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New Preview of Neverwinter Nights

H3resy wrote to us with a new preview of Neverwinter Nights. The game continues to look great - and combined with its release date being right around Warcraft III, I suspect sleep will not be an option.

230 comments

  1. alternate platforms by Niksie3 · · Score: 0

    we need more games for alternate platforms like macosx, linux, *bsd, etc.

    Too bad loki went under.

    --
    Sig you!
    1. Re:alternate platforms by Loligo · · Score: 5, Informative

      we need more games for alternate platforms like macosx, linux, *bsd, etc.

      According to the NWN faq, the box will contain media for Windows, Linux, and MacOS.

      -l

    2. Re:alternate platforms by talon77 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      No, we don't.

    3. Re:alternate platforms by Jacer · · Score: 2, Interesting

      yes indeed, but Neverwinter is going to run on linux out of the box! that's so awesome, no pesky binaries, no unsupported installs, no downloading other installers, right out of the box i'm not sure if there are two different versions, or one kick ass version, but either way, it's a huge step in the right direction....we don't need another loki to rise our hopes and then go bankrupt, we need a black isle (partially because they make the best games ever, period!) with the forsight to include linux versions, NOT linux ports.....

      --
      --fetch daddy's blue fright wig, i must be handsome when i release my rage
    4. Re:alternate platforms by JanneM · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Um, first it's Bioware that makes it, not Black Isle (they have nothing to do with this game). Second, be aware that the editor will not run under Linux or Mac. Hopefully, Wine will be able to run it at some point, but as the 'creature browser' available for downoad does not, it seems it won't yet.

      /Janne

      --
      Trust the Computer. The Computer is your friend.
    5. Re:alternate platforms by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I agree that it's great the BIOWARE is creating Neverwinter Nights. Here's some info for you:

      Registrant:
      Interplay Productions (BLACKISLE-DOM)
      16815 Von Karman Avenue
      Irvine, CA 92606-4920
      US

      Domain Name: BLACKISLE.COM

      Registrant:
      BioWare Corp.
      #302, 10508 - 82 Avenue
      Edmonton, AB T6E 6H2
      CA

      Domain Name: BIOWARE.COM

      One of these things is not like the other.

    6. Re:alternate platforms by Bluetick · · Score: 1

      It's also coming out for BeOS I think, I think what he meant was that we need more games like NWN which support multiple platforms.

      Really nice if it'll contain support for all the different OSes, as I have several PCs and Macs in my house running different OSes. I think Blizzard is the only other company I can think of that makes games with both PC/Mac versions in one box. They of course release the PC version, and when the Mac version comes out they release a PC/Mac version.

    7. Re:alternate platforms by Loligo · · Score: 3, Informative

      >It's also coming out for BeOS I think

      No, the link I posted clearly says the BeOS version will not be finished.

      -l

    8. Re:alternate platforms by tempest303 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      the box will contain media for Windows, Linux, and MacOS

      And it's for this reason exactly that I'll be picking up THIS game before a lot of others. Linux support IN THE BOX. Major kudos to bioware for this!

      This makes me wonder... did they use SDL by any chance? (Not being a programmer, I realize that might be a horribly silly question, but I thought it was worth asking)

    9. Re:alternate platforms by carlos_benj · · Score: 1

      Um, first it's Bioware that makes it, not Black Isle (they have nothing to do with this game).

      Seeing as the poster acknowledged a Linux version in the box I'm pretty certain the reference to Black Isle was that it would be nice if some other companies (like Black Isle) would take a cue from Bioware.

      I'm not a gamer but I can read in context....

      --

      --

      As a matter of fact, I am a lawyer. But I play an actor on TV.

    10. Re:alternate platforms by LMCBoy · · Score: 5, Informative

      It is great that it's coming out for Mac and Linux at the same time as Windows. However, be aware that the toolset (which is what really sets NWN apart from, well, everything) is Windows-only.

      --
      Liberal (adj.): Free from bigotry; open to progress; tolerant of others.
    11. Re:alternate platforms by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Score2?

      WTF?

      What the hell does that got to do with whether or not it uses SDL?

    12. Re:alternate platforms by tempest303 · · Score: 2

      That's a shame... oh, well. It's certainly a step in the right direction. Perhaps the toolset will come out for Linux at some point as well.

    13. Re:alternate platforms by Quikah · · Score: 2

      My understanding of the situation is that they made the toolkit using Borland C++ Builder. So they need builder for Linux. I thought I remember Borland anouncing this but no idea what came of it.

      --
      Q.
    14. Re:alternate platforms by Breakfast+Pants · · Score: 1

      You obviously aren't a gamer and therefore in this case CANNOT read in context. Go back and read the parent again with the knowledge that in baldur's gate both Black Isle and Bioware had their logos on the opening splash screens.

      --

      --

      WHO ATE MY BREAKFAST PANTS?
    15. Re:alternate platforms by MisterBlister · · Score: 1
      This makes me wonder... did they use SDL by any chance? (Not being a programmer, I realize that might be a horribly silly question, but I thought it was worth asking)

      For the graphics they are using OpenGL, which is already multiplatform. They may be using SDL for the non-graphics aspects (Input, Sound, Etc), but I've not seen any verification of that fact.. They may just be using custom code for each platform (As the quake games do).

    16. Re:alternate platforms by bigbadwlf · · Score: 1

      That's been their plan all along. Nice to see they haven't abandoned it.
      It'll also be nice to have a game I don't have to boot windows for.

    17. Re:alternate platforms by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      C++ Builder for Linux is currently in beta. I suspect it'll only be a few months after the release when the Linux version of the NWN toolset gets released.

    18. Re:alternate platforms by carlos_benj · · Score: 1

      ...we don't need another loki to rise our hopes and then go bankrupt, we need a black isle (partially because they make the best games ever, period!) with the forsight to include linux versions, NOT linux ports.....

      OK. There's the text. Because the poster mentions Loki does that mean they think Loki brought the came in question to Linux? Probably not, since Loki is down the tubes. As I read it, the poster expresses the wish that a company like Black Isle would step into the gap and start dishing out Linux games (not waiting for a third-party to contract to port their game). The reason the poster mentions Black Isle is in the text - because they think Black Isle makes the best games. While it's possible the writer is confused as to who makes what game it doesn't come through in the text. Perhaps it is the knowledge that the two logos appear together that allows you to read into the text something that isn't there.

      You obviously aren't a gamer and therefore in this case CANNOT read in context.

      I am not an MD (I don't even play one on TV!) but I can read articles in medical journals in context. I am not a stock analyst but I can still glean information from the financial pages.

      I stand by my earlier post.

      --

      --

      As a matter of fact, I am a lawyer. But I play an actor on TV.

  2. Flash! by clambert · · Score: 0, Troll

    Gotta love those full page flash ads that don't leave the screen. Ever.

    --
    mailto:<?=implode("@", array("chris", implode(".", array("php", "net"))))?>
    1. Re:Flash! by Chiasmus_ · · Score: 4, Funny

      You know what annoys me, is that when IE pops up the window saying "Do you want to install and run Flash 6.0?", there's no checkbox saying "Never ask me this again." Or, better yet, saying "NO, FOR FUCK'S SAKE, I HATE FLASH, AND IF I COULD TRAVEL BACK IN TIME AND SLIP AN ABORTIFACIENT INTO EACH OF MACROMEDIA'S ENGINEERS' MOTHERS' DRINKS, I WOULD."

      (And I'd like that button for Comet Cursor even more...)

      --
      "Beware he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he deems himself your master."
    2. Re:Flash! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      rofl

      you hate flash and have a big honkin swf on your user info website

    3. Re:Flash! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow. You used the possessive apostrophe correctly all three times in your last sentence. Who knew that posting on /. and proper grammar weren't mutually exclusive?

    4. Re:Flash! by grytpype · · Score: 1, Offtopic

      Extra points for knowing the word "ABORTIFACIENT." More points yet for spelling it correctly.

      --

      - Have a picture

    5. Re:Flash! by imyourstruly · · Score: 1

      What?? You don't have that checkbox?? I thought everyone had that. Bummer.

    6. Re:Flash! by Scorchmon · · Score: 2, Informative

      Get Proxomitron. It rewrites the HTML of incoming web pages before it reaches your browser to delete tags dealing with pop-up windows, banner ads, and anything else annoying. Set it up and write a simple custom filter to eliminate any embed tags with a file that has an extension identifying it as flash animation. I just went ahead and eliminated all embed tags since they're only used for evil.

    7. Re:Flash! by Chiasmus_ · · Score: 1

      Thanks!! I'm downloading it now.

      I'd mod this up if the very fact that it was a response to my post didn't make that impossible.

      --
      "Beware he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he deems himself your master."
  3. think the release date is final this time? by JeanBaptiste · · Score: 1

    how long have we been waiting? ...at least Dungeon Siege will tide me over until then... what diablo 2 should have been...


    --Charlton Heston is my president

    1. Re:think the release date is final this time? by Maserati · · Score: 1
      But without Diablo 2, Dungeon Siege would have had to fill that niche. That said, Dungeon Siege is great fun and has a terrific interface. It could be said that it is derivative of Diablo 2, but I look at it as more of an evolutionary step forward in the genre.


      And Neverwinter Nights will likely be another great step forward.

      --
      Veteran, Bermuda Triangle Expeditionary Force, 1992-1951
  4. beta test by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    You can sign up for the beta test at betatests.net as well.

    1. Re:beta test by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, you can't. It's down. Er, they've already chosen beta testers. I mean, they're not doing a beta test phase.

      That is, stay the hell away from that website, I want to beta test, dammit!

    2. Re:beta test by Spoons · · Score: 5, Funny
      You can sign up for the beta test at betatests.net as well.

      If I had mod points, I would mod you down. Too Informative: -1

      Now there is no way I a going to make the beta. Thanks a lot. :(
    3. Re:beta test by 56ker · · Score: 2

      Who cares? It's only a beta - it'll probably crash just as you're getting addicted!

    4. Re:beta test by Joe+Tie. · · Score: 1

      As long as you're using windows. As much as I understand the reason is likley the windows only building tools, it's still a bit galling on a game being released for multiple operating systems to only have one be beta tested by the public.

