Company News BioWare community grows larger

[Saint_Proverbius]

Tags: BioWare

<A href="http://www.gamespot.com/">GameSpot</a> is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/pc/news/news_6086266.html">pimping themselves out</a> to <A href="http://www.bioware.com">BioWare</a> about their fan support:
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<blockquote>"Both Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and the Neverwinter Nights franchise benefit from fantastic fan support, and we aim to satisfy the needs of both communities with the BioWare Community Site, while also promoting future titles," added Dr. Greg Zeschuk, joint CEO of BioWare. "In 2004, we have a number of initiatives planned to support our fan communities, including the possibility of exciting online digital distribution plans for new game content. We will continue to sustain community activity as we move towards the release of the action RPG Jade Empire for Xbox in late 2004." </blockquote>
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<A href="http://www.swkotor.com">Knights of the Old Republic</a> has great fan support? I thought <a href="http://swforums.bioware.com/viewtopic.html?topic=278930&forum=27">fan support wouldn't be tolerated</a>. Oh well!
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[Killzig]

exciting online digital distribution plans for new game content

Holy shit, how many buzzwords can the press monkey fit in one sentence!? so what, they're going to start streaming their crappy NWN modules for a fee? buffering...buffering...

 

[Saint_Proverbius]

Was Steam part of the HL2 source code that was leaked? :D

 

[POOPERSCOOPER]

I still like the High Quality mods there making for NWN, like Witches Wake and stuff.

 

[triCritical]

I still like the High Quality mods there making for NWN, like Witches Wake and stuff.

What good is a high quality mod for a low quality engine?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

 

[Psilon]

High quality modules like The Dark Ranger's Treasure, right? Or Chickens vs. Penguins?

 

[Sol Invictus]

Yeah, Steam was definitely a large part of the leaked HL2 source code, which contributes in part to the 6 month delay of the title, as they have to completely rework the ID/CDKey/Hack-Proof system or people will be able to download copies of Half Life 2 with illegal cd keys. Not to mention the cheaters.

I have a feeling that it's not just pirates who got their hands on the source code, though. I'm sure a lot of legitimate programmers and software development houses downloaded it too, to steal or to adapt the (advanced) code.

 

[Nomad]

SP, you're confusing fan support for fan-created content. You're also confusing LucasArts restrictions on the use of its IP and fundamental game-design decisions like "single-player only" and "no end-user tools" with an unwillingness on BioWare's part to support community-created content.


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[POOPERSCOOPER]

High quality modules like The Dark Ranger's Treasure, right? Or Chickens vs. Penguins?

Of course! Bioware promised constant High Quality mods, and thats what they have been doing!

 

[Saint_Proverbius]

SP, you're confusing fan support for fan-created content. You're also confusing LucasArts restrictions on the use of its IP and fundamental game-design decisions like "single-player only" and "no end-user tools" with an unwillingness on BioWare's part to support community-created content.

Are you sure I am and not just following BioWare's lead on the subject? Go scroll through all their previous announcements about how much they love their community.

 

[Nomad]

Let's see:

1. They have several forums organized by platform, spoilers, technical support (self-help) and official announcements.

2. The forums are monitored by staff and community volunteers (or staff under aliases for the conspiracy theorists) to answer questions and ensure that people post in the right forum.

3. In the technical support forum, I see several sticky topics describing some of the known issues and possible work-arounds. I also see a lot of threads with posts from BioWare staff.

4. In the particular thread linked in the original post, I found 2 posts by BioWare staff. In one post, it's said that BioWare can't help people who encounter problems after using a cheat (that seems reasonable). The other post suggests that the 'no mod' policy may be a result of a LucasArts concern over Twilek porn.

That sounds pretty supportive considering the restrictions that they seem to have with LucasArts property (i.e. Star Wars).

Now, SP, I suspect you have a quote or link that will invalidate all of this. Care to share?


N.

 

[Araanor]

The other post suggests that the 'no mod' policy may be a result of a LucasArts concern over Twilek porn.

Knowing this, not sure if I could blame them.

 

[Sol Invictus]

LucasArts has a strong policy on games which would allow this degree of modification. They don't seem to have trouble with the modifications for Star Wars Battlegrounds as it isn't a title that would allow for such fun things as twilek porn and bastilla nude skins.

Just the same, Jedi Academy's mods are based on combat rather than story development.

