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Obsidian misses New Vegas bonus by slim Metacritic marginMar 15, 2012 - ShacknewsFallout: New Vegas was pretty well liked by critics and gamers, despite some of its signature open world jank. But it was just barely not well-liked enough to earn the team at Obsidian bonuses, according to creative director Chris Avellone. Metacritic score. The tweet didn't reveal a deadline for the score, which has probably long-since passed. The game currently stands at an 84 on PC and Xbox 360 (82 on PlayStation 3). " was a straight payment, no royalties, only a bonus if we got an 85+ on Metacritic, which we didn't," Avellone said. The tweet has since been removed. These types of deals are fairly common in the industry, though. Publishers rarely acknowledge the practice, but the Wall Street Journal reported that publishers like Activision and Take-Two were utilizing it years ago. Critics have commented that developers have approached them about reviews, since the practice makes their work indirectly responsible for another person's pay. This comes just a day after the news broke that Obsidian laid off 20-30 staff members, including ones from the team working on South Park: The Game. A canceled project code-named "North Carolina" was reportedly set to be published by Microsoft for its next console, and was called "desperately needed" for the studio. Fallout: New Vegas lead designer releases own balance modDec 29, 2011 - ShacknewsFallout: New Vegas lead designer J.E. Sawyer has reworked the balance of Obsidian's post-apocalyptic RPG, amping up the difficulty and tinkering to his own preference. Intriguingly, these changes come in a mod of Sawyer's making, not any official patch. The mod, spotted by No Mutants Allowed, cuts the level cap, XP gain, health and healing, while also sprucing up a number of weapons and armour. A few more highlights are this-a-way. You can download the tiny 88KB mod direct from Sawyer. To use it, you'll need to have every piece of New Vegas downloadable content installed, including the former pre-order bonus packs. You'll also need Fallout Mod Manager or the like. As for why this is a mod rather than a patch, Sawyer explained that as well as technical reasons, "some of the mechanics changes make the game significantly more difficult... or at least more of a hassle... I'd rather have people opt-in to those changes than make them the default in a patch." He added, "the game's over. The ship has sailed. No one is working on it anymore. No testers, nothing. This mod is just me working in my free time. If I horribly botch something, you can just un-check the mod and go on your way." An Ultimate Edition of New Vegas, complete with all of its DLC, is due on February 7. Fallout: New Vegas dev blames PS3 lag on restrictive RAMDec 5, 2011 - ShacknewsBethesda games have, simply put, not performed well on PS3. From Fallout 3 to Skyrim, PlayStation gamers have commonly experienced sluggish performance, especially as file sizes balloon up. Fallout: New Vegas project coordinator Joshua E. Sawyer recently talked about the memory limitations on PS3, which may provide some insight to Skyrim's performance issues. The PS3 suffers when dealing with large file saves, an "engine-level issue" caused by PS3's restrictive memory. "That can easily be a big problem, especially if you're on the PS3," Sawyer said on Formspring (via CVG). "The longer you play a character, the more bit differences on objects (characters, pencils on tables, containers, etc.) get saved off and carried around in memory. I think we've seen save games that are pushing 19 megs, which can be really crippling in some areas." He went onto explain that "individual bits of data are tiny," but the thousands of them cover various data fields. "Over time, it adds up," he said. Sawyer also says that the PS3's internal structure makes the problems more pronounced, due to the divided memory pool. He later explained that the Xbox 360 has 512 megs of RAM usable, while the PS3 has 256 for system, 256 for graphics. "It's the same total amount of memory, but not as flexible for a developer to make use of." It's important to note that Sawyer works at Obsidian, and wasn't involved with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, which