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Bioware CEOs Discuss Neverwinter Nights

Posted by simoniker on from the paging-doctor-ray-doctor-greg dept.

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.

20 comments

  1. What about the Mac version? by XxtraLarGe · · Score: 5, Interesting

    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.
    1. Re:What about the Mac version? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

      Who cares? Honestly, that game really sucks. Besides, Macs are for girls and fags.

    2. Re:What about the Mac version? by Eggman27 · · Score: 1

      Hear here! I haven't been waiting nearly as long as others, but this wait has been excruciating! The last update (if you could even call it that) was way the heck back in April... Everquest, even with its ridiculous online subscription fees, is sounding pretty good right now (especially since I'm beta-testing it)...

    3. Re:What about the Mac version? by caulfield · · Score: 1

      I've heard from a programmer who works there that the mac client will ship with the Shadows of Undertide box.

  2. Good game by Thyamine · · Score: 1

    I'm glad that someone finally revisted the D&D game area with some zeal and purpose. The old SSI games were (as far as I played) the last big push into that area (D&D, not fantasy in general). Too often the idea is there, but not the followthrough isn't as well done as you'd like (need I mention the movie?)

    Of course, I still haven't finished the game. [Grumble, grumble] Stupid HDD crashes.

    --
    I will shred my adversaries. Pull their eyes out just enough to turn them towards their mewing, mutilated faces. Illyria
    1. Re:Good game by travail_jgd · · Score: 2, Insightful

      " I'm glad that someone finally revisted the D&D game area with some zeal and purpose. The old SSI games were (as far as I played) the last big push into that area (D&D, not fantasy in general). "

      Did you miss the whole Black Isle/Bioware D&D revival? Baldur's Gate, Baldur's Gate 2 (and their expansion packs), Icewind Dale, Icewind Dale 2 (which was the first good 3E game released), all of which were powered by various incarnations of the Infinity Engine.

      I'm not trying to flame, but the Infinity Engine games ended up as runners up for a couple "end of the year" awards.

    2. Re:Good game by easychord · · Score: 1

      I have to say, by the time NWN came out I was pretty much sick of the forgotten realms. The fact that Baldurs Gate 2 makes NWN look like a bad joke as a single player game didn't help it as well.

  3. LOOOOOOOSERS! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Only losers play Dorks and Dweebs, Neverwinter Nights, etc. Realizing this is why that one dude offed himself.

  4. NWN = overhyped mess by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I bought NWN the day it arrived at EB or wherever and was hoping that it would allow people to set up their own online campaigns, much as MUDs of yore.

    Boy was I disappointed. From the lackluster, repetive gameplay to the arcane DM system to the pathetic camera, the game is just so much less than what was promised. And those tilesets... sheesh, not another egyptian style dungeon!

    I will say that the mapmaker/construction set stuff was pretty good.

    But who else thinks that it was really just a newer version of Broderbund's The Arcade Machine (for the Apple II) or more like one of those old Apshai games?

    1. Re:NWN = overhyped mess by TrueBuckeye · · Score: 1

      To each their own. I also bought it the day it came out and really enjoyed it. I actually just reinstalled it about 2 weeks ago and am playing it through again. Yeah, the tilesets are VERY repetitive, but I find the gameplay to be quite fun. It is a nice blend between the clickfest of a Diablo and the slower turnbased play of the older Baulder's Gate series.

      --
      Was that night on the marge of Lake LaBarge I cremated Sam McGee...
    2. Re:NWN = overhyped mess by GypC · · Score: 2, Insightful

      If you're not playing the community developed modules, you're really missing out. There are dozens that are a lot more fun than the official campaign.

    3. Re:NWN = overhyped mess by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Have played them-- problem is that no amount of writing or hacks can get around the interface.

      As an example, there were some original AD&D modules that were converted like Tomb of Horrors or Against the Giants. I was stoked as heck but the result was the same. It's the same game as before, but the "get the woozle" has changed. No new sounds, effects, or drama.

      I liked the hardcore ruleset though.

    4. Re:NWN = overhyped mess by Necromancyr · · Score: 1

      Honestly, that's the mod's fault. I've played online on a few persistant worlds and the 'hak pak's' that they have put together are just amazing. I don't want to slashdot any of them, but they are easy enough to find. Generally, I found the single player lacking a bit - but the multiplayer is amazing.

  5. Can't wait for Unrentide by analog_line · · Score: 1

    This weekend, me and my friends are going to have a nice little LAN party and play through the whole Unrentide campaign. I'm glad that they're doing a new campaign, as I just wasn't impressed with the original one. I'm glad the mod community is getting it's act together and putting out some real high quality stuff. The single player campaign was never really the reason to get NWN. The toolset and all the possibilities it brings, are. Hopefully some of these new modules will help keep me playing it longer.

    On that note, does anyone have any favorite NWN modules I should check out? I've already played the Penultima series, and am going to download the other one he mentioned, but I was wondering if anyone else had some advice out there....

    Or is everyone here waiting for the Mac and Linux clients? ;)

    1. Re:Can't wait for Unrentide by WWWWolf · · Score: 1

      FWIW, the word is that the 1.30 Linux version will be shipped on the SoU CD afterall, with an installer too =) And the Mac tech demo was just released too.

      Anyway, I recommend checking out the Vault's top lists. I personally recommend the In the Company of Thieves series, so far so fun. Also lots of other good mods... Elegia Eternum, The Vethboro Dragon (probably far more fun with multiple players and a competent DM), Lone Wolf series. I'm currently playing The Cave of Songs which seems pretty good. And I tend to always advertise Lizard Raids on the Shining Plains for some reason, I just loved it no matter how buggy it was. Great story. =)

    2. Re:Can't wait for Unrentide by wbm6k · · Score: 1

      Good modules you should check out...
      The best online community (that is, multiplayer) I have found is Exaria .
      As far as individual modules that I've enjoyed playing through, try Shadowlords, Lone Wolf, or Dreamcatcher.

  6. No Mention of NWC? by Ochobee · · Score: 2, Informative

    Wow, I'm suprised that that article had absolutely no mention of NeverWinter Connections... Quite possibly one of the best site for NWN multiplayer sessions, and one of the main reasons that NWN still resides on my hard drive...http://www.neverwinterconnections.com

    --
    Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws. -Plato
  7. Neverwinter Nights is dying! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Neverwinter Nights is dying, just like BSD, and the few people who still play it keep killing themselves. That is why no one is posting on this thread.

    1. Re:Neverwinter Nights is dying! by rtrifts · · Score: 2, Interesting

      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
    2. Re:Neverwinter Nights is dying! by Kthoris · · Score: 1

      I do have to agree with rtrifts here. The NWN community at large is quite, well, large. They have over 1 million posts in 1 year. not bad for a game that some people say is "lackluster" and no one is going to really play it anymore.

      Although I tend to agree with the fact that bioware didn't do the best job on the planet implementing the single player version, nor did they fully extend their hand to the community with a load of tools to use, they have given those of us (myself included for those of you who would recognize my nick...) a central place to post questions, comments, and have encouraged modding their game.

      If they would only push a little harder on promoting the mod's for their game, and give credit where credit is due, then maybe they would win over a larger crowd of people. I don't mean to say they don't recognize certain members of the community... What I am saying is that if they pushed some of the very *Excellent* mods that are out there a little bit more, the game as a whole, may gain more widespread acceptance.....

      Course the reason they don't could be because they don't want to be embarrased by someone, or a group of someones, who's work makes theirs look sub-standard..... course, I could be wrong. ;)