Fallout From Video Games (see what I did there?)

Okay, cut the cricket sounds. I get it, I get it. I’ve been neglecting my blog. But see, there’s a really good reason for that.

I’m addicted to a video game.

Oh, and a TV series.

I’ve made mention before on the podcast regarding how far behind I am on video games, and how I generally don’t play computer RPGs. That’s usually true, but in the recent past, thanks to the great deals on Steam, I’ve picked up a few of the older Call of Duty: Modern Warfare first person shooter games. I really enjoyed those, but they weren’t exactly addictive. They did, however, lead me into the merciless clutches of Fallout 3.

Fallout 3 makes me stay up way too late. I lose track of time while playing it. I think about the game when I’m not playing it. Right now, as I write this, my video game brain is saying: “Take a break. Play a little Fallout 3 then come back and write some more.”

Yup. Addicted.

What is interesting to me is how this is the case for Fallout 3 but not for Call of Duty nor for a game like Oblivion, which is very much like Fallout 3 but sent in a fantasy world.

I think Fallout 3 is so addictive because it is an excellent mix of the combat style of FPS but has the character growth and customization of RPGs. Also, Fallout 3 has a great little combat cutscene called VATS, in which you have certain points to spend (and a single use of each weapons costs a certain amount of points) to plan your attack, then the game shows the results in a more-or-less cinematic recreation of the combat, including lots of shots that follow the bullet to its ultimate destination.

I really didn’t enjoy combat in Oblivion. I don’t think I ever really understood how to excel at it. I don’t like melee or unarmed combat in Fallout 3 either. I like FPSes, not fighting games, so that kind of makes sense. I also find that VATS is a heck of a lot more accurate than I can be, so it’s pretty satisfying watching my character successfully blow the crap out of the badguys.

Once I get tired of Fallout 3 (can’t see that happening in the near future, although the initial fascination has worn off) I might try out Oblivion again, see if maybe there is a way to enjoy the game so many people think is awesome.

Then again, I haven’t tried Call of Duty: Black Ops yet . . .

More information on Steam here.

More information on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare here.

More information on Fallout 3 here.

More information on Oblivion here.

More information on my TV series addiction here.