BioWare veteran's new company said to be crafting update to venerated RPG; teaser website launches.
Much of the attention surrounding BioWare at the moment involves Mass Effect 3 and Star Wars: The Old Republic, but there may be a new development on the Baldur's Gate front as well. Today, a teaser site at BaldursGate.com went online, bringing with it a stirring theme song and the franchise's iconic skull emblem.
The sparse website bears little other than a quote attributed to Forgotten Realms prophet Alaundo: "The Lord of Murder shall perish, but in his doom he shall spawn a score of mortal progeny, chaos will be sown by their passage." Additionally, the site's background features character images from the 1998 original game and its 2000 sequel.
Though EA has yet to respond to a comment on the website, GameBanshee claims a new Baldur's Gate project is in the works at Beamdog. The company was cofounded by Trent Oster, a BioWare veteran who held various roles working on games ranging from Neverwinter Nights to Dragon Age. Its credits include a remake of BioWare's MDK2 for the Wii and PC in 2011.
Speaking to GameBanshee, Oster confirmed only that his company has an announcement on the horizon, and that announcement does not pertain to the rumored Steam rereleases of the original games. A Beamdog representative confirmed this statement for GameSpot.
The Forgotten Realms game franchise has lain dormant since 2004's Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II, which was developed by the now-defunct Black Isle Studios. BioWare's involvement in the series dates back even further, to 2001's Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal.
Tom Magrino has covered the games industry since 2006. He's been compared to Steve Martin by Ozzy Osbourne and Daniel Craig by Tim Schafer. His voice, heard largely on GameSpot's podcast, recalls that of Kermit the Frog. It ain't easy bein' Magreen.
1 Like BG and BGII are still my favorites alongside F2 and Planescape. The modding community has had plenty of time to improve graphics over the years, however, so I'm very hopeful that this will be a glorified, spectacular flashback rather than some piece of crap Fallout 3 looking monstrosity.
If it has members of the original team, then there's hope. If R.A. Salvatore is writing this, then there's hope. If they intend to stay true to the franchise, then there's hope. However, If this is just a group of inexperienced game developers trying to get notice and money by making a remake or sequel, there's no hope. Or If its a good team that knows what they're doing and EA restricts them; deciding to focus on money rather than quality (as they seem to be doing more and more), they'll ruin the whole franchise, and break away a lot of fans from the series. I just pray they know what they're doing, or we could have a "Dragonball: Evolution" event.
Please make Baldur's Gate III ... not a remake of I or II Also I would like my plucky half sister Imoen as a companion from the beginning to the end. She scouts using hide in shadows, can backstab, is great with a bow and dualled as a mage can help clear the way with a fireball. Hope that Melissa Disney is willing to reprise Imoen's voice.
Hell yeah Baldur's Gate. Games were mad crazy that I bought them for my PC and XBOX. WHAT SON WHAT?
@ GyroGate I actually didn't play Planescape Torment until one year ago. It was a great little gem I'm surprised I hadn't heard of. The amount of dialog was insane, for better or worse. Yea, I couldn't get Planescape Torment to work either out of the box. I had to use a special program that plays the game as a window stretched to fullscreen. The Infinity Engine clearly must not have supported widescreen monitors, so some gamers of today have to jump through hoops to get it to work (thankfully modders rectified most of that). It has something to do with Direct3D in relation to modern video cards, or something. Hopefully they release a sequel to Planescape: Torment. It felt like it ended on a cliffhanger.
If it is an HD remake... I will buy it. If it's a brand new game... I will buy it. If reviews say it sucks and my friends say it is a waste of time... I will buy it. That is the power of the baldur's gate brand, so don't mess it up!
I really hope its a new game, but unfortunately it looks like a remake or port. That would be great for some people, but I really want a new pc RPG.
Wow, was pleasantly surprised to notice this article. Baldur's Gate is still my favourite game of all I've played, but I am quite sceptical about any new projects bearing its title as I would have very high demands for the quality and would want the game to retain the original's spirit and hardcore nature (ah, the great memories of the many times my party was slaughtered by that red dragon in the second game, Sarevok and his gang in the first, the Bhaalspawn in the expansion until I finally got them). The fact that a veteran BioWare developer is working on it is, I think, a good sign.
Some of my favorite games of all time. Still play through BG 1 and BG 2 at least once a year. This could be some incredible news or it could be a BG project like the ones released for Xbox/PS2. I truly hope it is done for the PC in the same style as the originals.
@sonicare while KOTOR was somewhat dumbed down from baldurs gate it never really lost much, branching dialogue choices, skills, feats and the choice between good and evil were all there just in different forms to suit the brand better. I wouldn't say it was dumbed down more than just tweaked but while I respect it was a simpler game I think that made sense due it being more of an action RPG which suits the star wars series better. There were even skills not in Baldurs gate like repairing and computer use so overall I wouldn't say it was dumbed down, just defending KOTOR because I love it but I also like Baldurs Gate so get where your coming from.
Hopefully EA and Bioware won't start a trilogy that slowly gives and takes features in random order from the franchise as it progresses only to finally turn it into an MMO :/ On the bright side, Minsc and Boo might not miss me so much.
