Baldur's Gate Teaser Site Dissected

Baldur's Gate Teaser Site Dissected

OPINION

Beamdog’s teaser site leaves little doubt that they are about to announce a Baldur’s Gate game. The logo, the character portraits in the back, a text that is easily identified as coming from Forgotten Realms lore… The fact that Trent Oster – co-founder of Bioware – is heading up Beamdog… If you are still in doubt after all that, you haven’t played the original games.

Beamdog’s teaser site leaves little doubt that they are about to announce a Baldur’s Gate game. The logo, the character portraits in the back, a text that is easily identified as coming from Forgotten Realms lore… The fact that Trent Oster – co-founder of Bioware – is heading up Beamdog… If you are still in doubt after all that, you haven’t played the original games.

But what does the announcement entail? That is very much up in the air. Beamdog already denied that their announcement has anything to do with the fact that the original games are coming to steam, so we’re looking at a new game. But with the current trend of reinvigorating 90’s classics, ‘new’ can also mean a remake.

Delving into the page’s source code, inquisitive visitors are treated to a number of hints that give little away but leave a lot to speculate upon. Better yet, the quotes have refreshed and it is likely that they will change again sooner rather than later.

It should be understood that the below is pure speculation.

<!-- Shadowy Figure- Raise Dead : Infinity Engine -->
The Forgotten Realms games (including Baldur’s Gate, Icewind Dale and Planescape Torment) have always been powered by Bioware’s Infinity Engine. It was used for the last time in 2002 for Icewind Dale II and has not been updated since. This line implies that the engine will make a return which is odd: even Dragon Age’s ‘Eclipse’ engine would be better able to handle modern gaming requirements. At the same time, Infinity is at least as capable as many an indie game’s engine and upgrading an existing engine is hardly unheard of.

More importantly, the Infinity engine is well suited for the pausable-combat style of play that people loved about the original games. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.

<!-- Take heart fellow adventurers, for you have curried the favor of Boo, the only miniature giant space hamster in the Realm! -->
We don’t even have to speculate about this one: Minsc and Boo – my favorite NPCs ever – are making a return and they will be just as crazy as they ever were. Will Jim Cummings be asked to give voice to Minsc again? I certainly hope so.

<!-- I can teach you how to use your wrath. -->
This is a quote from Sarevok Anchev who died in the original game but was brought back to life in Shadows of Amn, only to die again. When we find him again in Throne of Bhaal he appears in spirit form and bargains for a piece of a soul so that he can live yet again. Unless he dies under the player’s command (he can be recruited), he reaches the end of Throne of Bhaal alive. The quote doesn’t guarantee his return but there are many other good quotes in Baldur’s Gate lore. This greatly increases the chance that Sarevok will make a return and with his checkered past he can be either enemy or ally.

The quote can also refer to (part of) the storyline. Someone is back for revenge and the player is probably on the receiving end of this wrath.