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| {{Infobox game/row/reception|IGDB|fallout-3|89}} | | {{Infobox game/row/reception|IGDB|fallout-3|89}} |
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− | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/monetization | DLC }} | + | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/monetization | One-time game purchase, DLC }} |
| {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/microtransactions | None }} | | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/microtransactions | None }} |
| {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/modes | Singleplayer }} | | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/modes | Singleplayer }} |
Revision as of 11:22, 14 July 2022
Warnings
- For Games for Windows - LIVE on Windows 8 or later, install the latest Games for Windows - LIVE software.
Fallout 3 is a single-player first-person open-world RPG shooter developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. The game marks the shift of the series from isometric 2D graphics and turn-based combat to full-3D graphics and real-time combat.
The Microsoft Windows version of game was released physically at retail stores and digitally on Steam on October 28, 2008. A total of five DLC expansions were released for the game (Operation: Anchorage, The Pitt, Broken Steel, Point Lookout and Mothership Zeta), and on October 12, 2009, the base game along with all five expansions were bundled and released as Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition on all platforms.[1] On June 2, 2017, a DRM-free version of the the Game of the Year Edition was released on GOG.com.[2]
The Steam version of the game out-of-the-box is not optimized for Windows 8 and above, however, many of these issues can be alleviated by installing various stability and compatibility mods. The GOG release features three such modifications pre-applied to the game: Games For Windows – LIVE Disabler, Large Address Aware and Multi-Core CPU Fix.
The modding community for Fallout 3 is extensive; with the officially-provided Garden of Eden Creation Kit, players have produced a variety of mods. The largest repository of Fallout 3 mods is available at Nexus Mods
As of 2021, bug-fix and stability mods are still strongly recommended, be it either the Steam or GOG release. See Essential Improvements and Modifications sections for more information.
General information
- GOG.com Community Discussions for game series
- GOG.com Support Page
- Steam Community Discussions (Game of the Year Edition)
- Steam Community Discussions
- Fallout 3 Nexus - the most popular host for Fallout 3 mods.
Availability
- SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see above for affected versions).
- The retail version requires Games for Windows - LIVE DRM[Note 2] GFWL can be disabled by running the game through FOSE.
Version differences
- The Game of the Year Edition includes the base game bundled with all five DLC expansion packs.
- The German version only includes the German language and features censoring of blood/gore, however, the German GOG.com release is uncensored.
DLC and expansion packs
Name |
Notes |
|
Operation: Anchorage |
|
|
The Pitt |
|
|
Broken Steel |
|
|
Point Lookout |
|
|
Mothership Zeta |
|
|
Original Soundtrack |
|
|
Essential improvements
Official Patches
- GOG.com and Steam versions are pre-patched to the latest version (v1.7), and the retail Game of the Year Edition will apply the 1.7 patch during the DLC-disc installation. However, the latest patch for all regions can still be downloaded from the official Bethesda Patches website or here.
Mod Managers
- Mod managers simplify mod installation, among various additional features. Recommended to use one of the following.
- Basic mod manager with a simple user-interface, suitable for beginners.
- Powerful mod manager with mod virtualization, keeping the game-installation folder vanilla. Suitable for more experienced users.
- Features a configuration editor.
- Official mod manager made by Nexus Mods.
- Designed to make modding games as simple as possible for new users, while still providing enough control for more experienced users.
Unofficial Patches
- A patcher / downgrader tool that downgrades the game from 1.7.0.4 to 1.7.0.3, which is widely supported by mods, most notably Fallout 3 Script Extender (FOSE).
- Supports latest Steam and GOG versions of the game, both GOTY and regular editions.
- Automatically removes Games for Windows Live, makes the game large address aware and fixes a file handle limit and mod limit bug.
- Automatically loads Fallout 3 Script Extender (FOSE) when using
Fallout3.exe
to start the game (if FOSE is installed).
- Fixes hundreds of bugs not covered by the official patches.
- Constantly updated and maintained (as of 2021).
- If any of the 5 DLCs aren't present, an older bugged version will be installed.
- Fixes additional bugs not covered by the Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch.
- Fixes transparency and flickering glitches with the game's water.
- Fixes Pip-Boy arm-clipping on female characters.
