Question: Have there been any graphical updates to the game engine?
Answer: Fallout 3’s engine was the natural choice for us, given the timeline we had and what we wanted to accomplish with the game. While we haven’t made direct changes to the engine to support enhanced graphics, we worked on the texture resolutions and made performance tweaks.
My Opinion: So it will basically look the same but sharper and smoother, less bugs. Seems like a repackaging of the old game to make cash from the success of Fallout 3.
Question: Did you enjoy Fallout 3? Are you trying to improve upon it, or just make your own game of the Fallout universe?
Answer: I think pretty much everyone on the team enjoyed Fallout 3! I think the latter questions aren’t independent of each other – we wanted to both make our own game in the Fallout universe, and improve upon what Fallout 3 did. I think we succeeded on both accounts.
My Opinion: Not surprising. I love if one of the people on the team completely hated it.
Question: Can you modify and look down the sights of every single firearm? Are there any new types of weapon? Will you add any new ones?
Answer: Yes, every firearm has ‘true’ iron sights (this is actually a mode that can be disabled, for players that prefer the 3rd-person shoulder cam). And as far as I can recall, every firearm has at least a couple of mods. Overall, we’ve got about double the guns that were in Fallout 3. Players will also be able to use different ammo types with weapons.
My Opinion: You can look down the iron sights which I find kind of pointless if you can use the Vault Automatic Targeting System VATS. In Fallout 3 I used the FPS view the most along with VATS to take down most enemies. When the VAT System wasnt available just shooting in first person view and zooming in if necessary was more than enough to aim effectively. Third person view was good to see your surroundings or to look at yourself. Iron sights will give the game a more FPS feel which will change the feel and gameplay of the game for the better. Different ammo types, weapon mods and more weapons are welcome.
Question: Are gambling activities like Poker or Blackjack just mini-games, or will they play important roles in missions or game progress?
Answer: I think enough of us complained about ‘mandatory’ mini-games that we shied away from the idea of forcing the player to play them. There’s more to be won at the tables than just caps, though!
My Opinion: Easier ways to get caps and items. Seeing as the game is in Vegas it would be silly not to have some kind of gambling in it. Having it necessary for the game experience could have been interesting. It be good if some of the Vegas inspired elements actually affected the factions or world around you.
Question: In Fallout 3, the most populated place was the slightly barren Rivet City, with only a small handful of NPCs. Will there be much larger settlements in New Vegas, with many more interactive NPCs?
Answer: Since the Strip (and a lot of the surrounding region) didn’t get hit by nukes, you’ll find more intact settlements, and more people overall. In fact, the first town you wake up in (Goodsprings) has a decent number of folk, and you’ll find more populated areas as you explore the wasteland. Overall, we’ve got a ton of NPCs.
My Opinion: Fallout 3 had a fair amount but a lot you couldn’t talk to much with. I remember one of the NPCs in Megaton would give me a gift every time I went their for saving everyone but if you walk talk to the same NPC a second later they would treat you like a nobody, thanks a lot. (The NPC didn’t enjoy my landmine present much afterwards). With New Vegas being basically a sequel to Fallout 3 you expect it to have more than the original game. The areas didn’t get hit by nukes but it’s still going to feel like a wasteland, no public transport for a start.
Question: Will there be any major differences between platforms? Are you planning to include exclusive DLC, and will the G.E.C.K. return for PC?
Answer: There shouldn’t be any major differences, no. While we’re tinkering with things here and there, we’re trying to keep the differences minimal (they’re done solely for performance reasons). There will be DLC but we can’t talk about specifics yet, but PC modders should look forward to an updated GECK release.
My Opinion: I hope their will be more DLC than in Fallout 3 and it will be more longer and have more meat (content) than the previous game. The fact they have DLC planned means why they don’t just add it to the game? I know you have to plan but Fallout 3 DLC felt so tacked on because none of it happened in the Capital Wasteland. They all start their but then you get transported to other places.
Question: How long will Fallout: New Vegas be? Can you continue playing after the main storyline?
Answer: It’s hard to give an estimate because of how many ways you can play the game, but rest assured that there’s plenty of content for the Fallout addict! You won’t be able to play after you’ve finished the main storyline, but you’ll be given clear warning before you pass that point, so you can go back and mop up any threads you left open.
