So no WoTC then? Well, in that case there is a slight chance I will still use their products:P
I think the best we can do is just wait and see how this whole situation evolve, any further whinging does not make the problem disappear and I suspect won't help devs to overcome this whole issue.
I've got the impression (correct me if it's overly optimistic) that you're rather sure that you'll overcome this whole contractual difficulties and will be able to release this patch and BG2EE at some point of the future. I didn't see any hints that your'e actually fighting for your *lives* and don't know if you can win this fight after all. As I can see it now, reading all those posts it's very annoying drawback, but it's just a drawback not end of all BG(2)EE franchaise. So I suspect You might have some idea how good are your chances. Am I wrong?
EDIT: Btw I cooled down a bit during the night and day and won't be sticking knives in anyone's but anymore. Now my anger transformed into plain sadness. I really enjoyed BGEE - it's zoom/GUI and all those little features, I really did.
@Jailster not sure what you would consider "No DRM" - physical media?
If you buy and download the game, you are done. From that point forward you can play the game as much as you want, and copy it to whatever computer you want, burn it to DVD, and never have to log in to Beamdog again. Sorry, no setup.exe, but you don't need one - the game is portable.
*shrug*
I don't consider logging in to a site to download an installer DRM. That is simply protecting something that I purchased. As long as I can use that installer at a later date, on any computer, regardless of internet, then it's not DRM.
If the game is truly portable, then that sounds a lot better. That was never mentioned in our 28 page DRM thread. I haven't followed the mods for this, but I would still prefer an installer so it would be easier to revert back to a clean installation. It wouldn't be hard to backup a clean installation though.
It was already stated by Trent Oster that in the event of the company folding, requirements for any of their HD or Enhanced games for online connectivity, would be removed as a step.
Trent's words may be his true intention, but he cannot guarantee that 100%. There are scenarios that could prevent such a patch. Look at the current situation, they can't even release a patch for a game to the customers that already bought it.
One-time online activation is the minimum required for all new PC games nowadays, and has been for about a decade. If that's the line someone wants to draw in the sand, they may well have to give up gaming.
If it doesn't affect your ability to play, I don't see the problem.
Enjoy Minesweeper. Oh, wait, I forgot. Windows requires online activation, too.
I can only assume, but i have a very... sinister assumption. I think that Perfect World Entertainment (Abbreviated PWE) is behind the publisher issue. They acquired the rights to develop and publish D&D computer games from Atari when Atari went insolvent in January 2013.
Sorry but source? I am Chinese but I never liked PWE, I know they are doing Neverwinter Online but I don't think they can obtain whole D&D computer games publishing rights, especially "from Atari"——even Atari lost them in 2011, Hasbro/WotC retrieved them.
I would still prefer an installer so it would be easier to revert back to a clean installation. It wouldn't be hard to backup a clean installation though.
Just read this on IGN... fuck Atari, seriously. The late Steam release, the tight development schedules, now this... gosh I wish this project could have been crowd-funded like Project Eternity and Tides of Numenera (I know it couldn't).
Is work on the project being put on hold, or are releases being put on hold? Basically, you get the legal notices and suddenly no one can do anymore work until the situation is figured out?
I guess I should add my voice to the din expressing how disappointed I am by this news. I was waiting in great anticipation for the patch, and even more so for BG2:EE.
And also, the whole BG:EE community on these forums is/was/has been the best online community for a game that I've ever had the pleasure of associating with. I deplore the ice and fire, saidin-based insanity that has been thrown upon our community by "the suits." (Where are the Red Ajah when we need them?)
I am still struggling to understand, all metaphors and literary allusions aside, how the law works to deny game fans and development companies free access to ideas.
I somewhat "get" how an intellectual property like "D&D", or "Baldur's Gate", can have licenses attached to it under the law, as a way to protect entities that create systems of entertainment for the primary motivation of economic income, from unfair profiteering by other entities who would "steal" from them their income-producing ideas and systems, as well as "products".
What completely eludes me is, why do the corporate entities doing everything they can to interfere with the BG:EE project do such a thing? All contractual oblilgations to "share the wealth" that is generated by the entire BG:EE franchise have been signed and delivered to all interested parties.
