Fallout: New Vegas just became a whole lot more awesome

[Tagaziel]

http://trzynasty-schron.net/dzial,wywiad_obsidian_en.htm

I'd been working on Van Buren for a few years on-and-off at Black Isle, but Icewind Dale and Baldur's Gate III (canceled) drafted me at various points so I wasn't able to devote my time fully to F3. It didn't really expand the team beyond just myself until BG3 got canceled and we had an entire team to roll onto it. I got to work with Josh on it as Creative Lead, which was great (and now we get to do it again, except I work as a senior designer reporting to Josh). Josh and I had been playing a pen-and-paper version of the actual game for a while along with other potential team members to test out locations and new turn-based mechanics we thought might be cool for the title.

Life's great. Finally some Fallout fans work on the franchise.

 

[barker_s]

Unless they can change some core features, it's still gonna be crappy Fallout 3. Give me my Van Buren damnit!

 

[Tagaziel]

Hint:

Damage Thresholds are in.

JE Sawyer and Chris Avellone are former VB developers.

 

[Mirage]

Found out about this earlier today. This is quite an interesting development. Hopefully NV will correct some of the nasty design kinks in F3, as well as delivering an improved story. I have faith in Obsidian far more than I did in Bethesda. Don't get me wrong, I sunk a lot of hours in F3, but I wished many things in that game had turned out differently.

 

[Gargantou]

Yeah, now if they'd just not use the crappy engine that Fallout 3 uses, I'm happy!

Anyway, it will be very interesting to see how this turns out.

 

[CyberPitz]

I loved Fallout 3, so I'm curious to see how this turns out!

 

[Gargantou]

I loved Fallout 3, so I'm curious to see how this turns out!

To be honest I loved Fallout 3 as well, but it felt more like a 'spinoff' rather than a sequel to the older Fallout games because it often felt as though the only thing it had in common was the timeline/setting/universe.

 

[FrostedxB]

Wait, its gunna be turn-based again?

Goddammit.

 

[Tagaziel]

He was talking about Van Buren.

Although FoNV would be a welcome change to the current trend of "RT IS KING". Maybe we'd get some decent AI for a change.

 

[CyberPitz]

To be honest I loved Fallout 3 as well, but it felt more like a 'spinoff' rather than a sequel to the older Fallout games because it often felt as though the only thing it had in common was the timeline/setting/universe.

It's a good thing I don't care about games that are "spinoffs" or whatever. I played it to have fun, not be an elitist with the story

 

[Captain M4d]

As a newcomer to the series, I really liked Fallout 3. At some point, I'd like to play the earlier ones and see what all the fuss is about, but for now, I'll be happily ignorant and await New Vegas with much excitement.

 

[Shift]

Fallout 3 was pretty good but as soon as I had to do the tedious treck through the city ruins, and then find out there are no guilds to join and do missions for like in Oblivion I just stopped playing it. Might have been a bit too harsh on it really, but oh well, I traded it in yonks ago lol.

 

[Mirage]

I played both original Fallout games. Beat the second one, but my comp broke and I lost my save game data of the original. So I haven't gotten around to beating the first one yet. I guess what I am trying to say is, I've played enough of the past Fallout games to realize F3 lacked a lot of the franchise's staples and was obviously NOT a true successor (of course you don't need to play any of those games to realize that, but it drives the point home).

I'm in no way a Fallout "fanboy" (although I enjoyed the first two), but I can see their strengths and hope NV takes its inspiration from them as far as the writing/atmosphere/soundtrack goes. God, I hated the soundtrack in F3.

 

[bodhi]

When i first heard about fallout 3 i thought the whole post-apocolyptic setting etc seemed quite interesting, then i heard people talking about the original being turn based and that put me right off as i assumed 3 would be the same. later, despite seeing the first person game footage (with the iffy looking FPS mechanic) i still didnt buy into the hype in magazies and it wasnt until 6 months after release a friend (who like the philistine he is usually only plays sports games or call of duty) ranted and raved about it one night down the pub.

anyway i bought it shortly after and have since spent 94 fantastic hours wandering around in awe. yes its got flaws but it doesnt deserve 90% of the bashing it gets from the snobs who insist its crap because its not as 'involving' or 'story driven' or made by their precious Black Isle Studios. Have these people played Fallout 1/2 recently without rose-tinted glasses? I have, because I bought it while desperately awaiting more New Vegas info... and i think its pretty bloody tedious to be honest.

