Giving House the House: A Deep Dive into Mr. House and the Platinum Chip in Fallout: New Vegas

Giving Mr. House the Platinum Chip in Fallout: New Vegas sets in motion a chain of events that can significantly impact the fate of the Mojave Wasteland. In short, handing over the chip allows Mr. House to upgrade his Securitron army, bolstering his control over the New Vegas Strip and setting you firmly on a path towards his vision for the future. He will then return the chip to you, giving you the freedom to either continue working with him or betray him later. This initial act of cooperation unlocks a significant portion of the “The House Always Wins” questline, but it doesn’t lock you into siding with him permanently. Your choices after this point determine whether you become a key player in his technologically advanced utopia or contribute to his downfall.

The Immediate Consequences

The moment you relinquish the Platinum Chip to Mr. House, several things happen:

• Securitron Upgrade: Mr. House uses the chip to unlock the full potential of the Securitrons stationed throughout the Strip. Their combat effectiveness is dramatically increased, making them a formidable force.
• Experience Points and Rewards: You receive experience points and a monetary reward for completing the quest “The House Always Wins, I.”
• Quest Progression: You advance further into the “The House Always Wins” questline, undertaking tasks assigned by Mr. House to solidify his control over the region. This typically involves dealing with threats such as the Brotherhood of Steel, the Boomers, and the Omertas.
• Chip is Returned: Most importantly, Mr. House gives the chip back. This is crucial, as it prevents him from having complete control and allows you to change your mind later in the game.

The Longer-Term Implications

While the immediate effects are relatively straightforward, the long-term implications of giving Mr. House the Platinum Chip are far more complex and dependent on your subsequent actions.

• Shaping the Mojave: By assisting Mr. House, you contribute to his vision of an independent, technologically advanced New Vegas. This involves severing ties with the NCR and the Legion, establishing a new power structure with Mr. House at its apex.
• Moral Considerations: Mr. House’s vision isn’t universally embraced. Some see him as a ruthless autocrat, while others view him as the only one capable of bringing stability to the chaotic wasteland. Your decision to support him has moral ramifications that will affect the lives of countless individuals.
• Potential for Betrayal: Even after giving him the chip, you retain the option to betray Mr. House. This can be accomplished by disabling him in his chamber atop the Lucky 38, allowing you to align yourself with other factions such as the NCR, Caesar’s Legion, or the Yes Man independent route.
• Ending Choice: Ultimately, your interactions with Mr. House and the other factions determine the ending of the game. Choosing to fully support Mr. House leads to a technologically advanced New Vegas, ruled by his calculated and often uncaring hand. This path is a compelling option for those seeking order and progress, even at the expense of individual freedom.

Exploring Mr. House’s Character

Mr. House is one of the most enigmatic and fascinating characters in Fallout: New Vegas. Understanding his motivations and personality is crucial to making informed decisions about your role in the Mojave.

• Visionary or Tyrant? Mr. House sees himself as a visionary, a benevolent dictator guiding humanity towards a brighter future. However, his methods are often ruthless, and he prioritizes technological advancement over individual liberties.
• Master Strategist: House is a brilliant strategist, having foreseen the Great War and taken measures to protect New Vegas from the worst of the nuclear fallout. His intellect and long-term planning are unmatched.
• Ruthless Efficiency: He is a pragmatist, willing to sacrifice individuals for the greater good. His decisions are often cold and calculated, lacking in sentimentality or empathy.

Alternatives to Giving House the Chip

Of course, giving the chip to Mr. House isn’t your only option. You can refuse to give it to him outright or even choose to destroy it. These choices lead to drastically different outcomes, including:

• Refusing to Hand Over the Chip: Immediately turns the Securitrons in the Lucky 38 hostile, sealing off the “House Always Wins” questline.
• Working with Yes Man: Following Yes Man’s questline allows you to establish an independent New Vegas, free from the control of any single faction.
• Siding with the NCR: Joining the NCR aims to bring order and stability to the Mojave through democratic governance, but it also faces challenges from corruption and bureaucracy.
• Aligning with Caesar’s Legion: Embracing the Legion offers a brutal and authoritarian alternative, focused on conquest and imposing order through fear.

