Is NWN dead? (Phoenix project)

[Legacy_serendipitydoda]

               Signs that the end is near:
No new patches to the server/game engine.
Master server is down. (though we all hope it will return)

How long till GameSpy dropps NWN?

I think the time has come for Bioware to release the sourcecode for NWN1.
It's not unreasonable we've seen id Software regularly release the source for their legacy game engines.

What say you BioWare?  Will we ever see the Aurora Engine source?

I believe the time has come for a community Client/Server/Toolset that is compatable either directly or indirectly(via conversion utility) to replace NWN1.

Without the source I suggest we take a look at an opensource game engine known as Crystal Space that we could build on. It is used by a MMORPG called PlaneShift http://www.planeshift.it/sources.html

I would like to see an expansion of the potential audience by creating an additional 2D client that could be run on lower end computers/smartphones.

A peer to peer replacement for GameSpy may be necessary to allow people to find servers.

Projects like CEP and NWNX show that members of the NWN community have the skill to do it.

My quesiton to the community is... are we still interested?
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Guest_Lowlander_*]

               iD software is a private company still in the hands of the original designers/developers. So if they want to release source, they do.

Bioware exists only as a marketing name for EA corporation. It is unlikely that they will ever release the source for anything.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_HipMaestro]

               

serendipitydoda wrote...
A peer to peer replacement for GameSpy may be necessary to allow people to find servers.

Superfly_2000 swears by X-Fire and there is also neverwinterconnections.com.  If any prospective servers slip through the cracks, why not just post them in their own sticky with direct connect and web site addies within the PW subforum?

My quesiton to the community is... are we still interested?

I would instead describe it as "discouraged" by peripheral events, but still interested.  Fans of NWN do not say die easily, it is too ingrained, so it matters only on the enthusiasm generated by individuals that spark others to follow suit.  Zeal is infectious and we still see new faces here in the forum and who knows how many have DL'd from GoG but never registered with BSN? And there have been many lately that are revisiting NWN after an extensive hiatus.

I would suggest that if the passion is there for any project, go to it.  Projects need drivers rather than pom-pom wavers.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par HipMaestro, 24 juillet 2011 - 09:57 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_serendipitydoda]

               

Lowlander wrote...

iD software is a private company still
in the hands of the original designers/developers. So if they want to
release source, they do.

Bioware exists only as a marketing name
for EA corporation. It is unlikely that they will ever release the
source for anything.

I suspected as much.  If they even respond to the request for source in any way I will be surprised.

HipMaestro wrote...

I would instead describe it as "discouraged" by peripheral events, but still interested.  Fans of NWN do not say die easily, it is too ingrained, so it matters only on the enthusiasm generated by individuals that spark others to follow suit.  Zeal is infectious and we still see new faces here in the forum and who knows how many have DL'd from GoG but never registered with BSN? And there have been many lately that are revisiting NWN after an extensive hiatus.

I would suggest that if the passion is there for any project, go to it.  Projects need drivers rather than pom-pom wavers.

Thanks for the response.  I'm trying go gague interest in a project like this.  It may take some time but I intend to proceede.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_FunkySwerve]

               HG's build team has been hunting for our next platform. We've considered everything from the next Morrowind to open-source stuff like you linked. I found this thread particularly interesting:
Link

There are two major obstacles - ip and models. I'm considering developing my own ip, but the amount of modeling that would need to be done before we even approached the current variety available in NWN, boggles the mind.

Funky
               
               

               

                     Modifié par FunkySwerve, 25 juillet 2011 - 06:18 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Sethan_1]

               Interested.  My skills are limited, but its definitely worth doing.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_serendipitydoda]

               

FunkySwerve wrote...

HG's build team has been hunting for our next platform. We've considered everything from the next Morrowind to open-source stuff like you linked. I found this thread particularly interesting:
Link

There are two major obstacles - ip and models. I'm considering developing my own ip, but the amount of modeling that would need to be done before we even approached the current variety available in NWN, boggles the mind.

Funky

Thanks Funky,

Your response is a good example of what I'm looking for.  

The goal will be to take advantage of NWN data files with a activly maintined open source game engine.  Something that won't be shutdown unless the community stops caring.

