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

OS X?

[glwtta]

With all this excitement about the linux client, I haven't heard anything about an OS X one - anyone know if one in the works?

Here it is.

[BoomerSooner]

http://nwn.bioware.com/about/macversion.html

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

[John Miles]

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

I'm not involved with that particular product and can't rattle any stats off the top of my head, but I remember being shocked to hear how much download traffic our site sees per month. The donation button shows up only when you're downloading a freebie like the video toolset that's of primary interest to (non-paying) end users.

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...

[stratjakt]

You notice it lists "3D Realms Duke Nukem Forever"

Makes me wonder what else on the list is imaginary.

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?

[MeanMF]

There's nothing on the Rad Tools web site about a Linux version, so I think it's safe to assume that the toolkits are still in beta. You're right though, it wouldn't have hurt them to ask!

Re:It took them that long to find out?

[mao che minh]

"I wonder how many other [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."

Happens at my company once every month or so.

Re:It took them that long to find out?

[crisco]

Might have something to do with the post (near the bottom of the page) that Sam Latinga (formerly of the SDL project, now with Blizzard) reporting yesterday that he ported the RAD game tools to Linux.

Re:Been there, played it

[Longinus]

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.

What? I thought running stuff on GNU/Linux was the epitome of cool and sexy! I'm sure if I had a girlfriend she would back me up on this...

Agreed, makes sense for Disciples II too!

[Kjella]

Disciples II is also using the Bink engine to play animations. So that would make the recently announced port much much easier.

Kjella

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.

A example of False Advertisement at its best

[cyberlotnet]

Everyone seems to be cheering the fact that NWN will hopefully have a way to play movies and sound come monday because of a linux version of RAD tools..

HELLO, People... Lets think about this one moment...

They announced MONTHS ago that they where going to Launch with a NWN Linux Client..

Then they turn around and say its going to be delayed..

Now in the last week they main delay is not having a clue of what to do about sound and movie?

Is it just me or does anyone else thing that this whole thing started out as nothing but a large STUNT to get more sales and it has turned around and bit them in the REAR..

MONTHS down the road and they are just now telling us that they can't play sound or movies.

And here we are 2 weeks before X-mas.. Even if they where 100% complete with everything else they would still have to integrate, and test these 2 very important show stopping features.

HOW CAN YOU ANNOUNCE A LINUX CLIENT AT LAUNCH AND NOT EVEN HAVE A REMOTE IDEA OF HOW YOU PLAN ON SUPPORTING YOUR MOVIES AND SOUND...

This false advertising beats out fast food, They fleece you every time you order a burger from there picture based menus, pictures that make your mouth water, and get something that looks like it was sat on.

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! :)

Just remember...

[mao che minh]

..to actually buy the Linux version once it hits shelves (or more then likely, the stock of your favorate online retailer). Without support for their efforts, Bioware won't throw money towards future ports.

Re:Just remember...

[1%warren]

There isn't a *Linux* version. They originally planned to ship the game with Linux support. The Linux client will be a free download. Bioware will be able to get a fair idea of the numbers by seeing how often it's downloaded.

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.

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?

[m1a1]

Bioware is making a Linux client because they promised it. They originally said it would ship at launch! Linux installer and all, right there when you bought the disc. I am glad they are standing by their promise to make a linux client, but you must understand why people would be upset. There are people who bought the game on the good faith that a linux client would be released shortly. It wasn't.

Re:Why is Bioware doing it?

[Bartmoss]

Yes and no. For one thing, Bioware promised a client (on the CD, no less), so they have to deliver. And yes I am sure it's an investment in the future. However, I think there is one more reason why NWN gets ported to Linux while a hundred thousand other games don't. Bioware is, as far as companies go, very smart. They know their market. And I am sure they know that a sizeable share of Linux geeks are long-time RPG fanatics. Probably much more so than users of any other OS. What's more, Linux users tend to have a goodly amount of technology available. Specifically, this includes Servers that can - and will - be used to host games of NWN. And last but not least, many Linux users will know programming, making them the ideal module builders (NWN's scripting language is basically C as far as I have seen it).

So, by supporting Linux, Bioware probably hopes to increase the infrastructure and the community produced content available to the game by an unporoportionally large chunk. Yes, there are many, many solo players out there, but still the free add-ons are one big seller for NWN.

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.

Sam Latinga is GOD

[0x0d0a]

I'd just like to say that the amount of benefit that Sam Latinga has brought the Linux community is incredible. He did SDL, and released it freely. He did a few support libraries, and released them freely. He worked with Loki to port commercial games, and even now that he's working at the ever-so-nasty-and-Linux-hating Blizzard, he's still churning out good stuff.

A hearty thanks from us all!

Re:christmas

[zoward]

I put NWN on my list of things I want that people are always asking me for at Christmastime. It would be nice to fire up NWN under Linux, but I'm happy they're committed to putting out a Linux client at all. So I'll wait 'til January if need be. It just means there will be more user-built modules I can try out :-).