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Fallout: New Vegas Will Have A Real Ending

You won't be able to explore after the credits roll.

Obsidian Entertainment is setting itself up to hear more than a few wails and moans about the conclusion of Fallout: New Vegas, if the storm Bethesda weathered with Fallout 3 can be considered a good indicator. The October-bound New Vegas, according to recent previews, will have a definitive ending. Owners will not be able to jump back into the scorched plains to access unfinished side quests after the credits roll.

Bethesda tried to wrap the story of Fallout 3 up in a pretty little package with a big bow, but eventually backpedaled in the face of fan desire for the game to continue after its conclusion. Bethesda gave them that option with post-release content dubbed Broken Steel.

But New Vegas' lack of exploratory, post-game content isn't a case of Obsidian failing to learn a lesson. Rather, to hear the designers explain it,  the absolute ending is a result of how much of an impact player choice and action will have on the game's world.

Better punch this dude now, you might not have time to come back later. 
Better punch this dude now, you might not have time to come back later. 
"… we talked about trying to support post-game play, but because the changes that can happen at the end of the game are pretty major, this is what it basically came down to: either have the changes feel really major in the end slides and then have them not be very major after the end of the game, or make them really minor and not that impactful," New Vegas project director Josh Sawyer told 1UP.

In a Destructoid interview (via Eurogamer), senior producer Jason Bergman said that the ending slides are set to tell the story of every "companion" characters lives, apparently all the way to their death. That makes it difficult to plow on, no? 

Bergman also revealed that the game's UI is going to warn owners that there's a point of no return. That makes this easier to deal with, right?

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BradNicholson

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Edited By BradNicholson
Obsidian Entertainment is setting itself up to hear more than a few wails and moans about the conclusion of Fallout: New Vegas, if the storm Bethesda weathered with Fallout 3 can be considered a good indicator. The October-bound New Vegas, according to recent previews, will have a definitive ending. Owners will not be able to jump back into the scorched plains to access unfinished side quests after the credits roll.

Bethesda tried to wrap the story of Fallout 3 up in a pretty little package with a big bow, but eventually backpedaled in the face of fan desire for the game to continue after its conclusion. Bethesda gave them that option with post-release content dubbed Broken Steel.

But New Vegas' lack of exploratory, post-game content isn't a case of Obsidian failing to learn a lesson. Rather, to hear the designers explain it,  the absolute ending is a result of how much of an impact player choice and action will have on the game's world.

Better punch this dude now, you might not have time to come back later. 
Better punch this dude now, you might not have time to come back later. 
"… we talked about trying to support post-game play, but because the changes that can happen at the end of the game are pretty major, this is what it basically came down to: either have the changes feel really major in the end slides and then have them not be very major after the end of the game, or make them really minor and not that impactful," New Vegas project director Josh Sawyer told 1UP.

In a Destructoid interview (via Eurogamer), senior producer Jason Bergman said that the ending slides are set to tell the story of every "companion" characters lives, apparently all the way to their death. That makes it difficult to plow on, no? 

Bergman also revealed that the game's UI is going to warn owners that there's a point of no return. That makes this easier to deal with, right?
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mazik765

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Edited By mazik765

that's dumb -.-

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RE_Player1

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Edited By RE_Player1

that's stupid

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ProfessorEss

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Edited By ProfessorEss

No post game play's a bit of a bummer.
 
Tho at the same time, if it's anything like Fallout 3, their will be more than enough game to satisfy.

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Chummy8

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Edited By Chummy8

I like this idea.  I usually don't tend to play in open world games after I finish them anyway.  Plus having a definite ending will make the story more powerful.  Plus the ending they are describing is exactly what I wanted to see from Fallout 3.  This makes me want to buy the game more now. 

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admiralstupid

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Edited By admiralstupid

So, how long until the patch/DLC that changes that somehow?

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MisterMouse

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Edited By MisterMouse

I guess it ultimately depends on how they handle the ending. If it is a great ending then I wont care either way.

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captainawesomo

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Edited By captainawesomo

Get ready for a shit storm of complaints Obsidian.