uses a newer engine developed by Bethesda. The PS3 save file size was supposedly addressed in the latest patch, but is continuing to prove problematic. More fixes for the game are promised, as Bethesda continues to polish the game one month after release. Fallout: New Vegas 'Ultimate Edition' announcedNov 3, 2011 - ShacknewsNow that the full slate of downloadable content has run its course for Fallout: New Vegas, Bethesda has announced that you can snag it all together in the upcoming 'Ultimate Edition.' The package is coming February 7 to North America (February 10 in Europe), and includes all of the DLC and associated level cap raises. For those who might not have photographic DLC memory, those packs include Dead Money, Honest Hearts, Old World Blues, Lonesome Road, Courier's Stash, and the Gun Runners' Arsenal. The first four add new stories to the game, while Courier's Stash bundles the various pre-order bonuses, and Gun Runners' Arsenal adds several weapons and a new perk. Additionally, each of the four mission packs raises the maximum level cap by five, raising it to a grand total of 50. Reaching that level should let you boost your stats and perks to the point that you'll be a walking murder machine -- unless you're playing as a decent human being, but where's the fun in that? Fallout: New Vegas 'Gun Runners' DLC weapons detailedSep 23, 2011 - ShacknewsFallout: New Vegas is a game about choices, political strife, ethical grays, and also blowing stuff up. With the attention going towards the recent Lonesome Road downloadable content, it's easy to forget that Bethesda teased a veritable truckload of new guns coming next week. Fortunately, we got a little reminder with highlights of some of the weaponry we can expect. Fallout: New Vegas 'Gun Runners Arsenal' DLC The Bethesda Blog shows off several new weapons, mods, and perks coming in the Gun Runners Arsenal, and that apparently isn't even the whole set. Among them are the Cleansing Flame and MF Hyperbreeder Alpha, two new energy weapons that riff on the Flamer and Recharger Pistol weapon types. The Sprtel-Wood 9700 is a gatling laser, and the Smitty Special brings an automatic plasma bolt caster. New explosives include the Tin Grenade and Fat Mine, or you can build your own Nuka-Grenade. You can also use GRA Laser and Plasma pistol mods to make them more damaging, and the pack optimizes energy, fusion, and flamer fuel ammo types. Finally, the Mad Bomber perk enhances your explosives and crafting abilities. The Gun Runners Arsenal pack is coming next week, September 27, for $3.99 to PC via Steam, PlayStation Network, and Xbox Live Marketplace. That day will also see the release of all four pre-order bonus packs, bundled together for $1.99. Fallout: New Vegas Lonesome Road DLC trailerSep 14, 2011 - ShacknewsBethesda Softworks and Obsidian Entertainment are continuing their steady stream of downloadable content for Fallout: New Vegas with the fourth add-on pack, Lonesome Road. The DLC is due on September 20, for $9.99 on PlayStation Network and PC (or 800 MSP on Xbox Live). On September 27, you can round out your DLC collection with the Gun Runners' Arsenal pack ($3.99) and the four pre-order packs ($1.99 each). In the meantime, check out the Lonesome Road trailer below. Fallout: New Vegas Lonesome Road DLC dated; more DLC announcedAug 25, 2011 - ShacknewsThe fourth Fallout: New Vegas downloadable content pack 'Lonesome Road' is now slated to arrive on September 20, following its delay. On top of that, publisher Bethesda has announced two new DLC packs. One contains all the retailer-exclusive pre-order bonuses, and t'other packs stacks of new guns and ammo. Lonesome Road adds another new area, natural disaster magnet the Divide, where the Courier will meet the original Courier Six. Bethesda hasn't announced the price yet, but it'll most likely cost the same as previous New Vegas add-ons, $9.99 (800 Microsoft Points). Then, come September 27, the freshly-announced Gun Runners' Arsenal pack will be released for $3.99 (320 MS Points). Bethesda says that it "increases the range of unique weapons, weapon mods, ammo types and recipes" in New Vegas, so look forward to new and exciting ways to kill things. You can get a peek at some of these below. September 