      --
      Everything will be taken away from you.
    5. Re:beta test by Gaccm · · Score: 2

      hmmm.... I wonder how much commitment they have to the linux branch. The beta test, under "what OS do you use" only lists windows. I sure hope the linux version gets thorough testing, otherwise linux gaming will take another bad hit.

      --

      Only dead fish swim with the stream...
    6. Re:beta test by geekoid · · Score: 2

      there where already 36000 aplicants as of last night.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    7. Re:beta test by EvilAlien · · Score: 3, Informative
      Check the FAQ, you'll spooge.

      I suppose rather than tease you with a mere link, I could include this:

      8.04 Will there be a Mac/Linux/BeOs version?

      The BeOS version of Neverwinter Nights will not be completed. However, we are planning a simultaneous PC/Macintosh/Linux release for Neverwinter Nights, with all three versions to be included in a single box. On the PC, Neverwinter Nights will run under Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000 Service Pack 2, and Windows XP.

      Bioware is Canadian =) All-hail the Open Source friendly Canadian developers!
      --
      perl -e 'print $i=pack(c5, (41*2), sqrt(7056), (unpack(c,H)-2), oct(115), 10)'
    8. Re:beta test by Tyreth · · Score: 2, Informative

      I e-mailed them about why Linux wasn't listed as an operating system on the beta test site. They are not doing a Linux beta test.

      Still, I don't think this will affect the Linux client. They have committed to the Linux and Mac one ages ago, and I think it's probably part of their intention to make this game a sort of cornerstone of computer roleplaying games. The beginning of a new era, blah blah. Just my guess.

      On a similar note, I am so glad they are releasing a Linux client for this game that looks like it is going to be really great! Unfortunately, no swimming, climbing or riding is in it...but there is the possibility of these being released in a patch, or an update or something. I think their intention is to continue adding and improving the game beyond the release date.

    9. Re:beta test by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      um.... that faq answer didn't answer my question. Yes, i know that linux version is included in the box, but, will it recieve as much testing as the windows version? I'd presume they would design it so that all os dependant stuff is clumped into 1 part, easy for testing, but i don't know.

    10. Re:beta test by rtrifts · · Score: 1

      *ahem* Guys. Keep up to date.

      There IS no "Linux client" for NWN.

      The linux portion of NWN is designed to run the server.

      If you want to play, you want to DM or you want to design using the toolkit - you'll be doing it under Win.

      For the MAc, there will be a player client at least, (presumably DM as well) but, again. the design toolset is a Win only beast.

      --
      .Robert
    11. Re:beta test by Tyreth · · Score: 1
      I'm not sure where you got your information from. Check out the official faq:
      "8.04 Will there be a Mac/Linux/BeOs version?

      The BeOS version of Neverwinter Nights will not be completed. However, we are planning a simultaneous PC/Macintosh/Linux release for Neverwinter Nights, with all three versions to be included in a single box. On the PC, Neverwinter Nights will run under Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000 Service Pack 2, and Windows XP."

      They also say that there is a server for each supported platform. That would make no sense if by supported platform they mean platforms that run the server. That would be saying "each platform that has a server will have a server".

      So we can safely conclude from the Bioware FAQ, and the fact that they haven't tried to correct everyone asking about Linux and Mac clients, and the interviews that say they are going to have one, that there will indeed be a Linux client. You are correct about making maps. The editor for the game is windows only for the moment. The tools that they used to create it were not initially available in Linux, but I have heard they are now, so there is a potential for the toolkit to be later ported to Linux.

    12. Re:beta test by crizh · · Score: 0

      I've been following the Beta since we found the site a week before its official announcement.

      To the best of my knowledge you are talking rubbish.

      There WILL be a Linux client, in fact we were polled recently by the developers to find out what distros they needed to test on.

      On the subject of the beta there will be no Linux beta initially but I believe there may be one in the later stages of testing. I forget exactly what Jay said but I'm sure it was to that effect.

      --
      Trust The Computer, The Computer is your friend.
    13. Re:beta test by EvilAlien · · Score: 1
      Oh, my apologies.

      What I've read about the Beta suggest it will be Windows-only testing. I'll try to find out.

      --
      perl -e 'print $i=pack(c5, (41*2), sqrt(7056), (unpack(c,H)-2), oct(115), 10)'
  5. Toolkit by clambert · · Score: 1

    Wow, it actually looks like this game will have a user-friendly editor. I'd love to see some screenshots of the toolkit interfaces...have any been released?

    --
    mailto:<?=implode("@", array("chris", implode(".", array("php", "net"))))?>
    1. Re:Toolkit by EFGearman · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Cool. What I want to see is well done versions of some of the early D&D dungeons, like 'Tomb of Horrors' or the entire Bloodstone series.

      EFGearman

      --
      Atomic batteries to power! Turbines to speed!
    2. Re:Toolkit by geekoid · · Score: 2

      I plan on doing the Giant Series. yeah yeah I know there using forgotten realm(blech) but I dare you to stop me from doing Greyhawk modules!

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    3. Re:Toolkit by kellin · · Score: 1

      Ugh. A tomb of horrors style NWN realm would be *sickening*. But I bet it would be fun ;)

      --
      GWB to President of Brazil - "You have blacks, too?"
    4. Re:Toolkit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is that legal? Can't TSR claim a copyright infraction(sp?) by you digitally creating a dungeon they published and sold?

    5. Re:Toolkit by geekoid · · Score: 2

      Yes

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    6. Re:Toolkit by kellin · · Score: 1

      Actually, its no longer TSR. Its Wizards of the Coast ;)

      --
      GWB to President of Brazil - "You have blacks, too?"
    7. Re:Toolkit by EFGearman · · Score: 2

      Almost certainly. But hopefully, they will realize that since these modules have been out of print for so long that it won't hurt business. Plus, I am sure that TSR/WotC/Hasbro gets a cut of each copy sold, so discouraging this kind of thing would be counter-productive.

      EFGearman

      --
      Atomic batteries to power! Turbines to speed!
    8. Re:Toolkit by Arakonfap · · Score: 1

      Actually, isn't is Hasbro now?

    9. Re:Toolkit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      WoTC is indeed owned by Hasbro.

    10. Re:Toolkit by jgerman · · Score: 4, Informative

      Yeah, the whole game IS the editor. The adventure that get's shipped will have been created with the very same tools that you get, assuming they are sticking to what they said over a year ago. That's what attracted me to it in the first place. There was a SSI D&D creator, I forget the exact title, but it allowed you to create gold-box games. There was actually quite a large user scene for it. Hopefully it will be the same for NN, I'd love to play and convert old adventures, as well as create new ones.

      --
      I'm the big fish in the big pond bitch.
    11. Re:Toolkit by jgerman · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Well done Tomb of Horrors? Impossible ;) I can't wait to see it either, but it will be unplayable just like the real thing, at least if it's true to the module.

      --
      I'm the big fish in the big pond bitch.
    12. Re:Toolkit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It was called Unlimited Adventures, and it did create gold box games... the problem was, it didn't do it particularly well :/

    13. Re:Toolkit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The only screens of the toolset I've seen so far, but they do give you a general feel for it. http://nwvault.ign.com/thegame/screens/

    14. Re:Toolkit by slaker · · Score: 2

      I DMed a party through Tomb of Horrors. Only one of eight people in the group had a character survive the Demilich, but it was done.

      Me, I like the Slavers series or maybe S2: White Plume Mountain (the one with Blackrazor and Whelm). The whole S-series was awesome beyond belief as a player and as a DM.

      --
      -- I wanna decide who lives and who dies - Crow T. Robot, MST3K
    15. Re:Toolkit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Read this and tell me how recreating a dungeon isn't copyright violation.

    16. Re:Toolkit by slurpeeofdeath · · Score: 1

      There is an ad for NWN in the new PC Gamer which has a 2 page foldout screenshot of the toolkit.

  6. Oh My My My by DCram · · Score: 3, Funny

    I have been a Mud fiend for years now and have always wanted to have a "GUI" one. When EQ came out I was disapointed. I have always thought games will be games and the Mud will be the end all to my role playing.

    I hope that all changes with this game. I have such high hopes and I know a ton of fellow Mud people who think the same. Everything looks great and the scripting and DM capabilities...WOW.

    I will never sleep again.

    --
    If I were only smart enough to accomplish the things I dream about.. Or maybe too dumb to care.
    1. Re:Oh My My My by ackthpt · · Score: 1
      As thrilled as some are with the graphics, I can't reconcile in my mind that what my imagination of a text piece of equipment would look like in someone else's graphic rendering. Rather like reading a series of books which then makes it to TV/Film and seeing who they cast doesn't fit how you imagined it. Not really a big deal, though I think for pure flexibility it's still hard to beat a good mud client and a decent mud.

      Considering some of the groups I've been in, the screen would get a tad crowded, seems like single or limited player ability is the strong suit.

      There was a GUI D&D game someone came up with about 10 years ago, pretty good looking, and would certainly benifit from today's crop of graphic cards, with an absolutely staggering variety of equipment and places to hang it on yourself. I only played it a couple times. With a large number of variables the learning curve increases, and IMHO the game had a pretty steep one.

      Equipment in use:
      <Worn on body>Six feet of dirt and a small monument.

      --

      A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  7. Neverwinter Nights by EricBoyd · · Score: 0, Funny

    aka Never-Release Nights

    Websurfing done right! StumbleUpon

    --
    augment your senses: http://sensebridge.net/
  8. Just in: NWN beta test slashdotted by StupidKatz · · Score: 1

    Arg! I just registered there yesterday. Dammit, there goes my chance of being a beta tester.

    Thanks a lot! :P

    1. Re:Just in: NWN beta test slashdotted by Cyph · · Score: 2

      Don't worry, you don't have a chance in becoming a beta tester anyway. According to a post by one of the NWN developers on their forums the other day, they have 30 something thousands requests already. And that was just on the day the beta test launched, which was Monday, the 22nd.

    2. Re:Just in: NWN beta test slashdotted by Drakin · · Score: 1

      Actually, the beta tests have't been launched. Just the resistratio for the beta tests. Who gets to beta test won't be known until at least monday.

    3. Re:Just in: NWN beta test slashdotted by Flarg! · · Score: 2, Funny

      Don't worry. Only about .0001% of the people who are heading over there to register will get in. It took me MANY tries to get registered, and that was before the /. effect.

