Wasteland
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Make your own creature feature in Fallout 4's 'Wasteland Workshop'
Fallout 4's second DLC pack, "Wasteland Workshop", is scheduled for release next Tuesday, April 12th. Today, however, Bethesda dropped this wicked cool preview of what's in store for players. Wasteland Workshop will enable you to further upgrade your homebase with more elaborate decor like Nixie lights, letter kits and a taxidermy station but that's beside the point. The new DLC is primarily focused on a wholly new gameplay mechanicism: the ability to capture and tame beasts from across the Wasteland.
Recommended Reading: sexist video games and origins of forensic science
Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you'll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read. Is 'Assassin's Creed' Sexist? Is Link a Girl? And More Fun Questions From This Year's E3 by Emily Yoshida, Grantland Pocket!function(d,i){if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement("script");j.id=i;j.src="https://widgets.getpocket.com/v1/j/btn.js?v=1";var w=d.getElementById(i);d.body.appendChild(j);}}(document,"pocket-btn-js"); The sad truth is, if Samus (the heavily armored hero in Metroid) made her debut today, her big reveal would probably be just as shocking today as it was in 1986. While attitudes towards women -- even in the decidedly male-dominated world of gaming -- have matured, putting a female protagonist in a video game is still something of a rarity. (And, if you believe representatives of Ubisoft, something of a technical challenge... but that feels disingenuous.) Emily Yoshida shares what it's like to be a woman at E3, perhaps the most testosterone-drenched tech convention of the year.
Wasteland 2 gains Linux support on Steam Early Access
The beta version of Wasteland 2 is now available on Linux via Steam's Early Access program, developer InXile Entertainment announced. The sequel to the 1988 Interplay-created RPG first launched in alpha form in December. The project found success on Kickstarter in April 2012, raising $2.9 million to fund the turn-based, isometric strategy game. InXile also recently added "roughly 400" changes to Wasteland 2's beta, including another large portion of Arizona in the game. The update notes mention reduced loading times, a redesigned vendor screen and added tutorials among all the bug fixes and balance corrections in the patch. The Early Access price for the game is $60, though it includes a copy of the first game, two digital novellas from the Wasteland universe, and a digital art book and sound track. [Image: InXile Entertainment]
Combat, AI, balance improvements planned for Wasteland 2
Following a month of beta testing, developer inXile Entertainment has outlined its plans for post-apocalyptic roleplaying game Wasteland 2, and it looks like the studio has its work cut out for it. Alongside the typical bug fixes, inXile hopes to focus primarily on improving the game's combat mechanics. "Destructible cover was part of this last update as a first pass with more fine-tuning to come," writes creator Brian Fargo on the game's Kickstarter page. "[W]e will likely add a crouching stance with a variety of tactical applications; we're going over a lot of the encounter design to more carefully detail tactics-changing factors like ladders or destructible cover; and we're in the first testing stages to explore adding a special attack system that'll allow you to invest AP to make specific kinds of attacks based on your weapon types and the skill levels you've achieved in those weapons ... things like spread shots or steady shots." Fargo adds that combat in Wasteland 2 is currently in the very early stages of development and that the final version of the game will feature vastly improved enemy AI, as well as additional special attacks and skills that can damage groups of enemies. Beyond combat improvements, inXile's list of goals for Wasteland 2 is lengthy. It includes "several balance passes on everything in the world," creating a new minimap, changing the in-game font, tweaking the UI seen when bartering with other characters, and adding additional, "satisfying" death animations, among a host of other changes.
MMO Burnout: Wasteland 2's early beta
The grandfather of the dynamic RPG is releasing a sequel next year, and those of us old enough to remember the original are throwing out our hips with joy. Twenty five years is a long time to wait for a rightful heir to the throne, even though we've been treated kindly with spiritual successors along the way in the form of the Fallout franchise. Still, nothing compares to the original Wasteland and how it changed the RPG genre, and Wasteland 2 has already begun to redefine gaming with one of the largest crowdfunding drives to date. For those who pledged $55 or more to Wasteland 2 during its Kickstarter campaign, a shiny new early access beta key was waiting for them earlier this week. This Steam key allowed early-access players into this very early beta build to kick the tires a bit and see how this game works. Read on for my impressions of Wasteland 2 from the perspective of both an original Wasteland fan and a modern gamer.
