Joystiq

Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition crit-hits Mac on Feb. 22

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 18:30:00 EST

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 crit-hits Mac on Feb. 22 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Deja Review: Baldur's Gate - Enhanced Edition

Sinan Kubba — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:30:00 EST

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: Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition

Continue reading Deja Review: Baldur's Gate - Enhanced Edition

Deja Review: Baldur's Gate - Enhanced Edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition gameplay fires off many magic missiles

David Hinkle — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 22:00:00 EST

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!

Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition gameplay fires off many magic missiles originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Nov 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MDK2 HD no longer exclusive to Beamdog, now on Steam

JC Fletcher — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EST

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.

MDK2 HD no longer exclusive to Beamdog, now on Steam originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition arrives Sept. 18, discounted pre-orders now open

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 15:00:00 EST

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: Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition (7/26/12)

Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition arrives Sept. 18, discounted pre-orders now open originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Jul 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition getting OSX version, cross-platform multiplayer

Jordan Mallory — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST

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."

Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition getting OSX version, cross-platform multiplayer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPad Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition will cost $10 or less, support multiplayer

Richard Mitchell — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST

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.

iPad Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition will cost $10 or less, support multiplayer originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition ventures to iPad

David Hinkle — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:15:00 EST

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: Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition (iPad)

Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition ventures to iPad originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Baldur's Gate 2: Enhanced Edition also in the works (plus bonus BG:EE details)

Jordan Mallory — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 19:40:00 EST

Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition hasn't even been an official thing for 24 hours, and yet its sequel is already in the plan, according to the above tweet from Beamdog's creative director Trent Oster. Beyond the fact that it exists, precise information regarding Baldur's Gate 2: Enhanced Edition is even slimmer than what we've got on Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition.

What we do know, however, is that both games will also include their respective expansion packs: Tales of the Sword Coast for Baldur's Gate and Throne of Bhaal for Baldur's Gate 2. The team at Overhaul Games is correcting issues with Baldur's Gate's multiplayer, and there may even be a chance that your original save file could still work.

Baldur's Gate 2: Enhanced Edition also in the works (plus bonus BG:EE details) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition arrives this summer [update: more news!]

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:12:00 EST

Nope, we still don't really know what this Baldur's Gate announcement business is, but we sure do know its name now: "Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition." Huzzah! As previously reported, Beamdog is working on the Baldur's Gate project, though the developer's Overhaul Games division is taking lead. Atari is handling publishing duties, and Wizards of the Coast is licensing its (D&D-based) IP.

From the few details we have, the project sounds an awful lot like an HD remake to us - especially given the fancier logo and "Enhanced Edition" subtitle. We've reached out to Beamdog for clarity on what the game actually is, and what platforms it'll end up on (among other things). For now, know that Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition will land on whatever those platforms are at some point this summer. We're gonna take a wild guess that it'll be on PC at the very least.

Update: Beamdog reps tell us that the team at Overhaul is adding "new, original content" to the original game to make up the Enhanced Edition. "This is the Enhanced Edition, it's not a repackage. We have the original source code and are doing a significant update." He also confirms that no platforms have been announced just yet.

Update 2: A Beamdog rep also confirms that the company is self-publishing. Though he wouldn't go into detail regarding the new content, he says that "it's being lovingly crafted in the spirit of the original with the help of some of the original developers." Additionally, Cameron Tofer and Trent Oster have been working on the project ("planning and organizing") for "over a year now." We'll also hear more soon, as the team is planning "regular announcements every week with more details."

Continue reading Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition arrives this summer [update: more news!]

Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition arrives this summer [update: more news!] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Baldur's Gate teaser site gets a countdown and a soundtrack

Mike Schramm — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 02:15:00 EST

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.

Baldur's Gate teaser site gets a countdown and a soundtrack originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 02:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Deja Review: MDK2 HD

Ludwig Kietzmann — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 10:30:00 EST

Murder Death Kill? Mystical Door Knobs? Malevolent Didgeridoo King?

The true decomposition of codename "MDK" used to be a legend of sorts in the game industry. Now, there's not so much as a hint of enigma around the latest letters appended to the game: MDK2 HD does indeed run in haughty definition.

Even if you're joining us from 2000's PC version of MDK2 (released alongside a Dreamcast version, and preceding a PlayStation 2 port), you'll be treated to a significant visual upgrade in MDK2 HD, care of Overhaul Games. What hasn't changed in the last eleven years, of course, is the incredulity that results upon playing a funny, frivolous and uncluttered action game from BioWare. Yes, that BioWare.

Gallery: MDK2 HD (10/11/11)

Continue reading Deja Review: MDK2 HD

Deja Review: MDK2 HD originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 29 Oct 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MDK 2 HD finally coming to PC ... tomorrow

Richard Mitchell — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:15:00 EST

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: MDK2 HD (10/11/11)

MDK 2 HD finally coming to PC ... tomorrow originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MDK2 HD arriving 'this September' on Beamdog, former BioWare dev's service

Christopher Grant — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:26:00 EST

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: MDK2 HD

MDK2 HD arriving 'this September' on Beamdog, former BioWare dev's service originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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