Had i played Fallout 1 ten years ago yeah, id probably be beating myself off into a frothy mess over it but compared to what Bethesda have created in Fallout 3 its nothing, of course theyre both very different types of game now but its all for the better. Hopefully if the Fallout 1/2 guys at Obsidian are as talented as fans of the original say they are then New Vegas is going to be balls-tighteningly fantastic.

 

[Tagaziel]

anyway i bought it shortly after and have since spent 94 fantastic hours wandering around in awe. yes its got flaws but it doesnt deserve 90% of the bashing it gets from the snobs who insist its crap because its not as 'involving' or 'story driven' or made by their precious Black Isle Studios. Have these people played Fallout 1/2 recently without rose-tinted glasses? I have, because I bought it while desperately awaiting more New Vegas info... and i think its pretty bloody tedious to be honest.

Had i played Fallout 1 ten years ago yeah, id probably be beating myself off into a frothy mess over it but compared to what Bethesda have created in Fallout 3 its nothing, of course theyre both very different types of game now but its all for the better. Hopefully if the Fallout 1/2 guys at Obsidian are as talented as fans of the original say they are then New Vegas is going to be balls-tighteningly fantastic.

You don't like Fo1 or Fo2's style, that's ok. Just don't claim Fo3 is better than them.

I replayed Fallout 1 around April and will replay Fallout 2 this January when Restoration Pack 1.3 launches with the Shi sub (which I wrote the design for, as a matter of fact).

 

[Gargantou]

You don't like Fo1 or Fo2's style, that's ok. Just don't claim Fo3 is better than them.

I replayed Fallout 1 around April and will replay Fallout 2 this January when Restoration Pack 1.3 launches with the Shi sub (which I wrote the design for, as a matter of fact).

What Mikael said, whilst the gameplay is a matter of taste(Some people prefer 3s gameplay, some people prefer the others, personally I like boths very much, but I did found the gameplay of the originals to be more complex and thus to me entertaining, at least combat wise)

Story is another thing, Fallout 1 and 2 both have stories that are miles ahead of the story in Fallout 3 in terms of quality.

And to me, what made me fall in love with the Fallout series, wasn't gameplay to begin with, it was the very well-written dialogue, excellent universe and absolutely terrific characters.

Something which I felt Fallout 3 lacked distinctly.

And before you call me a Fallout 3 hater or something like that, or a Fallout elitist, let me tell you I own Fallout 3 on the 360, alongside all the official DLCs. If I hated Fallout 3, I wouldn't have spent my cash on it.

Also FYI bodhi, if anything Fallout 3s gameplay is simple compared to the originals, so I don't get what you mean when you start discussing its age, personally I get the feeling the only reasons you can't handle Fallout 1 and 2 and enjoy them is because 1. It's turn-based, probably too slow-paced for your taste obviously and 2. They're 2D rather than 3D.

And whilst there's true there are some bad Fallout elitists out there(NOT looking at you Mikael, though you can be a bit smug at time, so can I), that doesn't make it right to insinuate that Fallout 1 and 2 are poor games when looked at from a modern perspective.

IMO the Fallout games have aged quite well when looking at it from a gameplay perspective.

By the way, what do you, bodhi, think of the Knights of The Old Republic, Mass Effect and Dragon Age series?

Personally, I reckon hoping for a fully turn-based Fallout game(New Vegas) is unrealistic, as some are.

However, considering Obsidian previously have worked on quite a few action RPGs, I'm expecting perhaps something along those lines, and KoTOR2 was made by them.

If you want an idea of what the team behind New Vegas are about, I suggest you try playing NWN2, though I'm guessing that will make you not-want-to-buy-their-games since one could argue that it's a partially turn-based RPG.