27 will also see a bundle of New Vegas' four pre-order bonus packs released, priced at $1.99 (160 MS Points). This'll net you four low-level unique weapons and armor sets, along with basic supplies. There's nothing hugely exciting, except perhaps a water flask handy for Hardcore mode, but they'll give a good leg-up if you need one. Hopefully that'll all be enough to satisfy your open-world RPG cravings until The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim launches on November 11. A treat from the Gun Runners' Arsenal July NPD: NCAA Football 12 leads; overall retail sales down 26%Aug 11, 2011 - ShacknewsMarket research firm NPD Group's retail-only data for the month of July has been released, with Electronic Art's latest college football entry, NCAA Football 12 taking top honors. NCAA 12 sold the best this July, "realizing a 15% increase in unit sales versus NCAA 11 in July 2010." That aside, "video game sales in the new physical retail channel suffered its lowest month since October 2006," noted NPD Analyst, Anita Frazier. New sales are down four percent, year-to-date, with a projected year-end sales figure that's two percent less than last year. Average sales per new release (excluding NCAA Football 12) were up 42%, however. Compared to last year, console sales suffered the greatest dollar decline, which the report attributes to "a decrease in unit sales as the average selling price for console hardware was essentially flat to last year." July also marks the first month since December of 2009 that the Xbox 360 saw a year-over-year decline in hardware sales, though it's worth noting that the slim-form Kinect-enabled Xbox 360 was introduced last July, thus improving overall sales during the same period last year. Growth in other areas such as "digital sales of full games and add-on content, mobile games, and social network gaming" could "result in 2011 showing growth over 2010," despite the decline in physical retail sales, the report surmises. Top Ten U.S. Retail Titles (All Platforms) - Reporting period 07/03/11 - 07/30/11 * NCAA Football 12 (X360, PS3); * Cars 2 (NDS, Wii, X360, PS3, PC); * Call of Duty: Black Ops (X360, PS3, NDS, Wii, PC); * Lego Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game (X360, PS3, Wii, NDS, PC); * Just Dance 2 (Wii); * Major League Baseball 2K11 (X360, PS3, NDS, PSP, PS2, PC, Wii); * Zumba Fitness (X360, PS3, Wii); * Fallout: New Vegas (X360, PS3, PC); * New Super Mario Bros DS (NDS); * Mortal Kombat (360, PS3); (Note: The NPD Group no longer lists software for individual platforms. Sales for all platforms will now be combined when listed in the "Top Ten" and no figures will be released to the public from the NPD Group. Listing counts new physical retail sales only.) Fallout: New Vegas 'Lonesome Road' DLC delayAug 10, 2011 - ShacknewsCourier Six's secrets at the end of the Lonesome Road will remain unknown for a while longer, as Bethesda confirmed today that the final announced Fallout: New Vegas downloadable content release has been delayed. Lonesome Road now won't launch this month, as was planned, and has no firm release date. "This isn't due to any major issue with the code or content, but there are lots of factors involved in releasing these things, and one of those is causing us to slip past our intended release date," senior producer Jason Bergman explained. "We don't have an exact date yet, but we're working to get it out as quickly as possible. We'll be announcing the final date, along with a couple of other interesting FNV-related items in the near future," the Shacknews alumnus said. Sounds like Lonesome Road has a flange overflow blockage in the bit-pipe widget, if you ask me. Lonesome Road was slated for a July release when first announced, but the New Vegas DLC schedule has been shaken up since then. Players will walk the Lonesome Road to the Divide, a new, desolate area wrecked by earthquakes and hurricanes. You see, the original Courier Six has got in touch and promises to explain why he refused to deliver the Platinum Chip--which lead to the sucker player character taking the job and getting capped. Still, Bethesda also released the first Lonesome Road screenshot today, so you can at least see the road now, if you can't yet walk it. Team Fortress 