Baldur's Gate - BaldursGate.com Stirs

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As Darodin posts on our forums, the domain BaldursGate.com is suddenly alive, over a decade after the series' (then) conclusion. At the moment there isn't much to look at on the website - a single page with the logo, main theme music and an in-game quote. A Whois search reveals Trent Oster - former BioWare employee and founder of digital vendor Beamdog - as the registrant.

GameBanshee reached out to Trent who told them they were hoping to make an announcement soon.

One theory would be some sort of remake - you may recall Beamdog has previously released MDK2 HD, an official HD makeover for BioWare's old action/adventure.

The source code for the page is certainly suggestive, with text such as:

Hopefully we're not getting overly excited for nothing...

 

I have different text on my page source...

Then at the bottom

So it's being updated regularly then?

 

All things put together (e.g. no new artwork/music hinted at, just the original; the fact that Beamdog already did a remake of MDK2) seem to indicate a modernized remake.
But I hope for a new game, although that might be wishful thinking.

 

Either one would probably be nine years in the making.

 

After going to 'Beamdog' website, looks to me it is similar to GOG. Am I wrong?

 

I love how Nathan Greyson from Maximum PC expressed himself when first finding out about this:

Linky

You want to believe it's a brand new BG, but after so many let downs, do you dare?

 

I don't want to be a buzz kill, but if they do re-make it I hope the 3D graphics don't kill the atmosphere of the game. Also, will they still use 2nd edition?

 

There's the rub. Making a 3D version of BG (whether BG3 or a remake) doesn't make it BG; it just makes it a 3D BG flavored thing with more in common with NWN or random 3D game x than BG, even with the BG setting, story, and characters. BG has to be 2D iso IMO to be BG. (Lots of acronyms there, lol.)

 

I agree that this won't be a remake with 3D graphics ala NWN as this would imply much time and resources.

An argument, and I might be a bit off topic here:

BG2 is widely recognized as one of the best games of all time, it continues to retain a large fan base even after so many years since its release, and the majority of its fans fantasize about a sequel/prequel/whatever. So why, I ask, has no one decided to make a BG3 (as an example)? We know it would sell, I mean look at DA for instance, it called itself a "spiritual successor" of BG and it sold how many units?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking for a cheap 3D knockoff made only with the intention to capitalize on the potential of sales and steal our hard earned money. I'm talking about a real 2D drop-down-view successor, a game worthy of the coveted BG name.

Could it be fear of failure? The industry's ever-growing lust for greenbacks and its refusal to emphasize on quality? Or, is it a peer-induced pressure to concentrate on only the latest and greatest in terms of graphics and technology? Are the various PC component manufacturers pushing developers to concentrate on games that will force us to buy the latest GPU, CPU etc...? Whatever the reason is, it sucks!

Makes me almost want to quit my day job to become a developer, almost (wife would kill me).

 

I wouldn't mind a 3D Baldur's Gate, if they took the PC view from DA:O's engine and worked on that. Made it more "solid" and "robust" from a 2D-perspective - pseudo-2D (isometric view was it, for BG2?) and only used 3D view for cutscenes and the like.

 

This is some kind of test.
Like waving a needle full of first grade junk in front of a former junky?

A third BG is an too epic thing for the mind to conceive.
A HD make-over is still more likely. But we shall see I'm curious as hell!

 

The world definitely needs more D&D party based games. I want control of a whole party, not just one character and companions!

I'll be interested to see what it is. Depending on what their budget is, they could do a 3D remake, as long as it is fixed overhead camera. Third person camera would completely and utterly ruin it for me. It can be 3D as long as it is like Street Fighter 4 - on a fixed 2D plane.

2D HD remake would probably make the most sense. Perhaps they will remake the trilogy entirely?

I mean, BG1, as far as I know, was somewhat light on dialog compared to BG2. So they could add that in. And TOB was light on, well, everything, compared to BG2.

So maybe they will release Baldurs Gate HD: Episode 1 (The Iron Throne), Baldurs Gate HD: Episode 2 (Shadows of Amn) and Baldurs Gate HD: Episode 3 (Throne of Bhaal).

They could beef Episode 3 up with new quests, revised quests, more content and more dialog.

 

I reccomend anyone concerned about a remake with modern graphics to have a go at Dead Nation, HD graphics and 3D doesn't mean abandoning isometric view

The IE engine already emulates 3D behaviour (2.5D) by using height and shadowing graphically but not calculated in anything more than visual. (It's subtle, put it that way!)

I'd be interested in seeing what happens with a remake, or spin off, or whatever, but that doesn't mean I'll put down the old disks for good either.

 

The site was updated yesterday as well. It states:

February 29, 2012
Shadowy Figure- Raise Dead : Infinity Engine
Take heart fellow adventurers, for you have curried the favor of Boo, the only miniature giant space hamster in the Realm!

and close to the bottom of the script:

I can teach you how to use your wrath.


There is a comment on a youtube video teaser, from a newly created account that really hits the spot for me:



Please dont ruin this f.ing game. Seriously.