Wikipedia

Fallout: New Vegas

Fallout: New Vegasis a 2010action role-playing video gamethat was developed byObsidian Entertainmentand published byBethesda Softworks.The game, which was released forMicrosoft Windows,PlayStation 3,andXbox 360,is set in theMojave Desert204 years after a devastatingnuclear war.The player controls acourierwho survives an assassination attempt, and becomes embroiled in a conflict between different governing factions that are vying for control of the region.Fallout: New Vegasfeatures a freely explorableopen world,and the player can engage in combat with a variety of weapons. The player can also initiate conversations withnon-player charactersin the form ofdialogue trees,and their responses determine their reputation among the different factions.

Fallout: New Vegas
The cover art for Fallout: New Vegas. It features a masked figure holding a pistol in their right hand. In the background, a city skyline is visible.
Developer(s)Obsidian Entertainment
Publisher(s)Bethesda Softworks
Director(s)Josh Sawyer
Producer(s)
  • Mikey Dowling
  • Jason Fader
  • Matt Singh
  • Tess Treadwell
Designer(s)Josh Sawyer
Programmer(s)Frank Kowalkowski
Artist(s)Joe Sanabria
Writer(s)John Gonzalez
Composer(s)Inon Zur
SeriesFallout
EngineGamebryo
Platform(s)
Release
  • NA:October 19, 2010
  • AU:October 21, 2010
  • EU:October 22, 2010
Genre(s)Action role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

After the release ofFallout 3in 2008, Bethesda contracted Obsidian to develop a spin-off game in theFalloutseries. The developers choseLas Vegas,Nevada,and the surrounding Mojave Desert as the setting because they evoked the1950simagery the series was known for, as well as the post-apocalyptic setting ofMad Max.Project directorJosh Sawyerwanted the story to focus on greed and excess, and used thehistory of Las Vegasas an inspiration. To design the game's map, Obsidian used data collected by theUnited States Geological Surveyand reference photographs taken by Sawyer. Bethesda gave Obsidian 18 months to developFallout: New Vegas,which several journalists have noted is a very short time in which to develop aTriple-Agame.

Fallout: New Vegaswas a commercial success and is estimated to have sold 11.6 million copies worldwide. Critics praised the writing andquests,but questioned the lack of significant gameplay changes when compared toFallout 3,and criticized the numerousglitchespresent at launch. Six pieces ofdownloadable contentfor the game, including four story-based add-ons that added new areas for the player to explore, were released. Since its release, fans and journalists have re-evaluatedFallout: New Vegasand it is now regarded as one of the best games in theFalloutseries and asone of the greatest video games of all time.

Gameplay

Fallout: New Vegasfeatures a wide variety of weapons that players can use in combat. Here, the player fights an enemy known as a deathclaw with a varmint rifle.

Fallout: New Vegasis anaction role-playing gamethat can be played from either afirst-personor athird-personperspective.[1][2]It is set in theMojave Desert,204 years after anuclear warthat decimated much of the United States.[1]The player controls a courier who survived an attempted killing by an unknown assailant.[3]The goal of the game is to complete a series ofqueststo find the assailant; the game eventually culminates in a war between governing factions that are vying for control of the Mojave Desert.[4]: 67 In addition to the main quests, the player can participate in optional, unrelated side quests.[4]: 136 Kristinie Stiemer ofIGNestimates completing every quest in the game takes around 100 hours.[1]

Fallout: New Vegasfeatures a freely explorableopen worldmap.[1]The player can explore locations ranging from small settlements and abandoned buildings to large locations like theHoover Damand the city of New Vegas, which was built from the remnants ofLas Vegas.[2][5]The player is equipped with thePip-Boy 3000,awearable computerthat serves as amenuand allows them to access items they have acquired, view detailed character statistics and active quests, and look at the map.[6]: 6–10 The player can use the Pip-Boy 3000 map tofast travelto previously discovered locations.[4]: 27 The player can also use the Pip-Boy 3000 as a radio, and listen to songs from the 1940s to the early 1960s on makeshift radio broadcasts.[4]: 27 

The player can engage in combat withnon-player characters(NPCs).[5]The weapons in the game include standard guns,energy-based guns,melee weapons, and explosives.[4]: 30 Guns can be equipped with additionalmodificationssuch as ascope.[5]While in combat, the player can use a gameplay mechanic known as VATS, which pauses the game and allows the player to target specific body parts of an enemy.[1]VATS is dictated by astatisticknown as Action Points.[1]Attacks made using VATS. cost Action Points; when the player runs out of Action Points, they must wait a short period before they can use VATS again.[1]Some NPCs can be recruited as companions, and will accompany the player and assist them in combat.[5]

Role-playing mechanics

At the start of the game, the player can customize the courier's appearance by choosing their gender, age, and race.[7]They can then allocate points into seven primaryattributes:strength, perception, endurance, charisma, intelligence, agility, and luck.[4]: 4 These attributes are known as SPECIAL stats.[4]: 4 There are 13 secondary attributes whose point totals are affected by SPECIAL stats: barter, energy weapons, explosives, guns, lockpick, medicine, melee weapons, repair, science, sneak, speech, survival, and unarmed.[4]: 9 If the player has a high intelligence stat, for example, they will be more proficient in the medicine, repair, and science skills at the beginning of the game.[4]: 9 The player can add more points into skill stats whenever they earn enoughexperience pointstolevel up.[4]: 9 Experience points can be earned through several methods, such as killing an enemy or completing a quest.[4]: 26 When the player reaches an even-numbered level, they can select a permanent, beneficial upgrade known as a perk.[4]: 12 For example, the perk Rapid Reload increases thereloadspeed for guns by 25 percent.[4]: 13 

