No upfront install for Fallout 3

Bethesda marketing bod Pete Hines has revealed that Fallout 3 won't have a mandatory install process on the PlayStation 3 - instead making use of the console's hard drive in a more dynamic and intelligent way.

Speaking to gaming blog Joystiq, Hines said that the lack of an install process didn't mean the game wouldn't benefit from the hard drive. Rather than making the user wait for a "large, upfront install", the game shifts data to the hard drive in the background as you play.

In total, Fallout 3 will use about the same amount of HD space as Oblivion, which probably means that it'll have a 4 to 5 gigabyte cache.

Admittedly, the whole question of install process seems to instigate more anger and fervour among those who don't own PS3s than it does among PS3 owners themselves. However, it's still good to hear that at least one developer has worked out how to take advantage of the HDD without giving us a mandatory "go off and make a cup of tea" process before playing the game.

Fallout 3 will be launching on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC this Autumn. As far as Kieron is concerned, it's looking like Christmas will be early this year - as you'll no doubt surmise from his enthusiastic preview.