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Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition out now on Android
BioWare's classic PC role-playing game, Baldur's Gate, is now available for Android devices in an enhanced port developed by Beamdog studio division Overhaul Games. Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition adopted a variety of enhancements and new features during its transition to mobile platforms, and originally launched for iOS platforms in 2012. Enhanced Edition includes all content from the original 1998 Baldur's Gate and its expansion Tales of the Sword Coast, along with The Black Pits arena mode and other new quests available via in-app purchases. Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition is priced at $9.99. [Image: BioWare / Beamdog]
Baldur's Gate 2: Enhanced Edition out now on iPad
Go for the eyes, Boo! Baldur's Gate 2: Enhanced Edition finally reached the App Store this morning, after spending over a month in Apple's review process. Overhaul's re-release of BioWare's D&D classic is available to iPad owners for a saving throw of $15. In addition to remastered artwork, gameplay tweaks, and more accessible multiplayer, BG2:EE features the Throne of Bhaal expansion, four new party members, and another venture into the Black Pits for some arena-based combat. Going by Creative Director Trent Oster's tweets, we can expect the long-overdue Android version of the first Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition in the near future, too.
Baldur's Gate 2: Enhanced Edition should roll onto iPad 'soon'
Beamdog and Overhaul Games' Enhanced Edition of Baldur's Gate 2 isn't too far away from reaching the iPad finally, after being stuck in Apple's review process for the last month. According to a tweet posted yesterday by Beamdog Creative Director Trent Oster, the RPG re-release has had its in-app purchases approved, and "should hit soon." The iOS and Android versions were originally due to arrive shortly after the game hit PC and Mac last November, so it's been a bit of a wait for mobile heroes-to-be. Considering Android has yet to receive Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition, let alone the sequel, we suspect that version won't hit so shortly. We've reached out to Beamdog to see if we can gather some more info. Baldur's Gate 2: Enhanced Edition, priced $25 on PC and Mac, brings a number of additions including four new heroes for your party, higher-def graphics, remastered artwork, and enhanced multiplayer. It also features the Throne of Bhaal expansion, and a follow-up to the first game's Black Pits arena-based campaign.
Baldur's Gate 2: Enhanced Edition encounters a release date
Come November 15, Baldur's Gate 2: Enhanced Edition will make its debut on the PC, Mac, iOS and Android platforms. That date appeared this morning on the game's official website, where developer Overhaul Games has also added a pre-order link. Overhaul Games seems to be adding many of the same features found in its previous Baldur's Gate remake to Baldur's Gate 2: Enhanced Edition (higher-definition graphics, simple multiplayer options, new characters), though this game has a $25 price tag. On the other hand, Baldur's Gate 2: Enhanced Edition should offer more content than its predecessor, as it includes both Baldur's Gate 2 and the Shadows of Amn expansion pack.
Baldur's Gate 2: Enhanced Edition back on track for PC, Mac
Overhaul Games' rejuvenated Baldur's Gate 2: Enhanced Edition will be available for PC and Macs on November 15, the company announced today on its official forums. Android tablet and iPad versions "will follow soon afterwards." Meanwhile, the Mac and PC versions are already available for pre-purchase at $24.95 through Beamdog. Baldur's Gate 2: Enhanced Edition includes recreations of the original Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn and its expansion pack, Throne of Bhaal. Additionally, four new characters (and their associated quests) are included in the PC/Mac releases, but iOS/Android users will need to download this content as DLC. Whether this DLC comes at a price, however, was not specified, but we're checking. Update: Beamdog's Trent Oster has informed us that these four characters will be paid DLC on the mobile versions, but that the iOS/Android releases of the game will have a lower cost of entry as a result.
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition returns following Atari contract issues
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition is once again available to buy through the App Store and distributor Beamdog's site, two months after its removal from those locations at Atari's request. Producer Phillip Daigle confirmed the RPG remake's return. An email apparently sent out by Beamdog CEO Trent Oster, posted on Reddit and sent to us by a reader, says "all outstanding issues with our publishing partner have been resolved." Oster had previously identified the issue-having "publishing partner" as Atari, who requested the game's removal because of contract matters, a month before Atari Inc. auctioned its assets. The email also mentions a "major" BG:EE patch, as well as details on the unreleased Android version of BG:EE. We've reached out to Beamdog to confirm. In our deja review, we said Enhanced Edition was a careful, if not colossal, rework of the BioWare classic: "BG:EE's tune-ups, additions, and even its graphical tweaks aren't there to dazzle, but simply to enhance. If Baldur's Gate is the seminal face of BioWare's RPG beginnings, then Enhanced Edition is its graceful make-up, and Overhaul the doting stylist straining to make sure it all blends in." [Thanks Jochem, Jason!]
