Glad to see that Eric Caen was able to get the company back up on its feet. Selling the Fallout franchise was unfortunate, but it looks like it was necessary. I hope the proper contracts are in place making sure that Bethesda does not step on your feet during the MMORPG development.

Anyways, onto the point of this topic. I want to throw out a question/inquiry concerning the status of older titles like Baldur's Gate, Planescape Torment and Icewind Dale.

I am not quite familiar if it is within gamesass power and or ability, but an inquiry into a possible re-release of these titles must be made. These games are, needless to say, ageless. Like many star wars films that have been rereleased and fixed up, I too am wondering if gamesas (Mr. Caen) would consider reviving some older titles for the current gamer audience.

Meaning...Imagine this. Baldurs Gate, with higher resolution, graphically enhanced/modern graphic textures and world, enhanced and detailed sprites, sound track, UI and all. The game at its core is the same, all the meat is still there (dialog, direction, engine), all it needs is a modernization, a make over...a remastering. A re-release of these titles, with some added goodies, a possible enhancement on the multiplayer front, some clever packaging and marketing, and everyone will be looking towards gamesas and these games. An added toolset to create mods and campaigns would also ensure longevity.

So many new gamers have heard of these legends but never have picked them up because they are classified as "out dated" or "old". Yet these games have better gameplay, better experiences and dialog than all the new attempts at rpg making.

Wizards of the Coast might have to approve, or might not, I am not familiar with the legal agreements, but I would hope some consideration or a response concerning it, can be made. I believe very little production cost would have to be spent on a title upgrade/re-release, and the profit as well as media attention should further gamesas back into the ring.

gamesas no longer has the D&D license. We cannot release those titles.

Which bums me out... Planescape: Torment, especially, is a wonderful game. I still think that the Icewind Dale series was the best tactical D&D experience I've ever had.

pax,
-Chris

Definitely a shame. I was under the impression that while Atari picked up the license, gamesas retained the right to continue Baldur's Gate titles.

The industry is really missing quality rpgs like those.

We have the rights to the Dark Alliance name, since that was an original gamesas IP, but not the D&D setting.

pax,
-Chris

I hope you can get the DnD license back. Planescape rocked!

I duno if they can take all licence back but if v13 will be a huge succes that can be made and the money wont be a problem for gamesas.I think v13 is the last card for gamesas to be what it was in the old times.I hope for them to succed.

I am the Formless in all forms.Strenght si the only measure ,all things can be resolved with violence and blood share.

Wait so you can use the name, just not the D&D Campaign/setting?

I assume you could still use D&D mechanics? You can't really copyright dice rolling, just as you can't(or at least shouldn't) sue people for using Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, and Luck as the attributes.

I was wondering about this awhile ago, havign to to do with gamesas being able to make new Baldur's Gate and whatnot, with Bioware and (now) Wizard's of The Coast having paws on it.

Also, if they supped up old games, as much as I sometimes what that to happen, it would be terrible because they would spend more time, work, and money that it took the last game, except for writers, and then not everyone would buy it because it's the same thing they already bought years before while wondering why the company didn't use those resourced for something new. I used to think things like this would be a great idea to milk money out of hardcoe fans and get young snooty people to experience cool old games, until I thought about how hard it actually is.

Well, I think The Temple of Elemental Evil is better in that regard.

I was wondering about this awhile ago, havign to to do with gamesas being able to make new Baldur's Gate and whatnot, with Bioware and (now) Wizard's of The Coast having paws on it.

BioWare never had the license themselves. Their D&D games were published first by gamesas and then by Atari, who now has the license to D&D computer games. The Vault - Fallout Wiki * Fallout Online * Fallout IRC Channel * Fallout: New Vegas

I think they should just redoe the games for the DS. Releasing a product to people who never seen anything like it is better than releasing a game to the same audiance with just touch ups. Plus on teh DS no one expects massive awesome graphics. Just good graphics which gamesas games already have. Though I will agree with rereleasing games with touch ups to new people. It could

What I would love to see is gamesas do a Dark Allaince like game for the PC that was based ont he Tribe 8 universe by DP9. That would be so awesome.

Hi!

You say Chris that gamesas has lost rights to D&D titles. How about Planescape torment which is a timeless gem within your arsenal? Is Torment linked to D&D in any ways ? (I mean neither the world nor the classes nor the dialogues link it to the Forgotten Realms....or am I missing here something ?) I always thought that PT was a unique world developed by BIS.....

Both Planescape and Forgotten Realms are Dungeons and Dragons campaign settings. Planescape is now out of print and was never, to my knowledge, officially updated past the second edition/Advanced Dungeons and Dragons ruleset.



The storylines in Planescape:Torment are original creations. Although the game design used the existing Planescape universe canon to inform the setting, all of the writing, characters and dialogue were entirely original. I think Chris Avellone's interpretation of what it would be like to adventure in the Planescape universe was truly inspired. Simply knowing about the campaign setting does not make it easy to create an exciting adventure.

Well, then I take it that gamesas will never be the same again. Even if they started up BIS right now, they would have no material to work with......

On the other hand if they could somehow lure the original Black Isle people back to gamesas (which I strongly doubt) these guys would be able to work miracles out of nothing You hear Chris ? Do something!

That would mean that BIS has to whip up new game engines and mechanics. Besides, gamesas's primary focus is on securing funds and developing V13. A massive thank you to EA for:
- Producing great quality games time and time again
- Providing excellent technical support
- Never destroying any highly acclaimed studios for profit
- Never ripping people off
- Never wasting people's time

Do you think that BIS and Fallout are two different things ??? Besides, just by claiming that they revived BIS gamesas would attract thousands of fans.......

I know, I know, I'm just saying that if gamesas can't get all of the members back then that shouldn't be its primary focus. A massive thank you to EA for:
- Producing great quality games time and time again
- Providing excellent technical support
- Never destroying any highly acclaimed studios for profit
- Never ripping people off
- Never wasting people's time