NWN2 MOW_From the Producer

[bumbacrot]

Hi everyone,

My name is Keehwan Her and I am the Atari producer for Mysteries of Westgate (MoW) among other D&D products. Most of you know that the release of Mysteries of Westgate has been delayed because of ongoing development of a new security system. Near the end of MoW’s development last year, we realized that the traditional protection of the .exe file would not work with it so we scrambled to find a reliable commercial method that would do the job. At the time, there was no solution that met our requirements. That is why, since the end of 2007, Atari has been working hard to develop a new security system that can be used not just for MoW but for all Atari products that need protection for data files without using the traditional route of wrapping the .exe file. Unfortunately, developing this system has taken longer than we anticipated and MoW’s release has suffered as a result, because it is the first product that will use this new system.

Atari has been working closely with Obsidian and Ossian to try to integrate the new system with NWN2 and MoW specifically. Although we wanted the security modifications to go out with Update 1.12, it simply was not ready in time so we unfortunately had no choice but to push it into Update 1.13.

I realize that many of you are anxious to get your hands on Mysteries of Westgate, and I know from firsthand experience that it is a fantastic adventure. MoW has been ready to ship for a while now and we are close to finalizing the new security system that will ensure that it has its proper day in the sun. In the meantime, we are working hard to keep cool information about the game coming.

[Sblade]

So this methode that will no longer require the wrap of the exe in Atari products will mean it will be possible a soon drop of Securom in the main game of Neverwinter Nights 2?

[kalniel]

Thanks for the info Keehwan. I hope the new system works as it sounds exciting to have the possibility for more protected data delivery in the future. Is the TDU megapack using the same scheme, and how much alteration of the original games is required to work with the new system?

[Kunikos]

Congrats on delaying a game for six months, you must be really proud considering the game will still be cracked in a day and put on bit torrent sites all over europe and russia.

[jlg94040]

I purchased NWN2 Gold on 5/13/08 from Best Buy with the understanding (as advertised) that a key code for a free download of MoW would be included in the box. If the key codes were not ready to be included in the Gold box (because of new type of security) will I still be able to get a free download when MoW is finally ready? After all - the CD keys for NWN2 and MotB should identify that the programs were from the Gold edition and so a free download of MoW could be allowed. Or the store receipt of NWN2 Gold could be mailed in for a free download to MoW as advertised as being part of the Gold Edition.
If not - how do I get my money back? Seems like false advertising - and a possible class action suit.
Also, I submitted a question about the lack of a key code to Atari when I first opened the box on 5/13/08 and have still not received an answer (just a auto response case #00061289). Finally I came back to the forum and saw a thread which was unclear about wheither MoW would be free to Gold purchasers when it became ready for release. Would have been nice (and good customer support) to actually get a response to my e-mail and case # directly. If this is the way Atari supports their customers - I will not continue being one. BTW - I'm in the over 40 demographics with plenty of money to spend and customer service is important to me.

Hope to get some answers.
Thanks

[fasthd97]

I own three copies of nwn and I and several of my friends own nwn2 motb.I have patiently waited since sept of last year to play ossians Mow.Do you not value me and others like me as a customer?I have been told many things by you as to when the game would be ready.Its not ready?What isnt ready your new security system?I bought nwn2 knowing full well it had lots of bugs.(I played on the beta.)If you tell me a release date ,then I expect it within a month or two of such.Your failure to do so in the six months after your initial release date tells me you are more concerned about your security system than how your customers feel.I dont know or care who dropped the ball.I do know that I will buy MOW when it is released to support Ossian and nwn2 Multiplayer.However I will go out of my way to not buy Atari products other than that one until Atari sees fit to apologise to the community that by and large feels slighted by your inability to deliver.I understand that software development is hard but the finished product has been ready for a while now.If you want to test your new security system develop it then find a game to test it on.As it stands now a great number of people are tired of hearing "Soon".I will be playing on Cd and Md (those are nwn multiplayer pws)Please feel free to stop by and tell me when its really ready so I can buy it.I wont be checking these forums anymore im tired of reading about a product you wont sell me.Anyone who agrees with this post please put a +1 if you disagree put a -1.That way Atari has some idea of exactly how many people feel the way I do and just maybe they will get the message. P.S. I have never made a nasty post about anyone or anything about nwn So please dont lock this down.

[kalniel]

Originally Posted by fasthd97

However I will go out of my way to not buy Atari products other than that one until Atari sees fit to apologise to the community

You can read their apology here:
http://www.ataricommunity.com/forums...d.php?t=645605

Originally Posted by atari

We sincerely apologize for any frustrations these delays may have caused to Ossian, Obsidian, and especially the D&D community

[djswarm]

Oh boy. Waiting months so you can add copy protection is so fun.

