What does this mean, you think? Anyone hear anything?
http://www.baldursgate.com/
High-res logo and music...I doubt a fan would be able to get their hands on the domain name, but I guess it's always a possibility.
I read someplace -- Kotaku, I think -- about Bioware looking to do something with the franchise again. I don't think it necessarily means new games, as the article also mentioned how the Infinity Engine would have a great home on devices like the iPad.
Pretty sure there will be an announcement pretty soon. I'll have to dig up a link.
ETA: http://kotaku.com/5889146/baldurs-gate-website-lurches-to-life-is-a-new-game-rising
Well, if option A (BG remake for tablets/smartphones) is true, then it's somewhere between meh and yay.
If option B (new game) is true, then nerdgasm.
And, y'know, with 5e in full swing and license for games coming back, a new BG would be a nice marketing stunt...
Using Chrome, if you right click and pick Inspect Element, you can spot a few quotes someone left for the curious:
"She left me to die. YOU left me to die. But Shar... Shar wanted me to live."
"If you wish me dead, brother, it must be by your hand. No one else."
There is also a time stamp (March 5, 2012).
Someone secured the domain name and put that page as a placeholder. Interesting times ahead... :D
Quote from: JongWK;521289Interesting times ahead... :D
Oh yeah. Especially when you add in the fact that Fargo is talking about doing a Wasteland 2 kickstarter.
Quote from: JongWK;521289Using Chrome, if you right click and pick Inspect Element, you can spot a few quotes someone left for the curious:
"She left me to die. YOU left me to die. But Shar... Shar wanted me to live."
"If you wish me dead, brother, it must be by your hand. No one else."
There is also a time stamp (March 5, 2012).
Someone secured the domain name and put that page as a placeholder. Interesting times ahead... :D
They also left
:D
MAN.............
I loves me some Baldur's Gate...
The page CHANGED.
Music changed, and now there is a TIMER on it. The Official Dungeons & Dragons page on Facebook just posted this with a link to the BG page: "Seen this timer? Make sure you head over to baldursgate.com for an exciting announcement at noon pacific."
This is today... 2 hours and 20 minutes from now, almost precisely.
I suspect we'll see an announcement about the launch of a new MMO to be released in synch with the next edition of table-top D&D.
It could be something not-so-exciting (to me) like BG on iPhone or whatnot.
We'll see, I guess.
If it does involve resurrecting the Infinity Engine, I don't see a new game coming, maybe re-release of old games, and port to new stuff like phones.
Edit: Well we know whoever it is doesn't have the most adroit webmaster. :D
I was just gonna say... looks like it's crashed.
LOL Site crash?
Apparently it's Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition.
Linkage: http://kotaku.com/5893670/baldurs-gate-enhanced-edition-announced-server-explodes
WANT.
At last, "another" CRPG that I may enjoy. The only games I've played excessively and returned to years later were Baldur's Gate I and II.
What I don't get though is that with all the mods and the Hutu display it is an enchanced edition already. I don't really want to play the orginal Baldur's Gate with less class choices, one-armed combat and the like when in Hutu you can play Baldur's Gate with all the features of the 2nd. If it is just the 1st game with some additional chapters I don't think I'd bother. If they do the 2nd then I'II pick that up though. All being well it is both combined! I guess once someone casts Cure Serious Wounds on the site's servers we will find out!
Incase the site crashes again, here's the detail:
Quote"Announcing Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition™
March 15, 2012
Atari, Wizards of the Coast, and Overhaul Games are pleased to announce work has begun on the Enhanced Edition of Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate II.
Since its initial release in 1998, Baldur's Gate has entertained millions of fans around the globe, and has received countless awards. This classic saga of mystery, intrigue, and adventure has set the standard for Dungeons & Dragons® computer roleplaying games ever since.
Re-forged by Overhaul Games
Overhaul Games has assembled a talented team of artists, programmers and designers to enhance this timeless classic. To remain true to the spirit of the game, the team includes original Baldur's Gate developers.