Making Your Choice

Ultimately, the decision of whether to give Mr. House the Platinum Chip is a matter of personal preference. There is no objectively “right” or “wrong” choice. It depends on your individual values, your vision for the future of the Mojave, and your willingness to compromise. Consider the potential consequences, weigh the pros and cons of each faction, and choose the path that aligns most closely with your ideals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions related to giving Mr. House the Platinum Chip:

What happens if I don’t give Mr House the chip?

If you refuse to give Mr. House the Platinum Chip, the Securitrons in the Lucky 38 will immediately turn hostile. The entire “The House Always Wins” quest sequence becomes inaccessible, effectively barring you from siding with him.

What to do after giving Mr House the chip?

After giving Mr. House the chip and letting him upgrade the Securitrons, you have several options. You can continue working with him, or you can betray him by killing or disabling him in his chamber. Alternatively, you can pursue the quests of other factions, such as the NCR, the Legion, or Yes Man.

What does Mr House want with the chip?

Mr. House wants the Platinum Chip to upgrade the Securitrons stationed throughout the Strip. He believes that a strong Securitron army is essential for maintaining order, controlling the casinos, and securing his vision for an independent New Vegas.

Should I help Mr House or Yes Man?

The choice between Mr. House and Yes Man depends on your preferred vision for the Mojave. Mr. House offers a technologically advanced, tightly controlled society, while Yes Man allows for a more independent and potentially chaotic New Vegas. Both paths have their advantages and disadvantages.

Does Mr House give the chip back?

Yes, Mr. House does give the chip back to you after using it to upgrade the Securitrons. This is important because it means you retain the ability to betray him later and choose a different faction to support.

Can you side with Mr House without destroying the Brotherhood?

No, you cannot side with Mr. House and keep the Brotherhood of Steel intact. Mr. House views the Brotherhood as a threat to his control and will task you with destroying them. You can only convince them to join NCR. Otherwise, you have to destroy them.

Can you get platinum chip without killing Benny?

While killing Benny is the most direct way to get the Platinum Chip, it is also possible to obtain it by working with or killing Caesar. Either way, Benny will probably die in the process.

Why won’t Mr House talk to me?

Mr. House may refuse to talk to you if you have already progressed too far along another faction’s questline, particularly if you have sided with Caesar’s Legion and visited Fortification Hill. You might have to complete Caesar’s quest line to proceed.

What happens if you leave Mr House alive?

If you choose to disable Mr. House but not kill him outright, he will remain locked in his life support chamber, unable to interact with the outside world. Eventually, the life support will fail, and he will die.

Can you side with NCR after giving House the chip?

Yes, you can side with the NCR after giving House the chip. You can betray Mr. House after completing tasks for him and then align yourself with the NCR. However, you cannot simultaneously side with both Yes Man and the NCR.

What happens if you refuse to give Mr House the platinum chip?

Refusing to give Mr. House the Platinum Chip makes the Securitrons in the Lucky 38 hostile and seals off “The House Always Wins” quest sequence, effectively preventing you from aligning with him.

Can you disable Mr House without killing him?

Yes, you can disable Mr. House without killing him outright. You can access his chamber and choose to sever his connection to his systems. This will eventually lead to his death but gives you the option to avoid directly causing it.

Should I keep Mr House alive?

Keeping Mr. House alive but disabled is a matter of personal morality. He will remain trapped and eventually die. To pursue any other victory, be it NCR or Legion or Yes Man, House has to die, either directly by you or by severing his system’s power.

Should I give the Platinum Chip back to Mr House?

Yes, it is generally advisable to give the Platinum Chip back to Mr. House. This allows you to progress the questline, gain experience and rewards, and still retain the option to betray him later.

Why did Benny want the Platinum Chip?

Benny wanted the Platinum Chip to achieve the same goals as Mr. House: to upgrade the Securitrons, reactivate the robot bunker, and establish control over the Strip. He aimed to supplant Mr. House and become the ruler of New Vegas.

The choices you make regarding the Platinum Chip and Mr. House are pivotal to shaping the destiny of the Mojave. Explore your options, consider the consequences, and forge your own path in the wasteland. The path is yours to forge, and your actions will echo throughout the Mojave for generations to come.

If you’re interested in learning more about the intersection of games, learning, and society, consider visiting the Games Learning Society website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ or GamesLearningSociety.org.