Brandon Casey: With the release of Neverwinter Nights finally here, what are your hopes for Neverwinter Nights?

Brent Knowles: I hope everyone who plays it, enjoys it. That's the whole point of making a game -- creating something that has entertainment value for the people who buy it.

Brandon Casey: Interesting… Some would say that money drives most game developers these days. It's good to see that some still are concerned about the players of the games they make.

Brandon Casey: The Community of followers that has been generated seems to be very strong. Even with the setbacks and all the rumors that were flying around during the development over the last couple of years. Were you aware of how large a following that NWN had gathered and was that any kind of motivation to produce the product faster, better, more stable?

Brent Knowles: BioWare is always motivated to making the best game it can make. We appreciate the support of our fan community, and of course, we never want to disappoint them.

Brandon Casey: With the additional 200,000 registrants to the Bioware NWN boards I suppose that would be a good plan. Would probably have gotten real Duke Nukem'ish around there if those 200,000 people were UN-happy instead of happy eh?

Brandon Casey: There has been much Speculation about the EULA clause that states that BioWare retains the right to take any modules built that have been freely distributed and resell them without giving any royalties to the designer of the module. Although this is unlikely to happen (the best support normally comes from those that know the software the best) was there a general feeling that this is protective of the work that your team has done from pirating and such?

Brent Knowles: Unfortunately, I can't comment on speculation. I'm not about to interpret the Neverwinter Nights EULA, I'm not a lawyer and these thing's are legal agreements.

Brandon Casey: Heh heh… I didn't really expect anything from that one. Today's legal system is so complicated and confusing that I could probably get in trouble for even asking such a thing.

Brandon Casey: Including the toolset with the box seems kind of like the end of the scenario (so to speak) and I'm sure it was not an easy decision. What prompted the idea to include the toolset with the game itself instead of just making the game itself longer?

Brent Knowles: I think we just thought it would be interesting to see what fans could do with a set of professional game development tools. Many of us are quite excited by the adventures that the fan community are assembling and are quite happy with the decision to release the toolset with the game.

Brandon Casey: Hmmm…. Sounds like not all the people were happy with the choice. I bet it was those lawyers we referred to before. I say we get the 200,000 new board members and email the lawyers names and addresses.

Brandon Casey: Because the expansion and world building opportunities seem endless, can we expect to see BioWare made modules, additional creature compendiums, classes or other updates in the same way that Dragon Magazine does?

Brent Knowles: There will likely be a few BioWare made modules depending on the popularity of Neverwinter Nights.

Brandon Casey: I'd say the popularity of NWN is pretty much a forgone issue at this point. I mean 200,000 new members in less than a month? My god yer uber.

Brandon Casey: There have been a few interviews with different Dev's from NWN and it seems as though they all think the NWN game is pretty thorough. As Lead Designer, what can your team look forward to now that NWN is finally on the shelves?

Brent Knowles: Most of the design team has already been shuffled to the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic roleplaying game that BioWare is currently working on. Others are working on the Live Team for Neverwinter Nights to help with using the tools and to build online content.

Brandon Casey: Wow. With the job that you guys did on NWN, I can't wait to see that one.

Brandon Casey: Of all the Developers that were involved in the designing portions of the game itself, how many have actually played Advanced Dungeons and Dragons and how many were just familiar but brought in because of their knowledge in programming, coding and such?

Brent Knowles: Almost everyone in the design department has played roleplaying games (including Dungeons and Dragons). Many of the artists and programmers working on the project have also played such games.

Brandon Casey: That would explain some of the thoroughness in the game for sure.

Brandon Casey: When it came time to release the game from mother's womb, were there any Developers who thought that there was more that could be put into the game?

Brent Knowles: Everyone always has certain features that they'd love to have gotten into the game but couldn't. But everyone is happy with the way Neverwinter Nights turned out.

Brandon Casey: Auctioning the first 2 copies and the air hockey table for charity was a very nice idea. Who's idea was that?

Brent Knowles: It was the idea of one of our programmers working on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, his name is Robert Babiak.

Brandon Casey: It was a very nice thought. And sacrifice from every team member, I mean, what is there to do now without an air hockey table?

Brandon Casey: In the ebay auction for the air hockey table you included a picture. Who is the tall dark haired vixen and is she married or otherwise romantically attached?

Brent Knowles: ??

Brandon Casey: Grrr… Of all the times to draw a blank…. Sorry to all you guys out there. I tried, but he wasn't talking on this issue. Please don't email me anymore about this question, or at least put it in the header so I know what its about and can just delete it quickly.

Many thanks to Mr. Brent Knowles at Bioware for taking the time out of his schedule to give us this Interview.