We need new games like BG and Icewind.

From my experience, most people who have played the Baldurs Gate, Icewind, and Planescape games have loved them. Their graphics may not have been the best, but the storyline and gameplay made them great. So my question is... why are there not any new games coming out following the same format and with updated graphics? The party control system was astounding for gameplay, and let you play all the different roles depending on which character you were currently controling. My thoughts have a game that controls like BG and has the graphics of, lets say, WoW. Would that be so hard for developers to put out for us instead of some of the crap RPGs that have come out in the last few years (some good ones too, but a lot of failures in my books). The possibilities for this genre of games is immense, could have a WWII RPG where the classes are soldier, engineer, medic, ect. Just give us a new captivating storyline, modern day graphics, and maybe revamp the interface and controls and volia, you would have a great game for the masses to enjoy.bibbalo

Supposedly BioWare's Dragon Age is going to give this kind of RPGs another shot.

Agreed. I own BG1 and 2 and planescape torment. Never got around to finishing them hopefulyl someday. On a side not did you like the fallout games? I played and beat both a while ago, they should make more games like that as well.

However it just seems games like that don't make that much money campared to the Halo, and the WOW. I did find one game being made currently in the post apocacylptic setting like fallout. It's called Afterfall. I read the whole site. Has a lot of history into the world, with different zones, different cultures in game.

http://www.afterfall.pl/index/en

I highly suggest any fallout fan check it out. The developers need a publisher currently and so far they've been working on the game for about a year and a half. I think I'm gonna donate some money for them, the game looks that promising.

I agree - I want to play a game like Icewind Dale, where you create the entire party.

Icewind Dale 3, oh yeah

Single player epic RPGs are dying as a genre. Look at the number of RPGs in development, then look at the number of MMORPGs in development. It's pretty easy to put two and two together.

The only real RPG developers left are BioWare (and there's only so much they can do - but even they're working on an MMO), Obsidian (they barely count) and CD Projekt - who may end up singlehandedly carrying the PC singleplayer epic RPG torch. Bethesda if you want to be generous. That's it.

The rest either went out of business (RIP Black Isle, Troika) or shifted to MMORPGs.

good ol interplay. u always got the best out of a dev and were the powerhouse during one of the greatest ages in gaming (around 1997-2001). so many great games...so many classics....so much talent grown and flourishing under one roof. a daring comapny that not only led the field in innovation but also pushed others to do the same.

interplay.....u are missed horribly. come back soon.

P.S. i never though id get sentimental over a company.....but they were one of the gooduns...i miss em.

Single player epic RPGs are dying as a genre. Look at the number of RPGs in development, then look at the number of MMORPGs in development. It's pretty easy to put two and two together.

The rest either went out of business (RIP Black Isle, Troika) or shifted to MMORPGs.

mfsa

of course cause its all about $$$

Ahh yes, I forgot about Dragon Age. Looks promising, only wish there was more info or screens from it out (damn patience being a virtue!). Also I have not played the previous fallout games, though I am looking forward to the new one. I missed Fallout 1 and 2 growing up, and though I did try to go back and play them, the graphics and forewards compatibility problems turned me off. I understand your point about how they dont bring in as much dough as WoW, but whenever I read anything about the most critically acclaimed and best-loved RPGs, BG and Planescape are always up there. If they are so loved then a good game in the same genre should be able to turn a tidy profit, at least enough to make it worth a developers time.bibbalo

There will be some info on that game in a short while or so Bioware says...

They say we'll be blown away by the game, I really hope they're right, but I doubt that it will be a revolution in RPG-gaming. We'll see, I guess. A spiritual successor to BG is not all that bad.

I don't think this genre is dying, but it certainly needs some new ideas and "fresh blood" in the dev-ranks. I don't think copying older games is necessarily the right thing to do (just look at NWN2, been there, done that). And the whole fantasy thing is over-used to death. Almost every modern CRPG with just a few exceptions has medieval settings and elves, damn it. Enough already, fantasy to RPGs is like WW2 to FPSs. Think a little outside the Tolkien box, devs, and create some new lore, worlds and inhabitants...

Single player epic RPGs are dying as a genre. Look at the number of RPGs in development, then look at the number of MMORPGs in development. It's pretty easy to put two and two together.

