Something went wrong. Try again later

Giant Bomb News

55 Comments

Cryptic Studios Announces Neverwinter For 2011 Release

The MMO developer sets its sights on a class-based co-op RPG based in the Neverwinter universe.

Rumors had Champions Online developer Cryptic Studios pegged as the creator of a Neverwinter-based MMO. These were half-true, according to a recent reveal by Atari that has pegged Cryptic as the developer of what sounds precisely like what you'd expect from an RPG with Neverwinter in the title, with decidedly unmassive co-op support.

Neverwinter, as it's simply being referred to by the publisher, will feature five classic Dungeons and Dragons character classes. You'll be able to control just one of these at a time while AI or up to four other people will compose the rest of a given group. Character customization is being promised.

Groups will quest of course, though the nature of these quests isn't being discussed quite yet. According to press materials, you and your cohorts will be able to generate your own quests with a "user-friendly" system tentatively named Forge. Like much of the rest of the currently available details, this sounds at least thematically similar to the expandability found in the Neverwinter Nights series.

A shot from the game's official website. 
A shot from the game's official website. 
Neverwinter is set for a Q4 2011 release on the PC. It'll be a part of a multi-product release plan that'll see a launch of a Wizards of the Coast-created tabletop game as well as a new trilogy by R.A. Salvatore. The first book of this series--a series that just so happens to be what the game is inspired by--releases on October 5. Atari is saying it lays the groundwork for the game.

55 Comments

Avatar image for bradnicholson
BradNicholson

1557

Forum Posts

665

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By BradNicholson

Rumors had Champions Online developer Cryptic Studios pegged as the creator of a Neverwinter-based MMO. These were half-true, according to a recent reveal by Atari that has pegged Cryptic as the developer of what sounds precisely like what you'd expect from an RPG with Neverwinter in the title, with decidedly unmassive co-op support.

Neverwinter, as it's simply being referred to by the publisher, will feature five classic Dungeons and Dragons character classes. You'll be able to control just one of these at a time while AI or up to four other people will compose the rest of a given group. Character customization is being promised.

Groups will quest of course, though the nature of these quests isn't being discussed quite yet. According to press materials, you and your cohorts will be able to generate your own quests with a "user-friendly" system tentatively named Forge. Like much of the rest of the currently available details, this sounds at least thematically similar to the expandability found in the Neverwinter Nights series.

A shot from the game's official website. 
A shot from the game's official website. 
Neverwinter is set for a Q4 2011 release on the PC. It'll be a part of a multi-product release plan that'll see a launch of a Wizards of the Coast-created tabletop game as well as a new trilogy by R.A. Salvatore. The first book of this series--a series that just so happens to be what the game is inspired by--releases on October 5. Atari is saying it lays the groundwork for the game.
Avatar image for shaka999
Shaka999

550

Forum Posts

3

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By Shaka999

cool

Avatar image for jeknod
Jeknod

229

Forum Posts

2

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Jeknod

k00l beans

Avatar image for drdarkstryfe
DrDarkStryfe

2563

Forum Posts

1672

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 2

Edited By DrDarkStryfe

I'm excited for this.

Avatar image for chummy8
Chummy8

4000

Forum Posts

1815

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 12

Edited By Chummy8

 Wait... 
 

"Gamers will choose to become one of five classic D&D classes and team up with friends or the AI to form five-person co-op groups.

There's an "extremely user-friendly" content generation system called Forge, too."

    
I'm not sure I like the sound of this.  It's a D&D game, half of the fun is making your own character.  This sounds like an "action/rpg"     
Avatar image for example1013
Example1013

4854

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Example1013

Noooooo! Why can't we have a local co-op console RPG that doesn't suck?

Avatar image for jeffk38uk
jeffk38uk

726

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

Edited By jeffk38uk

Reading the comments around the web, most of it are already labelling it a failure simply because of it being developed by Cryptic and misreading it as a MMO for some. A bit harsh tbh. 
 
It could be good reading the article and interview, coming from someone who's never played a D&D or Neverwinter title before as Cryptic could do some good. I just hope they actually put the attention to a full amount of content, given that was the main issue on both Champions and Star Trek Online.

Avatar image for deactivated-633355e1dd700
deactivated-633355e1dd700

853

Forum Posts

3

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Hell yes. Local co-op would have been nice.

Avatar image for chummy8
Chummy8

4000

Forum Posts

1815

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 12

Edited By Chummy8
@hematurge said:
" Hell yes. Local co-op would have been nice. "
On a computer?  Dear god.  Please tell me that they are not planning on making this into a console game
Avatar image for grissefar
Grissefar

2904

Forum Posts

384

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By Grissefar

PNP rules don't translate vell into the videogame realm.
 
Cryptic Studios.
 
NWN2 didn't live up to the potential.
 
Not for me :)

Avatar image for sanitysend
Sanitysend

97

Forum Posts

253

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 4

Edited By Sanitysend

To bad cryptic is FAIL now

Avatar image for codejunkie83
codejunkie83

12

Forum Posts

3

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By codejunkie83

I was excited...until I read the article. :(

Avatar image for valru
Valru

96

Forum Posts

11412

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 3

Edited By Valru

Shovelware MMO developer Cryptic announces the next franchise they plan on ruining.