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laticsfan

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Edited By laticsfan

A bit bummed out by this, however I guess I just wont play the last mission until I'm done with the game... or save it just before!

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Ravenousrattler

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Edited By Ravenousrattler

so save a bunch before point of no return, check!

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gike987

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Edited By gike987

Just don't play the last mission and you can run around as much as you want. I don't see the problem.

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jd18b

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Edited By jd18b

doesn't really bother me, you'll still be able to run around and do everything else before the main quest end. i mean i was almost ten hours in Fallout 3 before i start up with the main quests.

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deactivated-5d8bd173e1e3b

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Kinda lame honestly.

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fisher81

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Edited By fisher81
@AdmiralStupid said:
" So, how long until the patch/DLC that changes that somehow? "
this.
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Obertor34

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Edited By Obertor34

I'm sick of Obsidian's half ass game attempts.

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Simmse

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Edited By Simmse

Wasn't Fallout 3 exactly the same? Why are people complaining, it's not hard to keep a save before the end.

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agentgray

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Edited By agentgray

Vegas is a crater at the end.

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gbrading

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Edited By gbrading

Sadly, I forsee DLC which will change this decision. I kind of wish they'd just stick to their guns, because a good definitive ending can be great.

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wolf_blitzer85

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Edited By wolf_blitzer85
@fisher81 said:
" @AdmiralStupid said:
" So, how long until the patch/DLC that changes that somehow? "
this. "
My thoughts as well.
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SteamPunkJin

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Edited By SteamPunkJin

Good. God forbid a game actually end anymore these days. A good example is Red Dead Redemption - they did it perfectly, conclude your main story arc and allow the player to continue after the fact - HOWEVER! After completing the final mission I felt no desire to play at all, it was over and I was satisfied by what has transpired. Give me a solid ending Obsidian and we won't have any trouble no matter how you run it.

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FreakAche

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Edited By FreakAche

Nonsense like this is why Morrowind will forever remain the best Elder Scrolls style game.

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nickux

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Edited By nickux

What a fucking bummer. Best part of Fallout 3 was when DLC fixed this issue. I love just roaming the wasteland why you gotta hurt me?!

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MeatSim

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Edited By MeatSim

Well at least they warn you in the game.

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Vaancor

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Edited By Vaancor
@fisher81 said:
" @AdmiralStupid said:
" So, how long until the patch/DLC that changes that somehow? "
this. "
Yep looks like you beat me to it.
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Chummy8

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Edited By Chummy8
@nickux said:

" What a fucking bummer. Best part of Fallout 3 was when DLC fixed this issue. I love just roaming the wasteland why you gotta hurt me?! "

Do it before the final battle/dungeon? 
 
I don't understand the problem with this.  Hell, I'd love it if they made your character get constant radiation from being outside and if you don't finish the game in a certain time period, you die.  That would be awesome. 
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leebmx

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Edited By leebmx

How the fuck does it matter...as it has been pointed out do what you want to do before finishing the game. I died at the end of F3 so the ability to explor it made no difference to me anyway -just went back to an old save
 I'd rather the story was powerful - in any case I can't wait for this.  Need it now.

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weltal

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Edited By weltal

I don't have a problem with that, what I do mind is the phrase 
 
  "End slides"
 
So I guess we can expect the same awesome ending that Fallout 3 had? Fantastic.

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deactivated-5f8c6f8176a85

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ugh...

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one_2nd

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Edited By one_2nd

Ok they pretty much just told us that you die at the end of the game.. Thanks, guys. 

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Vodun

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Edited By Vodun

Feels like your view on this this mostly comes down to if you're a completionist or not.
I really don't care about finding every last molecule of content in a game, so whenever a game rolls credits, and then my character is just standing there again...it feels like an anti climax. The only game I have felt handled this well was RDR which actually did end...but without spoiling for the few how haven't played yet, actually does continues as well.

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DLC or mods will fix it.

