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Games Entertainment

One Step Closer to NWN for Linux 215

Posted by CmdrTaco from the here-comes-halfling-death dept.
Apostata writes "It's been a long, long road for those of us awaiting the oft-delayed Linux Client of BioWare's NeverWinter Nights, but finally there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. BioWare has put up a Linux Client page which will specifically inform eager beavers on how things are progressing, and it now states a Fall 2002 release." God if only it were true- I could slaughter the villagers and read my email without rebooting. Gotta make sure I don't get that backwards.
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One Step Closer to NWN for Linux More

One Step Closer to NWN for Linux

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  • I hate to tell any Linux holdouts, but NWN isn't that great and if you've been waiting with baited breath, you'll be dissapointed. It is probably about as good as Icewind Dale, but not nearly as good as BG2.
    • My opinion about it is that NWN is all that (the game), and a bag of chips (DM, the editor).

      Also, fortunately there is no reason to holdout. According to the site, the Linux client will be available for download.

    • Re:Not really that great... (Score:5, Insightful)

      by analog_line ( 465182 ) on Monday August 12, 2002 @09:16PM (#4058898)
      The single player isn't that great, but the multiplayer, and the ability to make your own single player is what NWN is all about. The Bioware included single player adventure is basically a dog and pony show, showing off all the little gizmos you can set up with the toolset. Not much more than that.
      • I've heard lots of people rag on the storyline of NWN, and frankly, it isn't a masterpiece like the Baldur's Gate series, but it has it's own merits nonetheless. I found some parts of it amazingly done (Charwood anyone?) and the rest just all around well done. Whatever floats your boat tho.
      • I have to take issue with anyone dismissing a storyline that takes 60 hours to complete and includes different plots for different character classes as nothing more than "a dog and pony show". I had a great time with the single-player campaign, and on its merit alone recommended the game to my father. He'll likely never play on-line, but he is immensely enjoying the single-player campaign.

        I've played it through twice so far, with different characters each time, and I'll likely do it a third time. Perhaps I'll play on-line some day, but what I've experienced of on-line play over the last four years has destroyed what little bit of faith in humanity that my tech support day job hadn't already taken care of.
      • The toolkit/engine isn't all that flexible tho. There's a lot of things that should be props, but are instead fixed parts of the landscape. (eg, crates and barrels, tables, chairs) Adding completely new objects that weren't in the single player game is rather difficult. You can't create balanced items with bonuses and negative effects, the negative effects don't change the cost or level requirements.
      • Disagree completely. Since getting NWN, I haven't even played online yet because I've been having so much fun playing the single player game. I also agree that for some strange reason NWN has some of the same feel as the old Final Fantasy games, but not in the sense that it's trying to copy Final Fantasy. It simply has a very distinct and unique feel that's extremely refreshing when compared to many of the more generic games that have been released in the same genera(i.e., dungeon siege).

        If you've played through even the first chapter of the campaign, it's very clear that a LOT of thought went into making the single player game extremely dynamic and immersive. There are a good number of subplots that make it clear that the game was designed to be explored rather than played in the linear "forced march" style that is all too common these days. The NPCs react to you completely differently depending on your class / race / alignment combination, and you have a good enough degree of control over the conversation that you can avoid certain confrontations diplomatically if you wish to do so.

        So, don't listen to people who disregard the campaigns as trivial add-ons when most of them haven't even played the game all the way through. IMHO, the game is worth it for the campaigns in and of themselves, and all the other stuff is just gravy!

        BTW, if you really want to enjoy the game(single or multiplayer), I would suggest getting the camera angle hack, which allows you to zoom in and out to any degree you see fit. The default camera configuration really limits what you can see, and the artists have done a superb job on the details.
    • *sigh* another BG2 fan, who expected NWN to be BG3.

      Newsflash: Its not *supposed* to be BG3.

      The great thing about NWN is its DM client, and the Toolset (even though there is zero documentation for it, its easy enough to figure out).

