tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77967619509559316372024-03-20T03:40:43.661-06:00My Fallout New Vegas tour!With a few days in the Mojave to kill, I did a tour of the real-life locations that appear in Obsidian's brilliant "Fallout: New Vegas". Here are the pics and vids, side-by-side with game views.chrisworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13960468277096105038noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7796761950955931637.post-63123480031429701542013-01-11T05:05:00.003-07:002013-01-11T05:05:33.287-07:00It's more Fallout 3 than Fallout New Vegas, but... if you enjoyed this blog, <b><a href="https://www.lynxapollo.com/en_GB/24494/chris-worth">can I ask for one click to vote to send me into space?</a></b> Thank you.chrisworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09105529410715478070noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7796761950955931637.post-15148067100834930152012-09-23T03:54:00.000-06:002012-09-23T04:08:26.469-06:00Location 35: Zion National ParkNo matter how hard I try, my <a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/03/introducing-my-fallout-new-vegas-tour_24.html"><b>Fallout: New Vegas Tour</b></a> never seems to end. A holiday this month took me to the American Southwest, and I managed a day at <b>Zion National Park</b> - the setting for DLC <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Honest_Hearts">Honest Hearts</a>. Here are a few snaps of this impromptu second playthrough.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64wbkLu550QGbTv4iFa0DlpwCVPvNjryDiDw5NUptvDF8P8daaaUz6Xidcl0HsFHrqlmNQdXeSXFcRPi1bXpo3NC6hoGRXDfJtwWFZuWvvbektUEJgR6CLLitDINp3VUYZF0OZHJtKsM/s1600/IMG_2466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64wbkLu550QGbTv4iFa0DlpwCVPvNjryDiDw5NUptvDF8P8daaaUz6Xidcl0HsFHrqlmNQdXeSXFcRPi1bXpo3NC6hoGRXDfJtwWFZuWvvbektUEJgR6CLLitDINp3VUYZF0OZHJtKsM/s200/IMG_2466.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hollow logs are more than just dead wood.</td></tr>
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First up are a couple of items of scenery. <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Hollow_log">Hollow logs</a> usually have a goodie or two inside them; the same chalky-white dead trees are found all over the park IRL.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42Nz0C6jsfGR7eydLA9r5YQGWZ4Y5_TJ1Kdf1UN4JXh9lnVY8XaLxE2n2M1CT8lZ3FYt8LhbXLGK64v4jiUhIr_Dn_tqXabsMTuD52GQYXsqMMeDrpWmE-VZ03d_QjHPvjVRk_pjvb_A/s1600/IMG_3011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42Nz0C6jsfGR7eydLA9r5YQGWZ4Y5_TJ1Kdf1UN4JXh9lnVY8XaLxE2n2M1CT8lZ3FYt8LhbXLGK64v4jiUhIr_Dn_tqXabsMTuD52GQYXsqMMeDrpWmE-VZ03d_QjHPvjVRk_pjvb_A/s200/IMG_3011.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reach inside for a nice surprise. Or not.</td></tr>
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Same goes for <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Sacred_datura_root">Datura Root</a>. The bitter flowers exist in real life, in somewhat larger clusters of green leaves and white flowers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCTrdem0X54Iw180d0SSrl7GE4NuuRebvUw5Y-vmgzUYXi6f7ykcFG9kG_GG511UTn3pFUpR8vmzVY1dDv3BPc6Z42W75FR5AVnUduQSsR776MDfPExAmZmyceWF-hw-n-j_pkc719tM/s1600/IMG_2462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCTrdem0X54Iw180d0SSrl7GE4NuuRebvUw5Y-vmgzUYXi6f7ykcFG9kG_GG511UTn3pFUpR8vmzVY1dDv3BPc6Z42W75FR5AVnUduQSsR776MDfPExAmZmyceWF-hw-n-j_pkc719tM/s200/IMG_2462.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't eat those white flowers...</td></tr>
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(I chose not to test whether the poisonous aftereffects were the same too, and not just because picking plants in the park is an offence.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghIwCdR-CiQXV1cnDNTISdUChpTxbDglBB0ErIwSdykF1tXz_ZRXGhP4yn2dhB-F4XEeYL3K4w5dsweIeOwXfOoAcaX-hi7l7jtIt44d7owkviO7gg1WBjjm1n4B6P-8kmIhIiCEt5U3s/s1600/IMG_3013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghIwCdR-CiQXV1cnDNTISdUChpTxbDglBB0ErIwSdykF1tXz_ZRXGhP4yn2dhB-F4XEeYL3K4w5dsweIeOwXfOoAcaX-hi7l7jtIt44d7owkviO7gg1WBjjm1n4B6P-8kmIhIiCEt5U3s/s200/IMG_3013.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..or you'll be more than woozy.</td></tr>
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Next up is a cheat. The closest thing I could find to <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Zion_Fishing_Lodge"><b>Zion Fishing Lodge</b></a> is the modern <b>Zion Lodge</b>, a rebuilt (and surprisingly classy) wooden hostelry that incidentally does a great bison burger.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nWXuP3CjF8L9EkqgulDHODmAHxgTOg-3ptAOd2S9_URLrbx0-XkSux0i3VwexsMNg3fWIi31oqhmsUBiIvxBINx-PayAqCUpynjpgsJAUVyilHYgTLGp4YNzzYsS8_Clxcfx2PGKXBM/s1600/IMG_2456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nWXuP3CjF8L9EkqgulDHODmAHxgTOg-3ptAOd2S9_URLrbx0-XkSux0i3VwexsMNg3fWIi31oqhmsUBiIvxBINx-PayAqCUpynjpgsJAUVyilHYgTLGp4YNzzYsS8_Clxcfx2PGKXBM/s200/IMG_2456.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The real-life Zion Lodge.</td></tr>
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I assume there are real fishing lodges elsewhere in the park - with fewer roads to navigate by and less time to do it in, my orientation IRL wasn't as good as my main-game Fallout tour.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix220j_LU2UT1Z5_Yc7MA62qMXYqUi4V4XDspTiUs-2A_GJRWUIal-QADsk78X2595IjAif_ULWH1cMtNDjlE8kKiKzGRoaLz7otSZD94qwMaQwTmyDanVNwIiI-JzLg1_wZ3A8jtdSPQ/s1600/IMG_3015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix220j_LU2UT1Z5_Yc7MA62qMXYqUi4V4XDspTiUs-2A_GJRWUIal-QADsk78X2595IjAif_ULWH1cMtNDjlE8kKiKzGRoaLz7otSZD94qwMaQwTmyDanVNwIiI-JzLg1_wZ3A8jtdSPQ/s200/IMG_3015.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Safe haven if you deepsix the mantises.</td></tr>
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(And my sense of direction is about as useful as a empty Jet Inhaler anyway.)<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQrhJT6DoorTlNHJf2GB9px1g5_u3Ic-fi58KhWx8OyiRgK0sT440gm1i4_1K1dejPwuiLzchlPSJYaKB7xzxzZMFCQOrl4cY2cYWSjm656d2YfGZruQUIbr1QmknR7HTSuIIQJYaBFM/s1600/IMG_2496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQrhJT6DoorTlNHJf2GB9px1g5_u3Ic-fi58KhWx8OyiRgK0sT440gm1i4_1K1dejPwuiLzchlPSJYaKB7xzxzZMFCQOrl4cY2cYWSjm656d2YfGZruQUIbr1QmknR7HTSuIIQJYaBFM/s200/IMG_2496.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Truth is more fantastic.</td></tr>
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Now here's the <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Pine_Creek_Tunnel" style="font-weight: bold;">Pine Creek Tunnel</a>, in reality part of the Zion - Mt Carmel Highway on Utah 9.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JjahaoQbw0piWFin6rT8EYMoC8iGkJPFy7K-HcFCdoTe1Zz5ZZDWOYgv6tJ1gKyKaL9d0NHXxGSCfQZcYhLlj8CbVkHempqXvB29qkrz_jhpl9zfXMv-zoWnUBj7FsgZUDeYZpxZ6Pk/s1600/IMG_3014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JjahaoQbw0piWFin6rT8EYMoC8iGkJPFy7K-HcFCdoTe1Zz5ZZDWOYgv6tJ1gKyKaL9d0NHXxGSCfQZcYhLlj8CbVkHempqXvB29qkrz_jhpl9zfXMv-zoWnUBj7FsgZUDeYZpxZ6Pk/s200/IMG_3014.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uncollapsed, a great drive.</td></tr>
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It's a phenomenal piece of engineering, costing over $500,000 back in the 1920s, and was at the time the longest non-urban tunnel in the USA, blasted through the solid rock of Pine Creek Canyon.<br />
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Driving through it is an amazing experience, with holes every few hundred metres letting in sunlight from the canyon.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9xdKt_LEI-t9TpElcgHbN5-FKxKeqAgb8DW9hom1CHQAECkj5QFVKz82QnGG38uOzomv_SvY0SAfttrv_Ocet-IuO4YfXVNYsfQTTqVwI1Bi6oIPEvcsmQKnY3SO8aPRv8sMdLeQg1U/s1600/IMG_2489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9xdKt_LEI-t9TpElcgHbN5-FKxKeqAgb8DW9hom1CHQAECkj5QFVKz82QnGG38uOzomv_SvY0SAfttrv_Ocet-IuO4YfXVNYsfQTTqVwI1Bi6oIPEvcsmQKnY3SO8aPRv8sMdLeQg1U/s200/IMG_2489.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Narrow by name...</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUMPHkrgZNoslQa1OZ00oaLsNbIRRMPVhQyYuGxraRPWMrZB28n6k2ojgY2WreHg0O6p1ZLCLaqz1E3DGDtlZvnJBZN7hT2EWpI7k_u_jApRP34LYGYKh45VEjDgyLJSPk3bWnIAttLo/s1600/IMG_3016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUMPHkrgZNoslQa1OZ00oaLsNbIRRMPVhQyYuGxraRPWMrZB28n6k2ojgY2WreHg0O6p1ZLCLaqz1E3DGDtlZvnJBZN7hT2EWpI7k_u_jApRP34LYGYKh45VEjDgyLJSPk3bWnIAttLo/s200/IMG_3016.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just add water</td></tr>
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Among the park's breathtaking sights, the easiest to match with a game location is the <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/The_Narrows" style="font-weight: bold;">Narrows</a>, where the kindly but misguided Daniel leads his Sorrows tribespeople.<br />
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Carved out by a specific combo of silt and water flow, this scene is the start of a nine mile overnight hike IRL. Finding Daniel the first time you play the DLC is almost as challenging.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZzoihyphenhyphenhjGrpoPeFW3ZC-S-FJKlFv-g8lNjtuTzSl3fVbpcMw3AqHlEnJHl87B2_NvGRaepkjnnSyAq5vAUYuBbArPvz3wgNlO6LL7ByBqTz8mZ7EC6PYYku8yPCW8Gj4uplxyg-ZqRA/s1600/IMG_2465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZzoihyphenhyphenhjGrpoPeFW3ZC-S-FJKlFv-g8lNjtuTzSl3fVbpcMw3AqHlEnJHl87B2_NvGRaepkjnnSyAq5vAUYuBbArPvz3wgNlO6LL7ByBqTz8mZ7EC6PYYku8yPCW8Gj4uplxyg-ZqRA/s200/IMG_2465.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Them's big rocks.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKkwQY1lhyphenhyphenp00t-nsnLJoFuwkOSinPw9tTI-KVIkHm6aqjnrFSgVOHjmuu-jsb8W57LYt60oM2gSxBqqTApTbTbALrPj_ZEaBsAIvfyOcxCkIuJZazV6I3xdtPSE86n01UKwbTcOyhx4/s1600/IMG_3017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKkwQY1lhyphenhyphenp00t-nsnLJoFuwkOSinPw9tTI-KVIkHm6aqjnrFSgVOHjmuu-jsb8W57LYt60oM2gSxBqqTApTbTbALrPj_ZEaBsAIvfyOcxCkIuJZazV6I3xdtPSE86n01UKwbTcOyhx4/s200/IMG_3017.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best of all, no radiation.</td></tr>