I honestly just don't understand. It seems to me as though Atari, (I would say WotC, except that it has already been stated that WotC does not want to hold up the BG:EE project), and, what was that third entity (Bioware?), would see as clearly as the rest of us here in this community do that the whole BG:EE enterprise has created new market for very old, previously dead, properties, such as BG, and also NWN, as well as increasing interest in any product at all released by WotC.
And, oh yes, Hasbro. Could somebody remind me why a toy-making company shares a legal interest in the fate of everyone who loves D&D?
I would deeply appreciate a "Legal Issues Surrounding Dungeons and Dragons and All Games Descended From Dungeons and Dragons" course from someone in the know.
Or, at least, could somebody post a list of links that might help others and me to understand the international laws that have done this bad thing to all fans of D&D, everywhere?
And, if any of the parties who have wielded their legal mojo to stop further production or sale of BG:EE read this, could you please help us, the consumers of your products, who pay you at the consumer level for everything you do, to understand why you are stopping us from buying your product, and possibly alienating us permanently, while bringing a permanent negative consumer reaction upon your own corporation?
so that's why inxile and obsidian choose to kickstarter new IE-like games instead of pursuing the copyright first, like wasteland... Good luck and work hard, we still need that patch :P and thank you for bring BG back
I am sorry guys but Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition was terrible. The stock game was good enough, and nothing about your version made the game "Enhanced" at all. More like Encumbered edition. BGT is way better than your version.
Yes it was unlucky that you weren't able to get the source art files, and that probably killed all of your plans.
I'm sorry but I really hope you don't get to do a Baldur's Gate 3.
What kind of problem could they(atari, WotC, ... not beamdog) develop at this point in the project? The game has been released for months...
Also, the game is still being sold on steam and Trent didn't mention that platform in the announcement so this kind of points at a problem with beamdog and not the game itself, and that only makes it weirder.
Money. Money would be the problem, as in they are not making any. The game didn't sell as well as expected, and the partner isn't happy, so now there will be legal wrangling until a new agreement is reached. If lawsuits are filed, it could take years...
No Trent just confirms that its a contract problem between them and Atari, that work has been halted on the games, and that Overhaul has to find another project to work on in the meantime.
The main difference is that way I can back up the installer on my computer and install it 120 years from now when your server is no longer online.
And yes, I do plan to live another 120 years. I'll be a lich and I'll be playing BG:EE on my ancient computer. Provided we ever get a DRM-free version.
1. Install 7-zip 2. Right Click on the installation folder 3. Select the 7-zip sub menu 3. Choose the option that says add to archive... 4. Copy the archived folder to your backup media 5. When you feel like playing again some time in the future unzip ther archive. 6. Browse to the baldur.exe executable (it is located in a data subdirectory and possibly a another subfolder - posting from my phone so I will confirm when at home tonight the exact folder name 7. Play the game. 8. Note the above will bypass the bgee.exe .net executable so it won't check for updates to the game.
The above works and is atleast currently also a method for us running Linux as our main OS's to run the game until hopefully maybe someday in the future we get a a native Linux client (atleast Project Eternity will be releasing native Linux client - cannot wait for it!)
I am sorry guys but Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition was terrible. The stock game was good enough, and nothing about your version made the game "Enhanced" at all. More like Encumbered edition. BGT is way better than your version.
Yes it was unlucky that you weren't able to get the source art files, and that probably killed all of your plans.
I'm sorry but I really hope you don't get to do a Baldur's Gate 3.
Yea I'm the last person to cheerlead for Overhaul but I think they've done a decent job with the game. They certainly had good intentions, even if their contracts were seemingly rather restrictive and that limited what they could actually do.
Arguable the biggest enhancements over BGT being
- 6 new kits (on top of whatever kits you can get with mods) - 4 new voiced NPC's, 3 of which have quest lines (not extensive ones mind you) and some party interactions. (on top of whatever NPC's you can get with mods) - Slew of new items. (on top of any new items you can get through mods) - A game with an easier install than BGT. - A game you can copy and paste anywhere without having to go through an install screen (or more than one in the case of BGT) - A game that works on Windows and Macs (and on Ipads though that has had some issues I hear). - Redone manuals and an unofficial manual (http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/14571/unofficial-game-manual-for-baldur-s-gate-enhanced-edition/p1) worked on because of this website and BGEE as a project starting in the first place (without this website it seems unlikely that @bigdogchris much less @Jalily, @tilly, @PinkRose, @Oxford_Guy and I would have worked created/edited this). Plus all the other fan creations that have spawned here. - Bug fixes (though obviously there have been a few bugs created as well)
There were other nice little features like the different coloured circles under NPC's, new sound sets, the zoom feature and portraits. The Black Pits was sort of interesting but not something I think I'll go back to.
