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Baldur's Gate teaser site gets a countdown and a soundtrack
BaldursGate.com just appeared back at the end of February with naught more than a poem and a rumor, and it's lain dormant since then -- until now. Just this evening, a countdown has appeared on the site, along with a tune (more on that in a second), both that seem to be hinting at a big reveal coming up in just about twelve hours from now, at 11am Pacific on Thursday morning. The music, which is reminiscent of the theme from the legendary singleplayer RPG (and sounds great) is indeed linked to a file on Beamdog.com, which is former BioWare designer Trent Oster's website, and has previously published an enhanced remake of BioWare's MDK2. Considering that the sound file is actually located at "files/overhaul/theme.mp3," it's probably a good bet that the announcement is some sort of Baldur's Gate remake from Oster's studio, Overhaul Games. For exactly what platforms however (PC, iOS, or even consoles), we'll have to wait until the official word arrives. The good news is that there's not too long to wait. If you hurry, you can listen to the minute-long theme music about 720 more times before the big reveal arrives.
MDK 2 HD finally coming to PC ... tomorrow
Okay, so MDK 2 HD, the high definition remake of the Dreamcast classic, obviously didn't make its planned September launch. You're angry, no doubt, but would it help to know that it's actually coming out tomorrow, October 12? Well, good news then, because it is, and it will available exclusively via the Beamdog download service for $15. Aside from the new HD graphics – which look pretty great, incidentally – the game now features enhanced audio and tweaked difficulty. Specifically, the game's description promises that "now Easy really is Easy, while Hard is BONE CRUSHING!" Check out a new trailer above and peruse some HD comparison screenshots in the gallery below. %Gallery-136275%
Fallout Online's future in doubt as Interplay crumbles
Fallout Online and several other Interplay-developed titles may be in serious jeopardy, according to a US Securities and Exchange Commission report filed by Interplay last week. Develop discovered the filing, which spells out dire financial concerns for the immediate future of the company. Multiple times, the report states: "If we do not receive sufficient financing or income we may (i) liquidate assets, (ii) sell the company (iii) seek protection from our creditors including the filing of voluntary bankruptcy or being the subject of involuntary bankruptcy, and/or (iv) continue operations, but incur material harm to our business, operations or financial conditions. These conditions, combined with our historical operating losses and our deficits in stockholders' equity and working capital, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern." Similarly worrying, the company's current cash balance is approximately $3,000 (yes, that's just three thousand dollars, seriously), and it's operating with nearly $2.9 million in debt. The filing also illuminates the company's shift from paying its developers upfront for projects to working on a "net revenue sharing model," where devs get a cut of the final sales rather than paid when their work is complete. While that model sounds hugely profitable for third-party devs, and has been sporadically successful in the movie business, it seems to signal something less than wonderful in Interplay's case. Additionally, the company's credit agreement has ended, which Interplay says "has resulted in a substantial reduction in the cash available to finance our operations." Rather than assure investors that everything will work out, the company again warns of potential negative outcomes, saying instead, "There can be no assurance that we will be able to enter into a new credit agreement or that if we do enter into a new credit agreement, it will be on terms favorable to us." Currently, Interplay has five known projects, ranging from a lawsuit-entangled Fallout MMO to a sparsely detailed Earthworm Jim sequel. Several WiiWare and DSiWare projects are also in the works, though the fate of all five games could be grim given the wording of the company's SEC filing.
NintendoWare Weekly: MDK2, Mighty Milky Way
A classic game is newly downloadable on Wii today, but it's not a Virtual Console title. IdeaSpark Labs' remake of BioWare's PC/Dreamcast/PS2 action adventure title MDK2 is up on WiiWare, allowing you to see that cool ribbon parachute thing again. DSiWare has WayForward's Mighty Milky Way, an action puzzle game that depends on the creation of a path of tiny planets for the character Luna. There's also the gothic-esque timed platformer Tower of Deus and Whack-a-Friend. The latter makes sense as soon as you learn that the DSi camera is involved.
MDK 2 parachuting onto WiiWare May 9
Raise a (radioactive) toast, as a release date has finally been set for the WiiWare version of MDK 2. Nintendo's website lists the title for a May 9 launch at a price of 1000 Wii Points ($10). We checked with Trent Oster, head of developer IdeaSpark Labs, who confirmed both the date and price. Remember, be mindful of the pumpernickel. It tends to explode.
MDK 2 for WiiWare in certification, new PC version still in the works
Remember, last year, when Interplay said it was reviving the BioWare action classic MDK 2 on WiiWare? Not only does the project still exist, it sounds like it's actually nearing completion. Trent Oster -- head of the WiiWare version's developer IdeaSpark Labs -- announced on the Beamdog forums that "MDK 2 for WiiWare has entered the final stages of the certification process" and is currently awaiting approval from Nintendo. He added that the Wiimote "adds a great deal to the gameplay, making a great action platformer even better." IdeaSpark, founded by Oster and fellow ex-BioWare member Cameron Tofer, recently launched the aforementioned Beamdog distribution service, which will eventually host another upcoming version of MDK 2, the PC-bound MDK 2 HD. Speaking of which, Tofer also noted on the forums that the team is "looking for feedback and suggestions" concerning the HD remake.
IdeaSpark 'tuning' difficulty of MDK2 HD
That fleshy slapping sound you just heard was the massive, simultaneous facepalm of cantankerous old gamers the world over. In an interview with Big Download, BioWare co-founder Trent Oster -- now head of IdeaSpark Labs, which is developing MDK 2 HD -- revealed that his company plans to do some "some tuning" to the notoriously difficult game. Oster noted that he actually "snapped the Dreamcast controller, popping the VMU across the room" while playing the original game, concluding that "some tuning will be in our to-do list." On behalf of the curmudgeonly gamers with fond memories of MDK 2, we can only hope that the newly adjusted difficulty will be optional. Read the full interview for more on MDK 2 HD and Beamdog, Oster's new digital distribution service.
MDK 2 dropping into WiiWare, 'HD' version targeting PC
Interplay is continuing its bizarre WiiWare resurrection of classic franchises with BioWare's beloved MDK2. The action-shooter-puzzle-adventure game, a sequel to an equally well-remembered game by Shiny, is being planned for release on WiiWare sometime this winter. Following that, a new version of the game, called MDK2 HD, will be released on PC via the Beamdog distribution service -- which happens to be have been founded by Trent Oster, formerly of BioWare. If you don't want to wait for whatever remastering will be done, you can get the original MDK2 (and its predecessor) at Steam or GoG. [Via GoNintendo]
MDK, MDK2 and Giants on special at GOG
Action doesn't always have to be so ... pretentious. Whimsy is welcome and GOG reminds us of that with a sale on a few "action-comedy" classics that fit the bill. This weekend, MDK, MDK 2, and the even more ludicrous Giants: Citizen Kabuto are enjoying a 30% discount, to $4.19 each. Thinking about it, there just aren't enough heroes that look like giant woodpeckers anymore. Don't you think?