Relive the most epic story ever told
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition™ and Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition™ will feature a re-forged version of the Infinity Engine with a variety of modern improvements.
So I and II; working on them together but released apart or combined as one? Who knows...
QuoteBaldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition™ and Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Edition™ will feature a re-forged version of the Infinity Engine with a variety of modern improvements.
Does that mean BG will run on 4e? :D
Jokes aside - not as good news as BG III, but still great ones (I admit that I miss modern, or at least, modern - ish graphics in BGs when I play them). And perhaps, if the remakes are a success, that will mean BG III - probably for 5e.
They could remake Torment while they are at it...
BG2 as well? Holy shit...
Awesome...
It would be hilarious if by "a variety of modern improvements" they meant converting the system to 4e. :D
Quote from: CRKrueger;521723It would be hilarious if by "a variety of modern improvements" they meant converting the system to 4e. :D
That would mean an entiely different game and engine; though still funny! I suspect they mean using the BGII engine for use with BGI with additional aspects. Although they may incorporate some D&D4 aspects such as Warlords, Dragons with boobs and Wizards having more than one hitpoint at level one. The last one of these I'd be happy with.
I wonder if my saves will work...? I'm about a quarter of the way into BG1 right now.
I bought this about a week ago because I never had Planescape Torment. But I have played BG1, BG2, and TOEE, and I have started a new game of BG1. Would be nice to have cleaner graphics.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61cdyz2nxbL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
http://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Classic-Anthology-Pc/dp/B005JQ064A (http://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Classic-Anthology-Pc/dp/B005JQ064A)
I can't get the BG games (and Icewind Dale) to run on my laptop (with Vista). I can install the games, launch them, see the starting cinematic, but when the actual game begins, to create character, bam. Fatal error crash the end.
So these will be welcome.
Quote from: JasperAK;521732I bought this about a week ago because I never had Planescape Torment. But I have played BG1, BG2, and TOEE, and I have started a new game of BG1. Would be nice to have cleaner graphics.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61cdyz2nxbL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
http://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Classic-Anthology-Pc/dp/B005JQ064A (http://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Classic-Anthology-Pc/dp/B005JQ064A)
Does this run on Vista?
EDIT - apparently it does. Did anyone have problems with this once installed?
Updates and information on the enhanced edition
Its going to be using 2nd Edition rules..!
Both Baldur's Gate I & II will be enhanced
Baldur's Gate I will include Tales of The Sword Coast
Using the Infinity Engine as of Throne of Baal (so 2-weapon fighting, all the new classes, races and kits introduced in BGII and the Wild Mage)
Improved UI
Better graphics
Better music and sounds (enhancing rather than replacing)
New quests/areas
Previous character saves/files 'should' work
New NPCs with some voice acting dialogue. No new dialogue for existing characters
PC only, at first; also says interface only supports 'point'n'click devices' (so consoles unlikely I guess)
Better connection from Baldur's Gate I to II
Quote from: elfandghost;522011PC only, at first; also says interface only supports 'point'n'click devices' (so consoles unlikely I guess)
I suspect that's more a reference to tablets. Playing BG with a controller would need a lot of interface work, but it can be done.
Although, GemRB (http://www.gemrb.org/wiki/doku.php?id=start) is an open-source reimplementation of the Infinity Engine.
Quote from: Benoist;521735Does this run on Vista?
EDIT - apparently it does. Did anyone have problems with this once installed?
I don't have that specific version but the stuff from GOG runs just fine on Windows 7.
The D&D Anthology linked above I bought on sale at GamersGate, and it runs flawlessly on Windows 7 as far as I could tell.
OK. I was asking because my laptop runs on Vista and last time I tried to install Baldur's Gate on it the install itself worked fine, I could view the starting cinematic, but as soon as I started a new game it crashed.
If this version solves that issue, I'm going to purchase.
Quote from: Benoist;522093OK. I was asking because my laptop runs on Vista and last time I tried to install Baldur's Gate on it the install itself worked fine, I could view the starting cinematic, but as soon as I started a new game it crashed.
If this version solves that issue, I'm going to purchase.
