Something is happening with Baldur's Gate! *Update* Ipad *cough*

[Martimus]

Yeah, there are way to many flaws in that post for me to even begin to delve into it without a wall of text.

Simple to say, the market and mechanics of all of my previous posts escape you. Either that or you have not fully read them as quite a lot of your post directly conflicts with either the content or the intent of just about everything I have posted thus far.

For what it is worth, I hope I am wrong and that BG3 does eventually come out of it. I am not holding aside any money on that bet though. Nor am I holding my breath.

Write your wall of text then of you feel the need to refute my assertions. Obviously, I didnt have time to proofread the post, but other than gramatical errors any contradictions to what you wrote are simply a difference of opinion. I felt your arguments made some broad generalizations about the markets that I do not agree with at all.

 

[Dahak]

Meh I'm pretty disappointed, I'd rather have a PC version with sweet graphics than a touch version of the same game. It doesn't look like they updated the graphics at all from the screen-shots but I haven't played BG in a while so maybe I'm wrong.

From the current screenshots which are from the ipad version, it looks the similar, but it would as the ipad is 1024x768 in resolution so it would work on that very well.

But the tweets from Trent Oster -- Really looking forward to new UI on iPad3 and big PC displays so I would assume that the would be some fgx updates in there in some form.

 

[Kalmah]

This isn't the weekly update that we should be getting some time today.(I believe) but came across it looking for an update.

http://kotaku.com/5896538/they-hope-baldurs-gate-will-revive-the-classic-rpg

Both Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate II will ship with new interfaces, unreleased content, and completely new characters, quests, and kits (classes).

The desktop versions of both games won't be changed much, Tofer says. They'll have higher resolutions and full-screen modes, as well as "working" multi-player, but they won't look too different from their original incarnations in 1998 and 2000.
On the other hand, Tofer says the iPad version will be a "radical departure from the interface."

Still no mention of fixing current game mechanics and classes.

 

[Via]

So the ipad verison will be new, but the PC versions will be basically the same?

This just gets better and better.

 

[gothamhunter]

So the ipad verison will be new, but the PC versions will be basically the same?

This just gets better and better.

Is this such a bad thing?

 

[GlacierFreeze]

So the ipad verison will be new, but the PC versions will be basically the same?

This just gets better and better.

That's kinda twisting words from the post above. Technically, both versions are going to be practically the same game as 10-12-million+ years ago. This isn't a rewrite, folks. It's a tweaking of an *old* game...

So to your 'basically the same' comment, you left out "higher resolutions and full-screen modes, new interfaces, unreleased content, and completely new characters, quests, and kits (classes)."

The iPad version is going to be "basically the same" also. Only "new" thing to it sounds like just an altered interface that will allow it to be easier to play on a tablet...

 

[Red Storm]

That's kinda twisting words from the post above. Technically, both versions are going to be practically the same game as 10-12-million+ years ago. This isn't a rewrite, folks. It's a tweaking of an *old* game...

So to your 'basically the same' comment, you left out "higher resolutions and full-screen modes, new interfaces, unreleased content, and completely new characters, quests, and kits (classes)."

The iPad version is going to be "basically the same" also. Only "new" thing to it sounds like just an altered interface that will allow it to be easier to play on a tablet...

Yeah, I don't understand why people are thinking this is going to be BG: 3D or something.

 

[Via]

I appreciate people updating this thread.

I'm a hardcore cynic about this sort of thing by now, and I'll wait until the games are released.

I just curious whether the ipad version will have content/features that are left out of the PC re-release. That obviously won't be answered until the games come out.

 

[styrafoam]

Yeah, I don't understand why people are thinking this is going to be BG: 3D or something.

When they announced the project they left it wide open to speculation. The fact that a developer was actually putting resources into it led many to the hope that a bit more would be done with the game than what can already be done with fan created mods.

 

[thespyder]

When they announced the project they left it wide open to speculation. The fact that a developer was actually putting resources into it led many to the hope that a bit more would be done with the game than what can already be done with fan created mods.

Hope in vein apparently.

Is this such a bad thing?

It isn't a bad thing, per say. But I already have a copy of BG and BG2, including the Collectors edition extras and the ToSC stuff. So I have basically no reason to spend the extra money for yet another version of the game.

Just wish they would take the resources being put into converting it to Ipad and actually expand the initial product.

 

[Red Storm]

They mentioned the Infinity Engine in the teasers, which wouldn't make much sense if we were getting a 3D remaking of the game.

