Don't forget that @Kharador had a discussion about it this summer. I just went back and read through it again and still don't know what he's talking about.
Apparently back then there was a Disagree reaction, which was being frequently used.
Yeah, I don't think anyone said we wouldn't make paid DLC. Sure stuff will be included in the PC version, but I don't think an expansion would be free.
Just as well said Dislike Button is gone. That sort of thing just inspires more separation, hate, and angst. Now if you want to disagree you have to state your reasons instead of being a stand-offish coward ... like real life!! Seriously, people get far too used to hiding behind their computer screens, that button would only help, so it's good for everyone that it's gone. Bad habits form in the most unsuspecting places.
I like the idea of a big expansion, but I'm worried about the amount of time required to do it since they've been saying BG2EE will be coming out in 2013.
Just as well said Dislike Button is gone. That sort of thing just inspires more separation, hate, and angst. Now if you want to disagree you have to state your reasons instead of being a stand-offish coward ... like real life!! Seriously, people get far too used to hiding behind their computer screens, that button would only help, so it's good for everyone that it's gone. Bad habits form in the most unsuspecting places.
Yeah, I guess you're right. It makes people be more up-front and accountable for the things they're saying.
I like the idea of a big expansion, but I'm worried about the amount of time required to do it since they've been saying BG2EE will be coming out in 2013.
You know, I've had this thought at the back of my mind for a while now. Right after BGEE comes out they're starting on BG2EE. Now, I did read somewhere that they are leaving a couple of guys back to continue with BGEE, (presumably updates, bug fixes, and DLC.) But, are only a couple of guys going to be able to produce an expansion while everyone else is working on BG2EE? Also, my main concern is that when BG2EE is finally finished, I have a feeling that BGEE will be basically abandoned (regarding updates, DLC/expansions,) because by then, they may be starting BG3 (or a new project,) and/or working on updates, expansions, and DLC for BG2EE. Now this is all entirely speculation, but I do hope that BGEE won't be abandoned just because something new and shiny is out.
16. SP: Obsidian is currently developing a game engine based off Unity, with what sounds like a large number of customizations to streamline it for the development of a CRPG. Might Beamdog consider using such an engine for the development of Baldur’s Gate 3?
Oster: No. In my experience, an engine is all about optimization. What makes an engine fast is not the work you do, but the work you don't. With a game like Baldur's Gate, there is no other title with the same challenges and as such, no engine is optimized around those criteria. Our approach is going to be from the ground up, making an engine and tool chain which is 100% dedicated to making the best isometric party based role playing game possible. Tools and workflow will be top of the list and a powerful scripting language is the foundation for our plans going forward. I think what we build will be radically different from all current engines on the market.
I find Trent Oster's position hard to understand. What's with the idea that Unity is too slow to build a fantastic RPG with it? Yes, you could certainly build a more optimized engine if you tailored it to that specific purpose only, but think about all the time spent developing this engine and these tools, all the testing on various hardware configurations, wouldn't all this effort and money be better spent on design and content? Project Eternity, if it succeeds - and we have every reason to think it will - will show that a superb, large-scale RPG can be produced from scratch in a year and a half in this day and age, if you remove all the classical impediments from the equation. Engine development isn't the only one here, but it's a very significant one.
@Kaxon and @Kristie83 - Keep in mind that when Overhaul started working on BG:EE they had to invest a lot of time and effort on engine work that will be already done for BG2:EE. Specifically, they had to port BG1 to the BG2 engine, and they did not copy nor reference the work modders had done on Tutu/BGT; then, they optimized the code, rebuilt the threading model, rebuilt the renderer around OpenGL, and implemented the zoom feature. In the beta, we tracked and fixed hundreds of engine bugs that will not be a problem in BG2:EE.
Since both games will be using the same engine, the time that has been spent on engine-related technical work for BG:EE can be spent on developing new content for BG2:EE, as well as expansion packs / DLCs. Also, engine bugs that get fixed in BG2:EE are automatically fixed in BG:EE for the same reason (same engine for both games).
Last but not least: Dave's been working on BG2:EE material for a while now, and I believe Adventure Y has been in the works for a few months already.
@AdreaColombo So are you saying that they've invested all the time in BGEE for the sake of spending more time on BG2EE and it's content? Do you mean that they aren't willing to put anymore time into BGEE once its released? I'm confused. Maybe I'm not catching your drift...
Just as well said Dislike Button is gone. That sort of thing just inspires more separation, hate, and angst. Now if you want to disagree you have to state your reasons instead of being a stand-offish coward ... like real life!! Seriously, people get far too used to hiding behind their computer screens, that button would only help, so it's good for everyone that it's gone. Bad habits form in the most unsuspecting places.
@Quartz So, according to you to agree/like without giving any reasons is acceptable whereas to disagree/dislike in the same terms is a shameful attitude? Sorry, but I disagree with you. I value all opinions and even yours which, although it's not the case, I could dislike. On another note, good interview.
@Kristie83 - You're not catching my drift, but perhaps that's because I wasn't clear enough in my explanation.
