Fallout 4 is finally here, and for some fans of the game, a Pip-Boy has come as well. I was lucky enough to get one, and thought I would give you a little review of it and tell you if I think it was worth the money.

My first impression of the Pip-Boy was that it was really well made.

The shell of it is made of a pretty sturdy plastic and the hinges are made of metal. It can be a little confusing figuring out how to get your phone or tablet into the Pip-Boy without reading the directions, but once you figure it out, it’s fairly simple.

One issue I did have is that my Galaxy S4 is too big for the foam ring that is supposed to fit it. When I try to slide my phone into the Pip-Boy it smashes down on the foam pad rather than being encased in it.

Other than the fact that my phone is smashed into the thing, the companion app for the Pip-Boy works really really well.

The app is an extension of the in-game Pip-Boy and allows you to change your guns, armor, map waypoints, and radio stations. Anything else that can be done on the in-game Pip-Boy can be done on the app. It works instantly with the game, and it works every time.

The best use I have had for the app so far is the map section. It's a real-time map of your character and locations you are near, just like in the game. The app allows you to create new waypoints, move/remove them, and fast travel. It’s nice to just glance at my wrist really fast to see what locations are around me and what I can expect ahead of me.

Overall, I would say that the app itself is a must have for any player of the game.

Just set it on your lap or next to your computer screen and use it that way. The Pip-Boy, however, is really a love it or hate it type of product. I can see why some people are disappointed by it, but I personally love it. I would say it was well worth the money because I am a huge fan of the series, but if you planned on buying just a Pip-Boy somewhere without the game, I wouldn't pay more than $40, because that’s about all it’s really worth. 

I would give the Pip-Boy itself an 8 out of 10.

[Video and photos are mine.]

If you, like a lot of people out there, were not able to pick up a pip-boy edition of Fallout 4 then I have some good news for you. The specs for the Fallout 4 design of the pip-boy is now available for 3D printers.

This was done by a mechanical engineer at the website Ytec 3D called Yvo de Haas. This design consists of 38 parts and can be customized to fit different wrist sizes and a range of smartphones, including the iPhone 6s. 

There are three sizes available to buy at the moment, a small, medium or large sized pip-boy. Assembly is required, though, but there is a link on Ytec 3D website on how to build it and what sized screws, bolts, and tools needed to finish the build. They also cover how to paint the pip-boy parts, unless you are fine with the colour white for your pip-boy. 

Ytec 3D also offer designs of the laser pistol, and laser rifle from the Fallout series for 3D printers to download from their website. All you need to make one of these is your own personal 3D printer or know someone who owns one. 

VaultTech wants you to know that you are a very S.P.E.C.I.A.L. flesh-devouring wasteland survivor in Fallout 4's Endurance training video.

The Endurance skill in the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. system is a robust and versatile stat that will make you robust and versatile in the wastes. Endurance will help vault dwellers run faster, last longer, resist disease, and be the post-apocalyptic cannibal deviant that you always wanted to be. You and Dogmeat will be chowing down on other survivors in no time!

Are you finding yourself without Endurance? Well, expect fewer food options, less carrying capacity, less sprinting power, and a greater susceptibility to disease. Yuck.

Upon Fallout 4's upcoming release on November 10th, Bethesda Softworks has banded together with Loot Crate to come up with a limited edition crate, featuring all things Fallout.

What is Loot Crate?

Loot Crate is an online monthly subscription that brings video game and geek memorabilia to your doorstep for a small price of $13.95 plus a shipping cost. Inside the Loot Crate can be toys, books, and apparel that is valued at up to $40.

During each month of Loot Crate, there is also a "Mega Crate" that is available but given to only a few randomly selected winners, which features expensive equipment, sometimes including consoles. While the theme of Loot Crate changes each time, a Fallout Loot Crate has come along for the launch of Fallout 4.

Specifics about the Fallout Loot Crate

Most Loot Crates leak a few photos of possible items to be included, but the Fallout Loot Crate will remain a mystery on what is included. Bethesda Softworks, Pete Hines released a statement about the inner workings between Loot Crate and Bethesda, and how much fun they've been having with the expansive world of Fallout:

"We're having a lot of fun working with Loot Crate on items for this limited edition crate,"

"The Fallout universe allows for so many possibilities —and we're sure fans will be excited about what's in store."

If you want updates on the release of the Fallout Loot Crate, you can sign up for alerts when it becomes available for order, but know that when the time has passed for this Loot Crate you'll miss out.

What would you like to see featured in the Fallout Loot Crate? From maps to Dogmeat to "Pip Boys," the options are many. 

Recently, I posted a piece on Collector's Editions of games and my love/hate relationship with them. While I like to own memorabilia for my favourite games, I dislike spending so much money on what is a glorified plastic statue. Todd Howard may have been reading because at Bethesda's debut E3 Press Conference, he announced the Fallout 4 Collector's Edition featuring a real Pip-Boy.

Unlike my Fallout 3 Collector's Edition Bobblehead that sits on a shelf however, this collector's item is actually part of an optional gameplay experience. In all Fallout games, everything from player stats to inventory management have been viewed on your characters in-game wrist mounted Pip-Boy. In Fallout 4, using a free app, your smartphone can be your Pip-Boy and therefore your management screens and menus. This second screen experience can be made all the more immersive by placing your smartphone into the collectible Pip-Boy and wearing it whilst your play the game.

The collector's edition (known as the Pip-Boy Edition) comes with other items as well such as a poster and a Pip-Boy guide but the idea of having a collectible item with an actual in-game use is very exciting and may breath new life into the concept of collector's editions.