Fallout: New Vegas

Fallout: New Vegas is a role-playing video game developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Bethesda Softworks. While New Vegas is not a direct sequel, it uses the same engine and in the same style as Fallout 3. It was developed by a few of the people who worked on previous Fallout games at Black Isle Studios, along with a large number of new employees. It is set in and around post-apocalyptic Las Vegas (New Vegas).

The game was released on October 19th in North America, and will be released on October 22nd in Europe, and November 4th in Japan. It will be available on the PC, Xbox 360, and Playstation 3.

Fallout: New Vegas has 4 different pre-order bonuses, the Classic Pack, Caravan Pack, Tribal Pack, and Mercenary Pack. As the game has been released in the America region these are not available anymore. You can still pre-order in other parts of the world. Each one has a unique suit of armor and a unique weapon not found in-game, along with a few other items that are available in-game.

Development history
Fallout: New Vegas was announced on April 20, 2009 at Bethesda's London showcase. The first official information was released in the February 2010 issue of PC Gamer. A cinematic teaser trailer and a gameplay trailer have been released.

Setting
The game is set in a post-apocalyptic, retro-futuristic Las Vegas following the Great War between the U.S., China and other countries, a conventional and nuclear war that occurred on October 23, 2077 and lasted less than two hours despite causing immense damage and destruction. Before the Great War were the Resource Wars, during which the United Nations disbanded, a plague rendered the United States paranoid, and Canada was annexed. The city of New Vegas itself, didn't get hit as much as other districts, and most buildings were left intact. The Hoover Dam supplies all the free electricity and water to those who control it.

Story
The story continues some parts of the Fallout and Fallout 2 stories, but is not related in any way to the one in Fallout 3.

Fallout: New Vegas takes place in 2281, three years after the events of Fallout 3 and thirty-nine years after Fallout 2, making this installment set furthest of the series. The New California Republic plays a major part in the story in a three way struggle between the Caesar's Legion slavers and the local New Vegas populace.

The Courier, the player character, is meant to deliver a package to Primm. The Courier is then floored by the Great Khans, and Benny stands in front of the Courier with the Khans cornering the Courier (who is on the ground), holding the platinum chip in his hand. Benny says "Look's like this is going to be your last delivery, kid.", then proceeds to shoot the Courier. The camera zooms out and a Khan can be seen digging a grave for him. He is found by a robot named Victor and is sent to the city of Goodsprings. Mitchell then heals him. He is given some medical tests. The player has the option to recieve training from Sunny Smiles. The player is then pushed back into the open world and the quest Ain't That a Kick in the Head begins. Fallout: New Vegas will have a definitive ending, just like Fallout 3.

Gameplay
The gameplay system will be similar to Fallout 3 gameplay, although some changes have been made, including changes to the combat system to make it more like a first person shooter, such as the ability to use weapon iron sights.

Hardcore mode
Hardcore mode is an optional setting which makes the game more realistic, with gameplay elements such as dehydration and healing over time. If the mode is switched to Casual, it is impossible to switch back to Hardcore. Either a trophy or achievement is awarded for completing Fallout: New Vegas on Hardcore mode. The Casual/Hardore mode distinction is independent of difficulty settings.

Character system
The SPECIAL system returns, and directly influences speech options and quests. Unlike Fallout 3, traits are available for taking, and perks are gained every 2 levels.

Combat
The Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System, or V.A.T.S., is an active pause combat system implemented in the game, just like in Fallout 3. While using V.A.T.S., the otherwise real-time combat is paused. V.A.T.S. also allows the gory deaths in the game to be shown in slow motion and great detail. Attacks in V.A.T.S. cost action points, and the player can target specific body areas for attacks to inflict specific injuries. During real time combat you can now look down the iron sights of weapons rather than the zoom in Fallout 3. Unlike Fallout 3, melee weapons now have special moves in V.A.T.S., such as "Fore!" for golf clubs. Another feature being added, is that if an enemy has a high damage threshold, some weapons may be ineffective. This is shown by a red shield near the enemy's health bar when attacking it, in and out of VATS. The damage threshold will be due to high armor or a built in mechanic to that character, and will require the Courier to retreat, or attack with a more powerful weapon. Previews have also mentioned the presence of a dynamic 'Kill Cam' which shows the killing bullet in slow motion, permitting players who play in real-time to experience the same cinematic feel of V.A.T.S.

