player1

Please post how.

True, autosave slot gets overwritten. But there is nothing stopping you form saving afterwards with "Save last checkpoint" option in menu, which will effectively copy that same autosave to different slot.

Doesn't game already do something like this normally? In missions, save last checkpoint pretty much copies contents of last autosave (at checkpoint) to new save slot. Exempt in savehouses.

Update on fix testing I did. bUseBackgroundLevelStreaming=False helps a lot to reduce momentary shutters that happen from time to time (by preloading levels), but even with it, textures are still streamed and sometimes their loading will produce shutter. Good place to test this is in Greybox, in area where you get your clothes and can customize Thorton. Going from one side to another side of area will almost always produce shutter at specific point, even with all fixes applied. Texture streaming is something that just can't be turned off in UT3, so there is no good way to remove that kind of shutter. Still, many other games with UT3 engine stream everything, and have no issues with shutter, so these things are pretty much a band aid until Obsidian delivers a proper fix.

Which skills exactly, reduce difficulty of hacking and other mini-games? As far as I can see, 2nd and 14th level of Sabotage (breaking and entering), reduce difficulty of those, and Spy Luck (7th) removes penalty for failing one. Is there anything else?

You could try doing damage with secondary weapon, even if it is without any points, to remove armor, and then switch to smg. There is reason you are not limited to single weapon in missions. Although, shotty is also bad against armor, so shotty/smg combo is pretty bad for bosses (and redundant) IMO.

This would be good thread to note, that shotguns are also bad against enemies with lots of armor. I have shotgun as 2nd weapon (AR as primary), and they can barely scratch (compared to AR) armored soldiers that you fight near the end game. They can knock them down (if you use room sweep), and phosphorus rounds can set em on fire, but basic impact from shooty is pretty pitful. I need to fire 3-4 rounds just to kill already knocked down solider.

It should be noted that bUseBackgroundLevelStreaming=False increases memory load (level segments are preloaded, instead streamed during play), so while it helps with short lag that happens from time to time (when game loads stuff), it can actually be bad for configurations with small amount of RAM (1-2GB). On the other hand, OneFrameThreadLag=False addresses constant mouse shuttering, if frame rate is not perfect 60. Without it, when I tested with FRAPS, with perfect 60fps, there was no shuttering, but when it dropped to 55 or less, it would shutter when moving mouse. With fix, it doesn't happen anymore. My preliminary testing shows that OnlyStreamInTextures=True is not needed. . Anyway, for now, I use these two only: bUseBackgroundLevelStreaming=False OneFrameThreadLag=False

If it works as I think it works, it's not really "a bug", but design decisions. As a way to minimize amount of data needed to be saved. Personally, I would prefer proper save with full game state saved, instead of bare minimum.

I guess save system is designed in such way to not keep too much data (in order to be optimized for consoles). Probably a reason why stance, exact enemy position and some other stuff don't mirror exact same condition as before save, when loaded. Even areas you passed get closed off after awhile. If so, it's highly improbable to add quicksave in the patch. Checkpoint system probably masks that game "state" is not completely saved.

At least it's better then those game that don't allow saving at all. (a few don't have profiles either, so it's impossible to have 2 persons play SP on same computer)

Note that 5:4 is very similar to 4:3, and is more popular, due to very common 1280x1024 resolution (used for 19" monitors). When I talk about 4:3, I usually include 5:4 too. P.S. For bigger resolution, wide aspect ratio is much more popular.

I actually agree in case of G3. It's more likely to die from pack of wolves then horde of orcs.

16:9 is used consoles mainly because it's only HDTV aspect. And in 4:3 SD it looks like crap either way. Not worth more time to get it right (at least for games that are supposed to run only on consoles). I doubt that any developer really believes that 16:9 is only way to experience game. Not with 16:10 being actual standard on PC, and 4:3 still being very common. Even VOF doesn't need to be reduced with proper tweaking (just zoom out a little before cutting corners, and you get proper VOF). EDIT: Anyway, FEAR2 finally got proper 4:3 mod in patch, after raving letterbox dislike in it's PC forums.

Seems like good price. But I'm not impressed. When HL2E3 get's out we'll be forced to buy them all again anyway.

If anythings, VATS should not look like "old-school" bloody mess with every single critical. No, pistol bullet can't severe the head. Not every ghoul needs his head to explode when using shotgun either. Leave ridiculous violence to actual Bloody Mess perk/trait.

Due to laziness to do proper porting form 16:9 TV view to all PC monitors types. Thus, "consolitis". This leads to letterboxing for even 16:10 monitors, that are standard today. I have yet to see PC-only game that doesn't support 4:3 or even 16:10. And there is no excuse to not support 4:3. 3D games are not movies. Nothing really prevents rendering in 4:3. Either by cutting edges or by extending view up or down. In worst case you just need to rework HUD a bit. Only in case of 2D games (like Braid), letterboxing can be acceptable. Or in cinematics.

Even having profiles is better then having none like in Mirror's Edge or Fear2, when two people can't play on same computer due to both lacking save slots and separate profiles. And I hope there won't be fixed 16:9 picture ratio, like in both games listed above (worst case of "consolitis" infecting PC games).

Most disappointing in F3 was that perk that gave additional lines with characters of opposite sex. I've found less then 5 such dialogs (total, for both sexes) in whole game.

I agree, not even close to puny. It rates up there with Oblivion and Morrowind when it comes to places to explore. Far more than Kotors, Bloodlines, and both NWNs put together. Only problem is that 80% of those places are pure hack and slash. Don't get me wrong those other 20% are good. But you can't know when you see some new location if there is actually something interesting or it's just another "dungeon" with nothing to give. Even H&S is good to, if place is interesting to explore. Or there is an interesting reward at the end (like that Medic Power Armor ). But you can't know without going through the dungeon first.

This should read: A lot console games are like that. Plus, their lazy ports to PC. (there are exemptions, like PC-only Farcry, and some older games) It was necessity in old days of limited storage for consoles. Not it's just "tradition". I hate the trend of lazy porting. I can't even play FEAR2 with my brother on same comp (SP), since there are neither saves nor profiles. On top of that, there is fixed 16:9 "console" aspect ratio too. 30% of screen space wasted with 4:3 monitor.

Hmm... There is new "redirect" forum for Fallout 3: New Vegas. But it takes your into Bethesda "Fallout Series General Discussion" forum. Which also had just one thread dedicated to New Vegas.

I would at least hope from them to drop making every single critical hit in VATS look like "Bloody Mess" from original Fallout games, and make them be more realistic. It just doesn't feel right to cut off the head with pistol hit. Kills immersion.

I would guess so. It's scheduled for 2010. Anyway, Obsidian did showed that they are capable of making decent sequels, if proper assets from previous game are available (NWN2, KotOR2).

^ That article is for 3.5e.