Though its had its share of problems (especially around the initial launch) the game itself is certainly enhanced over what you'd get with a standard BGT install.
I'm fully with @elminster on this subject. It's not over. From all the information we have now it's clear the problem is temporarily and we have to wait. It's a juridical question and while every party involved is seeking a solution the further development is delayed. But it is not the end.
The response by Wizards of the Coast also indicates the problem is not permanent: "We were disappointed to learn that Baldur’s Gate Enhanced Edition has been temporarily removed from sale on Beamdog.com and the Apple App Store. We are confident that Beamdog is working diligently to resolve issues with their publishing partner so they can resume sales of Baldur’s Gate Enhanced Edition."
It's interesting that you can still buy and download the game direcly from Atari.
There's no need to panic. We all must wait a little bit longer. We've waited for years till all the BG:EE project appeared so another several months or even a whole year can be gone through. And there's still a chance it will take several weeks.
Comments
I think the best we can do is just wait and see how this whole situation evolve, any further whinging does not make the problem disappear and I suspect won't help devs to overcome this whole issue.
I've got the impression (correct me if it's overly optimistic) that you're rather sure that you'll overcome this whole contractual difficulties and will be able to release this patch and BG2EE at some point of the future. I didn't see any hints that your'e actually fighting for your *lives* and don't know if you can win this fight after all. As I can see it now, reading all those posts it's very annoying drawback, but it's just a drawback not end of all BG(2)EE franchaise. So I suspect You might have some idea how good are your chances.
Am I wrong?
EDIT: Btw I cooled down a bit during the night and day and won't be sticking knives in anyone's but anymore. Now my anger transformed into plain sadness. I really enjoyed BGEE - it's zoom/GUI and all those little features, I really did.
If the game is truly portable, then that sounds a lot better. That was never mentioned in our 28 page DRM thread. I haven't followed the mods for this, but I would still prefer an installer so it would be easier to revert back to a clean installation. It wouldn't be hard to backup a clean installation though.
Thanks for the information though. I do like the idea about it being portable. I'll look into it.
This blows. I was looking forward to playing BG2:EE. Almost finished my BG:EE game (I play co-op with a friend and we both work alot..)
If it doesn't affect your ability to play, I don't see the problem.
Enjoy Minesweeper. Oh, wait, I forgot. Windows requires online activation, too.
Anyway, I'm sure the good guys will triumph.
And also, the whole BG:EE community on these forums is/was/has been the best online community for a game that I've ever had the pleasure of associating with. I deplore the ice and fire, saidin-based insanity that has been thrown upon our community by "the suits." (Where are the Red Ajah when we need them?)
I am still struggling to understand, all metaphors and literary allusions aside, how the law works to deny game fans and development companies free access to ideas.
I somewhat "get" how an intellectual property like "D&D", or "Baldur's Gate", can have licenses attached to it under the law, as a way to protect entities that create systems of entertainment for the primary motivation of economic income, from unfair profiteering by other entities who would "steal" from them their income-producing ideas and systems, as well as "products".
What completely eludes me is, why do the corporate entities doing everything they can to interfere with the BG:EE project do such a thing? All contractual oblilgations to "share the wealth" that is generated by the entire BG:EE franchise have been signed and delivered to all interested parties.
I honestly just don't understand. It seems to me as though Atari, (I would say WotC, except that it has already been stated that WotC does not want to hold up the BG:EE project), and, what was that third entity (Bioware?), would see as clearly as the rest of us here in this community do that the whole BG:EE enterprise has created new market for very old, previously dead, properties, such as BG, and also NWN, as well as increasing interest in any product at all released by WotC.
And, oh yes, Hasbro. Could somebody remind me why a toy-making company shares a legal interest in the fate of everyone who loves D&D?