General
- Removes login delay for the now-defunct GFWL service, reducing startup time.
- Requires game version v1.1 or higher.
- GFWL comes pre-removed on GOG, and Microsoft Store and steam 1.7.0.4 patch ver.
- Ensure that the latest version of the Games for Windows - LIVE software is installed.
- Launch the game once to allow the necessary config files to be created.
- Download and run the Games for Windows LIVE Disabler.
- To retrieve save games, move files from:
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Fallout3\Saves\<user-id>\
to %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Fallout3\Saves\
- Use the 'Move DLC's' button to get DLC working again. Steam version of Game of the Year Edition owners do not need to move DLC.
- Enables the game to more utilize more RAM than the initial pre-allotted amount.
- Improves stability on systems with at least 3 GB of RAM.
- Pre-patched on GOG.com version, however FOSE.exe will still need to be patched with this.
- Eliminates the need for ArchiveInvalidation.txt.
- Download "program version" from Nexus.
- Place extracted .exe in game directory and run once.
- The vanilla game is only optimized for two physical cores. This mod enables additional cores to be utilized.
- Allows for smoother gameplay, faster loading times and better stability.
- Extract fallout_default.ini from zip to game directory and overwrite.
- If you experience a fast cursor, apply this fix.
- Decreases overall RAM usage and eliminates errors occurring when using large textures.
- Replaces in-game heap with a better-optimized version.
- Decreases load-times, alleviates stutter and slightly improves frame rate.
- Released for Fallout: New Vegas, but also works on Fallout 3.
- Updated sound libraries that optimize the game's audio decoding, fixes an audio memory leak, sound-related stuttering and boosts performance while reducing CPU strain.
Miscellaneous
Skip intro videos
File removal[citation needed]
|
- Go to
<path-to-game>\Data\Video\
- Delete or rename
Fallout INTRO Vsk.bik .
|
Enable HBAO
Open the Nvidia Control panel and under Program Settings for Fallout3.exe switch Ambient Occlusion to Quality. GIF showing the difference.
Game data
Configuration file(s) location
Save game data location
Video
- Most graphics options are accessible on the main launcher screen.
- Adds support for multi-monitor displays.
- Displays HUD on the middle display.
Multi-monitor[citation needed]
|
- Open
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Fallout3\FALLOUT.ini
- Find the following lines:
iSafeZoneXWide=15
iSafeZoneYWide=15
iSafeZoneX=15
|
- Relevant multi-monitor resolutions:
3840x1024 |
5040x1050
|
iSafeZoneXWide=610 |
iSafeZoneXWide=770
|
iSafeZoneYWide=15 |
iSafeZoneYWide=15
|
iSafeZoneX=610 |
iSafeZoneX=770
|
Edit Field of view (FOV)[8]
|
- Open
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Fallout3\FALLOUT.ini
- Find the section:
[Display]
- Add these lines to the bottom of the section:
fDefaultWorldFOV=75.0000
fDefault1stPersonFOV=55.0000
- Change the FOV value based on your aspect ratio.
The second line affects the FOV of the gun, so a lower value is recommended to avoid clipping.
For example 66
|
These values use the 5:4 aspect ratio as a baseline FOV:
Aspect Ratio |
FOV Value
|
4:3 |
79.9000
|
16:9 |
105.3000
|
15:9 |
99.0000
|
16:10 |
95.2000
|
21:9 |
80.0000
|
Enabling HBAO+ for Nvidia graphics cards
- Note: Using Nvidia HBAO+ can break compatibility with ENB Series.
- Use the Ambient Occlusion flag
0x00000005
with Quality
or High Quality
.
Using Ambient Occlusion flag 0x00000005 [9]
|
- Download and run Nvidia Profile Inspector.
- Under
Profiles select Fallout 3 .
- Under
Ambient Occlusion compatibility insert the flag 0x00000005 .
- Under
Ambient Occlusion usage select Enabled .
- Under
Ambient Occlusion setting select your quality of preference, but in order to use HBAO+ you must use Quality or High Quality .
- Click
Apply changes .
