Neverwinter (video game)

Neverwinter
Developer(s)	Cryptic Studios
Publisher(s)	Atari
Designer(s)	Jack Emmert, Shane Hensley
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows
Release date(s)	Late 2012[1]
Genre(s)	MMORPG[2]
Mode(s)	Multiplayer

Neverwinter is an upcoming massively multiplayer online role-playing game in development by Cryptic Studios for the Microsoft Windows platform and is currently scheduled for a "late" 2012 release.^[1] Based in the fictional Dungeons & Dragons city of Neverwinter, the game was originally scheduled to be released as a crossmedia event coinciding with the release of an upcoming trilogy of books by fantasy author R.A. Salvatore as well as an upcoming tabletop game from Wizards of the Coast.^[3] Neverwinter was announced on August 23, 2010. Neverwinter is a standalone game and not part of the previous Neverwinter Nights series.^[4]

Development

Turbine, the developers of Dungeons & Dragons Online sued Atari for not promoting the online game's free-to-play launch.^{[citation needed]} The reason was that Turbine believed that Atari was under-promoting the game in order to promote their own internally-developed Dungeons & Dragons MMO therefore they wanted the publishing rights to themselves in order to promote it.^{[citation needed]} The result was of Atari retaining publishing rights in some areas and Turbine gaining them elsewhere and Dungeons & Dragons online being more heavily promoted.^{[citation needed]} During this time, concept art of what appeared to be locations on the Sword Coast was leaked onto the Cryptic Studios website.^{[citation needed]} Atari also bought Cryptic Studios around this time.^[5]

On August 23 2010, Atari announced their Neverwinter Nights MMO game entitled Neverwinter to be developed by Cryptic Studios. However, due to a lack of details, Atari is still more heavily promoting Turbine's Dungeons & Dragon's Online.^{[citation needed]} They revealed that the game would coincide with a multi-media event revolving around the city of Neverwinter, including the release of four books (one already in stores), a co-operative board game and a D&D role-playing game being released to promote the launch of the MMO.^[6] In May 2011, Atari announced that it would be selling Cryptic Studios. They stated that operations of Star Trek Online and Champions Online would continue as normal and that the development of Neverwinter, too, would continue as normal. Gamasutra reported that development of Neverwinter would continue as normal only for the time being.^[7]

The game was first publicly displayed at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2011 in which many details about the game were revealed.^{[citation needed]} Due to Cryptic's acquistition by Perfect World Entertainment, Neverwinter was delayed to 2012.^[8] On October 5th 2011, Perfect World announced that Neverwinter has shifted from the co-operative multiplayer game that was announced the previous year into a free-to-play MMO. This further delayed the game to the back end of 2012.^[2]

Gameplay

According to an August 23, 2010 press release, players will become one of five classic Dungeons & Dragons classes and form a group of up to five; including other players or computer-controlled non-player characters. A player-created content system codenamed "Foundry" will allow players to create their own stories and quests.^[9]

When asked for gameplay details during an interview with MaximumPC.com, Cryptic Studios chief operating officer Jack Emmert explained, "It's not an MMO in the sense that there aren't zones with hundreds-and-hundreds of people. You are not fighting for spawns. There's a very strong storyline throughout the game. So it's more of a story-based game closer to things like Dragon Age or Oblivion, which we really try to follow."^[10]

Neverwinter will be based around a modified version of the Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition rule-set making it the first game in the Neverwinter Nights series to do so, the previous games never having gone beyond 3.5; including the use of healing surges and action points which will be implemented through a system referred to as "boons," allowing a player to perform an extra special ability upon accumulating enough of these action points through combat and other actions.^[11]

If players are unable to find a party to join, they will be able to reach out to NPC's and command them around. These NPC's will join the player in battle and may die and be replaceable by a similar NPC. Cryptic has revealed that the game will not be turn-based or phased real-time and will use real-time tactics combat.^[12]

Plot

Characters and Setting

According to the initial press release issued by Atari, the setting city of Neverwinter takes place in a time when the city is plunged into chaos after the death of the Lord of Neverwinter. In the aftermath of the spellplague and a primordial destroying Neverwinter, as seen in the novel Gauntlgrym, the remaining citizens form factions and struggle for dominance over the populace as the dead begin to rise and attack "the city they once called home."^[13] Easter Eggs which reference the previous Neverwinter Nights games will be scattered throughout the locations of the game.^{[citation needed]}

In the E3 2011 trailer for the game, many factions of the game were shown. The most notable of the bunch being an army of skeletons with the female lich, Valindra, as their chief and a blue dragon as their leader. These are the dead citizens of Neverwinter that are attacking their home. ^[14] The player is investigating the Sect Crown of Neverwinter and trying to figure out what the skeletons and some mysterious group are looking for and what they are trying to acquire.^[15]

