I really like what I’ve been hearing about Fallout New Vegas. It’s actually tough to avoid becoming excited. But I have to keep reminding myself that this is Obsidian we’re talking about. Expansion packs aside, Obsidian has shipped exactly two titles, both of which frequently make it into various “top ten worst endings” lists. Both KOTOR 2 and Neverwinter Nights 2 were games that started very strong, only to collapse under a mountain of bugs and unfinished plot threads.
Note also that this team is not the one that originally made the amazing Fallout, but the team that made Fallout 2, the dysfunctional younger brother. Couple this track record with the fact that they’ll be using Bethesda’s tools (which they’ve never used before) and the fact that Bethesda games are frequently buggy and unpolished, and you have a perfect storm of factors conspiring against New Vegas.
I’m cheering for Obsidian, I really am. I want them to do well. But I don’t think you need to be a bitter old cynic to have misgivings about this game.
The story about Kotick is here, and it’s just the sort of shooting-fish-in-a-barrel story I’ve come to count on from the man.
When he eventually resigns in disgrace I’ll have to send him a personal thank-you for making my job as a satirist so much easier.
What a guy.
Shamus Young is the guy behind this website, this book, these three webcomics, and this program.