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 pulled from the App Store
Dungeons and Dragons fans may be dismayed to hear that Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition was removed from the App Store yesterday. Peter Cohen of iMore reported that Overhaul Games pulled Baldur's Gate due to some contractual issues that need to be resolved. If you previously purchased the game, you can still download and play it though. An available patch to Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition cannot be released to users until the resolution of the legal issues. Trent Oster, President of Beamdog and Overhaul Games posted an apology to users and assures us that once the situation is remedied, the game will be reposted.
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition pulled from Beamdog, App Store
Beamdog abruptly removed Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition from sale on both the App Store and the company's own portal yesterday, as the studio works to "resolve a number of contractual issues." The removal, made at the request of an unnamed publishing partner, apparently doesn't extend to Steam, where the remake of BioWare's RPG remains on sale. "We are unable to discuss details of the complex legal matters surrounding this issue at this time," Beamdog said in an FAQ section related to the announcement. "Please be aware that we are extremely unhappy with the situation and are doing our best to work past it. We have put a lot of hard work into this series, and are eager for fans to see it." Until those contractual issues are ironed out, the situation means the launch of Baldur's Gate 2: Enhanced Edition is on hold. Hopefully things will be resolved with as little delay as possible, lest whatever's getting in the way desires the holy wrath of Boo.
Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition now out on OS X
In case you missed the announcement last week, the Enhanced Edition of the classic RPG Baldur's Gate (that previously came to the iPad) is now available on Mac OS X. You can pick it up directly from Beamdog's website for US$19.99 right now, and we're told it's incoming to the Mac App Store very soon (probably as soon as Apple approves it). This version of Bioware's classic title includes a new adventure to play, three new characters to play with and a number of other technical enhancements, including new character paintings, and support for high-resolution displays. In other words, if you're a Baldur's Gate fan and have been thinking about playing through the title again, this is the way to go for sure. On the iPad, I had a few reservations about this one, mostly that the control scheme tended to lean a little too far to the old-school for it to really work well. But of course on the Mac, that's not an issue, as this game was originally made for a mouse and keyboard. The graphics, though updated, won't stand a chance against modern RPGs like Skyrim and The Witcher, but the story is such a classic one, and Baldur's Gate pioneered Bioware's storytelling and gameplay techniques later seen in games like Mass Effect and Dragon Age. Baldur's Gate is a valuable piece of RPG history, and it's great to have this excellent edition of it available now on the Mac.
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition crit-hits Mac on Feb. 22
Mac users eager to get their D20-rolling hands on Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition will be able to do so very soon. The upgraded version of the turn-based classic will make the journey to Mac on February 22. The Mac version is available for pre-loading now via Beamdog, carrying the same $20 price as its PC counterpart.If you're curious as to how well the game holds up, check out our Deja Review.
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition coming to Mac on Feb. 22
Armchair adventurers take heed: Beamdog has announced that its 2012 remake of the classic Advanced Dungeons & Dragons-based title Baldur's Gate is finally arriving on Mac this week on February 22. Developed in conjunction with Overhaul Games, Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition features redrawn artwork and other, well, enhancements that bring the 1998 title by BioWare more in line with today's technological standards. Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition will initially be available from Beamdog's site for US$19.99. The company plans to bring the game to the Mac App Store as well, but there's no ETA for it there just yet. The iPad version of Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition was released on December 7 of last year. If you simply can't wait two days for the Mac release -- and think mouse-based gameplay is très passé -- you can get the tablet version on the App Store for $9.99. [Via Loop Insight]
Deja Review: Baldur's Gate - Enhanced Edition
This is a Deja Review: A quick look at the new features and relative agelessness of a remade, revived or re-released game. Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition isn't the first Overhaul Games re-release to grace this column. That accolade belongs to MDK2 HD. As the name suggests, the 2000 BioWare game underwent a visual facelift in the care of the appropriately named Overhaul.Despite Baldur's Gate being even older than MDK2, and Overhaul likely doing even more work underneath its hood, the developer's name doesn't sit as right with Enhanced Edition. An overhaul implies, at least to me, the taking apart of something, messing around with its innards until it looks and feels like something very new. That's not what this is.BG:EE's tune-ups, additions, and even its graphical tweaks aren't there to dazzle, but simply to enhance. If Baldur's Gate is the seminal face of BioWare's RPG beginnings, then Enhanced Edition is its graceful make-up, and Overhaul the doting stylist straining to make sure it all blends in. This delicate approach is admirable, but en vogue it definitely ain't.%Gallery-173110%
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition gameplay fires off many magic missiles
If you've been anxiously awaiting Beamdog's overhaul to the original Baldur's Gate, we've got some Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition footage for you to sample. Just put on your Cloak of Fire Resistance first – there are lots of magic missiles flying around!
