(Image credit: Bethesda Game Studios)
Is it more rewarding to pay by the hour or by the quality of the final product? In principle, with greater expertise comes swifter execution. Veteran Nate Purkeypile from Bethesda proved this by constructing a settlement in Fallout 76 within a mere two days.
During a GDC talk captured by Michael Leri, Purkeypile shared, “On Fallout and Skyrim, I worked on places like Diamond City and the lighting for Blackreach. Those experiences taught me so much, and I became progressively faster. My final city was Crater in Fallout 76, which I finished in about two days.”
To anyone who has attempted video game coding, this speed is nothing short of remarkable. Crafting even a single door is often an enormous endeavor.
“But I couldn’t have achieved this without previously creating Diamond City, Tenpenny Tower, and Little Lamplight,” Purkeypile elaborated. “Over time, my skills improved dramatically. Little Lamplight can be quite perplexing. Diamond City offers clearer landmarks and centralized vendors, resulting in a superior city.”
I particularly admire how Tenpenny Tower is prominently visible from Fallout 3’s southern Wasteland. Perhaps Purkeypile intended it that way. The ambiance of Little Lamplight was wonderfully depicted. It genuinely seemed like a haven molded by children.
As for the Crater, its rugged design would seamlessly blend into Mad Max’s universe, especially if devoid of water, enhancing the Wasteland vibe.
While here, explore our selection of the best open-world games currently available. See which amazing environments catch your eye and imagine their creation time.