Neverwinter Nights 2 Forum News (Dec. 02, 04)

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Here are today's Neverwinter Nights 2 forum highlights, collected by NWVault from Obsidian Forums. Please take into account that these are only single parts of various threads and should not be taken out of context. Bear in mind also that the posts presented here are copied as-is, and that any bad spelling and grammar does not get corrected on our end.

AnthonyD, Developer

Developer Advice

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Do you have any tips for the initial planning stages of an indie CRPG, such as recruiting volunteer contributors when there's little to show them?

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John asked me to jump in here and give some advice if I can.

Tips for writing and indie CRPG:

0. What is the goal of the game you are writing? For fun, profit, or experience to get in the game industry?

1. Identify your platform, tools, and resources you have to work with. Be realistic. Most indie developers do not have a lot of resources to work with, and that is okay as long as you are prepared for that.

2. What can you do, and who do you need to help with the rest? If you are not a programmer, you will probably need one or need to learn how to program. If you are not a designer, you will need to find one or work on becoming one. If you are not an artist, you may need to find one. You need to develop your skill set, whatever that may be.

3. Keep your goals realisitc. The best you can probably hope for is 1 to 3 like-minded individuals who will be willing to help in thier free-time. You will not be able to create World of Warcraft of Baldur's Gate with 3 people. You can however still create a game rich on content and creativity.

4. People willing to help you...well, your best bet is your own friends. I was lucky enough to have friends that were like-minded and very talent artists and programmers. If for whatever reason your friends can't or aren't interested in helping you, there are numerous indie game developer forums out there where you may find people willing to help.

5. I can't stress this enough, keep your goals realistic. Depending on the size of your game you want to make, it may take 6 months to 2 years working on your free-time to make. You will still have family, friends, and a life to lead outside of this, so plan accordingly, and be realistic.

6. Finally, the best alternative may be to just get an involved witha n already exisiting indie game that is looking for help. It might be a better way to get your feet wet and to learn more about it.

I know this are kind of vague, but I can answer more specific questions if you have them.

Ferret, Developer

Emotes Built in
Emotes may be handled via chat commands (so Rynjaxx may get his wish). As with everything this early in the game, it's hard to tell how far down the feature request list we'll be able to get before we ship.

John Morgan, Developer

Developer Advice

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Great topic. As someone who is really focused on making it into development, I'm curious about the following: What were the contents of your portfolio? NWN mod, other mod? Pencil and paper stuff? Writing samples? I'd love to see as much as you are comfortable sharing.

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Basically, I just have writing samples of related papers from college and some reviews I had written up for other jobs. As I said, I skipped the design test at Obsidian because everything was so rushed, but it basically asks enough questions to get a feel for your writing skills. There is also a section where you actually submit a level for a d20-based system including the physical layout, points-of-interest and the quests that go along with it.

More :

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Ya same here, i also want to know what your experence was (mods, hacking..?)

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I had experience in IT which meant I knew my way around a computer as well as several software suites and some mild programming experience. Here's a sample of what I had on my resume way back then:

QUALIFICATIONS

Special interest and experience in playing several genres of games
Research and track progress of game development through web research
Attend CES, Comdex, and E3
Very Strong knowledge of PC hardware systems, audio/video, IT systems, re- imaging, ghosting, network troubleshooting, machine maintenance/upkeep.
Basic knowledge of C++, QBasic, and HTML codes
Working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop 7.0
Working knowledge of HotDog Professional version 7.0
Experienced in Windows 95/98/2000/XP
Student of film and cinematic design including production, post-production, writing
Strong knowledge of cinematography and aesthetic design

EDUCATION

University of California, Irvine, June 2003 (GPA 3.37)
BA: Film Studies; Minor: Management

Relevant Coursework: Film Studies, Computer Science, Boolean Algebra, IT Systems, Financial Accounting, Leadership, Organizational Behavior, Marketing

More :

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Hey, you got any of us female types working at Obsidian? For a slightly more serious question: I am considering a career in video games, (design or art. They're both so wonderfully delightful!) and I have a wee bit of experience with both of these fields. (I built an area on a MUD, much loved and loathed, and I'm taking a Graphics Design course.) My problem is that while I have loved the design part, I'm still not sure on how to get myself organized. grin.gif Do you have any suggestions on general classes to take, things to study, things to look out for, or any tips on game/player balance? Peace, love, and happiness to you, Morgan man! You will be missed by the KOTOR2'ers. Goodluck with NWN2 as well.

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Obsidian is fairly lacking in the female department, although the same could be said for the gaming industry. But honestly the management here is professional enough to be blind to gender and such.

As far as your classes, you sound like you're on the right track. Just do things to keep your creative side sharp and learn as much as you can about the industry. I'd suggest classes along the lines of software design, creative writing, and basically anything that interests you in a creative context. I found my history classes were great learning for me as a writer and of course all those film classes helped with my creativity. And for the interface stuff, that would be a question for Akari if he is reading this thread.

[ December 04, 2004, 15:30: Message edited by: chevalier ]