Before I am lynched, let me make myself clear. I am a fan of OG Dogmeat. I think that as a companion he was essential to the game and a stellar NPC, especially for a non-speaking, non-human. But why, WHY!!! is he back for 4?!?!?!?! I am glad for a dog companion, but not the SAME ONE from 3. F Pete in the B. Mic drop. First post. Where my fishy stick at?

Love,
V.A.N.S.

My advice is to just ignore him if you don't want him in your game. I never used Dogmeat in Fallout 3. For all intents and purposes he never existed in my games.

I remember in fallout 1 you could either feed him, or smg him. If we have the same option, just choose the latter. Muhahahahaha

technically it's a different dog breed entirely, but to name him as "Dogmeat" is enough to make people's eyes roll like a ball in washing machines on a never ending cycle. They should've allowed users to give him a name and the PC to just say "Here boy!" or "C'mon pal!" and move on from there. If this was with the Dialogue wheel and text, we can go along the lengths of "Hey 'insert name'"

Dogmeat was essential? I never used him in the first or second game....... Though I remember a dog following me for a short while and during that period I was having the worst luck

He's been in all the games.(F1,2,3). Nothing more than a simple companion. Would be nice to have a chimp companion..or maybe a goat, or chicken.

I agree completely. My anger isn't at a dog making a comeback, it's the fact that Fallout is a world in which to immerse yourself in a player specific experience. Entering an NPC that was prominent in the previous entry, as a different dog with the same name is ridiculous. Let the player name him, or give him a new name to match the new look. Oh, and by the way, he can't die?!?! Really guys? Not everyone wants to reload their game to save a companion. Some would choose to play the game straight. No reloads, no second chances. This bothers me deeply, as in my eyes, it should be an option, not a given. All this being said, F4 will rule the Earth and I will rejoice as I feel Todd Howard's release all over my face.

Well, all of their decisions so far has been focused on opening Fallout 4 to a wider audience (casual). Until a modder somehow makes "hardcoe" mode again for everyone, I'm afraid you're just gonna have to pretend he doesn't exist, or at least take him, and once he goes unconscious, tell him to leave, the mangy mutt.

I picked him up in FO3 pretty early,

then left him in Megaton.

Otherwise he was only a very temporary meat shield.

This time will be better.

never used dogmeat, got killed too easy and couldn't bear see him die.

It is not the same dog, it is a new dog with the same name/titel.

You've never used any Dog companion in Fallout 3/New Vegas, did you?

Trust me, having an essential Dog Companion is a good thing.

Well frankly, that was the reason for my "F Pete in the B" comment. I don't feel at this stage in the game, that Bethesda need worry about the causal gamer. We bought their success, and we will continue to buy it, as long as they continue to cater to us, and not to the twelve year old COD and Madden fans, who think it would be nice to blow [censored] up with a mini-nuke. I will love Fallout 4, but if Bethesda starts leaning toward casual gamers more in the future, I will be a fan that stepped away from the light.

....it's just a name.

Used as a callback / tradition / nostalgia-thing.

Relax.

I hate him too now (not that I liked dog companions in the first place).

Because now they just slap the name in there to make people go all ''really devoted fan'' <---(site censoring my words lol) like if Bethesda wanted to say ''We're cool, aren't we?''

If you're the kind of fan that would say "F you and your company" because they brought another dog and gave the same nickname, maybe your the kind fan that Bethesda could live without anyway.

I'm going to take a wild guess and assume the name of the dog character will affect a statistically insignificant number of purchases

You've changed your tune throughout this thread. First you said you didn't want the same dog, then you changed it to a different dog with the same name. Maybe in the fallout universe, naming strays as Dogmeat is commonplace.

I think this is a non-issue.

Oh dear, many things in this post to disagree with.

1. There is nothing wrong with so called 'casual gamers' whose money is just as good as anyone else's.
2. Bethesda owes you nothing, they make games they think will be good, you can buy it or not, there is no entitlement beyond that.
3. This is a mature game = not for 12 year olds, even if this thread is suggestive of that.
4. Blowing stuff up is a legitimate activity.
5. I see no evidence of 'leaning toward casual gamers', they are one of many categories of players who may enjoy the game.
6. I think true fans would be pleased to see many different people enjoying the game, it is not an exclusive preserve of 'hardcoe' gamers.
7. And no, you won't be getting a fishy stick from me...

Read closely, sir or madame. Dogmeat is not the reason I am unhappy with Bethesda. I am unhappy because they are beginning to go for a casual audience. Slowly, passively. I am terrified they will become the EA of RPG makers. That thought makes me sick.

It's interesting how many here ignore that "Dogmeat" (yes it's always a different dog) is in all numbered Fallout games.

Good ole Pariah dog!

I think there might be a chance to name the dog, if not, I'm not really bothered by the name Dogmeat making a return. Secondly, going by what we've seen and now know about the perk chart, the dog companion looks like a much more viable option this time around.

Makes sense, especially in a survival situation. The dog doesn't understand or care what his name is, and if the dog meets a horrible end... hey, food!

It's like naming a pig "pork chop".

I wish we could rename him too, I'd never call a dog "Dogmeat"...I love animals

Jesus, you're a...passionate fellow aren't you? Talk about straining at a gnat and nitpicking at small things... Maybe you should lie down for a bit.

When was it explicitly mentioned that this is precisely the same Dogmeat from previous games? Seriously, where? It's just a nickname, a namesake, a tip of the hat to the old Dogmeat. Chill.

Like has been said - Dogmeat goes all the way back to Fallout 1. It's tradition...