It may sound unusual, but regarding the Icewind Dale EE 1.4 on Windows, I find it quite good in the current stage. The new UI from BGEE 2.x and the way the characters look in that version is not something I would want in Icewind Dale EE.
Call me old school if you want but I kept a BG1EE / BG2EE pre-2.x patch kit for playing and recently I also downloaded the Icewind Dale EE 1.4 from my GOG account just in case something goes wrong after the 2.x patch for Icewind Dale EE is released.
It may sound unusual, but regarding the Icewind Dale EE 1.4 on Windows, I find it quite good in the current stage. The new UI from BGEE 2.x and the way the characters look in that version is not something I would want in Icewind Dale EE.
Call me old school if you want but I kept a BG1EE / BG2EE pre-2.x patch kit for playing and recently I also downloaded the Icewind Dale EE 1.4 from my GOG account just in case something goes wrong after the 2.x patch for Icewind Dale EE is released.
I kinda want to try out the Shaman class in IWD though. If they add it in properly that's a perfect class for the frozen north!
Hmm, sounds like they still have a ways to go. Kind of torn: while I'm happy that these games are still getting patches and features years after launch, the length of time between launch and final state is getting to be a bit much. I generally stick up for Beamdog, but not being able to even guess whether 2.4 is coming this quarter, next quarter, or even this year is frustrating. The developer has been around long enough that it should be able to offer approximate ETAs on products and patches even if they have to include a 2-6 month margin of error.
Unless those gamergate fanatics who review-bombed SoD did more damage to the company than I thought, in which case I sympathize. But even then, more transparency would be nice.
Thing is I set myself with the mindset that mobile platforms are in a state of abandonment and just added my own fixes. Pain in the arse. Obviously not everyone can make there own fixes and surely beamdog must embarrassed to take people's money and not deliver what's expected from a gaming company in the 21st century.
I've even put my main mod I'm making on hold due to updates not happening considering I mainly play or used to on android devices. Only game I have left installed currently is BG2.
Hmm, sounds like they still have a ways to go. Kind of torn: while I'm happy that these games are still getting patches and features years after launch, the length of time between launch and final state is getting to be a bit much. I generally stick up for Beamdog, but not being able to even guess whether 2.4 is coming this quarter, next quarter, or even this year is frustrating. The developer has been around long enough that it should be able to offer approximate ETAs on products and patches even if they have to include a 2-6 month margin of error.
Unless those gamergate fanatics who review-bombed SoD did more damage to the company than I thought, in which case I sympathize. But even then, more transparency would be nice.
This may be just me, but I always considered 1.3/1.4 to be final state. Its the closest to the original in form and function, and is far more stable than the original games ever were. I consider 2.0 and up to be gravy.
while I'm happy that these games are still getting patches and features years after launch, the length of time between launch and final state is getting to be a bit much.
surely beamdog must embarrassed to take people's money and not deliver what's expected from a gaming company in the 21st century.
I'm not sure I understand. These things are being posted in the IWDEE forum. IWDEE 1.4 is a stable, playable game which (as far as I know) includes everything the developer intended it to include, and everything players have wanted it to include. What about it is not in its "final state?" In what way is Beamdog "taking people's money and not delivering what's expected?"
Please understand, that is not argument, or rhetorical, or snark. I'm not understanding those posts and seeking clarification.
IWDEE 1.4: - Includes the entirety of the game - Plays very well - Is very stable - Way, way after it was released in this state, Apple is changing their operating system in a way that will harm the usability of the app. Instead of letting things lie, Beamdog is working ahead of time to adapt the game and ensure it will work well into the future. As of now, it seems like there may not be any interruption at all, which is kind of impressive given that Apple sprung this on them while they were in the midst of a different, major product development.
Maybe those posts were not communicated well, or maybe I'm missing something or just dense. But what, exactly, is the perceived problem here?
I always considered [1.4] to be final state. Its the closest to the original in form and function, and is far more stable than the original games ever were. I consider 2.0 and up to be gravy.
Seems to me this pretty much sums it up.
I'm pretty sure that I remember the developers promising feature parity - which is mainly what I'm referring to - although I could be wrong. IWD is (mostly) good to go in terms of bugs and stability, but I've gotten so used to the integral new BG features that their absence seems glaring whenever I revisit it. I suppose that's what I mean when I say "finished state," though that was a poor/imprecise choice of words.
As I said, I'm a fan of Beamdog, but I think the point still stands re: ETAs and transparency. By now, even an extremely rough ETA with multiple revisions would be welcome.
The way I see, IWDEE is a great game that Beamdog killed by being negligent with it.
Just look at how many mods are there for BG and how many are there for IWD.
Look at both forums here. The main thing that is debated in this forum is exactly this: ETA for the update.
If the game is "ready as it is", don't tell us that will be an update. Just be honest and say "guys, that's it, IWDEE for us is dead as a doornail".
To be honest, I'm feeling stupid for having bought this game since the day I heard that there is a new patch for PSTEE being developed and we don't hear a word about 2.4 for IWDEE.
I mean, PSTEE just got out of the oven, for Pete's sake. If it is not playable and demand a patch ASAP, Beamdog screwed things up and shouldn't have released it already. If that's not the case, they should let people play PSTEE and focus on their loyal costumers that are patiently waiting for IWDEE's update. And, for my surprise, even defending Beamdog in this matter.
Things get even worst when you think that most of the public that bought IWDEE is a potential customer for PSTEE. What guarantee do I have that Beamdog wouldn't do the same with PSTEE? And with any new product?
Beamdog is damaging itself and its own name by putting IWDEE constantly aside. And the day its costumers realize how disrespectful is this attitude, the sh*t will hit the fan for the company (pardon my French).
