Flashback probably isn't the right word, as we likely won't be able to play as a ghoul, but I mean something where we might get to see the past. From the trailer, with those scenes in the engine, and a seeming emphasis on a duality between pre and post war, do you think we'll get to walk around in the past?

I'd personally be excited if we got to spend some time in the past just before the bombs fell. It'd certainly get my heart racing. I don't think it'll be time travel, but maybe something where we've got to explore someone's memories for where they hid something and there's a handy little machine that scanned the person's brain before they were killed.

Any ideas on the matter?

Personally I think the game's introduction will before the great war with you learning all the controls as you get the baby from the trailer into Vault 111 before the nuclear bombs drop.. the main game would be then set XX years later with you playing as the ancestor of the baby coming out of the vault...

Some people seem to be against having per-war parts but I actually like the idea of seeing what American was like back then (Lorerunner on YouTube gave a great idea for an baseball game) and if it svcks well it's only the introduction part so it won't ruin the whole game.

I completely agree. Major parts of the game shouldn't be in the past, as it is, well, Fallout, a post apocolyptic game, but certainly seeing the lead up would be amazing.

Do you think it'll follow the chronological order? 1, 2, 3, 4, or will Fallout be a sort of prequel? Also, is there any word on where it's set? I kept an eye out but I couldn't quite see where it was set.

I've seen quite a few posts from people saying they recognize landmarks from Boston, and much of the earlier rumor-mongering pointed toward Boston, so I think the setting being there is a pretty safe assumption.

Who knows, Vault 111 could be a vault where all of the people were put in cryogenic sleep.

I hope it's not a major part of the game, where we spend too much time in the past whether through flashbacks, or simulations.

I personally like how it is pieced together through old computer terminals, ghoul accounts, etc...

Great idea! I hadn't even considered that. Although most vault dwellers are ignorant of the outside world, people frozen to the same time the vault unlocks would be very interesting.

And since there's many rumors Vault-Tec knew the bombs would fall, tricking the 111 dwellers in the Vault and freezing them beforehand would be even better for the story. They wake up as if nothing happened, thinking it's still in the past, and then suddenly they step outside and it's a wasteland.

vault 111 is for Tault-Tec staff's family's and town is a Vault-Tec town justa guess

The person walking out of the vault from the 1st person point of view is wearing power armor judging by their arm. Vault 111 could be a vault of soldiers who were frozen in time.

Maybe the intro will be sort of like a homage to the Van Buren gameplay, and we briefly play as someone else trying to get to a vault.

Honestly I doubt it would have been shown in the trailer if they weren't going to be using it in game even it's just the introduction or a flashback when you meet the "father" (the guy in the white shirt is shown reaching the vault) although "the father" looks very much like the Vault dweller at the end...

I'm English so I haven't a clue but people are saying Boston since one of the statue or something are real life landmarks in Boston.

When fallout New Vegas was coming out I heard it was set in 2284 because Beth wanted all there games to be chronological order and there was "leak" about cryogenic sleep chambers being used in Vault 111 (but I haven't seen it) some time at least has past since the great war judging by the fact we have town and factions

One thing I did notice is that the house post-war still has (dead) flower in the plant pot... After 200 years wouldn't have that been reduced to dust

Personally I think the "flashbacks" are just for the intro/promo and to bring new players up to speed on what Fallout is. With 7 years since 3, and 4? years since NV, it is possible this may be some people's first time in the FO universe. I think the dog sniffing around in the house is just for the trailer, or maybe suggests that the PC may be a distant relation to the residents of the house.

There are 3 clear as day landmarks that point to the boston area that I have seen: Paul Revere's statue, the Bunker Hill Monument, and the Massachusetts State house. Along with other people recongizing areas (I have never been to Boston) and thinking that one area looks like Fenway and the ship (with the rocket engines(?) attached) may be the USS Constitution.

I think it's safe to say Boston will be a main area in the game.

It looks like we will get to see a bit of the pre-war world which is going to be awesome.

Nothing like linear flashback/dream sequences to take me out of the game.

Interesting to see what was correct in this post!

Given that you are the sole survivor of the vault, and your character from the trailer seemed to be in great condition (is it just me or does that vault suit seem a bit too blue?), I suspect that this vault might have something along the lines of cryogenic refrigeration. And so we'll see the story linearly, from before the war, to during, a long sleep, and then after.

Just my guess though.

We were all so young then...