Fallout: New Vegas

Fallout: New Vegas
Developer(s)	Obsidian Entertainment
Publisher(s)	Bethesda Softworks (US, UK), Namco Bandai Games (EU, AU, NZ) Template:Infobox/designer Template:Infobox/engine
Release date	October 19, 2010 (NA) October 22, 2010 (EU)
Genre	Action role-playing game, role-playing shooter, sandbox
Mode(s)	Single-player
Age rating(s)	BBFC: 18 ESRB: M (Mature) ACB:MA15+ PEGI: 18
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Template:Infobox/media Template:Infobox/input
Credits | Soundtrack | Codes | Walkthrough

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) and was released on October 19, 2010, in North America, and October 22, 2010, in Europe.

Fallout: New Vegas is not a direct sequel to Fallout 3 and is a stand-alone product. Events in the game follow three years after Fallout 3 and offer a similar role-playing experience; however, no characters from that game will reportedly appear.

Plot

Setting

Written by Chris Avellone, Fallout: New Vegas takes place during the year 2280, three years after the events of Fallout 3, and 203 years after the Great War of 2077, making this installment the chronologically-latest in the series thus far. The game is set in post-apocalyptic Las Vegas, Nevada and the Mojave Desert known as the "Mojave Wasteland" which is roughly the same size as the "Capital Wasteland" in Fallout 3. 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.

The city is divided between various factions, most notably the New California Republic (NCR), the slave-driving Caesar's Legion, and the various factions of New Vegas itself. Landmarks featured in Fallout: New Vegas include the Hoover Dam that supplies power to the city and the Helios 1 solar energy plant.

Story

The game places the player in the role of a courier. The courier, while delivering a package to a town called Primm with a platinum poker chip and NCR war documents, is found unconscious in a shallow grave after being shot in the head by the owner of a gang called the Geckos, named Benny, and left for dead. The courier is treated for his/her injuries by a local caregiver, Doc Mitchell. Thereafter the player enters into character creation (defining skills and attributes, name, gender, age and appearance) before investigating the assassination attempt, recovering the stolen package, and exploring the world.

Gameplay

Obsidian Entertainment presents new features and improvements in Fallout: New Vegas that are implemented upon the foundation of Fallout 3.

Combat and weapons

The Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System, or V.A.T.S., will have the ability to use new special attacks. Usage of certain melee weapons will trigger unique attack animations. For example, using a 9 iron would show up as "Fore!", and sends the enemy reeling for a period of time. Also, Obsidian Entertainment has added the ability to use the iron sights on all guns, with better over-the-shoulder view for third-person combat.

New weapons, some Fallout 3 weapons, and a weapon modification system are introduced in Fallout: New Vegas. The modification system allows for weapon modifications, such as mounting scopes, modifying rate of fire, and changing size of magazine. Crafting will also play a role in weaponry, with the player being able to craft ammunition, such as hand-loaded rounds. In addition, a plant-harvesting system similar to The Elder Scrolls series will be in place for the player to use such plants in bullets, chems, and for other handy uses.

Reputation and dialogue

The quantity of factions prompted developers to reintroduce the reputation system that was absent in Fallout 3. The degree of faction loyalty influences the player's reputation. Reputation affects the behavior of faction non-player characters (NPCs) toward the player, and reflects the impacts of selected choices in the world.

Availability of dialogue options with NPCs are based upon skills, reputation and karma. Skills have a bigger effect on conversation choices. The success or failure of speech is dependent on skill level rather than chance as seen in Fallout 3.

Companions

Companion behavior and tasks are controlled using the new "companion wheel." Fallout 3 presented companion commands in a conversational dialogue menu. The new Companion Wheel offers command execution by selecting commands that are presented in a radial and graphical menu. Josh Sawyer states the Companion Wheel offers ease of companion interaction. Such examples of companion commands include setting and changing its combat tactics, its default behavior towards foes and usage frequency of available resources.

Gambling

In New Vegas, the player can visit casinos to participate in mini-games such as poker and slots to earn some extra money. Designer Chris Avellone said the mini-games were done by a programmer experienced in programming non-table gaming machines.

Hardcore mode

An optional Hardcore mode delivers more realism and intensity into the gaming environment. 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. The features that increase gameplay difficulty are as follows:

• Healing over time rather than instant healing
• Healing of crippled limbs requires a high medicine skill and medical equipment
• Ammunition has weight
• Requirement of water consumption to avoid dehydration and eventual death
• Requirement of food consumption to prevent starvation and eventual death
• Requirement of sleeping to prevent sleep deprivation and severe stat consequences

Development

DRM

Senior Producer Jason Bergman revealed that Fallout: New Vegas will use Steamworks for functionality, such as achievements and cloud save storage. Retail PC copies will activate via Steam.

Voice Acting

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 confirmed that the game will also include voice acting from Matthew Perry, Zachary Levi, Kris Kristofferson, Danny Trejo, Michael Dorn, and Felicia Day.

Music

Inon Zur composed the soundtrack for the game.

Marketing

Trailers

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.

Pre-Order Bonus Packs

Bethesda has announced several 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.

Collector's Edition

The Collector's Edition was revealed on May 11, 2010. Distribution will be worldwide and available to all platforms. Its enclosed contents include poker chips from Fallout: New Vegas casinos, a deck of cards, a graphic novel leading up to the events of New Vegas, Lucky 38 platinum chip replica (actual game item), and a making-of documentary DVD.

DLC

There are 6 DLC packages as of today: 2 item packs and 4 quest packs.

The quest packs are as follows:

• Dead Money
• Honest Hearts
• Lonesome Road
• Old World Blues

External links

• Fallout: New Vegas Official Website
• Fallout: New Vegas at The Vault, the Fallout wiki