      --

      I may be wrong, but I'm never uncertain.

    4. Re:Just in: NWN beta test slashdotted by Cyph · · Score: 2

      Yeah, that's true... I just worded my comment incorrectly, sorry about that.

  9. Re:slashad, whee by JanneM · · Score: 1

    You do know it's coming out for Mac and Linux as well (in the same box, no less), don't you?

    /Janne

    --
    Trust the Computer. The Computer is your friend.
  10. Good news! by awptic · · Score: 4, Informative

    I didn't see mention of this in the article; just wanted to mention that a Linux version of this game will be released at the same time the Windows version does! It's nice to see gaming companies are taking Linux seriously as a gaming platform.

    1. Re:Good news! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, but will they improve 3d performance for my old RIVA TNT under Linux to match my Windows performance? Unfortunately, this is 95% of the reason that I can't make the switch.

    2. Re:Good news! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      According to the FAQ, the game will not only be released at the same time, but it will be on the same CD.

    3. Re:Good news! by stefanlasiewski · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Not only that, but the Windows, Linux & Macintosh versions all come in the SAME BOX, so we
      dual-boosters can try it out on both systems.

      The downside here is that Bioware may have trouble determining the number of users who use Linux vs Windows vs Macintosh. So remember: if you use Linux, remember find the little postcard, check the box next to 'Linux' and send it off.

      Otherwise, they'll never know...

      --
      "Can of worms? The can is open... the worms are everywhere."
    4. Re:Good news! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      newsflash:

      A Riva TNT is an old chip. It will play new 3d games like shit on any OS.

      Do your self a favor and pick up an new video card.
      Pricewatch has geforce2MXs for 30 bucks.

    5. Re:Good news! by vondo · · Score: 2

      Do you have any evidence that this is still their plan?

      The last time I went looking on their site for info, they talked about Windows only as a requirement. I'm wondering if they've backed off of this plan.

      I haven't seen any mention from them about Linux in at least 6 months.

      Under system requirements they say "Other [than Windows] OS requirements coming later."

      If they release for Windows and Linux, I'll buy it in a heartbeat. Otherwise, I'll wait.

    6. Re:Good news! by LMCBoy · · Score: 4, Informative

      The game will include Windows, Mac and Linux binaries all in the same box (except the toolset, which is windows-only). This is still the plan (I'm a regular at forums.bioware.com; for evidence search on "linux" there).

      They just don't have system specs published for mac and linux yet.

      --
      Liberal (adj.): Free from bigotry; open to progress; tolerant of others.
    7. Re:Good news! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, that was extremely informative. I thought I saw "old" before "RIVA TNT", in the original post.

      And I believe the point was "given the CURRENT SPECS".

      And that "old" RNT plays Dungeon Siege nicely.

      Fuckwad.

    8. Re:Good news! by Nilatir · · Score: 1

      The toolset is windows only because it's based off of C++ builder 6. A toolset for linux will come later when the bugs are worked out of C++ builder for linux.

      --

      "We were half way to Rivendell when the drugs began to take hold."
      -- Hunter S. Tolkien
    9. Re:Good news! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And that "old" RNT plays Dungeon Siege nicely.

      Yeah, I'm sure 640*480 with low textures and 3 frames a sec is great.

      Take a look at how shitty even a tnt2 compares to any card from the last couple of years.

      Your old "RNT" is outdated.
      Upgrade your hardware.

    10. Re:Good news! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Jesus, but you're stupid.

      I *own* a TNT. I know how it runs. I use it every day. I do not need to look at a website to tell me how it runs.

      When I say something "runs nicely", I mean it runs nicely. I do not mean 640x480 at 3 frames/sec. I mean 840x640, 32 bit depth, medium textures, no frame burps.

      I will probably be able to run NWN on it "nicely" using Windows. I want to be able to with Linux.

      I don't even want a new video card. Sorry if this confuses you.

    11. Re:Good news! by Gaccm · · Score: 2

      Or buy your copy from tuxgames.com. you will 1) support linux gaming and 2) it will show the makers that linux users buy games.

      --

      Only dead fish swim with the stream...
    12. Re:Good news! by blazer1024 · · Score: 1

      Just nitpicking, but a lot of games don't have those postcards anymore in favor of an electronic registration system. Same deal though, but it saves a postcard.

    13. Re:Good news! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When I say something "runs nicely", I mean it runs nicely. I do not mean 640x480 at 3 frames/sec. I mean 840x640, 32 bit depth, medium textures, no frame burps.

      Funny, most games usually go with increments in resolution that are proportionate to each other.
      I think you mean 800*600.
      BTW, I too own a TNT. As well as a 2 TNT2s, 2 Geforce2s, a voodoo3, voodoo2, banshee, voodoo1, assortment of tridents and virges. TNT isn't the bottom of the barrel, I could still use it for 2D. But I happen to like 3d with high settings.


      I will probably be able to run NWN on it "nicely" using Windows. I want to be able to with Linux.


      A question for you then:
      Have you even tried running any game with an openGL renderer on in linux with your card?
      If the visual quality a game is acceptable to you on windows with your TNT, then it will be on linux as well as long as there is a native port.
      If you get a chance, pull down the latest NVidia drivers for linux. They'll do OpenGL through glx as fast or faster as on windows.
      3D performance should not be the main reason holding you back from using linux.

      I use linux exclusively on 3 of my 5 machines at home(can't convince the wife or mother-in-law to switch).
      I also own ten of loki's ports. All the ones with 3D accel work great on linux.

    14. Re:Good news! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      All those video cards sound nice :) I can't afford anything like that, being as poor as I am. Yes, I meant 800 X 600. I run Clive Barker's Undying nicely, Unreal Tournament beautifully. Now, I do have 384 MB ram, which has made a big difference for me. Of course, I would love to own a newer 3d card, but no $$.

      I've got the latest Mandrake running, with the latest NVIDIA drivers (have been following development since it started). I play UT under Linux, but I notice an *enormous* graphics hit. Something that is 40 fps in win is down to 15 in linux, with less quality.

      Under Win, I can run 15 bots and still ahve no graphics slowdown. In linux, with 5 bots I'm chugging hard, and have lots of pauses while the graphics "catch up".

      I have also downloaded all the demos (can't afford the games) from loki. I run SoF nicely under Linux, with virtually no slowdown. I haven't tried the game under Win - but past experience tells me that Win performance would probably be better.

      Now, it is *entirely* possible that it is just some configuration option in xf86 that I don't know about or similar - I don't have time to scour every help file, website, and man page to tweak. In fact, I have no other options other than Load "glx" using driver "nv". I also use SRPMS to recompile specifically for my kernel/config, I always assume that would be better.

      However, I can definitely assure you that 3d performance is exactly what is holding me back. I don't mind cumbersome install procedures, editing text files by hand, and other typical "problems" that face linux.

      Oh, and the Heretic demo wouldn't work for me.

    15. Re:Good news! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hey dumb ass, you are _not_ using the official Nvidia drivers for your TNT. nv is the _non_accelerated_ X11 driver. If you want to see some 3D performance then download the linux drivers from Nvidia's website.

    16. Re:Good news! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      better that they don't know, since macos is probably about 2% and linux 1% of the user base.

    17. Re:Good news! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      er, I probably meant "nvidia" drivers. Can't remember which is supplied with xf86 and which was downloaded. I do have the right ones running, though.

    18. Re:Good news! by Tyreth · · Score: 1

      Yes, but if all the linux users fill it out, and most windows users don't, then we will appear to be 10% of the userbase. But if we don't, then we might appear to be .3% :)

  11. Makes multiplayer AD&D rpgs any sense ? by Krapangor · · Score: 4, Interesting
    There are two options:
    1. Turn based - this means that you can screw any human player of the game by just taking "enough time" for a turn.
    2. Real time - this reduces to strategic AD&D concept to Diablo style brainless monster wacking.
    So I wonder why they are so keen on providing multiplayer abilities for NeverWinterNights.
    And why does one play an rpg anyway ?
    For the story of course ! Has anyone here played Baldurs Gate, Pools of Radiance (the old, non sucking one), Ultima or Wizardry for monster wacking ?
    And don't object with "Diablo". If Diablo is an rpg then Quake is a flight simulator.
    --
    Owner of a Mensa membership card.
    1. Re:Makes multiplayer AD&D rpgs any sense ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Quake is a flight sim?!? Why did no one ever show me where the secret Mechit-LAM is??

    2. Re:Makes multiplayer AD&D rpgs any sense ? by LMCBoy · · Score: 2

      NWN gets around the problems you've outlined by using both methods at once: it's a real-time, turn-based system. That is, it's turn based in that you tell your character what to do, and then they do it. It's real-time in that there's no pause (in multiplayer), and if you don't tell your char to do anything, they'll do some default action when it's their turn.

      Incidentally, the turns are rather long (a few seconds), so it definitely won't be a clickfest.

      --
      Liberal (adj.): Free from bigotry; open to progress; tolerant of others.
    3. Re:Makes multiplayer AD&D rpgs any sense ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And why does one play an rpg anyway ?
      For the story of course ! Has anyone here played Baldurs Gate, Pools of Radiance (the old, non sucking one), Ultima or Wizardry for monster wacking ?
      And don't object with "Diablo". If Diablo is an rpg then Quake is a flight simulator.


      It's all a matter of personal preference really. I got back into reading some of my old Dragonlance books and thought it'd be fun to play a fantasy video game. I picked up Baldurs Gate II and was thoroughly bored with it in less than 30 minutes. It took too long to even get out of the tutorial much less figure out how to actually play it. It was basically just too difficult to figure out how to play without reading the 300 page manual over and over and then sitting there and concentrating on what the stupid NPCs were talking about. Thankfully that same day I came across an unopened copy of Diablo II I had bought last year and never got around to playing. I installed that and sat for the next 6 hours happily playing and developing my character. Anyway, IMHO Diablo II is a LOT more fun than Baldurs Gate II is and I have a feeling better than Neverwinter Nights will be. I'm kind of disappointed I can't return Baldur's Gate II though since it's opened. $50 down the drain for something that'll just sit on the shelf. Oh well.

