New Vegas Strip

Lore & Background

History within this region centers on Mr. House, a reclusive businessman who survived the nuclear apocalypse in a life-support chamber. He commands an army of Securitron robots to enforce his technocratic dictatorship over the city. The Platinum Chip, a data storage device created by House containing a program to upgrade his robot army, was intended for delivery during the Great War but remained undelivered until 2281. Mobster Benny intercepted this chip, initiating the game's primary conflict. While House seeks to maintain control through automation and order, the New California Republic (NCR) views the area as part of its eastward expansion from California, having already taken control of the Hoover Dam which supplies electricity to the Strip. Conversely, Caesar's Legion, a violent totalitarian army inspired by Roman legions, aims to seize the dam for itself. The history here is also shaped by minor factions like the Boomers at Nellis Air Force Base and the Great Khans, whose presence adds layers of tension to the region.

In Their Own Story

The narrative begins when the courier, tasked with delivering the Platinum Chip to New Vegas, is ambushed in a shallow grave outside the city. Benny, acting on behalf of Yes Man—a reprogrammed Securitron—steals the chip and shoots the courier in the head. After being dug out by a Securitron named Victor and nursed back to health by Doc Mitchell, the player must track down Benny in a casino on the Strip. The confrontation allows the player to either kill Benny and recover the chip or let him escape, setting off a chain of events where the NCR, Legion, and House all attempt to recruit the courier. The story culminates at Hoover Dam, where the player's choice of faction determines one of four distinct endings. These outcomes are heavily influenced by dialogue trees and reputation systems; helping one faction may grant access to secret bases or new armor, while antagonizing another can result in assassins being sent to kill the player.

Reader's Guide

Exploration of the Strip is facilitated by the freely explorable open world map, allowing players to move between small settlements and large locations like the city itself. The player utilizes the Pip-Boy 3000 to access items, view character statistics, track active quests, and fast travel to previously discovered locations. Combat involves firearms, energy weapons, melee options, and explosives, with the ability to use the Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System (VATS) to target specific enemy body parts while pausing the game. For those seeking higher stakes, Hardcore Mode adds survival mechanics requiring the player to manage food, water, and sleep, while also making companions susceptible to permanent death. The area features dialogue trees where responses depend on stats like Barter or Intelligence; for instance, having 50 points in Barter allows a player to ask shopkeepers for discounts. Reputation is fluid; aiding a faction can lead to rewards, but actions perceived as detrimental may cause that faction to turn hostile.

Did You Know?

• The game was developed by Obsidian Entertainment with a development time of only 18 months.
• The setting was chosen to evoke 1950s imagery and the post-apocalyptic style of Mad Max.
• Six pieces of downloadable content were released, including four story-based add-ons.
• The Platinum Chip contains a program capable of upgrading Mr. House's Securitron army.
• If a player completes the game in Hardcore Mode, they unlock a specific achievement.