Creating a balanced gameplay experience in a video game is crucial for its success. Players want to feel challenged, but not overwhelmed, and they want to have a sense of progression as they improve their skills and acquire new abilities and weapons. Josh Sawyer, the director of Fallout: New Vegas, is a veteran in the world of RPGs and has shared some insights into how he approaches balancing abilities and weapons in games before launch.
Sawyer revealed that his approach to balancing abilities and weapons is mostly based on “vibes.” He believes that spending a huge amount of time in a simulated environment before players get their hands on the game is not as effective as getting direct feedback from actual gameplay. While he did create a basic spreadsheet listing all the weapons in New Vegas by ammo type and base damage value, he admitted that it was only used for a short period of time before being abandoned.
Instead of relying solely on simulations or spreadsheets, Sawyer prefers to test abilities and weapons in-game. He mentioned using a test level called TestJoshWeapons in New Vegas’ files, but revealed that it was only used for a few basic things. Most of his testing actually took place within the game’s actual locations, such as Vault 3 and Quarry Junction. By running around these areas and testing weapons against enemies, Sawyer was able to get a real sense of how things would play out in the game.
While Sawyer’s methods may seem unconventional, he emphasized the importance of player feedback once the game is released. Players often discover strategies and exploits that developers may not have considered during the development phase. By being open to feedback and willing to make adjustments based on player experiences, developers can continue to improve the balance of abilities and weapons in their games even after launch.
Balancing abilities and weapons in video games is a challenging task that requires a mix of intuition, hands-on testing, and player feedback. While some developers may prefer to rely on data and simulations, Josh Sawyer’s approach of trusting his instincts and testing things in-game has proven to be effective in creating a balanced and engaging experience for players. By staying open to feedback and willing to make adjustments, developers can ensure that their games continue to provide a rewarding gameplay experience for their audience.
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