Karma and Reputation
Karma is back, but now incorporated alongside a reputation system, similar to Fallout 2. Reputation is a form of tracking relationships within the factions and towns of Fallout: New Vegas, such as the NCR or Goodsprings, a high reputation with a faction or town may give certain benefits, such as gifts from the people of that town, while a low reputation may lead to hits being taken out against you. Karma in New Vegas will have very little effect compared to Fallout 3 as reputation will decide how people react to you.

Weapon modding feature
This modding feature allows you to modify your gun by adding things like scopes, expanded magazines, etc. You are able to have a weapon with no more than 3 mods attached to it. These mods will be permanent to that weapon. There will be unique weapons (as introduced in Fallout 3), and these will have unique textures and some may have unique models; although unique weapons can not be modified.

As it has been mentioned by Chris Avellone directly, Obsidian implemented this feature as a direct response to the popularity of the Weapon Mod Kits mod for Fallout 3.

Companion wheel
A new companion wheel has been added to easily give companions commands such as 'Attack' and 'Flee'. It will also make it easier to swap health and equipment. The companions also have their likes and dislikes; giving a sniper companion a shotgun will result in a nasty remark and decreased effectiveness.

Gambling
New Vegas still has a variety of colorful casinos to explore. In Fallout: New Vegas gambling mini games have been added to experience gambling in a post apocalyptic world. Games like blackjack, roulette, and more will be featured. Luck may be a considerable factor when it comes to gambling. You get money for winning, and floor managers will congratulate you with food or drink and maybe a VIP stay at the hotel. Unfortunately there is a term for "too good" in the casinos, as winning too much money will make the managers come down and tell you to leave the casino on suspicions of cheating.

Developers
Fallout: New Vegas is being developed by Obsidian Entertainment, a company founded by Feargus Urquhart and Chris Avellone, two of the makers of Fallout 2 (originally at Black Isle Studios). The project is led by J.E. Sawyer, one of the lead designers of Van Buren, the canceled Fallout 3 project by Black Isle Studios. John R. Gonzalez is the lead creative designer, while Obsidian founder Chris Avellone, who worked on Fallout 2 and Van Buren is a senior designer. Joe Sanabria is the lead artist.

Collector's Edition
The Collector's Edition of Fallout: New Vegas includes Fallout: New Vegas; "Lucky 7" poker chips, replicas from the ones found in the game; a deck of Fallout: New Vegas themed playing cards; a replica of the "Lucky 38" poker chip from the game; “All Roads”, a graphic novel about the history of Fallout: New Vegas written by Chris Avellone; and a "The Making of Fallout: New Vegas" DVD. The entire package comes in a collectible Fallout: New Vegas box. The Collector's Edition is also available for pre-order.

Pre-order add-ons
If Fallout: New Vegas has been pre-ordered, you will receive one of the following depending on where it was purchased: Caravan Pack, Classic Pack, Mercenary Pack, or the Tribal Pack. When the add-on is installed to the game, you will receive these items automatically, regardless of your progress in the game.

Upcoming add-ons
A downloadable add-on pack (DLC) has officially been announced to be in the works. There is no information out about any of the that is being worked on, only that they will be released during the 2010 holiday season. The first add-on will be Xbox 360-exclusive.

Reception
So far, reception to Fallout: New Vegas has been generally favorable with critics praising the gameplay improvements and expanded content over Fallout 3 while criticizing familiarity and technical issues.

Eurogamer commented that "Obsidian has created a totally compelling world and its frustrations pale into insignificance compared to the immersive, obsessive experience on offer. Just like the scorched scenery that provides its epic backdrop, New Vegas is huge and sprawling, sometimes gaudy, even downright ugly at times – but always effortlessly, shamelessly entertaining."

Giant Bomb's Jeff Gerstmann reviewed Fallout: New Vegas for the Xbox 360 positively, despite its many crash bugs and glitches. "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 plagued Fallout 3 and Oblivion before it, New Vegas will eventually show you a real good time."

Controversies and censorship

 * In the German version, there is no gore.