A few tidbits about Baldur's Gate 3.

[Dark Jezter]

Why does everything have to go 3d? What was wrong with the Infinity Engine?

You might as well be asking why Doom 3 dosen't use the Doom 1 engine, or why Super Nintendo games are no longer being manufactured. Like the Infinity Engine, their time is past, and players expect their games to have somewhat current technology if they're going to dish out their hard-earned cash.

The Infinity Engine had a good run, and several memorable games were created using it, but by the time Icewind Dale II came out players and critics alike were beginning to remark about how dated the engine was beginning to look. I can't say that I disagree. Baldur's Gate 3 having a 3D engine dosen't bother me one bit as long as the gameplay is good.

 

[Ferret]

But I like the infinity engine!

Oh well. I really dislike the look of the 3d engines in NWN. I 'spose the ones in ToEE weren't so bad....

And the game play should balance it out....

 

[Phaedrus]

I know I'm wading in late, but I really liked the engine in ToEE (when my computer wasn't locking up :\ ). I prefer it to BG/BG2/NWN. But then I also like turn-based games over RTS, so I'm definitely a lunatic fringe.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I wouldn't say you're on the lunatic fringe. Plenty of folks like the turn-based combat (look at all the Fallout fans ...).

Of the bunch, BG combat, with pauses, is a reasonable compromise. NWN is too fast and frenetic to be as tactical as I'd like -- it just ends up in a big rugby scrum, with critters hacking away at each other. ToEE has had the best replication of PnP D&D in a single-player game, in my opinion (from the game engine, anyway, not necessarily the story aspect).

 

[mariusm]

I tend to agree that TOEE has applied the 3.5 rules of dnd the best to a computer game. It would be great to get more games using this interface as the radial idea really works well.

 

[Pielorinho]

I loved the mechanics of TOEE, and hated the bugs. At the same time, I really doubt anyone will make another game like it anytime soon: it failed financially (I think), and at least part of its failure was probably due to the game's turn-based mechanics.

Looking forward to BG3!

Daniel

 

[Zelgadas]

Mmm . . . 3D BG. Visions of a D&D game getting a KOTOR treatment go dancing through my head . . .

 

[Dark Jezter]

I loved the mechanics of TOEE, and hated the bugs. At the same time, I really doubt anyone will make another game like it anytime soon: it failed financially (I think), and at least part of its failure was probably due to the game's turn-based mechanics.

Wouldn't surprise me. Over the last decade, there have been more and more real-time games (both strategy and RPGs) coming out, and less turn-based games. Gamers who prefer turn-based are a clear minority nowadays.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

In general I prefer real-time games, but since I was a PnP D&D'er first, I prefer turn-based D&D games. You're right -- we won't see a turn-based interface for BG3, but I can still hope ...

 

[Squire James]

I'd prefer scripted real-time system with auto-pause options. In other words, the old BG system plus an in-game script editor that neither requires or encourages a programming degree to use. Maybe implement "training centers" that charge you for changing a character's script.