MDK2 HD no longer exclusive to Beamdog, now on Steam
The HD update of MDK2 is no longer exclusive to the Beamdog service, where it originally launched in October. The Overhaul Games-overhauled version of BioWare's chuting, shooting sequel is now available on Steam for $14.99.If you have the original MDK2 on Steam and want to upgrade to the new hotness, you'll get 20 percent off the purchase of MDK2 HD. Actually, your motivation doesn't come into account: you'll get that 20 percent discount if you have MDK2 in your library, no matter why you're buying MDK2 HD.
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition arrives Sept. 18, discounted pre-orders now open
The PC version of Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition will be released on September 18, Overhaul Games revealed following a countdown. The iOS and Mac versions will be released in September; the Android tablet version is TBA. In addition, the developer has revealed some of the new content that the Enhanced Edition will contain, namely new characters and a new adventure.The new character in our gallery, Neera, is "a half-elf wild mage slowly coming to terms with her enormous magical potential." Neera brings with her a new "romantic" adventure, a new area and up to four hours of extra gameplay. The Enhanced Edition also includes The Black Pits, which tasks players with engaging in arena combat at the behest of Baeloth, the "mad drow" who built the pits as a brutal form of entertainment.Pre-orders for Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition are now open on the official site. Those who pre-order get the game for $17.99, two bucks off the usual price of $19.99.%Gallery-161171%
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition getting OSX version, cross-platform multiplayer
OSX users looking to get their nostalgia on with Overhaul Games' Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition won't have to resort to Boot Camp black magic. The game will be natively OSX compatible, according to Beamdog creative director Trent Oster.All three ports will reportedly "play similar," despite the fact that the iPad version uses a touch interface. Oster also announced cross-platform multiplayer for the title, which does exactly what it sounds like by allowing PC, OSX and iPad users to all Baldur around together in the same games. Console players, however, may never get chance to join in all these reindeer games, as Beamdog is "pursuing a non-console strategy."
iPad Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition will cost $10 or less, support multiplayer
Good news for iPad owners with iPad-owning friends, as Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition will support multiplayer on Apple's tablet. Even better news, the enhanced port won't cost more than $10, Beamdog COO Cameron Tofer told Kotaku. While he didn't confirm the final price, he noted that a price "past ten dollars doesn't make sense." Furthermore, the previously revealed Enhanced Edition of Baldur's Gate 2 will be available on iPad as well.Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition is slated to hit PC and iPad later this year.
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition ventures to iPad
One of the advertised augmentations in Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition is that it has an iPad port. Developer Overhaul Games has revealed some images of Baldur's Gate running on the iPad, but that's about it. Other than it existing, nothing else is known about the iPad version.Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition will launch this summer with the original game, Tales of the Sword Coast expansion pack, and "a new adventure and new party member." See the original announcement for more information, and see our gallery below for images of how you might lounge around and tap through the game when it launches this summer.%Gallery-151300%
Baldur's Gate coming to iPad
An enhanced edition of Baldur's Gate was announced this month by developers Overhaul Games (which includes a few devs from Bioware that worked on the title originally), and now there's even better news: That enhanced version is also making its way to the iPad. The game will be out on Apple's tablet at the same time as the PC release, and it will include all of the updates and new content as the other platform. Additionally, there will be iPad-specific controls, such as pinching to zoom in and out and dragging to choose units to control. While they're not done yet, Overhaul says there will be more touch-friendly menus and buttons in the interface as well. Which is just awesome, if you ask me or any other old-school gamer with fond memories of the Baldur's Gate series. We'll obviously keep both eyes out for this one. The game is due out sometime later on this summer.
