IMO the best Fallout in the series ~is Fallout; and since it is available again on Steam and GoG, that's the one I'd recommend as the intro into the series.

The only good Fallout game is Fallout 3.

New Vegas was a small release...a spin-off. It's a flame on the sun against Fallout 3.

Fallout 3 is much more mainstream than New Vegas. And much more appealing and easier to get into. I've tried 3 times to get into New Vegas and it's still lackluster.

I always felt it was easier to play the Fallout series backwards than it is to play the Elder Scrolls series, so long as we're good with the turn-based gameplay. I totally miss the improved combat and leveling from Morrowind, but we can't really go through Fallout 2 and think "shucks, I really miss ironsights".

Thanks much for all the tips and feedback!

I will definitely take the tips into consideration, so thanks for those! I plan to eat as much dogmeat as possible, curl up with Deathclaws for safety at every possible juncture, scream & kill all ghouls on sight, and stick my junk in every robot I find in hopes for a quick fix!

PC upgrades are eventually on the horizon. I played Alien: Isolation on the PC, and it played well/I enjoyed it, but my current monitor has a maddening issue with backlighting in a dark environment and bleedthrough. I got it to an acceptable level, but it's kind of turned me off from the PC for an epic game like this until I find a monitor that suits me better (which is tougher than it should be). Sound is also significantly better on my home theater right now.

Re playing one of the previous games first, the bottom line is that at the pace I play games, there's absolutely no way I'd finish one, so I think I'll stick with 4 and then go back if I choose to later. I could start 3, but either I'd be rushing and still not finish (which might make me less likely to play it in full later on) or I'd get invested in the story and not want to stop. I'm pretty sure I'll like the mechanics from what I know, but if I don't in 4, hey...then I don't and I probably wouldn't continue with the series. (But I really don't see that happening).

I will most likely go ahead and pick up that Anthology assuming I like 4. I don't mind old games. Just last year I played the original Wing Commander and Wing Commander II, and I come from the System Shock and later Deus Ex days (I'm in my 30's, though not at heart =oP). Poor graphics don't bother me if the gameplay/atmosphere are there.

I can show you how to hook your PC up to your TV, assuming you have a modern TV set and a decent graphics card with HDMI. Your life will be greatly improved When you do upgrade, make sure you get parts with that in mind (lounge integration).

Thanks for the Shoddycast lore series links! I already had discovered that and was making my way through it, actually - it is fantastic in filling in the story, but it still leaves enough mystery that a playthrough of the games eventually would still be rewarding!

Re 3 vs NV, it seems like Marmite in the UK; either you love it or you hate it. =oP I think given the themes, I might like it, but I realize they're very different experiences.

Tawnee, thanks - that's very kind of you. It's not so much the connections but the logistics of doing so - they're a bit of a ways from each other and I don't want to run the cables, nor is there really space to put the PC at the moment. The PS4 just ends up the easier solution in my living situation, at least until I can figure a better way to do things. Also, I use this PC for work and many other things, so having it in the home theater doesn't make a lot of sense at the moment. But I do greatly appreciate the offer!

Yeah you'll need to move the PC a little closer and set it all up with that in mind. I keep mine at a desk in my lounge, and run cables along the same wall (behind a storage solution that houses books and a receiver, and my TV sits on this as well)...my place is really modular so it doesn't look out of place, basically have my work and entertainment all in the same area.

It's the same principal as using a console, but just with better graphics and the ability to surf the internet and do any other thing you want to do with your computer, in comfort.

Once you play this game and see what mods are out there, you'll know why I'm pushing you to upgrade to a PC

Very cool - yeah, I'll put some thought into moving that direction eventually. =)

Dirty boy

Never forget the old timers secret trick in the fallout world that if you sneak in close to a deathclaw and then tickle it on the belly it'll start to purr for 5 seconds before it goes to sleep.

Deathclaw tickles confirmed as a viable strategy.

Welcome!

I'm gonna keep it simple. If you haven't ever played a Bethesda open world here is the key thing to remember: "Don't let it overwhelm you". You've been enjoying very contained sci-fi worlds in comparison to a Bethesda title. I love the Shock series and Deus Ex but it's peanuts by comparison to the vastness of the previous fallouts.

I say "Don't Let it overwhelm you" because some of my more casual friends have taken years before they started loving Bethesda open world games. Regardless if you love learning the mechanics and exploring and discovering you will love fallout.

I also remind you to eat and drink regularly... in reality, not the game. When you wake up in the morning resist the twitching urge to grab the controller and have a meal, grab a shower, don't forget to feed the cat, and then place a copious amount of snacks and hydrators within easy reach of your chair.

Don't let the twitching startle you, just remain calm and do this before actually letting your fingers grab the controls, so that you will still have the feeling that the game hasn't Actually taken over your life.

Welcome....please play FO3 before 4 is released. Think you will get more out of FO4. Just like people who played the originals understood much of FONV's dialogue a little better.