      NWN stands as a great game on its own. It was never meant to be BG3, but to be its own, self conatained game, which stands wonderfully on its own.
      • I was going to get out the flamethrower to defend myself, when I realized that, at least in some respects, you are right. I guess I was hoping NWN would be BG3. Not literally, of course, but a spiritual successor if nothing else. It isn't the single player game is decent, but pretty repetetive. The problem with depending on a multi-player feature in an RPG is that most people you meet on the 'net are assholes. This is fine in Quake3, because you get to kill them, but in a cooperative type game, it's a killer. Oh well, I had some fun with NWN, but I really felt like it didn't live up to the hype.
    • I'll concede the fact that the single player campaign isn't all that. In fact, as you said, I haven't seen anything as good as Baldur's Gate II (in terms of single player RPG) in my entire "gaming career." As for the multi player portion, it seems you have yet to play it my friend...wow does it rule. I could go on and on, but I was playing an adventure made by one of my friends last night with about 4 other people and it's the closest thing, IMHO, to an actual D&D session. Granted, it's not the same thing, but for crying out loud, it's on the computer. A bit off-topic, but as for other role-playing games that are based on the d20 system that should be on the computer, I would love to see the new SpyCraft using the Shadowforce Archer campaign setting...that would be very neat.
    • Pains me to say it, but you're spot on.

      The story's not nearly compelling enough to cover for any flaws in the gameplay (as in BG2), and the gameplay's not nearly addictive enough to cover for any deficits in the story (as in IWD). Without that compensating effect, the end product ends up feeling a little tepid. Still fun, but not memorably so.

      I wish I could say I just have some irrational bias against NWN, but -- well let's put it this way: The look on my face when I picked up the box at EB was that of a boy who's just decided to sneak the world's cutest stray puppy home from the park. And the look on my face after about 8 hours of playing was that of the same boy, finding out that the puppy just took care of some business in Mom's basket of clean laundry.

    • NWN -> online game
      BG2 -> not online game
    • it is a very different sort of game than those, surprisingly enough. for some that is good, for some that is bad.

    • I actually really enjoyed the single player (Score:4, Interesting)

      by Vicegrip ( 82853 ) on Monday August 12, 2002 @10:34PM (#4059222) Journal
      Clearly the intent of the game is to be a kind of nexus where people build worlds and come to.

      It's not meant to be a play-once-and-throw-away game, so they didn't put all their eggs in the campaign it shipped with.
      Otherwise put: please show me the world builder that accompagnied BG2.

      Highlights:
      - Entire official AD&D third edition rules support.
      - Gorgeous 3d graphics on par with anything else out there. In this alone, it outshines bg2.
      - Ships with a fun single player story line.
      - The ability to link servers toghether (yes, you and your friend can combine a world toghether on your servers)
      - Many different character classes and races.
      - Variable story line. WC3, for example, is extremely linear (multiplayer is what makes that game).
      - A hugely improved and innovated multiplayer interface and design. It works very well.
      - and more... read the box

      A con or two:
      - gamespy is not, in my experience, well organized for bringing like minded players toghether. This is especially significant for AD&D.
      - There doesn't seem to be a way to maintain state between modules. Which means npc characters kind of forget stuff that happened before.
      • Entire official AD&D third edition rules support.

        That's pushing it a bit -- some things don't translate so well, and others are just missing. And of course, the DM's ability to improvise and break the rules isn't quite what it is in real life.

        That said, they did a credible job.

      • I don't know, they hyped the single-player campaign quite a bit...

        People complain about the AI, but I've found it to be adequate. Your NPCs and character getting stuck because something is directly in the way even if they could simply walk around it is kind of lame, but I suspect it's a result of trying to code around the tendency of NPCs in BG2 to take the (very!) long way around, which was even more annoying.

        The magic-user opponents are pussies compared to BG2. Gone are the loads of defensive spells that keep them untouchable while they slaughter your party... sigh. I think there was too much whining on the message boards by lamers who couldn't be bothered to figure out how to beat them, and Bioware unfortunately gave in.

        Why don't trolls regenerate anymore?

        It's not really D&D without climbing, flying, swimming, and riding. No flying dragons, no pit traps, no loyal steeds, no thieves scaling castle walls... I'm hoping there is a NWN2 with all these things in the works.

        That being said, I'm having a blast with the single player campaign, even though it is slightly repetitive compared to BG2. I haven't even tried multiplayer yet and I've already gotten my money's worth.

      • A con or two:
        - gamespy is not, in my experience, well organized for bringing like minded players toghether. This is especially significant for AD&D.
        - There doesn't seem to be a way to maintain state between modules. Which means npc characters kind of forget stuff that happened before.

