Good Old Games - Announces Gothic 2 Gold and Spellforce Platinum

[Myrthos]

Good Old Games and Jowood have signed an agreement where they will add Gothic 2 Gold and Spellforce Platinum in the near future.
JoWood and GOG.com Take Gamers to Hell and Back with Painkiller and More Bloody Good FPS Joins Panzer Elite Special Edition and Other Titles on DRM-Free Classic Games Site

Warsaw, Poland – January 27 – Today GOG.com (http://www.gog.com), (http://www.mail2web.com/cgi-bin/redir.asp?lid=0&newsite=http://www.gog.com%29,) the best place for digitally distributed, DRM-free PC classics, announced an agreement with JoWood Productions to bring a number of acclaimed titles to the GOG.com games catalogue, starting with Painkiller Black Edition (http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/painkiller) (http://www.mail2web.com/cgi-bin/redir.asp?lid=0&newsite=http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/painkiller%29) and Panzer Elite Special Edition (http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/panzer_elite_se). (http://www.mail2web.com/cgi-bin/redir.asp?lid=0&newsite=http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/panzer_elite_se%29.) Both games are available today for $9.99 each – as always, DRM-free and guaranteed to work on Vista and XP. Other JoWood games destined for GOG.com include Gothic 2 Gold, Spellforce Platinum, The Guild Gold and Alien Nation.

Painkiller Black Edition is a perfect fit for GOG.com with its old-
school action-heavy gameplay and top-notch visuals. The critically
acclaimed game pits players against hordes of hellacious beasts, with
little more than weapons of incredible destructive power at their disposal. Panzer Elite Special Edition is perfect for armchair generals and generally anyone who’s always wanted to drive a tank but couldn’t stomach the idea of sitting with a couple of other men in the
tank’s steamy, tight and uncomfortable confines. The game allows players to command a platoon of US or German tanks as they relive some of the most intense tank battles of World War II.

Adding JoWood Productions' games is another exciting step toward
becoming the ultimate place for fans of classic PC games,” said Adam
Oldakowski, Managing Director of GOG.com. “All of these games have
found large fanbases around the world, and we hope that we can show off these great titles to even more people.”

Promoting our games over the GOG.com network is a great opportunity for JoWooD not just to increase sales, but even more to distribute our classic titles to gamers who love to play those “good old games”. As JoWooD has to offer an extensive product line, we are confident that the GOG.com community is a perfect target for our titles", said Georg Klotzberg, Head of Sales of JoWooD Productions.

Painkiller Black Edition (http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/painkiller) (http://www.mail2web.com/cgi-bin/redir.asp?lid=0&newsite=http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/painkiller%29)
and Panzer Elite Special Edition (http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/panzer_elite_se (http://www.mail2web.com/cgi-bin/redir.asp?lid=0&newsite=http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/panzer_elite_se)) are now available at GOG.com, with the release of other games from JoWood's catalogue planned in the near future. Stay tuned for more news concerning new deals, more new releases and new service features in the upcoming weeks.
More information. (http://www.rpgwatch.com/show/newsbit?newsbit=11247)

[Maylander]

Gothic 2 Gold. It simply doesn't get any better than that. Period.

[szokol]

I wish there would be more Spellforce games.

[DarNoor]

G2 Gold. Great news. I was about to buy that off of Amazon. Not anymore.

[vidder]

I wish there would be more Spellforce games.

Me too. Sadly the team was bought from EA and is now producing "battle forge".
Its mainly multiplayer and has no base building, so its mostly non existent for me.

[szokol]

Me too. Sadly the team was bought from EA and is now producing "battle forge".
Its mainly multiplayer and has no base building, so its mostly non existent for me.

I don't mind the missing base building, my problem is this multipalyer thing. I never do that thing.

[Karmakaze]

Ah, Gothic 2 Gold.. The last game in I don't know how long that I excitedly played all the way through and was truly sad when it finished.

A HUGE recommendation on that one.

[Znith]

G2 Gold. What a great game!!

[Alrik Fassbauer]

Sounds to me as if thery are going to become a distribution channel that also distributes modern games, not only old ones.

Which would mean it's gmg nowadays, instead of gog. ;)

[txa1265]

Well, given that a game is ancient if it is a year old these days, 5 years is definitely 'old' to mainstreamers :D

Gothic 2 Gold is a great announcement - I'll grab Spellforce as well, and Painkiller I'll wait for a sale, probably.

[Alrik Fassbauer]

Okay, you are right from that perspective. ;)

[JDR13]

Gothic 2 = One of the greatest crpgs ever.