The player can initiate conversations with NPCs in the form ofdialogue trees.[6]: 19 For example, early in the game a doctor tells the player that they nursed them and looked through your belongings for identification.[6]: 19 The player can then choose to respond with one of the following dialogue options: "Thanks for patching me up, Doc.", "You shouldn't have gone through my stuff.", and "What do I do now?"[6]: 19 Some response options are only available if the player has enough points in a certain stat, such as 50 points in the Barter stat to ask a shopkeeper for a discount.[6]: 19 The responses the player chooses during conversations with NPCs as well as any previous actions determine their reputation among the in-game factions.[5][6]: 19 For example, if the player decides to help a faction, they may be given new armor or access to a secret base.[5]If the player's actions are perceived as detrimental, a faction might send assassins to try and kill the player.[5]Some factions dislike one another; if the player is helpful to one faction, they may be unable to complete quests for another faction.[3]Reputation extends to companions; some companions will leave the player if a specific faction dislikes the player.[8]

An optionaldifficulty levelinFallout: New Vegasis Hardcore Mode, which addssurvival mechanicsthe player must keep track of.[9]For example, the player must routinely eat, drink, and sleep to avoid dying from starvation, dehydration, or sleep deprivation.[9]Healing items gradually heal wounds but crippled limbs can only be healed by a doctor or specific items.[10]Ammunition has weight, which necessitates careful inventory management, and companions canpermanently die.[10]Hardcore Mode can be enabled or disabled at any point in the game.[11]If the player completes the entire game with Hardcore Mode enabled, they unlock anachievement.[11]

Plot

Setting

Flag of the New California Republic, based on theFlag of California

Fallout: New Vegastakes place in 2281, 204 years after a devastating nuclear war between the United States and China, known as the Great War.[12]Three major entities seek control of the Mojave Desert, which is known in-game as the Mojave Wasteland: TheNew California Republic(NCR) is ademocratic republicthat attempts to maintain law; Caesar's Legion is a violent, tribal army that is inspired by theRoman legion;and Mr. House is a mysterious businessman from New Vegas who controls an army of robots called securitrons.[13][14]As part of an eastward expansion from California, the NCR took control of the Hoover Dam, which provides electricity to the surrounding area.[13]Both Caesar's Legion and Mr. House want to control the Hoover Dam for themselves and advance their own plans for the region.[13]Minor factions include the Boomers, a heavily armed xenophobic tribe atNellis Air Force Base;the Powder Gangers, escaped convicts from a correctional facility; the Great Khans, a tribe of drug dealers; and theBrotherhood of Steel,a militant organization that aims to secure old technology.[4]: 43 

Story

While delivering apoker chip-shapeddata storagedevice known as the Platinum Chip to New Vegas, the courier is ambushed by mobster and casino owner Benny, who steals the Platinum Chip and shoots the courier in the head. Left for dead, a Securiton named Victor digs out the courier from a shallow grave, and physician Doc Mitchell nurses them back to health. The courier departs to search for Benny and the Platinum Chip; they confront Benny in a casino on the New Vegas strip; the courier must either kill Benny and recover the Platinum Chip or let him escape.

The courier becomes embroiled in a conflict between the NCR, Caesar's Legion, and Mr. House for control of the region. It is revealed Mr. House survived the nuclear apocalypse in a life-support chamber. He created the Platinum Chip, which contains a program that is capable of upgrading his Securitron army; the device was initially meant to protect Las Vegas during the Great War, but the war began before the Chip could be delivered. After the Platinum Chip was located, the courier was tasked with delivering it to Mr. House. Benny stole the Platinum Chip as part of his plan to usurp Mr. House with the assistance of a reprogrammed Securitron called Yes Man.

Hoover Dam becomes the center of the conflict between the NCR and Caesar's Legion. The player can choose which faction to support, resulting in one of four endings. If the player supports the NCR, they successfully repel the Legion's attack at Hoover Dam and annex the Mojave Wasteland. If the player supports Caesar's Legion, they force the NCR to retreat, and conquer the Mojave Wasteland. Mr. House wants to have sole control of New Vegas; if the player supports him, the overwhelming Securitron army forces both factions to leave the area. Alternatively, if the player wishes the Mojave Wasteland to remain independent of leadership, they can take control of Mr. House's Securitron network with the help of Yes Man.

Development

Josh Sawyer was the project director forFallout: New Vegas.

Van Burenand Bethesda purchase

Fallout: New Vegasbegan with the cancellation ofVan Buren,which was intended to be the third game in the mainlineFalloutseries.[15]Black Isle Studioswas set to develop areal-timegame withturn-based combatset acrossArizona,Colorado,Nevada,andUtah.[15][16]The game was cancelled in December 2003 following the financial issues faced by Black Isle Studios' publisher,Interplay Entertainment.[17]Prior toVan Buren'scancellation, former Black Isle and Interplay staff cofounded Obsidian Entertainment.[17]Over the next few years, Obsidian developed the role-playing gamesStar Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords,Neverwinter Nights 2,andAlpha Protocol,and a canceledAlienrole-playing game.[18][19]

In 2007,Bethesda Softworkspurchased theFalloutintellectual property.[20]The following year, Bethesda releasedFallout 3,which was well received by critics and sold ovr five million copies in 2008.[20][21]Prior to the release ofFallout 3,Bethesda had already started development onThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.[22]Bethesda wanted to supportFallout 3with more content and decided to contract another developer to create a largeexpansion pack.[22]Bethesda'screative director,Todd Howard,lobbied for a full game instead of an expansion pack and, based on their experience with theFalloutseries, suggested Obsidian.[22]In 2007, Obsidian had rejected an offer from Bethesda to develop aStar Trekgame but agreed to develop a spin-off from theFalloutmain series.[18][23]