Wasteland 2 beta open to backers; Steam Early Access arrives tomorrow
If you threw at least $55 at inXile Entertainment's heavily-anticipated, crowdfunded Wasteland 2, your generosity is paying off: As of this morning, you have access to a playable beta test of the post-apocalyptic roleplaying game. Entering the beta is easy. If you backed Wasteland 2 to the tune of $55 or greater, you should have received log-in credentials for the Wasteland 2 Ranger Center. Visit that site, enter your information, and suddenly you're the owner of a Steam key redeemable for the beta. Keep in mind, though, this is only a limited portion of the game, including "the first four major areas ... and related minor maps, along with character creation, world map travel, and random encounters." Developer inXile Entertainment claims that new areas will be added to the beta as time goes by, but in the meantime it has offered a handy guide to all there is to see in the game's current incarnation. Those who didn't fund Wasteland 2 aren't going to be left out in the dusty, irradiated cold, however. Today's announcement also brings word that the Wasteland 2 beta will hit Steam Early Access on December 13. Access to the Steam Early Access beta won't be free, though by paying for the chance to play Wasteland 2 before its public release, you're helping to fund the game's development. That said, there's currently no word on the price point attached to the Wasteland 2 Steam Early Access beta.
Perfect Ten: Why we need more post-apocalyptic MMOs
With the recent re-release of the 1988 classic RPG Wasteland and the development progress of Wasteland 2, my mind's swimming in post-apocalyptic wonderment these days. Aside from those titles and the insanely popular Fallout series, post-apoc hasn't proven to be as popular a setting for games as it is in, say, film, TV, and novels. And when it comes to MMOs, the only major effort that's been made to produce a similar title has been limited to Fallen Earth (and in a lesser sense, Defiance and Xsyon). Now, I love me some Fallen Earth, especially as of late, but every time I log in it makes me think of just how rich and fertile this setting is for MMO studios. Considering just how rampant fantasy titles are, I feel strongly that devs need to be exploring outside this well-trod path to other genres, and the post-apocalypse is a perfect place to start. Here are my reasons that we need more post-apoc MMOs, and no, I'm not going to list "rampant prostitution and drug use" because that would also apply to a Los Angeles MMO.
Classic post-apocalyptic RPG Wasteland out now on Steam, GOG
Responding to fan demand for a modern re-release of its acclaimed classic RPG Wasteland, InXile Entertainment is now offering up a repackaged version for purchase via Steam and Good Old Games. Released in 1988 for the Commodore 64, Apple II, and DOS, Wasteland puts players in control of a large and varied party of characters who wander the harsh deserts of the American Southwest in the aftermath of a nuclear war. Though subsequent attempts at a sequel met with limited success after its initial release, Wasteland later served as inspiration for Interplay's Fallout series. InXile is currently developing Wasteland 2, a Kickstarter-funded follow-up that was delayed past its intended October release due to its expanded scope and emphasis on player choice. Kickstarter campaign supporters received early access to the re-released Wasteland 1, which has been downloaded more than 33,000 times since its backer-exclusive release last Friday.
Original Wasteland heading to GOG and Steam
The original Wasteland will see a separate release on GOG.com and Steam, Wasteland 2 developer inXile announced in an update on its Kickstarter page. The game was slated to be packed in with copies of Wasteland 2 thanks to the assistance of EA, publishers of the first game. Now inXile can release the original post-apocalyptic RPG separately, thanks to a new agreement with the publisher. Wasteland 2 earned a whopping $2,933,252 on Kickstarter in April 2012, and its beta program was recently delayed to October, its initial launch date. Wasteland will still be free for all Wasteland 2 Kickstarter backers, and inXile has not named a price for the stand-alone version of the game.
Wasteland 2 delayed to allow for amplified player choice
inXile Entertainment's recent delay of Wasteland 2 is due to the studio's fondness for reactivity, Rock, Paper, Shotgun's interview with inXile CEO Brian Fargo reveals. Fargo says inXile is "hanging [its] hat on reactivity ... You can shoot or kill anybody in the whole game ... If someone joins your party, you can kick them out, kill them, whatever you want. There's whole sequences you're not gonna see later because you offed the guy ... There's no replacement, no NPC that joins you and acts just like him functionally. He's out. You're just not gonna see it." Fargo plans to use the tripled amount of funding requested for the game's development to "make a game that people talk about the way they do Fallout and Wasteland, 10 or 20 years from now ... I don't make any money from this." Wasteland 2 will offer its roster of NPCs to your God complex on Windows, Mac and Linux platforms at a to-be-determined date. Those who pledged $55 or more to the game's Kickstarter will be granted access to the beta that's planned for October.