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Honest Hearts is the most scenic of the four DLCs, so the real deal is the geology - and Zion's got it in spades.<br />
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I don't know if this pic (the NPC is <a href="http://orchidvines.com/home/about-lynne/"><b>Lynne Chang</b></a> of <a href="http://orchidvines.com/"><b>Orchid Vines</b></a>) is of the same boulders in the game here, but it gives you a taste.<br />
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Moving on, the peaks on the right are the <b>Patriarchs</b>, three mountains visible from the <b><a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Patriarchs%27_Campground">Patriarch's Campground</a></b>. They're called Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and yes, basically everything in Zion National Park has a religious theme.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCIkQ19iHdkgot9XAiIVJttzP0Ma6nlI0VcXgmiY4Zyam06rTes5Al36uym-AFdjthEIKGgzGN8Ebqwbdx1mLAmKWMVhaxesO53J8Dx1gb_dP9madFiHFVCWEg7MSI4u_HuZjA-b0aTA/s1600/IMG_2502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCIkQ19iHdkgot9XAiIVJttzP0Ma6nlI0VcXgmiY4Zyam06rTes5Al36uym-AFdjthEIKGgzGN8Ebqwbdx1mLAmKWMVhaxesO53J8Dx1gb_dP9madFiHFVCWEg7MSI4u_HuZjA-b0aTA/s200/IMG_2502.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of a thousand views</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThyphenhyphencaOVHZQwDhDMFOjF2ZA2Iu5XBAx_7TPnPsAIXk8lEKoLZ4DLb15sIu1sp9uigM3kHKInzyqN7jRRj_xgqJ8t0C0vVSJ25sjRdKHhiUpcHgE7XLavQaKKdDMCo8HA7ngMyNs7J3OP4/s1600/IMG_3018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThyphenhyphencaOVHZQwDhDMFOjF2ZA2Iu5XBAx_7TPnPsAIXk8lEKoLZ4DLb15sIu1sp9uigM3kHKInzyqN7jRRj_xgqJ8t0C0vVSJ25sjRdKHhiUpcHgE7XLavQaKKdDMCo8HA7ngMyNs7J3OP4/s200/IMG_3018.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feet of clay</td></tr>
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My photo on the left, however, isn't the same place... just another part of the park's amazing scenery.<br />
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To sign off, here's a clip of the real Patriarchs taken from a shuttle.<br />
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Despite knowing the US southwest better than most Brits this was my first visit to Zion National Park, and I loved it. Next time you're in the meatspace Vegas, give yourself a treat and fast travel over to Zion.<br />
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If you're new to this blog, <b><a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/03/introducing-my-fallout-new-vegas-tour_24.html">the full Fallout: New Vegas tour starts here</a>. </b>chrisworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09105529410715478070noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7796761950955931637.post-86527309379805043662012-06-01T00:32:00.002-06:002012-06-01T00:35:25.249-06:00Nuka-Break: the real dealJust a note that someone else has been doing their own version of a <b>Fallout: New Vegas Tour</b> ... and doing it better. <a href="http://waysidecreations.com/">Wayside Creations</a> has created a series of short films fanfic'ing the Mojave Wasteland - and they're brilliant. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9UwlAAnlmg&feature=relmfu&noredirect=1">Here's the season opener at YouTube</a>.<br />
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They riff on both overt and covert aspects of the Fallout games - watch out for the Mysterious Stranger - complete with costumes, props, and location shots featuring the same places I visited, including <a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/04/location-02-goodsprings.html">Goodsprings</a>! </div>
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<a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/waysidecreations/fallout-nuka-break-season-2-0">They're now raising funds for a second season on KickStarter</a>. If you enjoy their work, please support them. </div>
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Or for a taste of the locations they use as a backdrop,<b> <a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/03/introducing-my-fallout-new-vegas-tour_24.html">read My Fallout: New Vegas Tour, starting here</a></b>.</div>chrisworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13960468277096105038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7796761950955931637.post-6349432697461417122012-04-05T06:03:00.000-06:002012-04-05T06:03:16.404-06:00One year on<b>It's one year today since I took my trip to the Mojave Wasteland</b>, and it's been a blast bigger than a Van Graaf 'caster. Over 26,000 video viewings, 300,000+ pageviews, and around 300 Facebook Likes. It wasn't a business trip, but the 25 articles and 40 people who've contacted me - including several on the Fallout: New Vegas creative team itself - have driven some fresh billings for my marketing business, <b><a href="http://chrisdoescontent.com/">Chris does Content</a></b>. So thanks to everyone for visiting; I hope it was worth your fast-travel.<br />
<br />
And the visits haven't dried up yet. <a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/03/introducing-my-fallout-new-vegas-tour_24.html"><b>If you're new to this site, here's where you start</b></a>.chrisworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13960468277096105038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7796761950955931637.post-88245971331484260732011-05-29T02:42:00.000-06:002011-05-29T02:42:57.892-06:00Postscript: how to escape the Sierra Madre with all 37 gold bars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1kuyril0LF8/TeIFSOpE_pI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/FyGE9NIN3L0/s1600/escapewith37sierramadre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1kuyril0LF8/TeIFSOpE_pI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/FyGE9NIN3L0/s200/escapewith37sierramadre.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Still geeking:</b> as a bit of a postscript, I discovered how to escape the Sierra Madre vault with all 37 gold bars.... if you take steps to make every second count.<br />
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Most of the methods for doing this seem to involve elaborate setups with landmines or cheating with console commands; this method works on my unmodified XBox with patches to date and needs no hackery, although it'll probably take you a few tries 'n dies to make it.<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UANEDYTrKZM/TeIFGtUyp3I/AAAAAAAAAOM/1pKt_RhnRRg/s1600/37barsinbunker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UANEDYTrKZM/TeIFGtUyp3I/AAAAAAAAAOM/1pKt_RhnRRg/s200/37barsinbunker.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
Here's a scribbled walkthrough.... and just for proof, a snap of all 37 bars laid out back at the Brotherhood of Steel bunker, which by the way is ideal player housing for the rest of the game, containing a functioning Sierra Madre vending machine. (You did win the complimentary voucher back at the casino, right?) This is also on <a href="http://chrisworth.com/2011/05/26/fallout-new-vegas-escaping-the-sierra-madre/">my newly-relaunched personal blog, chrisworth.com</a>. <b>Enjoy!</b>chrisworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13960468277096105038noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7796761950955931637.post-20507079776427307392011-04-16T02:29:00.009-06:002011-04-18T07:05:42.254-06:00My Fallout: New Vegas Tour<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-08JaGerRB_k/Tar2ABiph8I/AAAAAAAAAMU/1JRNhls850o/s1600/sign3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-08JaGerRB_k/Tar2ABiph8I/AAAAAAAAAMU/1JRNhls850o/s320/sign3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>The site's now complete.</b> In less than a week it's approached 100,000 pageviews and over 5000 people have watched the videos. But doing a tour based on a videogame remains a fundamentally silly thing to do. So a few people have asked: <b>why did I do it?</b><br />
<br />
Here's my answer: <b>because <i>life </i><i>itself </i>is fundamentally silly</b>. We're born. We eat, sleep, reproduce. And then we die. We're each an eyeblink even in <i>human </i>history, let alone the history of the <i>universe</i>. There's not a lot of point to any of it; life has no innate meaning or purpose, save that which we impose upon it. So the worst thing you can do is take it too seriously. <br />
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Besides, the American West is among my favourite places on earth. The vast distances, the extremes of climate, the hardscrabble characters eking a living from motels and dime stores. <b>There are millions of stories scratched into the sands of the Mojave, with millions more left to be written. In its own tiny way, this trip was one of them. </b><br />