Early development

Bethesda wanted the game to take place on theWest Coast of the United States,where the first twoFalloutgames are set, and Obsidian felt a similar setting would allow them to expand concepts introduced byFallout 2,like the New California Republic.[15][18]Other proposals included setting the game in a city based onReno, Nevada,and allowing the player to play as a human, aghoul,or a super mutant.[23]The latter idea was rejected due to the technical challenges posed by armor-wearing ghouls and super mutants.[23]The developers chose to set the game in Las Vegas and the surrounding Mojave Desert because they evoked the1950simagery for which the series was known and the post-apocalyptic setting ofMad Max.[15]At the behest of project directorJosh Sawyer,Obsidian repurposeddigital assetsfrom the canceledAliengame forFallout: New Vegas.[19]According to Sawyer: "[I] did not want to disrupt our pipelines at all. We basically want to use what's there – add to it, don't change it... and make great content".[19]Obsidian wantedFallout: New Vegasto take place between the events ofFallout 2andFallout 3,although Bethesda mandated each game in the series should follow chronological order.[24]

Sawyer wanted the story ofFallout: New Vegasto focus on greed and excess.[15]Thehistory of Las Vegasserved as an inspiration due to that city's connection withorganized crime.[25]One of the working titles for the game wasFallout: Sin City.[23]Sawyer used theassassination of John F. Kennedyin 1963 as a cut-off for any historical references.[15]The game's narrative was structured around factional conflict as a result of fan feedback.[18]Sawyer felt the factions would realistically be most concerned about access to water in the desert setting and Hoover Dam became a focal point forworldbuilding.[19]During aGame Developers Conferencepresentation, Sawyer noted Obsidian wanted to avoid what he described as "Jesus/Hitler"moments, where factions like the NCR and Caesar's Legion were presented as straightforwardly good or evil, and aimed to make player choices come moral trade offs.[8]

Design and gameplay

Obsidian designed the city of New Vegas to resemble Las Vegas in the 1950s.

To capture the ambiance of the Mojave Desert, Obsidian used data collected by theUnited States Geological Survey(USGS).[15]Sawyer traveled to Las Vegas and took reference photographs of the surrounding areas, including the nearbyRed Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.[26]Obsidian used theLas Vegas Beltwayas a point of reference while designing the map because they felt circling the map with a road network would help the player navigate.[27]Bethesda requested the inclusion of large structures to serve as visual landmarks for the player.[15]WhileFallout 3uses monuments inWashington, D.C.,as visual landmarks,Fallout: New Vegasuseskitschyroadside attractions, such as a large dinosaur statue based on theCabazon DinosaursinCabazon, California.[15][24]These attractions were motivated by a goal to differentiateFallout: New VegasfromFallout 3.[24]Locations withinFallout: New Vegasare more spread out when compared toFallout 3,which largely centered around the Washington, D.C. metro.[24]Other differences include a warmer color palette for the graphics, and the inclusion of local flora, such asJoshua treesandprickly pear cacti.[25]Obsidian wanted New Vegas to closely resemble theLas Vegas Stripin the 1950s;[25]this means each casino is adorned with large neon signs, and their architecture is modeled on the contemporaryGoogiemovement.[25]

The gameplay ofFallout: New Vegasremained largely unchanged from that ofFallout 3.[28]Obsidian instead focused on making minor adjustments, such as giving the player more tactical options while in combat.[28]The player could now useiron sightson guns, and accuracy was greatly affected by player movement.[28]Optional gameplay mechanics that would further evoke a sense of desert survival skills, such as item-crafting, and Hardcore Mode, were added.[15]According to Sawyer, the feature was added to provide an optional difficulty increase for players.[15]Obsidian was inspired by theFallout 3moddingcommunity, specifically the mods that sought to improve the game withquality of lifechanges.[28]Bethesda provided Obsidian with theGamebryoengine, which had been used forFallout 3.No Obsidian staff had worked with Gamebryo, so the company hired a modder with experience making mods forThe Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.[15]

Audio

Inon Zurcomposed the soundtrack ifFallout: New Vegas,which was intended to evoke the soundscape of theAmerican Southwest.[25]While working on the soundtrack, Zur received an email that included the descriptors: "Southwest in the Future. Open, Spacious, Raw, Lonesome, Cowboy, Rattlesnake, Desert, Wind, Heat, Rust, Steel, Dirt, Grit."[29]Zur was inspired by thesoundtrackfor the filmThere Will Be Blood;he worked with audio director Scott Lawlor to compose music for a string quartet.[25]Fallout: New Vegashas anadaptive musicsystem, which means the soundtrack will change depending on what is happening to the player.[29]While exploring, the music is quiet and ambient but becomes loud and powerful when the player enters combat.[29]In addition to the original soundtrack,Fallout: New Vegasincludes licensed music to which the player can listen via in-game radio stations.[29]The licensed music includes songs from the 1950s and severalmusic genres,includingcountryandbluegrass.[28]Over 65,000 lines of dialogue were recorded forFallout: New Vegas,which set aGuinness World Recordfor the most lines of dialogue in a single-player role-playing game.[30]The game also includes celebrityvoice actingfromRene Auberjonois,Felicia Day,John Doman,Michael Dorn,Kris Kristofferson,Zachary Levi,Wayne Newton,Ron Perlman,Matthew Perry,andDanny Trejo.[25]