My Opinion: Not being able to carry on after completing the game is a glaring omission since that’s what happened in Fallout 3 and they ended up changing that in one of the DLC. It might be a different team making the game but don’t people learn things. If they end up changing this by putting it in a DLC at a later date like before then its a con. The point is either have it so you can carry on or have it so you can’t, don’t change it when people starting moaning. If I get more than 100 hours of gameplay like in Fallout 3 then I will be happy.
Question: How many perks from Fallout 3 will reappear, and how many of your own are you adding? Could you possibly spill any examples?
Answer: The majority of Fallout 3’s perks are back (some are modified, some were removed), and we’ve added quite a few of our own. We should have more information on that soon.
My Opinion: Good to see the perks again. It will interesting to see what they come up with this time. I’m guessing the karma ones were removed seeing as their no achievements for these so being able to change karma instantly wont be necessary. Dogmeat one is likely gone too, poor puppies.
Question: Is there a new side-quest system, or ambient events like Red Dead Redemption, or are set quests only given to set people?
Answer: There isn’t a new ‘system,’ but there are a number of side quests. There are also ambient events that you’ll see occurring in the world around you, triggered by various things you’ve done. We’re committed to making quests feel unique and “make sense” in the world, so we always associate quests with specific NPCs.
My Opinion: So like Fallout 3 then and most RPGs.
Question: Are there any reverences to previous Fallout games?
Answer: Maybe a few.
My Opinion: Again like Fallout 3.
Question: Will there be a weather cycle?
Answer: No. We did, however, completely redo the sky and times of day, so look forward to some scenic sunsets!
My Opinion: Oh wow! (sarcastic) Not to have weather cycles doesn’t make sense when you have a day and night cycle. Its more than likely not possible because of the game engine. With New Vegas taking place in a different setting to Fallout 3 even if they didn’t redo the sky and times of day effects it would still look different because of the different scenery.
Question: Will it be possible to max out all skills in one playthrough? Will there be many different endings (not just variations on a few opposite ones as in Fallout 3)?
Answer: If it’s possible to max out all your skills in one go, no one’s done it yet! There is more variation to our endings, as they depend on your reputation with various factions, actions you’ve taken, and companions you’ve recruited.
My Opinion: I guess that you probably can, seeing as in Fallout 3 you could after playing all the DLC and it didn’t require the player to replay the game as it didn’t end. If they have a system where by completing the game you can carry your skills over into a new game then that means it would require more than one playthrough. The problem with being able to max out your skills is that it makes the game less fun because it gets easier, less challenging
Question: Will Dogmeat return, and will companions have more character, with detailed pasts, etc?
Answer: Dogmeat isn’t around for this adventure, but the companions each have their own personalities, back story, and some of them have their own motives and quests they’ll want you to give them a hand with.
My Opinion: You will more than likely have to complete quests for companions to gain their trust or something similar. In Fallout 3 they all had back stories and personalities so that’s not a big deal for the companions. Seeing Dogmeat wouldn’t make sense as the game takes place in Vegas not the Capital, that’s a long way to walk.
Question: Will there be vehicles present?
Answer: You’ll see different wrecked cars, but no vehicles you can ride or drive.
My Opinion: Of course there be wrecked vehicles but with the bombs not hitting the area what happened to the cars and transport? did they sell them for scrap or have they destroyed all vehicles thinking their the devil. If you could ask them they would probably say “Whats a car?, we only use Brahmin for everything”. There should be at least a transport system even if you can still fast travel.
Question: Are there destructible environments?
Answer: No destructible environments, but some stuff still blows up when you shoot at it.
My Opinion: …
Question: Is there a Level Cap?
Answer: Yes, the level cap is 30.
My Opinion: Yeah with it increasing to 40 with one DLC then 50 in the next DLC most likely. So I will have to wait for all the DLC like last time so I don’t waste experience.
Final Thought: I am looking forward to Fallout: New Vegas but it just feels like add-on rather than a proper sequel or new game at the moment. They might not say its a sequel but If your going to remake a similar game, give it a new name and not make much improvements then its a continuation of the previous game more than anything. It’s not called Fallout 3: New Vegas after all but it might as well be.
King Toko 