Before I say anything else, this thread is not for arguing about whether the classics *should* be unbundled, but discussion or maybe just an informational post on trying to *get* them unbundled (if that isn't what you want - please leave). It's also not for arguing any politics, whether the EEs are better or worse, etc. I hope everyone will downvote and ignore any posts that discuss anything other than how to get the classics unbundled. Sorry I had to say that, but I don't want this thread turning into one where people are treated rudely with all these pro-whatever, anti-whatever flamewars.

So, in case some of you have missed it, I'll go over options, ideas and facts I know of so far.

First, Hasbro is the publisher of the classics (Bioware were the developers) and owns Wizards of the Coast. When I checked, WotC said to talk to the publisher of any games you have an issue with, so Hasbro is the one to talk to. Here's the link to email, chat or call Hasbro about this (please be polite) and my own email, with response from Hasbro - it may not seem like much, but the more of us that let them know the facts and what we think, the better our chances are:
Hasbro: http://corporate.hasbro.com/en-us/consumer-care
My email: Recently you requested personal assistance from our on-line support center. Below is a summary of your request and our response. If this issue is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may reopen it within the next 90 days. Thank you for allowing us to be of service to you.
To access your question from our support site, click here
Subject
Baldur's Gate, etc and GOG.com

Response By Email (Ed) (05/02/2016 08:34 AM)
Hi,

Thank you for contacting us. We appreciate your taking the time to share your feedback with us regarding Baldur'sGate.

Consumer satisfaction is very important to us. Please be assured I have forwarded your comments to my management team so that they are also aware of your views.

I want to assure you that all of us at Hasbro are dedicated to maintaining quality products and service. We hope you and your family will continue to enjoy our products for many years to come.

Again, thank you for contacting us, and for your feedback.

Kind regards,
Customer By CSS Web (04/30/2016 10:52 PM)
This is in regards to the bundling of classic Baldur's Gate 1 & 2 and Icewind Dale with the EE (Enhanced Edition) versions from Beamdog on GOG.com. I'd just like to say that I and many others aren't happy that we can't buy, review, rate, etc the classics separately anymore. We don't want the EE versions, but if we don't already own the classics we have to pay twice the price (was $9.99 for classics, $19.99 for EEs) to get them *and* support games and a company we're not interested in.

The classics were in the top sellers list, as you can see here (I have to use the Archive website because the classics are no longer shown separately on GOG since being bundled): https://web.archive.org/web/20160416185118/https://www.gog.com/games?sort=bestselling&page=1
I don't know where the EEs are in the list, but they've been around long enough to get the positions they deserve. This is seen by myself and many others as nothing more than a way for Beamdog to make extra sales from people who don't even want their editions, not to mention boosting their ratings and position in the Best Seller list artificially.

Here is the announcement on GOG about the merging of the classics into the EE versions, as nothing more than a bonus, and the many and varied comments (some have no problem, some are very upset and won't ever buy the EE versions even if they don't already own the classics): https://www.gog.com/forum/general/definitive_edition_bundle_baldurs_gate_i_ii_icewind_dale_cabe2

Please allow the classics to be sold separately again. Thank you.

Date Created: 04/30/2016 10:52 PM
Date Last Updated: 05/02/2016 08:34 AM
Status: Solved
--end of email--

Second, even though GOG didn't have much choice in this matter, I think if enough of use these Wishlist entries to let them know we're not happy about this, then maybe GOG will try to convince Hasbro to allow the classics to be unbundled (it's my hope that they, at least, tried to do this previously). Here're the Wishlist entries:
https://www.gog.com/wishlist/games/baldurs_gate_the_original_saga
https://www.gog.com/wishlist/games/baldurs_gate_2_classic
https://www.gog.com/wishlist/games/icewind_dale_classic

