Fallout: New Vegas Writer Shares Insights on Survivalist Story
Generally, I think the story of a lone survivor in the Fallout universe is pretty cool, it continues to captivate fans, years after its release. Obviously, the story of Randall Clark, also known as the Survivalist, is told through journal entries scattered throughout the Honest Hearts DLC for Fallout: New Vegas. Usually, I find that Clark’s story is one of the most moving and tragic in the Fallout series, despite being a pile of bones in the game.
Writer Reflects On Beloved Story
Normally, when I hear about a game’s story, I dont really pay attention, but the tale of the Survivalist is different, it is one of the most memorable stories in the Fallout series. Apparently, John Gonzales, the lead writer of Fallout: New Vegas, recently shared his thoughts on the Survivalist’s journal, and he considers it one of his favorite pieces of content he’s written for a game. Clearly, Gonzales recalls that the character was assigned to him with a rough outline, and he worked out the story as he went along, which is pretty interesting.
Writer’s Perspective
Honestly, I think that the journal entries provided Gonzales with an opportunity to do traditional storytelling on a small scale, and he found the story to be very affecting and tragic, with themes of adventure, loss, and guilt. Sometimes, I feel like the story is more impactful because of its small scale, and one particular moment that stands out to Gonzales is when Clark shoots an elderly couple through the head simultaneously, an act meant to spare them the loss and horror he experienced. Naturally, this moment is very emotional, and it shows the depth of Clark’s character.
Storytelling in a Small Scale
Usually, when I think about storytelling in games, I think about big, epic stories, but the journal entries in Fallout: New Vegas are different, they are a great example of small-scale storytelling. Obviously, Gonzales found the story to be very affecting and tragic, and he believes that the small scale of the story makes it more impactful, which is a pretty good point. Generally, I think that the themes of adventure, loss, and guilt in the story are very well-developed, and they add to the overall impact of the story.
Enduring Impact
Apparently, since the DLC’s release, Gonzales has read over the journal entries multiple times, and he still thinks highly of them, which is pretty cool. Clearly, he believes that the story is well-written and emotionally impactful, and he is proud of what he accomplished with the Survivalist’s journal. Normally, I wouldnt expect someone to be so proud of their work, but Gonzales’s pride is well-deserved, because the story is really good.
Generally, you can find more insights from Gonzales and other Fallout-related stories, by checking out the latest issue of PC Gamer’s print magazine, which is a great resource for gamers.
