Dear Bethesda,

I'm a definite fan of your last 2 Fallout games. I have logged in probably over 200 hours (close to 300) on Fallout 3 and have enjoyed the hell out of it. Since you released the DLC late for the PS3 version, I even bought an extra copy of the game, the Game of the Year Edition, to collect the DLC and get the full experience. I hotly anticipated the release of New Vegas by reading as many articles both online and in magazines to find out as much as I could. I decided to get the game for the 360 as my PS3 was running out of HD space.

When I got the game, I really enjoyed my experience! Sure some say that it's too much like Fallout 3 but I thought since I loved Fallout 3 so much, that wasn't a problem at all! Hell, it's not called Fallout 4 for a reason, right? After putting in 26 hours into the game and obtaining a lot of items, my game crapped out on me and I not only lost my auto save to file corruption, I lost one of my manual saves to it as well. Sure, it's my fault for saving to only one file, but I thought my auto save was my safety net.

Now, I can't continue the main quest, I can't do some of the side quests, I can't continue hunting for more skill books and other items. I paid for a game and it svcks that I can't fully enjoy it. I know for these big games, there's a lot of work put into it and I am a patient man... I will wait for these bugs to be fixed. What I am trying to get to is that you guys made a mistake, you guys have released a game that has gotten some of your customers pretty pissed off. I'm sure the team is working hard at fixing it, but I do think the fact that we had to wait for a fix instead of having a smooth play experience svcks. I think in keeping your fans happy and saying "Hey, we screwed up and we're really sorry", maybe you can throw us a bone in the effect of free DLC like additional/unique items, maybe release the first DLC episode for free, or something along those lines.

I think it'd be a really nice gesture on your part and show good faith to the gaming community

Sincerely,
Shea

Thanks for that. I needed a good laugh.

Gotta ask.... one manual save file? Really? 200/almost 300 hours of Fallout 3, and you only had one manual save file for New Vegas?

Like I said, thanks for the laugh.

Yep, 1 manual and 1 auto. I'm not sure how paranoid you are with your games, but I like to go in thinking my auto save won't crap up on me and that I can always revert back to my manual save IF it does. I'm glad you got a good laugh =) Guess what, I had 200/300 hours on Fallout 3 without much problems when it came to saves so I just stuck by it. Maybe you're psychic and felt having scores of saves is great and it worked out for you. If that is the case, can you please help me pick lotto numbers? I need to pay off college loans, car payments, and all that good stuff.

Not sure if you've played other RPG games, but usually when I play stuff like Final Fantasy or Crono Trigger or what not, I have 2 files. See, one for recent stuff and one for a little before that. Taking notes? Good, keep reading. If I screw up on the more recent one, I can always fall back on the other. Now, when a game like Fallout comes out where I have an option for auto save that saves anytime I rest or enter a new area, well that becomes ONE saved file right? Now the math might be a tad bit hard but I keep a manual save as my SECOND save file, to fall back on. That way if I'm not doing what I should be on the auto save file, I have a decent fall back position.

As for asking for free DLC, why not? If Red Dead can do it, why can't Bethesda? How hard will it be to throw in the exclusive guns from the pre order to the masses for a not so finished game?

I like the way you think, that beeing said theres no way were getting free DLC. You are right it would be a huge show of faith and a completley acceptable apology. With micro$oft having exclusive dlc first, theres no way way there not getting there money back. Some companies like Ubisoft have there own way of supplying dlc and other content for free, and Dice gives stuff away like its going out of style. Like i said though micro$oft paid to have exclusive dlc so were gonna pay. I would love to see some form of apology or atleast some groviling at my feet (lol) for the bug fest that is F:NV but it aint gonna happen, theyll fix it and move on. Just remember this when the next game comes out, well all think a little bit harder about buying it on release day. Im not calling for a boycott or nothing like that just saying remember. cuz after all, War Never Changes and neither do developers and publishers.

Actually having only 1 manual save file isn't that uncommon. That IS what Autosave is for, not to mention for people who like to play with a bit more of a challenge and not be able to roll back to whatever point in the game they wanted, it's an understandable choice to only have 1.

Haha I love how you included "War Never Changes" in there ^__^

I mean I know I was expecting too much when I said the DLC episode, but maybe the exclusive guns from the pre orders or maybe an unique armor or something that Bethesda can just toss in for the players would be amazing. I think little give aways like that for the mess they're in now goes a long way with the fans/gamers.

I understand that aspect of it, but with a Bethesda game?

The only bugs I experienced with Fallout 3 were the freezes and corrupted save files. Just from the latter I made sure that I had multiple save files. Even if I wanted to play with the "challenge", I would still probably keep 3 manual save files, just because it is a Bethesda game.

With Fallout 3 I kept 10 save files. With New Vegas I currently have 20.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice...

Okay, then I apologize for my dike-ish remarks. Sorry dude =/

I just never had corrupt file problems in Fallout 3 so I figured this game wouldn't affect my saves either. I did have freezing issues, but I just ended up reloading from the auto which wasn't too far off.

Don't worry about apologizing. I have a blunt nature on forums and usually use smartasm to get points across, even if they are subpar points.

Haha I think sometimes you just have to be blunt though. Just like the Wasteland, message boards are full of unexpected creatures and you must always keep your guard up and keep a cold face I guess. Now that this happened in New Vegas, believe me, I will be keeping 4-5 saves in addition to the auto save.

Usually I'm laid back, but sometimes I just feel like John Doe from SE7EN, and I feel like I have to hit someone over the head with a Super Sledge just to get them to listen...

Obviously that wasn't the case with you, but like along the lines of what you said, I never can tell.

But back on topic, after reading about the latest and greatest on the patch, I might just keep 30 save files, lol.

The way the patch has done little to solve some of the major issues, I don't think 30 saves is so crazy anymore. I can't believe the file corruption spread to other saves instead of just the single corrupted one.