- Bug fixes (though obviously there have been a few bugs created as well)
Every version of the patch has introduced more bugs than the previous one, in my experience.
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.
The selection circles in BGEE are shit, I don't like the different colors and they are blurry and terrible compared to the original selection circles which are nice and solid and clear.
The OpenGL graphics are terrible. The game is blurrier than the DirectDraw original. The Zoom feature is fucking pointless because the default zoom and close zoom levels are stretching the source art beyond their intended viewing margin and thus look like garbage.
The new areas are also blurry and terrible as well. Abymsal job.
The sound sets are a different volume to the originals and sound completely different.
The new portraits aren't even in the same art style as the original. Mind you I really enjoyed Jason Manley's work on Icewind Dale but I don't like the new BGEE portraits.
The Black Pits is just a combat challenge thing, it's a copout installment to the game.
Kits and Items etc do not matter. Anyone can make those.
I had BGT installed once. It was... painful. So playing BG easily in high resolution without having to go through the BGT procedure is alone worth the money for me.
@Pecca - is it really that bad? I've been considering giving the GOG version a shot with BGT and widescreen mod. I never use mods so i'm a bit skeptical about stability - but widescreen seems to be working well for Icewind Dale at least!
It seems I have limited options until BG:EE is back on =(
@EntropyXII: Well it's my personal feeling. I remember a bad time with installing and playing BGT. But I would recommend you to try it for yourself, a lot of people like it. Widescreen mod is great but as BG vanilla GUI doesn't scale, it looks bad, so it needs BGT.
- Bug fixes (though obviously there have been a few bugs created as well)
Every version of the patch has introduced more bugs than the previous one, in my experience.
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.
The selection circles in BGEE are shit, I don't like the different colors and they are blurry and terrible compared to the original selection circles which are nice and solid and clear.
The OpenGL graphics are terrible. The game is blurrier than the DirectDraw original. The Zoom feature is fucking pointless because the default zoom and close zoom levels are stretching the source art beyond their intended viewing margin and thus look like garbage.
The new areas are also blurry and terrible as well. Abymsal job.
The sound sets are a different volume to the originals and sound completely different.
The new portraits aren't even in the same art style as the original. Mind you I really enjoyed Jason Manley's work on Icewind Dale but I don't like the new BGEE portraits.
The Black Pits is just a combat challenge thing, it's a copout installment to the game.
Kits and Items etc do not matter. Anyone can make those.
I imagine you're the sort of person who doesn't enjoy anything.
Why are you even on this board anymore, @Sensuki? If you dislike the game so much, it should be pure torture, or at least a waste of your time, for you to continue hanging out.
Unless you just like to pick up fights and tell the rest of us how wrong we are, in which case I don't have much to say. Not taking the bait.
@Pecca - I've heard conflicting reviews on BGT. Some say it's buggy with a few game crippling bugs. Others say it's fantastic. In your experience did you come across game breakers?
@Sensuki - What @typo_tilly said. BG:EE wasn't just about enhancing the original content. It was about bringing the game to different platforms. Just because you don't care about that doesn't mean other people aren't enjoying it. Not every person knows how to add mods to games and EE was a way of giving people all the modified updates without them having to go into technicalities. I personally don't like messing about with my games core files so EE was a fantastic proposition.
You need to chill out mate. Your constant aggressive swearing isn't going to help. Kids might be rolling about these forums.
@EntropyXII: First of all, I remember installing and reinstalling it for several days (yeah). Then I played it for a while, but there were some major lags in some areas. I was trying to find a solution and messed the game completely. I promptly uninstalled it and promised myself for the sake of my well being to never install it again. But it was a long time ago, and I was very young and didn't understand mods much. Now I might make it work just fine, but fortunately don't have to.
But if you're not happy with current EE, you should try it. There is really no downside for trying. Well, if you're patient enough...
@Pecca - I'm perfectly happy with EE. My only issue being that once I complete it I would have to wait a long while before I can import my character to BG2 (EE)! Going back to vanilla is more of a filler, at least until Shadowrun Returns comes out next month (I highly recommend all BG fans check this one out).
It seems to me that I wont like BGT - I can always try it and then if I screw everything up, reinstall the game. Do I really want to do that though? Million quid rhetorical question.