    4. Re:Makes multiplayer AD&D rpgs any sense ? by kellin · · Score: 1

      Maybe you're just too dense an individual? I remember when I first got Baldurs Gate. Alright, I didn't care for it at first, but that was due to a shitty old graphics card, but I did go back to it, figure out its problems, and once I got used to the interface, the game itself was rather engulfing. The humor alone outpaces anything else Ive seen of the same type of game (of which I hadnt played in years, anyway).

      What I'm getting at, is that the interface for Baldur's Gate isnt that difficult to figure out at all. But from your comments about Diablo II, it appears you only care about clickfests, as Diablo II is not a terribly fun, nor does it have the depth that the Baldurs Gate games have...

      --
      GWB to President of Brazil - "You have blacks, too?"
    5. Re:Makes multiplayer AD&D rpgs any sense ? by Spy+Hunter · · Score: 4, Informative

      The Dungeon Master mode makes it all worthwhile. The Dungeon Master can control the plot in real-time for you, allowing actual logical storylines to progress and evolve. No more will you have to listen to the NPC say the same stupid thing five times over because that's all he has to say, the dungeon master can take control of him and tell you whatever he wants.

      --
      main(c,r){for(r=32;r;) printf(++c>31?c=!r--,"\n":c<r?" ":~c&r?" `":" #");}
    6. Re:Makes multiplayer AD&D rpgs any sense ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      BG series had good storyline and followed the AD&D rules quite well, but the combat system ruined it. Turn-based would have given that game a 2 thumbs up. And no, the "pause-order-pause" crap doesn't cut it as turn-based. In the end, the combat is pretty much Diablo 2 fare..

    7. Re:Makes multiplayer AD&D rpgs any sense ? by _Sprocket_ · · Score: 2


      And no, the "pause-order-pause" crap doesn't cut it as turn-based.


      I have to disagree. I find the pause feature a nice way to jump between real-time and turn-based systems. Having said that, you can turn the game in to an almost total turn-based system by having it automatically pause on all events (I tend to have it pause on specific events like discovery of a trap).
    8. Re:Makes multiplayer AD&D rpgs any sense ? by _Sprocket_ · · Score: 2


      It's all a matter of personal preference really.


      Completely. Its all up to the individual.


      I found Baldur's Gate II fun, challenging, rich in content, and overall engrossing. I was a little nervous about the tutorial, but once I got past that and in to the game itself, I had no problems at all with the interface. The engine rocks. And the content is great (from its odd sense of humor, plot twists, and series of subplots).


      Diablo II is kinda fun. Lots of hack-n-slash. And while I enjoyed building up a character's skills and equipment... it eventually got boring. Sure, its fun for a spur-of-the-moment hackfest (kinda like a quick pickup game of QuakeTF). But it lacks the staying power and depth of BGII.


      But like we both agree - to each their own.

    9. Re:Makes multiplayer AD&D rpgs any sense ? by Flarg! · · Score: 2, Funny

      NPC: "They say the castle on the hill is haunted!"
      Player:"That's nice, but where do I find a weapon shop?"
      NPC: "They say that the castle on the hill is haunted!"
      Player: "Umm.. Ok.. I got that. Where is the weapon shop?"
      NPC: "They say that the castle on the hill is-"
      Player: draws +5 Vorpal sword and guts NPC, then turns to the next NPC and says, "Well? Do YOU know where the weapon shop is?"
      NPC #2: "I've heard that the forests are crawling with monsters."

      --

      I may be wrong, but I'm never uncertain.

    10. Re:Makes multiplayer AD&D rpgs any sense ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In addition to what other people say here you'll be able to script your player. They haven't shown details but I imagine you could set it to a default attack option if you have x% of your hit points, a different action againg a certain creature, drink a healing potion at 25% of your hit points, and other things like that... grooovy if you ask me.

    11. Re:Makes multiplayer AD&D rpgs any sense ? by _Sprocket_ · · Score: 2


      So I wonder why they are so keen on providing multiplayer abilities for NeverWinterNights.


      For me, the multiplayer aspect is THE reason to get this game (assuming it delivers on its promises). Just some of the cool features include DM mode (and the ability to have multiple DMs), a powerfull background scripting language for everyting from NPC interaction to game events (ie: a secret passage that only opens on the full moon if you're an elf), the ability to link servers with portals, etc.


      Neverwinter Nights has the potential of being a MMORPG construction kit.


      With the various unsavory business and political practices of both EA and Verant/Sony Interactive, its nice to see a possible return to the roots of the MUD culture - servers ran by fans for fans. With graphics.


      Granted - this has yet to happen. It will depend on whether NWN delivers. And it will depend on whether campaign developers will put forth the effort to create and run these servers (a bit more complex than a Quake server - but then again, so are a lot of MUDs). Time will tell.

    12. Re:Makes multiplayer AD&D rpgs any sense ? by Nykkel · · Score: 1


      (Player guts second NPC, then turns to the next one.)

      NPC #3: If you've already got a +5 Vorpal sword, what's the point in visiting our puny little weapons shop?

      Player: Uh... I like swords. Hey, where can I learn to speak in bold type like that?

      NPC #3: *sigh* ...Adventurers.



      (I have no connection with the above URL other than as an amused reader.)

    13. Re:Makes multiplayer AD&D rpgs any sense ? by ENOENT · · Score: 1

      it's a real-time, turn-based system.


      Hmm. Sounds like a MUD to me. The classics never go out of style.

      --
      That's "Mr. Soulless Automaton" to you, Bub.
    14. Re:Makes multiplayer AD&D rpgs any sense ? by Engdy · · Score: 1
      Reminds me of the Times Are Tough guy from RPG World.

      --
      Siggy Wiggy Figgy Tiggy a bana bo Biggy!
    15. Re:Makes multiplayer AD&D rpgs any sense ? by _ph1ux_ · · Score: 2

      ultima the series maybe for monter whacking a little...

      but UO had some seriously good times for strategy - especially early in the games life (97-98) when it was a major PK game. The strategy of fighting the other human characters was fantastic, and there were some very ingenious tactics that arose...

      I never liked diablo or diablo ii (especially ii as it was 5 years too late) - and dungeon siege is a fun game, but get boring after not too long.

    16. Re:Makes multiplayer AD&D rpgs any sense ? by Roger+Wernersson · · Score: 1

      I have played Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 multiplayer, and it is quite fun. BG1 had some issues with dialogues and shopping which was solved in BG2.

      I have a friend who completed BG1 WITHOUT PAUSING ONCE! It can be done. :-)

      I a LAN games, BG is well worth the time. Though I had problems with letting scripts take over wizards, they usually ended up killing the entire party. Diablo is better at this.

      --
      temporarily sigless
  12. specs by 56ker · · Score: 2

    Does anyone know what the minimum and recommended specs will be for this game?

    1. Re:specs by awptic · · Score: 3, Informative

      From the site:
      Pentium II 300 MHz, 96 MB RAM, Windows 98/ME/2000SP2/XP, DirectX 8.1, 16 MB OpenGL-compliant 3D accelerator card, DirectX-compliant sound card and 56 kbps modem.

      It doesn't say here, but Linux and MacOSX are supported as well.

    2. Re:specs by geekoid · · Score: 2

      if you have to ask, you aint got it. ;)

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  13. When's the next big thing? by Chiasmus_ · · Score: 2

    Here we have another article hyping the release of the latest RTS (Warcraft III) and latest RPG (Neverwinter Nights).

    Now, I'll grant that both will probably be fabulous games, and a lot of fun, but is anyone else getting a little tired of RTS and RPG?

    What I'd like to see is someone designing a new game, instead of new graphics, stories, and rules for games I've played since I was 15.

    --
    "Beware he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he deems himself your master."
    1. Re:When's the next big thing? by Joe+Mucchiello · · Score: 1

      Go for it. You must know what you want. Write it.

    2. Re:When's the next big thing? by Breakfast+Pants · · Score: 1

      Aren't you being a little bit hypocritical? Why don't YOU write it.

      --

      --

      WHO ATE MY BREAKFAST PANTS?
    3. Re:When's the next big thing? by Chiasmus_ · · Score: 2

      Aren't you being a little bit hypocritical? Why don't YOU write it.

      It's not hypocrisy; it's simply a market reaction.

      For example, there are many people complaining that nearly all the movies that came out in 2001 were uninventive shit with "safe" plots rehashed from classics to make a quick buck. Those complaints were valid, and I believe the movie studios, at least, heard them.

      No one told those people to go make their own movie. I mean, sheesh, who has a $50 million budget?

      Yes, I *could* write a game - and a fun one, at that - in QuickBasic 5, using ASCII. But why should all inventive games be condemned to look primitive? A good game requires many talents: designer, programmer, artist, etc. Few (if any) people are blessed with all of them.

      --
      "Beware he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he deems himself your master."
    4. Re:When's the next big thing? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I really doubt it. QuickBasic 5 is an extremely limiting language - it's Basic, for Christ's sake, and Basic is a messy language regardless of what dialect you're using.

      Games with simple ascii graphics can actually be a lot of fun - give nethack or adom a try.

    5. Re:When's the next big thing? by WWWWolf · · Score: 1

      Point well taken.

      But there are a lot of one-man projects that look pretty cool. For example, I thought X-Plane was pretty amazing: looks and sounds pretty nice (at least my old version, the new version looks and sounds even more impressive) and is very realistic.

      Then, there are projects like Nethack: Developed by a group, with not too many visual arts or music talents... but the game itself is what counts, and even when it's ASCII or has ugly graphics, the game itself is excellent.

      But this, of course, doesn't mean that everyone is instantaneously able to make games like these =)

  14. Re:Sign this petition! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hmmm...... this was announced before those thingies fell down. Dumbshoes.

  15. Nth Post by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hahahahaha. All of you strive for 1st post, but I am the true masta. Only I have aicheved the position of Nth post. Ph33r my 1337 sk1lllz.

  16. Runs on 3 platforms out of the box by StupidKatz · · Score: 1

    The NWN site states that the game will run on windows, Mac, and linux out of the box.

    Read it here.

    1. Re:Runs on 3 platforms out of the box by Thenomain · · Score: 2, Interesting

      They say "Mac", but they don't say whether it's MacOS 8/9 or MacOS X, or both. Curious Minds Want To Know.