 

[Paulaner]

You don't like Fo1 or Fo2's style, that's ok. Just don't claim Fo3 is better than them.

Well, Mikael, games of such different schools are very hard to compare. As an example, I think that Ultima 7 is the deepest and better CRPG in gaming history. Played today, I don't think that U7 would get the same enthusiasm of, say, The Witcher. Different schools. A change in tastes. You know the story.
And this is true for every genre that has... evolved?... no, let's say, changed. Do you remember text adventures? In the early '80s they were THE adventure games to play. Now they are niche fan-made games, but I think that most of them have awesome plots and better puzzles than modern commercial games. Nostalgia? Maybe. Who knows?

 

[Mirage]

I think I remember reading somewhere that NV has voice-actors that worked on VTM, can anyone confirm that? This game keeps on sounding more and more awesome.

 

[Absinthe]

You mean I won't keep bumping into those elves and redguards I keep hearing from all throughout the wasteland?

 

[MultiVaC]

So is New Vegas sort of a spinoff of Fallout 3, sort of like STALKER: Clear Sky or Crysis: Warhead? I can't really find much info about it.

 

[bassport]

I was too stupid to play Fo 1 and 2, but I really liked Fo 3. And I'm not even American.

 

[Tagaziel]

Well, Mikael, games of such different schools are very hard to compare. As an example, I think that Ultima 7 is the deepest and better CRPG in gaming history. Played today, I don't think that U7 would get the same enthusiasm of, say, The Witcher. Different schools. A change in tastes. You know the story.

I don't have a problem with the gameplay (in fact, I played the hell out of Morrowind around July/August... again), but rather, Fo3 being presented as a true sequel instead of another spin off. It doesn't respect the estabilished backstory and its plot is a rip-off of previous Fallout titles, with little moral ambiguity or depth, that's my gripe.

It's an ok game. But a poor Fallout game.

And this is true for every genre that has... evolved?... no, let's say, changed. Do you remember text adventures? In the early '80s they were THE adventure games to play. Now they are niche fan-made games, but I think that most of them have awesome plots and better puzzles than modern commercial games. Nostalgia? Maybe. Who knows?

Since I'm starting to play text adventures, I have to say that most are, indeed, great examples of storytelling, plot and design. Latest one I played is A Mind Forever Voyaging, and I absolutely love the unique story and protagonist.

I'm no fan of adventure games, though, the adventure logic (use rope on dynamite to create ladder) is lost on me. My perfect adventure game is Westwood Studios' Blade Runner.

 

[bodhi]

no i dont really like the turn based mechanic having experienced F3 first, and although i accept (although its on faith alone as ive not completed fallout 1 yet) that there are componants of F1/2 that are better than equivelents in F3, i still feel (without wanting to sound like a graphics whore, im really not) that fallout 3's massive 3d open world and first/third person perspective rather than isometric viewpoint immerses me far more into the story, environment and characters than anything ive encountered in F1. And i think inspite of peoples claims that the story is poor or its less interactive, its that increased sense of involvement from the beleivability of the world Bethesda created that makes F3 better in my opinion. And im yet to experience anything in the story of F1 so far that is any different or more importantly of a higher quality than some of the quests found in F3, the same goes for characters too.

Anyway im still cracking on with F1, and i hope its as good as everybody says it is

Oh and Gargantou, ive not played any of the 3 you mentioned. I like the idea of RPGs but in practice i find i dont really get on with them, Fallout 1 is the deepest ive ever been into RPG territory, and only now because i loved fallout 3 so much, and i only gave that a chance because i like the whole 'post-apocolyptic thing'. Otherwise, i enjoyed Stalker - im currently pondering over getting Borderlands but it seems too much of an FPS for my current tastes, and although the new art style is pretty, i wish they had kept it more realistic as first intended. On a sidenote, i would kill for a serious Fallout 3 style game set in a zombie apocolypse, barricading buildings, hunting for supplies, conventional weapons with limited ammo

Edit: as far as new vegas goes, im pretty sure its going to be fallout 3 with new characters, location, story.... and that Obsidian arent allowed to make major changes to gameplay without them being OK'd be Bethesda - so im pretty sure its going to be 1st/3rd person, VATs etc rather then turn-based as many had hoped given some of their employees involvement on Van Buren. Thats basically everything i know based on twitter announcements from J.E. Sawyer and a couple of interviews with the Chris Avellone (?) and the former. Has anybody else come across any tidbits not mentioned in the article posted?

