Obsidian making Fallout: New Vegas

[Magnum Opus]

So... game is still shooter?

 

FO3 wasn't a shooter, it was a spork.

Thanks for the response. Such as it was.

 

The news that Obs is working on another Fallout game is good, though. I suppose.

[Slowtrain]

The news that Obs is working on another Fallout game is good, though. I suppose.

 

 

It's really only relevant if they have full creative control. If everything has to go by Bethesda for approval, then it's really a bethesda game not an Obsidian

 

Hopefully Bethesda has the courage to take a hands off approach and let Obsidian spin the game in the manner they feel is appropriate.

 

 

They can start by using 2 syllable words in the dialogues. Or even 3 syllables. Imagine the possibilities!

[Magnum Opus]

Is why my response was notably on the "lukewarm" side of positive.

 

*shrugs* F3 didn't manage to present itself well enough as a game I might enjoy for me to go out and get a copy; not sure if this one will either.

[Slowtrain]

Is why my response was notably on the "lukewarm" side of positive.

 

*shrugs* F3 didn't manage to present itself well enough as a game I might enjoy for me to go out and get a copy; not sure if this one will either.

 

If this one doesn't do something different, preferably with story and characters, I won't be buying it either.

 

I thought FO3 was all right, certainly much better than Oblivion, but it wasn't interesting enough to merit me playing another version of the same game based in a different part of the US.

[TwinkieGorilla]

They're not the best spoon 'cuz their tines are too long, and they're not the best fork 'cuz their tines are too short.

 

those were simpler times, eh? making fun of Bethie was easy because of Oblivion and FO3 hadn't broken any hearts (outside of the abstract) yet.

 

They can start by using 2 syllable words in the dialogues. Or even 3 syllables. Imagine the possibilities!

 

[intelligence] So you're saying there are possibilities?

[Hurlshort]

As a person who has been to Vegas and Reno many times,

they have 12-step programs for this, you know...

 

taks

 

 

I actually hate going to both of them, but Reno is close enough that every college function or bachelor party always ends up there. I've been to Vegas twice, both with family, so I've never really had a blast. Seems expensive.

[Slowtrain]

[intelligence] So you're saying there are possibilities?

 

 

You know what bugged me about those marked lines in FO3?

 

For the most part they added nothing to the game. You got an additional line of dialogue based on ENdurance or Science or Entomologist and most of the time time they were just throwaway lines that meant nothing. Why would you spend time writing "special" lines for a game that added nothing other than the line itself. To me it's just more proof that Bethesda simply doesn't grasp the concept of "consequences". In a crpg, things need to have meaningful consequences that make the player feel like they have made a significant choice.

 

Bethesda appears to believe that a crpg is defined by giving the player a whole ****load of completely meaningless things to do.

 

To me its a really empty philosphy of game design, especially when applied to crpgs.

[Magnum Opus]

If this one doesn't do something different, preferably with story and characters, I won't be buying it either.

 

I thought FO3 was all right, certainly much better than Oblivion, but it wasn't interesting enough to merit me playing another version of the same game based in a different part of the US.

Heh. Would prefer they did something with combat, personally, but story and characters are a good start. Didn't think I'd enjoy ME as much as I am, but that's not because I like the combat; is because the battles are few and far between, so there's more time spent on what I do enjoy.

 

The more emphasis on story and characters the better.

[TwinkieGorilla]

You know what bugged me about those marked lines in FO3?

 

For the most part they added nothing to the game. You got an additional line of dialogue based on ENdurance or Science or Entomologist and most of the time time they were just throwaway lines that meant nothing. Why would you spend time writing "special" lines for a game that added nothing other than the line itself. To me it's just more proof that Bethesda simply doesn't grasp the concept of "consequences". In a crpg, things need to have meaningful consequences that make the player feel like they have made a significant choice.

 

Bethesda appears to believe that a crpg is defined by giving the player a whole ****load of completely meaningless things to do.

 

To me its a really empty philosphy of game design, especially when applied to crpgs.

 

 

believe me, i could have an all-nighter conversation about the damn dialogue responses and the lack of a properly implemented SPECIAL system which, unlike with the originals, didn't affect the dialogue or your character in any meaningful way. at. all. 'cept i'm totally on a smoke break while watching "Bunker Palace Hotel" and have to get back to it!

[Slowtrain]

Would prefer they did something with combat, personally, but story and characters are a good start.

 

Honestly, either one woud help.

 

If Obsidian's Fallout is going to have story and characters of the same incredibly limited depth as Beth's fallout, then they need to improve the combat drastically, because the writing sure isn't going to carry the game.

 

Otoh, if Obsidian manages to scale up the story and characters to the point where they become interesting, then the combat can probably stay as it is, since it would now be so much less important.