The only real RPG developers left are BioWare (and there's only so much they can do - but even they're working on an MMO), Obsidian (they barely count) and CD Projekt - who may end up singlehandedly carrying the PC singleplayer epic RPG torch. Bethesda if you want to be generous. That's it.

The rest either went out of business (RIP Black Isle, Troika) or shifted to MMORPGs.

mfsa

Very true - however for ppl who only have limited time to play a day (2hrs/day) a MMORPG just isn't an option and on top of that having to pay to play for those limited hrs just isn't worth it.

However I hope Dragon Age turns out to be good.

Pick up NWN2:Mask of the Betrayer. I didnt think the original NWN2 was that great, but the expansion is a whole lot of awesome.TheCrazed420

yeah the atmosphere and story are much better and i also like the increased difficulty level but that stupid ghost energy which u need to replenish all the time is extremly annoying

Very well then. In the spirit of Easter I will put all of my eggs (chocolately eggs at that) in the Dragon Age basket. Will these eggs grow into strong healthy dragons, cockatrice, or griffens or will they end up nothing more than a few cracked eggs and a hearty omelet on the breakfast table (ok, the egg analogy has gone too far). Anyways, I hope that one of the above posters was right and we do get some more info about Dragon Age soon, and who knows, the gods may bless us with a projected release date as well. One can only hope.bibbalo

It's before "April next year". Take that with a pinch of salt though.

Single player epic RPGs are dying as a genre. Look at the number of RPGs in development, then look at the number of MMORPGs in development. It's pretty easy to put two and two together.

The only real RPG developers left are BioWare (and there's only so much they can do - but even they're working on an MMO), Obsidian (they barely count) and CD Projekt - who may end up singlehandedly carrying the PC singleplayer epic RPG torch. Bethesda if you want to be generous. That's it.

The rest either went out of business (RIP Black Isle, Troika) or shifted to MMORPGs.

mfsa

true butt don't discount obsidian yet, Nwn2 : motb was pretty nice and interesting game

Recently I posted a topic about how there are almost no decent games out there these days outside of the pure action genre, bar 1 or 2 exceptions (that people can't play indefinitely).

Developers are so busy listening to what their hired marketing dogs have to say, they forgot to listen to what the actual public want. It should be of course noted that these people (marketing types, corporate types and other rabble) don't enjoy or play computer games themselves to begin with, so they're not exactly the best people to make the decisions.

Some people will say that teenagers these days are used to be spoon fed on everything, so they'll like dumb and one-click games, but if there's any truth on that, then it's not like the people who keep pumping out FPS sequels are helping. Maybe the truth is that the newer generation are playing the only choices they have, since basically no one is making any decent, intelligent, polished and mature games anymore. Maybe they're underestimating the newer generations's IQ, who knows. I see a vicious cycle here, one that needs to be broken.

Perhaps if there are any decent, honest game developers out there still willing to make a REAL, INTERESTING game with DEPTH and INTELLIGENT gameplay, and, why not, GOOD TASTE 2D INSTEAD OF 3D (sacrilege!), TURN-BASED INSTEAD OF BUTTON-MASHING (the crowd gasps!) and with A POLISHED STORY TO BE READ INSTEAD OF ONE-LINER CRAPPY VOICE-OVERS (the audience, stunned in awe!) they'll be surprised with the results.

WOULD YOU SAY, STUPID MORON DEVELOPERS, THAT THERE'S A LACK OF TOPICS JUST LIKE THIS ONE ALL OVER THE INTERNET, ALL OVER DOZENS OF GAME SITES, ALL OVER THE WORLD ? WOULD THAT BE A LACK OF PUBLIC TO THIS KIND OF GAMES, ***MORON CORPORATE MARKETING DOGGIES*** ??? NO, THAT DOESN'T MEAN FALLOUT 3 WITH A FPS ENGINE. THAT ACTUALLY MEANS FALLOUT 3 IN 2D, TURN-BASED, WITH LOTS OF TEXT TO READ, *********MORON DEVELOPERS*********, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE WANT IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T GOT THE MESSAGE ***YET*** !!!!!!

With the latest Bioware Aurora 2007 engine, it looks like we are stuck with Dungeon Siege style gameplay ala NWN2 and The Witcher with bells and whistles.

As for other projects/engines, I don't know, I guess graphic quality overrules gameplay these days.

Of course you could always go Nintendo, but just end up breaking your controller/TV screen and not likely to to find a credible fantasy-themed RPG...or input devices.