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The only thing left to do is thank my special friend <b>Melissa</b>, source of the idea. (Herself a midwesterner, she once did a tour of Rome based on the much-panned film "Hudson Hawk".) I haven't seen the movie yet, Melissa: it's waiting for us when I see you again.<br />
<br />
So there you have it: <b>my Fallout New Vegas Tour</b>, a real-world journey around 34 locations that appear in the game. If you've just arrived at this blog, <a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/03/introducing-my-fallout-new-vegas-tour_24.html">here's where you start</a>.chrisworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13960468277096105038noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7796761950955931637.post-34821026044573789542011-04-16T02:17:00.007-06:002011-04-16T16:24:55.916-06:00Location 34: Hoover Dam<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xf4kEKXAfMU/TalMNGxeNnI/AAAAAAAAALs/b8G-GBRggFc/s1600/wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="120" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xf4kEKXAfMU/TalMNGxeNnI/AAAAAAAAALs/b8G-GBRggFc/s200/wall.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anyone for skateboarding?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Hoover_Dam">Hoover Dam</a> is an amazing piece of civil engineering, and it's fitting it's both my last photogaphed location and the end of the game.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9vmyXyGgvjI/TalMSKBiweI/AAAAAAAAALw/JOK67QqYfj8/s1600/wall2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="120" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9vmyXyGgvjI/TalMSKBiweI/AAAAAAAAALw/JOK67QqYfj8/s200/wall2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A shorter drop in-game</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It's no longer possible to drive directly over the dam on its top edge; a new bypass bridge came into effect in summer 2010. This means I was one of the last foreign visitors to drive over the Dam itself (last year!) when construction was finishing up. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/K20P4uYvy6c?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/K20P4uYvy6c?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TZ3X4NlustA/TalH3xaeqYI/AAAAAAAAALY/BtzXRHn0W5g/s1600/dam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TZ3X4NlustA/TalH3xaeqYI/AAAAAAAAALY/BtzXRHn0W5g/s200/dam.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's a lot of concrete</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>Looking over the dam!</b> This is the only location where I've been forced to use different image heights to compensate for the wider aspects in the game (it's a scale thing.)<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MIolulc6ViU/TalIHc46T5I/AAAAAAAAALc/rD1SFNEQRNo/s1600/dam2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MIolulc6ViU/TalIHc46T5I/AAAAAAAAALc/rD1SFNEQRNo/s200/dam2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everything's wider and lower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>But as you can see the game captures the sheer immensity of the 1930s masterpiece quite accurately.A sharp intake of breath at the audacity of those engineers... both civil and software.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aH3lz8BjtVc/TalLfHs755I/AAAAAAAAALk/7_Y3U4pkoIs/s1600/pod2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aH3lz8BjtVc/TalLfHs755I/AAAAAAAAALk/7_Y3U4pkoIs/s200/pod2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't there a shotgun in there?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ha_yQqifNGM/TalL0_xiHdI/AAAAAAAAALo/1L31y-9CAro/s1600/pod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ha_yQqifNGM/TalL0_xiHdI/AAAAAAAAALo/1L31y-9CAro/s200/pod.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seems further to walk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The towers that house the hydroelectric turbines are reproduced faithfully, although without the "Arizona Time" and "Nevada Time" clocks that denote the different states the dam spans.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uHl65WC1AbI/TalNuL45MQI/AAAAAAAAAL0/SERf99igp_M/s1600/visitor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="128" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uHl65WC1AbI/TalNuL45MQI/AAAAAAAAAL0/SERf99igp_M/s200/visitor.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A glass box in the canyon...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vCs-n2ya2dQ/TalNy1ZNe6I/AAAAAAAAAL4/HW_VKB4tpwc/s1600/visitor2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="128" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vCs-n2ya2dQ/TalNy1ZNe6I/AAAAAAAAAL4/HW_VKB4tpwc/s200/visitor2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...but concrete suits the NCR better</td></tr>
</tbody></table>A point of difference, though, is the <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Hoover_Dam_visitor_center">Visitor Centre</a>. I suppose the in-game building takes its cues from the 1950s; the current building is quite new.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hgZkJaYd3II?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hgZkJaYd3II?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yTe56jV5-Tg/TalOXSAiyPI/AAAAAAAAAL8/PK2Jkf2rxys/s1600/monument2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yTe56jV5-Tg/TalOXSAiyPI/AAAAAAAAAL8/PK2Jkf2rxys/s200/monument2.jpg" width="142" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A couple of wingsuiters</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-06oFbIklwuc/TalOcnu6ZxI/AAAAAAAAAMA/HT32JJf-hO4/s1600/monument.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-06oFbIklwuc/TalOcnu6ZxI/AAAAAAAAAMA/HT32JJf-hO4/s200/monument.jpg" width="142" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bit shorter in-game</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The angels monument near the visitor centre is also nicely graphic'd up, including the gold-leaf inscription (almost readable in the game - try it!)<br />
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<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C1toWHA1bKs/TalP5FKmbzI/AAAAAAAAAME/9h8zOgVbJrI/s1600/tower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="139" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C1toWHA1bKs/TalP5FKmbzI/AAAAAAAAAME/9h8zOgVbJrI/s200/tower.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Come on in, the water's lovely</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wwLtBkAlb24/TalP_Ov5QaI/AAAAAAAAAMI/99L0XozpEJc/s1600/tower2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="139" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wwLtBkAlb24/TalP_Ov5QaI/AAAAAAAAAMI/99L0XozpEJc/s200/tower2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bit too chilly perhaps</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This picture showcases a serious point. See the <b>"clean" rocks for a couple of metres above the waterline</b>, leaving a neat bathtub mark around Lake Mead?<br />
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That's how far the water level has receded - possibly due to global warming. You see signs of this all over the West's lakes and forests, and it's worrying.<br />
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<b>And that's my Fallout New Vegas Tour!</b> It's been a great trip; thank you for joining me on it. GAME OVER!chrisworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13960468277096105038noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7796761950955931637.post-11295979682083037392011-04-15T22:46:00.002-06:002011-04-16T02:17:45.515-06:00Location 33: Cottonwood Cove<b>Nearing the end of my tour,</b> I reached my penultimate stop: <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Cottonwood_Cove">Cottonwood Cove</a>. Er.... ave?<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><object style="height: 344px; width: 425px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gLypMVgip-U?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gLypMVgip-U?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></object></div><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QTjiKUo5GAs/TakY8vNCGKI/AAAAAAAAAKs/R7uSLk_Xx1U/s1600/ramp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="129" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QTjiKUo5GAs/TakY8vNCGKI/AAAAAAAAAKs/R7uSLk_Xx1U/s200/ramp.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A ramp for launching boats...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>One trap for anyone relying solely on their Pip-Boy/GPS for directions is that there's a street named "Cottonwood Cove" in <a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/04/location-25-boulder-city.html">Boulder City</a>, so my suitably dusty SUV and I bowled up in a neat residential street that's more soccer mom than switchblade maniac.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZqdZk2Ul7ZA/TakZJELfYbI/AAAAAAAAAKw/zF-Pqi9UFKU/s1600/ramp2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="129" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZqdZk2Ul7ZA/TakZJELfYbI/AAAAAAAAAKw/zF-Pqi9UFKU/s200/ramp2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... or launching campaigns</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Not to be deterred, I fast travelled to the correct place thanks to a friendly BLM ranger or two. That's the great thing about American recreation areas - once you get on the right road, it's generally a straight run to the venue. <br />
<br />
