Although that Wasteland 2 gameplay video was pretty impressive, some viewers took exception to the keyword-driven dialogue system. As one of inXile’s design philosophies for the crowd-funded sequel was to work with backers, the team has taken the message to heart..

In an update to the RPG’s Kickstarter page, inXile gave a better description of how the keyword system works, and agreed to implement the community suggestion that players be shown their character’s whole sentence, so they have a better understanding of what context their conversation will be taken in.

The post gives an example of how an NPC conversation would play out using particular keywords and skills, and also discusses changes to the camera and user interface. We’re expecting Wasteland 2 before the end of the year.

Source: Kickstarter via Evil Avatar

InXile has released a new video showing off the current state of development of Kickstarter-funded sequel Wasteland 2. The video shows off some of the game’s features and mechanics, and was captured directly in-engine – nothing is pre-rendered. This is an actual build of the game, too, not a demo-specific showcase. InXile said the sound effects are the only thing added during editing, and that apart from a mini map and the replacement of some placeholder art and sounds, this is pretty much how the finished game will look. The original Wasteland was the spiritual precursor to Fallout and has been waiting for a follow-up since the 1980′s.

Thanks to Max for supplying the YouTube link after the original footage was removed!

Wasteland 2 is one of Kickstarter’s biggest success stories, but creator Brian Fargo doesn’t think it’s a once-off deal. He’s expressed his belief that crowd-funding is the way to go for all future projects, even if it’s possible to secure funds elsewhere instead.

“Yeah, I still would [return to crowd-funding],” said Fargo to Games Industry International. “It allows us to give things to people that they can’t get from just buying a product. Some people want to be an NPC, or they want a shrine in their honour in the game, or they want a boxed copy, or a novella. These things aren’t just gimmicks; they add real value.”

“It’s also a great way of vetting the product in general,” he continued. “I like having that communication, because when people put their money down they’re more invested emotionally. And when you have this army of people who are a part of it, when you do launch you don’t need a big marketing campaign.”

Source: Games Industry International

This is interesting news! Creators of crowd-funded game Wasteland 2, inXile, have brought in a team of scientists to add “depth and believability” to their setting, its inhabitants and its content. Without spoiling exactly what they’re working on for us, we do know they’ve consulted experts in evolutionary biology, entomologists, nuclear engineers, and geologists, among others.

Montreal-based gaming science consultancy Thwacke is hoping to bring “interesting science” to the setting and story, with its CEO Sebastian Alvarado saying they’re hoping to create “moments where the player feels the line blur between reality and fiction”.

“The more smart guys we have in room looking at the writing and design is always a good thing and in this case we have a group of very bright people checking our work,” Brian Fargo from inXile said. “Don’t worry… Wasteland will still keep its odd humor, mutants and Scorpitrons etc. Thwacke helps with overall logic and science in parts.”

Sounds like an interesting step!

Source: Evil Avatar via VG247

Brian Fargo has been talking perma-death and consequences for Wasteland 2, the upcoming, successfully-Kickstarted RPG sequel to his 1988 classic. In an interview with VG247, Fargo claims “We will indeed have perma-death in the game. If you make a bad decision and get a party member killed, they won’t come back.”

“We committed to creating an old-school RPG experience and we are definitely looking to make this a hard core experience.”

Speaking of the squad creation and combat in the game, Fargo explained that: “When you start the game, you will create four rangers that you spec with the attributes and skills you want. Along the journey, you’ll also run into many other companion NPCs that can join your party.”

“Each of these NPC’s has a different personality and will have their advantages and disadvantages. Some might be incredibly annoying but have an useful skill that you might not want to live without. It’s all about choices and trade-offs in Wasteland.”

Source: VG247

InXile Entertainment have released their first screenshot of the successfully-Kickstarter’d Wasteland 2, ever since raising $2.9 million of the $900,000 they asked for. “We are doing so to solicit feedback on the basic look,” writes Brian Fargo. “Please keep in mind that we have not put in the particle effects and post-processing which will have a dramatic effect on the scene, and this represents just one of the various environments for Wasteland 2 so expect to see other quite different locales.” Click on the picture below to go hi-res – what do you think?