rampancy: On what basis? Simply because they'd likely be doing an iOS/Android port? If we see in the final version that the EE mechanics and/or graphics on the desktop version have been seriously compromised in quality due to the mobile ports, then I see every reason to lash out at Beamdog...but right now, we don't know anything and all we have to go on are mockups and pictures of early pre-release code.

That's the ultimate point I'm trying to make - everyone seems to be making these Chicken Little arguments yet no one's seen neither final release code, nor the final art assets of the game. Right now, this excites me because one of the greatest RPG franchises in the history of the genre is going to be thrust back into the public eye, potentially with HD/higher-res graphics and without having to go through the laborious process of applying patches. Wouldn't that be a good thing? Wouldn't we want more people interested in playing a game that stresses excellent writing, deep gameplay, and an expertly told story? Isn't this what we ultimately want? More people playing games like BG/BG2/PST and less people playing Angry Birds, Call of Duty, or ME3?

Right now, with all due respect, a lot of the comments I've seen made about this come off as being kind of elitist...

rampancy: On what basis? Simply because they'd likely be doing an iOS/Android port? If we see in the final version that the EE mechanics and/or graphics on the desktop version have been seriously compromised in quality due to the mobile ports, then I see every reason to lash out at Beamdog...but right now, we don't know anything and all we have to go on are mockups and pictures of early pre-release code.

That's the ultimate point I'm trying to make - everyone seems to be making these Chicken Little arguments yet no one's seen neither final release code, nor the final art assets of the game. Right now, this excites me because one of the greatest RPG franchises in the history of the genre is going to be thrust back into the public eye, potentially with HD/higher-res graphics and without having to go through the laborious process of applying patches. Wouldn't that be a good thing? Wouldn't we want more people interested in playing a game that stresses excellent writing, deep gameplay, and an expertly told story? Isn't this what we ultimately want? More people playing games like BG/BG2/PST and less people playing Angry Birds, Call of Duty, or ME3?

Right now, with all due respect, a lot of the comments I've seen made about this come off as being kind of elitist...

nijuu: I don't care if it comes off elitist. People have genuine worries and gripe about this apparent quick cash grab, which is does seem to be. Heck iPad is the lead device. PC gets a skin job + mods + an NPC. The new UI will be native to the iPad and secondary to PC. Blah blah blah. F*ck the ipad.

bazilisek: Yeah, well, but why does it matter to you? The original games still exist just as they always have and more importantly, they are still being sold (compared to for example the Monkey Island remakes). There really is nothing inherently wrong with this project. Yeah, I would agree it's completely pointless. But why worry about it when it doesn't personally affect you in absolutely any way?

Tormentfan: Because if any resources are put into it at all then the people who kept the game alive all these years, the adorers the fan who haven't shut up about it and have ended up enabling a bunch of (mostly) nobodies to come along garner a name and make a profit, should be the ones who ALSO benefit from it.. not a different audience entirely who have come to it new and accept the game as it is.

nijuu: I don't care if it comes off elitist. People have genuine worries and gripe about this apparent quick cash grab, which is does seem to be. Heck iPad is the lead device. PC gets a skin job + mods + an NPC. The new UI will be native to the iPad and secondary to PC. Blah blah blah. F*ck the ipad.

Fred_DM: that's a good point, actually. for over a decade nobody gave a damn about these games. nobody but fans like us, who kept re-buying the games in various editions and collections, who kept playing them and talking about them, recommending them, and kept modifiying them.

but neither Bioware nor Atari ever expressed any interest in reviving the franchise or making remakes.

now, along comes an utter nobody developer, who - no offense - has no weight of any kind in either the development scene nor the digital distribution industry, and starts acting as if they were the saviour of this adored franchise.

off they go announcing a grand remake to the delight of PC gamers everywhere - the very folks who wouldn't let the buzz around these games die for over a decade. but pretty soon it turns out it's all about the iPad, a tablet that was not designed for gaming and isn't particularly appropriate for it.

no wonder people are sceptical. and that's putting it mildly.

Tormentfan: This is the type of subject I get really bent out of shape about, but rightly so I feel.

It's OUR game, we loved it, tended it, never let it be forgotten when no-one else gave a damn about it, now some no mark comes along and gives a gussied up version of it to someone else?

RAGE!!

rampancy: An excellent gaming experience should "belong" to anyone who has the capacity to enjoy and appreciate the elements that make it excellent, and it doesn't matter what platform you game on, be it a PC, or tablet; if I have an iPad or Android tablet (neither of which I have, btw) and value quality games, I should be able to enjoy a good quality game on those devices just as much as I should be able to enjoy a good quality game on my Mac, Windows PC, or Linux machine. There shouldn't be anything wrong at all about enjoying Baldur's Gate 2 on a tablet, as long as the tablet version doesn't detract from the version that everyone else has - and we have no definitive proof that that's happened.

And furthermore, if more people get the chance to play said good quality game, they'll want to play more of the same. That means hopefully we'll see more games like Planescape Torment or Baldur's Gate II. That means everyone wins.

rampancy: That maybe so, but the unprecedented things we've been seeing out of Kickstarter show a lot of promise. Brian Fargo with Wasteland 2, Tim Schaeffer/Double Fine, Christian Allen with Takedown...it's not a sure thing by any means, but it's a sign of hope.

Fred_DM: Brian Fargo made Wasteland 1. Tim Schaefer is an adventure game superstar. Chris Allen desgined/directed GR2, GRAW and GRAW 2.

Trent Oster was not even involved in the development of PST, as far as i can see. Chris Avellone is the guy you're looking for, and guess where he is today... since he's voiced interest in a Kickstarter project of his own, i'd place my hopes in him.

Tormentfan: everything he's done since PS:T has proven beyond a doubt that it was a fluke, anyway