- If you get an error saying access denied when applying the Ambient Occlusion setting, navigate to:
"C:\ProgramData\NVIDIA Corporation" and delete the folder named "Drs". If there is no Drs folder then create it, this will fix the error.
|
Input
Disable mouse acceleration[10][11]
|
- Open
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Fallout3\fallout.ini
- Find the section:
[Controls]
- Add the lines:
fForegroundMouseAccelBase=0
fForegroundMouseAccelTop=0
fForegroundMouseBase=0
fForegroundMouseMult=0
|
Audio
Audio feature |
State |
Notes |
Separate volume controls |
|
Music, footsteps, voice, effects and radio. |
Surround sound |
|
In-game Audio, up to 7.1 output[12] Cutscene Audio is 2.0. |
Subtitles |
|
Shows one subtitle at a time. |
Closed captions |
|
|
Mute on focus lost |
|
|
EAX support |
|
Use DSOAL to enable true binaural sound. Does not require a sound card.[13] |
- May require DirectSound3D restoration software to restore proper audio functionality on Vista and later (Included in HRTF mod).
Localizations
- The German version only includes the German language.
Language |
UI |
Audio |
Sub |
Notes |
English |
|
|
|
|
French |
|
|
|
|
French |
|
|
|
|
German |
|
|
|
|
Hungarian |
|
|
|
Retail only, Download. |
Italian |
|
|
|
|
Simplified Chinese |
|
|
|
Fan translation by «BN13». |
Polish |
|
|
|
Retail only. Subtitles only patch for digital release here. Only the base game is dubbed. change bInvalidateOlderFiles to 1 in fallout3.ini |
Brazilian Portuguese |
|
|
|
Fan translation: download. |
Russian |
|
|
|
Retail only. Patch for digital release here. |
Spanish |
|
|
|
|
VR support
Issues unresolved
Drop button & functionality stops working
when using a controller the drop button dissappears from the inventory preventing the player from dropping items[14],[15]
|
Issues fixed
- TweakGuides has created a comprehensive guide for fixing issues in this game. It can be found here.
Game crashes randomly
Multiple Core CPU Fix[16][17]
|
- The most common fix required for this game.
- Not required for the GOG.com version[6] or the latest Steam version.
- Open
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Fallout3\FALLOUT.ini
- Change
bUseThreadedAI=0 to bUseThreadedAI=1
- Make a new line after it and add
iNumHWThreads=2
- If the game still crashes, try
iNumHWThreads=1
|
Game crashes on start-up
Make sure you can log in GFWL[citation needed]
In case of any problems, run Fallout 3 in compatibility mode - Windows XP SP3, and GFWL installer in Windows 7 copatibility mode.
If update to 1.7.0.4 make sure game and Launcher are useing your dgpu not the igpu because it crashes with the igpu a fix for this bug is set force GPU by Nividia control panel.
|
Disable Other Monitors[18][citation needed]
|
- If the game is crashing on start-up, disabling any other monitors in use could resolve this.
- Right-click on the desktop and select Screen Resolution from the context menu.
- In the Screen Resolution Control Panel, click on the drop-down list labeled "Multiple Displays" and select "Show desktop only on 1" (or the monitor you wish to run the game on).
- Click apply then on the pop-up window click "Keep changes".
|
Change FalloutPrefs.ini to reference your current GPU[citation needed]
|
- If fallout3.exe does nothing when trying to open it, your FalloutPrefs.ini may be referencing an old GPU.
- Go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winsat
- Open the entry named
PrimaryAdapterString and copy the text, it should be something similar to AMD Radeon R9 200 Series for AMD cards
- Edit
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Fallout3\falloutprefs.ini
- Change
sD3DDevice to your PrimaryAdapterString
- It should look something like this
sD3DDevice="AMD Radeon R9 200 Series"
|
Crash when starting new game or loading save
Game keeps minimizing
- Caused by the cursor being active in the background (and clicking Icons, Links, Buttons etc.)
Certain non-conversation voices, such as museum exhibits and random speech, are too quiet
Editing the config file[21][citation needed]
|
- Open
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Fallout3\fallout.ini
- Edit
fFilterdBAttenuation=11.5 to 0
|
Pip-Boy radio skipping or stuttering
- Commonly caused by an issue with the current MP3 codec, the format used exclusively by songs played through Pip-Boy radio.
- The music may not be stuttering when the game is minimized, with the song played normally.
