Post by Morreion on Aug 25, 2010 8:39:50 GMT -5
Neverwinter official site
Neverwinter Nights MMO? (MMORPG.com)
In a mysterious announcement at this year's GenCon, Atari indicated that it was working on a Dungeons & Dragons based MMO but could not discuss it at the time. The announcement came during a discussion of new D&D products, as reported by Critical-Hits.com. In addition, SuperAnnuation.com has discovered that several domain names have been purchased by Atari including VisitNeverwinter.com, Neverwinter-game.com, NeverwinterGame.com, PlayNeverwinter.com, and SaveNeverwinter.com. The domain registry was completed on August 4th and doesn't expire until 2013.
Neverwinter Exclusive Q&A - First Details on Cryptic's New Dungeons & Dragons Game (Gamespot)
We're working hand in hand with Wizards of the Coast to translate 4th Edition into our game.
As far as translating the mechanics, there are, of course, the time-honored D&D attributes (strength, dexterity, etc.). One of the best things about 4th Edition is that poor little charisma is useful (that's a shout-out to any old gamers like me). You'll also find D&D's character classes, at least the fundamental ones, in the game.
In terms of class abilities, we're using the same concept of "recharge," which breaks a player's abilities into three categories: at will, once per encounter, and daily. General abilities like a basic sword attack are at will. Slightly more-powerful abilities can only be used once per encounter, and even-more-powerful abilities can be used only once per day.
Instead of that hard-and-fast division, we're using actual time increments, where at will means usable at all times, a once per encounter is a power designed to be used once every encounter, and dailies are used once every few hours.
As far as translating the mechanics, there are, of course, the time-honored D&D attributes (strength, dexterity, etc.). One of the best things about 4th Edition is that poor little charisma is useful (that's a shout-out to any old gamers like me). You'll also find D&D's character classes, at least the fundamental ones, in the game.
In terms of class abilities, we're using the same concept of "recharge," which breaks a player's abilities into three categories: at will, once per encounter, and daily. General abilities like a basic sword attack are at will. Slightly more-powerful abilities can only be used once per encounter, and even-more-powerful abilities can be used only once per day.
Instead of that hard-and-fast division, we're using actual time increments, where at will means usable at all times, a once per encounter is a power designed to be used once every encounter, and dailies are used once every few hours.
The List: Four Immediate Thoughts on Cryptic’s Neverwinter
In this week's The List column, Bill Murphy offers four immediate thoughts about yesterday's announcement that Cryptic Studios is developing Neverwinter, an online cooperative RPG. Bill runs the gamut of emotion in his list. See if you agree and then add some of your own thoughts!
3.) Holy crap, we’re gonna pay for everything…
If Cryptic’s been making a name for itself for anything outside of mediocre MMO releases, it’s charging subscribing players for services and goods that very well should have or could have been included at release. My second thought then, after the announcement sunk in, was that sure we’ll get a serviceable D&D game that’s a little shallow. But not only will we be asked to pay a monthly subscription for it, we’ll also be asked to pay $5 a pop for new character slots, for access to different races, and of course for re-rolling our character’s stats. Now don’t get all fired up at me, Cryptic fans. I still play Champions Online from time to time. I know you can get re-specs through in-game money. I’m merely saying that Cryptic has made a name for itself these past two years by making games that are light on content to begin with, and then charging additional money for stuff that probably should be included in the base-price.
If Cryptic’s been making a name for itself for anything outside of mediocre MMO releases, it’s charging subscribing players for services and goods that very well should have or could have been included at release. My second thought then, after the announcement sunk in, was that sure we’ll get a serviceable D&D game that’s a little shallow. But not only will we be asked to pay a monthly subscription for it, we’ll also be asked to pay $5 a pop for new character slots, for access to different races, and of course for re-rolling our character’s stats. Now don’t get all fired up at me, Cryptic fans. I still play Champions Online from time to time. I know you can get re-specs through in-game money. I’m merely saying that Cryptic has made a name for itself these past two years by making games that are light on content to begin with, and then charging additional money for stuff that probably should be included in the base-price.
Cryptic + Next D&D Game = (Keen & Graev's Gaming Blog)
I don’t care if it’s not a MMO. Cryptic simply does not have the ability to make good games. They lack the basic understanding of how to make a game fun and engaging. There’s no need to go any further and explain the plethora of individual failings seen in their games — they’re simply not any fun.
Let’s talk about another issue. If this is a multiplayer coop RPG game with up to five players… isn’t that kinda what Neverwinter Nights has been capable of being all along? I played NWN with Graev and another one of our friends through the full game and its expansions. Are they going to support it on a platform of sorts to create an experience closer to Diablo’s multiplayer instead of a server browser?
Let’s talk about another issue. If this is a multiplayer coop RPG game with up to five players… isn’t that kinda what Neverwinter Nights has been capable of being all along? I played NWN with Graev and another one of our friends through the full game and its expansions. Are they going to support it on a platform of sorts to create an experience closer to Diablo’s multiplayer instead of a server browser?
Cryptic is 1 for 3 in my book- CoX, their original game, is by all reports a good game; CO and STO are not. At least I won't have inflated expectations for this title
