GameInformer

first, choose a child at heart perk. when in little lamplight talk to a kid named biwwy. and youll get wazer wifle for free

be careful who u kill they might be need for a mission and dont pick up the little things that are worthless it will fill you up to fast and u will not be able to hold a lot of needed stuff.

play side missions alot!!! dont just go for the big missions to find out more about the story faster, i did that and before i knew it i was at the ending. at disappointed

As you're leveling up, don't pick the perks that give you extra experience. Once you're max level, they're wasted spots you could have used for something else. Unless, of course, you plan on not playing the character anymore once you max out or finish the main story.

Do the Wasteland Survival Guide.  The quest can be found at the beginning of the game in Megaton.  Find Moira Brown, and you will be good to go.

I suggest that you always have speech marked as a skill because it helps you barter for lower prices, which is always helpful

in my experience i have a few tips. when you start out lower your charisma just a smidge completly lower your luck unless you want some perks like mysterious stranger and max out intelligence. when you max that out you can quickly upgade your stats like energy weapons. i also reccomend agility for VATS points. and if you want to be a cheater and make your game easier. for money (caps) you can buy a traders item like apparel or weapons (only if they have 2 or more). sell it to them buy it again and sell. it takes a couple of tries. be careful of who you kill they might be useful. dont even try to upgrade melee and unarmed they are useless. those are my tips use what you want and good luck in the capitol wasteland !!!

Explore Explore Explore..also..get the guide or obtain one online..this game is HUGE..also you might wish to invest in Microsoft points and get the DLC..theres some mighty good stuff there..and my best piece of advice, save OFTEN..game crashes can wipe hours of playtime.

Repair your weapons often

Don't worry about ammo so much there is an abundance of it

Don't collect every scrap you see

When choosing perks get  'Intense Training' and max out your satrngth you'll be able to carry more.

Perks again, Bloody Mess sounds cool but you'll eventually xcome to regret choosing it.

Realise this is a game and disregard what everyone including myself tells you and just enjoy the game the way you want to.  If you play the rpg and choose stats and quests as you want to the character becomes more of a representation of  who you are. Just have fun with it, there is no way to build a character wrong in this game you will do just as well end game as everyone else.

Don't die!

You should get the "Fallout 3: Prima Official Game Guide"; there is a lot of info in there. Oh, and make sure you grab the Bobble Heads when you see them.

Don't get the perk that shows you all the locations, it just makes things more confusing.

Big Weapons + Flamer + Pyromaniac Perk = UNSTOPPABLE

Better critacals perk also awsome.

Get the game of the year edition as it has all of the downloadable content to date.

THE PITT

OPERATION ANCHORAGE

MOTHERSHIP ZETA

and two more I can't think of