WotC New WotC Game Studio Headed By Bioware's James Ohlen

Mistwell · Apr 25, 2019

Jacob Lewis said:
Let me get this straight. Famous D&D video game designer of a legendary D&D video game franchise is hired by the publishers of the most popular edition of D&D as the head of a new video game studio for the company that owns D&D... but is NOT working on a D&D game??!

Cmdr. Susan Ivanova: "Absolutely nothing happened in Sector 83 by 9 by 12 today. I repeat, nothing happened in Sector 83 by 9 by 12."

Emirikol_Prime · Apr 25, 2019

I'm hyped no matter what. Especially a new IP from Wizards. That's amazing!

Jacob Lewis · Apr 25, 2019

Mistwell said:
Cmdr. Susan Ivanova: "Absolutely nothing happened in Sector 83 by 9 by 12 today. I repeat, nothing happened in Sector 83 by 9 by 12."

View attachment 106072

LuisCarlos17f · Apr 25, 2019

I imagine maybe they want to create the ultimate RPG where players not only can create and customize their characters, but also new quests/missions/adventures, with a player as Dungeon Master as a asymmetric multiplayer game, with the target to can publish a mixture of RPG liveplay show and videogame streaming.

Sometimes it is easier to start from zero with a new franchise what create an adaptation with the old game mechanic. And like "guilds of Ravnica", the lore could later to be adapted to D&D.

Demetrios1453 · Apr 25, 2019

I wonder if WotC doesn't have a D&D game already secretly in development, which would contractually not allow them to have Ohlen also start development on a D&D game.

Either that, or Ohlen had a really interesting original IP idea he wanted to develop, and WotC were excited by it as well, and agreed to work with him on it (or the reverse, with WotC creating a new IP and approaching Ohlen, but, still, you'd think they'd go D&D or M:tG first and use an established brand as the base).

Ricochet · Apr 25, 2019

Doubtful, Demetrios. They are notoriously dragging their feet in regards to video games. It's a huge investment, I get that, but they need to pull the trigger to capitalize on all of the podcasts and Youtube shows etc. that will earn them untold advertisement (provided the game is GOOD, which in turn will cost more money then they seem to be willing to spend).

ZeshinX · Apr 25, 2019

The market is plenty ready for a 5e D&D game. Hell, I've been waiting for one since the horrid Sword Coast Legends (which was advertised as 5e, but was barely D&D, let alone 5e). It's been 5 years since it died ignominiously and took nSpace down with it...time to give it a proper go.

I tried to scratch the itch with Pathfinder Kingmaker....but I've discovered rather quickly I have entirely burned out my interest in Pathfinder (or, more accurately, the 3.x ruleset....it's just too much number porn and fiddly, ultimately meaningless bonuses that really do nothing).

Ibrandul · Apr 25, 2019

Demetrios1453 said:
I wonder if WotC doesn't have a D&D game already secretly in development, which would contractually not allow them to have Ohlen also start development on a D&D game.

Pretty sure this is it. They've licensed BGIII away to someone else. Remember this? Short version: as of last October, an industry insider said that a game studio (but not Beamdog) was working on Baldur's Gate III.

ZeshinX · Apr 25, 2019

jeremypowell said:
Pretty sure this is it. They've licensed BGIII away to someone else. Remember this? Short version: as of last October, an industry insider said that a game studio (but not Beamdog) was working on Baldur's Gate III.

I really hope it's not Baldur's Gate III. That story ended in Throne of Bhaal. I have no qualms if they use the Baldur's Gate name, but lose the 'III'. Even if it deals with the ramifications of the Bhaalspawn saga, it should not be labeled the third BG game. Use the Baldur's Gate title, certainly, but drop the numeral and give it its own subtitle (assuming this game actually even IS in development...the video game industry has become nigh-impossible to trust these days).

Umbran · Apr 25, 2019

Demetrios1453 said:
Perhaps they are going to let him do something as a test run to make sure he can still produce quality products before letting him play with the big toys?

Note that he's not going to be doing all the code and testing and stuff *HIMSELF*. If they have any brains whatsoever, the question isn't about *HIM*, specifically. It is about this entirely new studio. It is whether this new team, with possibly an entirely new organization - from office space to desks and chairs through software tools to team organization, staffing, and processes - can produce quality products. It is much more than just the one guy.