      --
      This now concludes our broadcast day.
  17. Release Dates by First_In_Hell · · Score: 0
    and combined with its release date being right around Warcraft III, I suspect sleep will not be an option

    We all know how fickle release dates are. Don't worry, we all have plenty of time before Blizzard gets areound to releasing Warcraft III. I expect it to go gold around winter 2007. By then Baulder's Gate 4 will be out as well as Neverwinter Nights 2.

  18. offtopic, but necessary by JeanBaptiste · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    1. Why do people feel the need to be such losers and post about how much slashdot sucks? Really, I would like to know. If you don't like it leave, rather than mindlessly ranting and wasting everyones time. Dumb.

    2. Dont like the ads? There is another option... payment you cheap bastards... if it is that important to your small minds, do something about it other than complaining. I have yet to see anything valuable accomplished by complaining. If you can think of a better way for slashdot to pay its bills, you should tell them. Or leave.

    1. Re:offtopic, but necessary by I.T.R.A.R.K. · · Score: 0

      And the only thing more annoying than people who complain about Slashdot are people who complain about people who complain about Slashdot.
      The fact that you even wasted your time to rant about this(ironic, considering I'm replying to you) is a testament to human stupidity.
      You, sir, are a dumbass.

      --

      "Adequacy.org: Where congenital stupidity is not an option, but a requirement."

    2. Re:offtopic, but necessary by JeanBaptiste · · Score: 1

      wow, we could have a never ending stupidity loop here, dumbass... I guess whoever is stupidest will post last... go for it

  19. Re:slashad, whee by tps12 · · Score: 1
    Oh, I didn't know that. Thank you for the hedz-up, dude. I have 1 Mac and 2 386 Linuces, so I am set in that regard. Nevertheless, it will not play on my Alpha NetBSD box, will it? No, probably not, unless there is a 386 emulator for it (there is already Linux binary compatability!), but that would be hella slow.

    Now that I think of it, it is probably 3d graphics, and won't run on my Pentium (laptop) or my old Mac either (it is mad old...back when Macs were Macs and came w/SCSI...hells yeah) so I will have to play it on my Athlon.

    But I don't really like games anyway. Who cares.

    --

    Karma: Good (despite my invention of the Karma: sig)
  20. Gamespy is slashdotted! by Link-chan · · Score: 1

    Sort of funny considering that they are a major site. As a side note, I'll definitely be getting NWN.

  21. NWN != MUD. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    The closest MMORPG to a MUD will always be Everquest. The entire design spec for EQ was around DikuMUD. It was so closely related to skills / mobs / pets /NPCs people actually thought they USED DikuMUD source code for the base. But they did it from scratch in anyways.



    NWN is a Single / Multiplayer RPG. It is not billed as a MMORPG to compete or even come close to games like MUDs/EQ/DAoC/etc .. It will allow you to create your own modules based around the 3rd edition AD&D ruleset and play them in either single player or multiplayer. The big draw for this game is that someone can actually be the DM in real-time as your little group of friends connect to YOUR hosted game on your machine while you can take control of the NPCs and initate dialogue, etc. They claim to have all the AD&D rules, and items and mobs available in the game, and for anyone to be able to recreate any module ever written. It will be some feat, but it will take AD&D from the tabletop directly to the PC. Again, this is nothing near a MUD/EQ, and never was meant to be.

    1. Re:NWN != MUD. by DCram · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Oh I agree that it will not be a MMO but I have never enjoyed Muds with more than 75 people.

      I also played EQ and was disapointed. I have coded, read source and not world, on both Emlen and Diku style Muds and still think that if the scripting is good enough this will be better than EQ and much closer to a mud in my mind.

      --
      If I were only smart enough to accomplish the things I dream about.. Or maybe too dumb to care.
    2. Re:NWN != MUD. by _Sprocket_ · · Score: 2


      The closest MMORPG to a MUD will always be Everquest. The entire design spec for EQ was around DikuMUD.


      I have to disagree. What was UO? A graphical MUD. Granted, it didn't have the same feel as DikuMUD. But then, I don't believe the definition of a MUD is limited to previous MUD implementations.


      Having said that... true, NWN night servers will be limited in the number of players they can handle. But they can be linked. Imagine a network of servers ran by admins who keep tabs with each other to ensure continuity, but manage their own environments. Imagine 12 provinces of a sprawling city. Or perhapse several wilderness servers that link to various servers that are dedicated to a single city each. I'm sure there are plenty of other scenarios to be done.


      Given enough inginuity (and assuming the tools provided are stable enough), end users will generate MUD/MMORPG environments.

  22. OLD NEWS! by shakamojo · · Score: 0

    Jeez, this was posted on Gamespy YESTERDAY MORNING...

    But I gotta tell ya, I am looking forward to all the RPG offerings this year... hope I get laid off so I have time to play!

    1. Re:OLD NEWS! by stoolpigeon · · Score: 1, Offtopic

      No kidding I've been playing NWN in the bat cave since it came out on my Nintendo 64!

      I've got the SEGA Genesis version too!

      These guys are so slow.

      .

      --
      It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
  23. "Real time", but with new approaches by StupidKatz · · Score: 4, Informative

    The FAQ states that they are well aware of the low-ping click-fest that many real-time multiplayer games have turned into. It also states how they're using a "multilayered" approach to combat, where you default to using a basic attack unless you stack up additional moves in your combat queue.

    Sounds a lot like how Star Wars: Galaxies is doing theirs. I'm interested to see how it works out.

  24. No you don't. by glrotate · · Score: 2, Insightful
    What I'd like to see is someone designing a new game


    They tried that. It was called Black and White. Booring.

  25. How long until? by IMarvinTPA · · Score: 1

    How long until somebody releases the "The Ogre and the pie" adventure?

    IMarvinTPA

    1. Re:How long until? by ferat · · Score: 1

      Dude, it's an orc with the pie.

      I mean, really, what would an ogre be doing with a pie?

    2. Re:How long until? by IMarvinTPA · · Score: 1

      I was trying to link straight to the adventure on his site but I couldn't find it. I had to guess. I bow to your superior knowledge.

      IMarv

    3. Re:How long until? by Ill_Omen · · Score: 1

      Here's the link: orc and pie

  26. I dont know what is worse by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    the time you have on your hands to post that message, or the time I must have on my hands to respond...
    dumbass

  27. Mod parent up by rasactive · · Score: 1

    That sent a hearty chuckle through me.

  28. Re:What's so special about this game by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    it runs on LUNIX!

  29. I hate it when.. by Mr.Intel · · Score: 2
    I get droll on my mouth! Must wipe it off...

    I will have to get a new hard drive for games only. With Q3, UT, Descent series, Civ3, Empire Earth and the impending release of NWN and WC3, my 15GB drive is hating life.

    --
    ASCII tastes bad dude.
    Binary it is then.
  30. It has to be asked by Metrollica · · Score: 0

    Why is Neverwinter Nights going to be THE RPG to look forward to? What is it that makes everyone believe it will be great? Maybe cause there is no other even remotely interesting RPG coming out. Is there something that has assured you people it is not yet another boring buggy RPG game?

    --



    --Metrollica
    1. Re:It has to be asked by ShaggusMacHaggis · · Score: 1

      because you can create your own adventures, and play them over the net with other people.....it does have single player, but that isn't what people are looking forward to. its the toolkit creation that people are looking forward to.

      Instead of gathering around a tabletop and throwing dice, you can do it all within NWN, and have cool graphics at the same time.

    2. Re:It has to be asked by wrax · · Score: 1

      Its basicly just a jumped up baldur's gate.

  31. No BeOS by StupidKatz · · Score: 1

    Quoth the FAQ, "the BeOS version of Neverwinter Nights will not be completed."

    Bummer.

  32. Nevar wintar nights by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes, but how is it going to compare to my faverote Linus game, DOOM. Is there going to be running throurgh mazes and shooting of evil humans who say "hey! Hey!" in slo-motion when you shoot them? Finally, does it suppport my beowulf clusters?

  33. Awards by mjjk2 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Check out all the awards Neverwinter Nights has already won. A pretty high count considering the game hasn't been released yet, huh?

  34. i am a PHP interpreter! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    chris@php.net

  35. Screenshots by 1WingedAngel · · Score: 2, Funny

    Is this game supposed to look like Gauntlet Legends?

    "Green Amazon needs more food!"

    Tim

  36. Movie Preview by Kanan · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Here is a link to a movie (avi file) preview that was just released today. It is the best one I've seen, although the resolution isn't the best. Lots of gameplay and action.

  37. YES! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny
    Thank god!!! I was getting tired of my Everquest wife...all those elves are fat sluts these days.

    I'm sure everyone else is wondering this, but will we be able to knit Turtlenecks of Back Hair Hiding +3? Also, will I be able to crawl into the 1024x768 world permanently? I just hate my life and want to die. That's why I play these games.

    Well, time to go masturbate to tenticle hentai pornos and write Voltron fanfics while I pet my cat and cry... SAYONARA!

  38. Morrowind by Henry+V+.009 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Morrowind, which just went gold, has a chance of being a much better game than NWN. It is a true free-form RPG. 100's of hours of play time. Character options out the wazoo. I can't wait.

    1. Re:Morrowind by mattbelcher · · Score: 1

      But does Morrowind include all the DM tools that Neverwinter Nights does? You get everything Bioware used to make their in-game content, included in the box. Unfortunately, that software only runs in Windows (unlike the game itself).

      --

      Shockwave Flash movies are the greatest thing to happen to non-sequitur humor since Japan.

    2. Re:Morrowind by Aexia · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I'm betting Morrowind will turn out to be as "Free-form" as its predecessor, Daggerfall. As in "free of form." Daggerfall was a souless, monotonous, not to mention bug-ridden, piece of junk.

      Sure, there were a few masichists who enjoyed the repetitive, thinly-veiled FedEx quests... the cornucopia of completely useless character skills... the game-killing bugs that were so bad that Bethseda, instead of correcting them, included and encouraged the use of cheats to get around them... the huge, random, recycled-texture-laden dungeons used for every two-bit quest... the complete lack of meaningful NPC interaction...

      But they were idiots.

      I have every expectation Morrowind will be just as bad, if prettier, at least. I wish it were otherwise but I have no confidence in that company.

