Fallout 3 Video Interview

A two-part video interview with Pete Hines is up on Hit.ro, taken from the Fallout 3 showing at GDC Leipzig. It's a bit old, so expect some outdated info
It's set up so that you as a player can't really - I mean to a certain extent you can but you can't really overcome your character not being good at something. So if you're carrying a big gun, and you suck at using big guns, you can fire away but your bullets aren't oging to hit.
(...)
If we lock you in an area you can't leave, we don't want the enemies you fight to be grossly out of proportion with your character, 'cause you can't leave. So if it's an area where you can leave and run away, that's fine, we don't care, you get your ass kicked, leave and come back later. But if you're locked in a room or some place, we don't want it to be "well, these guys are 20 levels higher than you, you'll never defeat 'em, the game is screwed, sorry, too bad." We try to be a little forgiving in those situations.