Baldur's Gate - Enhanced Edition Revealed

I don't expect that the maps will all be redone or anything, but as I posted elsewhere, I'm hoping for a significant visual overhaul of character models, armor/weapons and spell animations. I honestly don't think this is that overly presumptuous to hope for, as BG is fairly limited in these areas currently anyway. I'm sure it will require plenty of work, don't get me wrong, but I'm hoping that this is one of the areas they invest their time in art wise.

Also, the basic animations characters use could use some updates, so they don't all move around like clones. *Head to the right. Head to the front. Head to the left. Head to the front* could use some improvements.

If they're hoping to bring in a new audience, I would say the visuals are a big place to spend their time, particularly character models. The maps and environments are essentially drawn, and could probably stand on their own for what they are. These are changes that will carry over for both games, and would seem to be worth the time.

 

If they added the cloth map in that would be sweet as i like the cloth map over the default map in the series.

 

I'm guessing that he's talking about a translucent mini-map that can be displayed on the main game screen when needed? Personally, I'm sort of attached to my BG maps, and I wouldn't want to lose the ability to add my own map notes.

 

Yeah that Tal and it has been done already. Take a look at this mod http://www.spellholdstudios.net/ie/worldmap Particularly component 4 Clothmap style map for Throne of Bhaal
Install a new clothmap style version of the original Throne of Bhaal map and play Throne of Bhaal using that map.

 

I would have to install the mod onto my pc so I can take a screen shot if those world map pics of the colorful map isnt it since its been a few years since I have played and even longer since I have seen the default maps.

Going to need to find my baldurs gate 2 cds which are around here some where as I know I saw them during the move.

Ok got those pictures done. Time to upload them.

First image is the cloth map and second is the standard map

 

Summer 2012 is not far away - I wonder how far along they are?

 

Maybe I'm missing something, but:

1. I wasn't aware SP had been down, and
2. Wouldn't the fact that we could access SP pretty much make it obvious it was up again, thus negating the need for a link?

Anyway, on topic, this does seem cool; looking forward to more info.

 

The Baldurs' Gate website was down

 

I know there was some disagreement over exactly how the BG maps were made in a previous thread (2D static illustrations vs. 3D modeling software), but if we assume for a moment that it was the former, chances are the maps could be improved significantly. Even though it was 1998, I've got to imagine that the originals were done at a much higher resolution and just scaled down for the systems and displays of the day. (Going with the 'always work high end and go down' model here, because of the very advantage of being able to go back up if need be.) Assuming the originals or Photoshop files or whatever still exist, bingo-bango, there's your higher res map backgrounds.

 

BEST.
NEWS.
EVER.

I can't even think of anything useful to say with how much this has me excited.

Edit: I almost didn't get to sleep after reading about this.

I've already set money aside .

Now that I've actually read through the updates Talutain has so kindly provided, a lot of my fears have been alleviated. Specifically mucking with old voicing that was already dang good. I am a little disappointed that they won't do a limited physical run, with goodies. Who knows though, we may get lucky and they might do one if it sells good enough .
I always thought they did the maps something like this:
Create 3D area
Adjust camera height and angle
Save as massive image
Stick into Infinity Engine winepress
Squeeze out 'tileset'

I'm really hoping they focus on character models and attack animations. It's been a little while since I've last played but, I know there was almost no recycling of spell animations (for individual spells).

 

For some of you this might probably a stupid question, but I'm quite a retard when it comes to gadgets and software...

I see the EE series will also be available on iPad. Does that mean I can play the regular BGEE series on an iMac (using SnowLeopard as my OS iso a bootcamped Windows XP)?

 

Yeah, I'm playing BG now on windows, but that OS has some minor difficulties with my keyboard and the games are not running optimal. I also don't like to reboot my mac for running a program or game. Nothing too awful, though.

But then again, many smart, nerdy or geeky folks have MacBooks for their studies. And many of these people like the BG series. Enough support from the market, I guess.