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General discussionUpdate: 60% / 85% off Enhanced Editions: Baldur's Gate I & II, Icewind Dale
Original & Enhanced to become the Definitive Edition Bundle (822 posts)(822 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted April 28, 2016
UPDATE: Heads up! There are 24h left, so now is the time to take advantage of the amazing deals and upgrade your collections. Eyes on the price, Boo, eyes on the price!



Years ago, the Baldur's Gate series changed the way we look at gaming and the scope of what was considered possible. Even now, the legacy continues through the Enhanced Editions – thanks to the hard work and years of updates to keep the inimitable Infinity Engine living on.



It's the work on the Enhanced Editions that made <span class="bold">Siege of Dragonspear</span> possible – the just-released, massive expansion to the timeless classic, available only for Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition.

"The team at Beamdog was able to breathe a new life into the Infinity Engine classics." says Greg Tito, Communications Director for Dungeons & Dragons "We're proud to recognize their excellent work in offering the best possible experience and support for these legendary titles. We want these to become the definitive editions – featuring both the enhanced and classic versions of the games."

On April 29, Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition, Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition, and Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition will be expanded to include the classic versions – each becoming the Definitive Edition Bundle and not available for purchase separately. If you already own the classics on GOG.com, the games currently on your shelf won't be affected.

"We're excited to take our commitment and support to Baldur's Gate and GOG fans to the next level and humbled to work with such great partners. The Definitive Edition Bundle will give every Baldur's Gate fan what they're looking for" – concludes Cameron Tofer, Beamdog COO.



In the near future, we're also looking forward to full GOG Galaxy support for achievements in Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition, Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition, and Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition – as well as in the Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear expansion.

Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition will be 75% off until April 4 11:59 PM PDT / April 5 2:59 AM EDT/ 7:59 BST and 60% off until April 29 10:59 AM PDT / 1:59 PM EDT / 18:59 BST. The 60% discount for Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition, and Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition until April 29 10:59 AM PDT / 1:59 PM EDT / 18:59 BST. The 85% discount for owners of the original saga will last until April 29 10:59 AM PDT / 1:59 PM EDT / 18:59 BST.
Post edited April 02, 2016 by maladr0Id
Posted April 30, 2016
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Banjo_oz: Wow, seems I was right! With the "old" game pages removed, the only reviews up are of the EE versions. That's actually pretty cowardly and low if that was intentional. People should at least be able to edit their reviews to specify which version they are reviewing. I guess it also means that future reviews will have to mention "I'm talking about X version here". And what about the people who took the time to write reviews of the originals? Are their reviews simply deleted forever?

I wouldn't be surprised if this has a negative effect and fans less than impressed by this move (rightly or wrongly) start leaving poor reviews on the EE pages, since they are technically unable to review the classic version only.

And while I'm happy the original versions of the game are available, relegating them to "bonus extras" smells to me like the only time the original Star Wars Trilogy versions were sold as "bonus features" with the Special Editions on DVD. :(
With respect to the reviews, I'm...not really sure how it's "cowardly and low", since losing the pages and pages of insanely glowing reviews that were on the product pages of the original versions will certainly not benefit Beamdog OR Hasbro. (My impression of the current reviews for the EEs, overall, is that they're far more restrained, even somewhat negative...so it's too late for people to "start leaving poor reviews". ;) )
Also, I'd say that most anyone looking through the reviews (even now, post-"merger") is going to be automatically assuming that all the reviews are for the Enhanced Edition unless something in the review text states otherwise -- the product pages are still called "Enhanced Edition", after all. And I don't know what you mean about being "technically unable to review the classic version only", as you, yourself, stated that one could simply make a mention -- either in the review title, or in the body -- that one was specifically reviewing one version or the other, or both. Really, that's no different than with any other titles which are sold together, and it works OK for other such games. (The Betrayal at Krondor Pack springs to mind: it contains the main game -- which is generally lauded -- and the follow-up, Betrayal in Antara -- which everyone who actually PLAYED the GOG version states is broken.)