The first indication I was in the right place came at the ramp; the sloped launchway is easily discernible in FNV, although the water table seems to have dropped a bit. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D1GtO71bn2w/TakZ0PSxMSI/AAAAAAAAAK0/mcrpL7yhkJE/s1600/dune.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D1GtO71bn2w/TakZ0PSxMSI/AAAAAAAAAK0/mcrpL7yhkJE/s200/dune.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Latin is a language, <br />
dead as dead can be</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TKttnuEFTGI/TakaTXXSczI/AAAAAAAAAK4/ayTnUyZezrU/s1600/dune2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TKttnuEFTGI/TakaTXXSczI/AAAAAAAAAK4/ayTnUyZezrU/s200/dune2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First it killed the Romans, <br />
and now it's killing me.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The clincher, though, came with this rocky dune on the left. It's where you peer out after arriving from <b>Camp Forlorn Hope</b>, Boone hissing through his teeth if he's your travelling companion.<br />
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In reality, much of the area is concreted over, but the general shape of the bay, jetties, and strollways fits. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><object style="height: 344px; width: 425px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hvNoCWlDSxs?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hvNoCWlDSxs?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></object></div><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ih_OOyplGo/TakbcuVWWdI/AAAAAAAAAK8/VbZGiRK5kuE/s1600/hills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="96" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ih_OOyplGo/TakbcuVWWdI/AAAAAAAAAK8/VbZGiRK5kuE/s200/hills.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm seeing cover, sniper points, <br />
throwing lines...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The lighting's a bit odd in the game here, presumably to create an aura of menace - this is, after all, the second-most Caesar'd up location in the game.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rMutoDJWYhQ/TakbvMmzhgI/AAAAAAAAALA/d8EgCfkcPsQ/s1600/hills2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="96" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rMutoDJWYhQ/TakbvMmzhgI/AAAAAAAAALA/d8EgCfkcPsQ/s200/hills2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm seeing blind alleys, dead ends, <br />
places to die a horrible death... </td></tr>
</tbody></table>In reality, Cottonwood Cove had the most glorious weather of anywhere I visited, well over 30C. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0A0Mr0fsSUk/TakcpxoxGUI/AAAAAAAAALE/NI30dKjir18/s1600/csign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0A0Mr0fsSUk/TakcpxoxGUI/AAAAAAAAALE/NI30dKjir18/s200/csign.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always trust a brown sign</td></tr>
</tbody></table>A shout-out here for the USA's Bureau of Land Management (the agency that puts up all the brown signs.)<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_5nj68EPtVU/TakcyEpXcRI/AAAAAAAAALI/PrhrPbEzWDU/s1600/csign2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_5nj68EPtVU/TakcyEpXcRI/AAAAAAAAALI/PrhrPbEzWDU/s200/csign2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Especially if it's wood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The rangers you meet in such areas tend to be full of information, friendly and outgoing and obviously enjoy their work although it can hardly be a high-paying job.<br />
<br />
On my trip they were a constant presence, a bit like the NCR, and always keen to help out. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><object style="height: 344px; width: 425px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ttdNIqMm3aY?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ttdNIqMm3aY?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></object> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--uVFozNMlA4/TakdSRD6MjI/AAAAAAAAALQ/fAxIk8OrgrU/s1600/shore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--uVFozNMlA4/TakdSRD6MjI/AAAAAAAAALQ/fAxIk8OrgrU/s200/shore.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I came, I saw, I conked out</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">So here's the cove itself: drier in the game, but both pontoons are there. I tried to cadge a lift to the Fort, but couldn't find a boatman to take me there.</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CIj8eyc6Rqc/Takda6R6c6I/AAAAAAAAALU/d9a1Fc0V-wM/s1600/shore2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CIj8eyc6Rqc/Takda6R6c6I/AAAAAAAAALU/d9a1Fc0V-wM/s200/shore2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Misty eyed as the trip nears its end</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">It was at Cottonwood Cove that I sensed my strange journey was nearing its end. There was only one place left on the list: <a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/04/location-34-hoover-dam.html">Hoover Dam</a>.</div>chrisworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13960468277096105038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7796761950955931637.post-84402233476039255382011-04-15T11:58:00.003-06:002011-04-15T23:48:53.237-06:00Location 32: Red Rock CanyonWe're at <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Red_Rock_Canyon">Red Rock Canyon</a>! Which was always going to be a difficult one.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XiUVIwV9qbM?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XiUVIwV9qbM?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tsd0e07ee_U/TaiJ2djjwOI/AAAAAAAAAJs/bl_S1x0DXXc/s1600/redrocksign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="146" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tsd0e07ee_U/TaiJ2djjwOI/AAAAAAAAAJs/bl_S1x0DXXc/s200/redrocksign.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's set in stone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>There was no need for the FNV design team to match rock for rock (we all know they hate mountains anyway, since so many are cut down to size in the game) and with such <i>large</i> rocks the game's forced perspective knocks everything out of whack anyway.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2vXUOfJwLkE/TaiKAKOBzFI/AAAAAAAAAJw/1b2XcajN4Jo/s1600/redrocksign2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="146" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2vXUOfJwLkE/TaiKAKOBzFI/AAAAAAAAAJw/1b2XcajN4Jo/s200/redrocksign2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Any reason it looks like a tomb?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I'm not pretending there was any exploring involved here. Unlike <a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/04/location-07-devils-throat.html">The Devil's Throat</a> this bit of the American landscape is an easy drive from Vegas, and the route is a paved thirteen miles of scenery with plenty of parking and rest stops.<br />
<br />
But the canyon IRL takes your breath away, and the game conjures up exactly the same feeling: the sense of space, the distances, the majesty of the geology. OK, I'll stop. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LIZLt6rnpcM/TaiK3ND0HRI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/6T_omw7bagM/s1600/redrockview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="138" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LIZLt6rnpcM/TaiK3ND0HRI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/6T_omw7bagM/s200/redrockview.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only thing that could hurt<br />
this rock is a nuclear holocaust</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The game graphics give a better sense of colour than my camera; there's a richness to the reds, especially later in the afternoon, that the game captures perfectly.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AU2KlRvtFe0/TaiLAaIt6tI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/XU2fj8noP_o/s1600/redrockview2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="138" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AU2KlRvtFe0/TaiLAaIt6tI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/XU2fj8noP_o/s200/redrockview2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Damn!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Even if the mountains are a bit truncated - even the Great Khans, hardasses that they are, don't want to walk a dozen miles just to feed their Bighorners...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T9OP4wJfK0U/TaiNN9S8HfI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/VLAcGg3IPHM/s1600/splitrock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="125" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T9OP4wJfK0U/TaiNN9S8HfI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/VLAcGg3IPHM/s200/splitrock.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A handy path to stroll along</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Now these two pics are interesting: I bet you thought the game inserts all those handy dirt tracks and scrambling routes to guide the player between locations?<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0dwQUcMhRqA/TaiNYTHer0I/AAAAAAAAAKA/lRZfovV57_4/s1600/splitrock2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="125" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0dwQUcMhRqA/TaiNYTHer0I/AAAAAAAAAKA/lRZfovV57_4/s200/splitrock2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stimpaks aid fall recovery</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Well, at least some of them exist <b>naturally </b>- as can be seen from the ledges on the left.<br />