Use DSOAL[citation needed]
|
Fix for Creative X-Fi soundcards[22][citation needed]
|
- Try the Audio Codec fix for game crashes first, if your Pip-Boy radio still skips (test with the enclave channel) owners of a creative soundcard may find that this helps.
- Open
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Fallout3\fallout.ini
- Edit
iAudioCacheSize=2048 to 4096 .
- Install the latest ALchemy.
- Add Fallout 3 to Creative Alchemy: select Use Registry Path and point it to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Bethesda Softworks\Fallout3\Installed Path . Do not install to subfolder. Settings should be: Buffers=10; Duration=5; Maximum Voice Count=128. Leave direct music enabled.
|
Disable MP3 decoding in LAV Splitter Configuration[24]
|
- Might work with similar codec packs, for example ffdshow.
- Open LAV Splitter Configuration program by finding the shortcut in the Start Menu.
- In Input Formats tab, find mp3 codec and uncheck it.
|
Set LAV Audio as preferred DirectShow MP3 decoder
|
- Might work with similar codec packs, for example ffdshow.
- Download and open CodecTweakTool.
- Go to Preferred decoders under Win7DSFilterTweaker.
- Under 32-bit decoders find MP3 and switch it to LAV Audio (or any other non-Microsoft decoder).
|
Crash when leaving Rivet City marketplace
Use UPDATED Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch version 1.3 or greater[citation needed]
|
- See UUF3P Instructions
|
Use fixed Broken Steel patch[citation needed]
|
- Go to
<path-to-game>\Data\
- Replace the file
Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch - Broken Steel.esp with the one found here
|
Game hangs on closing
Disable threaded audio[citation needed]
|
- Open
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Fallout3\FALLOUT.ini
- Change
bMultiThreadAudio=1 to bMultiThreadAudio=0
|
Game hangs a few seconds after loading
Disable Creative Alchemy if no Creative soundcard present[citation needed]
|
- This might occur if you had a Creative soundcard installed at any point, then removed it.
- Run Creative ALchemy.
- Ensure that Fallout 3 is not in the "ALchemy-enabled Games" column.
|
Game becomes unresponsive after Alt+Tab ↹
Save games missing
- If logged into Games for Windows LIVE, the game will save in the Games for Windows LIVE folder corresponding to the currently logged-in username. If logged out of the service, the game will be unable to locate the saves.[citation needed]
Retrieve Missing Saves[citation needed]
|
- Go to
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Fallout3\ .
- Search in the subfolders for your latest saves. If you were not logged in while saving, the saves will be found in the
Saves folder. If you were logged in, the saves will be under your Games for Windows LIVE folder.
- Copy the files out to either folder (your username if you plan on logging in each time, or the
Saves folder if you do not).
- Once you restart the game, your saves should now be detected.
|
Other information
API
Technical specs |
Supported |
Notes |
Direct3D |
9 |
|
Shader Model support |
3 |
|
Executable |
32-bit |
64-bit |
Notes |
Windows |
|
|
|
Middleware
|
Middleware |
Notes |
Physics |
Havok |
|
Audio |
DirectSound |
|
Cutscenes |
Bink Video |
1.7d |
Modifications
Mods for Fallout 3 can be found at Fallout 3 Nexus.
- See Essential improvements for modifications that fix bugs and improve performance.
Recommended mods
- A first playthrough friendly modding guide that keeps the core experience mostly intact can be found here.
- A more extensive modding guide that covers all kind of mods can be found here.
Utilities
- Automatically disables Games for Windows - LIVE (GFWL) when run.
- Extends the scripting capabilities of Fallout 3's game engine (required by many mods)
- Normal Russian and Polish DVD retail copies, Direct2Drive copies, and the unpatched game (1.0.0.12) are all unsupported.
- Extract the contents of the folder inside the zip to Fallout 3's game directory
- Right-click "fose_loader.exe" >> properties >> compatibility >> and tick "Run this program as administrator" ON
- Optimizes the game's INI files for increased graphical fidelity and performance.
- Recommended to configure graphic settings from this program instead of the original game's launcher.
- Must disable V-sync in order to not conflict with the multi-core mod mentioned in Essential Improvements section.
- Once all mods have been installed, run this program a single time to ensure the optimal load order.