        - Pathfinding is awful. I don't expect it to solve a maze for me, but it would be nice if characters didn't get blocked by a lamp post.
        - Ranged weapons pretty useless unless you have the point-blank shot feat or whatever it's called
        - Inventory management far too tedious
        - Annoying interface issues, eg, it would be nice if the inventory/map/etc. windows were actually, you know, windows, so that you could move them out of the way
        - Pie menu graphics pop up in front of other things on the screen (at about the same contrast), so picking the right option is sometimes a hassle
        - Long load pauses when moving between areas
        - By default, you can't manage your minion's inventory and the AI is lame (I know there are scripts to fix this)
        - The manual is garbage, probably in an effort to get you to buy the strategy guide :-b
        - While the 3D stuff looks good, the inventory graphics look rather cartoonish

        But that's enough for now. :)
  • OH well, at least it's eventually. I bought the game while I was on Windows (I've switched fully to Linux) and thought a few weeks after I'd be able to play Neverwinter Nights on Linux, and well, that still hasn't happened. I must say the progress of the Linux binary has gone a long way from "In the box support" to a Fall 2002 release. Nevertheless, I applaud BioWare for still making it, I just wish it had come out during the peak of my love of NWN. Oh well, keep up the good work BioWare!
  • I'd rather see the Linux server piece get some more attention. I have basically given up running a full time linux NWN server - it's not very stable.

    To the NWN community's credit, several neat tools [watchmefreak.com] are available to help and make things easier.

    The sticky Linux server thread [bioware.com] has alot of good information for this, including lots of good scripts that will restart the server if (I mean when) it decides to dump core.

  • Taco (Score:5, Funny)

    by Tin Weasil ( 246885 ) on Monday August 12, 2002 @09:08PM (#4058857) Homepage Journal
    "God if only it were true- I could slaughter the villagers and read my email without rebooting. Gotta make sure I don't get that backwards."

    This from the guy who always tells us that he can't preview quicktime files! Just reboot taco! Reboot and feel the power of the Darkside!

    • Re:Taco (Score:1, Flamebait)

      by bleckywelcky ( 518520 )


      Ya know, I wonder if it would really be that hard for Taco if he were to spend $300 or $400 on a decent machine for Windows only, I'm sure he even has a capable machine sitting around. It doesn't take much, with an old 300 MHz (~$20) you could view Quicktime stuff just fine. And with a run-of-the-mill 1+ GHz (~$350) you could load up all sorts of Windows games and whatnot, at least for preview and mild playing purposes. Heck, I just put together two 1.47 GHz machines for two family members for about ~$500 each, with DDR, UATA 133, the whole deal. I think Taco is taking the 3V1L M$ thing too far. That, or he must be absolutely, positively, scrumdiddlyumptiously poor right now.

      • If I were a betting man, I'd put money on the fact that Taco actually has a beefy Windows-dedicated gaming machine but he won't admit it (and even arguably lies about it) here on Slashdot to avoid the wrath of the Linux-or-nothing crowd.
      • This would be a complete waste. There may be some valid arguments against CrossOver, WineX, etc, but if the alternative is to reboot or have a dedicated Dozebox, then it's still the lesser evil.

        There aren't many reasons for getting Windows, anymore. Wine-related projects are getting close to making it obsolete.

    • Not to mention the fact that it's kinda sad that he can't figure out how to check his e-mail from the Windows side of his dual-boot system.

      Even if you hate Outlook (rightly so), there are lots of Free-as-in-beer options for this sort of thing, and even a few Free-as-in-Stallman-would-be-mostly-okay-with-it options out there.

      Hell, for that matter, since you are probably using one of the /. boxen as your main mail server, just run an SSH client (they have those for Windows, ya know) and log into the server itself.

      Besides, you are playing a game on a closed-source operating system already, so it's not you're religious about the GPL or something. Sheesh.

    • Re:Taco (Score:3, Funny)

      by Naikrovek ( 667 )
      Christ, even I have two computers. Don't tell us you've wasted all your money already.
      • I have a sneaking suspicion that he HAS at least two computers, one running Windows, just like at least one of the other members of the /. editorial staff who claims to never run Windows but then makes references to Windows games. I conjecture they are claiming they don't run Windows because it makes for better Linux-PR to put on a happy face that says "I don't (really) run Windows".