Is this the final information (See the Update information in the link below) ? Did they stop and will come back or.... I just hope not (I don't dare to even write it). Would be a bad bad day!
@Pecca - I'm perfectly happy with EE. My only issue being that once I complete it I would have to wait a long while before I can import my character to BG2 (EE)! Going back to vanilla is more of a filler, at least until Shadowrun Returns comes out next month (I highly recommend all BG fans check this one out).
It seems to me that I wont like BGT - I can always try it and then if I screw everything up, reinstall the game. Do I really want to do that though? Million quid rhetorical question.
Thanks for showing me to that Shadowrun Returns it looks awesome!
Request for the dev's: Would you guys be able to give us progress reports on what is happening behind the scenes? I know you cannot mention any details about what is happening - but perhaps simple messages such as "We'll know soon", "Everything is going well in our discussions" or "We'll have a better idea by July 16th - 19th."
Fully understanding that you guys will have to move onto other projects - even dev's have to eat - progress reports would give us players some sense of hope/clarity in the coming weeks/months.
Sorry to pester about this - I just had an unnerving thought of how unsettling it would be if you guys disappear on us until this ordeal is over, for better or worse.
I'm saddened by the news that even the patch has no more work put into it at this point. What about support? Even if things turn out bad and you can't do BGEE2, you should still support the game you've already released.
For whatever reason, their publisher, Atari, prohibits them to do so. Hence no patch release.
This could also be the reason why BioWare (now (sadly) part of EA) no longer hosts Neverwinter Nights support and patch files (instead redirecting to the Atari support page which merely only hosts NWN patches up to 1.66, whereas 1.69 is the newest official version).
Request for the dev's: Would you guys be able to give us progress reports on what is happening behind the scenes? I know you cannot mention any details about what is happening - but perhaps simple messages such as "We'll know soon", "Everything is going well in our discussions" or "We'll have a better idea by July 16th - 19th."
Fully understanding that you guys will have to move onto other projects - even dev's have to eat - progress reports would give us players some sense of hope/clarity in the coming weeks/months.
Sorry to pester about this - I just had an unnerving thought of how unsettling it would be if you guys disappear on us until this ordeal is over, for better or worse.
Don't except any quick resolution. According to this Shacknews interview this "lockdown" on their BG work will last at least a few weeks, and that's the best case scenario...
What about support? Even if things turn out bad and you can't do BGEE2, you should still support the game you've already released.
For whatever reason, their publisher, Atari, prohibits them to do so. Hence no patch release.
See that's what I've not seem that stated by anyone from beamdog. Perhaps they could clarify? Can they only not work on new games, or are they prohibited from patching anything previously released too? Perhaps it's just a business choice on their part not to work on the patch.
I am know as an intellectual master and a spy who is so undercover he tells everyone so he looks like a bootless basement dweller. In sooth I have yet to leave my basement since my handy climber elevator chair broke when I sat on it returning from Taco Bell and KFC where I ate 3 family sharer buckets and 4 party size Mexican snack packs sets. My brother still come with a fork lift every week too lift my arse off the bed and hose it down after he pours tide on me. But, let us dispense with the frivolous statements of how great and cool I am in my super undercover NSA ninja job that makes James Bond out to be a homebound celibate vegan harmless quaker. The truth is I am off the grid living in a mtn cabin in Montana with stock piles of fully automatic weapons, mres, a deep well, and ten years supply of nachos, cheesy poofs, and 3 full sets of the complete barbie dress up and dream home. I know the satellite internet will wink out after China and the UN attack us after the economic collapse. I want to get the enhanced editions done before that.
Tiax was minding his mace perusing the stalls of Baldurs Gate looking for a gnome training neck chain. Along he came to two fat Merchants arguing over a sale of fruit armor. With righteous rage Tiax declared,
"All goods and products belong to TIAX cyric has declared it!" Thus speaking Tiax called to his stinky undead ghast who, pooping constantly and similtaneoulsy hurling the offal, covered the two bickering merchants in undead excrement. This solved the fruit sale as the fruit armor was instantly destroyed whrn it came in contact with the triple cursed unholy poos.
And thus ended the story of Baldurs Gate: a tragic divisive story of evil pushy and inconsiderate gold grubbers who were interfering with the masterful creative genius of one who should RULE ALL.