Painkiller = ....meh. Your money would be better spent elsewhere.

[txa1265]

Painkiller = ....meh. Your money would be better spent elsewhere.

I enjoyed Painkiller for what it is - a mindless run & gun romp. Not really worth $10 to me (especially since I own all versions already) - but at $5 it wouldn't be bad.

[blatantninja]

So what is spellforce like? Pictures look pretty cool, but I'm always hesitant to buy a game based on pics!

[Gorath]

SpellForce is
Action-RPG (party) & RTS (combat) & base building, 1/3rd each. Combined with free character development, a massive campaign (3 massive campaigns in SF Plat.). SF looked absolutely spectacular when it came out. Its new combat control system was quite comfortable. You first choose an enemy and then see all available options.
SF1 had too much base building and too much micromanagement. Apart from that I really liked it.

SF2 was less of everything, except graphics and polish. It's a mainstream game without a serious weakness. My favourite game that year.

[Maylander]

Played both the SpellForce games (w/expansions) a lot. Great games, definetly worth getting if you enjoy RPG/RTS hybrids.

[magerette]

Gorath has pretty much nailed it, both Spellforces were fun games, but if you don't like RTS, there's not quite enough RPG to make the difference--it's a great example of blending two genres, but as usual with those types of hybrids, it helps if you enjoy both equally.

[Gorath]

SF1 combined a almost a full aRPG with a full RTS and quite some base building game like The Settlers (invented by the same guys more than a decade earlier!). This is somewhat overkill.
Then SF2 cut 50% out and built certain safety nets. Which made it very enjoyable, but also less interesting because all the rough edges were gone.

[magerette]

My problem was losing patience with the RTS basebuilding and rushing and wanting to get back to the RPG stuff. But then, I got burned out on RTS after Warcraft III. Plus I suck at it. :)

[BillSeurer]

I liked Spellforce until I got to this one part where there was a maze and I had no clue what I was supposed to do to get through it as their information on quests is almost useless. Also while a few of the scenarios were really well done others were quite poor.

If you don't like bad voice acting beware though because some of the voices are make-your-ears-bleed bad.

[Gorath]

I liked Spellforce until I got to this one part where there was a maze and I had no clue what I was supposed to do to get through it as their information on quests is almost useless. Also while a few of the scenarios were really well done others were quite poor.
Mulandir, the map in which you were basically dead as soon as one of the guardians notices you?

[vidder]

Strange. I liked SF1 a lot more than 2. I loved the great RTS with building huge bases and mine 4-5? resources in one mission, and in the next it was the questing with my party which kept me hooked. Some missions could even be solved both ways.

SF2 was a totally watered down experience for me.

[txa1265]

I hope they get SF2 at some point - I missed the expansion not coming to the US.

[curious]

it finally did in the form of spellforce universe which i picked up just for it. then of course the bloody thing wouldn't run!

spellforce 2 was good and Gorath sums them up perfectly. i loved the first game-music, large focus on base building, quests, etc. i came close to finishing the first expansion but barely even scratched the 2nd expansion. finished spellforce 2 however which is much more accessible in my view for the non-rts type players.

[JDR13]

I hope they get SF2 at some point - I missed the expansion not coming to the US.

Would it be compatible with the US version of SF2?

[xSamhainx]

almost bought that "universe" edition just for the expansion, it's supposed to be pretty good.... if you can get it to run!

It's available for download online at full price. I'll wait til someone runs a weekend madness download sale on it or something

[txa1265]

I guess I missed the Universe edition ... hopefully it will get a bargain price at some point.

[Gorath]

Be careful not to buy one the Aspyr SpellForce 2 units still circulating in the channel. Some of them are missing the s/n. You won't get a replacement.

[Alrik Fassbauer]

What's "s/n" ?

[Maylander]

Probably serial number/verification code.

[txa1265]

What's "s/n" ?

Yep - serial number.

[JDR13]

So the Universe Edition includes the expansions for both titles then...right?

[Nikus]

I enjoyed Gothic 2 a lot, but when the expansion was out I lived in the US where AFAIK it wasn't released. Is the Night of the Raven good? how may hours? thanks.

[Gorath]

I enjoyed Gothic 2 a lot, but when the expansion was out I lived in the US where AFAIK it wasn't released. Is the Night of the Raven good? how may hours? thanks.
It was released in NA a couple of years ago as part of G2 Gold.

NotR does to G2 what the LotR Ext. Editions did to the cinema versions. And then adds another 20 hour new world which is even more beautiful. It's a hot contender for the best single player add-on ever. The only real drawback is that it's a hard game, even compared to the other Gothics.

