Bioware ended being a traditional RPG creator by the time KotOR was released, at the latest.
I fully and wholeheartedly agree, especially with the "at the latest" part. In fact, I believe that the title of the editorial reeks of irony. My first thought was: Wouldn't there have to be a beginning for there to be an end first? And what is their definition of a "traditional RPG"? Baldur's Gate?
Personally I have to admit that I have always kind of hated BioWare for killing what I consider to be the traditional RPG. For me traditional RPGs are the great RPGs or RPG series of the 90s. Games like the Realms of Arkania series, Wizardry series, Might & Magic series, Daggerfall (which sucked IMHO but still... it was a traditional RPG back then) and so on... etc... pp...
And then along came Baldur's Gate, a game with a retard-friendly isometric engine for simplistic point and click gameplay like Diablo. A streamlined game in every regard. A game with a journal and a (mini-)map which were features that were nearly considered as cheating back in the day. Simply put: A game for the masses compared to the "real" hardcore RPGs back then.
To add insult to injury (please note that I am slightly exaggerating for effect
) this game and its engine spawned numerous sequels and spin-offs with even more "dumbing down" from one game to the next.
It was a nightmare. All I ever wanted was Might & Magic X, Wizardry VIII (which as we know today did finally make it years later in "too little, too late" fashion as far as I am concerned) or Realms of Arkania IV.
Instead I got the mainstream friendly stuff that BioWare & co kept pumping out plus numerous clones of questionable quality.
It was an unparalleled era of suckage! I was so glad when it was mostly over and when finally games like Gothic and Morrowind added some variety from 2001/2002 onward.
So in all honesty I can't help but gloat just a little bit over the fact that people are seriously mourning the end of BioWare as a traditional RPG creator. Welcome to the club! The circle is complete. Your BioWare is my attic, 3DO/NWC or Sir-Tech.
Finally, to sort of underscore the point I was trying to make here check out this 1998 RPGVault editorial from the pre-BG days when BioWare was barely even on the map yet:
Classic RPGs - A Dying Breed?
Yep, the irony meter is off the charts, isn't it?