NWN Linux Client Not So Delayed after All?

Sir Joltalot writes "It seems as if the NWN linux client might not be as delayed after all. From the client page: "We have just been informed by Rad Game Tools that they have Linux versions of both Bink and Miles. ... This solves the two outstanding issues with the Linux Client, and I bet we will have even more good news for you in the coming week in terms of future Betas or Demos of the Linux Client."" You'll excuse me if I opt against holding my breath ;)

Comments

Bink and Miles

[stratjakt]

Hmm. If they have linux versions, why not make them available on their website? The video tools are freely available for Windows, so having the linux version floating around surely would only help further adoption of their tech.

I can understand why they wouldnt release source - but would sticking the client and encoders up hurt them?

Re:Bink and Miles

[Devil's Avocado]

"""
Because we spend $I_don't_know_how_much_money_but_it's_a_boatload on bandwidth giving away the RAD Video Tools [radgametools.com] for free. :)
"""

As others have said, let the community set up mirrors. I know it's hard for corporations to understand this, but sometimes giving up control over every last detail of software distribution can be a *good* thing!

Besides, even if you didn't let others mirror your software how much extra traffic do you think the Linux versions will really generate? The Linux community's size is a pretty small fraction of the Windows throng's, and I imagine that most wanna-be game programmers are using windows anyway.

Finally, would it hurt to at least *mention* the linux version of the tools somewhere on the website? I don't imagine you ported them for giggles. You *did* want to make some money off of them, right? You might find that your profits from these ports would increase if your customers were aware that they existed!

-DA

It seems to me...

[johnthorensen]

that the REAL story here is the availability of Bink and Miles. These two tools are widely used in the gaming industry, and should make porting of MANY games and other multimedia apps (not just NWN) a real possibility. In fact, a quick look at Rad Game Tools page shows 2,700 games that use the Miles API. Bink is pretty cool too...used in quite a few games as well.

-JT

Re:It seems to me...

[beme]

There's also a bit to the story about Bioware talking so much about a simultaneous release, then a release a 'few weeks' after the windows version, then many months later, all when they never even bothered to _ask the vendor_ if the tools they chose to use might work with Linux. Boggles my mind that there'd be all this talk about a Linux version and they don't even bother to send an email to the support@vendor.com address.

It took them that long to find out?

[ttyRazor]

Did they even bother to ask? I wonder how many other games or software projects have been delayed because the developers didn't bother to ask anyone if there were already wheels out there while they tried to invent their own.

Re:It took them that long to find out?

[Rydia]

Apparently it never came up, even when they were talking to Rad about the Mac version. I think this was just the mother of all miscommunications.

Re:christmas

[McCutheonIV]

Sadly, you'll have to buy the windows version anyways, so holding out to support linux gaming doesn't matter. When I pre-ordered the game they had still claimed on thier website that the linux and mac binaries would be included. Boy was I pissed when I found out they weren't.

Take it from me...

[fudgefactor7]

I completed the game, and I can say that it's a blast! Plus, making your own modules is great. Patience for the linux client will be WELL worth it. Trust me.

Stupidity

[Rydia]

Jeez, we finally get word that the client is almost done, and there's not one decent post in the whole stinking story.

Personally, I think that the story of bioware should help a lot, both for linux gamers and developers. It should remind the developers that you should never, ever, EVER make a cross-platform game with non-cross-platform parts. Bioware got so incredibly lucky with this, I have no idea what they would do if they didn't have Bink and Miles available... I would have doubts about a winter date. As for the gamers, I think that this is a great opportunity to get a native game that isn't an FPS, supported by the developers (with an expansion on the way, too). I know that it's very easy to sigh and condemn bioware and all this silliness, but hey, at least they're doing it. And we should be happy and support them by buying it to ensure their future support of linux (now that they have gotten their act together ;).

Also, hello to all the guys from the Great Linux Client Thread! :)

Re:The deeper meaning of switching from Irix to Li

[Monkey-Man2000]

My understanding is that we will be able to download the Linux binaries for free if you bought the windows version. I don't know about the Mac Version.

Re:Just remember...