Challenges and cut content

Bethesda gave Obsidian 18 months to developFallout: New Vegas,which several journalists noted is a very short time in which to develop aTriple-Agame.[15][26][31]When asked about the hastened development, Sawyer said: "We were working somewhere between forty and fifty hours a week, which is not too crazy... It was a really tight schedule, but I don't think we had a point where we all thought 'this is crazy we can't do it.'"[32]The contracted development meant some areas of the game needed to be cut. For example, there were planned settlements east of theColorado River,including three locations that would have been controlled by Caesar's Legion and would have provided more information about the faction.[15]Sawyer also noted Obsidian's lack of experience with the Gamebryo engine hindered development.[19]Programmers had to routinely runmaintenanceon the engine, and struggled to implement theHavoksoftware, which was a requirement forconsole games.[19]Sawyer recalled a specific moment when Obsidian received consoledevelopment kits.They found the New Vegas Strip was not properly optimized, and had to split the area into sections that are separated byloading screensrather than being a single, continuous section.[19]

Release and downloadable content

Promotional material forFallout: New VegasatPAX(left) andIgroMir(right)

Fallout: New Vegaswas announced in April 2009, and the first trailer was shown in February 2010.[33]Fourpre-orderbonuses were available for players who pre-ordered the game fromAmazon,Best Buy,GameStop,Steam,andWalmart.[34]Each pre-order bonus included weapons and items the player could access at the beginning of the game.[34]Acollectors' edition,which included the game, sevenpoker chips,a replica of the Platinum Chip, a deck of cards with character illustrations, a prequelgraphic novel,and amaking-ofdocumentary.[35]Pre-order sales forFallout: New Vegaswere higher than those forFallout 3in North America and the United Kingdom.[36]

Fallout: New Vegaswas released in North America forMicrosoft Windows,PlayStation 3,andXbox 360on October 19, 2010; October 21 in Australia; and October 22 in Europe.[37]By November 8, the game had sold five million copies worldwide and garnered $300 million in revenue.[38]The market-research firm Electronic Entertainment Design and Research estimated by 2015, the game had sold 11.6 million copies worldwide.[39]Fallout: New Vegassuffered from numerous glitches upon release, includingcrashes,corruptedsaved games,andframe rateissues.[15]Fans and video-game journalists criticized the large number of glitches.[15][20]Months after release, Bethesda publishedpatchesto fix the glitches.[40][41]

Fallout: New Vegaswas supported with sixdownloadable content(DLC) add-ons,[15]whose development was led by the designerChris Avellone.[15]Avellone's goal was to expand the game's story and incorporate gameplay ideas that would not have worked in the base game.[15]Avellone cited thesurvival horrorelements of the DLCDead Moneyas an example.[15]Avellone said: "It would feel weird if you designed even maybe a bigFallout New Vegaslevel around that. But as a DLC, it felt like, 'Oh, cool. This is my trip to a horror realm.' "[15]InDead Money,the courier is captured and forced to stage a heist on Sierra Madre Casino, which is concealed by a cloud of deadly toxic vapor.[42]The second DLC wasHonest Hearts,[43]which is set inZion National Parkand revolves around the courier's involvement in a conflict between several tribes.[43]The third DLC,Old World Blues,featuresB moviehumor and a plot about a group ofmad scientists.[44]The final story-driven DLC wasLonesome Road,in which the player tracks another courier named Ulysses, who rejected the job of delivering the Platinum Chip to Mr. House.[45]Two additional, non-story-driven DLC add-ons were released:Courier's Stashgranted access to items that were originally released as pre-order bonuses; andGun Runners' Arsenaladded new weapons,firearm modifications,and new types of ammunition.[46]

Reception

Initial reception

Upon its release,Fallout: New Vegasreceived positive reviews from critics.[15]Bethesda offered Obsidian a bonus payment if any version of the game received a rating of 85/100 or higher on thereview aggregatorwebsiteMetacritic.[58]Fallout: New Vegasmissed the threshold by one point; Metacritic assigned it a weighted-average critic score of 84/100 for the Windows and Xbox 360 versions, and an 82/100 for the PlayStation 3 version.[47][48][49]When asked about narrowly missing the threshold, Obsidian CEOFeargus Urquhartsaid: "It was in the contract, it was what it said. We didn't put it in there and we signed it. I wasn't crying over it by any stretch of the imagination."[23]Bethesda's decision to use Metacritic's rating as a determinant for bonus payment was criticized; journalists said Metacritic lacked the objectivity needed to measure the quality of a game.[59][60][61]

Fallout: New Vegas'sstory and writing were well received, and were consistently highlighted in reviews.[51][55][57]Craig Pearson ofPC Gamerdescribed the story as a significant improvement over that ofFallout 3,and appreciated the way factions adapt to the player's choices and previous actions.[57]The British version ofOfficial Xbox Magazinecalled the story "staggering in scope and consistent in quality", and particularly praised the final quest.[55]Despite their enjoyment, some critics bemoaned the lack of memorable story moments when compared withFallout 3.[52][53]Game Informer'sAndrew Reiner wrote: "Obsidian's writing is top notch (especially the dialogue), and I wanted to see more from most of the characters I met, but none of the scripted moments deliver the nuclear bang that Bethesda achieved".[3]

The side quests received praise, and some reviewers said they are more interesting than the main story.[1][53]Kevin VanOrd ofGameSpotgreatly appreciated the number of solutions each quest offers, such as a quest that allows the player to either fight robots in an abandoned museum or steal a keycard and avoid confrontation.[53]Reiner offered similar commentary, and said: "In just the missions and story,New Vegasoffers a nearly unprecedented level of depth... it delivers a true sense of ownership over the experience and gives you thousands of reasons why you should come back and play it again and again ".[3]Kristine Steimer ofIGNgave particular praise to the map, which she said acts as a catalyst to finding new side quests and unique locations.[1]

