One of the many games being shown off at this year's Penny Arcade Expo was the expansion to one of the biggest RPGs from last year, Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer. Obsidian's Nathan Davis, the Assistant Producer for the title, was on hand to tell us a bit about the highly anticipated expansion. Read on to see what he says on how they've fixed some of the lingering problems from NWN2 and details on some the cool stuff they've added.

Early on one of the major complaints with Neverwinter Nights 2 was with the camera system. Have you guys worked on making it better in the expansion?

We have improved our camera system quite a bit. So we have two new modes now including a character camera mode that is similar to the one in World of Warcraft and also a new strategy camera mode that is more reminiscent of what you would see in Baldur's Gate or Icewind Dale. The character mode is great for exploration and general activities, while the strategy mode is great for big combat scenarios where you want to have a good feeling for where all your teammates and enemies are.

One of the other problems with Neverwinter Nights 2 initially, was poor system performance. It was helped a bit by later patches, but you still needed a fairly powerful machine to run it. Have you been able to optimize this at all for the expansion?

Yeah, we've done a lot to improve that, we brought in programmers specifically work on performance issues and to fine tune everything. So we've gotten a better and more responsive game engine now. We're really trying to reach for a much improved graphical look to the game without creating a heavy draw on systems. We've tested the expansion on a number of different systems and it's running reasonably well. In general I think it's running better than the original NWN2.

Obsidian Entertainment has wasted little time getting Neverwinter Nights 2 into ship-shape this month. But when you consider the game already shipped at the end of last month, suffered a controversial critique, and was built by a bunch of talented Black Isle veterans, their efforts may not seem so surprising. The new 1.03 beta patch includes several multiplayer and toolset updates, in addition to some much-needed camera adjustments (fans of the first game will appreciate the modified "chase cam" view).

In case these fixes aren't reason enough to consider picking up the game, then how about a 50% discount? Through the end of Saturday, Best Buy is selling Neverwinter Nights 2 for $25.

[via GameBanshee]

It looks like the final chapter has been written in the ongoing saga of 1UP's Neverwinter Nights 2 review controversy. An updated review is now available at the Ziff Davis-owned gaming portal, and the new score is a 6/10 (upgraded from 5/10). Only this time, the review was written by Games for Windows editor Jeff Green, who just last week explained the decision to pull writer Matt Peckham's original review.

Green echoes Peckham's sentiments about D&D-based roleplaying adventures -- "success is largely determined by the understanding of a rule set that only a genius or a 13-year-old could fully comprehend" -- but he takes great care not to bash the genre with the same reckless abandon that tainted Peckham's analysis. Instead, more emphasis is placed on NWN2's performance issues, problematic camera, and faulty A.I. -- all valid criticisms. Still, you have to wonder if this is the score Green would've given Obsidian's RPG before the events of two weeks ago, or if he was somehow influenced by the score Peckham gave the game. Like the editor said last week, "there was no way to 'win' here."

See also: Metareview - Neverwinter Nights 2

Games For Windows magazine editor Jeff Green has posted a lengthy explanation on why Matt Peckham's now infamous review of Neverwinter Nights 2 was pulled from 1UP last week. Green's commentary offers some detailed insight into the new editorial process that will unify 1UP.com and GFW product reviews -- a system that seemingly left all parties involved with their backs up against the wall. In this excerpt, Green discusses his gut reaction after reading Peckham's review:

"...when I read it, I was unhappy. I felt that right from the start, it read more like a bashing of the genre rather than a review of this specific game. I could see valid criticisms of NWN2 in the text, but I felt that the overall tone made it seem that [Matt] was just so sick of turn-based D&D RPGs that the game never had a chance on its own. I felt, if I was a reader, my first question would be: 'Why the heck did they let him review it then?' I felt that what he was saying in general was perfectly valid -- but just not for this piece."

In summary, the GFW editor reaffirms 1UP's commitment to gamers, which is what drove the decision to remove the NWN2 review. Nothing like a little controversy to help kick off a publication relaunch, but in choosing to share the lessons learned by his organization, Green's retelling of these unfortunate events can benefit other trade publications.

Obsidian Entertainment and dungeon masters the world over can breathe a collective sigh of relief now that the scores for Neverwinter Nights 2 are in. The single player campaign has been well received by the gaming press, and the revamped toolset is expected to afford NWN2 a shelf life comparable to its predecessor. However, not all is well in the Forgotten Realms. The 1UP reviewer seems to have overlooked the fact that Oblivion and NWN represent different styles of roleplaying. Bethesda emphasizes aesthetic presentation and open-ended adventuring, while BioWare and Obsidian have focused on a tighter combat system (hence the rules) and an extendable architecture befitting of the classic Dungeons & Dragons experience. Keeping this in mind, both franchises excel at what they were designed for.

• GameDaily (100/100) cites several improvements over the original NWN: "There are plenty of things about NWN2 that are different from its precursor. Better graphics, a much more robust and option-filled character creation process, plus deeper plotlines, with more twists and better villains help add to an already stellar feature list. Neverwinter Nights 2 is truly one of the most epic adventures found on a PC, and it should be purchased without hesitation."
  
  
• GameSpot (86/100) considers NWN2 the most authentic D&D experience to date: "If you're willing to look past a few relatively minor technical issues, you'll have a great time exploring the world of NWN2. The excellent story, characters, and quests will appeal to your sense of adventure without getting overly convoluted. When you factor in the multiplayer and the editing tools, you'll find that NWN2 is a fantastic value and a thoroughly enjoyable game."
  
