First details: Eye of the Beholder GBA

Infogrames has released the first information on its Game Boy Advance version of the classic role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons: Eye of The Beholder, which is based on the first edition of the popular D&D game. The game is being developed in California by Pronto Games and will re-create the Dungeons & Dragons universe with first-person exploration and strategic, turn-based party combat. The game will incorporate rules from the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons and material from the new Forgotten Realms campaign.

"More than three million enthusiasts play the Dungeons & Dragons pen-and-paper game at least once a month, and Infogrames believes this will translate into a successful launch on Game Boy Advance," said Jeff Sehring, senior marketing manager at Infogrames' Minneapolis studio. "We are extremely pleased to have an opportunity to introduce the Game Boy Advance's younger demographic to Dungeons & Dragons, and we are confident this audience is ready and waiting to play the classic game their siblings grew up on."

Eye of The Beholder is set in the peaceful city of Waterdeep, but evil has fallen upon the city, so the player must uncover the source of evil and destroy it. As the game progresses, the player and his party need to deal with several enemies and numerous obstacles. The player's party can consist of up to six characters, which can be chosen from the Forgotten Realms races, such as human, half-elf, half-orc, lightfoot halfing, shield dwarf, moon elf, and rock gnome. Each character has its skills and feats, and its outfit can be individually created from more than 60 standard items. There will be 30 magical items and more than 70 spells in the final game. Players can advance up to the seventh level. According to Infogrames, there will also be opportunities to have nonplayer characters (NPCs) join and enhance the party while engaging in first-person exploration.

The Game Boy Advance port of the original PC game will feature new dungeon layouts, new challenges, an expanded story, and additional side quests not included in the original game. Infogrames expects to release Dungeons & Dragons: Eye of the Beholder for the Game Boy Advance this fall.