BGIII and NWN II Follow up.

Bit of New on the IGN front pagereads...

Over the weekend we reported that an Atari PR representative had posted on official forums that Baldur's Gate III and Neverwinter Nights II are in the works.

Well, now that we're into the working week, we've had a chance to check with that very same Atari PR rep, Brandon Smith, as to just what's going on. As it stands right now, neither title has been officially announced. Rather, the point of his post was to say that Atari owns the rights to both of these franchises (and all new Dungeons & Dragons videogames for that matter), and has no intention to abandon either of them. In other words, even if Baldur's Gate III is not in active development right now, Atari has every intention of producing another Baldur's Gate title for the PC. Further, they know very well that another BG title has big shoes to fill, given the glowing reception that the first two games received from both critics and players. Atari wants to do right by the series.

Can we say that either Baldur's Gate III or Neverwinter Nights II are definitely, officially coming? Not at this time. But Atari knows very well the value of both franchises, and intends to release further PC titles for both. As for possible developers, it looks like much-loved BioWare is not a given for either (possible) title, though whether BioWare ends up being involved or not, Atari also assured us that new Baldur's Gate or Neverwinter Nights titles would get the attention of a top-level developer.

While none of this is the solid announcement we want for either game, it's reassuring news for fans of the franchises, and for PC RPG titles in general. Look for more updates just as soon as we get them.

Seems to show that Atari has interest in the IP stuff they picked up from the Interplay which is a good thing given that Interplay can't be trusted to wipe its own nose never mind know a good game. The fact that they are also interested in making a PC game about both seems to say they aren't stealing PC IPs and turning them into shallow console action games (cough! Deus Ex: Clan Wars)

Not sure what they mean about "Top Developer" but at least it shows a major publisher hasn't given up on classic PC RPGS quite yet. They'd better "do right by the series"

Heres the Original Forum post Thread

Role On BGIII: Curse of the Stealth-Uzi-Cleric.

EDITED: for UBB shiznitt!

They would be crazy to give up on either of those titles. The only crazy thing they can do is release a sub-standard game in a much-beloved series. If they create a sequal that is a good, deep, game like the originals, then good for them. I just can''t believe it is possible to create sequals to THESE games without Bioware or Black Isle (Rest in Peace) at the helm. Atari better be very careful with these games, because it doesn''t take much to destroy the good name created by the previous games.

Well Black Isle was developing BG3 before they lost the rights to it. Formly known as Jefferson. From what I heard it was almost finished. Similiar thing happened to TORN earlier and Fallout 3 when the studio was shutdown. May it RIP along with Looking Glass and Origin.

Since the new BG3 isn''t the near complete Jefferson but rather a whole new title with a whole new developer, just who might that developer be?

Bioware is busy building its own IP''s to master their own destiny so I figure they''re out of the picture.
InXile is doing the new Bard''s Tale and most likely a new Wasteland after that so we can probably dismiss them from being the developer.
Troika could be a candidate since they did ToEE for Atari already.
Obsidian is working with Bioware to do whats rumored to be KotOR2. Maybe afterwards?

I can''t think of anyone else worthy so my guess is it should be either Troika or Obsidian.

Agreed, both of which would be good choices. I''d argue Troika most likely as they have the TOEE/Arcanum Engine now built in that direction and Vampire nearing completion. Obsidian''s projects other than KOTOR 2 are rumoured to be original, I''d say they are more likely to be interested in aquiring the Fallout 3 portfolio that was so near completion.
Either of these are good choices firstly because of their proximity to Atari atm, and their pedigree.

Turbine might also be a player given its relationship with Bioware and Shadows of Undrentide.

If they are at the concept stage atm, I''d say it''ll be at the least 18 months before we get confirmation.

This is probably the worst news I have heard in a while. It doesn''t really matter what Atari (or any publisher) intends. If they give a developer''s franchise to another developer, it will be screwed up. This is why I was worried when I heard about BioWare getting tangled up in XBox development.

Well I don''t think having the same developer of the original Baldur''s Gate Saga matters so much anymore because that saga is over. The story has been told, the book has been closed. It''s gonna be a whole new storyline. And it would be tough to imagine Bioware developing something like Baldur''s Gate again after penetrating mainstream consciousness. Sort of ironic since the original Baldur''s Gate put them on the map.

Troika and more so Obsidian both have talent from Black Isle who created the Fallout''s, Icewind Dale''s, and my favorite game of all time - Planescape: Torment. I''m confident in their abilities.

