Damn, I leave the internet alone for THREE days, and all hell breaks loose.

http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2829073,00.html

Anyone know details on this?

Bioware told Interplay to suck it. Interplay asked, "suck what?" Then they realized that it was something naughty and acted all flustered.

Brad Grenz

Wow. That's pretty wild.

Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing Bioware self-publish from now on. Not that I have anything against Interplay, and have been very pleased with the Baldur's Gate games (so they must have been doing something right) -- but I'm very impressed with Bioware, and I think they could pull it off just the same.

It's hard to imagine NWN coming out without Interplay being involved or receiving some kind of settlement. I'm sure they'd go to court and claim that they invested time and money into the project.

"Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing Bioware
self-publish...I think they could pull it off just
the same."

Especially since they've already benefited from
Interplay's marketing. Everyone knows about
the game already, all they have to do is
release it.

I would be really interested in the full details that led to Bioware cancelling the contract. If anyone can dig it up, please, do share...

You won't be able to dig it up, since everyone has to be extremely hush-hush on both sides. Hell, I don't even know what it's about.

I read earlier (I really should find the links BEFORE I write this kinda stuff) that it was because Interplay owed BioWare all kinds of cash. Basically Interplay has beenin violation of the compensation statements in their original contract with BioWare. They were supposed to be paying BioWare X amount of dollars based on sales of the Baulder's Gate series and are apparently shorting them bigtime.

BioWare, in fact, had already sued Interplay for the back royalty payments. Not sure if the case has gone to court yet, but I know they were mighty upset about not beng paid.

I'm going to scrounge the net and see if I can find it again. Me posting something like this without a link to the statements makes it less reliable than a rumor. :)

Well that was easy...

http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2813738,00.html

And here is one with the annoucement of the NWN contract cancellation along with the lawsuit history:

http://www.cgonline.com/news/011130-03-n1.html

>I would be really interested in the full details that led to Bioware cancelling the contract. If anyone can dig it up, please, do share

...I'll have a lot to say about this topic in Friday's editorial at my site.

Stefan

Would I be correct in saying that Interplay has nothing worthwhile to offer without Bioware ?

Yep. Check out their empty coming soon list:

http://www.interplay.com/allsoon.asp

It's a shame, really, as Interplay used to be "Those Fallout People."

Stephan, what's that link to your site?

Very little going on for the PC. They need to update their list, it would seem. Man, and that is the most hidious website ever. Crappy metalic buttons for your nav bar is *soooooo* 1999.

Is Black Isle doing anything anymore? Torn got canned, Fallout 3 wasn't in active development last time I checked, and it doesn't look like Bioware needs any assistance anymore...

Brad Grenz

There's Icewind Dale 2 I think..

--- Alan

What about the D&D license issue? Doesn't that limit Bioware's options on who can distribute NWN?

I'm not sure, but I think Infogrames owns the D&D license now.

Mark alluded to the possibility of publishing it under the open-source d20 system in his Gamespin column over at http:\gamespy.com. But the WotC lawyers may have a lot to say about that.

I'd be disappointed if NWN wasn't an official D&D product. But, remembering how Fallout was supposed to be a GURPS license and then was altered to remove it, I'd have confidence in Bioware to whip up a new system.

Big deal if it isnt DnD! As my sister used to say... "DD.... Dumb Dorks!"

but anyway, i think NWN is too far in development to just alter it now. It would be another half year of development, at least, i suppose... anyway.... DD DUMB DORKS!

etc

WotC would have to be pretty short-sighted to pass up a potentially lucrative deal like NWN. Then again, I don't know what's in their contract agreements.

- Alan

If they could just migrate it to d20, that may solve problems, not sure what WotC would have against it since it is an open source system, anyone can develop on it. Not sure exactly how it works out licensing though, I could be wrong. Avalanche Press publishes D&D titles under the d20 auspicies without having to worry about licensing problems I don't think.

--- Alan

---

Quote:

>I would be really interested in the full details that led to Bioware cancelling the contract. If anyone can dig it up, please, do share

...I'll have a lot to say about this topic in Friday's editorial at my site.

Stefan

---

Cripes,
According to a french financial site, Titus are or will counter Bioware with a $22 million suit for damages if they go ahead with this "divorce", further stating that this will bankrupt Bioware leaving IPLY/Titus able to pick up any IP on the cheap.

>Alright man, I tuned in to Desslock's RPG News and there was no update. Next week now?

Yep, sorry about that. Some sensitive legal issues with this story that I want to ensure I get right (interesting developments today too). Plus I had to boot to Pittsburgh to see the Steelers play the Jets, heh.

"Plus I had to boot to Pittsburgh to see the Steelers play the Jets, heh."

Well, given how your KC Chiefs *suck* (except for the fine running of Mr. Holmes), it only makes sense for you to go bandwagon on over to the clearly superior team: The Pittsburgh Steelers.

:)

>Well, given how your KC Chiefs *suck*

Heh, I abandoned the Chiefs in favour of following Marty instead, and am now rooting for the Redskins who only kinda suck (in a division that completely sucks). But I've always been a Steelers fan as well -- this is the 5th year in a row I've gone on a road trip to catch a game there. Buffalo's only an hour away and I've -never- gone to a game there.

Stefan

I thought the Redskins had enough talent to be at least an 8-8 team. They are playing much better now. If Dallas didn't have their number they would be 8-4 and on their way to the playoffs. As it is they will need to win at least 3 of their last 4 to have a shot to get in. But at least the season has been interesting.

I believe the D20 license explicitly forbids computer games from adopting it. It also forbids any type of character generation system using its rules.

D20 is all about enabling small independents to make additional modules and scenario packs to enhance the value of D&D. As "open" licensing goes, this door is only open a crack.

But the strategy is working for WoTC. I suppose it's a step forward from Gygax's "Don't buy unlicensed modules because they're crap" dictum in the old DM's Guide.

>I believe the D20 license explicitly forbids computer games from adopting it. It also forbids any type of character generation system using its rules

That's right.

Stefan