Development Info Wasteland 3 Developer Diary & Panel Discussion on Game Stack Live

[Infinitron]

Tags: Brian Fargo; David Rogers; inXile Entertainment; Tim Campbell; Wasteland 3

Last week, in response to the cancellation of GDC 2020 due to the coronavirus epidemic, Microsoft announced that they'd put together an online replacement conference called Game Stack Live. We were a bit surprised to discover that there was a Wasteland 3 segment on the second day of the event. The topic of the segment is iteration - the process by which inXile continually replay and refine their games during development in order to hopefully make them more fun. It begins with a fancy ten minute dev diary-style video featuring Brian Fargo, game director Tim Campbell and lead designer David Rogers, followed by an additional twenty minute panel discussion with the latter two.

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Although it doesn't go into any deep detail, I found this to be a fairly insightful session. However, grognards may be upset that inXile's process of iteration in Wasteland 3 has led to the discarding of certain hardcore mechanics from the previous game.

 

[luj1]

However, grognards may be upset that inXile's process of iteration in Wasteland 3 has lead to the discarding of certain hardcore mechanics from the previous game.

Wasteland II was okay, but not exceptional. I don't know what those 'hardcore mechanics' are, nor do I care, but if that's out then the situation cannot be too good.

 

[Elwro]

What hardcore mechanics? The stat system wasn't even thought through carefully enough...

 

[Infinitron]

What hardcore mechanics? The stat system wasn't even thought through carefully enough...

Watch the panel: https://youtu.be/_eja9uy_C_0?t=3690

But it's like I said:

It's funny to me how all these storyfag previewers are concerned about the game being streamlined but Codexers mostly don't seem to give a fuck.

 

[Daedalos]

Don't care bout mechanics, as long as writing and story is GUD

 

[The_Mask]

The designer looks and sounds very enthusiastic about what he's doing. And he also sounds like he has a process in mind in regards to how to make the game fun. I don't know, maybe it's because he is a millenial, but I think I get what he's doing: he's adapting the game to be as best as he can make it with the tools that he is given, which is commendable.

The director seems to be... a seasoned man, but really just happy to be there...? He came across as superfluous. Maybe it's just his personality. I don't know.



It's really sad Fargo blew his reputation, if he hadn't maybe I would've been excited for this. Right now, I'm just cynical.

 

[Infinitron]

The lead designer of Wasteland 3 for most of its development was G Ziets. David Rogers must have stepped in after he left in July. Seems like in practice they might be focusing on different things, though. David is more of a systems design guy.

 

[Diggfinger]

Looks pretty good.

Little talk about RPG-mechanics though, guess it's more a strategy-experience.

Hope Brian's OK, he looks a little swollen.

 

[Van-d-all]

But it's like I said:

It's funny to me how all these storyfag previewers are concerned about the game being streamlined but Codexers mostly don't seem to give a fuck.

After W2 could you blame them? People don't give a fuck about InExile altogether. You are loosing grip on reality Infinitron...