WOOHOO steam release Baldur's gate!!!! Full of DRM and probably the inability to mod, because who cares that GOG already has it... Jesus I can't believe they think releasing to steam is such an accomplishment. Also, I agree with posters below. The AD&D ruleset in the original games was very good imo, and tough just to my liking. After playing Never winter nights diamond... I saw how the newer rulesets are being catered to casual players and I personally did not like it. To me, it is similar to how Everquest went from being brutally difficult and unforgiving to easy and casual friendly. Please pray this won't happen to this amazing classic, I really don't want the name to be ruined. It is known for being tough at times, very complex, and FUN! I don't want another dragon age titled Baldurs Gate 3.
I don't want a remake. I want a new game same awesome writing, better controlls, awesome visuals and isometric view. I hope it's heavy on 2d. (beautiful 2d character portraits, rather than awkward 3d)
hope it leans toward SoA and the first in terms of gameplay. I want a group of 6 to micro, lots of hidden and hard content. Hope we see Mindflayers, Beholders, dragons, demi-liches. Hope this is built for PC and becomes the new Hardcore RPG game like BG shoulda always been. But this new is like a dream coming true.
I loved the Baldur's Gate games for PC. I'm actually replaying BG2 right now. I'd like a new BG game, but only if it is spectacular. Otherwise, they shouldn't mess with a classic series unless they can really continue its epic features.
Ahhhh! I remember the 4 or 5 disc set for Baldur's Gate. That brings back memories. I hope the new version is worth the title.
A double edged sword. I have waited for this day for so long, but I don't think the developers know what they are working on. This leaves the possibility of many, MANY rabid fans becoming upset. We will see what happens.
It's really unacceptable that I haven't played through these. I'll need to try to set aside some time to experience Baldur's Gate and Planescape: Torment sometime. Oldschool RPGs are always a blast.
Before they begin work on this project all the developers should call the people hard at work on the new "X-COM" game and ask them why they are afraid to leave their house. Be careful with this one. Oh, and stay thirsty my friends...
Baldurs gate was my first ever rpg i played. And it happens to be one of the best if not the BEST rpg of all times. It caused a lot of awe and a big step forward bringing sucessfully rpgs to pcs. If they are going to mess with this icon game, they better do it right or else gamers and critics will bite hard.
Be interesting to see how this turns out. I dont like the bioware formula of rpgs since kotor. Many people loved KOTOR but I thought they dumbed down the game from the previous BG series. A return to that style would be pleasant.
Some franchises are simply best to be left alone.Sequel at this point would probably only bastardize the great franchise,just let it rest in peace...
This good the biggest rpg comeback in history or the biggest failure in history. We just wait and see but for now I recomend them make an awesome end to the trilogy of Dragon Age and then go elsewhere.
As long as they make a promise to not let Dragon Age influence this project in any way, I will be a happy camper. If it's an isometric BG3, that'd be epic. If it's based on the D&D4 or the D&D next ruleset, I will probably cry. BG can ONLY be AD&D2.... On the other hand, if they made a Dark Alliance 3 or something like that, I would be ok with that, because I like those games.
After frolicking in a bush that we now consider to be of suspicious nature, both Boo and I have contracted the Waterdeep Itch in rather... private places. A salve would be most joyously anticipated!
A BG undead. No thanks. Let BG rest in peace, it was perfect for its age and time, a milestone for the genre and a paragon for the gaming industry. For this age, it's no good, no good at all. That was a PC game thru and thru, from one of the most comlpex pen and paper RPGs to a complex videogame. In this age where all PC games are console ported it cant be anything but utter bull$hit. I dont want another Duke Nuk'em fiasco. Let older franchises rest, and commit yourselves for worthy PC games for christ's sake!
If this turns out to be fake or turns into an unworthy game "chaos will be sown in their (i.e. Baldur's Gate fans) passage".
@Neo_Sarevok I was 11 myself when Baldurs Gate came out, and I got it with a computer my dad bought. The 5 CD's in the folder just made me think how epic this game really was. I'm sorry to hear that you have lost your way though, as I recently played through both my Baldurs Gate 1 & 2 games + expansions as I do every once in a while(still the best RPGs out there, nothing even comes close sadly). I still find the game to be more enjoyable than anything else, it's perfect just the way it is - and the voice acting still gives me the chills. I wish they made games like Baldurs Gate, Fallout 1 & 2 and Planescape Torment still.
There is no need what so ever for a remake on the Baldurs Gate games. They are perfect just as they are, and with mod-community addons like Easytutu, there is nothing to improve on. If they are thinking about making this a Dragon Ageish remake of the Baldurs Gate series, I'm going to vomit. Dragon Age was utter crap compared to the old Baldurs Gate games. Sorry, but I like my games difficult, not just brainless buttonmashers with 3 different areas to explore through an entire game. I hope this never happens.
@Ladiesman17 A remake that runs exactly like the pc version of dragon age origins sounds freakin amazing but no way would EA allow something like that to be made :(
i've never played the old Baldur's Gate but have heard really good things bout it....so i hope this project will turn out good...
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance 2 duplicates the original's role-playing action hack-and-slash gameplay with enhancements including additional character classes, more feats, and magical item creation.
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