Badrur's Gate returns this SUMMER!

It has been a long wait, but finally, after a little over a decade Baldur's Gate is back! As has just been announced on www.baldursgate.com an Enhanced Edition of Baldur's Gate will be released around the summer of 2012. What precisely will be enhanced is still a mystery. Beamdog, the company in charge of the project, is lead by Trent Oster, who co-funded Bioware and worked on the original Baldur's Gate as well as Neverwinter Nights and Dragon Age: Origins. In 2009 he parted ways with the Edmonton based development studio and started his own company. Although Beamdog's main focus is digital distribution of games, thay have recently released a HD remake of MDK 2.

UPDATE: Trent Oster confirmed via his twitter, that the game will be based on 2nd Edition D&D rules. He also tweeted that Tales of the Sword Coast expansion will be a part of the Baldrur's Gate Extended Edition, now officially dubbed BGEE, and that Baldur's Gate II EE will follow next. Tune in to www.baldursgate.com next week, same time for more announcements, including platforms and screenhots.

You can discuss the game in the official BGEE thread on Beamdog's site

UPDATE 2: A peek inside the source code at baldursgate.com reveals some more info:

Chapter One.
There will be more chapters.
More chapters than you think.

This most likely means there will be additional content in the game, more quests and as suggested by Trent Oster before new characters. Great news!

Good to hear. I need another DnD-inspired RPG in my life.

Can't wait for this.

"Enhanced" how?

The website seems to be down so I can't find out. I thought the game (with a high-rez mod) was fine so I am curious about what they are enhancing. Are they removing the stats and making it a FPS? ;)

Yeah the website is still down over an hour after it was supposed to be unveiled. It'd be nice to find out more info of what makes it enhanced.

Are they removing the stats and making it a FPS? ;)-wildflower-

If they do that, I predict riots...worldwide. And yea, the site is down. Too many people wanted to check the announcement and the server shut down 'cause it thought it is being DDOS'ed.

FINALLY, THE BEST GAME EVER MADE! :D

ALL HAIL THE LORD OF MURDER!!! :P

Sounds like it will be just a remake. Maybe some new graphics, spoken dialog, and improvements to a few of the bad things (bugs, lack of party banter) in the original. I'm sceptical about this, because it will be really hard to match the original.

Sounds good. Can't wait.

From www.baldursgate.com:

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 excellent 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 masterpiece. 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.
The greatest roleplaying game of all time, enhanced

What a great day for humanity this one is :P

YES!!!CaptainAhab13

I am looking forward to this. Never played the original because I didnt have a computer back then (couldnt afford one when I was growing up). Now there are so many good games I have not gotten around to some of the older ones. This will put it on top of my list though!

"Modern improvements" is kind of vague. I'm guessing HD resolutions at the very lest - possibly even actual 3D sprites - but...what else could they really do to enhance it? It's a bit disappointing that they're not updating the ruleset though, especially when BG2 and IWD2 offered vast improvements in terms of their gameplay mechanics. Anyway, kind of cool news...even if BG1 is the most boring Infinity Engine game. :P /grump

"Modern improvements" is kind of vague. I'm guessing HD resolutions at the very lest - possibly even actual 3D sprites - but...what else could they really do to enhance it? It's a bit disappointing that they're not updating the ruleset though, especially when BG2 and IWD2 offered vast improvements in terms of their gameplay mechanics. Anyway, kind of cool news...even if BG1 is the most boring Infinity Engine game. :P /grump

Planeforger

"Modern improvements" is kind of vague. I'm guessing HD resolutions at the very lest - possibly even actual 3D sprites - but...what else could they really do to enhance it? It's a bit disappointing that they're not updating the ruleset though, especially when BG2 and IWD2 offered vast improvements in terms of their gameplay mechanics. Anyway, kind of cool news...even if BG1 is the most boring Infinity Engine game. :P /grump

Planeforger

The games will be 2D all the way. Also, they are using ToB code as a base for all the games, so all the functionalities from SoA and ToB should be expected in BG1 as well. As far as rules are concerned, if I'm correct both the original BG1 and BG2 use modified 2nd Edition D&D rules, so there is little to update. Unless you are talking about updating it to the current 4th Edition, which I believe is not a very good idea. The difference between BG1 and BG2 is implementation of those rules.

[QUOTE="Planeforger"]

"Modern improvements" is kind of vague. I'm guessing HD resolutions at the very lest - possibly even actual 3D sprites - but...what else could they really do to enhance it? It's a bit disappointing that they're not updating the ruleset though, especially when BG2 and IWD2 offered vast improvements in terms of their gameplay mechanics. Anyway, kind of cool news...even if BG1 is the most boring Infinity Engine game. :P /grump

norolim

The games will be 2D all the way. Also, they are using ToB code as a base for all the games, so all the functionalities from SoA and ToB should be expected in BG1 as well. As far as rules are concerned, if I'm correct both the original BG1 and BG2 use modified 2nd Edition D&D rules, so there is little to update. Unless you are talking about updating it to the current 4th Edition, which I believe is not a very good idea. The difference between BG1 and BG2 is implementation of those rules.

