NEW YORK, April 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Atari, Inc (Nasdaq: ATAR) and Obsidian Entertainment today announced that the official web site for the highly-anticipated Neverwinter Nights(TM) 2, http://www.nwn2.com, has gone live. Developed by Obsidian Entertainment for the Windows platform and set for a September 2006 release, Neverwinter Nights 2 is set in the popular DUNGEONS & DRAGONS(R) Forgotten Realms(R) universe created by Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS) and will transport players back to the embattled city of Neverwinter. DUNGEONS & DRAGONS is under license from the Hasbro Properties Group, the intellectual property development arm of Hasbro.
The Neverwinter Nights franchise has sold more than two million copies worldwide, is translated into 10 languages, sold in more than 40 countries and features one of the largest and most active fan communities in all of gaming. To date, fans of the franchise, which includes Neverwinter Nights, Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide(TM) and Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark(TM), have created nearly 4,000 modifications to the original game using the award-winning Aurora Toolset, the groundbreaking software included with the full game that allows players to create their own universes, quests and storylines.
NWN2.com will provide fans with a host of information about the highly- anticipated game, including: a featured Monster of the Week, profiling important and interesting foes the player will encounter in Neverwinter Nights 2; the latest screenshots and gameplay movies; exciting trailers and video interviews; active forums and community outreach from the development team at Obsidian Entertainment; as well as, regular news and information updates.
"NWN2.com has been set up as the first port of call for all fans of Neverwinter Nights to check out a ton of regularly updated and new character and game information for Neverwinter Nights 2," said Feargus Urquhart, CEO of Obsidian Entertainment. "Also, the lively NWN2 forums have been going strong for more than a year and a half, so get involved and stay in touch."
Neverwinter Nights 2 (NWN2) will continue the tradition and set new standards in the role-playing genre (RPG) with an even deeper and more engrossing storyline; tremendously immersive character development; stunning graphics; and, an expansive multiplayer experience like none before it.
Neverwinter Nights 2 Product Highlights:
Rise in Power, Responsibility, and Renown – In NWN2, the player's journey not only expands their personal power, but also their political power. The protagonist rises through the ranks of Neverwinter society and can even become a lesser noble of Neverwinter – a full knight with land and title. The player lords over a mighty stronghold, he commands a small army, and he is the last line of defense for Neverwinter itself.
Cities Are Alive – The cradles of civilization in NWN2 are teeming with life. Children play through the street, farmers lead their animals around, and passersby walk on their mysterious business. Players will even stumble upon numerous one-time events, such as a thief robbing a commoner. In addition, frequented locations, such as the city of Neverwinter itself, will change rather dramatically between chapters.
Epic Battles – NWN2 will introduce a number of new and exciting boss battles to the RPG genre. There will be plenty of creatures that simply require brute force to defeat, but strategically placed throughout the story are a few more memorable boss battles that will provide defining game moments. This variety will ensure that epic key boss battles will be more challenging, more memorable, and most importantly, more entertaining.
Neverwinter Nights 2 is scheduled for release in September 2006. More information about Neverwinter Nights 2 can be found at http://www.nwn2.com, which includes user forums, project news, development updates and more.