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Valkyria Chronicles
"BUT THAT GAME WAS 2008!!11one!1!" Well, yes, in the strictest sense. Sega's strategy role-playing game, an epic tale chronicling the hardships and victories of Gallian militia Squad 7, was sent out to die by the publisher when it released in November 2008. However, word-of-mouth, critical praise and some discounted pricing helped the saga find a place in many people's lives (and hearts) by mid-2009.

One of the most endearing mechanics implemented in the game was giving all the playable members of Squad 7 bonuses (or flaws) based on their neuroses, relationships and desires. Also, every character had a different personality that shined during their turn through little quips and order recognition comments. It gave the entire cast more depth of character, even as the player only saw a handful of the troops during cutscenes. Despite the requisite Japanese RPG flair and melodrama, there was a simple beauty and charm in the storytelling, while the gameplay introduced a great basis for iteration. Valkyria Chronicles is a series that, with love and attention, could become so much more. I look forward to returning to Gallia and hope future installments recognize that the delightful characters are as important to the series as the strategic gameplay.

Watch your head, folks, because prices are falling. Today's Xbox Live holiday deal of the day is targeted directly at DLC for Bethesda's critical and commercial darling, Fallout 3. If you're looking to add more intense VATS-related action to the RPG, each add-on pack is available for 400 ($5) a piece -- a 50% savings of your Microsoft-branded space bucks.

New to the Fallout 3 universe? There are five DLC add-on packs for the (already) lengthy RPG. Arguably the most important -- and one you should tackle first -- is Broken Steel, which increases the game's overall level cap to 30 and allows players to continue playing beyond the conclusion. Also, a Game of the Year edition is available in stores, which includes all of Fallout 3's downloadable content -- making it cheaper if you don't already own the game to begin with.

Add Fallout 3's Operation Anchorage DLC to your Xbox 360 download queue
Add Fallout 3's The Pitt DLC to your Xbox 360 download queue
Add Fallout 3's Broken Steel DLC to your Xbox 360 download queue
Add Fallout 3's Point Lookout DLC to your Xbox 360 download queue
Add Fallout 3's Mothership Zeta DLC to your Xbox 360 download queue

[Thanks, Brett]

YouTube user ProfessorGigaton has a pair of videos showing off his latest diabolical creation: a life-size model of Fallout 3's Railway Rifle. If you're inclined to take on the project yourself, one of the videos features a full tutorial to help you create your very own non-working replica. Lazy, like us? The supposed professor -- we're waiting on his school transcripts -- is also selling the model featured in the videos on eBay. The starting bid is $45, and it's sure to look great with your Fallout 3-inspired cosplay ... and will definitely come in handy in the post-apocalyptic world of 2012.

Source -- YouTube Tutorial
Source -- eBay Listing

• Vault 101 Suit -- 240 ($3)
• Bethesda Game Studios Shirt -- 80 ($1)
• Fallout 3 Ringer Shirt -- 80 ($1)
• Vault Boy Shirt -- 80 ($1)
• Vault Boy Suit -- 240 ($3)
• Vault Boy Head -- 80 ($1)

Incredibly specific patch news now, with the release of a save recognition remedy for the French Canadian version of Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition (product code "BLUS-30455"). The patch will allow the GOTY re-release of Bethesda's wasteland wandering sim to recognize save files generated by Fallout 3 sans accolades.

As a Bethesda community manager helpfully points out, your old save files will only show up if there are new saves (GOTY) present -- if you only have old saves, start a new game and, you know, save. If you have in excess of 130 save files (a sign of prudence!), you'll have to delete older ones in order for the new ones to be displayed. Oh, and one more thing: "If your saves are taking a long time to load you might want to resave them and back up or remove the old ones."

And now we've exhausted our supply of the word "save," save for one which we were keeping for the en ... dammit, we wasted it!

[One thank you "reserved" for: Harry]

Ever since Fallout 3's Vault Boy went to space in Mothership Zeta, we've been at a loss for where to find the congenial gent. Alas, we never expected to see his mercurial face gracing the cover of a Massachusetts pizza shop's menu. Expresso Pizza of Billerica, Ma. put the young lad to work on the menu's cover, holding a pizza and pretending he's a waiter. We all know you're a Capital Wasteland Wanderer, silly Vault Boy!

The only question now is "How long until Bethesda shuts this down?" We contacted the Fallout publisher to find out its reaction, and were told, "Well he is a big part of our Fallout brand and is copyrighted, so, yeah, deciding on your own to use him to promote your business or product, or to sell stuff, or whatever, without getting permission from us ... not a good idea." Ruh oh!

(Thanks, Dan)

[Via BadCartridge]

Canadian owners of the Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition may soon have a fix for the save game issue plaguing their corner of the globe. As reported a couple weeks back, those friendly folks of the north are having problems getting the GOTY edition to recognize save files created by the original retail release of the game.

Bethesda now has a fix for the problem, which is currently being tested. There is no word on when it'll release, but hopefully it'll be before the Chinese actually invade Anchorage.

