Fallout 3 or Fallout New Vegas?

both. but no seriously, even though fallout:nv has the best story, i suggest you start with fallout 3, for the background and getting to know the world, that's pretty important. afterwards you can buy nv ;)

how many fallout threads do we have here actually? and why not ask for opinions at beths forums?

NV adds a lot of stuff, feels a bit more polished and if I went back to FO3 now I might find it clunky and lacking but no question I enjoyed FO3 more; better setting, more memorable characters, way more fun to explore, far more mini stories to uncover in ruins and vaults, etc..

Fallout NV (made by Bioware, using Bethesda engine) is a bettere role-play experience, like the first 2 awesome games. Fallout 3 is like a simplified version of Fallout's world. If you haven't any of them (or you are new to rpg) you can start form F3, but if you are looking for a good rpg New Vegas is better.

New Vegas is better in just about every way

I'd say both. (These are all my opinions)
FO3 has a nicer story line and I believe its a slightly bigger map. FONV has more variety in weapons and IRON SIGHTS. :D

I'd choose New Vegas.

New Vegas all the way, it was done by Obsidian wich makes it a lot better.

F 3

Fallout 3, NV is just too colorful & Happy... barely looks post-apocalyptic :P

Fallout 3 is very dark & It was alot of encounters that will make you go "WTF!!!!!" while New Vegas is all =D

There's no clear answer to this as both excel in different areas. New Vegas is loaded with "bite sized" content everywhere, but Fallout 3 has more major sidequests and truly interesting areas. They're both excellent. If I had to pick, I'd go Fallout 3 since it has a better story arc especially with the Broken Steel Addon.

fallout 3

Fallout 3

Fallout 3 all the way! But you cant go wrong with either really

Everyone's kind of split on this issue. Here's my thoughts. Be warned, I'm long-winded:

Fallout New Vegas is definitely a bit more polished. Technologically, it's certainly better, due to...Well, being newer. It's definitely cheerier and less...Bleak, than Fallout 3. It's also got some really interesting features, such as Hardcore Mode, and a lot of neat, miscellaneous additions that Fallout 3 lacked. Supposedly, it's also much closer in "feel" to the original two games, though I've not played them yet so I wouldn't know.

Personally, though, I really enjoyed Fallout 3 more. With New Vegas, I personally thought it was less memorable, and that the plotline wasn't nearly as senseful or interesting. (One follows your character from birth. The other starts with you surviving a headshot. Somehow.) I thought the characters were much more interesting as a whole, as well. In addition, I also liked the extreme post-apocalypse feel of Fallout 3 better, as it's definitely a more hopeless and desolated setting. Seeing recognizable landmarks and items such as the White House and the Declaration of Independence was also pretty cool, not going to deny that. (The DLC's also really good.)

But that's also probably, at least in part, because I played it first. New Vegas and Fallout 3 are very similar, so while Fallout 3 had a lot of wonder and intrigue in it for me, New Vegas felt way too familiar. So you might enjoy New Vegas more, who knows.

TL;DR: Depends on what you want. If you want a more wacky, modern, close-to-the-original adventure, go for New Vegas. (It's definitely more comical. Especially with Wild Wasteland. If you play the game, take it. Best perk ever.) If you want a more serious, dramatic, post-apocalyptic feel and story, go for Fallout 3. I heartily recommend the latter. If nothing else, it's more /American/.

Start from Fallout(1) to Fallout:NV. Simple. For me Fallout 3 was most disappointing.

Fallout 3's setting is vastly superior to New Vegas', but New Vegas has some pretty neat additions, particularly the hardcore mode and the extra stats taken from the first two games that didn't make it in FO3. Personally, I'd say the former is better since I love exploring the Capital Wasteland.

Start with the old-school games. Do them in order, you'll appreciate Vegas by the time you get there.

FO1 FTW!

Fallout 1.

I liked FO3 better.

I would say Fallout Tactics.
But for real advice, some friends on my acc say New Vegas is much better.
"1000 times better than fallout 3. :D "

Fallout 3 bored me so much but New Vegas is brilliant

I liked how FO3 unfolds, you see your character grow from a baby into a great paladin or something in-between.

If you liked the original 2 fallouts then vegas is best cause it keeps some of the flair. they're both great games regardless