NWN Linux Client Not So Delayed after All?

Sir Joltalot writes "It seems as if the NWN linux client might not be as delayed after all. From the client page: "We have just been informed by Rad Game Tools that they have Linux versions of both Bink and Miles. ... This solves the two outstanding issues with the Linux Client, and I bet we will have even more good news for you in the coming week in terms of future Betas or Demos of the Linux Client."" You'll excuse me if I opt against holding my breath ;)

OS X?

[glwtta]

With all this excitement about the linux client, I haven't heard anything about an OS X one - anyone know if one in the works?

A example of False Advertisement at its best

[cyberlotnet]

Everyone seems to be cheering the fact that NWN will hopefully have a way to play movies and sound come monday because of a linux version of RAD tools..

HELLO, People... Lets think about this one moment...

They announced MONTHS ago that they where going to Launch with a NWN Linux Client..

Then they turn around and say its going to be delayed..

Now in the last week they main delay is not having a clue of what to do about sound and movie?

Is it just me or does anyone else thing that this whole thing started out as nothing but a large STUNT to get more sales and it has turned around and bit them in the REAR..

MONTHS down the road and they are just now telling us that they can't play sound or movies.

And here we are 2 weeks before X-mas.. Even if they where 100% complete with everything else they would still have to integrate, and test these 2 very important show stopping features.

HOW CAN YOU ANNOUNCE A LINUX CLIENT AT LAUNCH AND NOT EVEN HAVE A REMOTE IDEA OF HOW YOU PLAN ON SUPPORTING YOUR MOVIES AND SOUND...

This false advertising beats out fast food, They fleece you every time you order a burger from there picture based menus, pictures that make your mouth water, and get something that looks like it was sat on.

Binks & Miles

[Anonymous Coward]

You know what the sadest part of this whole thing is? It took the Linux NWN Community to let Bioware know that Linux versions of these libraries were available. I do not know who is in charge of analysis and design for NWN, but they have seriously screwed up. First, Bio announces that they are having sound issues and movie issues because they used libraries that are available only on Win/Mac. Leads me to wonder how they ever thought there would be a concurrent release for all three platforms. Second, they didn't work with RAD to find out if Linux ports of these libraries were in the works or how hard it would be to do this. Basically, there were bad design decisions made at the front-end of this project. Other standards should have been considered, such OpenAL and MPEG4. Anyway, my .02.

Re:Why is Bioware doing it?

[Bartmoss]

Yes and no. For one thing, Bioware promised a client (on the CD, no less), so they have to deliver. And yes I am sure it's an investment in the future. However, I think there is one more reason why NWN gets ported to Linux while a hundred thousand other games don't. Bioware is, as far as companies go, very smart. They know their market. And I am sure they know that a sizeable share of Linux geeks are long-time RPG fanatics. Probably much more so than users of any other OS. What's more, Linux users tend to have a goodly amount of technology available. Specifically, this includes Servers that can - and will - be used to host games of NWN. And last but not least, many Linux users will know programming, making them the ideal module builders (NWN's scripting language is basically C as far as I have seen it).

So, by supporting Linux, Bioware probably hopes to increase the infrastructure and the community produced content available to the game by an unporoportionally large chunk. Yes, there are many, many solo players out there, but still the free add-ons are one big seller for NWN.