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."

Comments

This is a good idea

[jbellis]

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.

Re:This is a good idea

[mbourgon]

Yes. Now go tell me what modules would be good for a party of 3-4 people, levels 4-6. The nwvault search engine came out with 50+, of which we eventually found a half-dozen worth playing. I've seen levels marked "Level 4-6" where the first comment from the developer is "You really should be 9th level". NWVault needs to enforce the basic search stats. Not to mention that voting is scattershot, plus you can't get stats (except via the "beta" method) until it has 25 votes. There are probably thousands of modules with over 1000 downloads that don't have 10 votes...(though that would really be the community's fault)

FWIW, we're playing Hidden(lost?) City of Tamoachan, then probably Wanderer II, then the original D&D Giants modules, then some Spider-woman thing.

Oh, and good luck finding good epic-level adventures. I haven't seen any that are for a party of 30+. (hence my sig)

And for those of you who haven't played the following modules (single-player), go find these:

• Penultima
  
• Penultima Rerolled
  
• Shadowlords
  
• Dreamcatcher
  
• Demon (yup, sequel to Dreamcatcher is out!!!)
  
• Witch's Wake
  

This is definitely not a good idea

[MilenCent]

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.

Re:This is definitely not a good idea

[eviltypeguy]

But, these aren't community created mods. These are QA'd, approved by Atari/WoTC, made by contracted employees of Bioware. Yes, one of the authors of the modules are from the community, but they signed a contract with Bioware for this work.

Bioware is not just taking any joe schmoe module off the 'street' so to speak and releasing it commercially.

Bioware is not taking anything away from the thousands of free module already out there.

Bioware is not killing your dog, stealing your firstborn or anything else.

What they're doing is providing people exactly what they asked for in surveys given to the NWN Community: More Official Bioware content.

I think it's a great idea! And most users do too, Bioware surveyed a significant number of the NWN community and this is what people wanted. More Official Bioware content.

Additionally, the sale of these modules will serve as a revenue stream that Bioware can use to fund the live team to continue to improve NWN and release new content to the community. So ultimately, even if lots of people buy these modules, not only will Bioware make a profit, but the community will continue to receive fresh content (even if they don't buy the modules) and a great game will continue to be supported well.

So before you go raining on their parade, read a bit more of the details? Ok?

You get what you pay for...

[JorDan Clock]

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?

Re:Boooooooring!

[Yoda's Mum]

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.

First Valve, now Bioware

[Goosey]

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..

Internet connecivity...

[Anonymous Coward]

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)