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Atari requested Baldur's Gate: EE removal from iOS, Oster says
Beamdog CEO Trent Oster has said that Atari is the "unknown publishing partner" behind the removal of Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition from the iOS App Store. "At the request of Atari legal we removed the game from sale on Beamdog and the App stores," Oster told Game Informer recently. "Atari is still selling the game through their channels." Those "channels" would be the official Atari site, Steam, and Amazon.com, where the game is still available for sale. It's unclear why Atari wouldn't want the game selling in other places, but Oster has said both a patch and an enhanced sequel have been put on hold due to the dispute. "We're trying to remedy the situation and I'm hopeful we can come to an arrangement," he said to Game Informer. Joystiq has reached out to Atari for more information, and will update here if we hear back.
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition patch, sequel on 'indefinite hold'
Trent Oster, creative director on Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition, said publisher Beamdog is currently mired in "legal hell" and that work on the current patch and even future aspirations are on "indefinite hold." Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition was pulled from the App store and Beamdog's digital distribution service last week over "contractual issues" with an unnamed publishing partner. "The prognosis [for resuming work on Baldur's Gate] is mixed," Oster told Rock Paper Shotgun. "Best case, we can sort this out soon. Worst case, this could be in legal hell for a while. I like making games, but this contractual dispute bullshit keeps me up at night." The original plan was to offer Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition following the re-launch of the first game, but those plans are on hold now. "Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition is on indefinite hold, as is the current patch," Oster added. Oster even had plans to pursue development on Baldur's Gate 3 down the line, to which he said, "we are still interested in the concept, but currently I'd say we're very demoralized."
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition now on iPad
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition rolled onto the App Store today, with the remastered BioWare RPG now available on iPad for $9.99. Trent Oster, head of developer Beamdog, revealed the current version is limited to iOS 6.0, although iOS 5.1 support is in the works.Beamdog released Enhanced Edition for PC last week, with the Mac and Android versions still to come. While BG:EE comes in $10 cheaper on iPad than on PC, certain new inclusions such as Neera and Dorn II Karn are only available as in-app purchases.The game's multiplayer is in beta at launch, but Beamdog said cross-platform multiplayer is coming to the game, meaning iPad rangers will be able to fight alongside PC druids, Mac paladins, and Android thieves. Other combinations will also probably work.
BioWare was working on a spy game, 'Agent,' in 2009
Way back in the olden days of 2009, BioWare co-founder Trent Oster started work on a new, PS3-exclusive spy game called Agent, which "failed to survive the recession," Oster told Eurogamer. Agent was a mix of Jason Bourne and 007, Oster said, though we detected a hint of Deus Ex in his description as well:"The concept was to do the other half of GoldenEye," Oster said. "The idea being that James Bond isn't just a gun that walks around the world and shoots people. He's a suave manipulator, he's a talented martial artist, he's a secret agent. We wanted to cross that 007 with Jason Bourne, where he's been modified in some way; you're not sure what, but he's definitely deadly."We really wanted to push the acting side, the digital acting. We really wanted to be very high drama, very intense scenes. I always think of the scene in the second Bourne movie where Jason Bourne's choking the guy out with a book and he's right in his face and it's this very intense moment. That was one of the key things we wanted to carry off."No, Agent didn't have anything to do with the PS3-exclusive game that Rockstar announced in 2009, also dubbed Agent. EA "didn't believe in the concept" for BioWare's game and Agent was sent off on a mission from which it'd never return: counting all the grains of sand on a windy beach. Or just the recycle bin.
'Indie Speed Run' online game jam judged by Kellee Santiago, Ron Gilbert, Notch, et al
Indie Speed Run, despite the name, is surprisingly not what we call the Friday nights we spend practicing our no-death VVVVVV runs. It is, however, the name of a new online game jam, one which runs from now until January 6.The way it works is pretty straight-forward: Developers visit the official website and register as a participant. Once enrolled, each contender (and/or team of contenders) has 48 hours to create a game using two secret elements given only to them, and while those 48 hours must be consecutive, they can occur anytime between now and when the event ends in January.Once the event does end, every game created during its span will be made freely available on the official site. Meanwhile, a star-studded panel of judges (Kellee Santiago, Ron Gilbert, Notch, Dino Patti, Trent Oster, Jason Rohrer and Vander Caballero) will determine which team is most deserving of Indie Speed Run's $2,500 grand prize and will announce a winner February 5.
PSA - Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition arrives on PC today, other platforms soon
Beamdog's Enhanced Edition of Baldur's Gate and its expansion Tales of the Sword Coast launches on PC today, at 3PM ET (12PM Pacific, 8PM Brit-time) to be precise. It's currently going for a pre-order price of $19.99, and can be pre-loaded before its release.Beamdog says its update of BioWare's seminal RPG includes over 400 improvements on the original game, including new characters, quests, and voice sets. The Enhanced Edition also offers native support for high-res widescreen, and nifty-looking cross-platform multiplayer.On the subject of other platforms, Beamdog chief Trent Oster recently disclosed that his team can't control the timing of iOS, Mac, and Android releases. Speaking on Twitter, Oster said a game-stopping bug means the iOS version should hit next week, with Mac and Android versions expected after it.
Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition due out November 28 (mostly)
We've heard before about Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition, that slightly upgraded remake of the original great Bioware RPG that's coming soon to the iPad. This version is being put together by Beamdog, and creative director Trent Oster has tweeted that the game will finally arrive on (or at least around) November 28 later on this month. I say "around" because Oster hedges his bets on exactly when Apple's review process will allow the game through on iOS, so it might be a few days after the 28th. But suffice it to say that we're less than a month away from playing the original Baldur's Gate on the iPad. I got to see the game in action a little while ago at PAX, and I can tell you that it is indeed Baldur's Gate running on Apple's tablet. There is new content, and there are definitely some tweaks and improvements, but for the most part, it's the game you'll remember. Some new users may be turned off a bit from the title, just because it does stick to the original's complexity, and the touch interface translated to a game that's really best driven with a mouse and keyboard can be a little confusing. But Beamdog has made the decision to stick with the original game rather than updating it for the touchscreens too much, and that means that old school Bioware fans will probably be pleased. We'll look for the game on the App Store later on this month. [via Joystiq]
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition closing in on new target of Nov. 28
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition is still on course to unlock this month, with a new target release date of November 28. The revision, tweeted by Beamdog head Trent Oster, is admittedly only two days different from the former November 30 target. Nonetheless, given the meaty delay endured in September, a slight bump forward is encouraging.While Beamdog is aiming for a cross-platform launch, Oster admitted his studio can't "100% control the release date on iOS, Mac, and Android." What Oster did do was confirm the revamp is compatible with first-generation iPads. So even grandma and grandpa can play on their old-timey tablets, although they've got a few more weeks to wait yet.
Ex-BioWare dev: Negativity too much for Zeschuk, Muzyka
Former BioWare dev Trent Oster thinks that fan negativity probably contributed to the recent exit strategy for BioWare founders Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka. "The last time I met up with [Greg], I felt his exhaustion," Oster told Now Gamer. 'Punch out, eject, get the hell out,' was my suggestion to him and it hit closer to the mark than I had realized. I also think the Mass Effect 3 fan reaction and the Old Republic fans' negativity was just too much." Oster goes on to express surprise at Muzyka's departure, saying that he had him "pegged as an EA lifer." "I'm sure the internal culture at EA had pinned the Old Republic conversion to free-to-play as a failure and hung that completely on Ray, so that would have hurt his upward climb. But, I figured he would fight harder. EA upper management must have been even worse than I thought," Oster explained.
GOG shows you how to 'enhance' old Baldur's Gate games
Following the delay of Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition, GOG.com swooped in with a guide for how to make your own enhanced versions of Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate 2. While the dow noted the delay to the update from Trent Oster's Beamdog, the distributor saw that as an opportunity to post the step-by-step guide to enhance the games' graphics. Credit goes to GOG.com forum user GoJays2025 for putting the guide together.For the record, the enhancement requires six mods, and both of the games. It's convenient, then, that GOG.com has them on sale at $3.49 each. Meanwhile, Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition is scheduled to hit November 30.
Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition pushed to Nov. 30
It looks like fans will have to wait for Baldur's Gate to swing open once again, as Beamdog head Trent Oster has revealed that Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition has been delayed. Writing in the Baldur's Gate forums, Oster noted that the overwhelming response to the project – and the resulting influx of volunteers, additions and fixes – has lead Beamdog to push the project back from September 18 to November 30.In other words, it sounds as if the project has grown larger than Beamdog originally intended. "The suggestions, fixes, and translations continue, and more volunteers keep joining," wrote Oster, adding that Beamdog has delayed the project to provide "the best possible product on launch."Oster asks for patience from fans, promising "something a little extra" is in the works for those who have already pre-ordered.
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.
Report: Baldur's Gate site teases Beamdog-developed franchise project [Update]
What's going on at BaldursGate.com? We're not 100 percent sure, honestly, but it sure looks like a teaser site for some form of new entry in the BioWare franchise. And Game Banshee seems to know more, claiming to have solidified news that the site was put together by former BioWare designer Trent Oster and his cohorts at Beamdog. "We're not related to the Steam Complete Edition," Oster said, referring to a recently discovered Baldur's Gate Complete Edition. "I can tell you that much. Other than that, we're hoping to announce something soon."What that "something" is remains to be seen, but from the various Baldur's Gate accoutrement on the teaser site, it sure looks like a Baldur's Gate something is in the works over at Beamdog. Considering that Beamdog handled the HD port of BioWare's MDK 2, it stands to reason that an HD port of Baldur's Gate could be in the works. Regardless, we've yet to find out for sure.An adorable little poem was also found in the site's source code, which we've dropped after the break. And hey, do us a quick solid -- if you're way into the Baldur's Gate franchise and spot something especially notable on that site, don't hesitate to shoot us a note.
MDK2 HD arriving 'this September' on Beamdog, former BioWare dev's service
Roughly a year after being announced, and just 4 months after parachuting onto WiiWare, the PC re-release of MDK2, titled appropriately enough MDK2 HD, has a release date of "this September." The port of BioWare's classic sequel is being handled by former BioWare co-founder Trent Oster's Beamdog outfit, under the name Overhaul Games. The release itself will be hosted on the Beamdog digital distribution service, which beams (dog?) games to your computer, with no installation needed. This HD-ification is being handled by Oster and other "BioWare veterans" like Cameron Tofer, Russ Rice and Sean Smailes, "who were all heavily involved in the development of the original." Oster says, "MDK2 HD really is a labour of love for us. We've spent a lot of time improving the visuals and gameplay, and we can't wait to see what people think!" To that end, the developer is looking for suggestions from fans on what they'd like to see improved. Don't have any suggestions? Never played the original? That's okay. Tofer, COO at Overhaul Games, says, "We think MDK2 HD has the sort of visuals, humor and great gameplay that can draw in not only existing fans of the game, but a brand new audience that just wasn't able to experience its magic the first time around." You can find out this September, for $14.99. %Gallery-130526%
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]