<br />
Here's another vid, taken from a different parking lot. Next time you're in Las Vegas, make sure you get out to see it - it's a refreshing change from the neons.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CY-1PmM0zrE?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CY-1PmM0zrE?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><br />
My journey is nearing its end. My penultimate stop: <a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/04/location-33-cottonwood-cove.html">Cottonwood Cove</a>.chrisworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13960468277096105038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7796761950955931637.post-90098806887980905332011-04-15T11:54:00.005-06:002011-04-15T23:47:52.918-06:00Location 31: Spring Mountain Ranch State ParkPicnic tables, picket fences ... it's <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Spring_Mt._Ranch_State_Park">Spring Mountain Ranch State Park</a>!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><object style="height: 344px; width: 425px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MJxOdlX827A?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MJxOdlX827A?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></object></div><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dI71Rx_kcRE/TaiFnauxXII/AAAAAAAAAJk/6eaau3Mcfqw/s1600/springmt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="135" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dI71Rx_kcRE/TaiFnauxXII/AAAAAAAAAJk/6eaau3Mcfqw/s200/springmt.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picnic, anyone?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The park is a manicured family R&R area in the midst of some awe-inspiring scenery - yes, the red banded mountains are shared with Red Rock Canyon next door.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OVhxOgxFB_A/TaiGDLQJX2I/AAAAAAAAAJo/S1W1WuB9Evw/s1600/springmt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="135" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OVhxOgxFB_A/TaiGDLQJX2I/AAAAAAAAAJo/S1W1WuB9Evw/s200/springmt2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calm before the Khans</td></tr>
</tbody></table>As an aside, have you noticed how the game designers really had it in for those mountains?<br />
<br />
I mean, practically every one has had its summit clipped or great chunks of its sides torn out; we're almost talking "Red Pebble Trench" rather than "Red Rock Canyon". Y<b>ou heard it here first: Obsidian/Bethseda HATE our lumpy geological friends. </b><br />
<br />
I'm nearing the end of my quest: just a few more locations to go. Next up: <a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/04/location-32-red-rock-canyon.html">Red Rock Canyon</a>.<b> </b>chrisworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13960468277096105038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7796761950955931637.post-28319162611344960832011-04-15T11:45:00.001-06:002011-04-15T23:46:46.754-06:00Location 30: Mojave Outpost<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_qce4xwxEb4/TaiDOrQEC3I/AAAAAAAAAJc/P25xZwFGshw/s1600/mojave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_qce4xwxEb4/TaiDOrQEC3I/AAAAAAAAAJc/P25xZwFGshw/s200/mojave.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a long way to....</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>We all visit the <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Mojave_Outpost">Mojave Outpost</a> a lot to trade with Lacey;</b> she may be miserable but she's usually got a good selection. And let's face it, you don't get better (or pricier) repairs anywhere in the Wasteland. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cLxWZcSBFgY/TaiD-CI4svI/AAAAAAAAAJg/7yvJxgT2Lw4/s1600/mojave2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cLxWZcSBFgY/TaiD-CI4svI/AAAAAAAAAJg/7yvJxgT2Lw4/s200/mojave2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Especially when you're walking</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Sad to say, there's nothing there in real life - least of all the giant NCR statues.<br />
<br />
<b>But the road exists:</b> it's the Interstate 15 again, sloping sharply upwards as you head southwest away from Primm, and in these pictures I'm just brushing the edge of the Mojave National Preserve, the park area of the desert.<br />
<br />
I can't go much further down this road. Let's check out the scenery at <a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/04/location-31-spring-mountain-ranch-state.html">Spring Mountain Ranch State Park</a>.chrisworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13960468277096105038noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7796761950955931637.post-71377208475686596082011-04-15T11:32:00.002-06:002011-04-15T23:45:56.219-06:00Location 29: Camp Golf<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rWDY4rgXKQw/TaiAkTwl8aI/AAAAAAAAAJU/RmYPbIYVgFM/s1600/golf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rWDY4rgXKQw/TaiAkTwl8aI/AAAAAAAAAJU/RmYPbIYVgFM/s200/golf.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No spikes on the green please</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Camp_Golf">Camp Golf</a> is on the shores of Lake Las Vegas, and while it follows the NCR phonetic conventions after Camps Echo and Foxtrot, the in-joke is that in real life <b>there's indeed a resort golf course there</b>.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--obar8k-7Uw/TaiAtOzzTWI/AAAAAAAAAJY/uFHPvoKhq_U/s1600/golf2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--obar8k-7Uw/TaiAtOzzTWI/AAAAAAAAAJY/uFHPvoKhq_U/s200/golf2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Course needs hosing a bit?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Lake Las Vegas is largely a private community (many of whose citizens drive around in golf carts) and the whole area has a very Truman Show feel to it, not quite real. I suppose that's appropriate.<br />
<br />
My load's approaching 270kg. Let's do some trade at the <a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/04/location-30-mojave-outpost.html">Mojave Outpost</a>.chrisworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13960468277096105038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7796761950955931637.post-33567984361490161032011-04-14T11:17:00.029-06:002011-04-15T23:44:55.785-06:00Location 28: Bonnie Springs<b><a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Bonnie_Springs">Bonnie Springs</a> is an unusual one. </b>The wrecked township isn't a real town... because Bonnie Springs is a theme park for kids!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TeJtm-Lk9og?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TeJtm-Lk9og?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PAjn4xaT8yg/Tah8lVJappI/AAAAAAAAAJE/9vF7TqQEMAA/s1600/bonnie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="113" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PAjn4xaT8yg/Tah8lVJappI/AAAAAAAAAJE/9vF7TqQEMAA/s200/bonnie.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Head for the hills</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tqQjvqpj660/Tah9D_z4mII/AAAAAAAAAJI/mmuNbaa6AQg/s1600/bonnie2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="113" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tqQjvqpj660/Tah9D_z4mII/AAAAAAAAAJI/mmuNbaa6AQg/s200/bonnie2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proportions a bit nixed</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>Shootings and hangings</b> - now that's some all-American entertainment for you.<br />
<br />
I notice the hills are looking distinctly the worse for wear after the nuclear bombardments, but I suppose it'd give your house more light.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eWZ8Oi5g9KE/Tah-4QlMRyI/AAAAAAAAAJM/jgjhKXxf0ik/s1600/bonniesign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eWZ8Oi5g9KE/Tah-4QlMRyI/AAAAAAAAAJM/jgjhKXxf0ik/s200/bonniesign.jpg" width="171" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doesn't say Wild West to me</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p83J-ocVLyI/Tah-_53RZqI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/M-3ibAW5nZY/s1600/bonniesign2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p83J-ocVLyI/Tah-_53RZqI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/M-3ibAW5nZY/s200/bonniesign2.jpg" width="171" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Authentic Americana</td></tr>
</tbody></table>There's a sign at the town entrance too, and it's another example of where the game does real life a lot better than reality.<br />
<br />
It's time to catch up with the NCR at <a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/04/location-29-camp-golf.html">Camp Golf</a>.chrisworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13960468277096105038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7796761950955931637.post-3373856558098629082011-04-14T11:14:00.002-06:002011-04-15T23:43:52.936-06:00Location 27: Quarry Junction<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LPOD-n6mWv4/Tacqk8xRG1I/AAAAAAAAAI8/LeM7sVSazgA/s1600/quarry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LPOD-n6mWv4/Tacqk8xRG1I/AAAAAAAAAI8/LeM7sVSazgA/s200/quarry.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakin' rocks...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">Fallout fans either love or hate <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Quarry_Junction">Quarry Junction</a>, the Deathclaw-infested arena near Sloan. And if you thought Deathclaws were hard, try getting close enough to photograph the real thing!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6sNy_O4e6uI/Tacqyv5t_YI/AAAAAAAAAJA/9xhxDfL5Ihw/s1600/quarry2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6sNy_O4e6uI/Tacqyv5t_YI/AAAAAAAAAJA/9xhxDfL5Ihw/s200/quarry2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and breakin' bones</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It's a working pit with major machinery moving around all the time; while it's possible to drive up to the site it's not possible to get up close and personal with the quarry's central machine, the vantage point from which you probably picked off the 'claws with your sniper rifle. You remembered the hollowpoint ammunition, right?<br />
