Josh Sawyer, the director of Fallout: New Vegas, and a veteran in the realm of RPGs recently shared some insights into his process of balancing abilities and weapons in games before their official launch. Contrary to what one might expect, his approach revolves around what he refers to as “pure vibes.”
In a candid moment captured in a YouTube video, Sawyer confesses that he doesn’t believe in spending an excessive amount of time on theoretical simulations before players actually get their hands on the game. He relies heavily on his instincts, stating that his method is mostly “vibes-based.”
The Spreadsheet Experiment
During the development of Fallout: New Vegas, Sawyer took a pragmatic approach by creating a simple spreadsheet that listed all the weapons by ammo type and base damage value. This spreadsheet was used for making relative comparisons to damage threshold values, but it was ultimately abandoned after a couple of months.
Sawyer stresses the importance of in-game testing, mentioning how he would playtest weapons in various locations within the game world, such as Vault 3 and Quarry Junction. Rather than relying on test levels like TestJoshWeapons, most of his balancing work was done through hands-on experience within the actual game environment.
The director emphasizes that while simulations and heuristic approaches have their place in providing a general idea of where things stand, the true test comes from playing around with the abilities and weapons in-game. For Sawyer, the practical effect of these elements within the gameplay experience is what truly matters.
Sawyer acknowledges that once the game is in the hands of players, there is a possibility for feedback and adjustments to be made based on their experiences. While his initial balancing process is guided by his instincts and practical testing, player input can lead to refinements in the final product.
Josh Sawyer’s unique approach to balancing abilities and weapons in video games highlights the importance of a hands-on, practical testing method. By trusting his instincts and focusing on the actual gameplay experience, he ensures that the final product feels cohesive and engaging for players. Through a combination of spreadsheet analysis and in-game testing, Sawyer exemplifies the art of game balancing as a blend of science and artistry.
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