And its not like NWN2 wasn't a cheap hack full of bugs and a bunch of story board shots with the janitor reading for the ending.

Be still my pound heart.

[kalniel]

Latest news:

Originally Posted by Rob McGinnis, Bioware Forums

As far as I know, the DRM is mostly done. It is in testing (server and client).

Any changes will delay the release but, right now the plan is to release the authentication system with SoZ in November.

Any more than that, I do not know.

He clarified later that this does not mean SoZ is using the DRM system, it's just co-incidence that it's coming out at the same time.

Originally Posted by Rob

Things happen that you cannot always plan for. Things don't always go right or perfectly, even when you do plan.

The delay in the DRM just happens to bring it's release close to the SoZ release. Since SoZ does not depend on that DRM, it will not be delayed by the DRM.

We will be releasing the client side of the authentication system with SoZ. The client side of the authentication system has to be built into the base of the NWN2 game. If it's not, then you could not download, install and run MoW.

[nazgul748]

I understand about the copy protection. I also understand that a lot of people have just one question. When will it be available?

[kalniel]

He already said - when the system is in place to be able to download/authenticate it. That's expected to be in patch 1.21, which is the 'day one' patch for SoZ (brings all combinations of products up to the same version).

[vilnii]

Kalniel...pardon my asking, but do you work in any capacity on behalf of Atari?

I ask because your constant justification of Atari's glaring incompetence is not what one would typically expect of an ordinary fan of the game.

My expectation is that where Atari has dropped the ball they should be called on it, but I have NEVER seen you do that, NEVER.

You are constantly cheerleading this debacle...I just do not understand.

[kalniel]

Originally Posted by vilnii

Kalniel...pardon my asking, but do you work in any capacity on behalf of Atari?

I already answered that in another thread.

I ask because your constant justification of Atari's glaring incompetence

What? Excuse me but how is keeping us well informed in any way 'incompetant'?

MoW looks like it's going to be just as cool as Ossians other work, Atari don't have to release anything if they don't want to, but that they've listened to their fans and aren't going to release it with the limited activation Securom online DRM thing and instead develop something better can only be described as something they've done with the fans in mind, not incompetant.

My expectation is that where Atari has dropped the ball they should be called on it, but I have NEVER seen you do that, NEVER.

Where have they dropped the ball? The only thing I can think of (which I didn't see myself) is advertising NWN2 Gold as coming with MoW. I am completely ready to call them on that if they don't address that - but they've already done so.

[Sblade]

Originally Posted by kalniel

I already answered that in another thread.

What? Excuse me but how is keeping us well informed in any way 'incompetant'?

MoW looks like it's going to be just as cool as Ossians other work, Atari don't have to release anything if they don't want to, but that they've listened to their fans and aren't going to release it with the limited activation Securom online DRM thing and instead develop something better can only be described as something they've done with the fans in mind, not incompetant.

.

This is the first time we agree on something, right kal?

Seriously vilniil, If they have waited this long time for use an alternate way than damn Securom unsecure online authentication, they have my full bless.

Believe me. I have 2+ years of experience, I know what I´m talking about.

[okelly420]

oh maybe i owe ossian studio's an apology

[vhadakhan]

http://nwn2.com has a link to the release of MOW, but it looks like they've entered the wrong url as it goes to MOTB..........

[markinnwn]

Anymore news atari? I was a massive NWN1 fan, and bought NWN2 not long after its release - anymore news on your latest release ?

[kalniel]

It's due very soon - just has to pass final testing with the real world 1.22 patch - should be within 1-2 weeks at most.

[Saabsly]

Hummm Ok. Please just get everything straight because its a bit of a mess now...

On Atari web site, it clearly states that it is available now, yet it is impossible to find the product anywhere. Nor it is possible to pre order or anything. To add to the confusion, the links are all F***ed up on atari web site, and many of them sends you to MoTB instead...

If my understanding is right, today, (1st feb 2009), this "game" which in fact will be a downloadable only product, is not really available yet. You are waiting for the patch 1.13 to come out. So if I am not mistaken, can you tell me under what form, or how will i be able to get that add-on adventure-pack whatever you call it thing please? Download, cd, dvd, buyable product, free if you have a gold key, will you have to get it from inside the update mechanism of the game or from a link on a web site... I think many people are asking themselves the same.

Thanks

[kalniel]

Originally Posted by Saabsly

If my understanding is right, today, (1st feb 2009), this "game" which in fact will be a downloadable only product, is not really available yet. You are waiting for the patch 1.13 to come out. So if I am not mistaken, can you tell me under what form, or how will i be able to get that add-on adventure-pack whatever you call it thing please? Download, cd, dvd, buyable product, free if you have a gold key, will you have to get it from inside the update mechanism of the game or from a link on a web site... I think many people are asking themselves the same.