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ZmillA

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Edited By ZmillA

oh great more ending slides. those sure are satisfying :|

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DaemonBlack

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Edited By DaemonBlack

this has been known for a while

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deactivated-6204297b0c601

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I don't really mind this in theory, but I think it's a stupid move now that most big games are getting DLC expansions.  Remember "Bringing Down the Sky" for the first Mass Effect? 

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Godlovesugly

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Edited By Godlovesugly

So you either die or the world blows up.

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Edited By Karkarov

As long as there is a clear warning that leaves absolutely no doubt that you need a backup save before you proceed I don't see an issue.  My problem with the Fallout 3 ending is that it was totally avoidable, you could get lyon to do it, hell I had an immune to radiation super mutant with me but he of course refuses to assist for no good reason.  It was just poorly executed and felt weak.

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NachoMatrimony

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Edited By NachoMatrimony

Whatever, if it's anything like pre-Broken Steel Fallout 3 this really won't be an issue. 
 
Loading an earlier save isn't that much of a hassle. 

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hockeymask27

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Edited By hockeymask27
@Vaancor said:
" @fisher81 said:
" @AdmiralStupid said:
" So, how long until the patch/DLC that changes that somehow? "
this. "
Yep looks like you beat me to it. "
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ColinWright

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Edited By ColinWright
@one_2nd said:
" Ok they pretty much just told us that you die at the end of the game.. Thanks, guys.  "
or you blow the wasteland to hell. There are a handful of different things that could go on.
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Nadafinga

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Edited By Nadafinga

I trust that the designers have good reason for this, so I'm not disappointed. This game is gonna be great.

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Chummy8

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Edited By Chummy8

Too many people who only have Fallout experience through Fallout 3. 

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dillinger

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Edited By dillinger

this wont matter as long as there is enough to do BEFORE beating the game.

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LegalBagel

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Edited By LegalBagel

So they're trying to make the endings good and reflective of choices made throughout the game, like Fallout 1/2?  At least that's something.  Fallout 3's ending cut off your chance to play further AND was terrible.

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JoeyRavn

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Edited By JoeyRavn
@hematurge said: 

" DLC or mods will fix it. "

I was hoping this would be the first answer, before the plethora of complaints/counter-complaints. Although some did mention DLC, nobody said a word about mods... *sigh*  
 
I've got no problem with a proper ending, as long as it's a good ending. If I want to do something, I'll do it before the point of no return. Seems the most logical approach to me.
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Chummy8

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Edited By Chummy8
@Deathpooky said:
" So they're trying to make the endings good and reflective of choices made throughout the game, like Fallout 1/2?  At least that's something.  Fallout 3's ending cut off your chance to play further AND was terrible. "
This. 
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Lukeweizer

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Edited By Lukeweizer
@hematurge said:
"DLC or mods will fix it."

They'll just make us pay $10 to play after the ending, like Bethesda did. 
 
Developers just make us pay to fix their games now a days.
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zor

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Edited By zor

Slides?... hmm... i hated that part for Fallout 3... 
 
It was very insulting, i spent about 50 hours on a play through and got a 50 second slide show... 

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EDfromRED

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Edited By EDfromRED

   I'm VERY dissapointed to hear this, the excuse that the end game "slides" will be extensive & detailed, allready has me pre-dissapointed.  So after 100+ hours I'm going to be treated to a slideshow -Whoopi! 
   Sounds like deja vu all over again. The original Fallout 3 ending was lame, with your characters demise robbing players of the joy of exploring the gameworld. Broken Steel and the subsequent DLC thankfully fixed this, and provided some of the games most stellar & enjoyable content. 
   It sounds like such a no-brainer not to repeat past RPG missteps that causes such an uproar. I'm hoping I'm proven wrong and the New Vegas ending seems satisfactory and complete, but "slides" did not hack it in Fallout 3.
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EpicSteve

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Edited By EpicSteve

So doesn't this totally discourage doing the main quest until you feel like you're done with the game?

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Grissefar

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Edited By Grissefar

They should learn from FF XIII. Have the end events be really impactful but let the player reload the save right before the last boss to back and do the endgame stuff with raised level cap and all.