Interview Shadows of Undrentide interview at GameSpy

[Saint_Proverbius]

Tags: Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide

<a href="http://www.gamespy.com/">GameSpy</a> has posted an <A href="http://www.gamespy.com/interviews/february03/nwnundrentide/">interview</a> with <b>Rick Enrst</b> of <i>Floodgate Studios</i> about their upcoming expansion to <A href="http://nwn.bioware.com">Neverwinter Nights</a>.
<br>
<br>
<blockquote><b>GameSpy: Are you adding or doing anything new with the henchmen?
<br>
<br>
Rick Ernst:</b> We're adding quite a bit to the henchmen and their abilities. One of the things we've really tried to accomplish in Shadows of Undrentide is to integrate the henchmen more closely into the story. Thus, they'll actively participate in conversations with NPCs, comment on your actions, give advice, and if they don't like the decisions you are making, they may just up and leave.
<br>
<br>
We hope this will make henchmen feel more like partners, or at least valued minions. We are also trying to add some significant new abilities to your partner/minion. We've also added more tactical commands to the henchman repertoire, such as "Go Stealthy" and "Don't Attack until I Do."</blockquote>
<br>
<br>
That actually sounds like a pretty gall darn nice addition.
<br>
<br>
Spotted this at <A href="http://www.homelanfed.com">HomeLAN Fed</a>.

 

[Spazmo]

So they're stealing some stuff dedicated modders made and calling it new features?

 

[HanoverF]

Why do I get the sneaking suspicion that they'll make them "Valued Minions" by throwing a couple hundrer *more* traps you need that rogue henchman to deactivate.

 

[Saint_Proverbius]

So they're stealing some stuff dedicated modders made and calling it new features?

Most likely, but then again, those dedicated modders are stuck with the shit end of the stick and just don't know it. Basically, it boils down to this:

When BioWare doesn't do it, BioWare makes money.
When modders do it, BioWare makes money.
When BioWare/Floodgate do it, BioWare/Floodgate makes money.

The modders are basically making this game work, and getting hosed for it. Because of the EULA, BioWare has every legal right to use what the modders do in a commercial expansion, without paying the modders, too. I'm not saying that's what they're doing, but they could be doing it.

 

[Walks with the Snails]

It's not exactly like no one was saying this would happen when the EULA came out in the first place. It is kind of funny when developers put in that kind of language with the justification that they don't want others to make money off their hard work... and then turn around and make money off of other people's hard work. I wish a more equitable system would come into play, spending my time modding might actually seem more worthwhile if I had a chance to get paid for it, and as long as it doesn't take away money from something that developers have spent time on and and legitimately earned, I don't see what the problem would be. So in other words, you buy NWN, you pay Bio for the time they spent on it. You buy my mod, you pay me for the time I spent on it. Sounds fair.

 

[Jed]

The sad thing is that probably most, if not all, of the modders whose content is being implemented feel so awed at being included in their most favorite game that they likely don't care that their hard work is essentially being exploited.

J