Few things:
1) Today is 1st March 2009
2) There is no more waiting for patches. They were waiting for what became patch 1.22, but this has come out now and they're just doing the final check with the release code.
3) The adventure pack is premium download only - that is, you buy it from an e-store (Atari's, presumably) and download it.
4) If you bought the gold box before they clarified it didn't come with MoW, you should be able to contact Atari and show them your receipt to get a code for MoW, which you would then redeem at the e-store and download MoW.

[vilnii]

Kalniel

1) Today is now March 6th 2009
2) The final checks with release code have been completed
3) Can you ask your Atari BFF now what??

[Ominous Gamer]

Originally Posted by bumbacrot

MoW has been ready to ship for a while now and we are close to finalizing the new security system that will ensure that it has its proper day in the sun. In the meantime, we are working hard to keep cool information about the game coming.

Did you just attempt to say that the only reason MoW is late is because of the DRM? DRM thats only going to effect buying customers?

There are very few dumber things you could have posted. Congrats
You could have simply said "we don't understand our customers, lulz" and it would have made the same point.

PR departments exist to stop idiotic threads like this

[kalniel]

Originally Posted by Ominous Gamer

Did you just attempt to say that the only reason MoW is late is because of the DRM? DRM thats only going to effect buying customers?

There are very few dumber things you could have posted. Congrats
You could have simply said "we don't understand our customers, lulz" and it would have made the same point.

PR departments exist to stop idiotic threads like this

? Not sure what you're saying. Yes, they said MoW was delayed because they're building their own content delivery and DRM system, rather than using Securom. But that's completely understanding their customers, which if you hadn't noticed, had asked for them to use anything BUT Securom. So they listened and have made their own in-house system instead. Hence delay.

[Ominous Gamer]

So they went from packing the game with a side of stale green poop, to packing a delayed game with fresh brown poop...
Sarcasm: thats totally what the paying customers were asking for!


No one asked them to reinvent the wheel. We simply asked for them to stop using the customer as the bunt end of a marketing joke.

[wayninja]

Originally Posted by bumbacrot

Hi everyone,

My name is Keehwan Her and I am the Atari producer for Mysteries of Westgate (MoW) among other D&D products. Most of you know that the release of Mysteries of Westgate has been delayed because of ongoing development of a new security system. Near the end of MoW’s development last year, we realized that the traditional protection of the .exe file would not work with it so we scrambled to find a reliable commercial method that would do the job. At the time, there was no solution that met our requirements. That is why, since the end of 2007, Atari has been working hard to develop a new security system that can be used not just for MoW but for all Atari products that need protection for data files without using the traditional route of wrapping the .exe file. Unfortunately, developing this system has taken longer than we anticipated and MoW’s release has suffered as a result, because it is the first product that will use this new system.

Atari has been working closely with Obsidian and Ossian to try to integrate the new system with NWN2 and MoW specifically. Although we wanted the security modifications to go out with Update 1.12, it simply was not ready in time so we unfortunately had no choice but to push it into Update 1.13.

I realize that many of you are anxious to get your hands on Mysteries of Westgate, and I know from firsthand experience that it is a fantastic adventure. MoW has been ready to ship for a while now and we are close to finalizing the new security system that will ensure that it has its proper day in the sun. In the meantime, we are working hard to keep cool information about the game coming.

Is 1.13 out yet? Thanks for keeping the 'cool information about the game coming.'

[Crispy81]

Did Keehwan Her die? Is Atari even a company anymore?

How can this debacle continue on? How can you post something like this a YEAR ago and not at least come back once every, oh, say, SIX MONTHS and give us an update?

On second thought, I guess I wouldn't either. I'd be so ****ing embarrassed for my inept company that I probably would have quit by now.

That's probably what happened.

[Marby]

Originally Posted by Crispy81

Did Keehwan Her die? Is Atari even a company anymore?

How can this debacle continue on? How can you post something like this a YEAR ago and not at least come back once every, oh, say, SIX MONTHS and give us an update?

On second thought, I guess I wouldn't either. I'd be so ****ing embarrassed for my inept company that I probably would have quit by now.

That's probably what happened.

Hi, please keep in mind that going around the curse filter isn't allowed. Keep this in mind the next time you are going to post. You can find more information about this rule here.

[Crispy81]

Heh, k. Sorry bout that. Got a little worked up there.

[wayninja]

Is there anyone home? HELLO ATARI!

WHERE THE ... IS MoW?

[kalniel]

Originally Posted by wayninja

WHERE THE ... IS MoW?

It's not been released yet. Be patient.