The save corruption problem in FO3 is due to how Bethsoft's Gamebryo-based engines work. They're virtual machines, and "saving" means dumping the VM's memory heap out to disk. Problem with FO3 is that the VM is running while the dump is taking place. If a script activates during the dump process then the heap dump is inconsistent on disk. Hilarity ensues. Skyrim uses the same mechanism but it freezes the VM before dumping the heap -- that's the brief pause you experience when the save mechanism is triggered. FO4 runs on an updated Skyrim engine with the same freeze mechanism so there should be no save corruption.

Similarly, the CTD problems should mostly be gone. Most of the crashes are due to memory issues caused by trying to run in a 32-bit address space. FO4 uses a 64-bit address space so you shouldn't have crash problems unless broken mods go nuts.

> - Did anyone else notice that Codsworth says your name when
>you meet up with him again after the tutorial? (Or at least has a
>fairly high percentage chance to be able to do so?) I thought I
>imagined it the first time. That is pretty badass.

Bethsoft pulled a mini-Vocaloid, recording vocal sounds that are pieced together on the fly so that NPCs can say your character's name. Pretty much eliminates the convoluted use of pronouns I've seen in other voiced games where the MC's name is set by the player.

>Not so good so far:
>
> - It's cute how Bethesda tried to address their legendary tendency
>toward clunky UIs (lookin' at you, Skyrim) and, in doing so,
>made the Fallout UI clunkier than it was before.

It's to be expected. Once the GECK is out and the script extender is more fleshed out we should see something like SkyUI or Darn's UI for FO4.

> - No skills? Really? It's all stats and perks now? This and some

Perks are skills. And perks. At the same time.

And there is no level cap.

I like it. It's a lot more flexible than previous iterations of Fallout.

> - The character models actually look too good, by which I mean
>that they're so close to convincing it makes them less convincing than
>if they were just... less convincing. Everyone in Fallout 4
>comes from the Uncanny Valley.

I've noticed that. Along with a noticeably faster onset of simulator sickness than Skyrim. I've found some possible remedies for that (disabling mouse acceleration, increasing FOV, etc) that I'll try in the near future.

> - This next thing is arguably something I screwed up for myself, but:
>I had a nice little homestead set up for myself in Sanctuary Hills
>before I went to Concord, and now these people have just moved in like
>they own the place.

That's how the game is supposed to work. If you build a town then people will move in.

> - This is a super-minor thing, but, I'm sad the game no longer draws
>your holstered weapon when you're not carrying it around in your hand.

Inherited from Skyrim. Same engine after all. There's probably a mod for this, or there will be once we have the GECK.