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Bioware CEOs Discuss Neverwinter Nights
Thanks to GameSpy for posting an interview with Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk the CEOs of developer Bioware, about the Neverwinter Nights franchise and the success of the mod community. As Greg Zeschuk says, "It's actually kind of funny - in a sense it's a well-kept secret that some people don't realize.. the volume of [mods] is unbelievable". The article goes on to discuss RTS and even MMO mods that users are creating for the million-selling PC role-playing game, as well as touching on the Shadows Of Undrentide expansion pack, which is released on June 18th in the US.
They don't say anything about the Macintosh version. It's been almost a year now since NWN came out, and now they're releasing the first expansion! This game went from simultaneous release with toolset to Windows only followed by Linux server & client, and no Mac version.
Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
The reason this thread does not stimulate conversation is because, unike virtually every other game out there, NWN fans don't need to come to slashdot - or any other place - to talk about it.
The NWN forums are STILL busy as hell a year after release.
RE: Same old look to the game. On this point, I agree. That's why our group, http://www.DLAdventures.com, has over 9 original tilesets in progress, a dozen new monsters, music, voice acting, FMV and - yes - our own sound engineer and 3 composers to back it up. Add on 21 artists and its a formiddable crew. The majority of professional game developers don't have teams this large. And this is a MOD GROUP for Gods' sakes.
At 36 people, DLA is the largest mod group anywhere - for any game. We've recruited directly in over 50 3d schools, from professional game developers, and through various International Game Developers Association chapters world wide.
Rather than dis the game, you might take a breather and stop to wonder what elements of game play prompt the sort of dedication to NWN that its fans have - and maybe re-assess your own play style. If you've kicked the tires and seen enough - ok, fair enough. But don't say you have unless you have without playing Adam Miller's Shadowlords or Dreamcatcher series. 90% of prof RPG's aren't as good as his mods.
If DM'ing & computers is your thing - maybe modding the game is what'll turn your crank? Or is yet another Q3a/Half-Life/UT2K3 mod REALLY that important and innovative that the world can't do without your level?
Whatever the case, one year to the day (tomorrow) after release, the largest used computer game store in Toronto (Gamerama) has moved HUNDREDS of used copies of Morrowind and Dungeon Siege over that past 12 months.
The total number of NWN copies sold back or traded to Gamerama by dissatisfied players in the past year? Exactly 5.
THAT says more about NWN and its staying power than any single other thing you can say.
.Robert