Locations

In an interview with GameSpot, Jack Emmert announced that the game will include "adventuring in and around Neverwinter. Not just in the city, but also the environs," and hints that more locations further afield will be added at some point. In addition, he indicated that the included locations will be heavily based on the novel Gauntylgrym, its sequel Neverwinter Wood and Legends of Neverwinter: Brimstone Angels. So far the only known locations are Neverwinter and Neverwinter Wood. Additionally players will be able, using the aforementioned Foundry Tool Kit, previously named forge, to create whole new locations that may or may not conform to the lore on which the rest of the game is based. However, it has been made clear that this content will be clearly distinguished as to not confuse users and they will be informed whether they are playing user-generated or official content.^[11]

Story

In Neverwinter at the Battle of the Bridge, the female shadow Lich Valindra attacks the soldiers of New Neverwinter, as new grounds are being built on the outside of the grounds and the inside of the city repaired, with an army of the Undead. The soldiers fare well against Valindra until the blue dragon, her leader, attacks. The blue dragon ensures Valindra and the undead's retreat before leaving itself with the Battle of the Bridge being won by the soldiers of Neverwinter. At a pub in Luskan, a soldier who fought in the battle asks out to the people where they will be when the blue dragon attacks again. ^[16]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "HASBRO AND ATARI RESOLVE DUNGEONS & DRAGONS RIGHTS DISPUTE". Wizards of the Coast LLC. 2011-08-15. http://www.wizards.com/Company/Press.aspx?x=wz/press/54. Retrieved 2011-08-16. 
2. ^ ^{a b} http://pc.ign.com/articles/119/1198498p1.html
3. ^ Matt Ryan (2010-08-25). "Atari and Cryptic Studios Announce Neverwinter in 2011 for PC". Lockergnome.com. http://www.lockergnome.com/mattryan/2010/08/25/atari-and-cryptic-studios-announce-neverwinter-in-2011-for-pc/. Retrieved 2010-10-31. 
4. ^ "Cryptic Studios Announces Neverwinter for 2011 Release". Giantbomb.com. 2010-08-23. http://www.giantbomb.com/news/cryptic-studios-announces-neverwinter-for-2011-release/2471/. Retrieved 2010-10-31. 
5. ^ http://kotaku.com/5346251/turbine-rolls-for-damages-in-atari-lawsuit
6. ^ http://kotaku.com/5619535/return-to-neverwinter-in-2011
7. ^ http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/atari-cryptic-studios-a-discontinued-operation/
8. ^ "Cryptic now belongs to Perfect World Entertainment". http://gamasutra.com/view/news/36468/Atari_Officially_Closes_Sale_Of_Champions_Online_Developer_Cryptic_Studios.php. Retrieved 22 August 2011. 
9. ^ "Atari and Cryptic Studios Announce Neverwinter Coming in 2011 for PC". PRNewswire.com. 2010-08-23. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/atari-and-cryptic-studios-announce-neverwinter-coming-in-2011-for-pc-101292314.html. Retrieved 2010-10-31. 
10. ^ Nathan Grayson (2010-08-23). "Interview: Cryptic Studios Head Talks New Neverwinter, Why MMOs Kind of Suck". MaximumPC.com. http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/interview_cryptic_studios_head_talks_new_neverwinter_why_mmos_kind_suck?page=0,0. Retrieved 2010-10-31. 
11. ^ ^{a b} "Neverwinter Exclusive Q&A - First Details on Cryptic's New Dungeons & Dragons Game". Gamespot.com. http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/neverwinter/news.html?sid=6274162&mode=previews. Retrieved 2011-03-16. 
12. ^ Onyett, Charles. "Neverwinter Details". http://pc.ign.com/articles/117/1172727p1.html. Retrieved 9 June 2011. 
13. ^ "ATARI AND CRYPTIC STUDIOS ANNOUNCE NEVERWINTER(TM) COMING IN 2011 FOR PC". Gamasutra.com. 2010-08-23. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/62189/ATARI_AND_CRYPTIC_STUDIOS_ANNOUNCENEVERWINTERTMnbspCOMING_IN_2011_FOR_PC.php. Retrieved 2010-10-31. 
14. ^ "Neverwitner's Factions". http://www.holyfragger.com/pc/role-playing/neverwinter/news/?a=2185. Retrieved 9 July 2011. 
15. ^ [Andy: To be clear, it’s not just a campaign that you’ll be able to do, but with that being said, the main campaign is about a hundred years in the fut "Neverwinter's Story"]. Andy: To be clear, it’s not just a campaign that you’ll be able to do, but with that being said, the main campaign is about a hundred years in the fut. Retrieved 9 July 2011. 
16. ^ "The story of Neverwinter". http://pc.ign.com/articles/119/1198498p1.html. Retrieved 22 October 2011.