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plan99: Out of curiosity (since the store page doesn't make this clear), do these codes people are getting for the classic versions contain all the original bonuses for those classic versions (as opposed to what happened with the Fallouts' bonuses when they returned)?
Was just about to ask this. :)
Post edited April 30, 2016 by HunchBluntley
Posted April 30, 2016
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Starmaker: 1. I fully support Beamdog in editing the script for the EEs. Baldur's Gate was sexist and transphobic trash. Now I might actually play the games as intended, without reading the walkthrough and pre-picking quests and companions and installing a ton of potentially incompatible mods so as not to encounter content that warrants an e-punch in the e-nuts over TCP/IP.

2. Removing the original versions from direct sale is okay. There are other developers who aren't particularly keen on making original versions available in any shape or form, and yet there's no controversy.

3. References are fucking everywhere in gaming, some worse than others. Beamdog's dig toward a hate group is something I 100% applaud. (Bought the expansion on release, too.)

4. Gators trying to infringe on the artistic vision of the devs and censor content are fucking hilarious.
4.5 As long as the administration allows posting racist and sexist shit on the forum, I see no purpose in declaring certain words or expressions inadvisable. Particularly characteristic expressions allow me to quickly ignore a user and move on to reading posts which are worth my time.

5. GOG should absolutely delete gator reviews. They had deleted the antisemitic shit on the gamecard for The Shivah, and this is no different.
You really are a garbage human being.
Posted April 30, 2016
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plan99: Out of curiosity (since the store page doesn't make this clear), do these codes people are getting for the classic versions contain all the original bonuses for those classic versions (as opposed to what happened with the Fallouts' bonuses when they returned)?
it comes with these

MANUALS (181 PAGES) 17 MB
HD WALLPAPERS (15) 99 MB
SOUNDTRACK 122 MB
AVATARS (13) 1 MB
ARTWORKS (87) 30 MB
MAP 3 MB
THRONE OF BHAAL REFERENCE CARD 1 MB

input the code here
https://www.gog.com/redeem

and you find your code in your library > BALDUR'S GATE II: ENHANCED EDITION > click on the more dropdown > click on serial keys
Posted April 30, 2016
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plan99: Out of curiosity (since the store page doesn't make this clear), do these codes people are getting for the classic versions contain all the original bonuses for those classic versions (as opposed to what happened with the Fallouts' bonuses when they returned)?
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jjyiz28: it comes with these

MANUALS (181 PAGES) 17 MB
HD WALLPAPERS (15) 99 MB
SOUNDTRACK 122 MB
AVATARS (13) 1 MB
ARTWORKS (87) 30 MB
MAP 3 MB
THRONE OF BHAAL REFERENCE CARD 1 MB

input the code here
https://www.gog.com/redeem

and you find your code in your library > BALDUR'S GATE II: ENHANCED EDITION > click on the more dropdown > click on serial keys
Thanks. Nice to know the bonuses are still intact.
Posted April 30, 2016
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javier0889: So they are gone now? It's sad, it feels like an important piece of gog's history is gone now.
A very sad day. There is a quote in the original game about this...


Doubt I'll spend another cent here after they pulled off such a douchebag move. They have changed, no doubt about it. Seriously wouldn't surprise me if "DRM Free" is dropped too. Many don't seem to care about it anyway, it's just about price, so the suits are probably arguing it already.
Posted April 30, 2016
Well, this is interesting. Even though I reposted the info for contacting Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast, yesterday, about unbundling the classics, I hadn't had time to try to contact them myself, yet. I just did and found myself asked to look through their standard questions for an answer before contacting Hasbro. That led me to an error page on the Wizards of the Coast website. From there I did a quick search for Baldur and found one result: http://wizards.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2356/kw/baldur's%20gate

The interesting part of the page was this:
"D&D: Third-party Support and Contact Information
Answer ID 2356

For support questions, including problems with downloading, billing, or account issues for digital games, or product replacement issues for physical products, please contact the game publisher's Customer Support.