 

[StinkyPinky]

The average person who buys an Apple product is not an "Apple Hipster".

Most people that buy tablets are hipsters that don't even need a tablet.

 

[StinkyPinky]

And it seems pointless to buy this if all they are going to do is increase the screen resolution.

Sounds like they're putting all their resources into the ipad. That's their business and I wish them the best, but I'm not paying money for an "enhanced edition" that can be had for free by mods.

Oh, and....

http://www.baldursgate.com/news/2012/03/29/announcing-baldurs-gate-enhanced-edition-for-mac-os-x/

 

[Martimus]

Most people that buy tablets are hipsters that don't even need a tablet.

Everyone I know who owns a tablet is in their 50's and is as far from a "hipster" as I could imagine. I am amazed that there is such a prejudice against newer technology that doesn't conform to current norms in this forum.

 

[thespyder]

Everyone I know who owns a tablet is in their 50's and is as far from a "hipster" as I could imagine. I am amazed that there is such a prejudice against newer technology that doesn't conform to current norms in this forum.

Pidgeon holing Ipad users is not necessary an easy or good thing to do.

But it is relatively a safe assumption that no one buys an Ipad for the purpose of playing games like Baldur's gate. If they are into that type of thing they probably have another source for that outlet (i.e. PC). This fact alone (considering that a PC version is already in general distribution, and at what will probably be a lower price point than the Ipad version) is what makes me think that the actual Ipad market in purchasing this game is going to be on the small side.

 

[dighn]

Everyone I know who owns a tablet is in their 50's and is as far from a "hipster" as I could imagine. I am amazed that there is such a prejudice against newer technology that doesn't conform to current norms in this forum.

are those same people likely to play BG? fact of the matter is that a game like BG appeals mostly to geeks/nerds, i.e. the bulk of the users here, and most of them don't like tablets. I personally love new technology, and in fact bought an ipad for my dad, but it's just not for me. even browsing on one gets on my nerves because of how cumbersome the interface is (lower learning curve does not mean more efficient).

however due to the sheer popularity of ipads, they may still end up selling many copies. a very small percentage of a very large number can still be a large number.

 

[Martimus]

Pidgeon holing Ipad users is not necessary an easy or good thing to do.

But it is relatively a safe assumption that no one buys an Ipad for the purpose of playing games like Baldur's gate. If they are into that type of thing they probably have another source for that outlet (i.e. PC). This fact alone (considering that a PC version is already in general distribution, and at what will probably be a lower price point than the Ipad version) is what makes me think that the actual Ipad market in purchasing this game is going to be on the small side.

Obviously the primary purpose of a tablet isnt to play games, but people will seek to use it for entertainment and buy games for it just like they do now on their phones and other such devices. It doesn't need to have a big market, because the cost to port the game isn't that large, so it won't take many sales to turn a profit on the endeavor.

 

[thespyder]

Obviously the primary purpose of a tablet isnt to play games, but people will seek to use it for entertainment and buy games for it just like they do now on their phones and other such devices. It doesn't need to have a big market, because the cost to port the game isn't that large, so it won't take many sales to turn a profit on the endeavor.

I am absolutely prepared to be wrong on this one. And hope to be so.

However.... people who are interested already have an outlet. And BG already runs on any laptop or even most tablets (and there is even a way to run it on the Ipad). I just don't see many people paying for the Ipad app if they already have it in other forms already (and probably for cheaper. You can buy the entire game BG-ToB for $15).

As for cost, Again, i hope you are right. Just figuring that for every 100k spent, they have to sell 5ooo units. And 3-5 people at 4K a month, plus overhead and marketing and materials and +20% ROI and that could wrack up pretty quickly.

 

[StinkyPinky]

Everyone I know who owns a tablet is in their 50's and is as far from a "hipster" as I could imagine. I am amazed that there is such a prejudice against newer technology that doesn't conform to current norms in this forum.

So are they going to be playing BG?

Who do you think is going to be playing BG on their ipads? It will be the coffee shop crowd.

Why would anyone even want to play a heavy role playing game an an ipad? Why would they waste resources porting it over and updating the UI for it? They're already porting over to MacOS to chase the apple crowd....so why bother with an ipad variant?

It just seems to me their direction is all wrong.

 

[sigurros81]

So are they going to be playing BG?

Who do you think is going to be playing BG on their ipads? It will be the coffee shop crowd.

Why would anyone even want to play a heavy role playing game an an ipad? Why would they waste resources porting it over and updating the UI for it? They're already porting over to MacOS to chase the apple crowd....so why bother with an ipad variant?

