Development Info NWN 1.28 patch screws up the editor

[Saint_Proverbius]

Tags: Neverwinter Nights

Looks like someone in QA kind of slipped up, because the <A href="http://nwn.bioware.com/support/patch.html">1.28 patch</a> for <a href="http://nwn.bioware.com">BioWare</a> kind of kills the editor, which most people who are still clinging to the game think is the #1 Feature. Here's what <b>Derek French</b> had to say about the <a href="http://nwn.bioware.com/forums/viewtopic.html?topic=192546&forum=46">patch bug</a>:
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<blockquote>There is an issue in the current 1.28 English Toolset for Neverwinter Nights where deleting a script on a creature, etc. and it will replace the script with the word 'RESREF'. You can save and run your module and it won't break anything, but this is a significant enough problem that we are going to handle it outside of the normal patching process. We have a fixed version of the Toolset available for download right now, BUT you must also either back up your old Toolset or download the original 1.28 Toolset from us, otherwise you will break your ability to update the game to 1.29. This issue is an English version only issue, and will not be in the upcoming non-English versions of the 1.28 Update.
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1. Back up your existing 1.28 NWToolset.exe file to someplace safe.
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2. Download the <a href="http://nwdownloads.bioware.com/neverwinternights/patch/english/NWToolset1.28Fix.zip">fixed 1.28 NWToolset</a>.
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3. Unzip the contents of this zip file into your Neverwinter Nights directory.
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4. Enjoy a 'RESREF'-free version of the Toolset.
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When the 1.29 patch comes around you must either:
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1. Restore your backed up Toolset from step 1, above.
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- OR -
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2. Download the <A href="http://nwdownloads.bioware.com/neverwinternights/patch/english/NWToolset1.28Orig.zip">Original 1.28 NWToolset</a>.
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Our apologies for this inconvenience.</blockquote>
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Kind of makes you wonder how they QA the editor part of the patch, doesn't it?
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Thanks to <b>Darkness40k</b> for the heads up, and <A href="http://nwvault.ign.com/index2.shtml">NWVault</a> for providing the easy cut and paste location.

 

[Vault Dweller]

Can't say I'm surprised. Unfortunately the blind fools known as NWN fans would probably find a way and a reason to overlook yet another screw up.

 

[Jed]

Actually, the fans will probably code a fix that Bioware will then implement, which Bio will then take indirect credit for in a self-gratualtory press release on having created a game so great that it attracts such an incredibly strong community. Bioware will then present the fix back to the community as a gift showing how much they care about their "community."

Am I cynical?

J

 

[Spazmo]

Nah, most often BioWare will ignore problems when reported by customers and then quietly fix them in the next patch (and I use the term loosely). I wonder what they'll do for KOTOR on Xbox? If it's as bug-riddled as NWN, that'll be a problem since they won't be able to patch it.

 

[Vault Dweller]

Actually, the fans will probably code a fix that Bioware will then implement, which Bio will then take indirect credit for in a self-gratualtory press release on having created a game so great that it attracts such an incredibly strong community. Bioware will then present the fix back to the community as a gift showing how much they care about their "community."

This is the most accurate description of Bioware Marketing Machine. Bravo!

Am I cynical?

Nope, merely observant

 

[Saint_Proverbius]

Nah, most often BioWare will ignore problems when reported by customers and then quietly fix them in the next patch (and I use the term loosely). I wonder what they'll do for KOTOR on Xbox? If it's as bug-riddled as NWN, that'll be a problem since they won't be able to patch it.

That's a good question, especially since the XBox one is supposed to come out very shortly. BioWare's always had lengthy bug fix lists in their patches too, and they're nearly always areas where they fucked up the underlying mechanics of the game system. Hell, this patch's list of D&D rules fixes alone is fairly astonishing, considering the game is eight months old and they're still fixing the rules system.