"Bioware is currently NOT developing BG-3"

[Faust]

[QUOTE=fable]I'm inclined to think that BG3 will be made, and never be made. That's to say, a game called Baldur's Gate III will show up; and that it will not be made by any of the people involved in the earlier titles in the sieres, nor will it reproduce any of the salient features of series. It will simply be another RPG, probably as generic-feeling as the KotoR titles, and leave me with that sense of internal emptiness afterwards.

Why? For one, it's simply been too long. The people who made BG2 at Bioware are for the most part long gone, and publishers are interested in money, not in such petty, mortal matters as reassembling a great development team. Then, too, the sense of atmosphere in the BG games was partially conditioned by a 2D environment that allowed for much greater graphical detail. Even a game as graphically rich (compared to the KotoR titles)as Morrowind uses a far smaller number of objects than the hand-realized artwork of BG2. This certainly isn't meant as criticism of Morrowind, a great RPG, IMO.

Perhaps I'm wrong, but I don't think so. For better and worse, Interplay's Brian Fargo had a vision, and kept a strong hand in what he wanted the company to make. There's no one like that at the helm of Atari, where accountants rule.[/QUOTE]

In all likelihood, you're correct in assuming the emphasis in BG3 will be on storytelling and not laying out a Morrowind like world. BG2 was one of those rare games where both solid and intriguing storylines and NPC interactions managed to mix well with a non-linear pace (well the illusion of it, anyway), expansive environments, and detailed combat situations. We're more likely to see a more KoTOR style game in the third installment. I'm sure it will include exhaustive voice-overs and non-recycled graphics, and, interesting NPC development. Hence, it should be enjoyable for a large portion of its fan base. Assuming its not the same kind of mediocre drivel that was NwN. I'll actually be very interested in seeing what direction NwN2 is taken in by Obsidian. If its a success, I wouldn't be suprised to see BG3 resemble it in many ways. Of course, it's possible that BG3 will be unlike anything we've ever seen before. It's happened before (for that matter it happened with the earlier Infinity Engine games). Regardless, it's my hope that someone with a real vision and love of the previous games ends up helming the development team on the third game. I'll not jump to the bleak conclusion that no one at Atari has vision, quite yet. Though, maybe in time....

[The Z]

Well, Atari is publishing Dragonshard, developed by Liquid Games, and that looks pretty creative (check the interviews here at GameBanshee and at Gamespot). Ed Del Castillo's company has a fairly good record at RTS games (the original Red Alert and Battle Realms) so Atari has managed to get a quality developer recently.

[fable]

[QUOTE=The Z]Well, Atari is publishing Dragonshard, developed by Liquid Games, and that looks pretty creative (check the interviews here at GameBanshee and at Gamespot). Ed Del Castillo's company has a fairly good record at RTS games (the original Red Alert and Battle Realms) so Atari has managed to get a quality developer recently.[/QUOTE]

Bear in mind, I've been involved as reviewer in the PC gaming community for almost two decades; so I'm not as sanguinary as you. Whether that means I'm cynical or realistic, is up to each person to decide.

But my take is that publishers don't look for great developers; they look for developers with great money-making track records. That's why a company like Liquid Entertainment which turns out credible but hum-drum RTS products is getting contracts, while companies like Shiny and Frog City that have always emphasized innovative approaches have closed their doors. Atari is actually running true to form, in other words. Not that I expect them to go for loss makers. But I would only be heartened if they had several known, dedicated gamemakers of quality at their corporate helm; and they don't. They have slick businesspeople, and this can be confirmed by checking over the curricula vitae of their upper management. Unlike, say, Microprose, Origin Systems, SirTech, Interplay, or Lucasarts during its prime.

Again, just my views.

[The Z]

I guess you're right when it comes to getting sales...I have a few friends who feel that Morrowind is a better quote-unquote "RPG" than the Baldur's Gate series and whenever they mention that it drives me insane. It's all about eye-candy and 'features' to many modern gamers. So you're realistic...I'm just more of a 'hope for the best even though I know I'm wrong' type of person.

I did enjoy Red Alert though and didn't think it was humdrum at all.

