I wasn't sure which section to put this in, sorry if it is the wrong one

Anyway, I recently started playing New Vegas for the first time (played fallout 3 for all these years) and I noticed that New Vegas isn't that big, and smaller than I expected it.

The Strip in real life is huge with dozens of hotels and casinos around. I understand that the Fallout Universe isn't our universe but why is the strip so limited in size?

Then I began to think about Mr. House and his defense system. Is the reason The Strip is small is because of the defense system? Could the system only protect so much of Vegas, especially because the lack of the platinum chip?

Finally there is the development issue. Is The Strip small because the engine had limitations or a larger Vegas would be too big for the game?

Just to reiterate, when I use the word small I mean why wouldn't The Strip be bigger, considering the image of Vegas and The Strip incorporates numerous hotels and Casinos, not just a narrow strip of land.