I would deeply appreciate a "Legal Issues Surrounding Dungeons and Dragons and All Games Descended From Dungeons and Dragons" course from someone in the know.
Or, at least, could somebody post a list of links that might help others and me to understand the international laws that have done this bad thing to all fans of D&D, everywhere?
And, if any of the parties who have wielded their legal mojo to stop further production or sale of BG:EE read this, could you please help us, the consumers of your products, who pay you at the consumer level for everything you do, to understand why you are stopping us from buying your product, and possibly alienating us permanently, while bringing a permanent negative consumer reaction upon your own corporation?
The legal culture we live in is a nightmare, and it has no business messing with my fantasy worlds.
What ever happened to just two guys and martinis, splitting the difference in the middle, and just shaking hands on it?
http://www.shacknews.com/article/79831/baldurs-gate-enhanced-pulled-over-contractual-issues?id=30362419#item_30362419
Good luck and work hard, we still need that patch :P
and thank you for bring BG back
I am sorry guys but Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition was terrible. The stock game was good enough, and nothing about your version made the game "Enhanced" at all. More like Encumbered edition. BGT is way better than your version.
Yes it was unlucky that you weren't able to get the source art files, and that probably killed all of your plans.
I'm sorry but I really hope you don't get to do a Baldur's Gate 3.
http://kotaku.com/baldurs-gate-enhanced-edition-pulled-from-app-store-b-514496494
2. Right Click on the installation folder
3. Select the 7-zip sub menu
3. Choose the option that says add to archive...
4. Copy the archived folder to your backup media
5. When you feel like playing again some time in the future unzip ther archive.
6. Browse to the baldur.exe executable (it is located in a data subdirectory and possibly a another subfolder - posting from my phone so I will confirm when at home tonight the exact folder name
7. Play the game.
8. Note the above will bypass the bgee.exe .net executable so it won't check for updates to the game.
The above works and is atleast currently also a method for us running Linux as our main OS's to run the game until hopefully maybe someday in the future we get a a native Linux client (atleast Project Eternity will be releasing native Linux client - cannot wait for it!)
Arguable the biggest enhancements over BGT being
- 6 new kits (on top of whatever kits you can get with mods)
- 4 new voiced NPC's, 3 of which have quest lines (not extensive ones mind you) and some party interactions. (on top of whatever NPC's you can get with mods)
- Slew of new items. (on top of any new items you can get through mods)
- A game with an easier install than BGT.
- A game you can copy and paste anywhere without having to go through an install screen (or more than one in the case of BGT)
- A game that works on Windows and Macs (and on Ipads though that has had some issues I hear).
- Redone manuals and an unofficial manual (http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/14571/unofficial-game-manual-for-baldur-s-gate-enhanced-edition/p1) worked on because of this website and BGEE as a project starting in the first place (without this website it seems unlikely that @bigdogchris much less @Jalily, @tilly, @PinkRose, @Oxford_Guy and I would have worked created/edited this). Plus all the other fan creations that have spawned here.
- Bug fixes (though obviously there have been a few bugs created as well)
There were other nice little features like the different coloured circles under NPC's, new sound sets, the zoom feature and portraits. The Black Pits was sort of interesting but not something I think I'll go back to.
Though its had its share of problems (especially around the initial launch) the game itself is certainly enhanced over what you'd get with a standard BGT install.
I'm fully with @elminster on this subject. It's not over. From all the information we have now it's clear the problem is temporarily and we have to wait. It's a juridical question and while every party involved is seeking a solution the further development is delayed. But it is not the end.
The response by Wizards of the Coast also indicates the problem is not permanent: "We were disappointed to learn that Baldur’s Gate Enhanced Edition has been temporarily removed from sale on Beamdog.com and the Apple App Store. We are confident that Beamdog is working diligently to resolve issues with their publishing partner so they can resume sales of Baldur’s Gate Enhanced Edition."
It's interesting that you can still buy and download the game direcly from Atari.
There's no need to panic. We all must wait a little bit longer. We've waited for years till all the BG:EE project appeared so another several months or even a whole year can be gone through. And there's still a chance it will take several weeks.
So Beamdog is not allowed to sell their own game but Atari can