 

[Tagaziel]

Edit: as far as new vegas goes, im pretty sure its going to be fallout 3 with new characters, location, story.... and that Obsidian arent allowed to make major changes to gameplay without them being OK'd be Bethesda - so im pretty sure its going to be 1st/3rd person, VATs etc rather then turn-based as many had hoped given some of their employees involvement on Van Buren. Thats basically everything i know based on twitter announcements from J.E. Sawyer and a couple of interviews with the Chris Avellone (?) and the former. Has anybody else come across any tidbits not mentioned in the article posted?

Oh, they will make major changes.

For instance, Damage Thresholds are in.

And I assume we'll have real dialogues this time around, instead of dialogue trees hacked into Oblivion's conversation system.

 

[Darkangel]

I love Fallout 1&2 and try to enjoy Fallout 3 for what it is. The two things that bug me the most in Fallout 3 are the lack of intelligence in the writing and the ways stats don't mean crap. I can live with the change in combat, even the change in perspective, but I honestly don't get much motivation to play when I know the gameplay isn't going to be fun and there aren't any good stories throughout the whole game.

I would love to have a version of F1 with all the sprites remade in 1080p, sort of like Super Street fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix.

 

[organizedcrime]

Oh, they will make major changes.

For instance, Damage Thresholds are in.

And I assume we'll have real dialogues this time around, instead of dialogue trees hacked into Oblivion's conversation system.

I know that by now, this statement is a broken record, but Fallout 3 really did feel like Oblivion with guns. And I suppose slow mo. The roaming and dungeon format in the two games were almost identical.

Let's hope New Vegas strays away from that.

EDIT: also, what do you mean by damage thresholds?

 

[DEATHMASTER]

Don't really see this news as much since I only cared about 3. Just hope for less bugginess.

 

[Cpt Tenacious]

I just want them to release a trailer already.

 

[Warped]

this thread needs pics!

 

[Tagaziel]

EDIT: also, what do you mean by damage thresholds?

Remember Fallout 1, 2 and Tactics? All armours had different types of resistance to different types of damage AND damage thresholds:

http://www.falloutwiki.com/wiki/Power_Armor_(Fallout)

Which were removed entirely in favour of a single Damage Resistance statistic, making power armour useless.

http://www.falloutwiki.com/wiki/T-51b_Power_Armor_(Fallout_3)

What's a Damage Threshold? Simple, it makes an armour feel like an actual armour. It's the amount by which damage dealt to you is reduced before the Damage Resistance is applied. It's the Power in Power Armour.

With 18 DT and 80% DR, a Fallout 1 T-51b is nigh invulnerable to laser arms, as it's meant to be. Say, you get shot with a laser rifle for 24 points of damage. The DT removes 18 points, leaving just 6. Then the DR is applied, removing 80% of the damage and leaving just 1.2 points of damage, rounded down to 1. So, out of 24 points of damage, you just suffer a loss of a single hit point.

Meanwhile, in Fallout 3, you get show with a laser rifle for 24 points of damage. Fo3 doesn't understand different types of resistance or thresholds, so it only applies the general DR (50%). So, you suffer 12 points of damage and are constantly vulnerable to all damage.

tl;dr: DT means Raiders and wild dogs won't be able to kill you with measly 10mm pistols and sharp teeth if you're wearing power armour.

 

[Gargantou]

Speaking of Damage Tresholds, any Fallout 3 mods that add'em back to the game and make it a bit more like the older Fallout games in that regard?

Sorta like some of the mods for Oblivion made its monsters a lot more accurate to lore as well as armors etc to fit better in with Daggerfall/Morrowind.

 

[Tagaziel]

http://www.nma-fallout.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=50133

Sadly, the F3C is all but officially dead.

 

[unozero]

mikael I just bought FO3 GOTY (finally)


what are the top3 must have gameplay changing mods?

