I'm probably the only one that thinks this, but I think they should have given people, who already had the originals, the enhanced editions for free. I mean, gog.com has done this for other enhanced editions.
I'm probably the only one that thinks this, but I think they should have given people, who already had the originals, the enhanced editions for free. I mean, gog.com has done this for other enhanced editions.
I'm not sure which games GOG has all done this for, but I know they did this for The Witcher. The difference there is that The Witcher was developed by CD Projekt, which owns GOG, so that's a different situation. In general, I think most (all) of the games where people were upgraded to 'Enhanced' editions were cases where the new edition was made by the same people as the original, meaning that the devs had already seen at least some profit from the orginal purchase. That would not be the case for BG:EE.
I'm not sure why those who own the originals should expect to get the EEs for free, particularly since GOG has been practically giving the originals away every week or so for years now. Every time a new EE announcement occurred, sure enough GOG would bargain basement all their BG titles. So, in a way, you can perhaps thank Beamdog for getting the chance to snap up the originals for cheaper prices (assuming you didn't pay full price), and can now return the favor by buying the EE versions (also at reduced prices for the time being).
The GOG release is a good thing over all, I think. The more places potential customers can pick up the games, the better!
Let me congratulate Beamdog and especially @TrentOster for finally reaching an agreement with GoG.com. I still remember the tweet from a year or so ago telling us such a deal was not possible. And now it looks like this obstacle is over.
You have done a good job in making the deal and as the constant questions in the past regarding the possibility of EEs on the GoG.com show, this is important to many people.
It's a good news and shows you guys can do it when you want it, even if later but still important!
This was a nice surprise today when I routinely visited the GOG store. Really good job working out the issues (with Atari, I assume) to make this deal possible. GOG is my favorite store, and BG is my favorite game, so I'm thrilled to have the EE's on there.
And now I realize that my IWD:EE Beamdog preorder means I'm going to buy that game twice as well. Oh, well.
Also, could this possibly mean that the eternal conflict between GOG enthusiasts and Overhaul Games fans will end? Is this the prophesied day when the strife finally ends and harmony unites the BG fandoms once again?
@typo_tilly: I don't think it's quite that clear-cut. Sure, lots of original bugs have been fixed; but a whole bunch have been introduced too. Sure, modders can do more; but so far the emphasis has been on adapting existing mods to the EE (without modifying them in any way to account for new content), and that job's not even close to finished. So those holdouts have a point, at least insofar as the current state of the EEs are concerned.
@bengoshi: I don't think it's about different views or tastes at all, though. BG:EE is already at a place where it can supplant the original altogether - BG1NPC is up and running (which, in turn, makes most of BG1UB redundant), and most other mods are compatible (including the one that restores the original movies). There's no real reason to prefer original BG1 anymore, especially since EE content is so easily avoided.
BG2 isn't there by a long shot, though. And unless Beamdog get their act together, it never will be.
One reason to have the original BG is to play with the original rules without the extras added by BG2 kits and the like. There are a number of players who enjoy and prefer the flavor of the original.
I don't think it's about different views or tastes at all, though. BG:EE is already at a place where it can supplant the original altogether - BG1NPC is up and running (which, in turn, makes most of BG1UB redundant), and most other mods are compatible (including the one that restores the original movies). There's no real reason to prefer original BG1 anymore, especially since EE content is so easily avoided.
@shawne, this is simply not true. Why do you always assume that your tastes must be universally shared ?
There are still those who prefer the original game to BG:EE. I know because I'm one of them.
The main point is that the are too many things I don't like about BG:EE and I'm talking about features, not bugs. To make the enhanced game more to my liking, I would have to create myself several mods, just to undo most of the changes made to the game that I didn't like. To me is just easier to play the original game, also because it is more customisable, i.e. I can customise it in larger extent and more easily, by just using some of the existing mods (examples: #1 ToBEx, every single feature can be switched on and off using a ini file #2 1PP: I can choose a different look for armours, shields and helmets every time I start a new playthrough, etc.)
The original game IMO is still preferable to BG:EE because more customisable.
One reason to have the original BG is to play with the original rules without the extras added by BG2 kits and the like. There are a number of players who enjoy and prefer the flavor of the original.
I really agree with this.
For example, I'm currently playing the original IWD without any mods (except one I made myself to increase the size of fonts in dialogues), so no kits, no additional classes and races, etc.
When I'm done, I may or may not start another playthrough with IWD-in-BG2 and Icewind Dale NPCs, etc.
The first option (i.e. playing with the original vanilla rules) will not be available in IWD:EE, and this, to me, is reason enough to prefer the original game.
1pp is not compatible with the EE's? If so, that's quite the shame. I like using that mod to customize sprites to my preferences.
1PP is incorporated in the EE's with predefined choices. At the moment, these can't be changed and it is unlikely (but not completely impossible) that a new version, compatible with the EE's, will ever be released and the main reason for this is that it is partially included already.
Yes, I noticed that it's already included from looking at the helms and such, but I thought it could still be installed for more choices. I'm not a huge fan of helmets and shields sharing the same sprites between the two EE games, when the vanilla games had clearly defined stylistic differences between them. I liked it that way.
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Actually don't worry, the new one is kinda meh.
Anything else would just be silly.
The GOG release is a good thing over all, I think. The more places potential customers can pick up the games, the better!
You have done a good job in making the deal and as the constant questions in the past regarding the possibility of EEs on the GoG.com show, this is important to many people.
It's a good news and shows you guys can do it when you want it, even if later but still important!
And now I realize that my IWD:EE Beamdog preorder means I'm going to buy that game twice as well. Oh, well.
Also, could this possibly mean that the eternal conflict between GOG enthusiasts and Overhaul Games fans will end? Is this the prophesied day when the strife finally ends and harmony unites the BG fandoms once again?
The battle of vanilla vs EE will never have a winner - different people just have different views and tastes.
The most important thing is now there's an additional place where the game can be bought. And it has a fine price.
BG2 isn't there by a long shot, though. And unless Beamdog get their act together, it never will be.
There are still those who prefer the original game to BG:EE. I know because I'm one of them.
The main point is that the are too many things I don't like about BG:EE and I'm talking about features, not bugs. To make the enhanced game more to my liking, I would have to create myself several mods, just to undo most of the changes made to the game that I didn't like. To me is just easier to play the original game, also because it is more customisable, i.e. I can customise it in larger extent and more easily, by just using some of the existing mods (examples: #1 ToBEx, every single feature can be switched on and off using a ini file #2 1PP: I can choose a different look for armours, shields and helmets every time I start a new playthrough, etc.)
The original game IMO is still preferable to BG:EE because more customisable.
Edit: I really agree with this.
For example, I'm currently playing the original IWD without any mods (except one I made myself to increase the size of fonts in dialogues), so no kits, no additional classes and races, etc.
When I'm done, I may or may not start another playthrough with IWD-in-BG2 and Icewind Dale NPCs, etc.
The first option (i.e. playing with the original vanilla rules) will not be available in IWD:EE, and this, to me, is reason enough to prefer the original game.