New Fallout 3 DLC Increases Level Cap

Bethesda has revealed more details about the upcoming DLC packs for Fallout 3, including news that the third DLC pack will remove the game's ending and increase the maximum character level to 30.

In an interview with Eurogamer, DLC Lead Producer Jeff Gardiner talked about Operation: Anchorage, the in-game simulation of the Battle of Anchorage that pits the player against hostile Chinese forces in Alaska. Players will enter the tactical combat simulator in order to assist the Brotherhood Outcasts in their quest for technology - in this case, advanced military hardware locked in a vault that can only be opened by completing the virtual mission. Because Operation: Anchorage is essentially a game-within-a-game, players will apparently be stripped of the equipment they've picked up throughout the game, and will have to complete the mission with resources unique to the simulation.

"Since Operation: Anchorage can be entered at any time, we've made sure that the player will feel challenged no matter what their level is in the main game," Gardiner said. "And, since it's a simulation, we've taken liberty to add some traditional game elements to it since it's justified in this context - health and ammo replenishing stations, for instance."

Players will also be able to select and command "strike teams" of different types of soldiers, like snipers or heavy weapons troops, and have access to new equipment only available in the sim, such as the Chinese Stealth Suit, which Gardiner said "works similar to Stealth Boy every time you crouch!"

Following the release of Operation: Anchorage this month, Bethesda will put out The Pitt in February, giving players the chance to explore the bombed-out ruins of Pittsburgh in what Gardiner called a "more 'traditional' Fallout 3 quest," and then in March will unleash Broken Steel, new content which will actually extend the game's story and raise the level cap to 30. "We felt there's no harm in letting the player enjoy the game as long as they'd like, and so along with removing the game's 'ending' with Broken Steel, we figure raising the level cap would allow them to do that," he said. "We plan on raising it to level 30 - but it will be a long, hard climb to get there!"

"Broken Steel not only extends the game to level 30, it alters the core ending," he continued. "It allows the player to continue exploring the ashen Wasteland and see the fruits that are born, or that die, from their decisions. It will reprise several main characters, and conclude some of the story threads left dangling."

Gardiner said the DLC releases for the Xbox 360 and PC will be identical, and reiterated that this content is exclusive for those platforms - PlayStation 3 owners are still out of luck. An official release date for Operation: Anchorage, which will cost 800 Microsoft Points, has not been announced.

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I'm really looking forward to these, but I really wish the level cap would be raised in the first one.

Thank the gods of gaming for this boon.

So they're doing what the fans wanted them to? Good for you Bethesda!

Sounds like Bethesda weren't happy without Fallout 3's ending either then.
Good news for all!

See, I won't mind the non-ending near as much if they just make it the terminus for the rather worthless in-game story. Then, it still stinks, but at least wallowing through it won't end the game. The player can do that, when and however they like, in line with they way they've played the game. The level 30 cap will certainly help.

But why only cap it at 30? Why not just open it up to 100 or something? Let people become gods of the Wasteland if they're so inclined. It's like Bethesda wants to make sure we enjoy the game, but not for TOO long. What, is there an expiration date? Do we have a doctor's appointment we don't know about?

I'd like to see the DLC alter the game itself more too, but at the same time, we can be sure that whatever Bethesda gives us will be more than appreciated. More Fallout 3 can't be a bad thing, knowing their commitment to quality.

mastertang:
Nothing for ps3 eh? Oh well I'm not going to be rebuying this game just for that.

they were talking exclusive xbox 360 content since way before the game came out. this would be that content :P

well... so... i only own fallout3 for the ps3... what about me? that's not fair. well that suck.

No downloadable content for PS3? Sad face!

Kukul:
LoL, this is no news.

You can increse the max level yourself (to 999 if you want to)

Only on PC Version...which is why I'm rather annoyed that you have to pay $10 to get something PC players can do with what? Ten minutes and ability to use notepad?

Because they're charging ten bucks just to remove the level cap, right?

Malygris:
Because they're charging ten bucks just to remove the level cap, right?

