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Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout: New Vegas box art
Developer(s)Obsidian Entertainment
Publisher(s)Bethesda Softworks (US, UK), Namco Bandai Games (EU, AU, NZ)[3]
Designer(s)Josh Sawyer (Project Director), John Gonzalez (Creative Lead),[4] Chris Avellone, Eric Fenstermaker, Travis Stout (Writers)
Composer(s)Inon Zur[5]
Mark Morgan
SeriesFallout
EngineGamebryo
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360[6]
Genre(s)Action RPG
Mode(s)Single-player

Fallout: New Vegas is a role-playing video game in the Fallout series developed by Obsidian Entertainment (many employees of which worked for Black Isle Studios on Fallout and Fallout 2)[8] and published by Bethesda Softworks. It was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in October 2010.[1]

Fallout: New Vegas is not a direct sequel to Fallout 3.[9][10] Though the game offers a similar role-playing experience to Fallout 3 and a few events from the game are mentioned, no characters from Fallout 3 make an appearance, although an east-coast Enclave Eyebot is present. However, the game marks the return of many elements found in previous Fallout titles, including Marcus, a super-mutant from Fallout 2, again voiced by Michael Dorn.[10] It also incorporates plot lines and ideas that would have appeared in the first scheduled Fallout 3, codenamed Van Buren, such as the Hoover Dam and the New California Republic's fight against Caesar's Legion for control of the Mojave.[11]

Gameplay

See also: Gameplay in Fallout 3

Obsidian Entertainment presents new features and improvements in Fallout: New Vegas that are implemented upon the foundation of Fallout 3. For example, the original Fallout 3 engine was reworked just to accommodate the extra lights and effects of the Vegas strip for New Vegas.

The Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System, or "V.A.T.S.," returns with the addition of several V.A.T.S.-specific attacks.[12][13] Use of certain melee weapons trigger unique animations. Also added are new weapons, a weapon modification system, the ability to use the iron sights on almost all guns (excluding several larger weapons that are shot from the hip) and a better over-the-shoulder view for third-person combat.[14] The modification system allows for modifications such as mounted telescopic sights, rate of fire modifiers and increased magazine size.[14] Crafting also plays a role in weaponry, with the ability to craft ammunition such as hand-loaded rounds. A plant-harvesting system similar to that of The Elder Scrolls series is also in place, allowing the player to use plants to craft special meals, poisons, and medicines.

The quantity of factions prompted developers to reintroduce the reputation system that was absent in Fallout 3.[15] The degree of faction loyalty influences the player's reputation with that faction,[15] which in turn affects the behavior of the faction's non-player characters (NPCs) toward the player and reflects the impacts of selected choices in the world.[15] Karma is also a factor, but is independent of faction reputation (the player can rob a faction member, lowering their karma, but leaving their reputation unchanged assuming they're not caught). Availability of dialog options with NPCs are based upon skills, reputation and karma. Skills have a bigger effect on conversation choices.[13] Whether a dialogue option will succeed or fail is shown up front, and entirely dependent on skill level, rather than both skill and chance as seen in Fallout 3.[13] Companion behavior and tasks are controlled using the new "companion wheel", removing the need to enter conversation to give commands. The new companion wheel offers command execution by selecting commands that are presented in a radial menu. Josh Sawyer states the companion wheel offers ease of companion interaction.[15] Such examples of companion commands include setting and changing combat tactics, default behavior towards foes and usage frequency of available resources. The player can have one humanoid and one non-humanoid companion at the same time and receives a unique perk, or unique advantage, per companion. These companions can be upgraded if the player completes a special quest related to the companion.

In New Vegas, the player can visit casinos to participate in mini-games, including blackjack, slots, and roulette. A card game called Caravan, which was designed specifically for the game, is also playable outside of the casinos.

Hardcore mode

An optional Hardcore mode[16] delivers more realism and intensity into the gaming environment. Game director Josh Sawyer stated that the mode was inspired by several different Fallout 3 mods.[11] As gameplay difficulty is increased, players are encouraged to implement effective strategies, make careful considerations in resource management and combat tactics, and pay high attention to the surrounding environment. Gameplay difficulty is increased in several ways: stimpaks and other healing items including food do not heal the player instantly, but work over a period of time; the healing of crippled limbs requires a "doctor's bag", a chem called hydra or a visit to a doctor; ammunition has weight; and the player character must eat, drink and sleep to avoid starvation, dehydration and exhaustion, respectively.[17]

An achievement (Xbox 360[18]/Windows[19]) or trophy (PlayStation 3)[20] is awarded for completing the game on Hardcore mode.