  • NWN was a let down (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward
    Was it just me or was anyone else let down by the lack of a story line? I don't care what people say about the protagonist dying and ruining baldurs but that game was the most challenging hell Baldurs is the reason why I went shit in my senior years of high school. I couldn't care less if they ported NWN to Linux. Linux isn't a workstation it's a server so why do so many people out there dream that it is going to be used by all recognise that people don't want to use it if they can't see the windows start button or they can't find their Office desktop shortcuts they'll chuck a hissy fit
    • > Linux isn't a workstation it's a server

      Linux, my dear fellow, is whatever you want it to be on any given day.
      One only wishes that those pontificating against Linux on the desktop would stop getting in the way of those of us who are using it - and using it productively - on the desktop.

    • I don't really like NWN either why do so many people insist that punctuation should be used when writing punctuation is for books and medical publications why doesn't everyone recognize that retarded slashdot posters will never use it since all they can do is giggle like little school girls when they hear the word period

  • Gamers are Windows Users. (Score:1, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward
    Everquest and NWN are windows games, and a lot of gamers are just that, not also IT folks, program designers, etc. Windows, then, is just a means to the end, the game itself. Some gamers I have come in contact with don't want anything to do with other OS's, since they are only there for the game, not to fiddle with the OS. Linux, being a wonderful playground for us OS fiddlers, ( and indeed it is) won't be accepted by this kind of gamer. Whatever Everquest ran on would be accepted, but once ported to Windows, then it's Windows only for these gamers. These gamers talk very little about the technical side of the game, only the night's killing, etc, like the game was some kind of primative soap-opera, rather than a technical achievement to fiddle with. We have heard some talk that Everquest is an addiction, in and of itself.
    • You are correct. "Gamers", as in "people who buy their computer just to play games on it" are Windows users, for the obvious reason that their favorite games were either Windows-only or Windows-first.

      However, there are those of us who purchased our computers with other considerations in mind, who would also like to play games on them.

      Granted, that tends to be the exception these days, now that you can build a more-or-less usable game PC for about 400 bucks. Most Mac geeks I know who like games have a PC on the next desk over for gaming, and most Linux gamers either do the same, or else dual boot.

      Personally, I found this set-up ideal back when I was into EQ. I could pull up maps, guild websites, and game info on my Mac's web browser while still keeping one eye on the game itself over on the PC monitor. Other times I could work on various projects on my Mac while my character camped some remote spawn point. Then, of course, there were all those hacks for reading the server traffic so you could know more than the average bear about the game data...

      If I was one of those Mac or Linux Zealots, I suppose I would hate the gaming gap... but since I don't really have much of a problem with owning a dedicated "game PC", it's really kind of a non-issue to me.

      • "If I was one of those Mac or Linux Zealots, I suppose I would hate the gaming gap... but since I don't really have much of a problem with owning a dedicated "game PC", it's really kind of a non- issue to me."

        Sadly, Linux Zealots are so anti-MS that they won't buy that as an option. Pity, really: they're shooting themselves in the foot with that attitude. From a practicality point of view, one should choose their OS/Computer based on what their needs are.

        If one refuses to dual-boot Win2k on a Linux box, then they're also refusing to have good game support. If they can accept that, that's fine. However, Bill Gates doesn't care and most of us don't want to listen to stale anti-MS sentiments. At that point, it's your choice. Your discomfort is your own.

        • I used to be rather happy with Win2K; its the only Windows that runs at my home. I rather dislike XP and I especially disliked the politics around it. None of that for me or my family.

          And then Win2K's SP3 hit.

          It is apparent that ANY involvement with Microsoft in the future will include the same legal attitude. And I'd prefer to have nothing to do with it. Sadly, it looks like Win2K is on its way out.

          I've already got some nice games for Linux. In the future, I'll have some more. I can live with that. And I don't have to stick my fingers in my ears and ignore whats going on around me to do it.

          Its not zealotry. Its not stale rhetoric. It is, in fact, making my choice as a consumer to protect my best interest.
          • "Its not zealotry. Its not stale rhetoric. It is, in fact, making my choice as a consumer to protect my best interest."

            May I ask what about SP3 bugs ya? (I haven't kept up on service packs as of late, did they pull some TaC shit?) Im just curious why you made that decision. Don't worry, I have no intention of arguing with ya or telling you that you shouldn't have switched. (I have no business telling you that in the first place.) I just wanna know what you know in case I should be looking to move to Mac.



            • May I ask what about SP3 bugs ya?


