Fallout: New Vegas Director Reveals Approach to Balancing Abilities and Weapons

Josh Sawyer, the director of Fallout: New Vegas, recently shared some insights into his approach to balancing abilities and weapons in games. Contrary to popular belief, Sawyer relies more on intuition and gut feelings rather than extensive data analysis. In a candid YouTube video, he disclosed that his process is predominantly “vibes-based,” emphasizing the importance of practical experience over theoretical simulations.

During the development of New Vegas, Sawyer worked on a basic spreadsheet that listed all weapons according to ammo type and base damage. While this tool provided some initial insights into damage threshold values, it was ultimately shelved after a couple of months. Sawyer admitted that his spreadsheet was rudimentary at best and that he preferred hands-on testing within the game itself to gauge the effectiveness of weapons and abilities.

Sawyer highlighted the significance of conducting tests within actual in-game environments rather than relying solely on test levels. He mentioned TestJoshWeapons, a test level found in New Vegas’ files, but revealed that it was only used for limited purposes. Most of Sawyer’s testing involved exploring locations like Vault 3 and Quarry Junction, where he could directly test weapons against enemies and assess their practical impact on gameplay.

Although Sawyer’s intuitive approach to balancing abilities and weapons has proven effective during the development phase, he acknowledged the value of player feedback once the game is released. Player input can offer valuable insights into the gameplay experience and help refine the balance of abilities and weapons based on real-world gameplay scenarios.

Josh Sawyer’s unconventional approach to balancing abilities and weapons in Fallout: New Vegas sheds light on the significance of practical experience and intuition in game development. By prioritizing hands-on testing and player feedback over complex simulations, Sawyer has been able to create a balanced and engaging gameplay experience for fans of the iconic RPG.