Wasteland 2 delayed due to increased scope
A recent update to inXile Entertainment's Kickstarter page for Wasteland 2 revealed that the game's initial October release will instead mark the beginning of its beta testing. The delay stems from the game's Kickstarter gathering $2 million more than the requested funds. "This feature complete playable is about 6 weeks behind where I had wanted it to be but I can't be too surprised considering the increased scope," the statement reads. "We have been able to accomplish so much in so little time by our experience, fantastic team and tools." The next month will be spent implementing all basic gameplay mechanics, including the combat system, world map travel and AI functionality for all the characters you're inevitably going to slaughter in cold blood. Interplay and inXile founder Brian Fargo co-designed the original Wasteland in 1988 and is leading development for Wasteland 2. Fallout 1 and 2 composer Mark Morgan, Wasteland co-creator Michael Stackpole, and Fallout co-creator Jason Anderson are all involved with Wasteland 2. Those who donated $55 or more to Wasteland 2's Kickstarter campaign will gain access to the barren, desolate wasteland in October.
Grimlands developer turns to Kickstarter to finish post-apoc shooter
Post-apocalyptic shooter Grimlands may have been canceled by publisher gamigo, but development studio DRAGO isn't giving up on the title just yet. The firm has launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise the funds necessary to finish the project and keep it "true to its original vision." A press release says that Grimlands was canceled because of gamigo's "strategy shift from development to distribution" in spite of the title's five-year development cycle. DRAGO's Lucjan Mikociak says that Kickstarter is necessary to save the game. "There is no way around it: Big games need big money. Since gamigo stopped funding us in January, we have survived thanks to friends and family support," Mikociak explains. "However, in order to properly finish the game by year's end, we need further funding of $650,000. After talking to several publishers and investors we feel only Kickstarter allows this without compromising our vision." Grimlands marries shooter gameplay with stealth and cover mechanics as well as character progression and customization. It also features an extensive crafting system wherein nearly every in-game item is made by players. Gameplay includes an open world, dungeons, PvE and PVP options, and upgradeable vehicles.
First early gameplay video for Wasteland 2 surfaces
Wasteland 2, in development by inXile after the studio raised over $3 million on Kickstarter for the project in April 2012, recently got its first gameplay video. The update post for the project lists off a number of elements not seen in this early trailer.Still, Development Director Chris Keenan's guide to the agricultural area of the game is a lengthy one, as he detailed topics such as the game's customizable UI and turn-based combat. Watch the full video above for a run-down on the game's progress.
First Wasteland 2 screenshot is only the beginning of development
The screenshot above is your very first look at the Kickstarter-funded Wasteland 2, presenting some environment and character art from the game as it's being worked on. The project hit its goal of $900k easily on the nearly ubiquitous crowdfunding service, and ended up with nearly $2.9 million. Over on the official blog, the developers say they're releasing this early shot for feedback, and that they're also almost done with the game's main site, which is where backers will be able to update their support if they'd like to do so. The props found above are largely part of Unity's own database of in-game items, customized for the Wasteland world. As the team members learn to use the Unity engine, they're hoping this is only the beginning of the way the game looks. Presumably, they'll will have some help: Obsidian Entertainment promised to pitch in if the Kickstarter reached at least $2.1 million.
Wasteland 2 will include the original Wasteland
While we imagine most who are eager to play Wasteland 2 have fond memories of playing the original RPG and might possibly still own it, InXile is still tossing it in free of charge with each copy of Wasteland 2. It is due in no small part to the aid of EA, the publisher of the original Wasteland.InXile's Brian Fargo says including the classic PC game was the biggest request during Wasteland 2's Kickstarter campaign. "Fortunately EA has continued to support us on this project and has granted us the ability to bring the original to the players," Fargo said. "It is great to be able to make Wasteland available for those feeling nostalgic or who want to experience it for the first time. It certainly will not be a pre-requisite to understand Wasteland 2, but it adds some extra flavor if you did play the prequel."Wasteland 2 is currently on track to launch sometime next year.