Third, since there's no longer any option to rate or review the classics, it's fair game to rate and review them on the EE pages even if you don't own the EE versions because that's where the classics are, too. Now you may want to give the classics 5 stars and the EEs less, but whatever rating you give is going to the EEs. Keep in mind, also, that ratings without reviews can be changed, but once you write a review, you can't change your rating or review without help from GOG (wish they would fix that and other website problems, including being able to comment on a review) Here's what I did (some may agree with it, some may not):
My review: [*----] Classic gets ***** 5/5
That one star? That's for this EE edition. I only have and only want the classic edition, but there's no store page to rate or review it anymore. The price is WAY too high (twice the price) for the classic and I'm not giving a game I don't want a good rating, especially when it's practically hiding the real classic, it's proper price and it's reviews and ratings, now.

I'm not really all that interested in writing a review (what can I say about the classic that hasn't been said - it's GREAT), but since I can't even RATE the classic anymore, this is the only thing I can do. Suffice it to say that I loved, played and still own boxed editions (or would if I could ever get them back - long story that I won't go into) from when they were new.

Anyway, what I'm really interested in is for the classic to be sold separately, have it's own store page, it's own reviews, ratings and proper price back. The classics sold far better than the EEs and what I've seen of the devs' attitude makes me want to avoid them (the EEs AND their devs). Now, people who only want the classics are going to have to buy the EE versions to get them. This looks like nothing more than a way for Beamdog to make extra sales from people who don't even want their editions, not to mention boosting their ratings and position in the Best Seller list artificially. I want GOG to know this, I want Hasbro to know this, I want everyone to know this. Anyone who feels the same should contact Hasbro and vote up the wishlist for unbundling this.

Hasbro - corporate.hasbro.com/en-us/consumer-care

Wishlist entry for unbundling - www.gog.com/wishlist/games/baldurs_gate_the_original_saga

Archive of Bestselling list - web.archive.org/web/20160416185118/https://www.gog.com/games?sort=bestselling&page=1 The classics were easily found near the top of the bestseller list. The EEs? I don't know where they are in the list, but they've had enough time to get the positions they deserve.
--end of review--

-A few more facts-
The classics on Archive.org from April 2016:
BG:EE - 7th place bestseller on GOG
https://web.archive.org/web/20160418201422/https://www.gog.com/game/baldurs_gate_the_original_saga
BG2:EE - 2nd place bestseller on GOG
https://web.archive.org/web/20160418213324/https://www.gog.com/game/baldurs_gate_2_complete
Icewind Dale:EE - 13th place bestseller on GOG
https://web.archive.org/web/20160416184523/https://www.gog.com/game/icewind_dale_complete

As of a few hours before this post, the ratings for the EEs were as follows:
BG:EE is on page 3, in 144th place with 3.5 stars and 340 votes
BG2:EE is on page 4, in 154th place with 3.5 stars and 284 votes
Icewind Dale:EE is on page 4, in 166th place with 4 stars and 225 votes

Archive.org from about a month ago, not long after the announcement and sale started - April 6, 2016:
BG:EE - 4 stars with 270 votes
https://web.archive.org/web/20160406050132/https://www.gog.com/game/baldurs_gate_enhanced_edition
BG2:EE - 4 stars with 234 votes
https://web.archive.org/web/20160406050054/https://www.gog.com/game/baldurs_gate_2_enhanced_edition
Icewind Dale:EE - 4 stars with 201 votes
https://web.archive.org/web/20160406050058/https://www.gog.com/game/icewind_dale_enhanced_edition

As you can see, in about a month's time, BG 1&2:EE dropped half a star and Icewind Dale:EE stayed the same with relatively few new votes. Most of this happened during a *sale* of the EEs.

Sorry for the long post (a lot of info). Feel free to use all or part of my review or email to Hasbro. It's probably best to change what you say to Hasbro, at least a little, so they don't think it's all from the same person or tell them at the top that you agree with the included (my) email. If you have any other ideas, please post and discuss them.