2 items celebrate QuakeCon 2011Aug 5, 2011 - ShacknewsValve wants the share the QuakeCon love with Team Fortress 2 players. As part of the QuakeCon sale on Steam, each of the classes--soldier, engineer, heavy, and sniper--gets a new toy inspired by Bethesda-related titles. These items are all bonuses, awarded for either owning or pre-ordering the specific they're drawn from. If any of them sound like things you'd like to add to your Team Fortress 2 player, act quick. QuakeCon ends this Sunday, and the promotion cuts off Monday morning, August 8 at 10am PDT. Sorry, no hats; however, there is an "Anger hood" from Brink and an "Iron helmet" from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. I guess that sort of counts. * Engineer: Pre-purchase Rage and get "The Wingstick" weapon. * Engineer: Buy or own Fallout: New Vegas and get a Pip-Boy. * Sniper: Buy or own Brink and get "The Anger" hoodmask. Fallout: New Vegas gets major patch in advance of 'Old World Blues' DLCJul 5, 2011 - ShacknewsGlitches plagued Fallout: New Vegas when it came out all the way back in October of last year, making patches all but a certainty for the game. Even so, it's still surprising to see such a massive patch as the one detailed in this post on the Bethesda Blog, nine months after the game's initial release. Old World Blues screens It's a meaty one too, with significant updates coming across all platforms--Xbox 360, PS3, and PC--that include a new save feature that creates a point for single save players to play DLC without creating a new game and "massive world optimizations in major areas for better stability/performance with multiple DLCs installed." The full list of changes numbers well over 100 and includes many entries for fixed and optimized issues. The patch precedes the upcoming third DLC pack, "Old World Blues," due to arrive on July 19. In it, players get to see how some of the mutated creatures came to be as the Courier gets trapped in a laboratory where pre-war experiments took place. For a look at what to expect, check out these brand new screens from the expansion. Fallout New Vegas 'Old World Blues' DLC coming July 19Jun 22, 2011 - ShacknewsFallout: New Vegas will be getting its next bit of downloadable content on July 19, Obsidian announced today. It's titled "Old World Blues," and will come to PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 simultaneously. The company also released a screenshot, showing off the wastelander's natural predator: robo-scorpions. Circle of life and all that. The first piece of DLC, Dead Money, came to Xbox 360 first. Subsequent packs were planned to be simultaneous releases, but the PlayStation Network hack threw off those plans. A new title update will be coming just before Old World Blues hits. It promises performance and stability improvements, which will hopefully iron out the remaining wrinkles. Past patches have improved performance for some users, but not all. As with so many Fallout patches and DLC releases, new bugs are prone to pop up, so we'll keep an eye out for any issues come mid-July. Fallout: New Vegas 'Honest Hearts' DLC won't work with some savesMay 19, 2011 - Shacknews Bethesda has sent Shacknews the following response to the original story below: "The ED-E bug was in Fallout: New Vegas (not the Honest Hearts DLC) and affected a very small group of users. It was largely eliminated in the previous patch. While a few may still be encountering issues, we will be providing a way for them to manually force their companions to leave their party in the upcoming patch, thus eliminating the issue entirely." Honest Hearts DLC It would appear that, like the original adventure, the latest DLC for Fallout: New Vegas shipped with a few bugs. According to one user on Bethesda's blog, the Honest Hearts DLC for New Vegas won't work with saved files that have fallen to any number of the bugs found in the main game's "ED-E, My Love" side quest. Bethesda confirmed the issue in a reply to the concern . The add-on is currently available on the Xbox 360 and PC. Bethesda promises a fix is in the works; however, there is some additional bad news, the fix won't apply to all. "If you already have a save game where the bug is occurring, the fix will not apply and you'll need to revert to