I just picked up my GOTY and went to load my original save with about 100 hours and was extremely disapointed to find out that it would not load and I have to start over. I was wondering if this is going to be fixed or what? I can't beleive I just spent $70 on a game I already played for 100 hours and can't continue!!!
Please tell me Bethseda is going to fix this!?!

If you still have your original game, can you please post what the serial number of the game is. It's on the spine of the case and should be something like BLUS-XXXX or something.

This is very worrying. I posed the question as soon as GOTY was announced and, with the reassurance that old save-games would work, I traded in my original copy of Fallout 3 and pre-ordered the GOTY. So, I've no idea what the serial number of the game was, as I'm sure Dublin Down probably doesn't either!

I traded my copy in as soon as GOTY was anounced.

The saves should work, but, and this is the catch, the region of your original game has to match the region of the GOTY. So, for instance, if you had the French-Canadian version of the original game, even though it's still in English, it will not work with a GOTY that is sold in the US.

I baught both versions of the game from the exact EB Games in Canada.
Is anyone else having this issue?

From what I can gather, the stores in Canada had two Fallout 3's stocked. One with BLUS-30185 and the other with the serial number BLUS-30234. They're both English language versions, but they aren't compatible. My guess is that the GOTY edition is the same sort of thing. See if you can find a GOTY with a different serial number at the EBGames.

If they don't have two different GOTYs in Canada, my guess is that we're going to be seeing a lot of posts asking about save compatibility in the coming weeks.

Yes. Exact same issue. I've pre-orded both copies form the exact same EB Games store in Canada. Both copies came with the french manuals. Although my GOTY Edition came with the french manual on the outside of the case whereas my original collectors edition had the french manual inside of the case.

Edit:

Just pulled out my lunchbox that still had the plastic packaging around it:

Original game SKU: BLUS 30216
GOTY Edition SKU: BLUS 30455

This is ridiculous!

I bought the original Fallout 3 Collectors Edition from EB Games Canada (BLUS 30185) and I bought the GOTY Edition (BLUS 30455) from the same store! What the hell, the GOTY won't recognize my saves from the original version. I have over 200 hours invested in my many save files and it's bull that I have to replay it AGAIN just so I have a chance at the DLC episodes.

Fix this Besthesda.

Hey folks,

Just in case you haven't done so already, please go to the support section of gamesas.com and submit an email to their support folks. I'm willing to be the more support requests they get, the faster they will resolve our issue.

And just as a followup... the GStaff confirmed on the official gamesas blog that the saves would work (scroll down till you see the reply in gold):

http://bethblog.com/index.php/2009/09/17/details-on-fallout-3-dlc-and-game-of-the-year-edition/

QUOTE:

Yes, your old saves will work.

Also, the English versions of DLC are coming next week ? so if you have the game in the UK, it should be available next week.

@ Sean Patch notes are here?
http://fallout.gamesas.com/eng/downloads/updates-v1.7updatenotes-US.html

@Paul 1.7 is the most up to date patch for PC. At present, we have no announced plans for new updates.

Other than that, if I learn about updates in other territories, I'll let you know.

Left by gstaff on September 17th, 2009

Same problem here.
Canada, bought F3 from Best Buy and F3:GOTY from EB Games.
I had the BLUS30185 version which I updated to 1.61, not the BLUS30284 issue (the one that wouldn't update to 1.61).
F3:GOTY is BLUS30455 and will not recognize the save games.

This is a definite issue, since Bethesda already stated that the save games would be compatible.
There will be a LOT of seriously angered users if this isn't resolved ASAP.

Thanks for the heads up, I emailed them. Let's see how long it takes to fix. I really hope they can fix it.

I also just bought the GOTY edition (BLUS 30455) and have the same problem. I traded in my original copy (from the collector's, BLUS 30216) They were bought at different EBgames, but they were both in the same city. I'll follow your advice on contacting support, Jimmr. Hopefully they can fix this and fast.

I'm having the exact same problem. I sold my original copy of Fallout 3 this summer so I could buy the GOTY edition. I bought both of the original and this GOTY one at the same store. Now I can't load my saves. I too live in Canada! I don't know my previous game's codes. I'll be sending a message to the support email ASAP.

So Bethesda either shipped US versions of the original Fallout 3 to Canadians and Canadian versions of the GOTY Edition thus making it impossible to use previous saves. [censored] it! I was really looking forward to playing the DLC episodes right away and now this. I really hope they fix this but until then all we can do is spread the word on forums and email their support.

I have the same problem, used to have BLUS30185(trade it in at EB-Canada) and just bought BLUS30234. That svcks ass. How can you design a game like Fallout 3 and over look a something so stupid!!!!

Is there a way to find the code of the game I originally had? It was the collectors edition in the lunchbox. I don't have the game of the sleeve that came around the box anymore...

The code on my copy was BLUS 30216, but when I copy the save games to a USB Memory stick I get sku BLUS30185 as part of the filename. Copying the file to a usb stick will probably tell you what version of the game you were using.

Thank you, that worked. My original game saves are BLUS30185 and my new game (GOTY) edition is BLUS 30455. I hope this info can help somehow.

There's a second thread regarding this... I've posted my testing/attempts to fix this over there:

http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=1047541&st=0&gopid=15196785&#entry15196785


Let's try to merge this thread.

what goty SKU would you need to buy if you have 30185? or does that not matter (i.e. the saves won't be recognized no matter what goty SKU you buy)?

At this point nobody is officially responding to the issues... even though I have seen gstaff reading this thread. I haven't heard of somebody successfully loading an old savegame using the GOTY edition disc.

I'm guessing everyone posting here thus far are in Canada?

I'm from Canada and I'm having the same problem. The worst part is that because they game is now open I won't be able to return it for a refund. This is bull, in my opinion; I was promised a feature which is not being included and as such I haven't been sold the product I paid for. Bethesda can make this right by either fixing this problem or, if not possible, by offering those who are having this issue the original game along with the DLC for free in exchange for out GOTY copies (which I can't see realistically happening). *sigh* I just want to play my old char with the DLC like I was told I would be able to.

Also, I am from Canada as well.

Hmm, seems like Canada got the short end again. One of the versions sold never got patched, and it seems like that's conflicting with GOTY over there.

As far as the game opened already, you should be able to exchange it for another GOTY, if there is more than one GOTY version in Canada. But yeah, if you're trying to get money back, that's probably not going to happen.