KOTOR's one of those few games in which editing it would allow for such wonderful creations as the the sexual adventures of Bastila, or the sexual adventures of Bob the Rodian and his Jedi sex slave. I'm sure the suits at LucasArts got scared into this mindset when they saw the staggering amount of popularity such sex mods for NWN receive.

 

[Otaku_Hanzo]

I'm sure the suits at LucasArts got scared into this mindset when they saw the staggering amount of popularity such sex mods for NWN receive.

Yeah. Like Sex And The Single Adventuress.

 

[Rosh]

I'm sure the suits at LucasArts got scared into this mindset when they saw the staggering amount of popularity such sex mods for NWN receive.

No, I think it was specifically arising from the fact that Lucas' daughter was caught participating in the "Gay Minsc love interest" and "incest Imoen" threads with a bit too much interest, and the rest of that crap those sick little BioBuddy monkies are up to.

 

[DarkUnderlord]

And yes, LucasInsert-Company-Name-Here is very protective of their property and as such will never condone modifications to canonized material, like KoTOR.

Uhhh... Not being able to hit anyone with a lightsaber 4,000 years ago is canon now? Ouch.

 

[Dan]

Bio community grows larger? Damn, this world sucks ass.

 

[Sol Invictus]

KOTOR isn't canonized Star Wars material. Whoever wrote that is an ignorant dumbass.

 

[DemonKing]

I wouldn't rate myself a Bioware-basher by any means, having enjoyed the majority of their games I've played, but I get sick and tired of these pointless press releases they keep dumping on us.

"Oh - aren't we wonderful. Another few million chimps visited out site last year."

In addition, while I don't mind a moderator who steps in when posters get over-abusive, the Bioware thought police can be a bit much. I've had a critque of HOTU I placed there locked because...shock horror...I revealed that part of the game occurs in the Underdark. Apparently I wasn't allowed to reveal "story elements". *sigh*

 

[Saint_Proverbius]

1. They have several forums organized by platform, spoilers, technical support (self-help) and official announcements.

2. The forums are monitored by staff and community volunteers (or staff under aliases for the conspiracy theorists) to answer questions and ensure that people post in the right forum.

3. In the technical support forum, I see several sticky topics describing some of the known issues and possible work-arounds. I also see a lot of threads with posts from BioWare staff.

4. In the particular thread linked in the original post, I found 2 posts by BioWare staff. In one post, it's said that BioWare can't help people who encounter problems after using a cheat (that seems reasonable). The other post suggests that the 'no mod' policy may be a result of a LucasArts concern over Twilek porn.

Every single thing you mentioned is fairly common with a lot of developers. Providing forums for customers to talk about a game is nothing new, nor is having a few of those customers moderate the forum or having developers post on the forum.

In addition, while I don't mind a moderator who steps in when posters get over-abusive, the Bioware thought police can be a bit much. I've had a critque of HOTU I placed there locked because...shock horror...I revealed that part of the game occurs in the Underdark. Apparently I wasn't allowed to reveal "story elements". *sigh*

OMFG! Hordes of the Underdark has locations in the Underdark! You posted spoilers! I would have never guessed that from the title! You bastard!

 

[Rayt]

Don't the Bioboards have over one million registered users? Or is that just registered Bioware game users?

If you crap out this kind of sweet talking towards such a large community/fanbase your'e bound to impress tens or maybe hundreds of thousands of them. And blind fanboys/girls buy everything that has their favorite developer's brand on it. Just look at the absurd sales each Final Fantasy game sells, not matter how crap it is.

 

[Ausir]

Well, all games and books were considered canon by LucasArts... untile Episode 1, when Lucas stated that the Expanded Universe is an alternate reality.

 

[Transcendent One]

Bio fanboy community grows larger?

*hopes that Jade Empire sucks ass*

*realizes that people will still worship Bio cause it's Bio*

*thinks about something else*

 

[Nomad]

SP, I never said that what BioWare does in terms of customer support was unique or ground-breaking. Your original post suggested that BioWare does not support their fans and I was merely pointing out that they do. That other companies do as well is irrelevant, isn't it?


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[chrisbeddoes]

Bio fanboy community grows larger?

*hopes that Jade Empire sucks ass*

*realizes that people will still worship Bio cause it's Bio*

*thinks about something else*

And i still worthship Jenna because those videos are so good !