Of course not, but assuming that one simply doesn't give a shit about extra 'missions in which you shoot more Enclave', he has little choice but to buy the DLC if he wants to get the raised level cap.

Given how much effort removing the cap takes(Hint: It doesn't take any) and seeing how everybody and their mother hits level twenty somewhere around half-way through the game, I really think this should've been a free patch.

Not just to RAISE the level cap, but to let you play through the wasteland after you activate Project Purity! This is what I can't wait for! The Alaska mission appeals to me because you get a nano-suit styled power-armor, if not quite as powerful. The Brotherhood of Steel quests don't appeal to me much, but as long as they're $10 or under, I'll probably get them just cause they're Fallout 3. (Fanboy alert).

Also, going over Level 20 with negative Karma causes your PC to crash, so its not feasible if you want a playable game. Even if you are good and turn evil later, your game will crash next time you load or go through a door.

I also want to see the battle in Alaska as it is mentioned lots and Liberty Prime will be there! Time to kick some commie ass! Seeing how the Fallout 3 universe was pre-nukes will be very interesting for me.

P.S. I've never reached Level 20 without cheats. I got to Level 18 once, but restarted the game to use a mod.

TheBluesader:

More Fallout 3 can't be a bad thing, knowing their commitment to quality.

Aparently it is if they put it on the PS3 since it's the only one of the three systems not getting the DLC.

Slayer_2:
P.S. I've never reached Level 20 without cheats. I got to Level 18 once, but restarted the game to use a mod.

Then you didn't hit a lot of side quests. It's so easy to max out in that game it's actually funny. I still have not gone to the Jefferson Memorial the first time in my present game and I've been maxed out for a while.

Then you didn't hit a lot of side quests. It's so easy to max out in that game it's actually funny. I still have not gone to the Jefferson Memorial the first time in my present game and I've been maxed out for a while.

I did EVERY side quest avalible. Some were destroyed or I killed the people who woulda gave me a quest, but I did at least 75 quests.

TheBluesader:
But why only cap it at 30? Why not just open it up to 100 or something? Let people become gods of the Wasteland if they're so inclined. It's like Bethesda wants to make sure we enjoy the game, but not for TOO long. What, is there an expiration date? Do we have a doctor's appointment we don't know about?

As neat an idea that is, I think you'd get really bored waaaaay before you got anywhere near level 100 without the actual quests and content to keep you going that long. I think 30 is just right.

I can't wait to get this DLC. I think Operation: Anchorage looks the most interesting since it lets you explore the setting more in a really cool way. There aren't many details so far, but the Pitt sounds mediocre - just another ruined city to have shootouts with raiders in. And Broken Steel sounds like it could be really cool, even just for raising the level cap and allowing you to keep playing after the end.

I wasn't too happy when I first heard about the level 20 cap, I think mainly because I'd grown so used to Bethesda games being completely open-ended and letting you become literal supermen if you felt like playing long enough. But after I hit the cap I grew to appreciate it, precisely because it didn't let you become that superman: As much as possible (which, admittedly, wasn't much in most cases) the challenge was maintained because you could progress this far, and no farther. As an unarmored stealth character, I was forced to exercise caution even in the very late stages of my game because I was completely unequipped to stand toe-to-toe with anything - unlike Oblivion and Morrowind, which I began as thief-style characters and ended able to bitch-slap to death anything and everything I saw without breaking a sweat.

So Fallout 3 is a different approach, but one I like. I think Bethesda will also find it facilitates future DLC, as they're able to more closely control what players can and cannot do within the game, and thus better control the narrative as well. Obviously it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea (see above) but if you look at it that way, it's at least a little more understandable.

Slayer_2:
I did EVERY side quest available. Some were destroyed or I killed the people who woulda gave me a quest, but I did at least 75 quests.

You're missing something. Level 20 is super-easy to hit. I maxed out long before I even considered wrapping up the game.

NOt going to be on the PS3....They can go to hell. I'm not going to buy a PC copy just so I can get downloadable content.