EPIC LET DOWN !!!

I was expecting BG3....

From the sounds of it it's just going to be a HD version of the game.Renevent42

EPIC LET DOWN !!!

I was expecting BG3....

FelipeInside

EPIC LET DOWN !!!

I was expecting BG3....

FelipeInside

[QUOTE="FelipeInside"]

EPIC LET DOWN !!!

I was expecting BG3....

MyopicCanadian

Get CDProjekt to do it...FelipeInside

Excellent idea, I'm sure CD Projekt would make a great BG3. But BG3 is not an option for the near future. Even though Trent Oster seems to be implying, that if the Enhanced Editions are a success, they may think about something more: "We want BG3 as well. BGEE is a part of the master plan."., I would not expect it to be anytime soon. So let's let Beamdog do the Enhanced Editions and see what comes of it.

Well, that countdown sure was redundant :?

There will most probably be additional content in the Enhanced Editions. See UPDATE 2 in the original post for details.

quite disappointing. for those of us who care, the entire series have been played to hell and back, and i doubt any sort of "modern enhancement" will be meaningful, even if it's a 3D conversion. personally i actually enjoy playing DnD games on Infinity engine, which exudes a timeless, story-book atmospher.

new classes..... miiiiiight be interesting, but since they're sticking to 2nd edition i don't see how that can happen.

all in all.... a let down for me.

Swords! Not words!

Do you think they'll clean up the interface and such?! biggest_loser

If by that you mean redue the whole thing to work at higher resolutions then yes they probably will clean it up. If it turns out for the better, who knows (I would think they could make a better UI in this day and age).

well.. there goes my life..

We have to give someone a chance. Get CDProjekt to do it...FelipeInside

CD Projekt would screw it up. Yup I went there. I'm a Witcher fan like most of the people on here but that doesn't change the fact that their games are a particular sy1le (why is this word censored...). Both Witcher games are really gritty and feature oppression to the point where it is depressing at times.

Baldur's Gate has a strong fairy-tale vibe to it because of the Forgotten Realms universe it is set in. Not really gritty, espeically when you have Minsc in the party...

If I want anyone to handle the EE it is someone who used to be at Bioware before they started sucking.

Baldur's Gate, as we saw it before, doesn't need any more games since the ending closed up the arc really well. It would be like making a sequel to Torment, what the hell would do with the story to not make it suck?

[QUOTE="FelipeInside"]We have to give someone a chance. Get CDProjekt to do it...Whiteblade999

CD Projekt would screw it up. Yup I went there. I'm a Witcher fan like most of the people on here but that doesn't change the fact that their games are a particular sy1le (why is this word censored...). Both Witcher games are really gritty and feature oppression to the point where it is depressing at times.

Baldur's Gate has a strong fairy-tale vibe to it because of the Forgotten Realms universe it is set in. Not really gritty, espeically when you have Minsc in the party...

If I want anyone to handle the EE it is someone who used to be at Bioware before they started sucking.

Baldur's Gate, as we saw it before, doesn't need any more games since the ending closed up the arc really well. It would be like making a sequel to Torment, what the hell would do with the story to not make it suck?

[QUOTE="Whiteblade999"]

[QUOTE="FelipeInside"]We have to give someone a chance. Get CDProjekt to do it...FelipeInside

CD Projekt would screw it up. Yup I went there. I'm a Witcher fan like most of the people on here but that doesn't change the fact that their games are a particular sy1le (why is this word censored...). Both Witcher games are really gritty and feature oppression to the point where it is depressing at times.

Baldur's Gate has a strong fairy-tale vibe to it because of the Forgotten Realms universe it is set in. Not really gritty, espeically when you have Minsc in the party...

If I want anyone to handle the EE it is someone who used to be at Bioware before they started sucking.

Baldur's Gate, as we saw it before, doesn't need any more games since the ending closed up the arc really well. It would be like making a sequel to Torment, what the hell would do with the story to not make it suck?

CD Projekt would screw it up. Yup I went there. I'm a Witcher fan like most of the people on here but that doesn't change the fact that their games are a particular sy1le (why is this word censored...). Both Witcher games are really gritty and feature oppression to the point where it is depressing at times.

Whiteblade999

Are you implying that CD Projekt RED are not capable of making games that are not gritty, just because The Witcher was presented thaty way? The mood of a game is an artisitic choice the developers make rather than a predefined developer feature that is refelected in everything thay do (unless you are EAware, in which case your CEO tells you what the game's mood will be). In The Witcher, however, it wasn't even a choice. The game is based on a series of novels so the tone of the world, the relations and politics were already set, when CDPR were starting development.

Oh, and give BG3 to EAware? Are you kidding me? I can already imagine the result: "We want to preserve the depth and core mechanics of the gameplay of the original games, make it a c l a s s i c experience for all those hardcore fans, but at the same time we want to ajust it to the requirements of the modern audience, streamline some aspects of it, so that it appeals to present generations of gamers." says Casey Hudson...

