Baldur's Gate 4???

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Sun Dec 05, 2004 12:54 am

[QUOTE=fable]<snip>
I'm also not quite sure why some intelligent people sallivate over the idea of a BG3. It's simply a game title; it's no guide to content. <snip>[/QUOTE]

It is quite simple, in my view - it is "Pavlov's Dog".
The name (for many) is associated to some great CRPGs, and thus interests and expectations towards such a game rises when people see the name used again.
It is no different then for Fallout "people" and I would think Elder Scroll "people" feel somewhat the same about ES:IV and so on.
However, it only takes one bad/mediocra game to destroy such an association for most, but currently - I think many CRPG players have a "good feeling" association with Baldurs Gate RPGs.

Luis Antonio · Post by **Luis Antonio** » Sun Dec 05, 2004 4:52 pm

fable wrote: I'm also not quite sure why some intelligent people sallivate over the idea of a BG3. It's simply a game title; it's no guide to content.

Well, I keep drooling on bg3 because I'm fully addicted to bg 1 and 2... I guess this open space for an amazing game - or a stupid defeat of the gaming team.
I think you do it as well sometimes, Fable, but not thinking that the game will be cool, but with the potential. "All about your potential"... Anyway, I still really agree with you, it may come as one daikatana or nwn single player missions (both great promisess, great engines, great deceptions).

Well, I could deal with 8-bit graphics. Just make it kinda like the original zelda or something. I would be happy as long as I got to walk around and kill things

I'm currently playing Tibia, an online RPG, and it is both bad graphics and not much interaction between characters but, hell, I can kill, gain levels and buy expensive stuff!!! There are even some dragons around...

fable · Post by **fable** » Sun Dec 05, 2004 6:39 pm

I think you do it as well sometimes, Fable, but not thinking that the game will be cool, but with the potential. "All about your potential"...

I never expect anything out of a title that lacks a development team, much less a release date.

And I never read publicity hype before a game appears. I also discount 75% of what any developers say in interviews, before games are released. I don't know that any of that means I anticipate game releases. I suspect it doesn't.

Luis Antonio · Post by **Luis Antonio** » Sun Dec 05, 2004 8:30 pm

[QUOTE=fable]
I never expect anything out of a title that lacks a development team, much less a release date.

And I never read publicity hype before a game appears. I also discount 75% of what any developers say in interviews, before games are released. I don't know that any of that means I anticipate game releases. I suspect it doesn't.[/QUOTE]

I guess you're the voice of precaution...

I like to hear to the hype, so I can remember where to check if things were real or not. For example, Daikatana was expected to be a first person shooter + npc +rpg game. In my opinion, they gave up making a good first person shooter and screwed NPC and RPG. But the developers used to say it was awesome, that the graphics, the engine (they had problem with translation)...

On the other hand, SoA was hyped as well, but it was inside what has been told - same game, more spells, harder enemies, many possibilities... and extra history on the Child of Bhaal's saga with romances and humour.

So, IMO, hearing to hype is important to develop a sense of care from the gaming industry about what are they gonna promess, what are they promoting and allow the gamer to choose between gaming companys.

But, as they say this is off topic... lol

Gwalchmai · Post by **Gwalchmai** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 9:20 am

I wonder if all the hype isn't just a bunch of baloon-floating. That is, they are floating this idea out there, and will decide to proceed with the project if the idea generates enough favorable response.

The Great Hairy · Post by **The Great Hairy** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 6:42 pm

[QUOTE=Gwalchmai]I wonder if all the hype isn't just a bunch of baloon-floating. That is, they are floating this idea out there, and will decide to proceed with the project if the idea generates enough favorable response.[/QUOTE]

I think bottom-line returns are more likely to favour the production of BG3. If various roleplaying titles do well, and there appears to be a strong market for further titles, then we are more likely to see BG3.

Don't forget, however, that BG2 is still selling and generating profit for Bioware. Publishers notice this type of thing.

Cheers,
TGHO

Luis Antonio · Post by **Luis Antonio** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 7:18 pm

[QUOTE=The Great Hairy]
Don't forget, however, that BG2 is still selling and generating profit for Bioware. Publishers notice this type of thing.
[/QUOTE]

I agree, and thats the strongest argument IMO. Even though hyped, and not a solid game, it'll sell a lot.

BTW, I guess infinity has not been used drastically after bg and iwd have been released. That engine could be used again, with improving on graphics and sound and perhaps new places but I'd buy another game in the same engine. For sure.

fable · Post by **fable** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 7:20 pm

Bioware isn't getting a cent from BG2. Interplay owns the rights, and paid Bioware a lump sum for its development. The revenues such as they are, now, are so small as to count for nothing--which explains why it is no longer being marketed through commercial software chains except as a used product from former players.

The Great Hairy · Post by **The Great Hairy** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 9:26 pm

[QUOTE=fable]Bioware isn't getting a cent from BG2. Interplay owns the rights, and paid Bioware a lump sum for its development. The revenues such as they are, now, are so small as to count for nothing--which explains why it is no longer being marketed through commercial software chains except as a used product from former players.[/QUOTE]

Hmmm, I thought that when Bioware broke away from Interplay that they kept the rights to their games (MDK, BG, etc.). Interplay, being officially closed and under investigation, are not making any money from anything at the moment. They certainly no longer own the rights to any major game titles, having sold most of them off in a futile attempt to keep solvent.

Recently Bioware had an announcement up on their website that 5 million copies of BG and BG2 had been sold worldwide. BG 1 & BG 2 are available - new - from Amazon and other games places (**** Smith & Games Warehouse here in Oz). Someone has to be putting new product together, and my money would be on Bioware.

Cheers,
TGHO