[IMPORTANT] A campaign to get the official tools released

Not only does this present the possible risk of legal action as Tal mentioned, but the tools aren't likely to be as useful as you think. When a game developer doesn't intend to release its tools to the public, it rarely bothers to refine them to the point that they will be even remotely user-friendly. Without the source code, it is highly unlikely that the tools will even be all that useful for co8's purposes and, to put it bluntly, there is no way in hell that Atari is going to release the source code of such a recent game. You don't compromise the source code of an engine that is still viable. Atari may plan on making another game with TOEE's engine and even if they don't plan on using the engine to create another CRPG they are likely thinking about selling it for the right price. Potential game developers are going to be less (in other words, not even remotely) interested in buying the engine if its source code is public domain.

 

I don't care to make a prediction, but if you want to add another voice to the cacophany consider mine sounded.

 

I'll happily sign such a petition. I also know several people who don't follow the forum but play the game that will sign it as well.

 

Well I voted for it, but I'm leary of losing what we already have... This game sat on my shelf starting two weeks after I bought it and was recently revived when I saw all of the neat stuff you guys have done. I don't know the first thing about modding, but I happily play the game with all the upgrades and fixes and am really looking forward to the new mod currently under construction for a whole new adventure. While I do wish the modders had whatever tools they needed to make the best games possible, I don't want to lose what we already have. I do understand corporations and if Atari thinks they may lose a portion of the ~6800 possible sales of NWN2 because of TOEE being modded and reused you can bet this site will be shut down quickly and those who they can show evidence have done any illegal editting of the game will be prosecuted just to send a message if nothing else... That's how the big boys play, however unfortunate it is.

 

I'm down. Perhaps pointing out the popularity of NWN and how the mods tied to that could help.

Or, if they really want money, maybe ask them to release a $20 gold edition with the fixed game and the editor. I mean, I imagine the fact that the game was released broken hurt sales a bit, and I know something similar happened with Dungeon Lords and they released a fixed edition. I imagine they didn't release the modding tools because they were planning on a sequel, but now that those plans seem scrapped I would think that they might as well squeeze what they can out of an old game. Ok, enough of my crazy ideas, just hope something happens.

 

If nothing else, I think 5.0 is going to be a big hit and may bring in a bunch of people. I really like this game, and I'm kind of surprised there's not a lot more people involved. Time will tell.

 

Since I have been visiting these forums, it has always been a few to several people sign on when they visit here [who are, mostly, regulars] and there are an additional two times up to as many as six times the number of people who never sign on while visiting here, daily.

[EDIT] It's like they feel they do not know enough about D&D as a game or its rules to cast an opinion or vote OR are afraid to make an Internet site signon account [oh no, cannot do that] OR they, honestly, do not care to post anything.

 

Well, you can rely on my e-help, for what it's worth. I might not have a lot to say here, but I thoroughly enjoy all the work you've done over the years.

 

I'll put my support!

 

Exactly what I was thinking (and so I quoted everything, altough it's a direct violation of netiquette). We all live are in a world that follows the rules of free market, so we'll have to work with them. If Atari pushes games that we do not like at the (deliberate) expense of their games that we like, well, they do it at their own risk (market-wise). I'm not saying that I think they'll end like SSI, but I do think they're making the same mistakes, and intentionally too.
I do not know the costs they have to pay in order to put a copy on the shelves, but I think they're passing over the chanche of grabbing, all for themselves, a market niche.
I understand they won't be able to support a game that does have problems and that they didn't make, being programmed by a company that is no more, so I guess they would be quite at loss if they wanted to -say- realease a ToEE Gold edition, but, still, they shouldn't pass the opportunity to make a little money (and brand diffusion) without doing any actual work to deserve it. Or they could discover, someday, that the "invisible hand" is spanking them.

BTW, I voted "yes".

 

Of course you did. The single "no" voter made his identity no secret. :wave: