Hines on Fallout 3 E3 press response: "I think we're pretty pleased"

Talking to VG247 today, Bethesda's Peter Hines said the firm's "pretty pleased" with the press reaction to Fallout 3 from E3, and that many journalists we shocked they could actually play the game.

"I think we're pretty pleased," said Hines. "A lot of folks that came to the booth were surprised they were getting to play the game and outside of a few things (perks, achievements, main quest) could go and do whatever they wanted in the time they had. We sort of feel like that's what our games do well, let people do things on their own without forcing them.

"So I'd be walking around and people would be in completely different parts of the world. Some just exploring, some talking to everyone in Megaton, or trying a quest, and so on. So I thought that went well and the game showed well and the feedback seems to be pretty good from the articles and previews I've been reading.

"Obviously it's more important what guys like you thought of the game than what I thought."

Fallout 3 took a headline slot in the Microsoft E3 press conference, following a lead performance from Gears of War 2.

The game releases on October 7 in the US, with no fixed date yet given in Europe.