Well what the heck...
I don't remember who pointed me to it, or exactly when it was (though it had to be sometime in 96 or 97), but I downloaded the FO demo. I wasn't big on demos back then, because I was still on local crappy dialup, and our phone lines suck. Big files did not make me happy, but eventually I managed to get and install it.
Even though it was just one town (a modified version of Junktown), and lacked so much great stuff that would be in the full game, I was hooked. I must have played that demo a million times before I could finally lay hands on the full game, which I bought at a local software shop the day it hit the shelves.
So for me, there really was no "discovery", because I was deeply involved with the game, as well as the community on the 'net through those years, and the minute it was even speculated that a sequel was on the way, I was among many others who were veritably frothing at the mouth in anticipation. I almost feel sorry for the development team for FO2, since to this day I have no idea how they put up with us back then constantly hounding them about when it would be available, the myriad of suggestions we'd toss at them, etc. Lots of great memories from those days...
Again, the moment it was available, it was mine. I don't still have the boxes, since I'd long since run out of places to keep all those bulky things, but I do have both the original gem cases with wire-bound books, quick reference cards, etc.
I'd be hard pressed to name any other game or series that I've gotten as much value for my money from. I couldn't even begin to estimate how many hours, let alone how many times I've played either or both of these things.
Here it is, 10 years after the release of the first, and still I load them up and enjoy the hell out of them quite often. You just don't find games like that anymore.
-Wraith