- Mod load-order optimizer for Fallout 3 and other games.
- Provides thousands of plugin-specific messages, including usage notes, Bash Tag suggestions, requirements, incompatibilities, bug warnings and installation mistake notifications. Supports the sorting of plugins ghosted by the Wrye Bash utility, is highly customizable, and has been translated into multiple languages.
Script Extender Plugins
The following mods require Fallout 3 Script Extender.
- Released for Fallout: New Vegas, but also works for Fallout 3.
- Implements structured exception handling and sanity-checking to reduce frequency of game crashes.
- Alleviates the game's micro-stuttering.
- Raises the game's 120 plugin limit to 255.
- Can also cause an increase in FPS, remove game stutter, and allow for faster loading times (especially when using a large number of mods).
- Fixes an engine bug that lowers framerate during combat.
- Fixes various engine bugs.
- An esp-less collection of Quality-of-Life improvements in one file with INI settings to enable tweaks.
Overhauls
- Total conversion of Fallout 3 and its DLC to the Fallout: New Vegas engine, allowing both games to be played on a single save file. along with the improvements New Vegas' engine brings in regards to stability and modding.
- Said to include "more than 40,000" bug fixes to both games.
- Does not feature the "green tint" found throughout Fallout 3's original graphics, straying away from the intended art direction.
- Requires Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition and Fallout: New Vegas - Ultimate Edition. The mod is currently in beta and is generally considered stable. Installation guide by GamerPoets.
- Due to the mod utilizing New Vegas' engine, mods made for Fallout 3 are inherently incompatible. Modders must make TTW-specific versions of their mods for them to be compatible and list them as such.
User Interface
- Overhauls the user-interface without compromising the original style.
- Supports high-resolution scaling for mods that upscale the game's HUD elements.
- Remasters around 3,600 of the vanilla icons for higher resolutions.
- Fixes consistency issues of the original icons in regards to transparency, sizes etc.
- Released for Fallout: New Vegas, but also works for Fallout 3.
- Requires a UI mod that supports scaling, such as Vanilla UI Plus.
- The version on the original mod page can only be installed with Mod Organizer and includes non-vanilla icons.
- Remasters text and other vanilla HUD elements.
- Requires Vanilla UI Plus.
- Replaces the Xbox controller button-prompts with their DualShock equivalents.
- Utilizes official icons ripped from the PlayStation 3 version of the game.
Texture Packs
- Remasters the game's loading-screen and main menu artwork.
- Remasters DLC loading-screens (not covered in mod above)
- Remasters the texture of the Pip-Boy 3000 without compromising original's style.
- Aims to be as close to the original as possible; various fine details have been preserved.
- Includes a version for PlayStation 3 controller (L1-R1 instead of LT-RT)
Miscellaneous
- Adds in-game achievements (the same ones found on the PS3/Xbox 360 versions and the now-defunct GFWL service).
- You will receive notifications upon unlocking them and can view them in the Pip-Boy.
- If installed in the middle of a playthrough, a holotape will be placed outside of Vault 101, which upon picking up, unlocks any achievements you have already met the requirements for.
- Periodically saves the game in rotating slots, but not at dangerous times. Recommended over vanilla game's autosaves, which are prone to corruption.
- configured through its own INI file.
System requirements
Windows |
|
Minimum |
Recommended |
Operating system (OS) |
XP, Vista | |
Processor (CPU) |
Intel Pentium 4 2.4 GHz AMD Athlon 64 4000+ |
Intel Core 2 Duo AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ |
System memory (RAM) |
1 GB (XP) 2 GB (Vista) |
2 GB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
7 GB | |
Video card (GPU) |
ATI Radeon X850 Nvidia GeForce 6800 256 MB of VRAM DirectX 9.0c compatible
| ATI Radeon HD 3800 Nvidia GeForce 8800 512 MB of VRAM |
Sound (audio device) |
DirectX 9.0c compatible | |
- Fallout 3 is not optimized for Windows 7 and later.
Notes
- ↑ SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows 10[4] or Windows 11 and is disabled by default on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 when the KB3086255 update is installed.[5]
- ↑ Games for Windows - LIVE DRM features: activation, supports local profiles.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Notes regarding Steam Play (Linux) data:
References