Because Obsidian made only minor adjustments to the gameplay, some reviewers describedFallout: New Vegasas a large expansion ofFallout 3rather than a separate game.[1][3][55][57]Steimer wrote: "I often want to call itFallout 3: New Vegas.Since the first game was so widely loved, that's certainly not a bad thing, butNew Vegasdoes feel like a giant, awesome expansion. "[1]Pearson was disappointed there were few technological advancements inFallout: New Vegas;he said: "New areas, characters and factions, but the same clunky inventory and character models. Two years to stay exactly where you were."[57]Francesca Reyes of the American version ofOfficial Xbox Magazinestruggled to recommend the game to anyone who did not enjoyFallout 3.[56]The newly added gameplay mechanics, such as faction reputation and Hardcore Mode, were well received; reviewers said they add an additional layer of complexity overFallout 3.[55]Reviewers were divided in their opinions on the companions;[9][52]Christopher Monfette ofG4said the companions provide a stronger emotional connection than any moment in the main quest,[52]while Dan Whitehead ofEurogamerfound the companions to be more trouble than they were worth due to their penchant for ignoring the commands he gave them.[9]

Many reviewers derided the glitches, which were seen as substantive and disruptive to gameplay.[1][50][51][52]Among the more common glitches noted in reviews were poor companion and enemypathfinding,framerate issues, and crashes.[1][3][9]Mike Nelson of1Up.comstated thatFallout: New Vegashad some of the most frustrating glitches he had ever seen, and he would have given the game a higher score had it not been for them.[50]A reviewer forEdgewrote, "Creatively,New Vegasgets almost everything right. Mechanically and technically, it's a tragedy. "[51]Some reviewers noted that they still enjoyed the game despite the glitches.[3][54][55]Giant Bomb'sJeff Gerstmannwrote, "[...] when I reflect on the experience, I'll probably think about the times the game locked up on me or broke in a dozen other crazy ways first, before thinking about the great world and the objectives that fill it. If you were able to look past the issues that plaguedFallout 3and [The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion] before it,New Vegaswill eventually show you a real good time. "[62]

Fallout: New Vegaswon the 2011Golden Joystick Awardfor Role-Playing Game of the Year,[63]and the 2010IGNaward for Most Bang for Your Buck.[64]The game was also nominated for theRole-Playing/Massively Multiplayer Game of the Yearaward during the14th Annual Interactive Achievement Awardsbut the award went toMass Effect 2.[65]

Re-evaluation and legacy

Since its release, fans and journalists have re-evaluatedFallout: New Vegas,and the game's reception has become significantly more positive.[15]Cass Marshall ofPolygonwrote: "Fallout: New Vegashas endured in the cultural zeitgeist in a way that few other games have ".[13]Some critics have referred toFallout: New Vegasas the best game in theFalloutseries[A]and as one of thegreatest video games of all time.[B]In a retrospective article about theFalloutseries, Ian Dransfield ofRetro Gamerstated: "New Vegasserved as the balance between Bethesda's new 3D approach, and Black Isle/Interplays focus on traditional [role-playing] mechanics ".[16]Eurogamer'sEmma Kent wrote: "it felt like even the smallest story was carefully crafted to maintain interest and deliver a rewarding kicker... on the macro scale,New Vegastook a more serious tone by weaving a complex power struggle that mirrors many current real-world conflicts ".[75]

Part of the game's re-evaluation comes from patches that fixed many of its glitches. Kat Bailey ofVG247noted once the discourse regarding the technical aspects subsided, players grew to appreciate the game for what it is.[15]The subsequent DLC add-ons and the active modding community also contributed to the game's long-lasting appeal.[76]PC Gamer'sDominic Tarason wrote: "Years of dedicated community efforts have culminated inNew Vegasbeing a better game than ever ".[77]Notable mods for the game includeTale Of Two Wastelands,which combines the maps ofFallout 3andFallout: New Vegas;andFallout: New California,which serves as a prequel and expands on the courier's story.[77]Fallout: The Frontier,a mod that added a new map to the game, was the subject of media attention due to its large size and controversial content.[78][79]

Some fans have negatively comparedFallout 3andFallout 4withFallout: New Vegas.[80][81]When compared withFallout: New Vegas,fans commonly criticizeFallout 3andFallout 4for uninteresting storylines, downgraded role-playing mechanics, and limited options for player expression.[13][15][81]Patricia Hernandez ofKotakucommented:

It sometimes seems as though you can't talk aboutFallout 4without having someone start talking about how goodNew Vegasis, how much they wish Obsidian, rather than Bethesda, handled modernFalloutgames. It's in every comments section for theFallout 4articles we post, I see it on Reddit a whole lot, and I've been emailed petitions about Obsidian and futureFalloutgames many, many times.[81]

When the television seriesFalloutwas released, the episode "The Trap"seemingly contradicts the plot ofFallout: New Vegas,which led some fans to believe Bethesda was trying toretconthe game due to their perceived disdain of its reception.[12][82]When Bethesda director Todd Howard clarified the issue,PC Gamerpublished an article with the headline"'New Vegas is a very, very important game to us,' says mildly exasperated Todd Howard, who will never stop getting grilled about New Vegas ".[82]Since 2022, a yearlyFallout: New Vegas-themed fan event has been held inGoodsprings, Nevada,the player's in-game starting location.[83][84]

Notes

  1. ^Attributed to multiple references:[66][67][68][69][70]
  2. ^Attributed to multiple references:[71][72][73][74]