 

I would personally love it if Obsidian reduced the amount of combat in the game and upped the amount of character interaction.

[Slowtrain]

and the lack of a properly implemented SPECIAL system which, unlike with the originals, didn't affect the dialogue or your character in any meaningful way. at. all.

 

 

It went right over Bethie's heads. They completely failed to get the concept.

 

The only thing they did right on a consistent basis was

 

[strength] Tell me or I'll smash your face.

 

 

WHich is fine as far as it goes, but strength leading to persuasion through intimidation is the easiest and least interesting of all possible SPECIAL dialogue checks.

[Tlantl]

I just want to see some spiders!!

[Ausir]

That's an xpac development window, even with up-to-date and implementable tech.

 

Well, that's pretty much what I expect it to be. It will likely be somewhat of an expansion pack to Fallout 3, just released as a standalone title, and not requiring the original game.

 

My fear with this game is that Obsidz won't be able to make that sort of game. Three things in my mind would contribute to that - One is time, which I referred to earlier. How many in-depth locations can you really make in a year, which should be about as much time as they've got?

 

Of course they won't. It won't have the scope of Van Buren, or likely even of Bethesda's FO3.

[Maria Caliban]

Well, that's pretty much what I expect it to be. It will likely be somewhat of an expansion pack to Fallout 3, just released as a standalone title, and not requiring the original game.

 

Have they said it won't require the original?

[Gizmo]

I'd appreciate a few PS:Torment style conversations and their stat checks, changes, and XP's.

[Slowtrain]

That's an xpac development window, even with up-to-date and implementable tech.

 

Well, that's pretty much what I expect it to be. It will likely be somewhat of an expansion pack to Fallout 3, just released as a standalone title, and not requiring the original game.

 

 

 

I wonder if it will be priced as an xpack.

 

 

 

[intelligence] Probably not

[WILL THE ALMIGHTY]

It doesn't really matter, does it?

 

[Perception] Sure it does.

[Tigranes]

There are many precedents for releases such as this, and it will probably be full-priced, gameplay length/scope slightly smaller than original FO3 and bearing no relation in terms of story, etc.

 

I'm anxious to learn what they want to change with how the game works though - i..e dump VATS? More crafting stuff? More faction-y stuff?

[Slowtrain]

It doesn't really matter, does it?

 

[Perception] Sure it does.

 

 

Congrats. You just did a more interesting SPECIAL check in one post than Bethesda managed in an entire game.

[Slowtrain]

I'm anxious to learn what they want to change with how the game works though - i..e dump VATS? More crafting stuff? More faction-y stuff?

 

Three words: Story, story, and story.

 

ANd one more word: characters.

 

 

dumping or overhauling VATS, creating a better crafting system (no more guns that whistle like a train engine when they fire, plz) , and adding real factions to gameplay are all good as well.

 

But story and characters are where Fallout 3 failed so badly; its also the easiest thing to upgrade; and it is what Obsidian appears to do best.

 

QUestion is: would Bethesda allow it?

[Ausir]

Have they said it won't require the original?

 

Yes, they refer to it as a separate game. Otherwise Bethesda would call it an expansion pack.

[Pidesco]

I'm anxious to learn what they want to change with how the game works though - i..e dump VATS? More crafting stuff? More faction-y stuff?

 

Three words: Story, story, and story.

 

ANd one more word: characters.

 

Actually, I'd kinda disagree here. The main problem with Fallout 3 isn't the story, but rather how bloody unreactive the whole game world is. Nothing you do has any effect around you, and the world never ever pushes back. The problem is that Fallout 3 is deader than a wasteland, and personally I think that has to be the starting point for New Vegas if Obsidian wants to take the game anywhere.

[Slowtrain]

I'm anxious to learn what they want to change with how the game works though - i..e dump VATS? More crafting stuff? More faction-y stuff?

 

Three words: Story, story, and story.

 

ANd one more word: characters.

 

Actually, I'd kinda disagree here. The main problem with Fallout 3 isn't the story, but rather how bloody unreactive the whole game world is. Nothing you do has any effect around you, and the world never ever pushes back. The problem is that Fallout 3 is deader than a wasteland, and personally I think that has to be the starting point for New Vegas if Obsidian wants to take the game anywhere.

 

 

I'm not going to disagree with you because I think that is a big problem as well.

 

I just think that if the game had a good story, the deadness of Fallout 3 wouldn't have been so noticeable.

 

A good story that really holds your attention can really compensate for a lot of problems in a game. Mostly because you are too busy paying attention to the story that is unfolding to notice the problems.

[Fionavar]

Please continue the conversation here as we have hit the 500+ post mark and we need to archive this for future review ... or at least so Skeeter can tinker ...

 

F