Fallout: New Vegas Magazine Preview Details

Ausir over at The Vault has provided us with even further details about Obsidian's Fallout: New Vegas, courtesy of the new preview featured in the latest issue of OXM (US).
'¢ Character creation is virtually identical to Fallout 3, with cosmetic changes like the Gene Projector being replaced by ReflectionTM, "You're SPECIAL!" by Vit-o-Matic machine and GOAT by a psychological test
'¢ The local super mutants are pretty tough and will keep you from wandering aimlessly in the early portions of the game - they tend to be tougher even than deathclaws
'¢ Sunny Smiles' dog is named Cheyenne. They'll assist you with the Powder Gangers in the Ghost Town Firefight quest if you help her kill some geckos.
'¢ The Varmint Rifle is a low-power .22 that does significant damage to limbs and has a high critical bonus
'¢ If your Barter skill is high enough, Chet the shopkeeper give you the 9-Iron golf club and some weapon mods
'¢ Every skill will have use in conversations at various points
'¢ Each firearm has a maximum of three modification slots. Once you affix a mod to a gun, it's permanent. Hunting Rifle modification examples given are scope, custom action and extended clip.
'¢ Temporary followers, like the Goodsprings folks that can help you defeat the Powder Gangers, will also be controlled through the companion wheel
'¢ Concept art of Hoover Dam and screenshots of the Black Mountain radio tower and the character standing inside the mouth of Dinky the Dinosaur shown
'¢ With high local reputation at Goodsprings, you'll get a free bed to sleep in and a discount at the store
'¢ Neil, a super mutant who hates Tabitha, can help you storm the mountain
'¢ Tabitha is actually a male super mutant gone completely insane
'¢ "Skill magazines" you find in New Vegas will only temporarily boost your skills
'¢ There's a rollercoaster in Primm