It just seems to me their direction is all wrong.

So there seems to be two divided thoughts here. One thinks it's a bad idea to port BG to iPad because apparently they won't turn a profit. The second contradictory thought is: who cares, we are glad to have BG on a mobile device. Once the game comes out on iTunes, we can see which thought is correct. I for one will buy the game regardless if it's successful or not because I don't give a shit, I'm just glad there's BG for me to play next time I'm waiting for my flight at the airport

 

[ibex333]

This is not the only RPG potentially coming to the iPad. The makers of Infinity Blade supposedly teamed up with someone to bring a new, dungeon crawler RPG to the iPad.

See this is exactly why the iPad absolutely leaves every other tablet in the dust. People can say all they want how this is Apple fanboyism, but it cannot be denied that the iPad has the LARGEST AMOUNT OF GOOD GAMES among all tablets - therefore it is THE best tablet for a gamer. PERIOD.

Many devs are working hard to bring the gamepad support to the iPad. Currently Android leads in this department since they had gamepad support for a while. Too bad they cant do much with it since, just about every game that appears on iOS and Android, happens to be better on the iOS. GTAIV is a great example. So yeah.. once the iPad gets gamepad support, it will be yet even better.

 

[thespyder]

This is not the only RPG potentially coming to the iPad. The makers of Infinity Blade supposedly teamed up with someone to bring a new, dungeon crawler RPG to the iPad.

See this is exactly why the iPad absolutely leaves every other tablet in the dust. People can say all they want how this is Apple fanboyism, but it cannot be denied that the iPad has the LARGEST AMOUNT OF GOOD GAMES among all tablets - therefore it is THE best tablet for a gamer. PERIOD.

Many devs are working hard to bring the gamepad support to the iPad. Currently Android leads in this department since they had gamepad support for a while. Too bad they cant do much with it since, just about every game that appears on iOS and Android, happens to be better on the iOS. GTAIV is a great example. So yeah.. once the iPad gets gamepad support, it will be yet even better.

Understand that by and large, Ipad as a consumer gaming device is targeted at low requirement games for the simple reason that the machine itself is considerably lower power than your average gamer PC. There isn’t a large catalogue of in-depth games for the system at present, so people who are interested in that type of gaming are forced to have other devices should they wish to Game with something more robust than Angry Birds. So they have laptops or desktops. Generally they understand the limitations of the device and simply do not look for a gaming market in that space.

Do you believe that the Ipad can compete for gaming against Laptops and Desktops? Because they aren't competing against other tablets. They are competing against the PC. And the target market that they are going after in this case already has a proven product and for quite probably a lower price.

 

[ssnake51]

Everyone I know who owns a tablet is in their 50's and is as far from a "hipster" as I could imagine. I am amazed that there is such a prejudice against newer technology that doesn't conform to current norms in this forum.

Yea, it is kind of surprising. Personally, have never owned an apple computer. Other than my first pc, I've assembled all of my own desktop computers. But I really enjoy using the iPad and look forward to playing Baldur's Gate. Am also looking forward to playing the latest Spiderweb RPG on it when that comes out next month.

Anyways, am very happy to learn that this re-release of BG is not limited to just the pc.

 

[ssnake51]

Pidgeon holing Ipad users is not necessary an easy or good thing to do.

But it is relatively a safe assumption that no one buys an Ipad for the purpose of playing games like Baldur's gate.

I didn't build my last desktop in order to play Baldur's Gate on it. But I play BG on it anyways.

I didn't buy the newest iPad in order to to play BG, but I surely will once this updated version is released.

Seems to me you are doing a lot of speculating here based on some very questionable assumptions.

 

[thespyder]

I didn't build my last desktop in order to play Baldur's Gate on it. But I play BG on it anyways.

I didn't buy the newest iPad in order to to play BG, but I surely will once this updated version is released.

Seems to me you are doing a lot of speculating here based on some very questionable assumptions.

My first assumption is that, if you have an interest in Robust RPG games, that you have a device or machine to run them on. Clearly you do. Not sure how that assumption is flawed.

My second assumption is that very few people who already have a current version of Baldur's gate will purchase yet another one. This is simple economics.

My final assumption is that for those who don't currently have a version of Baldur's gate but are interested in the game, will probably opt to purchase the $15 PC version which covers both BG and BG2 over what will probably be a $20 version of just BG alone (with another $20 for BG2). If this is flawed thinking, please explain how your average person will willingly pay $40 for a game they can by for $15.