              The language in the EULA for SP3 includes a lot of the same language that showed up in WMP6.x (I think that's the right version) and falls in line with the overall theme of WinXP's EULA. Basically, its the right to modify the OS even if it causes something to no longer work. It seems to be a precurser to force-fed DRM "features".

              Now... I could accept an argument for it with WMP. That is, after all, a media player. And DRM, etc, is a part of that. But I what I can't see is this being a part of bugfixes for Win2K. After all, the Service Packs don't include the latest DirectX.

              I could have sworn Slashdot ran a story about it. Poke around. Shouldn't be hard to find someone talking about the issue - be it Slashdot, the Register, or somewhere else.

    • By your definition... gamers don't give a damn what they're using. Be it Windows, a PS2, or even Linux. If the game runs, they're happy.

      I don't see any reason why gamers couldn't move to Linux if they so chose to. I don't expect a sudden flood of Linux converts; non-technical users tend to stay with their old install base (witness the entrenched win9x architecture). But eventually people move on - be it to the next version of their familiar OS or to completely alien environments.

      I run Linux on my home network as well as Windows. My household has had no problems with getting around GNOME and KDE to use whatever Linux apps they want (and they're not overly technical users). But they do play a fair amount of games and so they're mostly in Windows. If these same games were offered for Linux - they would have no problem abandoning Windows. Although, it would probably be at my prodding.

      What we're ending up with is the same old "Linux on the desktop" discussion. Whether it becomes commonplace for the average user makes for an interesting discussion. But really... when it comes down to it... I'm not overly concerned with it. I already have Linux on my desktop. I'm happy with it. And having NWN to add to my (small) list of games is a Good Thing.

      NWN for Linux isn't necissarily cool because it opens the floodgates to Linux on the desktop. Its cool because its something I, and it seems a lot of others, want.
      • By your definition... gamers don't give a damn what they're using. Be it Windows, a PS2, or even Linux. If the game runs, they're happy.

        We'll talk about that in 2 years when Microsoft has "upgraded" anybody they could catch with DRM.

  • unless (Score:2, Informative)

    by sploreg ( 595722 )
    they improve it, I won't get it for linux. Doesn't matter what system you run it on, the AI will still be horrible.
  • Okay, it's a step in the right direction to have more games on Linux, but could they fix the glaring problems first?

  • Backwards? (Score:4, Funny)

    by sharkey ( 16670 ) on Monday August 12, 2002 @09:24PM (#4058938)
    I could slaughter the villagers and read my email without rebooting. Gotta make sure I don't get that backwards.

    Yeah, it would suck to reboot and read your email without slaughtering innocent villagers.

  • Yeah, wouldn't want to get that backwards... (Score:5, Funny)

    by Fugly ( 118668 ) on Monday August 12, 2002 @09:44PM (#4059029) Homepage
    ... 'cause then you'd be... um.... reading your villagers and um.... slaughtering your e-mail... yeah... that makes sense.....

  • I can't find anything about The Apple II port. Surely this is wrong.
  • Imagine what kinds of adventures a bunch of tech savvy Linux users would come up with. In general you guys appear to have more of a devotion to getting things done and done right then most of the Windows crazy peeps I know. Imagine how many more modules will be designed and improved. This can do nothing but enrich the game and make it more of a success. I am happy with many of the modules already, but I must say I am curious to see the adventures the slashdot community can help with. Quest for the golden Taco!, CowboyNeal as an ancient polkadot dragon perhaps...think of the possibilities!

    Yeah, I know, shoot me I'm at msn.com
  • "I could slaughter the villagers and read my email without rebooting."

    I played NWN on a Win2K box and didn't reboot for over two weeks. So what are you talking about? Oh I forget, I'm talking to a /.er

    • I have never played NWN on my Win2k box but even on my 98 box, I don't have problems with it. I will tell you something I find amazing though. I have used Win2k on my box without a single crash and have been running it almost a year. I have also used redhat on my old amd450 without a hitch as well. Perhaps I am just really lucky, or I just tempted fate. I would hate to go home to see my win2k box give me as many blue screens as it thinks it owes me.
    • "I played NWN on a Win2K box and didn't reboot for over two weeks. So what are you talking about? Oh I forget, I'm talking to a /.er"

      I think most MS people that jumped ship to Linux did so after Windows 98. I don't blame them for that. Windows 98 was horrid. Sadly, they missed Windows 2000 in the process. Pity, if they hadn't, they'd have more respect for the Windows NT line.