References

  1. ^abcdefghijklmnSteimer, Kristine (October 19, 2010)."Fallout: New Vegas Review".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on September 5, 2021.RetrievedApril 29,2024.
  2. ^ab"Fallout: New Vegas".Entertainment Software Rating Board.Archivedfrom the original on May 4, 2024.RetrievedMay 3,2024.
  3. ^abcdefghReiner, Andrew (October 18, 2010)."Fallout New Vegas Review".Game Informer.Archived fromthe originalon October 22, 2018.RetrievedDecember 9,2010.
  4. ^abcdefghijklmnHodgson, David S.J. (2010).Fallout New Vegas: Prima Official Game Guide.Prima Games.ISBN978-0-307-46996-0.
  5. ^abcdefgBrudvig, Erik (April 30, 2010)."Fallout: New Vegas First Look".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on December 8, 2023.RetrievedApril 29,2024.
  6. ^abcdefFallout: New Vegas Game Manual.Obsidian Entertainment.2010.
  7. ^Snider, Mike (n.d.)."What happens in 'Fallout: New Vegas'".USA Today.Archived fromthe originalon June 28, 2011.RetrievedApril 29,2024.
  8. ^abKelly, Andy (November 3, 2017)."Fallout: New Vegas revisited: the most authentic 3D Fallout game".PC Gamer.Archivedfrom the original on April 30, 2024.RetrievedApril 29,2024.
  9. ^abcdefWhitehead, Dan (October 19, 2010)."Fallout: New Vegas".Eurogamer.pp.1–3.Archivedfrom the original on April 17, 2024.RetrievedOctober 19,2010.
  10. ^abStapleton, Dan (October 19, 2010)."Fallout: New Vegas Hardcore mode survival guide".PC Gamer.Archivedfrom the original on March 11, 2024.RetrievedApril 25,2024.
  11. ^abBergman, Jason (October 14, 2010)."Your Fallout: New Vegas PS3 Questions Answered: Hardcore Mode, Morality, Combat and More".PlayStation Blog.Archivedfrom the original on April 25, 2024.RetrievedApril 25,2024.
  12. ^abKim, Matt (April 18, 2024)."Fallout Official Timeline Confirmed: How the Show Fits In With the Games".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on April 30, 2024.RetrievedApril 30,2024.
  13. ^abcdeMarshall, Cass (April 7, 2024)."Fallout: New Vegas endures because of big clunky story swings".Polygon.Archivedfrom the original on April 30, 2024.RetrievedApril 30,2024.
  14. ^Nagata, Tyler (October 22, 2010)."Fallout: New Vegas super review".GamesRadar+.pp.1–3.Archivedfrom the original on April 26, 2024.RetrievedApril 30,2024.
  15. ^abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyBailey, Kat (December 31, 2020)."The Making of Fallout: New Vegas: How Obsidian's Underrated Sequel Became a Beloved Classic".VG247.Archivedfrom the original on April 14, 2024.RetrievedApril 25,2024.
  16. ^abDransfield, Ian (April 4, 2019)."The complete history of Fallout".PC Gamer.pp.1–2.Archivedfrom the original on December 28, 2024.RetrievedMay 4,2024.
  17. ^abBailey, Kat (November 24, 2017)."The Last Days of Black Isle Studios".VG247.Archivedfrom the original on April 21, 2024.RetrievedApril 25,2024.
  18. ^abcdSchreier, Jason(December 17, 2012)."The Knights of New Vegas".Kotaku.Archivedfrom the original on October 10, 2023.RetrievedApril 25,2024.
  19. ^abcdefgPechalin, Andrei (Christmas 2024). "Collected Works: Josh Sawyer".Edge.No. 404. pp.75–76.ISSN1350-1593.
  20. ^abcMcLaughlin, Rus; Kaiser, Rowan (July 21, 2010)."IGN Presents the History of Fallout".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on July 19, 2019.RetrievedApril 26,2024.
  21. ^Cobbett, Richard (June 5, 2015)."A brief history of Fallout".Eurogamer.Archivedfrom the original on March 22, 2024.RetrievedApril 25,2024.
  22. ^abcFallout Retrospective - Surviving the Desert Wasteland.Bethesda Softworks.October 24, 2022. Event occurs at 0:10–0:58.Archivedfrom the original on December 15, 2023.RetrievedApril 25,2024.
  23. ^abcdePurchese, Robert (September 13, 2017)."Fallout: New Vegas was once Fallout: Sin City and had three playable races".Eurogamer.Archivedfrom the original on January 9, 2024.RetrievedMay 7,2024.
  24. ^abcdPitts, Russ (April 30, 2010)."Feargus Urquhart Comes Home".The Escapist.Archivedfrom the original on March 11, 2016.RetrievedSeptember 15,2021.
  25. ^abcdefgThe Making of Fallout: New Vegas(Documentary).Obsidian Entertainment.2010.
  26. ^abMcKeand, Kirk (April 12, 2024)."Making Fallout New Vegas was a battle against time and impolite NPCs".PCGamesN.Archivedfrom the original on April 17, 2024.RetrievedMay 1,2024.
  27. ^Remo, Chris (August 1, 2010)."Taking Back Fallout".Game Developer.Archivedfrom the original on November 28, 2023.RetrievedMay 1,2024.
  28. ^abcdeKelly, Kevin (May 5, 2010)."Interview: Josh Sawyer on Fallout: New Vegas".Engadget.Archivedfrom the original on July 11, 2020.RetrievedMay 1,2024.
  29. ^abcdLawlor, Scott (October 13, 2010)."The Music of The Mojave Wasteland".Game Developer.Archivedfrom the original on May 29, 2023.RetrievedMay 1,2024.
