KOTOR-ish question.

[Dust and Ashes]

I was playing kotor 2 last night and got thinking, what a great engine that is for playing real RPGs on consoles and it would be so awesome to have a classic type RPG that used the same engine.

So, has anyone heard anything about the availability of the kotor engine to other game devs or anything regarding this? Or are there any games out with very similar game mechanics?

 

[Redguard]

Not sure.

Does Bioware own the rights to the programming, or has that been transferred over to Obsidian?

 

[Dust and Ashes]

Not sure.

Does Bioware own the rights to the programming, or has that been transferred over to Obsidian?

hmmm good question. I'll check into it. It would be a waste to not make more games using this great engine.

 

[Breetai]

I was under the impression that the KOTOR engine was a beefed up version of the Icewind Dale engine, which was in turn a beefed up version of the Baldur's Gate engine, which was developed from the Fallout engine.

So technically you've probably already played a classic-style RPG on the same engine...just from a different perspective.

If I remember right, the Phantasy Star Online games were using a similar feeling engine.

 

[Lady_Firehawk]

As I see it, KOTOR simply runs on a computer-friendly version of the pen-and-paper d20 system...

 

[leigh01]

good question

 

[Dust and Ashes]

I was under the impression that the KOTOR engine was a beefed up version of the Icewind Dale engine, which was in turn a beefed up version of the Baldur's Gate engine, which was developed from the Fallout engine.

So technically you've probably already played a classic-style RPG on the same engine...just from a different perspective.

If I remember right, the Phantasy Star Online games were using a similar feeling engine.

Well, they need to make one that plays just like KOTOR with a similar feats/powers/attributes system, with the chase cam/rotate cam and character switching and best of all, the pause/issue orders feature!

The top-down classic RPGs I've played so far on XBox have been ok, but I'd prefer a chase view to the very limited angle view they have. I really enjoyed D&D Heroes but BGDA didn't grab my interest. I haven't tried BGDA 2 yet, however.

 

[Breetai]

Well, they need to make one that plays just like KOTOR with a similar feats/powers/attributes system, with the chase cam/rotate cam and character switching and best of all, the pause/issue orders feature!

It does rule, eh?

 

[silentpoet]

I am almost finished with the first one(wanted to get it first before I play KOTOR II) and my complaints with the game are more generic issues common to alot of games. The invisible walls or even tiny pile of rocks that you cannot step over really bug me. I don't know how they could have handled it better though, but there has got to be a way that does not take away from the immersion One thing that also bigs me is during the game you come across any number of doors that are just wall textures. The either need to not be there or a simple script saying locked or other message. In daggerfall they handled that issue by saying "Nothing of value in this house".

The other issue I have with the first one is they did a poor job of using the xbox hard drive. All the load screens get rediculous after awhile. Though not the same type of game, Halo and Halo 2 handle the loading issue much better.

Overall it is an awesome game, and the engine should be flexible enough to do as you propose.

 

[Breetai]

I am almost finished with the first one(wanted to get it first before I play KOTOR II) and my complaints with the game are more generic issues common to alot of games. The invisible walls or even tiny pile of rocks that you cannot step over really bug me. I don't know how they could have handled it better though, but there has got to be a way that does not take away from the immersion One thing that also bigs me is during the game you come across any number of doors that are just wall textures. The either need to not be there or a simple script saying locked or other message. In daggerfall they handled that issue by saying "Nothing of value in this house".

The other issue I have with the first one is they did a poor job of using the xbox hard drive. All the load screens get rediculous after awhile. Though not the same type of game, Halo and Halo 2 handle the loading issue much better.

Overall it is an awesome game, and the engine should be flexible enough to do as you propose.

I agree with your invisible wall issue. I find it distracting that you can't even walk over a little pile of rocks. I'd like to be able to look up and down as well.

I can't relate with the X-Box hard drive issue though. I'm playing the PC version, and my load times are literally only 4-5 seconds. I don't even have enough time to read the little stories that they give you on the loading screen!

 

[Dust and Ashes]

I've run into a bit of a problem. I'm on Telos and have taken the arms deal job for Luxa. The only problem is, when I approach the apt, they always tell me to leave my friends and come alone. How do I do that. I've tried leaving them in our apt and at the farthest end of the zone from the arms dealer's apt but it still says to leave them and come alone. I can't get them to say in another area as they are beside me after I load into the new zone. How can I complete this?

 

[Redguard]

I've run into a bit of a problem. I'm on Telos and have taken the arms deal job for Luxa. The only problem is, when I approach the apt, they always tell me to leave my friends and come alone. How do I do that. I've tried leaving them in our apt and at the farthest end of the zone from the arms dealer's apt but it still says to leave them and come alone. I can't get them to say in another area as they are beside me after I load into the new zone. How can I complete this?

Maybe you have to go to your menu screen and deselect them? Sounds like you're playing the dark side... I'm playing light-side, so I didn't do this arms deal with Luxa.

Does Solo-Mode (pressing 'back' button) not work for you?

 

[Dust and Ashes]

Maybe you have to go to your menu screen and deselect them? Sounds like you're playing the dark side... I'm playing light-side, so I didn't do this arms deal with Luxa.

Does Solo-Mode (pressing 'back' button) not work for you?

I got it. I had to use the party screen and remove them. You can tell I just click the tutorials off, huh?

I actually have two simultaneous games going. I'm doing a dark guardian and a light consular. Guess I might as well start a fence riding sentinal.

 

[Redguard]

I have a Light Sentinel

 

[Dust and Ashes]

I have a Light Sentinel

I sense the conflict within you. Do not be a slave to teachings that weaken you. Release your anger and feel the true power of the force.

 

[Redguard]

I will, dark master... once I complete the game as a light sentinel! lol

 

[gsmithcat]

So, has anyone heard anything about the availability of the kotor engine to other game devs or anything regarding this? Or are there any games out with very similar game mechanics?

Well, there's always Jade Empire.

 

[Breetai]

Well, there's always Jade Empire.

Wow. That games looks awesome! I'm happy that someone is giving Square-Enix a good challenge. I can't stand that company. Plus, Bioware is based in Edmonton. I used to live there, so I feel really happy playing their games knowing where they come from. Not that it really makes a difference.

Good and evil is a theme BioWare has seemed fascinated with for some time. Jade takes things a step further than KOTOR by offering more shades of grey. There are two philosophies you can choose to live by: The Way of the Open Palm or The Way of the Closed Fist. One is "good" and the other "evil". In truth, however, it's not so much like Light and Dark Side as it is about how you want your character to view the world. Open Palm are, well, socialists. They help those in need, give charity to the less fortunate, and would sacrifice themselves for the common man. Closed Fist are more like capitalists. They believe in Social Darwinism, survival of the fittest, a dog-eat-dog world. Your characters alignment has great affect on many areas of play, including side quests, available party members, NPC reactions, and, of course, the final outcome of Jade Empire.

That is awesome. Just like in real life, socialists are good people, while capitalists are evil, mean people who only look our for themselves...

...at least, that's how I see it.



I need this game.

 

[Ghost23]

i know this probably has nothing to do with the subject but i just wanted to say that Obsidian layed to rest all of my concerns about them releasing KotOR 2 instead of Bioware. they did an excellent job for the most part.

 

[InnerPhyre]

I read nothing of this thread other than the first post because I've only gone through 3 planets in KOTOR 2 and I don't want to risk any spoilers, but a game called Jade Empire is coming out soon that uses the KOTOR engine. Looks promising.