No DM Client in NWN2 on release

[Ranger REG]

So it will be released online ... for free or do I have to steal my neighbor's plastic?

 

[Bront]

And yet you're doing just that.

Personally, I'd rather you delay the product release until you do have a DM Client added. This must suck to the customers who are waiting on NWN2 on the appointed sales date, but your decision sucks to everyone else that the product they're going to pay is not wholly complete. Like selling a house with no plumbing.

If you intend to stay on this current course -- simply to meet the deadline -- then the DM Client better not be a commercial expansion product (I'm not paying extra for something should have been a standard feature as the previous version) but provided as a free patch.

I disagree with you, assuming it will be a free patch later.

I personaly have no interest in multi-player NWN, and enjoyed the single player modules a lot. As long as there will be tools to creat worlds, I don't see the DM client as a nessessity.

Also, what if they expanded the functionality of it? For example, allowing the DM client to not only host the game and world, but actualy host the character data, and even add more tools that we wouldn't have thought of normaly? That's extra value added, and indeed could be a good product by itself.

How would you feel if the price of NWN2 was droped because of the lack of DM tools and then they were sold as an expansion pack? Then those who only want the single player don't pay for it.

 

[LrdApoc]

I asked the question directly after doing my interview with Obsidian in the Atari area and I'll tell you that both the guys demoing the game for the convention looked a bit sheepish, apologized and confirmed that it would most likely not be in the retail. Howevert he mod toolkit is - people will still have the ability to create content at launch.

Keep in mind that Oblivion, a game which everyone expected a mod toolkit with on the disc, did not ship with it but allows download and the mod market has exploded since. The DM client may turn out similarly. If Oblivion does not make the release with the tool then so be it. The game has gotten a major upgrade and the toolkit is quite improved fromt he original based on my hands on time.

I'm keeping an open mind on this.

 

[Allura]

From the E3 commentary movie, it sounds like they were focused on three main aspects: the single player campaign, multiplayer fuctionality, and the toolset. That's a LOT when you think about it honestly. If they have to pick something to drop or be late with, the DM client is probably the place. I played NWN for 2 years at least, completely in solo mode, but using LOTS of mods. I suspect from a marketing PoV, that's their market. Since, frankly, there's good web tools for playing real D&D online, and there's plenty of multiplayer games (MMORPGs, mostly) as well. The market's truly lacking in single player CRPG's (so of course, Oblivion AND NWN2 come out the same year...).

Besides, better to wait for something good than ship crap.

 

[Mycanid]

Not that big of a deal. I used the solo interface most of the time anyway, although I did like the multiplayer aspect. If they release it online that's fine with me. I won't use it. BUT I do know other modders from NWN1 who are very interested in this side of things, and I would hope they would be able to have this option available to them too!

By the way, anyone seen the trailer for NWN2 yet? I was not particularly overwhelmed by it. Any other feedback on this?

 

[Lazybones]

By the way, anyone seen the trailer for NWN2 yet? I was not particularly overwhelmed by it. Any other feedback on this?

Saw the trailer... meh, but then again, I'm probably not the target audience, as I generally play NWN multiplayer as a DM, and I'm not particularly concerned about the included campaign (I did not finish any of the 3 original campaigns that came with NWN and its expansions).

The gameplay videos that came out during e3 have interested me more, and while I'm impressed by a lot of the new things, I am worried about a few issues (for instance, the combat animations are still pretty rough at this point).

 

[talmar]

Well, according to Obsidian the DM Client will be released online the same day the game goes on sale. I'm assuming for free. You'll probably need to download the DM Client through NWN2 in a similar fasion to how NWN1 downloaded it's patches.

Josh explained that because the recent work of integrating multiplayer and GameSpy matching was more complicated than expected, it made the work on the DM client get delayed to the point now where they will offer it as a free download on release to make sure that it's a full package. One thing that Feargus stressed is that there will be a DM client and there is a thread on the official forums where people are offering suggestions on what improvements they'd like to see.

Info from a 3 day interview/tour. You can find the whole thing here

 

[KenM]

Well, according to Obsidian the DM Client will be released online the same day the game goes on sale. I'm assuming for free. You'll probably need to download the DM Client through NWN2 in a similar fasion to how NWN1 downloaded it's patches.



Info from a 3 day interview/tour. You can find the whole thing here

Thats not that bad then.