Avatar image for ajamafalous
ajamafalous

13992

Forum Posts

905

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 9

Edited By ajamafalous

The publisheri? Is that like the Illuminati?

Avatar image for marbazoid
Marbazoid

58

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By Marbazoid

Neverwinter Nights'  toolset made it better than the actual game. Some of the best modules for NWN were player created. I feel as though user generated content was the true spirit of that franchise. 
 
I hope this doesn't turn out like Dark Alliance or Demon Stone.

Avatar image for rattle618
Rattle618

1504

Forum Posts

58

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Rattle618

I hope they dont screw up my neverwinter...

Avatar image for themustachehero
TheMustacheHero

6647

Forum Posts

120

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Edited By TheMustacheHero

It's pathetic that Cryptic only makes MMOs and all of them totally suck ass.
Here's hoping this none-MMO thing will be good.

Avatar image for goulash_enjoyer
goulash_enjoyer

836

Forum Posts

425

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By goulash_enjoyer

Another fantasy MMO. Great. Wonderful. Excellent. I can't wait. Really. And it's based on R.A. Salvatore's writing? Even better! Wow!

Avatar image for egocentryk
egocentryk

6

Forum Posts

37

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By egocentryk

Can't wait. Love Forgotten Realms, love Faerun, love Neverwinter... But it realy sad that this game wouldn't be developed by BioWare.

Avatar image for clinkz
Clinkz

1116

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Clinkz

Yes! Wait... Cryptic??? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Avatar image for flipperdesert
FlipperDesert

2236

Forum Posts

40

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By FlipperDesert
@Bummey said:
" Another fantasy MMO. Great. Wonderful. Excellent. I can't wait. Really. And it's based on R.A. Salvatore's writing? Even better! Wow! "
Did you even read past the first sentence of the article?
 
Co-op fantasy RPG? Good! Cryptic? Bad, very bad.
Avatar image for jatsu
Jatsu

63

Forum Posts

2751

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 13

Edited By Jatsu

From everything I'm reading, the game sounds a lot like Guild Wars.  
 
Specifically,

Neverwinter is a cooperative RPG. You can play with a bunch of friends and experience Neverwinter and D&D in a brand-new way. We're trying to create new sorts of games that we call "OMGs" (online multiplayer games).

Neverwinter features co-operative multiplayer in an ever-evolving, persistent world where Dungeons & Dragons adventurers quest alongside thousands of other warriors, rogues, wizards and faithful avengers.     


If it's done well enough, I could go for GW but with an underyling D&D ruleset and advanced character creation/customization.
 
Hey Dave, what ever happened to Icewind Dale III? :P
Avatar image for brotherlu
brotherlu

73

Forum Posts

151

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 1

Edited By brotherlu

They now only make MMO's to pull cash from us regularly. It will suck and it will shut down or go to free-to-play. This is based on Champions Online which is OK at best and Star Trek Online which is half ok and Half Boring as watching paint dry.

Avatar image for arbitrarywater
ArbitraryWater

16104

Forum Posts

5585

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 66

Edited By ArbitraryWater

Oh awesome. Instead of devoting time to making actual new D&D games in the vein of Neverwinter Nights and Baldur's Gate they are making what basically sounds like Guild Wars, but with the D&D license. Super. Exactly what I want from that franchise.

Avatar image for vao
Vao

348

Forum Posts

3

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By Vao

City of heros (sold i know) then we got Champions Online, then Star Trek Online.  
  
Champions Online and Star Trek Online were released 5 months apart. both have gotten little after release support. Now we get news that the great "Cryptic Studios" is focused on yet another  franchised IP that promises alot.  
 
Forgive me but I have no faith in the company anymore, I have given them the chance on both CO and STO and feel ripped off.  Granted, they might pull off a decent game if they don't focus on labeling it a "MMO" and work on a small scale, party system.

Avatar image for ryanwho
ryanwho

12011

Forum Posts

-1

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By ryanwho

This is maybe the only IP Obsidian, as Obsidian and not Black Isle, completely nailed. How long am I waiting before they get back on it?

Avatar image for alexl86
alexl86

870

Forum Posts

16

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 8

Edited By alexl86

Wait, this is the 4e logo and they aren't even gonna use all the classes from the PHB? I would expect them to have all the classes at the very least. I don't like the sound of "classic" either.
 
I infer from that wording, that Warlord and Warlock are out(they would be pretty hard to code anyway, with Warlord granting attacks left and right, and Feylocks teleporting after each kill). Still, if the developer isn't skilled enough to implement all the classes, I'll stick with NWN2.

Avatar image for alkie
alkie

26

Forum Posts

3

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 6

Edited By alkie

not as keen on this after reading through.
 
dragon age is enough for me these days I spose.