[Thanks, Harry S.]

A couple of threads over at Bethesda Softwork's forums reveal that Canadian PS3 owners are having a problem getting their previous Capital Wasteland save files to be recognized by the newly released Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition. Speculation by forum posters about the cause of the issue seems to revolve around either improper/outdated patching or that the GOTY edition isn't compatible with a version of the game sold in the region.

We've been in contact with Bethesda this morning, which is aware of the problem and is currently trying to figure out precisely what the issue is before it makes a statement. We'll update as soon as we learn more.

The highlight in this week's PSN Update is that The Bats is back with more free DLC. Also, for Fallout 3 owners not planning to trade up to the "game of the year edition," the single most important piece of DLC for the game, Broken Steel, is now available from the PSN store for $10. For those who don't know, Broken Steel takes away "the ending" of the game and allows the (anti-)hero of the Capital Wasteland to continue their journey with an increased level cap. Check out the full update after the break -- and, sadly, no Trine.

Remember Harrison Krix, that talented mofo that made the Portal gun and that crazy awesome Big Daddy costume? Well, Krix has done it again, this time recreating the early-level staple of Fallout 3, the Laser Rifle. He's provided his usual ridiculously long step-by-step process on the creation of the almost-a-firearm, so give it a gander if you're so inclined. Now if only he'd make some replica Mirelurks for us to pretend-shoot at ...

[Via BethBlog Twitter]

Bethesda assured us that the Fallout 3 downloadable content packs for PS3 would be available starting at the "end of September," and, as promised, Broken Steel will be up on September 24. It'll be followed by Operation Anchorage and The Pitt on October 1, and Point Lookout and Mothership Zeta on October 8. Today, the publisher released an update for Fallout 3 to add trophy support for these DLC packs. In just a few weeks, PS3 owners will be totally caught up with Xbox gamers! Except, of course, for the ... many hours of gameplay required to complete any of these packs.

Bethesda also confirmed the October 13 release date for the Fallout 3 Game of the Year edition, available on PS3, Xbox, and 360, and including the game and all the DLC. It will indeed cost $59.99, as retailers listed the title last month.

Fellow wanderers of the Capital Wasteland, behold what Atom has bestowed upon us: the Fallout 3 premium theme. The glorified post-nuclear wallpaper sells at a standard bottle cap conversion rate of 240 ($3 in pre-war money); however, those who purchased all five of Fallout 3's expansion packs can download the theme for free on October 1.

Those obtaining the theme for free will "receive a token from Microsoft" according to Bethesda. We're still a little fuzzy on the specifics, but that's probably because we've been sniffing punga spores. We're still working on getting more details about how the free version will work, but those who want to buy the theme can drop those caps now.

Update: Microsoft will be emailing the codes, so make sure the email attached to your Live account is functioning.

Things weren't looking good for Interplay earlier this year and, uh, much hasn't changed since then. Even though the company had virtually no money, it still wanted to make the Fallout MMO, Project V-13. Well, Interplay's got another hurdle now: Bethesda. The Oblivion and Fallout 3 developer claims that Interplay infringed on its trademark, court documents show. Interplay disagrees, obviously, and says it still holds the rights to develop the title with Masthead Studios, even though it failed to commence the stipulated full-scale development by April 4, 2009.

Gamasutra has more info on the lawsuit, which also mentions Interplay's licensing of the original Fallout games for digital distribution through services such Steam, GOG.com and GameTap. Bethesda says this has caused "immediate, substantial, and irreparable harm." But, hey, it's not all frowns and sad faces. Above this text is a neat piece of concept art for Project V-13 from Natiq Aghayev. Man, we never thought post-apocalyptia could look so good.

Source - Court documents [Via VG247]
Source - Gamasutra

New trophies tied to the downloadable content for Fallout 3 have appeared on player profiles recently, leading some to pray with all their might believe Bethesda could release the content early. Originally planned for a late-June release, the first of Fallout 3's DLC was delayed by Bethesda to the "end of September." Whether the appearance of the trophies signify an early release for the DLC or not, it appears the content is just around the corner for those clamoring for an excuse to revisit the Wasteland.

Whenever it releases, the first downloadable content for the PlayStation 3 version of Fallout 3 will be the level-raising adventure 'Broken Steel' -- originally the third DLC pack for Xbox 360 users. If Fallout 3 has yet to make its way into your library and you're the inquisitive type, you can check out the new trophy listing [via Kotaku] after the break.

Ever wonder what Fallout 3's Capital Wasteland would look like set to dramatic music, timelapsed, and shot in super high resolution? Now's your chance to find out! Eurogamer's Digital Foundry has given just such a treatment to the game via the PC iteration, cranked up to 11. (Is that even possible?!)

The idea behind the video is to show what Fallout 3's engine was capable of -- and we think you'll agree that it meets some very impressive results. Check out the full video here ... or go get auto-tuned. Will you take the moral high ground or lounge in the gutter? The choice is yours!