Synopsis

Setting

Fallout: New Vegas takes place during the year 2281, four years after the events of Fallout 3, and 204 years after the Great War of 2077, making this installment chronologically the latest in the series thus far.[12] The game is set in post-apocalyptic Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Mojave Desert, which is known as the "Mojave Wasteland." The Mojave Wasteland is roughly the same size as the "Capital Wasteland" in Fallout 3[12] and is spread across parts of real-world Nevada, Arizona and California. Unlike other cities in the Fallout series, Las Vegas was not struck directly by a nuclear attack. Its buildings remain intact, and mutation of its inhabitants is minimal.[12]

The city and its surroundings are divided between various factions, but there are three major powers competing for control of the region. The army of New California Republic (NCR), returning from Fallout 2 but now bloated and mismanaged, which controls the majority of territories in Mojave. The slave-driving, Roman Army-styled Caesar's Legion, created by its leader, Caesar, who conquered and united 86 tribes and now plans to conquer New Vegas. Mr. House, the mysterious man rumoured to be 200 years old from before the war, who controls New Vegas with an army of Securitron robots and rehabilitated tribals. There are many other factions and groups as well, including Boomers, a tribe of heavily armed vault dwellers, Powder Gangers, Great Khans (a tribe of drug dealers and raiders from Fallout) and the Brotherhood of Steel, the technology-craving remnants of the U.S. military.[10][13] Landmarks featured in Fallout: New Vegas include the Hoover Dam, which supplies power to the city,[13] the Nellis Air Force Base and the HELIOS One solar energy plant.[16]

Plot

The game places the player in the role of a courier working for the Mojave Express, known simply as "the Courier." While delivering a package with a platinum poker chip to New Vegas, the courier is ambushed by Benny, the leader of one of the casinos (voiced by Matthew Perry) in New Vegas, who steals the package, shoots the player in the head, and leaves the body in a shallow grave.

A robot named Victor witnesses the shooting and brings the courier to Doctor Mitchell in Goodsprings.[13] At this point, the player enters into character creation and defines the Courier's skills, attributes, name, gender, age and appearance. Afterwards the player begins his journey, following Benny to avenge the attack and recover the stolen package, all while exploring the Mojave wasteland.[15]

While the game proceeds according to the player's decisions and involves many events, factions, and characters, the main storyline revolves around the player pursuing Benny to both settle the score and return the platinum chip. Eventually, after finding Benny and the chip, the Courier finds himself in the middle of the conflict between Caesar's Legion, NCR, and Mr. House. Each of the three sides aims to control Hoover Dam (still operational and supplying New Vegas with both power and clean, non-irradiated water), a position which grants them total control over New Vegas. It is revealed that Mr. House, the enigmatic de-facto ruler of New Vegas, ordered the platinum chip's delivery and has been waiting for it for over 200 years—since before the Fallout world's Great War. The chip itself is a data storage device which could upgrade the securitrons to a greater new level of combat effectiveness. Being asked by Mr. House, as well as both NCR and Caesar's Legion, to help one of them, the Courier has the fourth option, which is granted by Yes Man, a reprogrammed securitron who provides a plan to take over New Vegas. All four paths will eventually lead to the final battle over Hoover Dam.

The player will have to decide the fate of vital factions across Mojave desert, as well as their role in upcoming battle, make sure the important persons such as Caesar, Mr. House, and the NCR president Aaron Kimball will either survive or die. The final battle for the Hoover Dam and New Vegas, no matter which side the player chooses, will eventually begin. As Caesar's Legion strikes the Dam, being led by fearsome Legate Lanius, the NCR protects its position under general Lee Oliver. Player will have to oppose one of them, or both, depending on the choices made. These choices will result in a different ending, which is also affected by many side missions.

Development and marketing

System requirements
Requirements
Windows[21]
Operating system Windows XP SP2/Vista/7
CPU Dual Core 2.0 Ghz
Memory 2 GB
Free space 10 GB of free space
Graphics hardware NVIDIA Geforce 6 series / ATI 1300XT series

Senior Producer Jason Bergman revealed that Fallout: New Vegas would use Steamworks for functionality, such as achievements and cloud save storage, with Retail PC copies being activated via Steam.[22] In a USA Today interview, Bergman announced the involvement of several celebrities including Ron Perlman as the game's narrator and Wayne Newton as radio DJ "Mr. New Vegas." He also confirmed that the game would include voice acting from Matthew Perry, Zachary Levi, Kris Kristofferson, Danny Trejo, Michael Dorn, Felicia Day.[23] Inon Zur composed the score for the game.[5] It also includes songs such as (I Got Spurs That) Jingle Jangle Jingle, Blue Moon, and Ain't That a Kick in the Head.