<br />
There was some serious wind going on when I visited - not a million miles from the game's dust devils, I suppose; no wonder the Deathclaws stay sheltered in the quarry - but I managed to take a few seconds of video:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rY8KhnnWAoU?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rY8KhnnWAoU?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div></div><br />
I need a break after dealing with those Deathclaws. Let's check out <a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/04/location-28-bonnie-springs.html">Bonnie Springs</a>.chrisworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13960468277096105038noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7796761950955931637.post-28784942741733375722011-04-14T11:06:00.002-06:002011-04-15T23:42:55.718-06:00Location 26: Sloan<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bIOhE88guo8/TacpUzCst4I/AAAAAAAAAI0/abpyXYRyOzQ/s1600/sloan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bIOhE88guo8/TacpUzCst4I/AAAAAAAAAI0/abpyXYRyOzQ/s200/sloan.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Down and dirty in Sloan</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">You don't get much further from the glitz of the New Vegas Strip than mining town <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Sloan">Sloan</a> and its Deathclaw-infested seam <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Quarry_Junction">Quarry Junction</a>. The rough and ready town actually exists, and it's a working company town.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jd9uklVPRG0/TacplPTYMuI/AAAAAAAAAI4/B4ULnvP1ulM/s1600/sloan2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jd9uklVPRG0/TacplPTYMuI/AAAAAAAAAI4/B4ULnvP1ulM/s200/sloan2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downer and dirtier</td></tr>
</tbody></table>In our world it's quite new and spruce; in the Fallout world, of course, it's a rustbucket junkyard. I saw no more than half a dozen buildings, most of them simple prefabs or work sheds, and a few shipping containers scattered about.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure if it has an actual population or if it's a daytime workplace that happens to have a name - take a look at the video and take a guess for yourself.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1OBzQBysc_s?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1OBzQBysc_s?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div></div><br />
With a song in my heart and a Maximum-changed Holorifle on my shoulder, I head down the road to <a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/04/location-27-quarry-junction.html">Quarry Junction</a>.chrisworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13960468277096105038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7796761950955931637.post-29544777491462436492011-04-14T10:49:00.001-06:002011-04-15T23:41:25.358-06:00Location 25: Boulder City<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ra_0L4wICLQ/Tackn9IYKFI/AAAAAAAAAIc/3c1NVe7ROqc/s1600/bould.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="104" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ra_0L4wICLQ/Tackn9IYKFI/AAAAAAAAAIc/3c1NVe7ROqc/s200/bould.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boulder's historic hotel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Not to be confused with the one in Colorado, <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Boulder_City">Boulder City</a> is the town that built Hoover Dam. In real life it's a cheerful place with a historic downtown, where I stopped for a microbrew at the <a href="http://www.boulderdambrewing.com/">Boulder Dam Brewing Co</a> (hullo if you're reading this. Your beers are great.)<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EZbBtLwFOko/TackuH5bGdI/AAAAAAAAAIg/EKhOvgY8LM8/s1600/bould2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="104" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EZbBtLwFOko/TackuH5bGdI/AAAAAAAAAIg/EKhOvgY8LM8/s200/bould2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bit of a strech, but the biz is there</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It's also, unfortunately, among the most <i>totalled</i> joints in the Wasteland - with barely two buildings standing. I'd like to think the first one is the <b>Boulder Dam Hotel</b>, a well-proportioned white building in the historic district; it's in roughly the right place and carries on the same kind of business.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HrsnIyKu-M4/Tack_cx04yI/AAAAAAAAAIk/tcytb4GL6_k/s1600/boulder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="123" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HrsnIyKu-M4/Tack_cx04yI/AAAAAAAAAIk/tcytb4GL6_k/s200/boulder.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the historic district</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XPBQO2sl_K8/TaclRwVdTjI/AAAAAAAAAIo/SvD63UX3pms/s1600/boulder2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="123" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XPBQO2sl_K8/TaclRwVdTjI/AAAAAAAAAIo/SvD63UX3pms/s200/boulder2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Boulder building</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Also in Boulder are a number of buildings with arched walkways on the path, of which this is representative.<br />
<br />
Realistically, the buildings in the game could have been based on any of these - or none of them.<br />
<br />
Next I'm fast travelling a bit, across the game map to <a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/04/location-26-sloan.html">Sloan</a>.chrisworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13960468277096105038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7796761950955931637.post-49123250194031472292011-04-14T10:40:00.001-06:002011-04-15T23:40:31.047-06:00Location 24: Callville Bay<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Ky8wGGBuMw/Tacmss5nR1I/AAAAAAAAAIs/Q338jS3XMXo/s1600/callville.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="125" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Ky8wGGBuMw/Tacmss5nR1I/AAAAAAAAAIs/Q338jS3XMXo/s200/callville.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading for Hoover</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We're nearing <b>Hoover Dam</b>!Some way northeast lies Callville Bay, a rest and recreation area. While you can't see the dam in the IRL shot, it's there, just beyond your field of vision. It seems the nuclear wars took out a large chunk of the eastern coastline in FNV.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CL9AxePs4H8/TacndSPpy3I/AAAAAAAAAIw/4p8cpsG6enA/s1600/callville2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="125" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CL9AxePs4H8/TacndSPpy3I/AAAAAAAAAIw/4p8cpsG6enA/s200/callville2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lakelurks ahoy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>One thing to note here is the "watermark" on Lake Mead. See the cleaner-looking rock dilineated by a horizontal line? That's how far the waters have dropped in our world. It's a real problem for future generations if it continues; many blame global warming. The waters seem to be at a higher level in FNV, though.<br />
<br />
Escaping the cazadors, I'm off to <a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/04/location-25-boulder-city.html">Boulder City</a>.chrisworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13960468277096105038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7796761950955931637.post-50070819988488242992011-04-14T08:42:00.004-06:002011-04-15T23:39:35.781-06:00Location 23: The Strip - Lucky 38<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BrMl6Ulelhs/TacD0imxjVI/AAAAAAAAAIE/F1e6dowRWzY/s1600/38low.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BrMl6Ulelhs/TacD0imxjVI/AAAAAAAAAIE/F1e6dowRWzY/s200/38low.jpg" width="187" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Stratosphere at ground level</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>Time to meet <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Robert_House">Mr House</a>!</b> At the fourth and final casino on the New Vegas Strip, the <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Lucky_38">Lucky 38</a>.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0alJOmBwszQ/TacFPEh2MdI/AAAAAAAAAII/7-Rj7nwiL6Q/s1600/38low2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0alJOmBwszQ/TacFPEh2MdI/AAAAAAAAAII/7-Rj7nwiL6Q/s200/38low2.jpg" width="187" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The equivalent view of the 38</td></tr>