Again, maybe this will just serve as a more visible informational post on what you can do to help get the classics unbundled. If so, I hope any of you who want the classics unbundled will use the info here to help make that happen.

Personally, I am not against bundling these games. However, I am against for them not being sold separately. If I dont want the EE editions OR the classic versions, I should be able to buy them alone.

If they want to bundle things, they can do a BG1+BG2 bundle. Which would be appropriate since it is basically the same story just like Might&Magic games.

Thanks for this, especially the Wishlist links. Just added my votes.

It's worth noting that they aren't bundled in the usual sense. Rather, it's treated as "buy the EE, get the original for free", exactly the same way that Wasteland 2 gives you Wasteland 1 for free. The only difference is that you can buy just Wasteland 1, but can't currently buy just the classic edition of BG{1, 2} or IWD1.

Of note, since the original is a separate code, it is possible to gift it separately from the EE, as long as you haven't already used it.

In case anyone is interested, I have a code for the original Icewind Dale, (as I already had both the original and the EE when they were bundled) and obviously I have no use for it. First person to PM me about it gets the code.

That's not what I am talking about. It isn't like, say, Might and Magic 6-pack, where you buy the games and they're automatically added to your account. It's more like the way Wasteland 2 includes the original Wasteland.

And they're still bundled together with no chance of buying the classics separately, unlike Wasteland.

No it is not. Since the classic versions were outselling the EE versions by a mile.

This is more like "If you want to watch Robocop you can only watch it if you pay us money for the shitty remake"

Great! I thought that and the rest of the info I posted was so scattered around that a *lot* of people were missing it. I mean, who wants to read all the posts in the announcement thread (oh... I guess I did, lol)? There was so much fighting, questions asked, answered and asked again, info posted and forgotten that I decided to post this.

Made a copy/pasting mistake - I left ":EE" on the classics' names in the best seller section (Sacrilege!, lol). I can't get the post to save my edits, so I'm posting here to head off any possible confusion.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY, EVEN RIGHT NOW, GET THE ORIGINALS UNBUNDLED, AND COMPLETELY FREE, AND BEAMDOG-FREE, EVEN!

HERE:

https://www.gog.com/forum/baldurs_gate_series/possible_solution_against_beamdogs_forcing_to_get_the_ee_instead_of_original

ENJOY! IT IS NO POSSIBILITY, BUT CONFIRMED TO WORK! 1st post. Simply unhide it, all forum Gaffots who lick Beamdog's willy for "fixing" the game and ruining the series beyond repair, rushed to white knight them! "What is a Gaff? A miserable little pile of !@#$! But enough talk, have at them!"

You know, I've noticed that some people don't realize that you can upvote your own review (saw some reviews with 0/0 upvotes). I know it might seem like "cheating" or something, but since it's a valid option on GOG and I'm sure other reviewers do it, we need to do it, too, to level the playing field. This won't raise or lower the game's rating, but it'll help raise the reviews closer to the top, which'll help raise awareness of the bundling problem - not just to other users, but to GOG and Hasbro, as well.

Since the same thing is happening to Planescape: Torment, now, (probably IWD2 in the future, as well) I was wondering how many people sent email to Hasbro about unbundling. If you did, it might help inspire others if you don't mind posting it.

Also, ValamirCleaver had some good advice on including the fact that you'll vote with your wallet (not buy anything from Hasbro until this is fixed) here: https://www.gog.com/forum/planescape_torment/buy_it_while_you_can/post86

I certainly support the games being sold separately. The EE edition of BG II has not been overly enjoyable, when it decides not to crash to desktop it still has annoying niggles everywhere. It doesn't feel right.

So if I buy anymore Infinity engine games, I would like the originals without having to buy the EE editions as I don't support what Beamdog have gotten up to with them at all. I mean Planescape is available separately for now but that may disappear as an option now the "enhanced" edition has surfaced.