YOU WILL FINISH THE GAME AND TIAX WILL HAVE A CYRIC BLESSED TIAX ONLY MACE IN BG TWO THAT CAN BE UPGRADED WITH PIECES OF STOLEN PALADIN SOILED UNDERSHORTS. CYRIC COMMANDS IT!
I am know as an intellectual master and a spy who is so undercover he tells everyone so he looks like a bootless basement dweller. In sooth I have yet to leave my basement since my handy climber elevator chair broke when I sat on it returning from Taco Bell and KFC where I ate 3 family sharer buckets and 4 party size Mexican snack packs sets. My brother still come with a fork lift every week too lift my arse off the bed and hose it down after he pours tide on me. But, let us dispense with the frivolous statements of how great and cool I am in my super undercover NSA ninja job that makes James Bond out to be a homebound celibate vegan harmless quaker. The truth is I am off the grid living in a mtn cabin in Montana with stock piles of fully automatic weapons, mres, a deep well, and ten years supply of nachos, cheesy poofs, and 3 full sets of the complete barbie dress up and dream home. I know the satellite internet will wink out after China and the UN attack us after the economic collapse. I want to get the enhanced editions done before that.
Tiax was minding his mace perusing the stalls of Baldurs Gate looking for a gnome training neck chain. Along he came to two fat Merchants arguing over a sale of fruit armor. With righteous rage Tiax declared,
"All goods and products belong to TIAX cyric has declared it!" Thus speaking Tiax called to his stinky undead ghast who, pooping constantly and similtaneoulsy hurling the offal, covered the two bickering merchants in undead excrement. This solved the fruit sale as the fruit armor was instantly destroyed whrn it came in contact with the triple cursed unholy poos.
And thus ended the story of Baldurs Gate: a tragic divisive story of evil pushy and inconsiderate gold grubbers who were interfering with the masterful creative genius of one who should RULE ALL.
YOU WILL FINISH THE GAME AND TIAX WILL HAVE A CYRIC BLESSED TIAX ONLY MACE IN BG TWO THAT CAN BE UPGRADED WITH PIECES OF STOLEN PALADIN SOILED UNDERSHORTS. CYRIC COMMANDS IT!
@georgelappies Thanks, that's helpful. Before Dee pointed it out, I didn't know BG:EE was portable. That certainly solves the "DRM problem" for us folks who care about it.
@EntropyXII BGT and EasyTutu are great, you should give them a go. You'll need to get through a few command line install screens, but there's nothing you can't handle if you have a basic idea of how to copy files, extract a zip archive, and stuff like that.
And in my experience, an EasyTutu install with the proper bugfix packs on it is currently the most bug-free version of BG1 you can get. (At least until the next BG:EE patch is released, if it's truly as awesome as we've been hearing from the devs.)
@Zeratul - Indeed. My interpretation of events are as follows:
Beamdog/Overhaul stated many months ago that the auctioning off of Atari assets wouldn't affect them. This gives the impression that Atari had made promises to Beamdog/Overhaul that they would sell them the IP rights to Baldur's Gate when the time comes.
Atari have made a special request to sell certain 'smaller' franchises away from auction. Whereas I hate hearing Baldur's Gate as a 'smaller' franchise, this is probably true. Top down ADnD RPG's don't cater to everyone's taste.
As it turns out, this may not be the case. This request will still have to go through court and may just as well be rejected - meaning the IP rights for Baldur's Gate will go up for auction. With Fallout 3 being a massive success I would put a bet on Bethesda trying to get hold of the IP rights (pray to all the gods that WoTC step in and get their game back before this happens. I love Fallout 3 but not sure i'd like to see a Skyrim version of Baldur's Gate). Even EA will want a slice. Bioware now owned by EA would be very interested in getting hold of the IP rights for a game they are originally credited with creating (considering what EA has made Bioware become: lets once again put our hands together and pray to all the gods this doesn't happen.)