I wasn''t even thinking of BG. I was just thinking of Neverwinter.

Oh

(DAMNIT!)

yep this worries me too. Neverwinter could end up a mighty disaster if not given exacly the lenghth of time to make it quality.
Should be interesting to watch

Neverwinter was published by Atari even though it was developed by Bioware. The odds are good that another NWN would utilize the same relationship.

Troika seems a likely candidate for a Baldur''s Gate sequel, but I can''t really see anyone but Bioware pulling off Neverwinter Nights 2 successfully.

Also, Bioware has worked pretty hard to make sure everyone knows they were behind NWN, so much so that it''s essentially Bioware branded. If Atari tries to get someone else to do NWN 2 they''ll likely suffer backlash and poor sales from angry fans.

Personally I''d much rather see a sequel to BG before I see another NWN, both the official campaign and the engine were a disaster from my P.O.V. The expansions are pretty decent as are the fan mods, but I''d rather they wait for technology to develop a little more before they try a new non tile-based engine (i.e Morrowind style). Besides MP games need more attention/investment.

I think a heavily modified TOEE engine with bioware style real-time/turn based dynamics could do the BG series justice provided they have a good long story. The BG ""IP"" is now pretty well known in both PC and Console circles too, from a management perspective this means $$$.

I dont forsee a sequal to NWN anytime soon...

Perhaps 5 years from now...but nothing sooner..

As it stands...any sequal to NWN would be better off as another expansion pack.

A true sequal to NWN would have to be in dev for 3-4 years.

And would either have to be by Bioware...or something entirely different from another Dev.

I won''t be too chuffed if Troika does BG3.

Now I know they''re not a horrible developer, but each of the games that they have released so far has had some critical flaw that stopped it from achieving true greatness (Arcanum was the combat and engine; ToEE was the lack of story). This is just me though, so who knows?

I just want a BG3 to achieve the same level of greatness as BG1 and BG2. I don''t wan''t a title that''s simply ""good"" and/or ""well-executed"". I want ""mind blowing""!

You can''t blame Troika for lack of story in ToEE. That''s the way the module was written.

You could blame them for the clumsy radial menu (although I''m not sure what else they could have done), their commitment to the module as written (as opposed to how one could have DM''ed it) and their devotion to the rules (no matter how badly it killed the flow of gameplay -- and I like strategy games) but not for the lack of story.

I''d love a game in the same style and scope as BG with the same amount of care as Black Isle put into it, but I don''t want BG3. The story''s over, it ended well, let it rest and start something new. Forgotten Realms is getting kinda tired.

I think there are lots of stories that can be told along the Sword Coast. The problem as I see it, though, is that by attaching the Baldurs Gate name to it, continuity is pretty much implied. They would be better off calling it something like ""Kill the Foozle: A Baldurs Gate Adventure"" or something like that. Leverage the brand name, but don''t set up a direct comparison to 5-star games of the past. I think everybody would win with that. Calling it Baldurs Gate 3 is just a setup for extreme disappointment.

"Kepheus" wrote:

You can''t blame Troika for lack of story in ToEE. That''s the way the module was written.

Yea, I forgot about that.

Then again Icewind Dale was also a dungeon romp and I ended up enjoying its story much more than Neverwinter Nights'' one. I guess I would''ve liked it if Troika buffed up the story just a bit more. No need to change the focus of the game or anything - just give the story some ""oomph"".

Ya Troika always falls just a little short of a truly cool game. I''m hoping their upcoming Vampire one is the game that finally hits the mark for them, cause they have a lot of potential.

As for Obsidian, they currently have their hands full with KotOR 2 atm, so they won''t be doing any BG or NWN games for awhile.

Story Ideas?

BG3: Minscs Return Home
BG3: The Keldorn Firecam Chronicles
BG3: Demogorgon Stirs
BG3: Sarevoks Redemption
BG3: The 6 Prophecies of Alaundo (6 pulp stories in one game)
BG3: In the Shadow Of Bhaal
BG3: Bane Cometh D:
BG3: Imoen UnRAVELed. (crazy P:ST/BG cross over )

Something risky, would following the trails of some of your party members from BG1 and BG2 in the aftermath of the bhaalspawns ascension/sacrifice as they make their way in the world without you. Naturally the game would have to be huge but frankly I pine for something different in todays samey single player climate. While its somebody elses money I know I wont get it.