    3. Re:Morrowind by Henry+V+.009 · · Score: 2

      Yes, it includes everything the developers used to create the game.

    4. Re:Morrowind by raptwithal · · Score: 1

      Not really...

      Every dungeon, every corridor and nook and cranny in Morrowind will be hand- placed, i.e., NOT random. NPCs will no longer look the same.

      And if it's not nearly as buggy as Daggerfall, which was quite capable of crashing Windows 95... oh, wait...

      Morrowind will be quite different, but you can wait for actual reviews to come out before you decide.

  39. Plot line? by OneFix · · Score: 2

    Has anyone heard of the plot for this game?

    It seems interesting that I don't see any cinematics or discussion of unique plot elements...everyone seems to be saying "Oooh, look at the in-game graphics".

    I know they can't really give away the entire plot to the game, but it would seem that we would already be getting some idea as to the basic premise of the plot from the producers...

    1. Re:Plot line? by Doppleganger · · Score: 2

      The plot has something to do with the City of Neverwinter, and a mysterious disease. Very little other info has been given out, mostly about the background that the story is set in. Bioware s keeping the plot of this one very quiet.

      Besides which, one of the main features of NWN is the editor.. Although a great deal of time is being spent on the story that will ship with the game, the thing most gamers are excited about is the ability to create their own storylines easily within the game.

      As for cinematics, there has been one released... you can find it under the "multimedia" link on the NWN website. It has absolutely nothing to do with the gameplay, and no one knows what it may have to do with the game, but it's fairly decent.

    2. Re:Plot line? by schon · · Score: 1

      it would seem that we would already be getting some idea as to the basic premise of the plot from the producers

      Not only does it seem that way, but it really is that way. Hint: RTFA!

    3. Re:Plot line? by LMCBoy · · Score: 3, Informative

      Bioware have been purposefully pretty silent on the story, because they don't want to spoil it. What we know is that your character starts the game in an Adventurer's Academy in the city of Neverwinter. There's a plague called the wailing death that the elders are hoping to stop by importing some exotic creatures from somewhere. The creatures go missing or are stolen, you have to recover them to stop the plague.

      Bioware have seemed very proud of the single-player campaign, saying it will be even better than BG2/ToB.

      --
      Liberal (adj.): Free from bigotry; open to progress; tolerant of others.
    4. Re:Plot line? by hether · · Score: 2

      The article that is the basis for this topic gives the basics of the plot line. If you'd read it you might have known.

      --

      Most people would die sooner than think; in fact, they do.
  40. Dude. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Baldur's Gate II absolutely rocked!

    Although it does take a while to get out of the first chapter, and you have to follow all of those silly AD&D rules, it really is an excellent game.

    The new Pools of Radiance game, however, really sucks. :)

  41. The Graphics by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  42. While we're on the subject... by gspeare · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Might as well mention Morrowind, which went gold last week and is expected in stores late next week. According to the many previews out there, Morrowind looks to be more open-ended and immersive than any other RPG to date. It's only single player, but given the joys of many multiplayer RPGs, that's probably a good thing. In addition to the official site and forums, there's a good RPGPlanet site that collects most relevant information. Look for the water screenshots; they use pixel shading to get some truly impressive effects.

  43. Plays on OSX out of the box eh? by Aiku1337 · · Score: 1
    You know, ever since I've seen those TiBooks I've really wanted one, if more gaming companies follow suit with games that arrive at the same time as Windows versions, my pocket book might be 3000$ lighter.

    Oh, and yay for supporting Linux too </appeals to the Linux friendly crowd>

  44. The term MMORPG... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is very redundant. I don't know who came up with it, but it's too long and it sounds so fricken stupid... From what I understand, the MMO stands for Massively Multiplayer Online. Well, if it's online, that pretty much guarantees that it's multiplayer. If it's the Internet, that pretty much guarantees "Massive" (and that's a subjective term in itself).

    The term should just be ORPG. Online Role Playing Game.

    1. Re:The term MMORPG... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, "Massive" is meaning having THOUSANDS of people online in the SAME world. There is a HUGE difference between what you're saying, but you're not seeing it apparently. You simply cannot compare a game that supports 64 players in the world tops to a game that has no hard coded limit of players in the same world and routinely see's 5000+ people in the same world all working together. THAT is massive. 64 People is not. It is a very descriptive term, and is used well. It distinguishes games from "ORP"s and "MMORPGS".

  45. Comet Cursor by Aiku1337 · · Score: 1

    Comet Cursor is even worse. I hate flash sites, but, I have it installed. At least it doesn't mess with things, and if you want to uninstall it, you can. The one time I accidently installed Comet Cursor, I couldn't find a way to uninstall the sucker. Yeah, I was able to "uninstall" it by deleting the files, but, for some reason it kept coming back. I want to find those people and break their fingers. Or, uh, do that time travel thingy with the mothers and the drinks.

  46. toolkit?? by molrak · · Score: 0

    It was my understanding that the toolkit wasn't going to be available on linux. Does anyone know if this has changed since January?

    --
    You're only as smart as your brain.
  47. Bioware is a great company. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    They really are..
    Aside from developing great games, every summer they take the time out to send reps to the big lan party in Edmonton (where bioware is based) Fragapalooza(.com). And they don't just send PR people, they send the real developers.

    I first saw NwN summer of 99 when they brought a demo of the early stages of the game to the event, and since then they've brought reps to the LAN every year. Really interesting to see how the game is progressing over the years.

    The game will be nothing short of revolutionary once it's released, the control is awesome, the inventory and fight systems are perfect, and the graphics and environments are STUNNING.

    As a side note, I had the chance to take a personal guided tour of the Bioware studios, fantastic company, really forward thinking, great staff, etc.

    Bioware is going to make huge waves in the community and should expect strong sales of NeverWinter Nights. Due in part to it being: 1) a fantastic game, and 2) supported on multiple platforms.

    Props to a small Canadian company with a very big heart.

    -adam

  48. Long Turns by The+Raven · · Score: 2

    I would not be surprised if the turns are exactly six seconds long. That would be quite satisfying to me.

    For those not aware, D&D3E rules have 10 rounds in a minute, and normally you can take one action per round (more as you gain higher levels and get multiple attacks and similar things). Six seconds would mean that the animation would be a reasonable approximation of what you are supposed to believe happens in those six seconds that actually take about 3 or 4 minutes to arbitrate in pen and paper gaming.

    --
    "I will trust Google to 'do no evil' until the founders no longer run it." Hello Alphabet.
  49. Hopefully Everquest loses some market share to NWN by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Thankfully Verant is getting some competition and hopefully NWN will be a more realistic threat to their monopoly than DAoC. Verant is in this phase where the game is more about putting in seat time than playing. Killing dragons a year ago meant putting 50 people together and hitting some buttons to cast spells. These days killing the toughest monsters mean you have to sit in front of your computer for hours on end waiting for rare monster to appear on your screen - only then when you have jumped through the dozens of hours of hoops can you begin thinking about going after the big monsters.

  50. Yes you do. by Noobie · · Score: 0

    Forget Black and White. Get yourself Populous I !!

  51. Re:Where is Katz when you need him? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I guess the eurotrash are happy that we don't have a monopoly on school shootings.

  52. Kylix? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wasn't Kylix for Linux cross compatable with Borland C++ Builder?

  53. How does it compare to Icewind Dale? by Bryan+Ischo · · Score: 4, Informative

    I never played Baldur's Gate, which this Neverwinter Nights seems to be related to (being written by the same company and of the same game genre), but I did play Icewind Dale, which got rave reviews as a great RPG.

    Only, I thought Icewind Dale sucked. Badly. So badly that I never got beyond the first mountain pass. Here is why I thought that Icewind Dale sucked:

    1. The graphics were not that great. The characters you get to select from look like they were all scanned from an airbrush that was copied out of the back of some dungeons and dragons magazine. The characters, monsters, architecture, etc, drawn in isometric view were very good either.

    2. When generating a character, you get to choose from lots of neat races, like elf, half-elf, human, dwarf, etc ... but then when you go to actually assign skill points, and strength points, intelligence, etc, you can just move any number of points from any column to any other. So you can create a dwarf that has the exact same characteristics as an elf. What is the point of having character races if you can just arbitrarily change stats any way you like? It really takes the fun out of designing a character. There is no challenge, and in fact the race becomes nothing more than a name.

    3. The gameplay sucked. Lots of clicking around, trying to select the correct group of people and make them do the correct thing. They're always doing something stupid - running back and forth trying to stand on the spot that you clicked on rather than fighting back against the orc that is pummeling them, or getting all clogged up at an entranceway, or stopping altogether because someone else who was trying to go the same way they were was in the way for a moment. It was just frustrating and annoying trying to control all of my party members and trying to make them do something reasonable all of the time.

    4. Fighting monsters is way too hard and gives way, way too few experience points. I played forever waiting for any member of my party to get enough experience to gain a level. I needed like 2,000 experience points to get to level 2, and was getting like 10 for each monster I killed. And finding creatures to fight, and then finishing them off, took forever. So after hours and hours none of my characters had even advanced a level. How lame.

    5. Stupid quests. All of the tasks that I was asked to complete by the townspeople in the first town were just uninteresting and dumb. They were all of the form "go get this thing and take it to that person." Lame. And then the amount of experience I would get for doing that was low anyway. Although, at one point I was walking around in a basement and I opened a door to find a boy who was afraid to go back to town or something. I didn't have to do anything at all, I just randomly happened to open that door, and the kid went back to town and I got like 500 experience points for each character. WTF?!?? Opening a door at random gives me the same experience as killing 50 orcs? It's no fun to try to build up your characters when fighting hard against monsters gives you almost no experience, but randomly happening upon lost children gives you tons.

    6. Bugs. The game would slow to a crawl and then crash every so often.

    Eventually I gave up and realized that the game was a total waste of my time. It had to be one of the worst games I had ever played. And yet I read all over the place about how it was such a great game.

    Needless to say, I am extremely skeptical of the entire RPG genre, especially anything from BioWare.

    If it weren't for Fallout 1 & 2, which were two of the best games I have ever played, I would probably write off the RPG genre altogether.

