Radio Free Wasteland

After spending some quality time in Megaton, my character hacks into the Saloon Owner's computer to find out where my father could have gone off to. I read about Galaxy Free Radio, which broadcasts hope to the Wasteland and apparently my father went off to "fight the good fight." I decide to wait until daybreak to leave Megaton and find my father.

I spend the night wandering around Megaton, talking to the natives and exploring the buildings. I meet interesting characters such as Mother Maya, the spiritual leader of the bomb-worshipping Children of Atom, and Jenny Stahl, who runs the local restaurant, with a menu filled with dirty water and squirrel stew. The local old woman, Manya, tells me about he dangers that lurk outside the walls, Raiders, Supermutants, etc. which I am sure to encounter later in the game. First, I want to stock up on weapons, before I leave the relative safety of Megaton and wander in the Wastes.

Playing this game, I continue to be astonished by how every little object and character in this game is important. The possibilities of where I can go from here are mind-boggling, and a little confusing. There are so many options that I don't know what exactly I want to do. It's great to have this much freedom in a video game, as it allows for much interactivity and helps me learn.

Exploring the Capital Wasteland

Unfortunately, my gameplay this week did not have much to do with the readings. The readings were about how technology should be implemented into schools to help stimulate students' learning experiences. In the last time I played, my character took an aptitude test called the G.O.A.T. - or Generalized Occupational Aptitude Test - which featured questions like "You are approached by a frenzied vault scientist, who yells, "I'm going to put my quantum harmonizer in your photonic resonation chamber!" What's your response?" This seems to be going in the opposite direction of the way schools are actually heading. However, one can assume that the apocalypse made humans more primitive, employing standardized tests as the only qualifier for future employment.

Gameplay this week was incredibly interesting. After my character escaped the Vault, I had a chance to explore the outside world. The outside world is a vast wasteland, free of cars, people or plants or anything signifying our presence on Earth, except the crumbled ruins of an old city, presumably Washington DC. I have to fight feral dogs and mole rats and two headed cows and I find a city called Megaton. The city is a fortress in the middle of the wasteland. The interesting thing about Megaton is an un-detonated nuclear bomb lies in the middle of the city. Some people in the city even worship the bomb

The most interesting part of my trip is how my walks around the apocalyptic wasteland was accompanied by 40's big band Jazz, making my proceedings even more ominous and creepy. I can't wait to delve even deeper into the game next week.