an earlier save prior to ED-E leaving in order to play through Honest Hearts," Bethesda's Nick Breckon wrote. Shacknews has contacted Bethesda for an update on a fix and whether or not the PS3 version of the add-on will be tested for this error prior to seeing release. Fallout: New Vegas was developed by Obsidian Entertainment and launched in October 2010 for the PC, Xbox 360, and PS3. The video game release list of 5/16-5/22May 14, 2011 - ShacknewsAAA games flee before The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings and L.A. Noire, fearful to release in the same week as these two much-anticipated games. Smaller, cheaper, downloadable titles and downloadable content are unphased by this, though. On that front, we're getting Sega Rally Online Arcade, the Honest Hearts DLC for Fallout: New Vegas, and Terraria, which I shall lazily describe as "kind of a bit like an action-oriented 2D Minecraft." If you're somehow not interested in any of those, there's a a colouring-in game on DSiWare and some Wii titles that'll teach you how to read. Don't get your hopes up over anything downloadable on PlayStation 3. The PlayStation Network is still down following the hack, Sony isn't sure when it'll be be back up, and it's unclear what will happen to new releases when it does return, considering the ever-growing backlog. Here's the list of next week's releases: The Witcher 2 and Terraria PC * Detour (digital download); * Fable III; * Final Fantasy XI Ultimate Collection Abyssea Edition (digital download - $19.99); * Terraria; * The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings; * Two Worlds II Castle Defense (digital download); * Crysis 2 - Retaliation Pack (downloadable content); * Fallout: New Vegas - Honest Hearts (downloadable content); Sega Rally Online Arcade and L.A. Noire Xbox 360 * L.A. Noire; * Sega Rally Online Arcade (XBLA download - $10); * Fallout: New Vegas - Honest Hearts (downloadable content); * Shift 2 Unleashed - Speed Hunters (downloadable content - $10); PlayStation 3 * Gatling Gears (PSN download)*; * L.A. Noire; * Fallout: New Vegas - Honest Hearts (downloadable content)*; * Shift 2 Unleashed - Speed Hunters (downloadable content - $10)*; Fallout: New Vegas - Honest Hearts and Chrono Trigger Wii * Chrono Trigger (Wii Virtual Console - $8); * ExerBeat; * Gabrielle's Ghostly Groove: Monster Mix (WiiWare download - $5); * Reader Rabbit: 1st Grade; * Reader Rabbit: 2nd Grade; * Reader Rabbit: Kindergarten; * Reader Rabbit: Preschool; Nintendo 3DS * Spongebob Squigglepants 3D; Nintendo DS * Big Bass Arcade (DSiWare download - $5); * Cake Mania Main Street; * Hellokids - Vol. 1: Coloring and Painting (DSiWare download - $2); * Murder in Venice; * Word Searcher 3 (DSiWare download - $5); *At the time of publishing, the PlayStation Network is still offline. Fallout: New Vegas teases 'Honest Hearts'May 11, 2011 - ShacknewsBethesda prepped for the launch of its next bit of Fallout: New Vegas downloadable content today with a fresh batch of screens and a new teaser trailer. Fallout: New Vegas 'Honest Hearts' DLC Titled "Honest Hearts," the DLC entails your Courier character getting ambushed by a tribal raiding band. It's a long walk back to the Mojave, and before you know it you're plum in the middle of a war between the Burned Man and a New Canaanite missionary. The company has teased that you will "determine the fate of Zion," which points to siding with a faction and turning the tide as you did in the main game. Chances are good that neither party is a moral paragon here. The DLC is scheduled for an Xbox Live and Steam release on May 17. The PlayStation Network is more vague for obvious reasons, but Bethesda says it will come "on the earliest date possible." Fallout: New Vegas getting three new DLC packsMay 3, 2011 - ShacknewsBethesda has detailed three new pieces of Fallout: New Vegas DLC, coming for $10: Honest Hearts (May), Old World Blues (June), and Lonesome Road (July).Fallout: New Vegas patch 1.3 releasedApr 25, 2011 - ShacknewsThe new patch for Fallout: New Vegas has gone live, bringing with it stability updates and a ton of weapon balancing. Senior producer Jason Bergman says it may even be available on PSN, despite the outages.
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