . . there's no noises, no birds, no colour to speak of and it's errilly still.

Putting colour in there would be completely out of character and "unreal".

[gaminoz]

I'm still waiting for a block of time to play this game...have it sitting waiting. I loved Oblivion and the fact each city was so different in medieval style.

Those who loved the game will probably get the DLC but these days people seem to move on faster.

[Immortal Kaim]

The game is incredible. I only just started playing Fallout 3, and I'm completely lost in the scope and depth of the game. Looking forward to furthering my experience with the DLC. Awesome.

[Godem]

Ill just wait for the GOTY edition to come out, i'll buy that.

[XboxOZ360]

But there's 2 other lots of DLC to come in the not too distant future, so it's doubtful all those will be on any GOTY edition . . . If you wait a little while, the price will drop, but it's not that much now really, in the greater scheme of things.

I added up the cost in points what Ace Combat has cost me with extra planes, and packs, NOT including the online game modes which there are around 6 - 10 of btw. The $$ was huge, and when added to the original cost of the game, it popped it well above the $AU200 mark.

But . . . .it was worth it. All the planes could not have been put in the original game, the maps and modes could not have been made in time, and the slower introduction of the packs allowed the game to be played longer and more often than if it had all be placed in at the beginning.

One thing I'm NOT in favour of however is the need to have 25-40% of the achievements being only available for online play in one form or another. These should be the added 250 points on top of the 1000 points for a game, NOT 20-40% of the main game. There are many who simply do NOT want to play online.

These ppl are being penalized for that choice. Plus many of the packs will only play online, again, penalizing the single player. Almost as if they are trying to force gamers online.

[darkmurder]

I love this DLC but its way too short, bring on some more though Bethesda!

[XboxOZ360]

But what IS too short these days . . .really . .?

Most gamers, especially the "new-gamer" (those who've come into gaming on this generation and since 2005/6 or later 2007-9) don't even give a game any reasonable amount of time in the first place. So if a developer creates a main game with 50 hours, it will NEVER be played through, and a huge portion of its development $$ will have gone down the toilet.

Same goes with DLC . . . Sure, there ARE those who will give many games the time they do deserve, but by and large, they are in the minority. They are "usually" gamers that have grown up used to longer games and more details in the game play.

"New-Gamers" are into the quick fix, instant gratification and no patience. You only have to look at any retail stores return rates, even on excellent AAA titles. Many get returned within days of purchase, even if they have scored high with reviewers etc.

And most of those returning them are - your guessed it - "new-gamers".

SO, if you were a developer,knowing these facts, would you invest another 10-15$ on a whopper of a DLC pack, or add that extra 20 hours into the main game that added another $10mil into the over all costs, made the release time longer and thus cut down on possible profits . .

I'm sure you wouldn't really. Not if you have shareholders to account to every qtr. Shareholder that could pull their portfolios at the drop of a hat, leaving you with NO future game development possibilities.

If we all want to enjoy the games we have, and for the market to grow, we need to understand that the era of long game play has changed, and while some will give it to us in spades, many will not, and they will use DLC to extend the life of their games.

[REALgamer]

Bethesda try a full sci-fi RPG ala Mass Effect but with their flair for complete open worlds.

That or a new Elder Scrolls. =)

[XboxOZ360]

I know so many complain about DLC and the fact we have to pay for it, or that the developers put it out not long after a game ships, thing is, times have changed.

So really, we had better get used to DLC and that it'll cost . . almost all games in the future will have DLC in some form or another.

We will soon have a game that will ONLY be available via DLC (no disc-based option) and it will have a follow up game within months of the first ones release . . . Watchmen.

It will NOT be available in stores, and only via XboxLIVE, PSN and Steam . . . . If successful, many other developers will look at the option. The first one will ship to tie in with the movies release, the second will ship when the movie goes into DVD release via stores and movie hire etc.

Anchorage is a decent sized add-on, and most DLC ads variety ti games. Some say the developers should put it all in the game when released.

Well if they did that these days, then the games would required an even longer gestation period, with some taking a good 10 months or more longer. Gamers anticipation for the game would wain and the initial sales would suffer.

The reason many now have DLC available a month after release is simple to understand, if you know anything about the development process. The games development as far as "content" is concerned is halted several months prior to release, from that point on it polishing, making sure it all works, fine tuning, testing, de-bugging and more polishing.

It's at that point another team begins using any extra content to either begin on the next iteration, or the extra DLC and packs. As it's a known fact that games now have a very short window of use , so more DLC needs to come out reasonibly close to its initial release, so as to capture the interest of those keen on the initial game.

These days we can not have it all our own way. The whole gaming market has changed significantly, more so since the explosion on the various online services of XboxLIVE and PSN in 2005/6.

There's simply no way a developer can keep up with the huge demand on one game and st=ill stay within a certain, veryhuge budget. It's why so many are having to close their doors, even with games almost out the door.

Look at Midway. All it's games are now having to go to new publishing house, several of which were almost ready to ship. Same went for Red Ant, who have Street Fighter IV, Resident Evil 5 and several other major titles.

Many gamers are unwilling to accept we ARE in different times now, and we need to look at other forms of delivery. If you think the studios and publishers are making all the money you think they are, then you need to think again. Even the majors are LOSING each quarter, even though sales are increasing.

SOmething has to give, it simply can not go on. So DLC is one way they can slow that down.

[Steelspawn]

I am really hoping the third DLC which will raise the level cap along with allowing people to continue playing after the final story will also include a reason to continue on with your character. I really want to go back and do it all again but then I think of how much time it took me the first time....

[Dimorphic_]

The thing I don't like about what I've heard of Operation Anchorage is that it is basically a straight forward run-and-gun DLC pack, and I thought that the weakest point of Fallout 3 was when you were in the situations that you HAD to shoot your way out.

Devising other ways to get out of any given situation is what made the game so fantastic for me the first time around.