[JDR13]

It's a hot contender for the best single player add-on ever.

Definitely. If you haven't played Gothic 2 with NotR yet, then you haven't truly played Gothic 2.

[txa1265]

So the Universe Edition includes the expansions for both titles then...right?

Yes - but from what I read it is like two disks stuffed in a box and charged 'collector's edition' pricing ...

I enjoyed Gothic 2 a lot, but when the expansion was out I lived in the US where AFAIK it wasn't released. Is the Night of the Raven good? how may hours? thanks.

It is huge, and I love how it wraps itself up in the main game. Makes it super-hard, but well worth the effort. As was said, it is definitely in the top 2 or 3 expansions ever. (I'd put it top '1', myself)

[curious]

it is indeed 2 discs stuffed in a box, but for 5 games the price is worth it.

notr was great though it would have been nicer had i not played gothic 2 a number of times in the 2 years it took to get an english release. i only played through it once so its possible i'll give it a go down the road but probably unlikely. also i don't really consider it an expansion, as its a relatively small amount of stuff added compared to the original, though the quality of what is added is exceptional. an 'addon' is what i think of it as and i believe what it was officially reffered to as. not dissimmilar to bring down the sky, or the enhanched edition of the witcher (adventures included) which while much smaller in scope are more night of the raven's kin than a true expansion. both of those while weaker were also free and didn't take 2 years to be released, though have recieved insults by gamers instead of adoration like night of the raven. to me to be an expansion the game must at least have 1/3 the content of the orginal and night of the raven in my view doesn't meet that.

of course my rambling is mostly irrelevant except i should point out that why most gothic fans' bitterness is directed at gothic 3, mine is towards the vaporware release of night of the raven. just imagine if pirahna bytes had been given 2 years to fix gothic 3 in the form of an addon...the world would be a different place.

jowood i wipe my ass to you.

[xSamhainx]

woah! curious uncut and uncensored! = ]

Arent you the person who had the bad experience w/ the spellforce universe set?

I really wanted that one, but all the bad press and firsthand accounts of users not being able to play the games within scared me away for now. I'd pay ten bucks and roll the dice on it, but not 30, which is what im seein it locally for now.

Just the amazon users experiences seem a bit foreboding! (http://www.amazon.com/review/product/B000WMJM3W/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_helpful?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=&showViewpoints=1&colid=&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending)

[Gorath]

notr was great though it would have been nicer had i not played gothic 2 a number of times in the 2 years it took to get an english release. i only played through it once so its possible i'll give it a go down the road but probably unlikely. also i don't really consider it an expansion, as its a relatively small amount of stuff added compared to the original, though the quality of what is added is exceptional. an 'addon' is what i think of it as and i believe what it was officially reffered to as. not dissimmilar to bring down the sky, or the enhanched edition of the witcher (adventures included) which while much smaller in scope are more night of the raven's kin than a true expansion. both of those while weaker were also free and didn't take 2 years to be released, though have recieved insults by gamers instead of adoration like night of the raven. to me to be an expansion the game must at least have 1/3 the content of the orginal and night of the raven in my view doesn't meet that.
NotR adds more than 1/3 new content. The new world alone is easily 20 hours. Plus the new quests and hundreds of details in the main world.

[curious]

i guess you must not be counting the 'old world' of gothic 2 as part of its content as i'm pretty sure a game of gothic 2 took well over 80 hours for me, but again i'm not trying to argue and whether its an expansion or addon i still loved it--just less than gothic 3;)

yes sammy it was indeed me. i'll try to load it up again this weekend and report back. although i have the same rig i've configured things a bit differently and no longer have norton so maybe that was somehow the issue.

[JDR13]

You are the only person I have ever seen claim they enjoyed Gothic 3 more than Gothic 2+NotR. I enjoyed G3 a great deal, but it is nowhere near the quality and overall experience of G2+NotR.

[Wulf]

Even PB admitted that G2 was slightly off the gothic (G1) track, so much so, that they revisited G1 again but in a newer, more explained way with the actual clues now semi-disguised within the game dialogue, yet still the majority of gothic players "just don't get the plot" - they are not "beginning to see the light" - "the penny hasn't dropped"

G1 - is still the undisputed king (hasn't been solved).

G2 - has no known underlying hidden content even though NoTR was an extra challenge content for the fans.

G3 - Is the most logically advanced (as in simple grammar logic) and therefore "solve-able" of the bunch, and as yet still remains unsolved to date - meaning that from the beginning of the series no-one has yet come to see any definitive conclusion within the series.

