its not gonna be all baren, theres shacks and building littered about the land scape.

barren means: void of life or signs of life.

No.

Don't make the mistake of comparing the Fallout world to ours. It is imaginary.

Someone posted a major spoiler map the other day, and before the mods removed it I accidently took a peek (what do I mean accidently, I couldn't resist? I mean, c'mon! I am just a fish and that was one big fat juicy worm. Wish I hadn't bitten though, because I've got a hook in my cheek now and it's bugging the hell out of me. Today is my last day on here because I don't want any more spoilers like that).

Anyway what was I saying? Oh yes, the map. No spoilers from me, but the map is jam-packed. Literally. The WHOLE wasteland is closely packed together places, like the DC Ruins were. So it won't be barren, very very very much far from it.

I am talking about the map in general.

Obviously the New Vegas Strip is going to be packed with locations. But I mean the Wasteland areas. We obviously can't stay in the New Vegas Strip forever, we need to venture into the Wasteland as well. I am not saying to have a random mall and random house in the middle of no where, but at least fill in some of the "bald spots" per say. Since the Desert is already a wasteland and has nothing in it for miles and miles, what are devs doing to fill them up? Yea maybe throw some power lines around the road, a bunch of shrubs, sand dunes, etc. but placing a building out in the middle of no where will make no sense.

It's just my way of saying 'Add some fillings to the Mojave Wastes, but don't make it like a Megaton at every corner.' I actually like to explore the smaller locations. The Dunwich Building and Vault 106 from FO3 were two of my favorites.

that's what I'm saying, it isn't a "desert with nothing for miles and miles and miles". New Vegas didn't get hit by bombs, so people have been gravitating there for 200 years. You have a large NCR army in various camps. A large Legion army in various camps. Ranches, Towns, vaults etc etc. It is a very busy place, by the look of it. You THINK you are heading out in a vast empty desert, but around the next bend is...

After watching a bit of a stream (must not spoil too much!) I definitely don't think it's barren. There appears to be a fair bit going on, smaller camps to run across, caves to find etc. They seem to have done a good job of filling it up with content but without taking away the grand feel. But will obviously have to play the game to see how it "feels".
Also, they seem to have done a great job on the environment itself. Was worried before that it might feel a bit... well, boring really. But like someone said, the topography is nice and well done.

Nope.