February Progress Update

The shortest month of the year is almost up and that means it’s time for another Fallout: Miami progress update!

We’ve talked about the importance of brands in fleshing out a unique Fallout location before, but it doesn’t just stop at soft drinks. Miami is a place for people with refined tastes, especially when it comes to tobacco. Nothing short of the finest luxury cigars, imported from Cuba, can satisfy the discerning smoker. Habana Sol is a brand with quite the history, starting out as a small family business and growing to a major international exporter of rich, flavourful tobacco products. Banned during the period in which the island was in China’s Communist sphere of influence, these cigars remained so beloved that they were smuggled into Miami. Once Cuba was liberated, people rejoiced at the familiar sight of Habana Sol vending machines, pictured below. This asset was made by a newcomer to the Fallout: Miami development team, NathanielW, with concept art by Sfaira.

We’re going to shed some more light on one of Miami’s factions, which you might already be familiar with, the Dreamers. Originally, they were a group of escaped slaves who settled down in the old university campus. A particularly ambitious member of the Cubanos saw an opportunity and was able to get them hooked on Luna, a powerful hallucinogenic drug that induces euphoric dreams, hence the name Dreamers. Once these sorry souls became addicted and willing to do anything for their next fix, this Cubano began using them for all sorts of unsavory tasks. Clothed in whatever was available on campus, they would be led to the mainland and tasked with threatening, raiding and attacking rival gangs. The rewards for their efforts were whatever loot the Cubanos had no need for and, of course, their next dose of Luna.

Luna has its drawbacks though, users eventually lose their sense of reality and experience rapidly deteriorating health. The first to suffer this decrepitude made their way to the nearby hospital, in the hope of finding something to alleviate the affliction. Even if there was some cure, their minds were too addled to make use of it. The condition of many of them worsened, they slowly became infirm and died. These days, Dreamers that chase the high long enough are forcefully relocated to the clinic turned crypt, where they wither away, out of sight. Lovingly rendered by Cameron August.

Onto something more cheerful. Weapons! A Fire Axe specifically, one that can also set fires. No special lore or anything fancy to say about this one, just a trusty chopper made by newcomer Coolest Guy.

It’s been a minute since we’ve talked characters, hasn’t it. You might remember Kelsey James, a companion that we showed off in December. Well, she isn’t the only one, let me introduce you to Jimmy Hart, a puckish rogue with a heart of gold. Jimmy is a recent recruit to the Nuclear Patriots who is still trying to prove he has what it takes to run with the big dogs. A Miami native who always seems to manage to talk his way out of sticky situations or stumble his way to solutions, all while managing to make it look like it was part of his plan. When he isn’t getting involved in misadventures he can often be found hanging around the various dive bars of Miami Beach.

Don’t think you’ll make it out of this update without seeing some ingame shots, our level designers work hard, here’s what they’ve been up to in the past weeks.

Before we say our goodbyes, I’d just like to remind you that we have a community Discord server, in case you wanted to get in touch with us. We’re also recruiting, if you think you have what it takes to help us make Miami a reality, submit your application here. See you next month!

- K. Constantine