Interview Josh Sawyer On Fallout New Vegas

[VentilatorOfDoom]

Tags: Fallout: New Vegas; Obsidian Entertainment

<p>411mania <a href="http://www.411mania.com/games/previews/153282/411-Interview-With-Fallout:-New-Vegas-Project-Director-Josh-Sawyer.htm" target="_blank">had the opportunity to ask</a> Obsidian's Josh Sawyer a few questions concerning different gameplay aspects.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>AL: How did you come up with Hardcore mode, and do you think players besides Fallout fans will try it out?<br /><br />JS: Hardcore mode was born out of a desire to offer an increased level of challenge to players without simply scaling hit points and damage behind the scenes. A number of PC mods have increased difficulty in myriad ways, so we looked at what people enjoyed about those mods and decided to create a distinct Hardcore mode catering to players desiring increased strategic and tactical challenges.<br /><br />I think whether or not a person likes Hardcore mode will have more to do with their general gaming tastes than their experience with the Fallout franchise.<br /><br />AL: By now, quite a few factions in the game have been revealed. How did you come up with what factions to use in the game, and were any left out that you wanted to put in?<br /><br />JS: We knew initially that we wanted to revisit some of the classic Fallout and Fallout 2 factions like NCR and the Gun Runners, and I had always wanted to build up Caesar's Legion as a powerful slave army coming out of the east. After that, we looked at organizations that would be appropriate for the region given Vegas history. Factions like the Kings pay homage to Las Vegas' heavy association with Elvis Presley and the huge number of impersonators who live and work there. The Chairmen, who run The Tops casino, are inspired by the Rat Pack.<br /><br />Honestly, there are so many factions in New Vegas that I can't say I regret leaving any out. I hope players will have a lot of fun interacting with all of the various groups in the Mojave Wasteland.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Seems a lot of different sites get F:NV interviews with Obsidian devs.</p>
<p>Spotted at: <a href="http://www.gamebanshee.com/news/99773-fallout-new-vegas-interview.html">GB</a></p>

 

[Silellak]

This exchange amused me:

AL: One of the popular things right now for Xbox 360 games are unlockable Avatar rewards. Will the game feature any rewards that will let players wear clothes from Caesar's Legion or any other Wasteland accessories?

JS: I'm afraid not. Playing the game will have to be its own reward.

 

[Clockwork Knight]

On the board for the PC version of NV on Gamefaqs:

i would love to get this version but...

I have a Mac and since I can't get this through Steam, there will be now achievements. Although i'm not CRAZY over achievements, I would like something in return for doing some gnarly stuff in the game.

Something in return? It's a GAME, not a JOB.

no i get it i enjoy the little chime you get when you unlock and achievment. It does add something to the game it make me want to play more.

 

[chzr]

no wonder why companies produce shitty films instead of games when ppl don't even want to play games but only get fucking achievements.

 

[Pablosdog]

At least good movies are still being made

 

[Awor Szurkrarz]

On the board for the PC version of NV on Gamefaqs:

i would love to get this version but...

I have a Mac and since I can't get this through Steam, there will be now achievements. Although i'm not CRAZY over achievements, I would like something in return for doing some gnarly stuff in the game.

Something in return? It's a GAME, not a JOB.

no i get it i enjoy the little chime you get when you unlock and achievment. It does add something to the game it make me want to play more.

 

[Ion Flux]

On the board for the PC version of NV on Gamefaqs:

i would love to get this version but...

I have a Mac and since I can't get this through Steam, there will be now achievements. Although i'm not CRAZY over achievements, I would like something in return for doing some gnarly stuff in the game.

Something in return? It's a GAME, not a JOB.

no i get it i enjoy the little chime you get when you unlock and achievment. It does add something to the game it make me want to play more.

The little cartoon is missing the part where the dog salivates when the bell is rung in the absence of meat.

Ivan is displeased.

 

[Elhoim]

Games in the future would become movies with achievements pop-ups.

 

[Overweight Manatee]

This exchange amused me:

AL: One of the popular things right now for Xbox 360 games are unlockable Avatar rewards. Will the game feature any rewards that will let players wear clothes from Caesar's Legion or any other Wasteland accessories?