      In the mean time, we'll have to put up with stale 'herherher Windows always crashes, give me a +1 Funny' jokes. Oh, if MS made something shitty 4 years ago, it stands to reason they couldn't possibly have improved.

      • I prefer Linux. But I do run Win2k when I need Windows. Win2k is, by far, the best thing put out my Microsoft. However, it is not without fault. But it is much more stable and makes a pretty decent gaming platform if your hardware has drivers for it (I was suprised to find out because of Win2k's marketing, isn't always guarenteed).

        Are the BSOD jokes outdated? Well. They're a bit dated, perhapse. But not completely out of line. There is a rather hefty legacy install of the Win9x line - one that Microsoft extended with release of WinME. Win2K is not infallible. And WinXP can be amazingly horrid at times. Microsoft has a certain history developed over its lifetime and not just during a small 4 year period - otherwise we'd all still be making Bob jokes.

        Having said all that - there are so many other issues around Microsoft that I'm suprised the BSOD/crash jokes are the one thing that concerns you the most.
        • "Having said all that - there are so many other issues around Microsoft that I'm suprised the BSOD/crash jokes are the one thing that concerns you the most."

          Heh. The only reason that BSOD jokes 'concern' me relates to something you said here. Windows has all kinds of silly issues. BSOD's are virtually gone. Win2k has wonderful uptime. So people using Win2k jokes are so sick and tired of hearing stale jokes about Windows crashing. It's like saying "Theater's better than movies because live actors are in color."

          For example, one guy used to have a sig that read: "I left a Windows XP CD in my car overnight. The next morning I noticed that somebody broke into my car and left two more of them." Heh that one cracked me up. Microsoft continually generates comedic opportunities, but the Linux zealots out there or so unaware that the world has changed since 1995 that we still get the same old stupid jokes. As with the movies metaphor I used earlier, they sound about as informed about Windows when they make that joke.

          To put it simply: Enough of the blue screen jokes, let's move on to some refreshing MS material.

          I appreciate that ya didn't make the same assumption most do. Im so sick of people saying that Microsoft's paying me to say nice things about them. Frankly, I just want more intelligent comments and less idiotic ones that seem to always get +1's.


          • To put it simply: Enough of the blue screen jokes, let's move on to some refreshing MS material.

            OK. I can buy that. While I don't think the issue is completely put to rest, I can see how stability is now improved to the point of being minor compared to the other issues out there.

            Maybe someone needs to write up a "Smart Basher's Guide to Windows" and denote BSOD jokes as "deprecated".


            I appreciate that ya didn't make the same assumption most do. Im so sick of people saying that Microsoft's paying me to say nice things about them. Frankly, I just want more intelligent comments and less idiotic ones that seem to always get +1's.

            Hey - I can believe that Microsoft has gen-u-ine fans. Even if they're misguided. ;) And not every positive Microsoft statement is paid for. Which, of course, doesn't mean astroturfing campaigns aren't happening. Nonetheless, there IS genuine support.

            When I started my IT career, I couldn't understand the Mac zealots. Then I began to work with a few and began to understand their gripe (even if I never warmed to MacOS personally). As my career progressed, I got tired of Windows and its issues and redirected my focus towards Unix.

            Oddly enough, a good friend of mine (working many of the same IT environments I was) introduced me to Linux before I made that jump to Unix. He is still firmly in the Windows camp and we occasionally banter back and forth over MS vs Linux (as well as offer help for Linux/Unix or Windows issues accordingly).

            I noticed a couple things. First, Windows supporters are not all technically blind idiots... and some of them aren't entirely misguided. Secondly, I found myself dangerously close to being like those Mac Zealots who used to puzzle me so much.

            The world is much more complex than the zealots on either side of any issue would make it seem. :)
            • True true...

              "I noticed a couple things. First, Windows supporters are not all technically blind idiots... and some of them aren't entirely misguided. Secondly, I found myself dangerously close to being like those Mac Zealots who used to puzzle me so much."

              I'll tell ya something: I useta have a thing against Mac fanatics as well. I understand their point of view today.

