We had the chance to talk to the fine folks at Beamdog about the new Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition just before its release, and ask them some questions.
More information.
RPGWatch - Icewind Dale: EE Interview
- Thread starter Couchpotato
- Start date
Thank you for the interview Couch & Beamdog.
I like that they restored lost content. If the lost content is interesting -
sometimes content is cut out by the original developers late in a project, because it's simply bad.
I like that they restored lost content. If the lost content is interesting -
sometimes content is cut out by the original developers late in a project, because it's simply bad.
I don't want them to implement anything major that wasn't in the original game. Just give us the higher resolutions, improved UI, and zoom feature.
They're already adding spells and classes that weren't in the original game, and I'm not sure how I feel about that to be honest.
They're already adding spells and classes that weren't in the original game, and I'm not sure how I feel about that to be honest.
D
DArtagnan
Guest
Yes, improved pathfinding which is also integrated into the other EE games is most definitely interesting.
Here's hoping it's significant.
Here's hoping it's significant.
blatantninja
Resident Redneck Facist
I hadn't realized how many people working on these came from the modding community.
Disappointing that Overhaul continues to ignore Surface (or windows tablets in general) and Intel GPUs.
Interesting to see that they have an 'unannounced project', but then they say there are no plans for IWD2:EE or Ps:T:EE
Disappointing that Overhaul continues to ignore Surface (or windows tablets in general) and Intel GPUs.
Interesting to see that they have an 'unannounced project', but then they say there are no plans for IWD2:EE or Ps:T:EE
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Carnifex
SasqWatch
I really like the little things that they fix in these versions, makes the games much more playable, imo.
blatantninja
Resident Redneck Facist
They didn't exactly answer my question on if IWD:EE would support join able NPCs, but since a lot of the work was based on their IWD->BG2 mod, I'm guessing it will.
I think it is 31st this month.
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I imagine they have to get advance permission to work on any of these rebooted titles on a game-by-game basis, and that likely hinges on the profitability of IWD:EE.
PTS is probably a big project that cannot be enhanced in same way as these others as it is modified a lot from Baldur's Gate 1. They cannot do what they did so far and charge good $ for it.
IWD2, there was a interview earlier with their boss and he said IWD2 is tough to Enhance as it is pretty different with it being based on 3.0E rules. Their modus operandi is to just use the effort they put into BGEE to get easy bucks off other IE games.
Just like with PST, they cannot do that with IWD2. They need to do it from scratch, at least the enhancements connected with adding BG2 options.
One thing I could see them do is update IWD2 to 3.5e D&D and add prestige classes if that is possible with IE. Also fix encounter system where you would get 0 XP for fights because IWD2 incorrectly implemented ECL system from D&D 3.0 and counted each enemy as separate instead of the whole group.
And I guess they can use the work done on IWD UI and use that for IWD2 and also implement widescreen and some other UI enhancements. And add more spells from D&D 3.5e
IWD2, there was a interview earlier with their boss and he said IWD2 is tough to Enhance as it is pretty different with it being based on 3.0E rules. Their modus operandi is to just use the effort they put into BGEE to get easy bucks off other IE games.
Just like with PST, they cannot do that with IWD2. They need to do it from scratch, at least the enhancements connected with adding BG2 options.
One thing I could see them do is update IWD2 to 3.5e D&D and add prestige classes if that is possible with IE. Also fix encounter system where you would get 0 XP for fights because IWD2 incorrectly implemented ECL system from D&D 3.0 and counted each enemy as separate instead of the whole group.
And I guess they can use the work done on IWD UI and use that for IWD2 and also implement widescreen and some other UI enhancements. And add more spells from D&D 3.5e
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I'd like to see them update to the d20 OGL, which is based on 3.5e D&D, and then use the code base to either build an entirely new game or a reboot of a classic game. Perhaps this is engaging in wishful thinking, but one can dream...
Avantenor
Keeper of the Watch
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From what I know, PsT was developed at the same time as Baldur's Gate and because of that uses a kind of WIP version of the infinity engine. Also it seems, Black Isle did some modifications on their own. According to JES it contained some scripting possibilities that you don't have in the other infinity games. So I think it would mean serious lot of work. I don't think it will pay off.
IMHO a modern engine remake of PsT would make more sense.
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spiraling69
Sentinel
for me what these "enhanced" games need are better avatars. Higher res(more sprites?), whatever it would take to make them look and path better is such a needed improvement. This would be THE defining enhancement of the EE series!
As for IWDII, they made some odd decisions during the original development like leaving out 3d acceleration. I don't know what that even does for the Infinity Engine, but it made the graphics a little dull compared to IWD1, especially the FOW.
How about using IWD1 engine for the IWDII EE?
As for IWDII, they made some odd decisions during the original development like leaving out 3d acceleration. I don't know what that even does for the Infinity Engine, but it made the graphics a little dull compared to IWD1, especially the FOW.
How about using IWD1 engine for the IWDII EE?