  
• 1UP (50/100) fired a 3d6 Melf's Acid Arrow right at the heart of the D&D community: "With all the added rule-shuffling, NWN2 seems like it's working twice as hard to accomplish half as much. Worse -- and blame this on games like Oblivion -- NWN2's levels feel pint-sized. As if the pencil and paper 'module' approach were a virtue that computers -- by now demonstrably capable of simulating entire worlds with considerably more depth -- should emulate."

Update 1: 1UP has pulled their damning review of NWN2, so I guess there is justice in the world. Here are a few new scores: Yahoo! Games (90/100), IGN (85/100).

T-minus seven days until Obsidian's Neverwinter Nights 2 hits the shelves, and Russian web site CRPG has posted over a dozen updated screens that highlight the shiny new interface. GameSpot also has some excellent screen grabs of the enhanced NWN toolset, which at least one enthusiastic developer is already putting to good use. How many of you depleted your Halloween candy budgets to order the limited edition?

See also: NWN2 elite races, prestige classes previewed

Atari and Obsidian announced today that Neverwinter Nights 2 has officially gone gold and will be available Oct. 31. To tide us over, WarCry and Neverwinter Vault have been chronicling the emerging details of NWN2's new elite races, which include the Aasimar, Drow, and tongue-twisting Svirfneblin.

You can also find complete descriptions of the game's 17 prestige classes (including the new Arcane Trickster and War Priest) in this post from BioWare's NWN2 forum. Be sure to get the obligatory annual viewing of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown out of the way before launch day, kids.

See also:

• Planescape Trilogy planned for NWN2
• NWN2's baddie nasties revealed
  

After you finish the core campaign in Obsidian's Neverwinter Nights 2, you won't have long to wait before jumping into the mod community sandbox. A small outift known as Rogue Dao Studios is hard at work on the Planescape Trilogy, a series of modules that promise 45 hours of gameplay in the Dungeons & Dragons Planescape campaign setting (home of that other RPG). The first module, Purgatorio, will be available at the Neverwinter Nights Vault in December, and if you register at Rogue Dao's forums, you can sample some of the music and visuals from the game.

[via GameBanshee]

Obsidian's Neverwinter Nights 2 is just around the corner, and this ugly lookin' crew is waiting to meet you when the game ships later this month. The bald dude is a frenzied berserker who is basically impossible to kill during his "deathless frenzy" attack (fortunately, he gets tired). The blue chick in the middle is a sword-wielding mage and top servant to the Lich Queen, but she shows some serious age lines if she ventures too close to the Forgotten Realms.

Lastly, we have the manipulative diplomat Torio, a man-hating, angry as f@#%, agenda of rage, bitter...(you know the rest, Banky). Seriously, if you take away those flotation devices, we've got some serious androgyny going on here. Actually, neither of these villainesses represent the prototypical, evil hot babe we've grown accustomed to in the role playing genre, so you shouldn't feel to guilty carving them up.

See also: Your new Neverwinter drinking buddies

Neverwinter Nights 2 has been delayed by a week, but now you have a little extra time to get to know your in-game cohorts. IGN introduces us to three companions found in the game, each of whom you can use to put Obsidian's character influence system (from KoTOR 2) to the test. It looks as though Obsidian may have been slightly influenced by the popularity of the Warforged race from D&D's Eberron setting, judging by their inclusion of Construct the blade golem. Then again, we've seen big friendly brutes in previous Neverwinter campaigns.

IGN's Neverwinter Nights Vault is reporting that NWN2 has officially been delayed until October 31. Probably not the greatest news for young trick or treaters with a high percentage of gamers in their neighborhood. In the meantime, fans can check out 18 new screen shots at the revamped Vault portal, including in-game character creation screens.

See also:

• Atari announces NWN2 Limited Edition
• NWN premium modules earn one last gasp

With just over a month to go until launch, Atari has announced there will be a limited edition of Neverwinter Nights 2 available for $60. The extra coin grants you a bonus character feat, a fancy cloth map, a book of artwork, and two silver antique rings -- one lawful good, the other chaotic evil. Make sure you don't wear both at the same time, or you might feel ... conflicted.

Fans may remember the eighty dollar collector's edition of the original game, which also featured an art book, in addition to a poster, mouse pad map, the game's soundtrack, and a NWN shirt. Did that shirt actually fit anyone?

Here's the situation for Obsidian Entertainment and co-founder Feargus Urquhart as they prepare Neverwinter Nights 2 for launch: you're following up a popular, award winning series started by BioWare (again); Atari's potential implosion could have a major impact on your efforts to support the mod and user communities; and you have the hopes and dreams of millions of D&D fanboys (myself included) riding on your shoulders. What pressure?

FiringSquad talked to Urquhart about all this, as well as NWN2's toolset and DM client, why we probably won't see a demo, and Obsidian's deal with Sega to create an original RPG franchise. There are a bunch of new NWN2 screens too.

See also:

• Customization is key in NWN2
• Obsidian's Urquhart: happy thoughts on KoTOR 3

Following in the footsteps of a company like BioWare is never easy, but Obsidian appears to be doing all they can to make Neverwinter Nights 2 worthy of its predecessor. Hence, the delayed release date (Oct. 17). Obsidian reps chatted with 1UP at last weekend's Comic-Con about NWN2's extensive customization, including character armor and environmental props that modders can tweak to their hearts' content.

The game's party limit has also been expanded to four characters and seven summoned creatures, and with KoTOR 2's party influence system, they'll be as clean or as nasty as you want to be. Stay tuned for more previews as the launch date nears.