Once BG:EE is released, it will happen exactly what Trent Oster said: Two dedicated programmers will keep fixing bugs and releasing new builds for it, while the rest of the team will focus on BG2:EE. As a matter of fact, part of the creative team (e.g. Dave Gross and Sam Hulick) are already working on BG2:EE as they are done with their BG:EE duties. Adventure Y is a post-ship DLC for BG:EE, and it will be released a few months after the game.
Everything that gets done for BG2:EE on the engine level (i.e. new GUI features, new externalizations, engine bug fixes, and so on) will be automatically backported to BG:EE because both games share the same engine, and it is therefore very straightforward to pass things on from one another. Hence, at least part of the work Overhaul will be doing on BG2:EE will also benefit BG:EE, just as some of the work they did on BG:EE will benefit BG2:EE.
It was necessary to invest a lot of time on engine-level work for BG:EE because BG1 was not based on the BG2 engine, which featured the most recent and up-to-date version of the source code available. Besides, several improvements to the engine took time to be implemented, but really had to be done. They didn't rebuild the renderer and threading model only for the sake of having them ready for BG2:EE; they did so because it was a needed enhancement for both games. What I implied was merely that since those have already been done, they won't have to be done again for BG2:EE.
@Quartz So, according to you to agree/like without giving any reasons is acceptable whereas to disagree/dislike in the same terms is a shameful attitude? Sorry, but I disagree with you. I value all opinions and even yours which, although it's not the case, I could dislike. On another note, good interview.
It promotes positive attitudes. I'm sorry you take issue with that. If they took away all the buttons you wouldn't see me complain too much though.
@Quartz So, according to you to agree/like without giving any reasons is acceptable whereas to disagree/dislike in the same terms is a shameful attitude? Sorry, but I disagree with you. I value all opinions and even yours which, although it's not the case, I could dislike. On another note, good interview.
It promotes positive attitudes. I'm sorry you take issue with that. If they took away all the buttons you wouldn't see me complain too much though.
I understand your point. I don't care much about these tools either.
To pay for an "expansion pak" is nothing new to me. would realy love to see this BG:EE stuff expanded further whatever it will be. And i remember Trent saying ...no DLC like fluffy earrings+3 and this BS. The devs are aware of bad DLC and fair DLC i think;)
@AndreaColombo Now I'm catching your drift! That totally makes sense now. I'm glad that BGEE won't be abandoned and will continue to get upgrades and new content. I hope adventure Y comes in the form of a full "expansion" instead of just a smaller DLC. I now have a much clearer understanding of the engine-level work and the ability of backporting features created for BG2EE. Thanks for the clarification.
Comments
Apparently back then there was a Disagree reaction, which was being frequently used.
You know, I've had this thought at the back of my mind for a while now. Right after BGEE comes out they're starting on BG2EE. Now, I did read somewhere that they are leaving a couple of guys back to continue with BGEE, (presumably updates, bug fixes, and DLC.) But, are only a couple of guys going to be able to produce an expansion while everyone else is working on BG2EE? Also, my main concern is that when BG2EE is finally finished, I have a feeling that BGEE will be basically abandoned (regarding updates, DLC/expansions,) because by then, they may be starting BG3 (or a new project,) and/or working on updates, expansions, and DLC for BG2EE. Now this is all entirely speculation, but I do hope that BGEE won't be abandoned just because something new and shiny is out.
Since both games will be using the same engine, the time that has been spent on engine-related technical work for BG:EE can be spent on developing new content for BG2:EE, as well as expansion packs / DLCs. Also, engine bugs that get fixed in BG2:EE are automatically fixed in BG:EE for the same reason (same engine for both games).
Last but not least: Dave's been working on BG2:EE material for a while now, and I believe Adventure Y has been in the works for a few months already.
On another note, good interview.
Once BG:EE is released, it will happen exactly what Trent Oster said: Two dedicated programmers will keep fixing bugs and releasing new builds for it, while the rest of the team will focus on BG2:EE.
As a matter of fact, part of the creative team (e.g. Dave Gross and Sam Hulick) are already working on BG2:EE as they are done with their BG:EE duties.
Adventure Y is a post-ship DLC for BG:EE, and it will be released a few months after the game.
Everything that gets done for BG2:EE on the engine level (i.e. new GUI features, new externalizations, engine bug fixes, and so on) will be automatically backported to BG:EE because both games share the same engine, and it is therefore very straightforward to pass things on from one another. Hence, at least part of the work Overhaul will be doing on BG2:EE will also benefit BG:EE, just as some of the work they did on BG:EE will benefit BG2:EE.
It was necessary to invest a lot of time on engine-level work for BG:EE because BG1 was not based on the BG2 engine, which featured the most recent and up-to-date version of the source code available. Besides, several improvements to the engine took time to be implemented, but really had to be done. They didn't rebuild the renderer and threading model only for the sake of having them ready for BG2:EE; they did so because it was a needed enhancement for both games. What I implied was merely that since those have already been done, they won't have to be done again for BG2:EE.