News Digest 31 August 2014

Check out the latest Fallout news on the Nukapedia News page.

Welcome to the Nukapedia News Digest. Out when I say it is, and not one minute too soon.

In your edition this week

Wiki News

Energy X picked the images this week

A new mutant?

Thanks Jspoel

Bathtime kiddieslink=Westside thug

Thanks Jspoel

I like Coffee, I like tea

I like images from Jspoel

Style

Thanks 69.I25

Josh Sawyer speaks about RPG Balance

The Adventures of Josh Sawyer and Huckelberry Finn

Josh Sawyer recently wrote a guest editorial in Kotaku about game balance in an RPG. If you’ve read the Van Buren design documents, you won’t be too surprised to find a few similar concepts here.

“Why is game balance important in a single-player game? It's a question many players often ask rhetorically, but there are many important reasons why balance should be a strong focus, even in RPGs that focus on single-player experiences. Balance isn't necessarily about seeing what character builds are more powerful when put head to head, but about understanding the different types of challenges those characters will face when going through the game. Ideally, each type of character build has its own strengths and weaknesses throughout the game's content, but ultimately ALL character builds should feel viable in different ways. No player wants to spend 40 hours working toward a dead-end build. Similarly, few players want to accidentally discover that their fundamental character concept is an unspoken "easy mode" through the game.”— More here

News from the Wastes

Art Attack!

Attention Fallout 1 fans, Leon Boyarsky has designed a character image for Wasteland 2….

Bethstore 25% off until Tuesday

Raving in Toronto

Fanzone

Art is bigger in Texas

Fallout lonestar continues on, here’s their latest piece of Concept art.

Mad Max v. Gordon Freeman

No, its not Fallout news

Lastly, some news from the land down under. Whereas most gamers bemoan the Censorship boards sometimes harsh treatment of games, the Australian Consumer and Competition Council is taking on Valve’s steam service. They’ve filed suit alleging that Valve is breaking Australian law in how they sell games to Australian gamers.

But before you decry those “luddite Aussies”, the ACCC’s argument comes down to Valve advising customer that they are not entitled to a refund, repair or replacement under any circumstances and referring such claims to the developer - under Australian law purchases that are faulty must be repaired, replaced or refunded by the retailer.

The case does have one major issue in that Valve have no physical presence in Australia, but Valve are apparently working with the ACCC to try and find some solution… in the meantime theres a court date for a directions hearing on October 7.

This could hopefully see a big change in how steam works - in our favour as gamers.