</tbody></table>While The Vault (at <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/">fallout.wikia.com</a>) says it's based on the demolished <b>Landmark</b> Casino, I think the game's <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Lucky_38">Lucky 38</a> looks more like the existing <b>Stratosphere</b> - with its slimmer tower and angled-outward windows up on the viewing platfom.<br />
<br />
Besides, most of the design team would have been in school uniform (at least) when the Landmark imploded (1995). Of course, it could be a mashup. Believe what you want.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gM__lXJR0WY/TacGCUUKHBI/AAAAAAAAAIM/hC8SinuQyck/s1600/38all.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gM__lXJR0WY/TacGCUUKHBI/AAAAAAAAAIM/hC8SinuQyck/s200/38all.jpg" width="143" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only way is up</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>The Stratosphere seems a bit of an odd choice</b> to house the most powerful guy in New Vegas: in reality it's a bit of a dump, cheap and sparsely inhabited in the rougher end of town (up north near Fremont St.)<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FTsrh2n-uM8/TacGl72ziXI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/eI3EC2_eHaw/s1600/38all2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FTsrh2n-uM8/TacGl72ziXI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/eI3EC2_eHaw/s200/38all2.jpg" width="143" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out the view</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Stepping back, the visuals seem to confirm it though. Here are my reasons...<br />
<br />
Slim concrete tower without any inhabitable space in it (all it contains is the elevators) topped off with a large viewing floor containing a couple of bars and the best views in Vegas (unless you count the front row seats at the better topless shows.)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nQGHmjgR2sk/TacHNtJWmnI/AAAAAAAAAIU/v5xCJ2rSKFE/s1600/38top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="141" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nQGHmjgR2sk/TacHNtJWmnI/AAAAAAAAAIU/v5xCJ2rSKFE/s200/38top.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All hands on deck</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>But the clincher for me lay inside the viewing deck.</b> Look at these two shots - they're clearly of the same place, even allowing for the 38's 1950s-era decor. The radius of the two rooms feels about the same, and the infrastructure lifts) occupy the central area so you can walk around in in a complete unbroken circle.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xvcUOing3yk/TacHbvomLMI/AAAAAAAAAIY/aa2ICNG_b8U/s1600/38top2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="141" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xvcUOing3yk/TacHbvomLMI/AAAAAAAAAIY/aa2ICNG_b8U/s200/38top2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Are you feeling lucky?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The game only skimps on one aspect: you can't look downwards out of the windows to see the whole Strip arrayed before you. (That would've taken serious computing power of course.)<br />
<br />
I'm not a gambling man, but I'd bet money on this. To finish up, here's a 360 degree video walkaround of the viewing deck...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8bMWmDQQMCc?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8bMWmDQQMCc?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><br />
All this gambling is making me dizzy. Let's head out of town to <a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/04/location-24-callville-bay.html">Callville Bay</a>.chrisworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13960468277096105038noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7796761950955931637.post-76703487168593230092011-04-14T08:15:00.003-06:002011-04-20T16:00:46.470-06:00Location 22: The Strip - Ultra Luxe<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0z9W9VHkLx4/TacAy0VpT3I/AAAAAAAAAH8/6jGFoB96XVM/s1600/mirage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="138" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0z9W9VHkLx4/TacAy0VpT3I/AAAAAAAAAH8/6jGFoB96XVM/s200/mirage.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puttin' on my white gloves</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I stayed in the <b>Mirage</b> last year, which seems to be the inspiration for the most luxurious hotel on the New Vegas Strip, the <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Ultra-Luxe">Ultra Luxe</a>. Admittedly, there's probably a lot of the Bellagio's dancing fountains mixed in, but remember, the game universe isn't ours, and the New Vegas casinos were principally inspired by what Vegas looked like a few decades ago.<br />
<br />
(The restaurants in real life presumably serve less interesting steak than the Ultra Luxe, too, although - this is Vegas...) <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c939rtR2RyE/TacA6FVeRMI/AAAAAAAAAIA/c4DQxbOU1sE/s1600/mirage2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="138" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c939rtR2RyE/TacA6FVeRMI/AAAAAAAAAIA/c4DQxbOU1sE/s200/mirage2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You want a piece of me?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The clue for me was the hinged architecture, which is somewhat more flowing in the game than the Mirage's angular blocks. But the foilage out front - including water features - seem to chime, and of course the Mirage is famous for its indoor rainforest. Score 3.<br />
<br />
I can't delay this any longer: <a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/04/location-23-strip-lucky-38.html">it's time to visit Mr House at the Lucky 38</a>.chrisworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13960468277096105038noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7796761950955931637.post-77030537635274140682011-04-14T08:09:00.002-06:002011-04-15T23:37:21.545-06:00Location 21: The Strip - Tops<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1B7rSJI_Ce0/Tab_YfZgW4I/AAAAAAAAAH0/mfqaOQSqFls/s1600/circus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1B7rSJI_Ce0/Tab_YfZgW4I/AAAAAAAAAH0/mfqaOQSqFls/s200/circus.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/The_Tops">The Tops</a> takes a bit more sleuthing. I could be wrong here, but its closest parallel (in both nuance and geography) in Las Vegas seems to be <b>Circus Circus</b>, a showing-its-age resort where I last stayed ten years ago. (Big Top, geddit?)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rv5u7gwTCX8/TacACpI3FUI/AAAAAAAAAH4/2Mh4nWFqubg/s1600/circus2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rv5u7gwTCX8/TacACpI3FUI/AAAAAAAAAH4/2Mh4nWFqubg/s200/circus2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The most obvious relationship is with the swirly front overhang, although it's a bit tenuous. If anyone has a better idea, comment below.<br />
<br />
Time for something a bit easier to classify. Let's put on some white gloves and visit <a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/04/location-22-strip-ultra-luxe.html">The Ultra Luxe</a>.chrisworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13960468277096105038noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7796761950955931637.post-88695355031207429132011-04-14T08:04:00.002-06:002011-04-15T23:36:18.177-06:00Location 20: The Strip - Gomorrah<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R0X5CzDD9H4/Tab9lk2pwrI/AAAAAAAAAHs/9-gzDxWeNbQ/s1600/sahara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R0X5CzDD9H4/Tab9lk2pwrI/AAAAAAAAAHs/9-gzDxWeNbQ/s200/sahara.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sands of time</td></tr>
</tbody></table>And so to <b>The Strip!</b> The casino photos were surprisingly hard - while each in-game casino has a real-world equivalent, it's also where the game designers took the most artistic license; they're not the same places. (Of course, the game's not quite our future, but the way people in the 50s imagined the future would be.)<br />
<br />
Anyway, first up's the <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Gomorrah">Gomorrah</a>. The scruffiest and dodgiest joint in New Vegas (and that's saying something), it's based on the oldest and most faded casino in the real world: the <b>Sahara</b>. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CidjqhYBWas/Tab-wCSXqbI/AAAAAAAAAHw/aL7dgPG2pxo/s1600/sahara2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CidjqhYBWas/Tab-wCSXqbI/AAAAAAAAAHw/aL7dgPG2pxo/s200/sahara2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meet the family</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The Sahara's been in business 52 years, and is shutting down next month. Sad, but that's Vegas for you: constant renewal. I went inside, and the pool area (which looks surprisingly like the game) was closed off; otherwise there's little relationship between the interiors apart from the odd bit of North African inspired decor.<br />
<br />