              You're right, though, not all of us are technically blind idiots. I use Windows 2000 because it's the best choice for me. As my title suggests, I use Lightwave, and I'm heavy into Photoshop and After Effects. Those are unavailable on Linux, and on Mac they don't have near the plugin support. Funny thing is, I'm not having stability issues. I haven't lost a render to Windows. But these pre-conceptions about Windows 2000 make people think that Im, at best, a masochist. They don't understand that it'd cost me close to $10,000 to get the software I need to make a Linux box do what I'm doing with my Windows box today with only $2,500 worth of software.

              I aint no dummy. My computer has an IDE drive, 5 scsi, and two firewire drives. It's a dual processor machine with a gig of RAM (all assembled myself, I didn't buy this thing from Gateway...). It has two network cards, a scanner (well, ok, USB scanners aren't a challenge to install...), a DVD-RAM, and a CD Burner (Seperate unit from the DVD-RAM). I don't have stability issues. As a matter of fact, I can easily go a couple of weeks without a reboot. (it's considerably longer when I don't play games... heh.) Trust me when I say: If Windows 2000 was so painful to use, I wouldn't be running it now. I'd be out of a job.

              In any case, I'm not out to tell the Linux world that Windows 2000 is great. The only reason I'm venting all this to you is that I hope at least somebody here understands that I am not misguided, I'm not misinformed, and I'm not an MS zealot. For me, Windows 2000 is the perfect fit. There are people who have very similar jobs that I do who feel the exact same way.

              In any case, I've gone around this block too many times. Thanks for listening. Being understood is a nice feeling.

              Cheers, man.
    • Comment removed based on user account deletion
      • Err oops, yeah I think he meant that too. Doh. heh.

        Thanks for pointing that out. What are the odds of somebody on /. using 'reboot' and 'Windows' in the same sentence without aiming for a +1 Funny?
  • Yeah, I only submitted about 5 different things on this when the small but fervent forum community was fighting to get Bioware to give us any information on the Linux client at all!! Where in the hell was Slashdot then?
    We could have used you! We went through 11 20+ page threads pressing for linux client info before this happened. Why does /. only step in after the smoke has cleared?
  • now if only sony would release a port of everquest
    my life would be complete...

    ---yes, i KNOW it runs on directx....
  • A story about games in linux means only the following responses will be posted:

    1. The games sucks. All games released for linux sucks to Slashdotters that is what put Loki out of business according to most Slashdot readers. (I really like Alpha Centauri and Heroes3 but obviously I was in the minority.)

    For some reason this makes folks feel better about the fact they do not get the game, or the fact they play their games on windows.

    2. Windows fans bantering on about how they have never once rebooted the Win2000 or XP box running the game server at the same time that they play their games while the linux folks wait. ./er's are all a**holes to these people yet they still post to slashdot.

    These are probably the same people that litter posts about how every other story is really not news for nerds and should not be included on slashdot. Stop freaking reading it then, geez.

    3. I can't hardly wait and those guys actually doing the linux port are sh*theads for not moving faster to get the port out. Always willing to kick a company supporting linux these folks will spend paragraphs complaining that the commercial company is not moving fast enough or are evil for not getting out quicker.

    Let me just say that I personally play games on a windows box I keep around for just that. I also buy linux games when I like something that is out. MythII, Alpha Centauri, Heretic II (mistake) and finally Heroes of Might and Magic III. I have not gotten Castle Wolfenstein but I want to get NWN and I have heard some good things about this thing.

    Obviously I have read the posts and I am considering the negative remarks. Still, as part of the linux-using community I am glad that some companies take the time and care to do a linux release even if it is much later than the windows version. I prefer Linux and going to my windows box to play games is a pain.

    ________________________________________________ _

  • The NWN linux server craves memory, always has, before and after v1.0. It has serious memory leakage and is closed source on top of that. I say fix it or open the source so it can be fixed. Not trying to troll, it's an awesome game, but a game programmer a server programmer does not nescessarily make.

    ..no idea why something as minor as a new NWN Linux page is news on /.. The NWN Linux server itself is not news, it's been 'available' for several months now.

  • God if only it were true- I could slaughter the villagers and read my email without rebooting.


    What is stopping you from doing that now? :-)
  • from the here-comes-halfling-death dept.
    And don't forget ...
    Aw, it's done!
    God, I got tired of hearing that. So tired, that I stopped dragging Tomi around, and switched to Daelan and Grimgnaw. I'm playing a Paladin, and with a single point in Search, Pick Locks and Disable Traps, I can usually find traps and determine if they're going to be deadly. If not, I just set them off (regeneration heals the damage soon enough.) If so, I pluck the chest off with arrows.

