That Didn't Suck: Fallout: New Vegas Writer Breaks Down the Survivalist's Tragic Masterpiece

A pile of bones in the sand became one of Fallout’s most haunting stories—and its writer still gets emotional when he reads it. John Gonzales, lead writer for Fallout: New Vegas, calls the Survivalist’s journal in Honest Hearts ‘one of my favorite bits of content that I’ve written in a game.’

The Survivalist’s story unfolds through journal entries, chronicling post-apocalyptic survival, the loss of his family, and his role in raising children who become the Sorrows. Gonzales crafted the character organically, working from a brief about military training provided by Josh Sawyer.

He described the writing as a rare chance to ‘do traditional storytelling’ in an RPG, separate from player-driven choices.

‘It was an opportunity to… do traditional storytelling,’ Gonzales said. ‘Okay, yeah, that didn’t suck. That was good.’ The journal entries, he explained, reveal the Survivalist’s quiet desperation: ‘He’s trying to spare a couple the loss that he’s experiencing.’

These entries were among Gonzales’ final contributions before leaving Obsidian in 2011. The approach, he noted, contrasted with the game’s usual player-driven narrative, offering a ‘traditional’ arc that resonated deeply with players and critics alike.