...and then we get an FPS with tower defence, hordes of zombies, co-op multiplayer, gay sex shoved down your throat, day one DLC that you need to go beyond the character creation screen and up to 5 other DLCs with 5 different endings, 'casue "...for player comfort the endings were not included in the game. We wanted to give our fans some variety, so we decided to make as many as 5 endings available to them in the form of DLCs" explains Hudson.

NO! I don't want EAware anywhere close to the Baldur's Gate series (if it ever gets produced).

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what this guy said, bioware pre EA was epic, I played dragon age, it was like meeh... and from what Ive heard dragon age 2 is far from worth the effort.

I really loved the topview, point and click gameplay... so a real refurbish of this would be awsome, with updated textures and a new UI... looking forward to this summer.

I have to say I was disappointed. Was hoping for a new Baldur's Gate game not an update of the originals. Like when Lucas keeps updating the original Star Wars movies. Still I'm waitng to see the final product, if there's enough of an upgrade then it might be worth it.

game is supposed to use the beamdog client. lol

Let BiWare do it??

No thanks.

The last thing Baldur's Gate needs is a *** Minsc. . . that would just be gross.

[QUOTE="FelipeInside"] Get CDProjekt to do it...norolim

Excellent idea, I'm sure CD Projekt would make a great BG3. But BG3 is not an option for the near future. Even though Trent Oster seems to be implying, that if the Enhanced Editions are a success, they may think about something more: "We want BG3 as well. BGEE is a part of the master plan."., I would not expect it to be anytime soon. So let's let Beamdog do the Enhanced Editions and see what comes of it.

Could be.

However, i think he could mean that, perhaps, BG is the first step in a Series of Remakes that they have planned.

This should be interesting.

They BETTER remake PS:T.

Best DnD game, hands down.

Are you implying that CD Projekt RED are not capable of making games that are not gritty, just because The Witcher was presented thaty way? The mood of a game is an artisitic choice the developers make rather than a predefined developer feature that is refelected in everything thay do (unless you are EAware, in which case your CEO tells you what the game's mood will be). In The Witcher, however, it wasn't even a choice. The game is based on a series of novels so the tone of the world, the relations and politics were already set, when CDPR were starting development.

Oh, and give BG3 to EAware? Are you kidding me? I can already imagine the result:"We want to preserve the depth and core mechanics of the gameplay of the original games, make it a c l a s s i c experience for all those hardcore fans, but at the same time we want to ajust it to the requirements of the modern audience, streamline some aspects of it, so that it appeals to present generations of gamers."says Casey Hudson...

...and then we get an FPS with tower defence, hordes of zombies, co-op multiplayer, gay sex shoved down your throat, day one DLC that you need to go beyond the character creation screen and up to 5 other DLCs with 5 different endings, 'casue"...for player comfort the endings were not included in the game. We wanted to give our fans some variety, so we decided to make as many as 5 endings available to them in the form of DLCs"explains Hudson.

NO! I don't want EAware anywhere close to the Baldur's Gate series (if it ever gets produced).

norolim

This AAAAAAAAAAAAALL the way.

But, i'm not sure if CDP would fit since they've never made a DnD game or a Party Based game, so they don't really have experience with gameplay.

and No, No BW for anything BG anymore. BW died for me after DAO(which i did love)

Could be.

However, i think he could mean that, perhaps, BG is the first step in a Series of Remakes that they have planned.

csftar

This was an answer to a direct question about BG3. So I think he was talking about BG3, but was just trying to be vague about it.

This AAAAAAAAAAAAALL the way.

But, i'm not sure if CDP would fit since they've never made a DnD game or a Party Based game, so they don't really have experience with gameplay.

csftar

I'm not campaigning for CDPR as I believe there is abslotutely no chance they could be given development of a potential BG3, but just for the sake of the argument: they didn't have much experience in making RPGs, or any games for that matter before the Witcher...and look what happened when they tried.

From what i can gather, it's going to be a modified version of the Infinity Engine. I hope it's not just a higher resolution, we already have that with mods. Just that alone and higher quality sounds would suck harder than the bowels of Hell.

Guys, do Baldur's Gate got any big town full of quests and stuff like Baldur's Gate 2?

[QUOTE="csftar"]This AAAAAAAAAAAAALL the way.

But, i'm not sure if CDP would fit since they've never made a DnD game or a Party Based game, so they don't really have experience with gameplay.

norolim

I'm not campaigning for CDPR as I believe there is abslotutely no chance they could be given development of a potential BG3, but just for the sake of the argument: they didn't have much experience in making RPGs, or any games for that matter before the Witcher...and look what happened when they tried.

Point Taken.

And about BG3.... well, if he was being vague about it or not, i think you're right and we won't be hearing news about any time soon either way.

But i don't know, something just ticks me about a Possible BG3 that i can't explain.

Guys, do Baldur's Gate got any big town full of quests and stuff like Baldur's Gate 2?

xWoW_Rougex

Yes, Baldur's Gate.