Currently enjoying G3 much more than the very good but conceptual unchallengeing G2.

Regards from Wulf -
your most dedicated and devoted gothic eternal wanderer.

[DArtagnan]

I enjoyed Gothic 3 a lot more than Gothic 2 - but my enjoyment ended after ~30 hours when I finally realised just how flawed and buggy it was, and I discovered that all my effort to improve combat skills was futile because there really wasn't anything better than "fast-attack" and you could basically defeat all enemies in the entire game with just that attack.

But I enjoyed the original Gothic most of all, and think of it as the best freeform CRPG in existence.

Gothic 2 - while a marvellous game - didn't have the kind of structure that I enjoy, and to me it felt too rigid. I don't remember if Gothic had chapters, but I don't recall the same linearity - or feeling of linearity that I got from G2. I think it might just have been me, but I'd had enough of the game before I got half-way through it, and I never completed it.

I've tried getting back to it, but I always stop around when you get to the old mining colony again, and I find that area dreadfully dull to revisit.

But, Gothic 3 had me completely spellbound and absorbed for a long while - and I still have a near-constant urge to play it again, but the combat system is simply too horrible for me to deal with.

[txa1265]

I love all the Gothic games, but for me G2 remains one of my top 5 games of all time. G1 is in my top 10 or so RPG's, and G3 not in my top 50 overall games.

[Kostaz]

Even PB admitted that G2 was slightly off the gothic (G1) track, so much so, that they revisited G1 again but in a newer, more explained way with the actual clues now semi-disguised within the game dialogue, yet still the majority of gothic players "just don't get the plot" - they are not "beginning to see the light" - "the penny hasn't dropped"

G1 - is still the undisputed king (hasn't been solved).

G2 - has no known underlying hidden content even though NoTR was an extra challenge content for the fans.

G3 - Is the most logically advanced (as in simple grammar logic) and therefore "solve-able" of the bunch, and as yet still remains unsolved to date - meaning that from the beginning of the series no-one has yet come to see any definitive conclusion within the series.

Currently enjoying G3 much more than the very good but conceptual unchallengeing G2.

Regards from Wulf -
your most dedicated and devoted gothic eternal wanderer.
I still fail to understand what you mean.
Gothic is a game a great one too.It's not an equation and I can't understand what's there to solve/guess.

[Wulf]

For me the G3 combat is beautiful, with the shield held forward, and then holding the left mouse until the 1h sword is fully retracted, then released, is unparalleled - then take one step backward and repeat - this way i kill sabretooths and mummies in 2 or 3 prods (timing is critical) - this has a stun effect on single opponents so as to prime and give time for the next prod. The recoil effect of the full circle attack is also amazing...yes it can be mastered by those that endeavour...also killing quest npc's within human combat is not a pre-requisite to quest completion when considering allignment to Adanos.
.................................................. .................
Currently 260 hours into G3 on L70, had to double-back to L50 4 times now as getting onto the critical path is extremely difficult, even now i suspect i've gone wrong...got to get into Ishtar yet remain alligned to Innos ((no contentious (to unhostiles) liberations yet)) all before relinquishing the Adanos artifacts - but i'll stay with it because i'm convinced it can be done - the quest selection path is very difficult, reputation is everything....there's a continual quest tendency to be waylayed and be detracted from the true course...conceptual goal achievement doesn't get any better than in G3 strategy gameplay.
Hack-n-slash questing just doesn't work.
.................................................. .................
@Kostaz.
There is extra content in G1 = via chromanin.
There is extra content in G3 = via the unknown land.

Both have the same concept, they are in-game rewards for staying true to all gods.
In both cases the access to the portal of Adanos is enabled.

'Xardas' is the only means of gaining this access. Only when Xardas's becomes aware that his devious intentions with our nameless hero have not succeeded is an extra dialogue content opened up. This is why the gods have been forsaken - by Xardas himself.

I know what, where and when this happens in G1 but have yet to learn just how it happens in G3, though i suspect it will be similar, i am working hard to solve this..and enjoying G3 at the same time because i know what i want and what i must do to solve the puzzle.

Now can you see why G3 is beautiful?

My best regards to the Piranhas, i hope they take their time with Risen as i suspect it will take some time yet in solving the G3 puzzle. :D

[Kostaz]

Hmmm not sure I understand a word of what you said but good luck with finding whatever it is you're looking for.
Any link or description for that "chromanin" I'm sure I've heard it before but haven't really looked into it.

[Gorath]

I don't think we want to open this can of worms here.

[JDR13]

Lets just say that Wulf has a very unique fantasy concerning the Gothic games. :)