I haven't had a chance to go through DevMaster's entire engine list(it's massive).  A quick search focusing on Active C/C++ based open source engines yeilded: www.opennel.org/confluence/display/NEL/NeLProjects

It's a library which makes it very appealing.  I'll do a bit more investigating, but at first glance it seems to have all the necessary features to roll a NWN clone.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par serendipitydoda, 26 juillet 2011 - 01:18 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_FunkySwerve]

               

serendipitydoda wrote...

The goal will be to take advantage of NWN data files with a activly maintined open source game engine.

You couldn't use NWN data files - it's forbidden by the EULA, and I can't imagine bioware/EA would want any kind of competition. Hence, the rediculous amounts of modeling.

Funky
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Greyfort]

               My hopes for nwn, would be they have the core system run on default or something like a system stack...

custom system ran...if no custom func/system run default. Then we all could do wonderus things.

Although nwnx2 for linux has realy opened up programing nwn the nwnx2 nwnx_funcs is catching up for windows but not quite fast enough for our creative ideas.  and with linux vers already done.  You have quite alot of possibilities.

I'm a nwn junkie have been since it came out.  It is only our imaginations that lack.  It reminds me of the computer age pencil and paper redbox/blue box edition.  NWN is a clasic right up there with Ever Quest which was out before NWN.

I agree with Funky, it already has so much content and customization, that with linux and the nwnx2 extender and the linux functions you realy can do any thing.  Look at HG, or StarWarsRise of the republic, or star craft..all 3 of those servers are custom. oh and look at or D20mm CEP.

You realy can do anything with NWN
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Shadooow]

               

serendipitydoda wrote...

FunkySwerve wrote...

HG's build team has been hunting for our next platform. We've considered everything from the next Morrowind to open-source stuff like you linked. I found this thread particularly interesting:
Link

There are two major obstacles - ip and models. I'm considering developing my own ip, but the amount of modeling that would need to be done before we even approached the current variety available in NWN, boggles the mind.

Funky

Thanks Funky,

Your response is a good example of what I'm looking for.  

The goal will be to take advantage of NWN data files with a activly maintined open source game engine.  Something that won't be shutdown unless the community stops caring.

I haven't had a chance to go through DevMaster's entire engine list(it's massive).  A quick search focusing on Active C/C++ based open source engines yeilded: www.opennel.org/confluence/display/NEL/NeLProjects

It's a library which makes it very appealing.  I'll do a bit more investigating, but at first glance it seems to have all the necessary features to roll a NWN clone.

There have been already one project like this, dont know their name, but they had the same goals. Try to PM pkpeachykeen.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_serendipitydoda]

               

FunkySwerve wrote...

serendipitydoda wrote...

The goal will be to take advantage of NWN data files with a activly maintined open source game engine.

You couldn't use NWN data files - it's forbidden by the EULA, and I can't imagine bioware/EA would want any kind of competition. Hence, the rediculous amounts of modeling.

Funky

Your right Funky,

Looking at section 3 of the EULA makes
my head spin but pretty much it seems like a community NWN engine
would be at their mercy.
It would be nice to hear from
somebody with Bioware if a project like this would be encouraged or
attacked with litigation?

Perhaps I should reiterate that
this would be a free to use open source project.

Bioware/EA
would only benefit because it would encourage new people to buy
existing content they don't have to spend a dime on or put any effort
into.  Bioware/EA is slowly abandoning support for NWN so basically
it would be a win/win for them and us.

As for models I know of
at least one person that has replaced a lot of the NWN models and
might be willing to contribute to a project like this.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_serendipitydoda]

               

ShaDoOoW wrote...
There have been already one project like this, dont know their name, but they had the same goals. Try to PM pkpeachykeen.

Thanks I'll do that.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_TSMDude]

               I will throw any skill I have behind someone who does indeed head this route.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_serendipitydoda]

               

TSMDude wrote...

I will throw any skill I have behind someone who does indeed head this route.

Thanks...  I have a feeling we will need it. '>
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_serendipitydoda]

               
               
               

               

                     Modifié par serendipitydoda, 27 juillet 2011 - 12:42 .