"Broken Steel not only extends the game to level 30, it alters the core ending," he continued. "It allows the player to continue exploring the ashen Wasteland and see the fruits that are born, or that die, from their decisions. It will reprise several main characters, and conclude some of the story threads left dangling."

That is not an improvement, that is a re-do.

Malygris:

So Fallout 3 is a different approach, but one I like. I think Bethesda will also find it facilitates future DLC, as they're able to more closely control what players can and cannot do within the game, and thus better control the narrative as well.)

I don't think Bethesda needs to "find" that out--I think that's exactly why they're doing it. As you say, it facilitates future content that they can continue to sell. A smart move from a business standpoint and perhaps one we'll see other games take advantage of.
So much effort is put into a big game like this--if the players like the game, they want to continue. So instead of putting more effort into a sequel, why not allow additional content for the original instead? It's basically the mmo system translated to single-player games.

Just wish that had been the case for KotOR I and a bunch of others in the past....

Well as a PC gamer i cant say Im too excited because...
1 We removed the level cap by like 5 days after the release
2 We can play after the main quest.
3 That cool stealth boy on crouch suit...we got one a week ago
4 We have (rather crude at this time) mods that let us summon and organize/order around troops from a drop ship.
5 By the looks of it you need a Microsoft live account witch i REALLY dont want
But.. If the story aspect is as good as that are chocking it up to be it might overcome the downsides, but i doubt it.

Autohellion:

5 By the looks of it you need a Microsoft live account witch i REALLY dont want
But.. If the story aspect is as good as that are chocking it up to be it might overcome the downsides, but i doubt it.

No you won't, that's just for 360 owners.

@ps3 players: Did you NEVER read the like million places it was posted Microsoft bought exclusivity rights for the DLC on consoles? This is like the 5th time they've done it in a year. PS: Meant to be played PC, so hah.

I'm pretty psyched for some of it, but they'll need to fix the stat allocation bug cause there are people that at 20 have maxed all skills as is, and will lock you up at the level screen.

fish food carl:
Awesome! As a Fallout 3-freak, I'm going to get myself some points and wait with baited breath on the release day.

I smell something...fishy.
On another note, sounds good. I like this idea, actually, quite a lot.

curses! Why did Bethesda ignore the players at PS3?

ProjectileVomit:
curses! Why did Bethesda ignore the players at PS3?

It's not a case of ignoring its more the fact that Microsoft have a large amount of income to buy the rights to these things. Sony doesnt charge for its online service which is cool in theory but it also means that they don't have extra funds to buy the DLC. That money we pay a year for Gold most of it goes into buying DLC and securing new games (Ie FF13). So a double edged sword if you will.

Lanowar:

ProjectileVomit:
curses! Why did Bethesda ignore the players at PS3?

It's not a case of ignoring its more the fact that Microsoft have a large amount of income to buy the rights to these things. Sony doesnt charge for its online service which is cool in theory but it also means that they don't have extra funds to buy the DLC. That money we pay a year for Gold most of it goes into buying DLC and securing new games (Ie FF13). So a double edged sword if you will.

Oh, I never look at the subscription fees that way. At first I loathed it for charging players to play online when PC has had free online for years.
Now I see the money Xbox Live subscribers aren't going into the hands of fat corportae pigs. And some of the money is actually used to buy DLC royalties? So maybe Xbox Live IS worth while after all...

Interesting

Lanowar:

ProjectileVomit:
curses! Why did Bethesda ignore the players at PS3?

It's not a case of ignoring its more the fact that Microsoft have a large amount of income to buy the rights to these things. Sony doesnt charge for its online service which is cool in theory but it also means that they don't have extra funds to buy the DLC. That money we pay a year for Gold most of it goes into buying DLC and securing new games (Ie FF13). So a double edged sword if you will.

It's pretty biased that PS3 owners won't be able to experience the DLC pack just because of Sony's incompetence. But then again, I can't exactly blame Microsoft for being smart about the way they use their income either.

I've played the damn game and beat it so many times, I've lost interest. Free DLC might spice it up a bit, but I doubt that there are too many more hours left for me on that series.