Nearby is the enigmatic <a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/04/location-21-strip-tops.html">Tops Casino</a>.chrisworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13960468277096105038noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7796761950955931637.post-67205873914353505172011-04-14T07:22:00.001-06:002011-04-15T23:35:29.341-06:00Location 19: Nellis<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v5gALuc2fQg/Tab0NwR1rbI/AAAAAAAAAHk/SsONc9SFxCs/s1600/nellis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="70" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v5gALuc2fQg/Tab0NwR1rbI/AAAAAAAAAHk/SsONc9SFxCs/s200/nellis.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abandon hope all ye who enter here</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>Unfortunately</b>, this is as close as I could get to <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Nellis_Air_Force_Base">Nellis Air Force Base</a>; no prizes for guessing why. (For the same reason, places like the Nevada Test Site don't appear in this blog.) But I think I've got the location right: notice the huts either side of the vehicle entrance, and the low wall in front of the right one? <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4hgwVMSygcQ/Tab0evSJo3I/AAAAAAAAAHo/5kKTh5oiK4M/s1600/nellis2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="70" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4hgwVMSygcQ/Tab0evSJo3I/AAAAAAAAAHo/5kKTh5oiK4M/s200/nellis2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Meet new people, understand <br />
them, and drop high-explosive <br />
ordnance on their heads."</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Nellis AFB is HUGE, covering thousands of acres of Nevada. In fact, a sizeable percentage of Nevada as a whole is government-owned and much of this is fenced off; you only notice it when you're a long way offroad. But let's face it, you don't want to go sniffing around a nuclear test site anyway, even if half-life's shorter than time since test.<br />
<br />
It's time for some R&R at the <a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/04/location-20-strip-gomorrah.html">Gomorrah Casino</a>.chrisworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13960468277096105038noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7796761950955931637.post-71016900268514556892011-04-14T07:06:00.001-06:002011-04-15T23:34:47.136-06:00Location 18: Camp McCarran<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AnW5byKfxig/Tabt4nfS8kI/AAAAAAAAAHM/Q5_qg81wh4E/s1600/airport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="75" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AnW5byKfxig/Tabt4nfS8kI/AAAAAAAAAHM/Q5_qg81wh4E/s200/airport.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zoomed from beside the<br />
Welcome to Las Vegas sign!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MuvA1-W4Qlg/Tabuk-v8UcI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/Bevgdiud0OM/s1600/airport2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="75" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MuvA1-W4Qlg/Tabuk-v8UcI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/Bevgdiud0OM/s200/airport2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closer but backed into a wall</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Camp_McCarran">Camp McCarran</a> is of course based on Las Vegas Airport. Aside:<b> how often do you see an airport from the outside?</b> McCarran Airport is a brilliant piece of architecture, with a family resemblance to New York's JFK, and yet none of us ever appreciate the curves. (With plenty of airports it doesn't matter, naturally. I mean, London's Heathrow, with the exception of the new T5, is a pile of boxes as horrible outside as it is in.) <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XF7pNhrIHGk/Tabvi_9ugYI/AAAAAAAAAHU/F-XvzbeVTvc/s1600/plane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="120" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XF7pNhrIHGk/Tabvi_9ugYI/AAAAAAAAAHU/F-XvzbeVTvc/s200/plane.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plane's in the baggage area...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Us internationals don't use the main Terminal, so I couldn't get onto the concourse where much Camp McCarran quest action gets briefed - but I scored a couple of shots of the entrance hall by walking between the two.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bl11EuzxE5w/TabvsrZ_mdI/AAAAAAAAAHY/Kf3uSQTOVXA/s1600/plane2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="120" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bl11EuzxE5w/TabvsrZ_mdI/AAAAAAAAAHY/Kf3uSQTOVXA/s200/plane2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... plane's in the entrance hall</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
(Again, how long is it since you walked between two airport terminals? With me it's about a year, and the previous stroll was also at McCarran!) <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8gEuxRJ_Dfc/Tabwnsxj75I/AAAAAAAAAHc/kVMJXDCfpvE/s1600/hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8gEuxRJ_Dfc/Tabwnsxj75I/AAAAAAAAAHc/kVMJXDCfpvE/s200/hall.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wish I had a Pip-Boy light</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Incidentally, the hanging plane doesn't seem to be in the same place IRL and in-game; <b>I've a feeling McCarran has more than one</b>, and if so it must be beyond Passport Control. Lacking both a Stealth Boy and lockpick skills, I wasn't able to check.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lh20v00zQVI/Tabwxbk1kqI/AAAAAAAAAHg/HEqpBUWEtts/s1600/hall2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lh20v00zQVI/Tabwxbk1kqI/AAAAAAAAAHg/HEqpBUWEtts/s200/hall2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out the check in</td></tr>
</tbody></table>My plane here's over the baggage carousels, whereas the game plane is in the entrance hall. <b>Close but no cigar?</b><br />
<br />
Anyway, let's see how close we can get to <a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/04/location-19-nellis.html">Nellis AFB</a>. <b><br />
</b>chrisworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13960468277096105038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7796761950955931637.post-49591127094260586432011-04-14T06:48:00.001-06:002011-04-15T23:33:50.665-06:00Location 17 FAIL: Bitter Springs<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LuiXIDwE29k/TabANUCcujI/AAAAAAAAAHE/Y998t1uCEkU/s1600/bitter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LuiXIDwE29k/TabANUCcujI/AAAAAAAAAHE/Y998t1uCEkU/s200/bitter.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close as I got</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b><a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Bitter_Springs">Bitter Springs</a> FAIL!</b><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dMAETm3J3zI/Tabs9Op6p0I/AAAAAAAAAHI/Lz-FUXgmoc4/s1600/bitter2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dMAETm3J3zI/Tabs9Op6p0I/AAAAAAAAAHI/Lz-FUXgmoc4/s200/bitter2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boone will never forgive me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It's a real place (unpluralised) but it's down a 28mi dirt track, itself reached by 4mi of unpaved road, and at 4pm with a lot of driving ahead I had to turn back once I reached the trail - it's hardcore lump-jumping where even 4WD and a foot of ground clearance might not have worked. At least I shot the sign!<br />
<br />
Heading back towards civilisation, I pointed the wheel towards <a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/04/location-18-camp-mccarran.html">Camp McCarran</a>.chrisworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13960468277096105038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7796761950955931637.post-56583404120449099592011-04-13T16:30:00.002-06:002011-04-17T07:56:43.986-06:00Location 16: Freeside - East Gate<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RRX8glPK2nE/TaYQRQ6QxKI/AAAAAAAAAG8/bHYFevK58Bw/s1600/east.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RRX8glPK2nE/TaYQRQ6QxKI/AAAAAAAAAG8/bHYFevK58Bw/s200/east.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go east, young man</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AKOoPW9M_p4/TaYQaIH7FGI/AAAAAAAAAHA/EJ4fHBVeiy0/s1600/east2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="146" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AKOoPW9M_p4/TaYQaIH7FGI/AAAAAAAAAHA/EJ4fHBVeiy0/s200/east2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entering Freeside East</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>In reality, Fremont St East is just a hoop across a road. </b>In the game, <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Freeside%27s_east_gate">Freeside's East Gate</a> is a heavily-fortified wall of scrap concrete and barbed wire. But they're the same place.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-asuW41C3Iok/Tarwsv5490I/AAAAAAAAAMQ/6NGiMyEYjT8/s1600/east3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="146" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-asuW41C3Iok/Tarwsv5490I/AAAAAAAAAMQ/6NGiMyEYjT8/s200/east3.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The right gate, in the wrong place</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The photo on the left most closely corresponds to where "Freeside East" actually seems to be. There's another part of Freeside (the street containing the <a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/04/location-14-freeside-silver-rush.html">Rush</a> and the <a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/04/location-15-freeside-atomic-wrangler.html">Wrangler</a>) that resembles the real-world gateway much more closely - however, triangulating with the King's, the second game snap here is at the wrong end of the street! <br />
<br />
Time to hit the road again, and suffer the <a href="http://www.falloutnewvegastour.com/2011/04/location-17-fail-bitter-springs.html">bitter disappointment of Bitter Springs</a>.chrisworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13960468277096105038noreply@blogger.com2