D&D Computer Games

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I think The Elder Scrolls is indeed a good example of "deep" RPGs succeeding. Honestly, I think only Bethesda is standing in the way of Bethesda having a jumbo-sized hit with the franchise.

 

[Asmor]

Argh... If they come out with a D&D RPG like Oblivion, I think I'll take a pass...

There's such a thing as too open, and Oblivion is a good example of that.

Although to be fair I might be a bit more interested in a D&D-flavored Oblivion just because I'd probably be more interested in the setting (assuming it's set in Eberron).

 

[KingCrab]

Ahhh yes. Torment was indeed the best CRPG ever.

 

[Scott_Rouse]

As long as we're waxing nostalgic, I think it's a crime that anyone can mention Baldur's Gate without mentioning Planescape: Torment.

Best. CRPG. Ever.

I got a call about a month ago from someone looking to option the movie rights to the Torment storyline

 

[Lancelot]

Heh. I'll agree with you there, Asmor. That's probably the main reason I think Oblivion was a "step in the right direction", rather than "the perfect RPG". Too many dungeons, too many cookie-cutter characters...

The thing that appeals to me about Fallout III (at least from initial previews) is Bethesda trimming the NPCs down from thousands to hundreds, and making them much more distinct. Improving the storyline. Offering more compelling choices, that aren't always black-and-white. i've heard similar things about another upcoming RPG: the Witcher.

Returning to D&D... My initial reaction to NWN2 was a bit luke-warm, but it has grown on me. There's an expansion pack coming which could make it even better. If the NWN franchise is the future of D&D CRPG's... it could be worse. I pine for the days of Planescape Torment and Baldurs Gate 2, but I'm hopeful that the NWN2's and the Oblivions show that the hard-core CRPG is far from dead.

My worst nightmare is a world where the only "CRPGs" on the horizon are Diablo III and World of Warcraft 2, and all level of depth is replaced by how fast you can punch your controller buttons or shake your Wii stick. Brrrr....

 

[ShadowX]

I think The Elder Scrolls is indeed a good example of "deep" RPGs succeeding. Honestly, I think only Bethesda is standing in the way of Bethesda having a jumbo-sized hit with the franchise.

Actually the problem with Oblivion was that it wasn't deep. You have this absolutely gianormous game that is as shallow as your stereotypical blonde. It, like its predecessor, was an MMORPG except that it took out the only worthwhile part of the genre—all the other players.

Personally, I eagerly await D&D Tactics, though recent news dampens my hopes.

 

[Lancelot]

I got a call about a month ago from someone looking to option the movie rights to the Torment storyline

Wow - that's awesome! The cynic in me wonders if it wouldn't end up as a Uwe Boll or Michael Bay film with Brad Pitt as the Nameless One and Paris Hilton as Fall-From-Grace... but it's good to hear there's still some interest in THE classic CRPG.

 

[takyris]

If Atari/Infogrames go out of business Wizards of the Coast would presumably get the rights back to Dungeons & Dragons video games. Gleemax could take off if it was the exclusive access to a new version of D&D Online.

Oh, that it were that easy.

I'm not saying it isn't, but I don't think we know whether it is or isn't or... what. The reason that I suspect that it might not be as easy as you describe is that I made the... enlightening... decision to ask a longtime veteran at BioWare who actually had the rights to the Baldur's Gate franchise. Half an hour later, I realized why working in your own IP was the way to go if you could handle it financially. None of this "Company X owns the rights to the term 'Baldur's Gate' but Company Y owns the right to use that edition of D&D in a gaming engine and Company Z has a stated position regarding any further D&D games set in recognizeable Forgotten Realms areas, and the companies aren't on friendly terms, so the choice would be 'Make a non-D&D Baldur's Gate game' or 'Make a D&D game in a totally new world and area', and we'd have to make three different and sometimes competing people happy."

I'm getting a lot of that wrong, because my head exploded at some point, but basically, while WotC might have a better handle on things legal-wise, I don't think it's wise to assume that Atari's announcement means anything as cut and dried as you think.

Not saying we can't talk about it -- it makes for interesting conversation, after all.

Personally, I loved Torment's storyline, but I wanted more challenging combat, and there was a long stretch in the middle that felt like a Sierra-era "look how clever we are" puzzle that broke my suspension of disbelief. BG2 gave me a storyline I liked and combat that had me swearing every time I reloaded. I think that NWN's OC was a great multiplayer game, and once BioWare realized that most people were playing it single-player, they put out a couple of really strong expansion packs with stories that would make lone players happy. (While I work there now, this was what I thought before working there -- I did apply because I liked the place, after all.)

 

[Thurbane]

ToEE...(again, IMHO) features the best translation of D&D's combat rules EVER.

QFT - that is what I really love about ToEE.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

My worst nightmare is a world where the only "CRPGs" on the horizon are Diablo III and World of Warcraft 2, and all level of depth is replaced by how fast you can punch your controller buttons or shake your Wii stick. Brrrr....

Er, have you played Diablo II or World of Warcraft? Neither is a button-mashing game. Indeed, both limit how often actions can be taken to explicitly prevent it being all about the button-mashing.

And if you're looking for depth of lore and deep RPG mysteries, WoW measures up to all but the densest CRPGs. Even if many players don't really care about it, Blizzard puts it in there.