((That's sci-fi, not fantasy. The two are generally both considered speculative fiction, but they are not both fantasy and anyone who files them under the same category should be pelted with cyberpunk novels until he repents for this travesty.))
((It's more of a difference in presentation than anything, and certain fiction blurs the line between the two. I think it's more the fact that fantasy fiction lives in a ghetto of its own that science fiction generally wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole than the fact that the difference is all that great.))
((Sci-fi and fantasy aren't genres, per se, so much as settings. The characteristics of the settings have little in common except "Stuff that doesn't exist IRL"--in which case James Bond is also fantasy.
And science fiction draws more inspiration from other genres than fantasy.))
((That's sci-fi, not fantasy. The two are generally both considered speculative fiction, but they are not both fantasy and anyone who files them under the same category should be pelted with cyberpunk novels until he repents for this travesty.))
((Really? I was under the impression that fallout wasn't sci-fi. I find it hard to file it under that category, seeing as the only explenation given for most of the things in it are "50's ERA SCIENCE GUYS". I agree that it isn't fantasy, simply that it has some fantasy elements (Mirelurks shooting mental bolts of pain, what?). ))
((Star Wars and Star Trek both established that science fiction can have elements barely explained. Are you going to call these two defining...well, one's a movie series, one's a few TV serieses and some movies, but they both defined modern sci-fi, works of fantasy, just because they never explain the Force (midi-chlorians don't count if you don't explain the midi-chlorians) or the weird stuff the Enterprise comes into contact with? Or hyperspace, blasters, replicators, light sabers, artificial intelligences...))
Well, Lets just say they're both styles of fiction that tend toward distinct settings but often employ similar styles of story telling and dramatic elements.
Sci-fi itself is difficult to define, with sub-genres ranging from Hard-sci like The moon is a harsh mistress to firm Sci-fi like (some) star trek, to fantastic sci-fi, like Childhood's end and Stranger in a strange land to straight science fantasy of things like star wars and buck rogers.
The problem with defining it is that, once you get to Science fantasy, the lines begin to blur and calling it sci-fi is more done because of the setting elements and tropes then anything else. Basically, if it has laser guns and aliens it becomes sci-fi even if it's basically a straight retelling of fantasy stories (See the 6 million cheap paper back "sci-fi" novels you can find in used book stores).
When compared to some of the more outrageous examples of science fantasy I'd say that Fallout falls under "Fantastic Sci-fi". It's got a grounding in reality with exaggerated and unrealistic elements.
Ah the derisive subject of categorization. Go talk to an old school biologist about the whole Domains VS Kingdoms debate if you want to see what an 80 year old marine biologist in a murderous rage is like.
ANYHOO
The Game is called "The Glowing King" and if you can guess what it's about then you get a cookie.