  30. ^Guinness World Records 2011 – Gamer's Edition.Guinness World Records.2010. p. 147.ISBN978-1-4053-6546-8.
  31. ^Peel, Jeremy (April 23, 2024)."Whatever the Fallout TV show does with New Vegas lore, Josh Sawyer doesn't care: 'It was never mine'".Rock Paper Shotgun.Archivedfrom the original on May 3, 2024.RetrievedMay 2,2024.
  32. ^Lafleuriel, Erwan (2018).Fallout. A Tale of Mutation(E-book).Third Éditions.p. Chapter 1 (Search phrase "Obsidian put in 18 months of hard work".ISBN978-2-37784-032-8.
  33. ^Thorsen, Tor (February 4, 2010)."Fallout: New Vegas drops fall 2010, first trailer debuts".GameSpot.Archivedfrom the original on May 3, 2024.RetrievedMay 2,2024.
  34. ^abBrudvig, Erik (June 10, 2010)."Fallout: New Vegas Offers Pre-Order Goodies".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on May 3, 2024.RetrievedMay 3,2024.
  35. ^Reilly, Jim (May 11, 2010)."Fallout: New Vegas Collector's Edition Revealed".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on May 3, 2024.RetrievedMay 2,2024.
  36. ^Reilly, Jim (August 5, 2010)."New Vegas Enjoying A Bigger Fallout".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on May 3, 2024.RetrievedMay 3,2024.
  37. ^Ransom-Wiley, James (October 18, 2010)."First Fallout: New Vegas DLC 'exclusive' to Xbox 360".Engadget.Archivedfrom the original on October 22, 2018.RetrievedOctober 26,2010.
  38. ^Raby, Mark (November 8, 2010)."Fallout: New Vegas sells 5 million copies, generates $300 million in revenue, says Bethesda".GamesRadar+.Archivedfrom the original on February 18, 2023.RetrievedMay 2,2024.
  39. ^Kollar, Philip (November 10, 2015)."Fallout 4 could be a bigger hit than Skyrim".Polygon.Archivedfrom the original on November 13, 2015.RetrievedNovember 13,2015.
  40. ^Reilly, Jim (November 8, 2010)."'Comprehensive' Fallout: New Vegas Patch Coming ".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on May 3, 2024.RetrievedMay 3,2024.
  41. ^Reilly, Jim (December 10, 2010)."Fallout: New Vegas Gets Major Update".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on May 3, 2024.RetrievedMay 3,2024.
  42. ^Whitehead, Dan (January 6, 2011)."Fallout: New Vegas - Dead Money".Eurogamer.Archivedfrom the original on May 3, 2024.RetrievedMay 3,2024.
  43. ^abJohnston, Jarrod Charles (May 24, 2011)."Fallout: New Vegas Honest Hearts DLC review".GamesRadar+.Archivedfrom the original on May 3, 2024.RetrievedMay 3,2024.
  44. ^Cobbett, Richard (July 20, 2011)."Wot I Think: New Vegas: Old World Blues".Rock Paper Shotgun.Archivedfrom the original on April 17, 2021.RetrievedMay 3,2011.
  45. ^Whitehead, Dan (September 21, 2011)."Fallout New Vegas: Lonesome Road".Eurogamer.Archivedfrom the original on May 3, 2024.RetrievedMay 3,2024.
  46. ^Nunneley-Jackson, Stephany (August 25, 2011)."Fallout: New Vegas - Lonesome Road, Courier's Stash and Gun Runners' Arsenal given release dates".VG247.Archivedfrom the original on May 3, 2024.RetrievedMay 3,2024.
  47. ^ab"PC Critic Reviews".Metacritic.Archivedfrom the original on April 18, 2024.RetrievedMay 3,2024.
  48. ^ab"PlayStation 3 Critic Reviews".Metacritic.Archivedfrom the original on April 18, 2024.RetrievedMay 3,2024.
  49. ^ab"Xbox 360 Critic Reviews".Metacritic.Archivedfrom the original on April 18, 2024.RetrievedMay 3,2024.
  50. ^abcNelson, Mike (October 25, 2010)."Fallout: New Vegas Review".1Up.com.Archived fromthe originalon April 11, 2013.RetrievedSeptember 14,2021.
  51. ^abcdAnon. (October 22, 2010)."Fallout: New Vegas Review".Edge.Archived fromthe originalon June 10, 2011.RetrievedOctober 26,2010.
  52. ^abcdeMonfette, Christopher (October 19, 2010)."Fallout: New Vegas Review".G4.Archived fromthe originalon August 4, 2016.RetrievedNovember 18,2010.
  53. ^abcdVanOrd, Kevin (October 20, 2010)."Fallout: New Vegas Review".GameSpot.Archivedfrom the original on October 22, 2018.RetrievedOctober 19,2010.
  54. ^abTuttle, Will (October 25, 2010)."Fallout: New Vegas Review".GameSpy.Archivedfrom the original on October 22, 2018.RetrievedNovember 18,2010.
  55. ^abcdefAnon. (October 19, 2010)."Review: Fallout: New Vegas".Official Xbox Magazine UK.Archived fromthe originalon March 12, 2011.RetrievedNovember 19,2010.
  56. ^abReyes, Francesca (October 20, 2010)."Fallout: New Vegas".Official Xbox Magazine US.Archived fromthe originalon October 24, 2010.RetrievedNovember 19,2010.
  57. ^abcdePearson, Craig (October 19, 2010)."Fallout: New Vegas Review".PC Gamer.Archivedfrom the original on October 22, 2018.RetrievedNovember 19,2010.
  58. ^Rose, Mike (March 14, 2012)."Report: Obsidian missed Fallout: New Vegas bonus by one Metacritic point".Game Deverloper.Archivedfrom the original on April 7, 2024.RetrievedMay 3,2024.
