Obsidian making Fallout: New Vegas

[Wombat]

I have been wondering what non-Alpha Protocol teams have been doing. A part of the question is answered, I guess. Also, I noticed J.E.Sawyer had been spending his time on rather obsessively playing Fallout 3 on Xbox but, honestly, this didn't come to my mind.

 

I at first wondered WHY he was playing Fallout 3 as well.

He'd play it as his own hobby as well as for his professional interest but the stats of Fallout 3 unnaturally stands out compared with the other games in his game profile. He hasn't updated the Black Hound mod recently, either. So, if Fallout 3 were a work by Bioware, I could have guessed this but, somehow, I couldn't connect Bethesda with Obsidian.

 

Now, I'm wondering if it uses the engine of Aliens RPG, which features modernized squad-based combat, if I'm not mistaken.

[Pop]

I would really prefer the Onyx engine, personally. Rorie (or was it a dev?) had said outright that all new games would be made with Onyx with the exception of AP sequels, but this seems like a special case. Bethsoft is taking a big enough risk having Obsidz run with their property with them using Gamebryo, and Fallout 3 was made too soon for a huge overhaul in look and feel. But I hope I'm wrong. I don't much like Gamebryo's look or the mechanics of it.

 

Maybe we'll find out for sure on the morrow!

Edited April 21, 2009 by Pop

[GreasyDogMeat]

Awesome news! I was shocked how good Fallout 3 turned out under Bethesda and I can't imagine how cool it will be with Obsidian's storytelling/writing. Hopefully Atari wont be the publisher/involved in any way.

[Tel Prydain]

I certainly won't disagree, but they do have some really silly bits left in it instead of fixed. I was genuinely shocked at my F3 character bending down and immersing their hand in the toilet bowl and lifting up water to drink (while still inside the vault!)

Granted.... and there are many other issues I have with the game. Food lasting 200 years. Lack of farming. Some seriously silly plot points (the ending made me want to throttle some one). It's just a bit silly that some folk are dismissing the whole thing as a turd.

[Humodour]

But developer and publisher said nothing about the game engine.

 

And when they do I'll believe it, I'll also be around to say "BAD MOVE GUYS!" Beth's tech is terrible.

 

 

Wouldn't it make the most sense financially to use the same engine that already has all the assets created for it? IS it hard to move pre-existing assets between engines? Does it make any sense to do so?

 

I am assuming of course that Obsidian's Fallout will reuse much of the assets from Bethie's fallout.

 

Assets like sounds, cinematics, textures, skins, etc, are all fairly easy* to move between engines. Especially engines that are similar (e.g. both new 3D engines).

 

Remember most of the things that go into a game are made outside of that game in something like Maya or Blender or some fancy sound studio thingo mabob.

[Maria Caliban]

As I live in Las Vegas, part of me is interested in seeing how they portray it. 'Realistically' speaking, no casino currently standing would be around in 2077. I hope this frees up the art team to stick in existing building, classic casinos that have been torn down, and totally new structures.

 

I'm also hoping to see City Center. The basic idea is a city within a city for the incredibly wealthy. Private transportation system, supermarkets, high-end boutiques - the original design even had private parks and all the 'out of door' areas covered up with it's own air and water filtration system and climate control.

 

I remember one of my first thoughts when I learned about it was how cool it would be to run around shooting zombies in a place like that.

[dosbox]

I'm very happy to see these guys get a go at fallout again. I've owned every fallout aside from bos. And pretty much every BI / Obsidian game out there. I'll likely pre order this the second it comes out. (please, as part of releasing it with bethesda, put it out over steam again, please.)

 

I think I had a small nerd stroke seeing this news.

[player1]

Hmm...

There is new "redirect" forum for Fallout 3: New Vegas.

 

But it takes your into Bethesda "Fallout Series General Discussion" forum. Which also had just one thread dedicated to New Vegas.

Edited April 21, 2009 by player1

[Nightshape]

Why sir, some amazing skinning. featured throughout the video.

Wow. You're using a dancing mod animation made by an amateur that's over-stretching the models (thus creating gaps in the skeleton) as an example of why Bethesda's technology sucks. I'm actually not sure if you're kidding or not.

 

You must be one awesome "game developer" if that's not a joke.

 

And you still haven't defined why Bethesda's technology is so terrible.

 

 

I'll come and play with you later when I'm not so busy.

[Maria Caliban]

Hmm...

There is new "redirect" forum for Fallout 3: New Vegas.

 

But it takes your into Bethesda "Fallout Series General Discussion" forum. Which also had just one thread dedicated to New Vegas.

 

Say it with me everyone:

 

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOO OOOOOOO!!

 

Oh well, we never wanted their kind here. *sniffs* *goes back to playing a high-minded, literate game like Bible Black*

[CoM_Solaufein]

Oh joy.

[Wombat]

I would really prefer the Onyx engine, personally. Rorie (or was it a dev?) had said outright that all new games would be made with Onyx with the exception of AP sequels, but this seems like a special case. Bethsoft is taking a big enough risk having Obsidz run with their property with them using Gamebryo, and Fallout 3 was made too soon for a huge overhaul in look and feel. But I hope I'm wrong. I don't much like Gamebryo's look or the mechanics of it.

 

Maybe we'll find out for sure on the morrow!

Realistically speaking, Gamebryo is more likely but Onyx would be an interesting candidate since it is probably better suited for the team to "import" some ideas from Van Buren. Then again, you are right...we cannot but wait and see.