Try right-clicking your icon and selecting "Run as Administrator."
If this works, go to the compatibility tab and check "Always run as administrator" in the options.
Any time you're prompted to "allow" something through the Vista permissions with regards to BG, just say yes.
Hopefully that helps.
Enhanced edition coming to iPad too. (http://www.tomshardware.com/news/iPAd-Baldur-s-Gate-Enhanced-Edition-RPG-App-Store,15095.html)
Also:
- The updated game will also pack freshly-baked content including a new adventure and party member.
- Eventually the team wants to crank out a true third installment to the classic series, and Kickstarter might be the way they pursue funding for the project.
I gotta think that kickstarter would meet its goal with impressive speed.
Quote from: Kaz;523482I gotta think that kickstarter would meet its goal with impressive speed.
I'd give it 24 hours. Seriously.
Frankly, I never understood the hype around BG. Finished BG 2 and all I saw was a (boring) tactical combat game with some decent (but linear) storyline attached. No choice-consequence effects, no decision trees, no freedom to solve quests in different ways, no emergent enrivonment, etc.
is BG 1 actually better in those aspects ?
Bg 1 and 2 both have predestined endings but plenty of self contained side questions you can tackle at your own pace or ignore if you wish. Bg1 has more wilderness exploration and feels like a more open world.
BG II SoA & ToB are two of my all time favorites. KotoR II tSL is as-well. I wasn't expecting Skyrim to make that list, but it did.
I look forward to playing BG Enhanced on my iPad.
Good news.
http://kotaku.com/5928997/baldurs-gate-is-back-new-characters-dungeon-coming-september-18
That is going to be gooood.
I'm incredibly disappointed by this announcement. I had been checking the website each week and going through the tweets. I play the Baldur's Gate games at least once each every year.
I think the price is wrong given that the Baldur's Gate modding community offers all Beam Dog are and more already for free. In fact GOG will give you the HD version and you can mod it to your hearts content. $10 to play this on the ipad looks good though, shame I don't have an ipad.
I think they have carefully chosen the word 'Arena' to describe their new content. I get that it would be incredibly easy to create an arena style module given the time constraints they are working towards. It holds no appeal to me and I think misses the point of the Baldur's Gate series. It was all about story, great characters and exploring a beautiful map. Arena doesn't suggest these things to me at all.
So in the end a huge fan who should have been been easy to get to spend $ wont be getting this. It just doesn't offer anything new that I'd been interested or that I can't already get for free from the community.
Quote from: CRKrueger;521723It would be hilarious if by "a variety of modern improvements" they meant converting the system to 4e. :D
I believe they said "improvements."
Quote from: CRKrueger;521723It would be hilarious if by "a variety of modern improvements" they meant converting the system to 4e. :D
I'm not sure the Legend of the Five Rings system would be a good fit.
I don't think AD&D (at least the lower levels in BG1) was ever a particularly good fit for Bioware's games, so it's par for the course.
'Let us weave a hundred tales for you and create beloved NPCs, which you can appreciate after re-loading the game constantly.'
I'm playing through BG1 now and having fun, but it's definitely rough around some edges. BGII is supposed to be better, though, and a lot of PC enthusiasts just say to skip to BGII (mostly because you're higher level).
Quote from: Peregrin;565411I'm playing through BG1 now and having fun, but it's definitely rough around some edges. BGII is supposed to be better, though, and a lot of PC enthusiasts just say to skip to BGII (mostly because you're higher level).
BGII is good, but I think the first is actually better at delivering a memorable game. For instance, Kobold Commandos is still a meme for utter party death round here, after how many years?
Quote from: jadrax;565426BGII is good, but I think the first is actually better at delivering a memorable game. For instance, Kobold Commandos is still a meme for utter party death round here, after how many years?
Fuck kobolds fuck those mines fuck them both to hades and back.
Quote from: jadrax;565426BGII is good, but I think the first is actually better at delivering a memorable game. For instance, Kobold Commandos is still a meme for utter party death round here, after how many years?
I
hated those Commandos.