How does Shady Sands look so different between fallout 1 and 2 lore wise?

[callum Wise]

I know that the city has expanded and its just game design. But, my confusion is with the structures seen in fallout 2's version. They look they were there before the war and not recently built. Example, they have lampposts, fire hydrants, Billboards and roads. Infrastructure you would see in a old world city. Did they retcon the lore?

 

[Atomkilla]

No, they just built the city inspired by old world design. They also re-purposed some old stuff.

From a design perspective, this is reusing of assets which is easy and cheap to do, but in-game it also makes sense.

 

[Pwener]

Something people don't realize is that the NCR is very advanced in the lore. Infrastructure, weaponry, technology, ect. with some things rivaling or on a par with pre-war America by the time of New Vegas. This is one of the reasons I think that Obsidian had to move the West Coast narrative to Nevada - California is too civilized (and modern) in many areas with the exception of the BoS war. Not like in Fallout 2 where it's basically the "Wild West" whereas Fallout 1 was the true post-nuclear Wasteland.

 

[Lone Cat]

Something people don't realize is that the NCR is very advanced in the lore. Infrastructure, weaponry, technology, ect. with some things rivaling or on a par with pre-war America by the time of New Vegas. This is one of the reasons I think that Obsidian had to move the West Coast narrative to Nevada - California is too civilized (and modern) in many areas with the exception of the BoS war. Not like in Fallout 2 where it's basically the "Wild West" whereas Fallout 1 was a the true post-nuclear Wasteland.

NCR with ability to run a network of railroad (and uses 'diesel' F Unit locomotive (not sure if each engines had been converted to atomic ones)
) ,ability to restore and maintain automotive vehicles (and AFAIK NCR Army did use utility trucks but not shown how they used it in game), ability to operate electricity networks entirely (Thus their eyes on their prizes in Mojave--Hoover Dam and Poseidon Energy Helios One), and the use of bullions and bills in their Dollars (as in Fallout 2, Bullions replaced bottle caps completely)

Is this the reasons why Beth created their Eastcoast story arc and did so hard to conclude the Westcoast ones?