 

[bodhi]

DT means Raiders and wild dogs won't be able to kill you with measly 10mm pistols and sharp teeth if you're wearing power armour.

if thats how it works then DT shouldntve been removed from F3. I got power armour quite early (although couldnt wear it until training was done), and when i finally did use it i didnt feel as badass as i probably shouldve.

now i just wear vances longcoat/regulator dusters

 

[Krynn72]

FO3 was a decent game, better than I expected to be honest. But it was way too simplified, and some parts were just plain half assed.

New Vegas looks like it might balance things between the old games and FO3, which is intriguing. Damage Thresholds are definitely a step in the right direction. But good god man, why would they use the same engine? Its a 5 year old engine that hasnt gotten any updates at all, and wasnt even that good to begin with. I swear, if they still have motionless characters talking straight at your face the entire game, I will rage. The engine was by far the worst thing about FO3, because it held back the dev team and brought all of Oblivion's problems with it.

 

[organizedcrime]

Remember Fallout 1, 2 and Tactics? All armours had different types of resistance to different types of damage AND damage thresholds:

http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Power_Armor_(Fallout)

Which were removed entirely in favour of a single Damage Resistance statistic, making power armour useless.

http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/T-51b_Power_Armor_(Fallout_3)

What's a Damage Threshold? Simple, it makes an armour feel like an actual armour. It's the amount by which damage dealt to you is reduced before the Damage Resistance is applied. It's the Power in Power Armour.

With 18 DT and 80% DR, a Fallout 1 T-51b is nigh invulnerable to laser arms, as it's meant to be. Say, you get shot with a laser rifle for 24 points of damage. The DT removes 18 points, leaving just 6. Then the DR is applied, removing 80% of the damage and leaving just 1.2 points of damage, rounded down to 1. So, out of 24 points of damage, you just suffer a loss of a single hit point.

Meanwhile, in Fallout 3, you get show with a laser rifle for 24 points of damage. Fo3 doesn't understand different types of resistance or thresholds, so it only applies the general DR (50%). So, you suffer 12 points of damage and are constantly vulnerable to all damage.

tl;dr: DT means Raiders and wild dogs won't be able to kill you with measly 10mm pistols and sharp teeth if you're wearing power armour.

Oh I remember that. Yeah, the armor mechanic in Fallout 3 was garbage. I liked it when Power Armor made you a god among mortals. I mean, it was kind of game-breaking, but it wasn't like they just gave you the power armor right off the bat. There was something about visiting the Glow that I really liked about Fallout 1 (that was missing in Fallout 2). It was that air of seriousness; you saw that huge hole and realized that West Tek just got drilled during the nuclear war. Then there was Fallout 2 and you saw a huge city with cartoonish looking thugs wearing wearing blue suits and fedoras and wielding Tommy guns.

 

[DEATHMASTER]

mikael I just bought FO3 GOTY (finally)


what are the top3 must have gameplay changing mods?

I only looked a bit but what I'm using now is the "Basic Needs" (you have to eat/drink/sleep), "Sprint" (so you can actually get away from some of the shit after you), and "RWD" (real weapons damage, basically just what it says, you kill shit a WHOLE lot faster. Unfortunately points out the super aimbot flaw in the NPCs which is they'll kill you with 10mm mgs from a mile away, so I'm trying to work on my sneak abilities now)

 

[unozero]

I only looked a bit but what I'm using now is the "Basic Needs" (you have to eat/drink/sleep), "Sprint" (so you can actually get away from some of the shit after you), and "RWD" (real weapons damage, basically just what it says, you kill shit a WHOLE lot faster. Unfortunately points out the super aimbot flaw in the NPCs which is they'll kill you with 10mm mgs from a mile away, so I'm trying to work on my sneak abilities now)

Thx man I'll look in to those..thank god I don't have to get up early tomorrow.

 

[Gargantou]

Thx man I'll look in to those..thank god I don't have to get up early tomorrow.

You're welcome, my son.

 

[unozero]

I'm installing a buncha texture mods right now...I hope I don't have constant crashing this time around.