I'm not trying to troll here, but my honest response to the OP's question is "I don't care". As long as it's easy to work with, and it allows the developers to fulfill the vision that they want to pursue, then they could use the VVVVVV "engine", if there is such a thing.
For the people calling out specific games like Diablo 3, and more so for those dismissing them: a game engine has nothing to do with the art style or gameplay of the products built on it. @Schneidend already mentioned Borderlands and Too Human on Unreal; the Aurora engine might be a good comparison for this crowd, too. NWN and The Witcher could hardly be any different in terms of RPG style and look/feel in general, yet they're (in theory) the same engine on the back end.
I just want BG3 to get made. The engine is just a means to get there, so I'll leave it to the game devs and business-side gurus to figure out the best option on that front.
I wonder if they can get the Aurora Engine but make BG3 play like the previous BG games. I want to be able to create my own stories and game types and whatnot. Neverwinter Nights had this ability and back in its heyday, it was paradise!
There hasn't been a game as community-friendly as NWN since its master servers were shut down. Shoutout to @TrentOster for helping make 2005-2011 the best online and modding experience I've ever had. Seriously.
I understand the OPs point about NWN2, but I think my face would turn a little green if BG3 came out as another infinity engine game. BG may have been one of several classics using infinity, but I find I have very little to like about it besides marveling at some of the nice artistic backdrops. I enjoy party play, but watching everything isometrically doesn't seem that great of a serving other than for nostalgic reasons.
Something along the lines of the Aurora engine used for NWN and the Witcher would probably sate my taste buds. Unity engine might be nice, though I don't know too much about it.
I watched the demo for Wasteland 2, and it looks great. Character building seems a little dull though, being purely based on the growth of skills. I've been spoiled by actual class perks like BG's kits, Feats in IWD2/NWN/etc., and Perks in Fallout. Oblivion bored me to tears because of its purely Skill-based building. Obviously, that doesn't mean the Unity engine Wasteland 2 is apparently using couldn't be turned into an awesome 3.5 or 4E Baldur's Gate 3. Still, though, it does make me concerned about whether or not I'll enjoy Wasteland 2 itself.
Out of curiosity, are there any games that have been released already that use the Unity engine? If not, i think we should see a finished product before we determine if it would be a good fit for BG3. If there are games out that use it, what are they? I'd just like to get a feel for how that engine actually works.
@Akihiko None have been released just yet as far as I know, but http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9hQWqtxXPU is a gameplay demonstration for Wasteland 2. It's pretty extensive in showing you how it handles.
Out of curiosity, are there any games that have been released already that use the Unity engine? If not, i think we should see a finished product before we determine if it would be a good fit for BG3. If there are games out that use it, what are they? I'd just like to get a feel for how that engine actually works.
An RTS engine would be ideal for this sort of thing. I mean, Baldur's Gate basically has an RTS-style control system: Select units one-by-one, issue commands etc.
Just because there are other, odd mechanics like the spell memorisation system, live-pause gameplay etc., doesn't mean the engine can't support them.
Comments
For the people calling out specific games like Diablo 3, and more so for those dismissing them: a game engine has nothing to do with the art style or gameplay of the products built on it. @Schneidend already mentioned Borderlands and Too Human on Unreal; the Aurora engine might be a good comparison for this crowd, too. NWN and The Witcher could hardly be any different in terms of RPG style and look/feel in general, yet they're (in theory) the same engine on the back end.
I just want BG3 to get made. The engine is just a means to get there, so I'll leave it to the game devs and business-side gurus to figure out the best option on that front.
There hasn't been a game as community-friendly as NWN since its master servers were shut down. Shoutout to @TrentOster for helping make 2005-2011 the best online and modding experience I've ever had. Seriously.
Something along the lines of the Aurora engine used for NWN and the Witcher would probably sate my taste buds. Unity engine might be nice, though I don't know too much about it.
Obviously, that doesn't mean the Unity engine Wasteland 2 is apparently using couldn't be turned into an awesome 3.5 or 4E Baldur's Gate 3. Still, though, it does make me concerned about whether or not I'll enjoy Wasteland 2 itself.
None have been released just yet as far as I know, but
Someone tweeted Trent "Baldur's Gate 3 #whydonttheymakethat
Trent's response was:
Just because there are other, odd mechanics like the spell memorisation system, live-pause gameplay etc., doesn't mean the engine can't support them.