Atari have more than likely done the correct thing in telling Beamdog/Overhaul to stop selling the game. They requested this because they themselves simply do not know who Baldur's Gate will belong to by July 19th. Remember: Beamdog/Overhaul do not own any part of the BG IP rights. They only have permission to make an enhanced edition with certain contract limitations set in place. Once Atari get (or don't get) a court order allowing them to sell the BG franchise privately, I assume we will find out rather quickly. If they don't manage to get the court order then BG will be auctioned off to the highest bidder - entwining Overhaul/Beamdog in a whole bunch of intricate legal crap if they are selling a game they no longer have permission to. Rightfully they have been asked to halt further progress until this matter is resolved. Think about it: What would be the point of further developing BG:EE, if whoever buys the rights to the franchise shuts BG:EE down?
The reason BG:EE is still for sale on steam is because that process was originally controlled and brought about by Atari. Sales through the App Store and the Beamdog website were done through Overhaul/Beamdog. Think about it, there is no REAL reason to ask Overhaul/beamdog to remove their sales through the website/appstore as Atari would also be losing money. This looks like a move that is to protect Overhaul/Beamdog rather than cripple them.
This is all speculation of course, but let us not jump on the 'Die Atari die' bandwagon just yet. Atari may have done the correct thing - likely to protect Overhaul/Beamdog from the harsh legalities that may follow if the IP for Baldur's Gate is sold to the larger gaming industries. In fact it seems as if Atari are fighting to get permission to sell BG to Overhaul/Beamdog.
This seems like the truth, but a harsh truth at that.
Comments
The OpenGL graphics are terrible. The game is blurrier than the DirectDraw original. The Zoom feature is fucking pointless because the default zoom and close zoom levels are stretching the source art beyond their intended viewing margin and thus look like garbage.
The new areas are also blurry and terrible as well. Abymsal job.
The sound sets are a different volume to the originals and sound completely different.
The new portraits aren't even in the same art style as the original. Mind you I really enjoyed Jason Manley's work on Icewind Dale but I don't like the new BGEE portraits.
The Black Pits is just a combat challenge thing, it's a copout installment to the game.
Kits and Items etc do not matter. Anyone can make those.
It seems I have limited options until BG:EE is back on =(
Go overhaul!
The OpenGL graphics are terrible. The game is blurrier than the DirectDraw original. The Zoom feature is fucking pointless because the default zoom and close zoom levels are stretching the source art beyond their intended viewing margin and thus look like garbage.
The new areas are also blurry and terrible as well. Abymsal job.
The sound sets are a different volume to the originals and sound completely different.
The new portraits aren't even in the same art style as the original. Mind you I really enjoyed Jason Manley's work on Icewind Dale but I don't like the new BGEE portraits.
The Black Pits is just a combat challenge thing, it's a copout installment to the game.
Kits and Items etc do not matter. Anyone can make those.
I imagine you're the sort of person who doesn't enjoy anything.
Unless you just like to pick up fights and tell the rest of us how wrong we are, in which case I don't have much to say. Not taking the bait.
@Sensuki - What @typo_tilly said. BG:EE wasn't just about enhancing the original content. It was about bringing the game to different platforms. Just because you don't care about that doesn't mean other people aren't enjoying it. Not every person knows how to add mods to games and EE was a way of giving people all the modified updates without them having to go into technicalities. I personally don't like messing about with my games core files so EE was a fantastic proposition.
You need to chill out mate. Your constant aggressive swearing isn't going to help. Kids might be rolling about these forums.
and @Chow I came back just to post my happiness about the game being shelved because Overhaul would have ruined the series.
Sayonara.
But if you're not happy with current EE, you should try it. There is really no downside for trying. Well, if you're patient enough...
It seems to me that I wont like BGT - I can always try it and then if I screw everything up, reinstall the game. Do I really want to do that though? Million quid rhetorical question.
Did they stop and will come back or.... I just hope not (I don't dare to even write it). Would be a bad bad day!
http://kotaku.com/baldurs-gate-enhanced-edition-pulled-from-app-store-b-514496494
Fully understanding that you guys will have to move onto other projects - even dev's have to eat - progress reports would give us players some sense of hope/clarity in the coming weeks/months.
Sorry to pester about this - I just had an unnerving thought of how unsettling it would be if you guys disappear on us until this ordeal is over, for better or worse.
