Black Isle

Nightmare · Post by **Nightmare** » Sat Aug 11, 2001 2:28 pm

I remember reading somewhere that Back Isle Studios is not going to have the D&D licence by the end of the year. The article said that they could finish existing products after the end of the year, but no new ones. Is this bull or is it true?

Aegis · Post by **Aegis** » Sat Aug 11, 2001 2:55 pm

I've heard the same thing Gaxx, and I think it is true... We should find Fable, and see if he know anything about it...

Nightmare · Post by **Nightmare** » Mon Aug 13, 2001 10:17 am

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Mon Aug 13, 2001 11:02 am

I have also heard similar rumours, what is your opinion (Gaxx) on this issue?

Daniel · Post by **Daniel** » Mon Aug 13, 2001 11:07 am

Bioware & Interplay have made D&D alive again... open for a greater public. I don't think Wizards.com would stop this... don't forget... they earn good money with it, and that is one of the base things this story is about... still these sides have gained my respect, especially Interplay...

Quark · Post by **Quark** » Mon Aug 13, 2001 5:56 pm

Seeing as Hasbro now owns WotC, this is a very good possibility of non-Hasbro companies permanently losing their right to produce D&D games.

Knowing what kind of company Hasbro is, I wouldn't be surprised. Knowing what kind of company WotC is, I wouldn't be surprised if they fight enough to keep liscensing alive for D&D.

Either way, it might turn out even better. WotC is current developing an experimental system, currently called d20 System, that is supposed to be VERY open-ended. It will contain almost all of the core rules for 3rd edition D&D. Basically, it will be PURE open source. Any gaming company, electronic or not, could use this system to make a game - without paying WotC/Hasbro. Theoretically, people could use characters from one game in another because of the system.

I do not know if this will be successful, I can only hope.

PCGamer had an article about this - the RPG writer's column in the Sep 2001 issue.

Edit: Just a note, I have no idea whether or not people would still have to liscense cetain aspects - say Forgotten Realms - or not.

[ 08-13-2001: Message edited by: Quark ]

Nightmare · Post by **Nightmare** » Mon Aug 13, 2001 7:06 pm

Black Isle has made some good D&D games (like IWD) and published some very good games (BG2 comes to mind). A shame they won't have the licence.

Aegis · Post by **Aegis** » Mon Aug 13, 2001 8:05 pm

I believe a large amount of people will be fighting for the D&D license to stay with those who use it the best (Like Bioware, and Interplay)

Hmm... We do have over 2000 members... Would anyone be interested in a Petition?

Quark · Post by **Quark** » Mon Aug 13, 2001 8:36 pm

But if the d20 System comes out, in some ways it will be better for Bioware/Black Isle.

Sure, without a liscense they couldn't use any of the Forgetten Realms or Planescape history. Any smart developers can overcome this with their own story. The big advantage is that they no longer have to pay royalties just to make a game under the system. Even if they wanted to liscense use of FR, they could bargain for a lower price (since they no longer have to liscense the rules).

I really hope this d20 system works out

Weasel · Post by **Weasel** » Mon Aug 13, 2001 10:55 pm

I work for Infogrames and I thought that I might as well clear up some of the licensing confusion
First of all, Hasbro: The toy company is a completely seperate entity (well... It is now) from Hasbro: The game firm. Infogrames bought the latter - lock, stock, and barrel - a while back. In doing so, we inherited the sole interactive rights to the D20 system.

Luckily, Black Isle and a few other people still have a while to go with their existing licenses. Even after the licenses have expired they can continue to work on any product that was started BEFORE the expirey date.

Before anyone asks (they always do!) about Infogrames plans for D&D, I should mention that I'm not privy to that kind of information and the NDA I signed prevents me from talking about it, even if I was. The only RPG product I can probably discuss is Soulbringer - a non-D&D game that we published a while back, and... Well, I'd rather not (Without being specific, I'll just say that if you've played it, you'll know why!).

To any Black Isle people who are reading this: I hate to see what's happening to Interplay; you're definately the best department in the company. Keep up the (really) great work!

[url="http://feedback.blackisle.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=11&t=000682"]More post on this[/url]

Quark · Post by **Quark** » Tue Aug 14, 2001 11:20 am

Whoops, forgot about that buyout. Still results in the same thing, though. The higher-ups will want all the D&D games to be in-house (something which I doubt Infogrames could handle gracefully).

ThorinOakensfield · Post by **ThorinOakensfield** » Tue Aug 14, 2001 12:22 pm

I hate all these freaking massive monopolizing companies.

Nightmare · Post by **Nightmare** » Tue Aug 14, 2001 4:58 pm

Originally posted by ThorinOakensfield:
<STRONG>I hate all these freaking massive monopolizing companies.</STRONG>

They're EEEEEVVVVVIIIILLLLLL.

fable · Post by **fable** » Tue Aug 14, 2001 10:06 pm

If you hate the corporate conglomorates, kill anybody you know that's pirating their games. There is a huge underground traffic in "warez" by jerks who think it's kewl, they're special, and nobody gets hurt.

Instead, the companies that get hurt the most (naturally enough) are the ones who are small, and feel the loss.

You might also mount a campaign in favor of website sales for small outfits like Shrapnel Games. They can't afford the ripoff prices for shelf space in retail conglomorates, so they only sell through the net. You want more of the games? Get the word out. I try.