Digital Games and Products

Good Old Games: Older D&D video games (Gold Box Games)
http://www.gog.com/support/contact

Beamdog: Enhanced Editions of Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale video games
https://beamdog.zendesk.com/anonymous_requests/new "

No listing for the classic versions and I don't think anyone is going to try contacting Beamdog about unbundling the classics. Then there was the fact that you're supposed to contact GOG about the Gold Box games. That basically leads me back to contacting Hasbro or... GOG. Several people in this thread have insisted that GOG can't do anything about this - maybe they're right, maybe not, but this makes me wonder.
Post edited April 30, 2016 by plan99
Posted April 30, 2016
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plan99: No listing for the classic versions and I don't think anyone is going to try contacting Beamdog about unbundling the classics. Then there was the fact that you're supposed to contact GOG about the Gold Box games. That basically leads me back to contacting Hasbro or... GOG. Several people in this thread have insisted that GOG can't do anything about this - maybe they're right, maybe not, but this makes me wonder.
There is also no listing for any of the other D&D games here (Demon Stone, Dragonshard, Icewind Dale 2, Neverwinter Nights 1+2, Planescape: Torment, Temple of Elemental Evil). Since both the publisher (and the owner) of those games is Hasbro, you should ask them about it.
Post edited April 30, 2016 by Grargar
Posted April 30, 2016
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plan99: No listing for the classic versions and I don't think anyone is going to try contacting Beamdog about unbundling the classics. Then there was the fact that you're supposed to contact GOG about the Gold Box games. That basically leads me back to contacting Hasbro or... GOG. Several people in this thread have insisted that GOG can't do anything about this - maybe they're right, maybe not, but this makes me wonder.
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Grargar: There is also no listing for any of the other D&D games here (Demon Stone, Dragonshard, Icewind Dale 2, Neverwinter Nights 1+2, Planescape: Torment, Temple of Elemental Evil). Since both the publisher (and the owner) of those games is Hasbro, you should ask them about it.
Yeah, I have to agree. It just struck me as odd and, too, I wanted to let people know not to bother with Wizards of the Coast. They should just go to http://corporate.hasbro.com/en-us/consumer-care and let them know what they think about this.
Posted April 30, 2016
high rated
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hummer010: I disagree that it's a low move. A low move would have been to just bundle the games with no announcement. Instead they gave nearly a months notice that the originals would no longer be available separately and they put both the originals, and the EE's on sale.
Or to just remove the ability to get the originals altogether.
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Pangaea666: A very sad day. There is a quote in the original game about this...


Doubt I'll spend another cent here after they pulled off such a douchebag move. They have changed, no doubt about it. Seriously wouldn't surprise me if "DRM Free" is dropped too. Many don't seem to care about it anyway, it's just about price, so the suits are probably arguing it already.
This was a publisher decision. In this case, GOG had to remove the originals from sale or probably lose all the D&D catalogue in a dispute with Beamdog/Hasbro. Why are people down on GOG for this move?
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plan99: Well, this is interesting. Even though I reposted the info for contacting Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast, yesterday, about unbundling the classics, I hadn't had time to try to contact them myself, yet. I just did and found myself asked to look through their standard questions for an answer before contacting Hasbro. That led me to an error page on the Wizards of the Coast website. From there I did a quick search for Baldur and found one result: http://wizards.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2356/kw/baldur's%20gate

The interesting part of the page was this:
"D&D: Third-party Support and Contact Information
Answer ID 2356

For support questions, including problems with downloading, billing, or account issues for digital games, or product replacement issues for physical products, please contact the game publisher's Customer Support.