In all honesty I would've preferred that the Fallout and/or D&D license go to a developer like Troika or Bioware. At least that way we'd have some idea of what the game would be like. I mean, I'm really distressed about Bethseda doing Fallout because I doubt it'll be the same. But that's a whole other topic.

Maybe they should get Will Wright to do BG3

[fable]

[QUOTE=The Z]Maybe they should get Will Wright to do BG3 [/QUOTE]

Now, *there's* a concept! I wonder what that game would be like. Different, completely different from what we've seen--and I'll bet it would be pretty good, too!

[The Z]

[QUOTE=fable]Now, *there's* a concept! I wonder what that game would be like. Different, completely different from what we've seen--and I'll bet it would be pretty good, too![/QUOTE]

SimBG: Build your own Forgotten Realms city up from the ground! Deal with plagues and invasions in your own way! Hire Bhaalspawn to do various meaningless tasks for you in exchange for special items! Have those Bhaalspawn destroy a neighbouring place, like the Friendly Arm Inn! Make business deals with weaker towns by either taking them under your wing or crushing them with Bhaalspawn!

Ahem.

Anyways, just so this post isn't complete spam, does anyone think that Obsidian wouldn't mind developing a BG3?

[midnight_storm]

I believe Obsidian could make BG3 if they wanted to. Once they finish NWN 2 they could start on BG3, unless they have something else planned but I don't think they do.

[fable]

[QUOTE=midnight_storm]I believe Obsidian could make BG3 if they wanted to. Once they finish NWN 2 they could start on BG3, unless they have something else planned but I don't think they do.[/QUOTE]

It isn't a matter of what they want to make: it's what a publisher will approach them to create. Obsidian is a development house, not a publisher.

[midnight_storm]

Well, then I'm sure if the publisher asked them to produce it I don't think they would refuse.

[fable]

No, I don't suppose they would. No development house will turn down any contract from a large publisher, unless the contract in question has problematic terms. But as no publisher has any real money backing BG3, I think the point is moot.

[midnight_storm]

moot?

[fable]

A moot point is one that doesn't matter, for some reason. For example, "It's a moot point whether ETA Hoffman or Hans Christian Andersen would have made a better game, since they're both dead, and neither ever saw a computer, much less programmed for one."

[midnight_storm]

oh
okay

anyways
if a BG3 was developed i would definitely check it out

[black]

[QUOTE=midnight_storm]if a BG3 was developed i would definitely check it out[/QUOTE]
And I think a LOT of people would do that. BG3 would be a far better strategy than NWN2 simply because it's fans are alive and kicking years after the game died out. I remember people talking before NWN hit the markets that it was supposed to be some sort of BG3. A lot of people would check out an eventual BG3! But I seriousely doubt that it would be as good as bg2.. we live in a world where money matters the most and for them the name Baldur's Gate is just a money-making name.
Somebody said that he was enraged when a friend tells him Morrowind is better than BG2.. well.. At the time of the release, considering the epic story-line, the time spent on side-quests, the freedom and a lot of things thought "useless" by action-players I think Morrowind is a far better game than most. For the first time in my gaming life.. if i wanted to climb a mountain.. i could (in an RPG).
To be sure: BG3 will hit the markets.. if not now.. in the future. They are probabily to arrogant to let a good game die and not try to "better" it with random 3D-graphics and a stupid save-the-world storyline.

[Obike Fixx]

This entire discussion makes me almost depressed.

Why did Atari have to come? Why did Interplay have to close? How can NWN be considered a 'good' game?
What has become of the gaming industry, especially one as unique as the roleplaying section. I mean, we always knew that games such as Quake, Unreal or C&C Generals were fundamentally simply money machines. But has it really come to the point where the free spirit and independence of the small-time (compared to the other genres) RPG companies are as terrible as EA Games or, well... Atari.

Oh, well. Sorry about this "emotional outburst" and the blatant off-topicing, but it had to be said.

[Ravager]

There doesn't seem that much for a potential BGIII to tail onto anyway. Spoiler follows - You would either start as a god (or demi-god) or mortal at an extremely high level and TOB already stated what happened to the other characters.

A BGIII would just be name-dropping in hope of a lot more interest and sales .