    Tomi was a good guy to have around, don't get me wrong. But he just drove you nuts ...

    The spellcasters were ok, but they keep wasting their spells on piddly monsters. It's an `Effortless' Zombie? Better cast every spell you've got on it!

    Besides, with two figher types (my paladin, and the barbarian or monk) we just tear through monsters that much quicker :)

    As for rebooting, I gave that up long ago. I now have my `work' computer, which runs Linux, where I do most things, and I have my game computer, which runs Windows, just for games. Works well enough ...

    • Hey, my boyfriend has been playing and the spellcasters he takes along don't 'waste' powerful spells. The Cleric he lugged around helpfully cast her power spells like "Harm" on tough monsters, like Liches... ...well, perhaps that's not such a good thing after all.
  • There are two potential problems I see with this.

    First, will there be a Linux port of the tools?

    Second, how well will sound work? I haven't done much Linux multimedia for a while...last time I looked, things like surround sound were a bit lacking. NWN has some pretty good use of surround sound, and I'd hate to give that up.

  • I had heard rumors that they scrapped the idea of putting out the full program for linux and are going to only put out the client (not the editor that lets you create new adventures, but just the program that lets you play in adventures someone else made.)

    Does anyone know what the story is on this? Their website was almost completely informationless. I would go for a NWN program for linux only if it was the "real" thing. If it's some half-done port that only has the client then I'm not interested.

    (I don't mind booting into Windows from time to time to PLAY a game, but I don't want to have to use it to DESIGN one. For designing I want to interleave the time spent designing the adventure with time spent doing other things on the machine, and those "other things" are not Windows things.)

    The OS used is a lot more relevant when designing than when playing.

  • ... into a Linux-Windows testicle comparison here on /.? Who would of thought that possible?

    Beyond my sarcasm, I love this game. I love it. I have played all the other recent RPG offerings from Bioware in recent memory and loved them all as well so I have a basis for comparison.

    Is it perfect? Well... is what perfect? We're talking about 3(?) different components: the single player client (and campaign), the DM's client, and the toolset.

    The single player campaign is great fun. I haven't even finished it completely with one character because I keep switching classes, wanting to play with them all. Even repeating the same chapter 4 times has not lessened my excitement for this game. Each time you change classes, you essentially get a new game to conquor. Not to mention going online using the player client and joining an amazing array of worlds is just so satisfying.

    The DM client does have some bugs that need fixing but BW is working on it. They fixed a couple in the last patche that were considered 'game breakers' by some. I can control almost anything I want in my world. If I can't control everything I want with the default tools, I can script to make it happen. If I don't know how to script it, there is a great community of people just waiting to help create a solution to a problem. Many scripts have been posted on the forums there and cover the gamut of most DM needs.

    The toolset is simply amazing. Though adding more tilesets and creatures would be beneficial (where are my kobolds? Level 1's need to be able to kill kobolds!!!) they have done very well with translating the creativity of a world-builder (DM) into something visible with the eye.

    It sounds to me like most of the people bashing this game haven't delved deeply enough into the game, are stuck on comparing this game to other BW games, find a need to nitpick the small things (yes dragons should be able to fly. get over it) or just haven't played with all the different options enough (DM client, Toolset) to have enough information to base an opinion on.

    The addition of the Linux based client will add a new dimension to playing this game. More people won't have to reboot to play now. Isn't that supposed to be a good thing?

    Whoops! Forgot where I was. I'll prepare to get modded down immediately.
  • Really, it sucks that Bioware and Interplay had legal problems. I sort of feel that Infogames forced Bioware's hands in releasing this game with only a very short public beta run. While there might be plenty of reasons for the release date, I somehow am getting the impression that Infogames is responsible for the switch from "simultaneous release" for all operating systems to "wait until fall for Linux and Mac versions, sorry..."

    It is saddening, since even when it went gold, I thought that the Linux version was going to be in the box. I guess I didn't read the press releases.

    There are also some bug-related issues in the game, but they don't seem to bother me that much.

    All that being said, the game is still really awesome. Especially multiplayer. The changes to 3E were minimal (though I don't get why they added parry mode) for the PC translation. Obviously, some spells and cleric domains were taken out, but it is still darn cool.

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