On February 4, 2010, Obsidian Entertainment released the Fallout: New Vegas teaser trailer. A second trailer was first shown on GameTrailers TV from E3 on June 11, 2010.[24] Bethesda has announced 4 pre-order bonus packs giving specific in-game items, they include the "Classic", "Tribal", "Caravan" and "Mercenary" packs available when pre-ordering at specific outlets.[25]

Collector's Edition

The Collector's Edition was revealed on May 11, 2010.[26] Distribution will be worldwide and available for all three platforms.[26] Its enclosed contents include 7 real clay poker chips from Fallout: New Vegas casinos (one from each of the seven major casinos found on the New Vegas strip and throughout the Mojave Wasteland), a deck of cards each with a character on them with information on that person, a graphic novel leading up to the events of New Vegas, Lucky 38 large platinum chip replica (actual game item), and a making-of documentary DVD. PS3 version brings this in Blu-ray format. For anyone who pre-ordered Fallout: New Vegas at Gamestop, they received a certificate and password for downloadable game content: a Vault 13 water canteen that never needs filling, an Armored Vault 13 Jumpsuit and a Weathered 10mm Pistol.[26]

Downloadable content

On October 18, 2010 Bethesda Softworks announced that DLC will be available for New Vegas, in keeping with its predecessor Fallout 3. The first, named Dead Money, involves working alongside three[27] other captives to find the treasure of the Sierra Madre Casino and adds new achievements, perks, terrain, enemies and decisions for the player,[27][28] as well as raising the level cap to 35.[27] It was released for the Xbox 360 on December 21, 2010[28][27] and for PlayStation 3 and PC platforms on February 22, 2011.[29][30] Three further DLC packs are due to be released across all three platforms simultaneously in the months following the cross-platform release of Dead Money.[29]

According to sources at Bethesda, four more DLC packs are in production, with further two in consideration; a total of eight DLCs are planned for New Vegas.[31] The possible names of three DLC packs ("Honest Hearts", "Lonesome Road", and "Old World Blues") have been found in the in-game text files.[citation needed]

Reception

Reception to Fallout: New Vegas has been positive, with critics praising the gameplay improvements and expanded content over Fallout 3, while criticizing familiarity and technical issues.

Eurogamer commented that "Obsidian has created a totally compelling world and its frustrations pale into insignificance compared to the immersive, obsessive experience on offer. Just like the scorched scenery that provides its epic backdrop, New Vegas is huge and sprawling, sometimes gaudy, even downright ugly at times – but always effortlessly, shamelessly entertaining."[41]

GameSpot comments that "Fallout: New Vegas' familiar rhythm will delight fans of the series, and the huge world, expansive quests, and hidden pleasures will have you itching to see what other joys you might uncover. However, as time wears on, the constant glitches invade almost every element of the game and eventually grow wearisome."[44]

Giant Bomb's Jeff Gerstmann reviewed Fallout: New Vegas for the Xbox 360 positively, despite its many crash bugs and glitches. "When I reflect on the experience, I'll probably think about the times the game locked up on me or broke in a dozen other crazy ways first, before thinking about the great world and the objectives that fill it. If you were able to look past the issues that plagued Fallout 3 and Oblivion before it, New Vegas will eventually show you a real good time."[60]

1UP.com's Mike Nelson wrote "On one hand, it feels like I can recommend this to any fan of the Fallout series. I single these fans out because they're willing to forgive silly bugs like meeting characters who walk into walls or occasionally float in mid-air. These fans realize that the game as a whole is greater than the sum of minor graphical anomalies. On the other hand, I simply can't ignore or forgive the game for crashing on me when I walk around the Mojave Wasteland; or for quests that simply can't be completed because of a game glitch; or for making my companions disappear when I need them the most during a battle. These are some of the most frustrating bugs I have ever encountered with any game, especially when attached to a series that I deeply enjoy."[38]

IGN scored the console and PC versions 8.5/10 and 9/10 respectively; praising the script, but criticizing the character models and facial animation as "wooden and unbelievable".[39][40]

As of November 8, 2010 the game has shipped 5 million copies worldwide,[61] achieving revenue of $300 million.[62]

Technical issues

Within hours of the game's release, players of Fallout: New Vegas began reporting a variety of technical issues (game-saves becoming corrupted, the game freezing, players becoming stuck within the terrain, forcing them to load an earlier save or restart the game from scratch).[63][64] Bethesda Studios stated that they, in conjunction with Obsidian, were actively working on an update for release "as soon as possible" to address in-game issues. They also urged customers to keep their copies of New Vegas rather than return them to stores, stating that providing the best possible experience to their users was a priority. Within a week of the original release, a patch was available for PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 versions of the game, which contained over 200 quest- and scripting-related fixes.[65] The latest update, released on December 14, 2010, has fixed further glitches and save game problems, including companion related bugs.[66]

References

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  66. ^ "Massive Fallout: New Vegas Patch Has Landed". 2010-12-14. Retrieved 2011-02-01.

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