    1. Re:How does it compare to Icewind Dale? by Banjonardo · · Score: 1
      You chose the wrong rpg to start out with. Bioware made it pretty clear that Icewind Dale would be a Dungeon Crawl, and ONLY a Dungeon Crawl. Baldur's Gate II, however, started you out right on the plot and kept it going on forever. (200 hours)

      Icewind's graphics were dated, BGII's were gorgeous.

      The races really make a difference as you progress. Bonuses add up and things make sense. Yeah, it's a steep learning curve, but they make it pretty easy if you keep going. Can't Review a game by playing it once.

      Your characters can be scripted; you TELL them what to do in case they have no instructions and enemies attack. The scripting system is, actually, kinda neat. Making you party do something usually helps if you PAUSE the game. Pausing is really important, just press the space bar.

      Dunno about level advancing. Killing random creatures in the forest doesn't give much XP, this isn't Final Fantasy. Quests give you XP. Speaking of quests, FedEx quests, as those are called, don't happen often, just enough in the beginning to get you started.

      Dunno about ID, but BGII was bugless and very fast.

      All in all, you either didn't give it enough time, or didn't understand it well. (If you weren't pausing, well,.....what can I say?)

      You should have tried BGII. It rules.

      --

      -----

      Score 3? For what? Being wrong, at length? - smirkleton

    2. Re:How does it compare to Icewind Dale? by winne+too · · Score: 1

      I never played Baldur's Gate, which this Neverwinter Nights seems to be related to (being written by the same company and of the same game genre), but I did play Icewind Dale, which got rave reviews as a great RPG.
      baldur's gate is a saga spanning two games and two expansions. throne of bhaal (bg2 expansion) concluded the series, i cant comment on tales of the sword coast (bg1 expansion) since directx problemes prevented me from playing bg1 properly. i did play bg2 several times, though. good story, well told.

      Only, I thought Icewind Dale sucked.
      i played iwd as well, but it just didn't get me hooked the way baldur's gate did. among the reasons might be that with the player providing the entire party, there isn't any npc/hireling interaction which contributed a lot to the bg experience. class does not really seem to matter in iwd either whereas in bg2 there are class-specific quests ("strongholds").
      nwn will allow easy creation of custom content, and there's an active community just waiting to unleash their campaigns. in case you happen not to like the original story, you'll probably find a dozen custom ones you'll enjoy.

      1. The graphics were not that great. The characters you get to select from look like they were all scanned from an airbrush that was copied out of the back of some dungeons and dragons magazine.
      well, the portraits are much better in bg, but i cant compare in-game graphics right now, it's been a while...
      checking the boxes, bg2 states "© 2000" and iwd claims "© 1998", so iwd probably used an improved bg1 engine (it allows higher resolutions, dont remember much more).
      nwn uses a much improved 3d engine that was originally used in mdk2 and can now display beatiful spell effects, shadows, etc.

      3. The gameplay sucked. Lots of clicking around, trying to select the correct group of people and make them do the correct thing.
      good news... that wont happen in nwn, for you will only control one character. baldur's gate required clicking similar to your description, i remember using pause a lot, but that's just my planning style... iirc there wont be any pause functions in nwn.

      Needless to say, I am extremely skeptical of the entire RPG genre, especially anything from BioWare.
      icewind dale actually was a blackisle studios (division of interplay) production using bioware technology.

      since nwn is still about two months away, i'd recommend you have a look at the baldur's gate series which i consider much more enjoyable than icewind dale. bg2 is probably the better choice since there aren't any directx issues (although there are a couple of bg1-directx patches and the problems only concern directplay) and both interface and graphics are much nicer. you can even play it in wine (unfortunately singleplayer only- help me vote in transgaming ;) ).

    3. Re:How does it compare to Icewind Dale? by tonywong · · Score: 1

      Man, before you flame a company and product, you should get your facts straight.

      Disclaimer 1: I know the guys at Bioware personally, and they're good guys.

      Disclaimer 2: I played Baldur's Gate, and I thought it was slow and plodding with poor graphics w.r.t. Diablo.

      Check out this site: http://www.avault.com/reviews/review_temp.asp?game =icewd

      You'll find that Black Isle produced the content, not BioWare. They provided the engine for Icewind Dale, and that's probably about the extent of it. Knowing BioWare, they're not into sequels at all...they prefer to do new things instead of churning out sequels (ie. they're not money pigs, although they are doing quite well as a company).

    4. Re:How does it compare to Icewind Dale? by startled · · Score: 2

      I'd say that half of what you claim you disliked wasn't actually what you disliked. :) Here's a quick review of the shortcomings of Fallout 1:

      1. The graphics were not that great. (Yup.)

      2. When generating a character... you can just move any number of points from any column to any other. (BTW, you had the option of NOT moving the points all around. And race still played a factor with some bonuses, vision, etc..)

      3. The gameplay sucked. Lots of clicking around, trying to select the correct group of people and make them do the correct thing. (Remember the characters that either didn't do shit or combat, or ran straight towards Mr. Machinegun? Or before they had the "move out of my way" button, and you got stuck inside? How many times did you reload to keep that stupid dog alive before you finally said screw it?)

      4. Fighting monsters is way too hard and gives way, way too few experience points. (Personally, I found the early Fallout 2 game to be harder than IWD-- which was quite easy if you remembered to pause to issue commands.)

      5. Stupid quests. All of the tasks that I was asked to complete by the townspeople in the first town were just uninteresting and dumb. They were all of the form "go get this thing and take it to that person." Lame. (Sounds pretty much like the first couple hours of Fallout 1 and 2. I killed the rat in the cave, and got a free healing powder! Sweet!)

      6. Bugs. The game would slow to a crawl and then crash every so often. (If you didn't experience this in Fallout, you waited for a later patch than I did.)

      Does that list sound familiar? :)
      I loved Fallout 1 and 2, but your litany of complaints sounded exactly like the ones I read on Fallout boards back in the day. I could care less whether or not you liked Icewind Dale, of course, but your list certainly doesn't help me understand why you liked Fallout and not Icewind Dale. Part of it could be IWD's barrier to entry-- it's a lot easier if you already played Baldur's Gate.

      It also doesn't really seem like your list is aimed at helping you figure out whether or not you'll like NWN. Got questions about the graphics? Look at the screenshots. Worried about how many people you'll have to click on and make run around? Look at the FAQ (single PC, but you can issue commands to henchmen). Bugs? Well, we don't know yet, obviously. etc. etc.

      It doesn't seem like you wanted to know about NWN; rather, you wanted to rant about IWD. That's fine, if offtopic. :)

      My advice? Wait for a demo, or for a friend to get it. It's still D&D, still has slow leveling, etc., and will still have some of the steep learning curve that seems to have turned you off of IWD. OTOH, it's simplified in terms of party control, and sure looks better, so you might like it.

    5. Re:How does it compare to Icewind Dale? by inerte · · Score: 1

      I can comment on BGII. It's a great game:

      1) The graphics are amazing for a game that will make you play during an entire month to finish, 4 or 6 hours a day. Indeed, if you look at just one screenshot, or one small movie, and compare to others, you may be disappointed. But, there are hundreds of spells in the game, each own with its own animation. Hundres (or thousands?) of monsters, npcs, buildings and itens.

      The individual quality might be hard to appreciate, but overall the graphics are great.

      2) BGII has somewhat the same problem. You can select a race, alignment and a "class" (fighter, mage, etc...). Sometimes, the game blocks you from maiking your stats bigger than a certain amount, depends on the race you choose. But overall, specially with the races bonus, there's a difference that affects gameplay.

      3) Space bar pauses the game. Really, really easy to just thumb there and carefully build your strategy. The only problem was finding the right menu item after 8 hours of straight playing...

      4) Althoug hard, leveling up in a decent time frame in BGII is possible, and you will notice your characters are getting stronger. Soloing (playing with one character the whole game) is the ultimate fight you will have. Lots of fun, and in later stages, if you choose the right race/class, you will have a war machine

      5) Pffff...

      Go play it. I don't think there's a humanoid that finished all quests. There are lot of connected quests, including the Strongholds (more information on any BGII site about this).

      6) Sadly, there are some bugs (specially crashes). But usually they happen after 3 or 4 hours of play. Infimal compared to the total gameplay lenght.

      It's fun! It's humorous! It's also scary! It got several different ways of finishing it!

      I can't recommend the game enough, you should grab a copy and play.

    6. Re:How does it compare to Icewind Dale? by TiberiusX · · Score: 1

      Did you look at the preview, man? Do those screenshots look even remotely like the Icewind Dale tileset using the Infinity Engine? No, they are glorious 3D with mucho sfx, which is still nice no matter what people say about 3D not making the game (I happen to agree). I don't think anyone can compare these two games, below literary scopes like plot and characterization. And since NWN isn't even out yet to defend itself...

      Icewind Dale was more hack'n'slash than plot-driven anyhow, while Baldur's Gate et al were certainly better in storyline and made you think a few times. The best thing about the Baldur's Gate series was the continuity. Your character wasn't just a dice-spun sword-slinger, he or she actually gained personality along the way.

      Reading through this preview and many other previews, I get a very positive impression of a highly extensible and flexible gaming system (and not one that has to be hacked for add-ons). As the previewer said, this isn't just another computer RPG, either single- or multi-player ... it's quite probably ground-breaking in both arenas.

      No offense, but if I were you I wouldn't base my opinion of an entire gaming genre (a very widely-ranging genre at that) on one or two bad apples. Give the game a chance, its certainly got a great many more than you or I salivating over it (and, for a change, has great promise to actually deliver).

      --
      -- May the Source be with you...
  54. A few MP questions by usermilk · · Score: 1

    It wasn't mentioned in the article but I am curious as to how MP options will work? One of the downfalls of DS is that characters are stored clientside and games are hosted by individuals. This leads to massive cheating and laggy games for my 56k using friends. Does anyone know if NWN is going to be any different? I sure hope so.
    Also, incase anyone doesn't know, Gamespot is running their own review/preview of NWN here.

    1. Re:A few MP questions by ShadowDrgn · · Score: 1

      It will more than likely work the same way as Dungeon Siege. NWN isn't meant to be a hack-and-slash game, it's about roleplaying with friends. You won't have to worry about cheaters if you play with people you trust/know, and the game probably won't be very fun with random people on the net anyway. It wouldn't be hard for a dungeon master to drop a million gold and the best items in the game at your feet, but that might not be an interesting way to play the game.