  59. ^Schreier, Jason(March 15, 2012)."Why Are Game Developer Bonuses Based On Review Scores?".Kotaku.Archivedfrom the original on January 23, 2024.RetrievedMay 5,2024.
  60. ^Zerebeski, Graham (April 23, 2012)."A plea for sanity regarding Metacritic and developer bonuses".VentureBeat.Archivedfrom the original on May 8, 2024.RetrievedMay 5,2024.
  61. ^Orland, Kyle (March 25, 2012)."Why linking developer bonuses to Metacritic scores should come to an end".Ars Technica.Archivedfrom the original on October 3, 2023.RetrievedMay 5,2024.
  62. ^Gerstmann, Jeff(October 18, 2010)."Fallout: New Vegas Review".Giant Bomb.Archivedfrom the original on August 28, 2021.RetrievedSeptember 14,2021.
  63. ^Nunneley-Jackson, Stephany (October 21, 2011)."29th Annual Golden Joystick Awards: Portal 2 wins Ultimate Game of the Year".VG247.Archivedfrom the original on May 7, 2024.RetrievedMay 4,2024.
  64. ^"Most Bang for Your Buck".IGN.January 25, 2013.Archivedfrom the original on May 7, 2024.RetrievedMay 4,2024.
  65. ^"2011 Award Category Details: Role-Playing/Massively Multiplayer Game of the Year".Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.n.d.Archivedfrom the original on November 20, 2023.RetrievedMay 4,2024.
  66. ^Wald, Heather (July 22, 2021)."The best Fallout games, ranked from worst to best".GamesRadar+.Archivedfrom the original on August 8, 2021.RetrievedAugust 8,2021.
  67. ^Watts, Steve (April 10, 2024)."Best Fallout Games, Ranked".GameSpot.Archivedfrom the original on May 5, 2024.RetrievedMay 4,2024.
  68. ^Kelly, Paul (April 24, 2024)."The best Fallout games ranked".PCGamesN.Archivedfrom the original on May 7, 2024.RetrievedMay 4,2024.
  69. ^Wright, Jonathan (April 30, 2024)."Every Fallout game, ranked best to worst".Destructoid.Archivedfrom the original on March 4, 2024.RetrievedDecember 24,2024.
  70. ^Stone, Sam (May 15, 2024)."All Fallout Games, Ranked From Worst to Best".The Escapist.Archivedfrom the original on February 4, 2024.RetrievedDecember 24,2024.
  71. ^Anon. (November 27, 2017)."The 500 Best Video Games of All Time".Polygon.Archivedfrom the original on March 3, 2018.RetrievedDecember 1,2017.
  72. ^Anon. (April 2018). "The Top 300 Games of All Time".Game Informer.No. 300.ISSN1067-6392.
  73. ^Anon. (December 31, 2021)."The Top 100 Video Games of All Time".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on December 31, 2021.RetrievedDecember 31,2021.
  74. ^Leedham, Robert; White, Sam (May 10, 2023)."The 100 greatest video games of all time, ranked by experts".GQ.Archivedfrom the original on May 10, 2023.RetrievedMay 11,2023.
  75. ^Kent, Emma (November 27, 2019)."Games of the Decade: Fallout New Vegas knows you better than yourself".Eurogamer.Archivedfrom the original on November 2, 2020.RetrievedSeptember 14,2021.
  76. ^Bailey, Kat (May 4, 2024)."The Top 25 RPGs of All Time #13: Fallout: New Vegas".VG247.Archivedfrom the original on December 16, 2023.RetrievedMay 4,2024.
  77. ^abTarason, Dominic (April 12, 2024)."How to have the best Fallout New Vegas experience today".PC Gamer.Archivedfrom the original on April 25, 2024.RetrievedApril 24,2024.
  78. ^Winslow, Jeremy (January 17, 2021)."Huge Fallout: New Vegas The Frontier PC Mod Now Live".GameSpot.Archivedfrom the original on January 15, 2021.RetrievedMay 5,2024.
  79. ^Winslow, Jeremy (January 29, 2021)."Fallout: The Frontier Mod Taken Down After Modder Shared Pedophilic Content".GameSpot.Archivedfrom the original on May 5, 2024.RetrievedMay 5,2024.
  80. ^King, Jade (April 22, 2024)."It's Okay To Enjoy Fallout 3 More Than New Vegas".TheGamer.Archivedfrom the original on November 26, 2024.RetrievedMay 31,2024.
  81. ^abcHernandez, Patricia (January 20, 2016)."Fans' Intense Love For Fallout: New Vegas Must Be Weird For People At Bethesda".Kotaku.Archivedfrom the original on December 25, 2023.RetrievedMay 4,2024.
  82. ^abWilde, Tyler (April 30, 2024)."'New Vegas is a very, very important game to us,' says mildly exasperated Todd Howard, who will never stop getting grilled about New Vegas ".PC Gamer.Archivedfrom the original on May 3, 2024.RetrievedMay 4,2024.
  83. ^Carter, Justin (July 20, 2022)."Fallout: New Vegas inspires a holiday in Nevada town".Game Developer.Archivedfrom the original on November 23, 2023.RetrievedNovember 23,2023.
  84. ^Park, Morgan (November 19, 2024)."'Goodsprings is a real place?': This Fallout fan loved New Vegas so much he actually moved to the Nevada desert ".PC Gamer.Archivedfrom the original on November 20, 2024.RetrievedDecember 24,2024.
Wikimedia Commons has media related toFallout: New Vegas.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fallout:_New_Vegas&oldid=1273737234"