[The Real ShieldWolf]

I pre-ordered NWN, and paid $59.99us for it, because it was supposed to have the Linux binaries available shortly after release. The price has since dropped to around $35.00us and I'm STILL waiting, and now you want me to buy ANOTHER copy!?! How about this instead? BioWare gets the Linux client and the toolset, out before the end of the year, or I never buy another one of their products again due to the missleading manner in which they advertised it. I am tired of companies who claim to support Linux to get the free advertising, only to fail to make good on their claim.

Re:Been there, played it

[Atzanteol]

I play games for entertainment, coolness, sex appeal, geek factor, etc., but I don't wish to spend an hour tweaking stuff just right so I can play on GNU/Linux.

Some of us don't have Windows machines and need to wait for the GNU/Linux version to be able to play it.

With all the whining...

[FinalCut]

With all the whining I have heard about the delays in the Linux client im suprised BW even bothered continuing work on it. Where is the value to BW in finishing it. The delays have turned into bitches and gripes that only fuels bad press - like that which is found in the headline on this site ("i wont hold my breath") BW, in its slow way, is actually doing the linux community a favor by developing for the platform at all - and hopefully when there done, people will buy it - thus showing the gaming community that Id isn't the only company that can make a headliner game for Linux and be successful. So stop yer bitchin. You don't have to love or even support the delays or even the effort of BW to make the game. Be cynical all you want but shut up about it. If your gonna bitch - bitch if no game comes ever does come out. And then when you do bitch, make sure you bitch at all the people who could only whine during the development and showed the world what an ingrateful lot the Linux community can be at timews.

Portability should not be an afterthought

[Anonymous Coward]

Portable applications are well designed applications.

One guess as to why this port has been so difficult for them.

Why is Bioware doing it?

[yamla]

I'm seriously curious here... why is Bioware releasing a Linux client? Please understand, I run Linux and I'm desperate to get a Linux client myself, I just don't understand Bioware's business reasons for this.

Bioware isn't likely to make back the money they've sunk into porting to Linux, not in sales they'd otherwise not have received. Yes, they'll certainly gain some good will from the Linux community but still...

Certainly, matters are different with the stand-alone linux server. Porting that didn't take much effort and this adds value to the product quite obviously.

So what's my theory? Bioware is using NWN to get some cross-platform experience for a future project. They know they aren't going to make their money back on the development of a linux client for NWN but that doesn't matter to them. The experience they get from this port is the value they are looking for and they plan to leverage this experience on future projects. Those are the ones Bioware expects to see a payback.

Re:Why is Bioware doing it?

[Doc Hopper]

Your theory sounds about right to me. The work on NWN is, fundamentally, a work to create a new engine for their RPG's to replace the aging one used in the Baldur's Gate series. They milked Baldur's Gate for many years, and it was tremendously popular and a big money-maker. The same can be expected of NWN.

Fundamentally, NWN is a method for telling stories. Everything else is simply a means to achieve that end. They've made amazing, engrossing stories before. Having a client run on all platforms will almost surely be a money-loser, but all those future expansions, cranked out every 8 months, is a sure way to continue being profitable for this company, because they know how to tell an engrossing story via a game engine.

So yeah, I agree with you. But it's not some mysterious future project that they are laying the groundwork for, but simply more and more expansions so they can use this as their base engine for the next 6 years.

Re:Why is Bioware doing it?

[Empty_One]

I think they are doing it for a couple of reasons. The main one being using the linux crowd as a source of modules to keep the game alive. Think about it. D&D, Linux, fat sweaty programmers... It's a perfect fit! :)

They've been very open and understanding to the community the past couple of years, and I think a linux client just fits. I just don't think they realized it would be so difficult, and they got in a little over their head.

Re:christmas

[Archfeld]

I really have to agree with you..the ruleset is whacked, they did NOT even get close to making it 3rd ED D&D. The toolset is neat in a very superficial, and limiting way. The hundreds of hours needed to actually transfer an original idea into their scripting makes it VERY much NOT WORTH the effort. If you actually expect to RolePlay give it up. If you want a gauntlet like experience and a very simple roleplay environment it might do the trick. But any actual character development or spontaneus roleplay is impossible in this game.