Post-Kickerstartpocalypse: Fargo Swats Wasteland Fears
Wasteland's rags-to-riches-to-reuniting-Black-Isle tale has been one for the ages, but - with the Kickstarter account four days from ascending to Money Heaven, where the streets are paved with people - what happens now? If offered millions of dollars and one (1!) Chris Avellone, I'd do just about anything someone told me - so has Wasteland 2 taken on an out-of-control life of its own? Not even a little bit, says Brian Fargo. Wasteland 2 is still, first and foremost, his "baby."
Via Kickstarter, Fargo claimed totalitarian domain over the wastes while also outlining nitty gritty details of party member control and characteristics.
"While we have brought Obsidian into the mix, I think it is important to note that this is my baby, and I will be producing it and managing the programming here at inXile. There seemed to be some confusion on whether it will be a joint production, but the main facets of our involvement are with the use of their tools for asset integration and the design talents of Chris Avellone. Part of the charm and variety of Wasteland 1 came from the way different designers would approach their areas, and I wanted the same dynamic again.
"I did want to give some detail on what the definition of a party based game was since there seems to be some confusion. You will be creating and customizing four Rangers at the start of the game... Skills in Wasteland range from lock-picking to bomb disarming to even toaster repair. In addition there will be three slots for non-player characters to join the party. They will have quirks that could range from momentary indecision with them not firing their weapons at an opportune time, to being trigger happy and wasting ammo or even stealing from your characters. This opens up a wide range of possibilities on which NPCs you decide to have join your ranks."
And, to top it all off, here's a video addressing issues like story (still set in the Southwest, will encounter old characters), fan feedback (will provide input on bigger issues, have access to a beta), and combat (turn-based with elements of Jagged Alliance and Fallout Tactics, but faster). Also, if you stick it out until the end, you'll get to see Chris Avellone teleport. So you should probably watch it.