This could also be the reason why BioWare (now (sadly) part of EA) no longer hosts Neverwinter Nights support and patch files (instead redirecting to the Atari support page which merely only hosts NWN patches up to 1.66, whereas 1.69 is the newest official version).
http://www.shacknews.com/article/79831/baldurs-gate-enhanced-pulled-over-contractual-issues?id=30362419#item_30362419
Tiax was minding his mace perusing the stalls of Baldurs Gate looking for a gnome training neck chain. Along he came to two fat Merchants arguing over a sale of fruit armor. With righteous rage Tiax declared,
"All goods and products belong to TIAX cyric has declared it!" Thus speaking Tiax called to his stinky undead ghast who, pooping constantly and similtaneoulsy hurling the offal, covered the two bickering merchants in undead excrement. This solved the fruit sale as the fruit armor was instantly destroyed whrn it came in contact with the triple cursed unholy poos.
And thus ended the story of Baldurs Gate: a tragic divisive story of evil pushy and inconsiderate gold grubbers who were interfering with the masterful creative genius of one who should RULE ALL.
YOU WILL FINISH THE GAME AND TIAX WILL HAVE A CYRIC BLESSED TIAX ONLY MACE IN BG TWO THAT CAN BE UPGRADED WITH PIECES OF STOLEN PALADIN SOILED UNDERSHORTS. CYRIC COMMANDS IT!
O.o
Atari! But i think they are in bankrupt and they are selling all their rights from games! Also bg license will be on the table?
I don't want to comment on the causes, as we can only speculate as we don't know exactly what is going behind the curtains.
My support to the developers.
And in my experience, an EasyTutu install with the proper bugfix packs on it is currently the most bug-free version of BG1 you can get. (At least until the next BG:EE patch is released, if it's truly as awesome as we've been hearing from the devs.)
Beamdog/Overhaul stated many months ago that the auctioning off of Atari assets wouldn't affect them. This gives the impression that Atari had made promises to Beamdog/Overhaul that they would sell them the IP rights to Baldur's Gate when the time comes.
Atari have made a special request to sell certain 'smaller' franchises away from auction. Whereas I hate hearing Baldur's Gate as a 'smaller' franchise, this is probably true. Top down ADnD RPG's don't cater to everyone's taste.
As it turns out, this may not be the case. This request will still have to go through court and may just as well be rejected - meaning the IP rights for Baldur's Gate will go up for auction. With Fallout 3 being a massive success I would put a bet on Bethesda trying to get hold of the IP rights (pray to all the gods that WoTC step in and get their game back before this happens. I love Fallout 3 but not sure i'd like to see a Skyrim version of Baldur's Gate). Even EA will want a slice. Bioware now owned by EA would be very interested in getting hold of the IP rights for a game they are originally credited with creating (considering what EA has made Bioware become: lets once again put our hands together and pray to all the gods this doesn't happen.)
Atari have more than likely done the correct thing in telling Beamdog/Overhaul to stop selling the game. They requested this because they themselves simply do not know who Baldur's Gate will belong to by July 19th. Remember: Beamdog/Overhaul do not own any part of the BG IP rights. They only have permission to make an enhanced edition with certain contract limitations set in place. Once Atari get (or don't get) a court order allowing them to sell the BG franchise privately, I assume we will find out rather quickly. If they don't manage to get the court order then BG will be auctioned off to the highest bidder - entwining Overhaul/Beamdog in a whole bunch of intricate legal crap if they are selling a game they no longer have permission to. Rightfully they have been asked to halt further progress until this matter is resolved. Think about it: What would be the point of further developing BG:EE, if whoever buys the rights to the franchise shuts BG:EE down?
The reason BG:EE is still for sale on steam is because that process was originally controlled and brought about by Atari. Sales through the App Store and the Beamdog website were done through Overhaul/Beamdog. Think about it, there is no REAL reason to ask Overhaul/beamdog to remove their sales through the website/appstore as Atari would also be losing money. This looks like a move that is to protect Overhaul/Beamdog rather than cripple them.
This is all speculation of course, but let us not jump on the 'Die Atari die' bandwagon just yet. Atari may have done the correct thing - likely to protect Overhaul/Beamdog from the harsh legalities that may follow if the IP for Baldur's Gate is sold to the larger gaming industries. In fact it seems as if Atari are fighting to get permission to sell BG to Overhaul/Beamdog.
This seems like the truth, but a harsh truth at that.