I stand corrected. I have been made aware of info which makes much of this post void. However, if you like, you could read this as a hypothetical piece.
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The issue of perspectives in games are often argued over more then any other aspect. People seem content settling on the fact that some like platforming games, whereas you like RPG games. When we talk about First person vs. Third person perspectives within a certain genre however, that seems to make or break games.
My concern is this: Having watched the new Fallout shelter trailer (which includes Fallout 4 footage), the game no longer maintains a first person perspective when interacting with other characters (like Piper). *[EDIT: Yes, it does. I have been made aware that it is possible to switch views]*. Whereas it used to in Fallout 3 and New Vegas. Instead it employs a Third Person perspective which actually displays your own character head-on as well. The main problem is that it is these interactions with characters that tend to serve most of the storyline in Fallout. Thus, If these sequences are not immersive, then the story could be much less compelling.
The problem with this is that my philosophy, and I would say many others, is that sequences like what I described above tend to break immersion. There is a specific reason, for example, Gordon Freeman does not talk, and that the cut-scenes in Half-Life are all incorporated into real time game play. This strategic design choice aims at making the player embody the character you play as.
The fact is that there are also many people who may not share the same philosophy. They may feel that the third person perspective achieves a different level of immersion for them, that they can see their character. And Fallout 3 and NV did a great job in including the ability to switch perspectives from First to Third during gameplay, to please everyone. Fallout 4 will continue this. But when interacting with characters, every (applicable) trailer has displayed this third-person perspective.
Finally, as a result of this break in immersion, story is greatly affected. In Fallout 3, I didn't just feel like I was "playing" as the Lone Wanderer, but that I was "experiencing" truly being the Lone Wanderer. This perspective made the story of finding your father all the more compelling and touching. Will people who share this philosophy enjoy the story in Fallout 4, if it employs third person cut scenes?
Some finishing comments... I have no doubt that Fallout 4 will be great "fun" to play, just like the last few games, gameplay is not my concern. The idea of immersion during dialogue sequences, and consequently, story, is changing with Fallout 4.
(I deliberately left out Fallout and Fallout 2, as they greatly complicate the issue of perspectives. I am assuming that Fallout will continue to be produced as First-Third person games.)
Microsoft announced its financial results for Q3 of fiscal year 2026, including an update on its gaming Xbox business and more.
Not looking good. Hopefully Asha Sharma is able to turn Phil’s disaster around.
To me it's still quite remarkable how they can cash-in 5.3bn in revenue in a single quarter, since their hardware is basically dead.
The stock mark is what makes Microsoft remarkable, They have convinced every institutional and retail investor to just keep piling money into them. Like many big tech giants they are just a big growing pyramid scheme. As long as people keep dropping money into ETF's that cover the market Microsoft will always be liquid. At the same time it is completely stifling innovation and competition. People need to start being more discreet in how they invest their money as it's killing the system.
Riiiiight because people will just flock back to them for one or two games per year.
15+ years of bad performance is what they call irreparable in business. It is time for them to sell off the assets and get out of entertainment.
These declines are on the back of extra revenue received from releasing games like Forza horizon 5 on PlayStation. So I’m being sarcastic here when I said they should go back to exclusives. Killing off a revenue stream from Ps5 sales will only make things worse
The charity event will be streamed live from Gamescom in August.
Thanks to the slip-up of an artist working on the title, we now have more evidence that a new Injustice game is in the works.
Was just thinking about this the other day, I've been replaying fallout 3 and love the way you can talk to people. Some of the responses you can tell people and absolutely hilarious. Not sure if that gonna feel the same with someone actually saying it.
I hope you enjoyed reading the post!
Agreed, the voiced protagonist remains a problem. But, I could imagine there's a (small) chance Bethesda makes the voice optional (disabling it).
Do you think they are heading in the right direction with the disembodiment of your character?
I have some of the same concerns and I'm eagerly awaiting FO4 regardless of some of the questionable design decisions, I will obviously reserve judgement until I've had the chance to go hands-on when the game finally releases (SOON!) I have also brought this topic up a few times and I have either been down voted or pacified by "Howard already said we can talk in FPP, TPP or just walk away"
I will remind you however, in case you're unaware or that you've possibly forgotten. If we are to believe what Todd Howard has said, and going by experience from previous BGS games, we are supposed to also be getting FPP dialogue not just this TPP cinematic camera angle(s) that IMO, I'm hoping they are showcasing for the sake of the voiced protagonist and the much more cinematic dialogue changes they have implemented.
As you have said, they have yet to truly show us what these encounters would look like in FPP. The closest that we've gotten to that is when the PC talked to Codsworth, we see the Mass Effect-esque dialogue wheel but what has worried me is that as soon as the PC picks the response, we immediately see this new TPP camera angle.
Now, again, I'm hoping this is all for showcasing and not exactly what we have to look forward to. Honestly, it would be a huge mistake on BGS part and I imagine a good portion of fans would also dislike this change, rest easy, we do not have long to wait!
The more options the merrier! Player freedom and choice is paramount, for BGS games in particular. If they do something like this, there will be an outcry, you can bet on that.
Didn't Bethesda say you have an option between 1st person or 3rd person in conversations?
Agreed with Liqu1d
seriously why are people bitching about this? Todd Howard stated you could switch between either perspective. Learn to read.