Avatar image for goulash_enjoyer
goulash_enjoyer

836

Forum Posts

425

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By goulash_enjoyer
@FlipperDesert said:

Did you even read past the first sentence of the article?  Co-op fantasy RPG? Good! Cryptic? Bad, very bad. "

 
R.A. Salvatore was mentioned at the end of the article, so I'm pretty sure I got down there somehow.
Avatar image for frankxiv
frankxiv

2600

Forum Posts

8534

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 11

Edited By frankxiv
@Jatsu said:
" From everything I'm reading, the game sounds a lot like Guild Wars.  
 
Specifically,

Neverwinter is a cooperative RPG. You can play with a bunch of friends and experience Neverwinter and D&D in a brand-new way. We're trying to create new sorts of games that we call "OMGs" (online multiplayer games).

Neverwinter features co-operative multiplayer in an ever-evolving, persistent world where Dungeons & Dragons adventurers quest alongside thousands of other warriors, rogues, wizards and faithful avengers.           

that just sounds like the other cookie cutter cryptic mmos
Avatar image for maxszy
maxszy

2385

Forum Posts

26

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By maxszy

Neverwinter is wonderful. Both the first two by BioWare and Obsidian were great. I however, am skeptical at what Cryptic will do with it. Have to wait and see.

Avatar image for dystopiax
DystopiaX

5776

Forum Posts

416

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Edited By DystopiaX
@Maxszy said:
" Neverwinter is wonderful. Both the first two by BioWare and Obsidian were great. I however, am skeptical at what Cryptic will do with it. Have to wait and see. "
If they make it something like Dragon Age- an updated version of what was good awhile ago, but perhaps a little less modern than DA, then i'll play it.
Avatar image for natural_deadhead
natural_deadhead

292

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 13

Edited By natural_deadhead

After Champions online, and Star Trek online, I will never playanother cryptic game AGAIN!

Avatar image for stealthraptor
StealthRaptor

568

Forum Posts

32

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By StealthRaptor

Salvatore writes waaaay too much to be human.

Avatar image for norusdog
Norusdog

356

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By Norusdog

are you fucking kidding me.  I mean I get that we have enough fantasy MMO's out there...but I love DnD system and NeverWinter Nights 1-2..
 
but Cryptic? FUCK YOU.  they are the WORST fucking MMO dev out there.  they half-ass shit to turn a quick buck and that is IT.  Look at STO if you don't get what I mean.
 
Christ even Sony woulda been better for this.

Avatar image for mariorules85
Mariorules85

36

Forum Posts

15

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By Mariorules85
@Clinkz said:
" Yes! Wait... Cryptic??? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! "
My sentiments exactly. I don't do pay-to-play MMOs.
Avatar image for jakobi
Jakobi

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 1

Edited By Jakobi

Sounds fun. Something tells me this will be tailored for both RPG and action game junkies (like Mass Effect), but it's way too early to tell.  It'll be a fun alternative to Diablo 3 at the very least.
 
For all the people posting about this being another MMO: 
 
You fail at reading! 
You lose 1 skillpoint in comprehension.

Avatar image for tordah
Tordah

2604

Forum Posts

621

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 10

Edited By Tordah

I've only played the first Neverwinter Nights, but it was pretty good. I guess I should play the sequel too someday.

Avatar image for belligerentengine
BelligerentEngine

354

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I'd maybe play this game, but every person interested in this will just roll a tiefling so fuck that business.

Avatar image for saltank
Saltank

200

Forum Posts

11

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 7

Edited By Saltank

Ugh, Cryptic you kill me!  
At least Bill Roper is gone, maybe something will change for the better?

Avatar image for karatekid
KarateKid

67

Forum Posts

3

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By KarateKid

Loved the first neverWinterNights. Number 2 was also quite cool and had plenty of hours of entertainment in it. I just hope the 3rd one will remind me more of the first.  
Also I have great hopes for the characters and story seeing as R.A Salvatore is involved

Avatar image for c1337us
c1337us

5877

Forum Posts

56

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By c1337us
@codejunkie83 said:
" I was excited...until I read the article. :( "
Yeah. I really love the Neverwinter games. I hope this turns out.
Avatar image for the_laughing_man
The_Laughing_Man

13807

Forum Posts

7460

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Edited By The_Laughing_Man

Mmm so they have dropped STO? Great now to mess up another MMO.

Avatar image for dvorak
dvorak

1553

Forum Posts

616

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By dvorak

I'm going to be cautiously optimistic on this one.

Avatar image for dyong
dyong

334

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By dyong

I hate R. A. Salvatore. Avoiding this like the plague.

Avatar image for michaelbach
MichaelBach

975

Forum Posts

75

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By MichaelBach

Always up for some D&D :)

Avatar image for don
Don

85

Forum Posts

25

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By Don

I am almost willing to bet the 5 classes are: 
Cleric, Sorcerer, Barbarian, Ranger, and Fighter (Maybe Rogue)

Avatar image for myrmidon
Myrmidon

546

Forum Posts

2

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Myrmidon

Awesome. As long as they don't take a dump all over it it should be pretty good.
 
Edit: Oh wait, MMO? Fuuuuuuck.

Avatar image for eot
EOT

134

Forum Posts

296

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By EOT

Cool....oh....Cyptic...eh no thanks (for the moment i may be swayed if they ever manage to walk the walk that they talk....as it were).