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Message: <blockquote data-quote="JVisgaitis" data-source="post: 3842024" data-attributes="member: 4177">I'm in need of a new potential rumor to discuss since the speculation on the release of 4e is over and talking about 5e at this point would be just plain dumb. Let me start this by saying this is all pure speculation. I know Bioware has been hard at work on a new MMO for at least a year. From all accounts that I've read on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Series_of_tubes" target="_blank">the interwebs</a>, this MMO is apparently story driven and supposed to utilize a huge license (so huge, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/news/6180818.html?tag=result;title;4" target="_blank">EA dropped $860M</a>).Bioware is no stranger to D&D and Forgotten Realms. They've released Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights with critical success. And what bigger license is there for an MMO than the Forgotten Realms? When you look at the history of the Realms in video games, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Forgotten_Realms_computer_games" target="_blank">Wikipedia lists</a> 33 games! That's pretty insane and the only fantasy property that I can possibly think of that would be worth $860M.According to <a href="http://www.codemonkeypublishing.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=409&start=25&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=" target="_blank">this post</a> from Code Monkey Publishing:I've been sitting on [the announcement of 4th Edition] for 18mos now, it's released (6 months earlier than I was told *shrug* whatever), so I can at least talk about it a little bit more.So we know Wizards does have NDAs with other companies concerning 4th Edition for at least a year and a half, and Bioware's Austin Studio was formed about a year ago... Coincidence?Then we have <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/news/6180866.html?tag=result;title;3" target="_blank">this excerpt</a>  from an article on Gamespot:GS: Now one of the main reasons EA gave for acquiring BioWare/Pandemic was the upcoming massively multiplayer online role-playing game you're developing in Austin. After listening to John's comments in the conference call, one walks away with the impression that said MMORPG is a wholly owned IP of BioWare--and therefore EA. Is that correct?RM: We haven't revealed any details about the game. It's super secret right now. It's got all the characters and story arc that BioWare is known for, and I wish I could say more. It's the best of breed of MMO, with the magic BioWare's associated with, and our goal is to make sure people can't stop playing it.GS: Right, but judging by John's enthusiasm, it sounds pretty safe to say the MMO is an all-original IP. Would that be fair to say?RM: [Long pause] We haven't revealed any details about the game. It's super secret right now. It's--GS: OK, OK, I get it. What would be the problem if they just said yeah, its our own IP?Then we also have this bit from Morrus' interview at Gencon:Morrus: What are the first video games we'll see using the 4th Edition mechanics? Do you expect Turbine’s Dungeons & Dragons Online and BioWare’s Neverwinter Nights toolset to adopt 4th Edition?Chris Perkins: No licensing plans have been announced (emphasis mine) at this time, and nothing is likely to be announced until after the 4th Edition rules are finalized.Granted, its all in how you hear something, but that doesn't sound like no we're not working on anything. That sounds like yeah, we have stuff in the pipeline. You'll find out when the rules are finalized which would be about now according to Mike Mearl's <a href="http://forums.gleemax.com/showpost.php?p=14000736&postcount=30" target="_blank">recent Blog post</a>.One of the D&D designers also mentioned that the rules for Fourth Edition would adapt very well to a video game which I thought was odd. If someone can find me the reference, please let me know.Lastly, there is <a href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/8161" target="_blank">this article</a>  I found on Ten Ton Hammer that pretty much surmises the same thing that I am.My parting thoughts are that the Forgotten Realms is obviously going through a HUGE shake up from all accounts from Wizards. How better to bring this to the D&D fans then with an MMO from a proven company like Bioware? How better to solidify the future of D&D and bring 4th Edition to the masses? I'm not a big MMO player myself and an MMO will never take the place of D&D. However, I would definitely be interested in playing an MMO based on the Realms. That would totally rock!This post will make me either a brilliant genius or a total idiot. Hopefully its the former.  <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/nervous.png"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":heh:" title="Nervous Laugh    :heh:" data-shortname=":heh:" /> What are your thoughts on this?</blockquote>

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