Seriously, why? This is one question I've been asking myself for quite some time now, and with the recent release of Fallout 3 (which I love by the way), I think now is the best time to discuss this.

I've been reading this thread for a while now, and I can't understand why someone would always try to compare it detail to detail with the previous iterations of the series. There are obvious changes that had to be done (like prostitution and everything), so why would you want the company to become Rockstar #2? I know criticism is good, but sometimes it goes way too far.

So, basically my questions go as follow: Are people afraid of change? Do people recognize that some things can't be entirely reproduced in 3D gaming? Are people afraid to live in times that don't allow as much things as before, especially on TV and all?

Sorry, but censorship is wrong, societies subjective concepts of morality should not be forced on the entire population by effectively "banning" (or making it almost impossible) to release games with content deemed inappropriate by some or even many.

Fallout 1 and 2 came by, it was all good, but you can't honestly blame them for not incorporating inappropriate content nowadays. The game has huge appeal, and believe it or not, children will play this game. Games are even more accessible these days than before, don't forget that.

The game is rated M, 17 and up just like previous Fallout games have been meaning there should be no change in the content allowed as there is no change in the games rating. Though children will access it various ways as they always do, that is not the publishers responsibility as they have made it clear that the game is intended for adults thus, obviously does include adult subject matter. If they wanted to make a T game, your point would stand but seeing as the rating is M, there is no rationale as to why content has been cut for the sake of "children who shouldn't be playing the game in the first place.

I think Bethesda has a reputation to keep, and just for the sake of ''recreating the Fallout universe,'' it's seriously pointless. We're obviously not talking about Rockstar games here, and this is probably one of the reasons why they didn't incorporate old gameplay elements like this for Fallout 3. And what would it really contribute to the game anyways? Other than for Caps, I seriously don't see the point.

Also, I'm probably not the only one thinking this, but what did a rating ever do anyways?

There are other points (and games) to discuss here though, not just prostitution in Fallout games! ;)

"Are people afraid to live in times that don't allow as much things as before, especially on TV and all?"

Yes, very much so. This is one of my biggest fears, second only to environmental issues. I do fear that our society is becoming too controlling, too prude and afraid of sex and swearing.

Look, whether the rating is effective or not is irrelevant because from a legal standpoint the publisher is not liable to what happens with the game once it reaches retailers (with an appropriate rating) I mean by that logic we might as well ban anything inappropriate for any group of people since there's the possibility they may somehow access it. At that point we're talking about censorship, and reputation or not shouldn't be a greater priority than the basic human right of freedom of expression.

I don't know for you, but I believe prostitution wasn't seen as bad as now. Times have changed, views as well. I do admit ''the old people'' are vanishing more and more every year, and we're the new generation that will have to face with these problems in a couple of years to come. I also agree that censorship is bad, but if you want my humble opinion, saying a game doesn't hold up to its predecessors because it misses a few old gameplay elements in order to introduce a few others in the long run is pretty ridiculous. The new stuff is definitely more apparent (VATS for example) and more rewarding, and more than welcome most of the time.

So, what I'm getting here is that people want to see everything that were in the previous games, and introduce new stuff as well (I'm guessing production time would be shorter though)?

Because...!!!! Errrr..... I don't know.....

I do that. Why?

Because enjoying a game for what it isn't is pretty darn hard.