Digital Games and Products

Good Old Games: Older D&D video games (Gold Box Games)
http://www.gog.com/support/contact

Beamdog: Enhanced Editions of Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale video games
https://beamdog.zendesk.com/anonymous_requests/new "

No listing for the classic versions and I don't think anyone is going to try contacting Beamdog about unbundling the classics. Then there was the fact that you're supposed to contact GOG about the Gold Box games. That basically leads me back to contacting Hasbro or... GOG. Several people in this thread have insisted that GOG can't do anything about this - maybe they're right, maybe not, but this makes me wonder.
GOG bought the rights to the Gold Box games (as they do for several older games where the publisher/rights holder is willing to sell to them, but not actually distribute and support it) so that they can sell them here. GOG has nothing to do with BG in that fashion. You need to contact Beamdog or Hasbro.
Post edited April 30, 2016 by paladin181
Posted April 30, 2016
high rated
OK I have to say something.
While my thoughts on the expansion pack are known and for some people a ban-able offense, I find the whole thing weird.
In the sense that the reaction feels a bit too much, regarding the bundling of the games.

I can see it from their (GOG/pub) perspective seeing this like "not only you can get the EE but as a freebie you also get the classic versions!".
Which makes sense.
Unless of course people do not want to buy the EEs and just want to buy the classics. In which case I have to ask because I don't remember, is there a price difference between the EE (pre bundling) and the classic edition?
Because if there is no difference in price, one does benefit from buying the new bundle.
If the price difference exists and it is large then yes I guess it is kind of a shit move for those who only want to buy the classic version.
As long as the expansion pack is not included in the bundle and also automatically installed, ie shoved down the throat of people till they gag reflex, it's ok for me.
Oh, before I forget, SJW, SJW, SJW, SJW, SJW, SJW, SJW, SJW, SJW, SJW, SJW.
Posted April 30, 2016
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Banjo_oz: Wow, seems I was right! With the "old" game pages removed, the only reviews up are of the EE versions. That's actually pretty cowardly and low if that was intentional. People should at least be able to edit their reviews to specify which version they are reviewing. I guess it also means that future reviews will have to mention "I'm talking about X version here". And what about the people who took the time to write reviews of the originals? Are their reviews simply deleted forever?

I wouldn't be surprised if this has a negative effect and fans less than impressed by this move (rightly or wrongly) start leaving poor reviews on the EE pages, since they are technically unable to review the classic version only.

And while I'm happy the original versions of the game are available, relegating them to "bonus extras" smells to me like the only time the original Star Wars Trilogy versions were sold as "bonus features" with the Special Editions on DVD. :(
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POLE7645: You know, I don't recall the Original Trilogy in it's original form ever been released on DVD. Ever. The only way to watch them were on old out-of-print VHS tapes.

Did Disney made a new Blu-Ray edition with the Originals as Bonus Feature?

At least when Rock and Rule did that, it was because the only version of the original cut they could find was of very low quality (it was from an old VHS tape recording when the movie was on TV).
They were the "gold font" releases that had "limited time: contains the original version" orwords to that effect on the covers, and included a "bonus" DVD with a rather poor laserdisc transfer of the original films. Came out shortly after the "silver font" box set that had no originals but an exclusive (and rather awesome) set of documentaries on it, which I remember being angry at having to buy the trilogy twice just to get both the OT and the docos.

Before that release, the laserdisc was the "best" source for the OT aside from the THX remastered "final" VHS tape release. Fan theory was that bootleg DVDs (made from the laserdisc) were selling so Lucasfilm grudgingly gave the barest bones OT release they could (while saying it was a "limited bonus").

The SW bluray set I have (6 films) has no original trilogy, and while I'd love it if Disney did do that, I haven't heard of any plans.
Posted April 30, 2016
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Banjo_oz: Wow, seems I was right! With the "old" game pages removed, the only reviews up are of the EE versions. That's actually pretty cowardly and low if that was intentional. People should at least be able to edit their reviews to specify which version they are reviewing. I guess it also means that future reviews will have to mention "I'm talking about X version here". And what about the people who took the time to write reviews of the originals? Are their reviews simply deleted forever?

