BioWare Veteran Reflects on Testing Classic CRPGs for Mass Effect and Dragon Age Development

BioWare used its classic RPG, Neverwinter Nights, as a testing ground for up-and-coming developers, with modders often being hired as full-time developers after building relationships with the studio. The game's modding toolset was incorporated into the recruitment process, allowing candidates to showcase their skills. This modder-turned-developer pipeline has proven successful, with similar stories emerging in other game studios. Former BioWare general manager Aaryn Flynn has since left the company and is now working on an open-world survival game called Nightingale.