JS: I'm afraid not. Getting achievements will have to be its own reward.

Fixed

 

[Ion Flux]

Games in the future would become movies with achievements pop-ups.

 

[1eyedking]

I seriously don't understand achievements.

The mind boggles.

 

[treave]

Seems a lot of different sites get F:NV interviews with Obsidian devs.

But not the Codex.

 

[Clockwork Knight]

Achievements themselves aren't a bad idea; like DLC, they can be used for nice things. You do something interesting / challenging, the game marks it and gives you a little stamp and some commentary. Yay. Like, say I'm playing a Tony Hawk game, and there's an achievement for doing a crazy stunt on some course. I'l try to do it. I'm playing a game, after all. I want to make it to the highscore, for the lulz of it.

Good fun. Playing Risen and getting the "Idiot" achievement after falling to my death 3 times. Made me smile.

The problem comes with a retarded public focusing on the score itself to the point of hesitating to play a game because it won't give them many points, which caused devs to be forced to fill a quota of achievement points (therefore resorting to stupid shit to fill space). Players don't wave the e-peen around; the e-peen waves them.

I still remember that guy Ausir was arguing with on th vault wiki a while ago. He was mad because he would be "forced" to finish New Vegas on Hardcore because there would probably be an achievement for it.

 

[waywardOne]

one-off achievements for specific things can be nice if those things are difficult to perform such as finding a hidden location/item/person or discovering a unique and undocumented spell/attack/sexposition combo.

handing out tick-box achievements simply for playing the game as expected, however, is utter shite.

 

[Awor Szurkrarz]

I seriously don't understand achievements.

The mind boggles.

 

[Big Nick Digger]

The problem with achievements is that most are so fucking retardedly easy to get that they don't deserve the title of "achievements". In some games they even give you an achievement for pushing the start button at the fucking opening menu.

 

[Awor Szurkrarz]

Oh God...

 

[Drakron]

I seriously don't understand achievements.

The mind boggles.

Its a carrot-on-a-stick for e-penis ... utter pointless but a lot of people seem to want them, maybe for the same reason people want to have lv 897 characters.

The sad thing is people did tried for "achivements" before they existed, like keeping Dogmeat alive in Fallout to the end so now instead of people aiming for achieve something from their own free will and set what the achivement is, we have games TELLING THEM what to do ... makes me wonder if humankind can be called a intelligent species.

 

[Clockwork Knight]

The problem with achievements is that most are so fucking retardedly easy to get that they don't deserve the title of "achievements". In some games they even give you an achievement for pushing the start button at the fucking opening menu.

That was on a Simpsons game, intended as a joke about that very point you made.

btw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr-9Ui7447I

 

[Beautiful Clown Painting]

Achievements have a purpose in Wow: if you're joining a raid in pick-up, you ask for their achievement to see if they do know the strategy.
But in single-player games, achievements do indeed make the mind boggle. What is the fucking point?

 

[Lyric Suite]

Achievements might be legitimate if they were actually warranted. There have been plenty of times while playing a game where i was compelled to pull off some crazy thing, sometimes for the challenge, sometimes for the hell of it. In that respect, achievements should never be given for accomplishing goals that are inherent to the game. If you are playing the fucking game, it is implied that you will be achieving whatever goal the game as set out for you (duh). What the fuck is the point in that?

 

[chzr]

What the fuck is the point in that?

'gamerzscore' -> e-peeeen

 

[1eyedking]

Achievements are time sinks.

I still don't understand them. I mean, I do, but I can't understand why people want them.

Unless...people actually want time sinks? But is it the fact they're called 'achievements' that makes sheeple feel better about "wasting" time?

The mind boggles yet again. Society slowly retreats from my grasp with every news post.

 

[Jaesun]

If more games did like Achievements in Call of Pripyat, it would be a wonderful thing. <3

 

[Achilles]

If you are playing the fucking game, it is implied that you will be achieving whatever goal the game as set out for you (duh). What the fuck is the point in that?

Do you remember the Bio stat about ME2, that only 50% of the people actually finished the game? Maybe that's what they're for, to "force" players to keep playing in order to win some arbitrary award.