I don't know why anyone plays F3 and NV in 3d person....... the quality is heavily diluted when not in first person.
I disagree. It's not really a viable option for console as you can't really hold a button and swing the camera around as you're moving. I often have a look around without turning my character as s/he's running, with the third-person view. I was introduced to Fallout 3 on Xbox 360, and played entirely in first-person for two play-throughs. I gotta say, FPSs and console controllers ain't my bag baby. S'too slow. It's probably true - for me - of third-person on pad too. I built a PC to play Fallout 3, and playing in third-person on my second (PC) play-through, honestly, it's like playing a different game.
Close to the shoulder third-person is a great option, seperates me from the character, I don't feel quite so attached so as to BE the character, it's more like uh, guiding Lara Croft through a Tomb Raider adventure or something, only Lara Croft is a character I created, and I'm more invested in the character's adventure. Like most recent RPGs. Hard to explain I guess, but the difference is extremely apparent to me. I only play in third-person. But I do switch occasionally to first to, as I said, pick up a few itmes or just have a look around. It is very
occasional, I do that though.
Edit - I should say I rarely use VATS too. 12thMonkey's post just kinda prompted me to add. XD