New NWN announcement

fable · Post by **fable** » Mon Feb 04, 2002 11:17 am

NEW YORK, NY and LYON, FRANCE – February 4, 2002 – Global interactive games publisher Infogrames, through an agreement with renowned game developer BioWare Corp., has secured the global publishing rights for the hotly anticipated role-playing game (RPG), Neverwinter Nights™, excluding certain pre-existing licenses held by Interplay Entertainment. The PC game, based on the wildly popular Dungeons & Dragons® game published by Wizards of the Coast, is scheduled to be launched worldwide in the Summer of 2002. Infogrames, Inc. (Nasdaq: IFGM) and parent company Infogrames Entertainment SA (Euronext: 5257) will handle U.S. and European publishing, respectively.

“We are thrilled to add a product like Neverwinter Nights to our global catalog,” said Bruno Bonnell, Chairman and CEO of Infogrames. “The Dungeons & Dragons franchise has been a major force in defining the RPG genre and with Neverwinter Nights, BioWare has created a new standard of excellence. Retailers around the world are already eagerly awaiting this game and we are putting our full worldwide distribution network of 50,000 retail outlets behind this title to meet the demand this summer.”

Neverwinter Nights is the most fully featured RPG ever. The first computer game to completely recreate the classic “pen and paper” role-playing game in stunning 3D, Neverwinter Nights features a dynamic single player storyline, advanced graphics technology, revolutionary online multiplayer capabilities and the extraordinary new “Dungeon Master” feature.

“Neverwinter Nights will change everything you thought you knew about computer role playing games,” said Jean Philippe Agati, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Infogrames’ Los Angeles studio. “Neverwinter Nights’ unmatched quality represents everything that Infogrames stands for, from unprecedented 3D graphics technology to genre-defining gameplay to a never-ending, user-created multiplayer component. This game will be equally entertaining for hardcore RPGers and those new to the genre.”

The ‘official campaign,’ which can be played in single or multi-player, will thrust gamers into a deep, enriching fantasy world with 60 hours of gameplay across four engrossing chapters. Players will enjoy a fast-paced adventure, revolving around an epic story of faith, war and betrayal. The intuitive user interface was designed to be accessible to new RPG gamers as well as the hardcore fan base.

In a gaming first, Neverwinter Nights allows gamers to design, build, and share their own role-playing modules using the “BioWare Auroraä Neverwinter Toolset.” Gamers will take the role of online “Dungeon Master,” creating and presenting their challenges to the Internet community with support for up to 64 players simultaneously. Online gamers will be able to enhance their Neverwinter Nights experience with an exclusive community that will foster the development of new adventures and offer resources for Dungeon Masters, module builders and players.

“This is a game that will live for years and we’re excited to be working with a publisher like Infogrames. We’re both dedicated to quality and to pushing the limits of existing game genres,” said Ray Muzyka Joint CEO and Co-Executive Producer of BioWare’s games. “We’re committed to making sure that Neverwinter Nights is the best it can be. It has been a long road, but the game will be worth the wait,” added Greg Zeshchuk, BioWare’s other Joint CEO and Co-Executive Producer.

“Neverwinter Nights gamers will have unprecedented gameplay options,” said Trent Oster, BioWare’s Neverwinter Nights producer. “Adventure as a single player through user-created modules or play with a group of friends through the official campaign storyline. Or you can be the Dungeon Master for your friends on an adventure you created using the Toolset. Whatever you choose, Neverwinter Nights will provide limitless adventure.”

Neverwinter Nights is in development at BioWare Corp., creators of the ground breaking Baldur’s Gate role-playing games. Neverwinter Nights will be available worldwide in Summer 2002 and can be pre-ordered today at all videogame retail outlets.

THE JAKER · Post by **THE JAKER** » Mon Feb 04, 2002 10:40 pm

oH Drat!, drat!, double drat!

I can't believe they pushed the date back! I mean, I can believe it, but they said 'Winter' so confidently for so long I think I actually believed it...

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Mon Feb 04, 2002 11:53 pm

Messege from BioWares board
BioWare's new publishing partner, Infogrames, has just announced in their press release that Neverwinter Nights will be launched worldwide in Summer, 2002. We apologize for the delay in getting back to you during the day today - we want to try to clarify this date announcement since so many people have been posting about it on the message boards.

