Josh Sawyer, the director of Fallout: New Vegas and a seasoned RPG veteran, recently shared some insights into his approach to balancing abilities and weapons in games before their release. Rather than relying solely on data and feedback from players, Sawyer revealed that a significant portion of his balancing process is based on “vibes.”
Sawyer admitted in a YouTube video response to a question from his Tumblr blog that he does not invest a substantial amount of time in a simulated environment before players have a chance to experience the game. He emphasized the importance of focusing on the practical effects of abilities and weapons during gameplay rather than theoretical calculations.
During the development of Fallout: New Vegas, Sawyer created a basic spreadsheet categorizing weapons by ammo type and base damage. While he initially used this spreadsheet for making relative comparisons to damage threshold values, he eventually shifted his focus to in-game testing. Test levels, like TestJoshWeapons in New Vegas, were only used sparingly, with Sawyer opting to test weapons and abilities against actual in-game scenarios such as Vault 3 and Quarry Junction.
Sawyer highlighted the significance of hands-on playtesting in determining the effectiveness and balance of abilities and weapons. By immersing himself in various in-game locations and engaging with enemies, Sawyer was able to gauge how different weapons felt in practice. This practical approach allowed him to fine-tune the gameplay experience based on real-world interactions.
While Sawyer’s methods may be rooted in intuition and practicality, he acknowledged the value of player feedback in refining game balance. Once players have the opportunity to experience the game firsthand, their input can provide valuable insights that may lead to further adjustments and refinements. Sawyer’s approach highlights the dynamic and iterative nature of game development, where balancing is an ongoing process informed by both intuition and player interaction.
Josh Sawyer’s approach to balancing abilities and weapons in video games offers a blend of intuition, practical testing, and player feedback. By prioritizing the feel and gameplay experience over theoretical calculations and simulations, Sawyer emphasizes the importance of hands-on engagement with game mechanics. This holistic approach to game balancing underscores the complex and multifaceted nature of creating immersive and enjoyable gameplay experiences.
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