(Don't) Give me that old time RPG combat
This is a weekly column focusing on "Western" role-playing games: their stories, their histories, their mechanics, their insanity, and their inanity. The Kickstarter success of Wasteland 2 may be one of the most important developments in Western role-playing games in years. It could re-open the doors to bringing back party-based, less cinematic role-playing games of the sort that have been largely gone since the mid-1990s. The trick, however, will be in using a style of combat that assures both quality and popularity for Wasteland 2. Because if it simply follows in the footsteps of the original Wasteland, it may have problems on both of those fronts.The original Wasteland was released in 1988, towards the start of a transitional era for role-playing games, both technologically and creatively. The core mechanic of role-playing games of the era -- combat -- started to shift, and lose some of its importance.
Wasteland 2 Kickstarter passes $1.5 million, game coming to OS X and Linux
When Brian Fargo revealed his Kickstarter project to fund Wasteland 2, he laid out some goals. One of those tiers was $1.5 million, which at the time seemed kind of ridiculous. It has since been pledged by backers, meaning Wasteland 2 will also be available on Mac OS X and Linux at launch.Wasteland 2 has well exceeded its original goal of raising $900,000 on Kickstarter, and there are still 24 days to go. We don't expect it'll beat Double Fine's current record-level of pledges, but we're certainly ready to be surprised again.
Kickstarting the future of game publishing: An interview with Brian Fargo
When I was 12 years old, my days mainly consisted of one thing: playing games on my Commodore 64. I would set my alarm early to get some gaming in before school, think about the games all day during school, then come home and play as much as I could before my parents made me stop and do homework or chores. Aside from TSR's Gold Box series, the two games that molded my childhood and my love for gaming were Wasteland and The Bard's Tale. Both of these games were made by Interplay Productions, a company founded by Brian Fargo in 1983. Fargo has always been an iconic figure to me. I regularly name my MMO characters Faran Brygo (a name he used for an NPC in the original Wasteland). I'm certainly not alone in my love for Wasteland (which I have labeled for years as my all-time-favorite RPG), but I think it's safe to say that many gamers who enjoyed Wasteland always wondered why there was no sequel. Fallout 1 and 2 were "spiritual successors" to the game, but for copyright reasons, they were never actually labeled as true sequels. Fargo tried to make a true sequel for 20 years but was always met with brick walls from publishers who weren't interested in resurrecting such an old game. Enter Kickstarter. After the wild success of Tim Schafer's Double Fine crowdfunding campaign, Fargo got the idea to try it out for himself. The timing was right with the current nostalgic gaming scene, the popularity of the post-apocalyptic genre, and the fact that most of Interplay's original fans are now in a position of making a tad more income than allowance money from childhood chores. We sat down with Brian Fargo to discuss his views on the potential of Kickstarter, the future of Big Brother game publishers, and Wasteland 2.
Wasteland 2 Kickstarter exceeds goal (and is still going)
That Wasteland sequel you've been waiting for is about to go into production, as the game's Kickstarter crested its goal of $900K while we slept last night. The Kickstarter has started to pick up some momentum, it seems, as the total currently sits at just over $967K, with another 32 days to go.As stated on the project's site, the goal is actually to raise $1 million, but inXile head Brian Fargo had agreed to put $100K of his own scratch on the line -- it's looking like that won't be necessary any more. Which isn't to say there aren't plans should the team raise even more money. If they reach $1.25 million, the extra dough will go to "making the world bigger, adding more maps, more divergent stories and even more music."If the fundraiser reaches $1.5 million, that depth goes further, with, "more adventures to play, more challenges to deal with, and a greater level of complexity to the entire storyline. We'll add more environments, story elements, and characters to make the rich world come alive even more." Oh, also, it'll come to OS X. So, hey, how about we get things to $1.5 million so your buds at Joystiq can play the game on their writing machines? That'd be just capital.
You can now help fund Wasteland 2
Fans of classic PC games (with a post-apocalyptic setting) can help fund a sequel to Wasteland starting today. Just as inXile head Brian Fargo promised, a Kickstarter page for Wasteland 2 is now live. The goal is $900,000 -- as of writing this post, $380,897 had been raised.Wasteland 2 will be a DRM-free PC title. "It'll finally be the game worthy to be a Wasteland sequel, as challenging and rewarding as the original, with all added capacity and dazzle of games today," the Kickstarter page says. Many of the original designers are returning for the sequel, and Fallout composer Mark Morgan will create the tunes. Jason Anderson, co-creator of Fallout, will handle Wasteland 2's story.Fans will be able to offer input during the development of Wasteland 2 through the forums. And of course there are the usual Kickstarter benefits, ranging from the soundtrack to various special boxed copies of Wasteland 2 and a collectible coin and cloth map. Wasteland 2 is slated to launch in October of 2013.
