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Bioware to Open Online Store for Digital Content
GimpyMcJackass writes "Bioware will be opening a new store for digital content starting November 10. Currently slated for sale will be a few modules for Neverwinter Nights, at fairly reasonable prices ($5 - $8 USD). Nice addition to the business model. Gamespot also has an interview with the usual Bioware suspects about it."
I would definitely pay that kind of money for community-created mods if I knew it had gone through some kind of BioWare QA process. Sifting through thousands (?) of mods on fan sites just isn't worth the time.
I would definitely not pay that kind of money for community-created mods, since it destroys the feeling of community among NWN hackers to know that they've appointed a gatekeeper taking tolls. Sifting through thousands of mods on fan sites may not seem worth the time, but there exist multiple sites that rate mods anyway.
I personally wouldn't pay for this, but I do see where they are coming from. If they put a price on it, there's a huge amount of incentive to make a much better quality addition to their game.
Sure, one could go get a free module from someone else, but who's to say that's necesarily going to be all that great?
Yes, I know just because you pay for something it's not necesarily going to be good, but well, I have faith in Bioware. Their products have always entertained me (between bugs...) and I trust they will be sure to justitify the price.
One has to wonder, what kind of protection will they be using to prevent these modules from being simply moved from one computer to another?
Which is why Bioware's next big PC game is Dragon Age, a party-based Baldur's Gate-styled RPG. Though you won't get you're 2D goodness, the whole thing's 3D, just with the option to view it from the sort of perspective you could in Baldur's Gate.
On a side note, Baldur's Gate III will never happen. The story ended and Bioware are moving away from third-party properties for their games. Plus, the project that was going to be Baldur's Gate III (previously in development at Interplay by Black Isle, before its disbandment), is now gone.
The online distribution revolution is proceeding. I for one will not miss the days of brick and mortar stores having all the control. They were leeches on the gaming industry, a superfluous middle man that offered nothing and contributed nothing to the game you are enjoying.
I can only hope that this trend continues to the point that established studio's are able to break free from the publisher's leeching grasp. Publishers are still needed to fund start-ups, but for a company that is established and coming up with a smash sequel they are just another drain on the people who are making the game!
Of course I realize that this will all take a long time. No sane company, even if it had the biggest game of the year, would totally abandone selling through retail outlets...
Yet..
--- "End Of Line" - MCP
I was looking forward to Bioware "digital distribution" model, till I found out it requires internet connectivity every time you play the module.
Apparently they validate your authorization at runtime, instead of once at purchase.
I understand the need to protect their "IP", but I really think a scheme using your CD key to encrypt your copy of the module, such that it only has to authorize once would of worked better.
David (aka zzqzzq_zzq on the boards)
Yet another excuse to not have to venture out into the daylight to visit a brick and mortar store and risk failing my "aversion to humanity" roll, -10 modifier.
J/K. This looks like an interesting idea, but I'll be passing on it.
I seriously wish they'd open-source a version of the Biowae Infinity Engine (used for Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale, and Planescape: Torment) ala Doom, since it seems that the commercial viability of the engine is gone. Can we say native Shadows of Amn executable on Linux?
While your sarcasm is noted, it is actually a large development for large game developers to embrasse the internet as a means of distribution. Up to now I know of only Stardock (The Political Machine, Galaxy Civilizations) that has used the internet as a major source of software sales. Valve/Steam is getting on board, as is Eagle Dynamics with their Lock On: Modern Air Combat upgrade (v1.1) which will be out soon.
So in my mind, this is actually noteworthy. I will most likely buy one of these modules just to support the concept whether or not I actually get around to playing them.
Was that night on the marge of Lake LaBarge I cremated Sam McGee...
The main thing the Bioware Store is allowing for is ongoing support of NWN -- more patches, more free monsters, additional tilesets and skyboxes and placeables and so on and so forth. Free, patched right into NWN to keep from fragmenting the community.
All this content creation work is done by the NWN Live Team. And they need money to do it, because Bioware TRIED doing it entirely for free and eventually realized it was a money/time sink. Although Rob Bartel's "Witch's Wake" module was pretty damn cool, they couldn't justify putting one of their best designers on a multi-month project that'd yeild no money (aside from the odd chance someone might pick up a new copy of NWN just to play it, which is low.
Hence, the store. Modules bought at the store directly fund the Live Team's efforts at producing more free content for the community, extending NWN's support well beyond what most companies would be capable of doing. (NWN's 2+ years old. How many companies constantly pump out content for games that old which aren't MMORPGs?)
If you want to support NWN in general, buy a mod. Yes, the digital protection isn't perfect (but better than most) and you might whine about short module length, but it also counts as a donation towards what you really want, which is lifeblood for NWN.
On a side note, Baldur's Gate III will never happen.
Yeah, I guess you're right. I suppose I'll go play Doom III now.