id love an expansion pack while were waiting on kotc 2

by **mikeshredder233** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 6:46 am

are we going to get any updates or the chance to maybe buy a additional few quests the graphics are good enough just add some new monsters higher levels etc it would rock id buy it

by **BlueSalamander** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 5:33 pm

Hi, I'm not planning additional quests as I prefer to work on the sequel instead. There will be an update to fix the casino and name/description issue.

by **Dorateen** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 5:54 pm

Here's an interesting question: when did "expansions" become a regular practice for the cRPG industry? I seem to remember New World Computing coming out with "Swords of Xeen", back in the Might and Magic series. But I never got that one, since I was too busy playing Clouds and Darkside.

I think Baldur's Gate introduced the first memorable expansion with "Tales of the Sword Coast", and then it became a staple with the infinty engines, producing expansions after BG2 and Icewind Dale. Of course this model carried over into the Neverwinter Nights franchise.

but can you imagine SSI putting out expansions between any of the Gold Box games, or between Dark Sun 1 and 2? I miss when cRPG titles could be popped out more frequently, re-using assets of the engine, instead of shoving out filler content meant to hold us over. There also used to be a lot more fantasy PC games, so we didn't need these expansions as much.

by **VentilatorOfDoom** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 11:04 am

BlueSalamander wrote:Hi, I'm not planning additional quests as I prefer to work on the sequel instead. There will be an update to fix the casino and name/description issue.

making an expansion or a sequel reusing the existing engine+assets might be a good way to make some additional bucks, while working on the upgraded engine

by **Demiath** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 3:29 pm

VentilatorOfDoom wrote:
BlueSalamander wrote:Hi, I'm not planning additional quests as I prefer to work on the sequel instead. There will be an update to fix the casino and name/description issue.

making an expansion or a sequel reusing the existing engine+assets might be a good way to make some additional bucks, while working on the upgraded engine

It's my impression from the Update thread that, from a purely economical standpoint, BlueSalamander would rather sell many more copies of a graphically and technically improved multiplatform KOTC2 whenever that is finished, than having to churn out an expansion (which would most likely not expand Heroic Fantasy Games consumer base in any noticeable manner) just to please greedy fans such as you and me.

Also, I can imagine that it's just a lot more fun (well, occasionally anyway) to spend countless hours of one's free time developing something which is new and fresh and awesome, instead of having to work on a mere variation on something old and familiar...

by **VentilatorOfDoom** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 4:17 pm

ehh well, but one could also develope something *new* by actually completing the DnD implementation by adding skills, races, classes, prestige classes etc.

also it's not asked for too much to get at least 1 game a year

by **MonkeyLancer** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 7:36 pm

I"m not sure I can see how it would be possible for Blue Salamander can simultaneously work on an expansion and sequel at the same time, being essentially a one-man show (apart from the music and art people he hires out). However, when he makes receives much acclaim for his release of KOTC2 and quits his day job and hires a full fledged studio perhaps he can divide his forces to make expansions and new projects at the same time?

edit: heh at the risk of sounding fanboyish :mrgreen:

by **Demiath** » Sat Dec 05, 2009 10:59 am

VentilatorOfDoom wrote:also it's not asked for too much to get at least 1 game a year

Actually, I think it might just be too much to ask for, but if you want me to be a bit selfish for a moment I would totally agree with you that getting a new little campaign for the existing engine in six months or so would be much more satisfying than having to wait for a much-improved sequel, which for all we know might take years to develop. Again, that's easy for me to say since I neither know the specifics of all the cool new stuff BlueSalamander is planning for the sequel nor have to do any of the hard work myself...

by **MonkeyLancer** » Sat Dec 05, 2009 3:32 pm

Being completely oblivious to programming I wonder how much of the engine for KOTC 2 has been done and can be used from KOTC and the hard work would be story and new elements. Orrrr will he have to recreate it all completely from scratch?

by **Demiath** » Sat Dec 05, 2009 6:29 pm

MonkeyLancer wrote:Being completely oblivious to programming I wonder how much of the engine for KOTC 2 has been done and can be used from KOTC and the hard work would be story and new elements. Orrrr will he have to recreate it all completely from scratch?

Well, just check out the Update thread. You don't have to be a programmer (I'm certainly not) to understand just what an ambitious agenda BlueSalamander has set for himself. Things like switching to a different programming method and adjusting to crossplatform development as well as a more module-based design don't seem to leave much room for recycling old engine code...