[Humodour]

Interestingly, Bethesda also owns Van Buren, the story, and its art assets now.

[SteveThaiBinh]

It's excellent news!

 

I must get round to playing Fallout 3 now. I've had it for a few months but I was kind of afraid the setting would get me down.

[Zoma]

Aren't you all getting a KOTOR2 vibe from this?

 

How much can Obsidian achieve making a full fledged game within a year? Understandably Fallout 2 managed to be made within a single year but with a seeming flexible engine for quest scripting purposes. Look at the tons of branching side-quests itself. Also, the world was made seemingly bigger by means of illusion by utilizing simply bigger maps and more towns. Furthermore Fallout 2 was done without a second party breathing down Black Isle's neck to control the content and production quality.

 

I'm not sure about Fallout 3. So those who managed to mod Fallout 3, an insight would be great.

Edited April 21, 2009 by Zoma

[Maf]

Had to register to say that this is the most awesome game news I've seen in a while.

 

I was disappointed when I first read that Bethesda had bought the Fallout license from Interplay.

Obsidian was the runner-up for the license at the time if I remember correctly, but I might be wrong.

 

First I have to say that Bethesda has done an amazing job with Fallout 3.

They had a lot of pressure from the old Fallout fans (me included) and they created something exceptional.

I thoroughly enjoyed Fallout 3 and the only thing I felt lacking significantly was the ending.

 

My eyes almost popped out of their sockets when I read that Obsidian was hired for the next Fallout game.

Fallout: New Vegas could be a game of epic proportions the size I haven't seen since Planescape.

I can only hope the development time frame is long enough for this gem to truly be polished (2010 )

If they use a finished engine however, I believe it should be possible.

 

I feel that every game Obsidian has released so far, has beaten it's predecessor (NWN,KOTOR).

And I await Alpha Protocol and especially the Aliens RPG (please god, let it be released) patiently.

If they can pull the same stunt with Fallout : New Vegas.... EPIC I tell you.

Tips for the devs would definately include HUMOR!

I didn't mention it earlier as something lacking in Fallout 3 as I felt it was more like something missing entirely.

I remember almost literally rolling on the floor laughing in Fallout and Fallout 2 (Tragic the Garnering anyone ?).

Humor can be hard feat to achieve, but if anyone can do it....

Other tips would include focussing on gameplay and story.

Do I hear "no **** sherlock" ?

I mean don't mess around with the other stuff that's not as important within the short timeframe.

Having 50 different faces is nice, but reading something like :

"I felt a great disturbance... as if a hundred evil bastards on an oil derrick cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced"... priceless.

 

Obsidian appears to have mastery in the art of crafting stories.

So I expect Fallout : New Vegas to be nothing other than stunning.

 

I was wondering what Obsidian would do now that Bioware has been taken over by evil forces.

Bethesda seems like a perfect match

[Ausir]

Interestingly, Bethesda also owns Van Buren, the story, and its art assets now.

Yup, Bethesda owns the story, as evident in a few things taken from VB in FO3 (like the Hei Gui stealth armor and the trogs). However, Obsidian actually owns some of the Van Buren art assets.

 

I do hope that the game will have lots of references to the events, locations and characters from Van Buren, so that they'll at the very least be made officially canon. Maybe e.g. Caesar's Legion could appear? Daughters of Hecate? References to the NCR-BOS war? Characters from the nearby and NCR-run Hoover Dam?

 

Anyway, I started a FAQ for New Vegas at The Vault wiki:

 

http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Fallout:_New_Vegas_FAQ

Edited April 21, 2009 by Ausir

[Walsingham]

I only just noticed this. In honour of the occasion I am going to strip down to my pants and do a dance.

 

Unh unh unh.

 

...oh yeah.

[Moose]

Hopefully the story will be of the quality of NWN 2's OC, with an epic KotoR 2 style ending.

[Maria Caliban]

I only just noticed this. In honour of the occasion I am going to strip down to my pants and do a dance.

 

Unh unh unh.

 

...oh yeah.

 

Which makes one wonder what you were wearing over your pants. ?.

[Enoch]

I only just noticed this. In honour of the occasion I am going to strip down to my pants and do a dance.

 

Unh unh unh.

 

...oh yeah.

 

Which makes one wonder what you were wearing over your pants. ?.

Walsy is a Brit. To him, "pants" doesn't mean what you think it does.

[Slowtrain]

for a brit trousers are what goes over your pants.

[Humodour]

For an Aussie, trousers are what go over your undies.

[TwinkieGorilla]

Computer RPGs are not PnP games. They don't have anywhere near the dynamic of the PnP GM, and CRPGs do in fact have saving and loading of campaigns.

 

what the whut? i think your water's gone rad, lad. i didn't say they were PnP games. i said they're based off of, and a natural progression from. which...uh...they are, Vern. and yes, cRPG's do have saving and loading campaigns sure. i guess there's the unspoken and unwritten rule of making choices and living with the consequences. i only re-load if i've hit a button or done something by accident....never because i didn't like the outcome of something i did deliberately...otherwise, i don't see the fun in making choices at all. it's kinda cheating, idn't it?

[FabMan_UK]

I'll come and play with you later when I'm not so busy.

 

You shouldn't bother, you are obviously immature.

 

Mkreku, this person is obviously a baiter ignore the posts.

 

-edit-

 

For an Aussie, trousers are what go over your undies.

 

Or budgie smugglers.

Edited April 21, 2009 by FabMan_UK