Please understand that we are committed to releasing games when they are finished, polished and ready for the world. For a game as complex, epic and multifaceted as Neverwinter Nights, this is especially the case. The massive scope and flexibility intrinsic in the Toolset, the DM Client and the Official Campaign will be unprecedented in the gaming world and, as a result, we must carefully test every aspect of Neverwinter Nights. With a new publisher, there is a new plan for marketing, QA, localization and distribution.

To that end, BioWare and Infogrames now feel that Summer 2002 (which could mean as early as May or June) is a good conservative estimate of the distribution date - guaranteeing a game worthy of the quality inherent under the titles of Dungeons and Dragons, Infogrames and BioWare. We are still aiming for the same development completion targets that we were aiming for in the past, but Infogrames and BioWare both want to provide a safe target window for the game to be ready in terms of the things that are covered by the publisher working in conjunction with the development team - distribution, localization, marketing and testing.

Thanks - as always as we get more information we'll update you. Our fans are very important to us.

Ray Muzyka Greg Zeschuk
Joint CEO's BioWare Corp.

This states that they are clearly consider summer (from may and forward) to be a good bet on the realeseperiode.
But we must remember that there still is no date - and therefore it can not be pushed back

- so don't be to annyoed if they "push" it even futher

because this is not a official date, more than a projected timeperiode

Pebz · Post by **Pebz** » Tue Feb 05, 2002 6:52 am

*sigh* this was really not unexpected

fable · Post by **fable** » Tue Feb 05, 2002 7:25 am

With a new publisher, there is a new plan for marketing, QA, localization and distribution.

This is the relevant part.

Nightmare · Post by **Nightmare** » Tue Feb 05, 2002 8:21 pm

There was alot of speculation about it being released in March...

Now its as early as May...

*grumble*

Xyx · Post by **Xyx** » Thu Feb 07, 2002 4:26 pm

It's easy to say that the game is already finished when it won't be released for another six months. The definition of "finished" is a rather loose one. It might have been "finished", but not yet playtested, for example.

75% or so of software projects fails to deliver on time. Why would this be any different?

fable · Post by **fable** » Thu Feb 07, 2002 5:08 pm

I'd heard that it was completed tested, but that Infogrammes wants to prevent severe pirating in Asia by getting a heavy release there at the same time as Europe and the US.

ThorinOakensfield · Post by **ThorinOakensfield** » Thu Feb 07, 2002 6:31 pm

Originally posted by fable
I'd heard that it was completed tested, but that Infogrammes wants to prevent severe pirating in Asia by getting a heavy release there at the same time as Europe and the US.

Yeah, there's alot of pirating in Asia. Most of the games don't work, and definetely never work with add-ons/downloads/expansion packs, and often come with other glitches, such as no saving ability.

fable · Post by **fable** » Fri Feb 08, 2002 9:49 am

Originally posted by ThorinOakensfield

Yeah, there's alot of pirating in Asia. Most of the games don't work, and definetely never work with add-ons/downloads/expansion packs, and often come with other glitches, such as no saving ability.

I've been given to understand that even when a reputable company makes good, over-the-counter software in local languages for consumption in Asia, the product doesn't sell, because so many people are expecting to buy it for far less on the pirate market--even if that means no maps, no book, and partially broken code.

Invincible121 · Post by **Invincible121** » Mon Feb 11, 2002 9:38 am

There is a lot of piratating in GB as well,
for example on sunday i saw a copy of NWN at a carboot sale!
I dd'nt buy it because it was obviously counterfeit and woud have been full of bugs and stuff mentioned by thorin.

KidD01 · Post by **KidD01** » Mon Feb 11, 2002 12:21 pm

DAMN ! I've been saving my money just for NWN now another delay ?

I should have bought PoR if I knew they gona delay delay and delay !

fable · Post by **fable** » Sat Feb 16, 2002 5:06 pm

Originally posted by KidD01
DAMN ! I've been saving my money just for NWN now another delay ? I should have bought PoR if I knew they gona delay delay and delay !

You wouldn't think that if you'd played PoR.

Nightmare · Post by **Nightmare** » Mon Mar 18, 2002 4:25 pm

Bioware just announced the composer. The same guy who did the Icewind Dale music.

YES!