    2. Re:A few MP questions by LMCBoy · · Score: 2

      There are three ways to store a NWN chaarcter:

      1. Client side. Absolutely trivial to hack: fire up DM client, set level=20, insert vorpal blade +5 (*yawn*). For this reason, I imagine most servers will not allow client-side characters.

      2. Bioware's "Character Vault". Character files are not accessible by the client so direct hacking is not possible. "Twinking" (quick, easy leveling and procurement of undeserved items) is made moot by "filters" that will reject a character that has advanced too quickly. The Vault won't stop cheating, and that isn't really its goal. What it does is make sure that all level N characters are on an approximately equal footing, and it also puts some kind of throttle control on the rate at which one can level up.

      3. Server-side character vault. Character files are stored on the DM's machine, and can (optionally) only be played in the DM's world, under his/her watchful eye. Cheating is all but impossible in this case.

      Since everyone who owns the game will have a DM client, it's going to be absolutely trivial for anyone to make any kind of character they want, at any time. IMHO, this will make cheating a worthless enterprise in NWN, because there's no inherent prestige or value associated with a high-level character.

      Plus, the server can filter incoming characters, allowing only those in a specified range of experience levels.

      --
      Liberal (adj.): Free from bigotry; open to progress; tolerant of others.
  55. Mods will be the deciding factor though.. by letoram · · Score: 1

    and they're already popping up.. prepare for *gasp*
    [Team Fortress Neverwinter Nights]

  56. Does Hemos read his own website? by dr_eaerth · · Score: 1

    The game continues to look great - and combined with its release date being right around Warcraft III, I suspect sleep will not be an option.

    I hope this doesn't mean Hemos intends to buy a game from Blizzard, and means he plans on doing like Largo and getting a copy from someone on IRC. Because he couldn't actually read Slashdot and send money to that company.

    Right?

    1. Re:Does Hemos read his own website? by acceleriter · · Score: 1

      I can't imagine a game good enough to be worth sending money to those fascist DMCA wielding pig fuckers. But then, I'm not a gamer.

      --

      CEE5210S The signal SIGHUP was received.

  57. Bethesda = Bugridden by madeye+the+younger · · Score: 1

    Good God, has there ever been a single company that has executed so many cool game ideas so badly? After the Daggerfall Debacle, it should have learned a Great Deal about making games but didn't. Their last chance with me was Battlespire. The patch history for their products tells the story. Avoid, avoid, avoid.

  58. You say that like its a BAD thing by madeye+the+younger · · Score: 1

    It's not. BG (like any other instance of entertainment) isn't for everyone, but was good fun for many. A 'jumped up version' will be well received.

  59. Heh... by Danse · · Score: 2

    I'll be waiting a couple of months for everyone to figure out how buggy it is before I decide whether to give it a try or not. Given their track record, this is not a game to rush out and buy. Let the fanboys be the guinea pigs and wait for reviews and news on bugs and patches.

    --
    It's not enough to bash in heads, you've got to bash in minds. - Captain Hammer
    1. Re:Heh... by Happy+Monkey · · Score: 1

      Fanboys? That's me. I'll keep you posted.
      OK, maybe I won't...

      --
      __
      Do ya feel happy-go-lucky, punk?
  60. Re:slashdot gripes version 1.01 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    whoa, zinger
    ...ppl who thinke everything should be open source -- that was funny :))

  61. Linux, Windows and Mac versions in the same box. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    When Neverwinter launches, and the news comes to slashdot, I really hope the editors adds a hint that it will be released for Windows, Linux and Mac in THE SAME BOX :)
    I tend to ignore windows only games, I really don't want to hear how good Dungeon Siege is, because I'm not going to be able to play it, I'm sure others tend to do the same.
    So I think it's important that the word get's out to everyone that there WILL be a Linux client of the game, everyone don't skim through the comments, it should be in the article post itself.
    Note; Unlike the Neverwinter game client, the toolchest initially won't have a Linux native version, so until it's finished, we have to use Wine, but at least the game client will arrive at the same time as the windows/mac clients.

  62. Win32-based Toolkits by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    thankyou ma'am, it's running in Wine. I have the Never Winter Nights beta test pack and it works in Wine pretty damn good. Perhaps enough people should ask developers to use a Trolltech's QT toolkit so at least a port to a non-Win32 operating system would be trivial. There are alot of toolkits out there and many companies simply damage their own ethics by unconciously designing everything to be Win32 instead of thinking about Win64 or possibly choose any of the handful of cross-platform toolkits that easily jump between the 64 bitness of the Alpha, Intel IA64, AMD Hammer, Sparc, PA-RISC, and Motorolla platforms with ease.

    You have to wonder about developers, especially those that only think about Win32. Unix is here, there are 50 flavors, and all flavors are just wheel-o'-fortune in minor details in porting a C program from one to the other. What's keeping NWN and other games from allowing people to scratch their own balls on other operating systems? Simple: many of the coders aim at receiving awards, recognition, and gifts from a yet_to_be_named_individual_corporation that would not like the idea of NWN and all the other games running stable on the wee little Unix market share while Win32 crashes and burns every hour. Oops I didn't mean to have implied the yet_to_be_named_individual_corporation is Microsoft. Gosh sorry me. I shouldn't be so unfair in singling out only Microsoft. In the past, many Corporations have tried to do what Microsoft does. IBMsoft, MicroAppleSoft, Sun Microsoftems, Novelsoft, MicroLucent, and I can go on forever. The big differene of all the others and Microsoft is they all innovate good hardware and Microsoft keeps up on the rear-end shitting out crappy software.

    Ever wonder how an individual company's hardware bugs could be worked-around in drivers yet Microsoft is just one giant bug that fixes itself with successive releases of bugs to replace old bugs and reinvent bugs that'll never be solved?

    Shit a brick, BillG. NWN will be a pain in your srotum now that Linux has proved superior openGL graphics, superior harddrive storage efficiency, supperior harddrive performance, and superior stability.

    Shit a brick, BillG.

  63. how "good" Dungeon Siege is by winne+too · · Score: 2, Informative

    I really don't want to hear how good Dungeon Siege is, because I'm not going to be able to play it
    i'll tell you anyway ;)
    we checked it out at a lanparty (no big event, just a cosy weekend in the basement) and some of us didn't get any sleep that night. it really was fun (maybe we should have accounted that to beer comsumption).
    we didn't finish it in the ~two days we played it, so we tried to continue the following week via dsl-dialups. you cannot begin to imagine the annoying directplay issues we faced then. clients disconnecting as another was joining the game. random disconnects of a certain player. inability of others to join at all. sub10 fps in combat (well, had that during lanplay too...). i've since read postings from msces who could not resolve the connection issues either.
    only my stubbornness made me finish the game with a dorm friend, i couldn't bear the issues anymore. too bad there isn't a proper ending to the poorly narrated singleplayer campaign when played in multiplayer mode. rm -rf dungeon_siege

    1. Re:how "good" Dungeon Siege is by Dr.+Spork · · Score: 2

      Did you really expect stability, performance and compatibility from a Microsoft RPG?

  64. BG2/ToB bugs by Anonymous+Brave+Guy · · Score: 2
    Dunno about ID, but BGII was bugless and very fast.

    Sadly, that's not true. There were gameplay-destroying bugs in both BG2 and ToB. Fortunately, most were fixed fairly early. Unfortunately, I still can't start a new multiplayer game of BG2 (to get multiple PCs in a single-player game) today, because of something that's changed on my system since I first played it. No idea what, have tried reinstalling just about everything, but no joy.

    I love BG2 and ToB, played them both several times already, and would love to play them again. But let's not pretend there weren't (or aren't still) very serious bugs.

    --
    If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
    1. Re:BG2/ToB bugs by Banjonardo · · Score: 1
      Well, I guess I wouldn't really know, I don't play multi.

      I never encountered any show-stoppers for myself, though.

      --

      -----

      Score 3? For what? Being wrong, at length? - smirkleton

  65. Support Linux Vendors by RichiP · · Score: 1

    For all you people planning on purchasing NWN (for Linux or otherwise), give some thought to supporting vendors like Tuxgames (http://www.tuxgames.com/) and other Linux Vendors. I've already pre-ordered mine from them

  66. No Win95 apparently? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well damn. I wait for the game for a lil over a year and now I hear it won't support Win95. I've actually seen a few other games on shelves that have the same listing of OS's.

    Someone told me it's due to DirectX8.1 not being available on Win95 (DX8 is on my box currently). I have to wonder if there's enough eye candy to be wrung from that .1 difference to remove all the folks with Win95 from the marketplace.

    I'm not intending to upgrade windows anytime soon - it'll probably die with this current machine. But this makes me wonder - how large a group do you folks think it is that still run 95?

  67. shut up bill Gates by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    only you believe youre own bullshit especially the innovation part. mod as funny!

  68. False Advertising? by MattHaffner · · Score: 1

    As a user of both the 'other' platforms that the game is going to be released for, I keep feeling shafted that the tools are not coming out for either and that they don't look to be promised, from the bits I've read.

    What really steams me is that when they came out with this announcement (builder toolkit was Win only), they kept saying things like "[sic]... but we're really making a game here. The editor is just a bonus." Then a week later, they went back to their typical PR/press quotes, every one mentioning how unique this game will be *because* of the ability to create adventures.

    All I have to say is, if you buy this game, let's put some serious pressure on them to get the whole job done for all three platforms. I'm so tired of false advertising and super hype from these game companies on *any* platform.

    mh

  69. Re:MMORPG Creator Kit? by Zoshnell · · Score: 1

    I remember seeing an ad floating around about a MMORPG Creator kit a little while back. Anyone tried that or know what Im talking about, or have I ingested to much Peruvian Beaver Cheese?

    --
    "Do you suppose that's why God lives in the Heavens? Because he lives in fear of His creations?" - Steve Buscemi
  70. Re:slashdot gripes version 1.01 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You forgot people who pluralize words other then ox with an 'n'. It's fucking boxes people. If I see someone call them fucking boxen a-fucking-gain I'm going to fucking throw something through the fucking wall!