The way I see, IWDEE is a great game that Beamdog killed by being negligent with it.
Just look at how many mods are there for BG and how many are there for IWD.
BG2 and IWD existed for 12+ years before Beamdog ever did anything to them. In those 12 years, the community made a ton of mods for BG2 and very few mods for IWD. The fact that this remains the case has absolutely nothing to do with Beamdog. (In fact, standardizing the game engines has done a lot to increase the number of IWD mods available.)
Icewind Dale has always served more as a standalone experience than an entry-point into some sort of crazy-customizeable universe. Which isn't a knock on IWD-- I like it better than BG2! It's a ludicrously tightly-designed game, and still the most beautiful one I've played to date.
The EE version of IWD does great credit to that legacy, providing a stable game with all of the content (including TotL, which didn't receive much market penetration on its initial release), as well as relevant bugfixes, all updated to be playable on modern platforms. They've also already added a bunch of additional content, (kits, weapon styles, spells, etc).
Other than making it a pain to change your party in mid-campaign, I'd say this is already a nearly-flawless port that would stand up as a very credible "final version" if Beamdog had chosen to make it that. The fact that they're working on adding even *more* stuff is not a negative, even if it's taking a while to deliver it.
I'm not really a Beamdog apologist, but if you're going to hate on them for something, I think the iOS version of BG1/BG2 still being stuck on 1.3 is a much better target than IWD existing in 1.4.
After having played BG(2)EE for a long while and starting up IWDEE for the first time I noticed how all animations and camera movement felt so much less choppy, the UI feels more responsive and in BG I always saw weird graphical glitches and artifacts - often parts of the screen starts flickering for a while and parts of the map with interactive objects like doors often don't match up with the surrounding area and are a few pixels off, non of that in IWD.
The only thing I've missed so far is fallen.2da (I like having an Archer even in evil parties). Otherwise I'm perfectly happy with IWDEE as it is and will probably abstain from updating if there ever is a patch.
Quick question I am Currently Playing Through with a Few groups Just Started Chapter 3, When 2.0 Hits Tell me I don't have to Delete these Saves to get the Highlighted Spirits????
Quick question I am Currently Playing Through with a Few groups Just Started Chapter 3, When 2.0 Hits Tell me I don't have to Delete these Saves to get the Highlighted Spirits????
Comments
Icewind Dale Enhanced Edition 2.0
If this holds true, I'll look forward to playing through IWD:EE with the graphical changes helping me along.
...is that because of the lack of patch 2.0?
Call me old school if you want but I kept a BG1EE / BG2EE pre-2.x patch kit for playing and recently I also downloaded the Icewind Dale EE 1.4 from my GOG account just in case something goes wrong after the 2.x patch for Icewind Dale EE is released.
Can't wait for the update in IWD! And have hope for IWDII:EE.
Unless those gamergate fanatics who review-bombed SoD did more damage to the company than I thought, in which case I sympathize. But even then, more transparency would be nice.
I've even put my main mod I'm making on hold due to updates not happening considering I mainly play or used to on android devices. Only game I have left installed currently is BG2.
As I said, I'm a fan of Beamdog, but I think the point still stands re: ETAs and transparency. By now, even an extremely rough ETA with multiple revisions would be welcome.
Just look at how many mods are there for BG and how many are there for IWD.
Look at both forums here. The main thing that is debated in this forum is exactly this: ETA for the update.
If the game is "ready as it is", don't tell us that will be an update. Just be honest and say "guys, that's it, IWDEE for us is dead as a doornail".
To be honest, I'm feeling stupid for having bought this game since the day I heard that there is a new patch for PSTEE being developed and we don't hear a word about 2.4 for IWDEE.
I mean, PSTEE just got out of the oven, for Pete's sake. If it is not playable and demand a patch ASAP, Beamdog screwed things up and shouldn't have released it already. If that's not the case, they should let people play PSTEE and focus on their loyal costumers that are patiently waiting for IWDEE's update. And, for my surprise, even defending Beamdog in this matter.
Things get even worst when you think that most of the public that bought IWDEE is a potential customer for PSTEE. What guarantee do I have that Beamdog wouldn't do the same with PSTEE? And with any new product?
Beamdog is damaging itself and its own name by putting IWDEE constantly aside. And the day its costumers realize how disrespectful is this attitude, the sh*t will hit the fan for the company (pardon my French).
Icewind Dale has always served more as a standalone experience than an entry-point into some sort of crazy-customizeable universe. Which isn't a knock on IWD-- I like it better than BG2! It's a ludicrously tightly-designed game, and still the most beautiful one I've played to date.
The EE version of IWD does great credit to that legacy, providing a stable game with all of the content (including TotL, which didn't receive much market penetration on its initial release), as well as relevant bugfixes, all updated to be playable on modern platforms. They've also already added a bunch of additional content, (kits, weapon styles, spells, etc).
Other than making it a pain to change your party in mid-campaign, I'd say this is already a nearly-flawless port that would stand up as a very credible "final version" if Beamdog had chosen to make it that. The fact that they're working on adding even *more* stuff is not a negative, even if it's taking a while to deliver it.
I'm not really a Beamdog apologist, but if you're going to hate on them for something, I think the iOS version of BG1/BG2 still being stuck on 1.3 is a much better target than IWD existing in 1.4.
The only thing I've missed so far is fallen.2da (I like having an Archer even in evil parties). Otherwise I'm perfectly happy with IWDEE as it is and will probably abstain from updating if there ever is a patch.
Oh, and this:
http://blog.beamdog.com/2017/07/real-talk-icewind-dale-ii-enhanced.html
http://blog.beamdog.com/2017/06/pstee-patch-313-and-whats-next-for.html