I wouldn't be surprised if this has a negative effect and fans less than impressed by this move (rightly or wrongly) start leaving poor reviews on the EE pages, since they are technically unable to review the classic version only.

And while I'm happy the original versions of the game are available, relegating them to "bonus extras" smells to me like the only time the original Star Wars Trilogy versions were sold as "bonus features" with the Special Editions on DVD. :(
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HunchBluntley: With respect to the reviews, I'm...not really sure how it's "cowardly and low", since losing the pages and pages of insanely glowing reviews that were on the product pages of the original versions will certainly not benefit Beamdog OR Hasbro. (My impression of the current reviews for the EEs, overall, is that they're far more restrained, even somewhat negative...so it's too late for people to "start leaving poor reviews". ;) )
Also, I'd say that most anyone looking through the reviews (even now, post-"merger") is going to be automatically assuming that all the reviews are for the Enhanced Edition unless something in the review text states otherwise -- the product pages are still called "Enhanced Edition", after all. And I don't know what you mean about being "technically unable to review the classic version only", as you, yourself, stated that one could simply make a mention -- either in the review title, or in the body -- that one was specifically reviewing one version or the other, or both. Really, that's no different than with any other titles which are sold together, and it works OK for other such games. (The Betrayal at Krondor Pack springs to mind: it contains the main game -- which is generally lauded -- and the follow-up, Betrayal in Antara -- which everyone who actually PLAYED the GOG version states is broken.)

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plan99: Out of curiosity (since the store page doesn't make this clear), do these codes people are getting for the classic versions contain all the original bonuses for those classic versions (as opposed to what happened with the Fallouts' bonuses when they returned)?
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HunchBluntley: Was just about to ask this. :)
Do note that I said it was only "cowardly and low IF that is the INTENTION". If it's just an unintended part of the bundling, it's unfortunate but certainly not a terrible injustice.

I just found it interesting to see Beamdog begging for positive reviews for their versions, and then the old version (one of GOG's top sellers and most beloved titles) is removed. Now a lover of BG1 will be posting their love of the game on the EE's page rather than the classic version's page, so Beamdog are getting more good reviews. But whether this was some masterplan or just a total coincidence, I have no idea.

I also totally agree on the assumption that all reviews will be for the EE on the EE page, and only noted that given the above.

However, as I said, I am a bit paranoid when it comes to censoring or revisionism, and freely admit I might be quick to jump to such conclusions. I blame George Lucas for that, mostly.

I'll also stress again that my only REAL issue with the merger from a customer point of view is that it forces people to pay a lot more even if they only want the classic original, far more than the sort of price GOG used to charge for these great but very old games.
Post edited April 30, 2016 by Banjo_oz
Posted April 30, 2016
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trusteft: In which case I have to ask because I don't remember, is there a price difference between the EE (pre bundling) and the classic edition?
Because if there is no difference in price, one does benefit from buying the new bundle.
Yes, there is a big price difference. The classic games costed $9.99 each, the Enhanced Editions cost $19.99 each.
Posted April 30, 2016
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Banjo_oz: I just found it interesting to see Beamdog begging for positive reviews for their versions, and then the old version (one of GOG's top sellers and most beloved titles) is removed. Now a lover of BG1 will be posting their love of the game on the EE's page rather than the classic version's page, so Beamdog are getting more good reviews. But whether this was some masterplan or just a total coincidence, I have no idea.
Nothing prevents a person from 1-starring the review and saying "Buy this for the great classic version and forget about the garbage EE".
Posted April 30, 2016
Can't believe I missed the 85% off deal. Oh well, maybe someday they'll do it again...
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionUpdate: 60% / 85% off Enhanced Editions: Baldur's Gate I & II, Icewind Dale
Original & Enhanced to become the Definitive Edition Bundle (822 posts)(822 posts)
(822 posts)