I really dislike this notion that any depiction of a person that's slightly tropy or slightly stereotypy is automatically racist and sexist. Critics act like a nagging wife is a total myth.

Baldur's Gate wasn't Shakespeare. When it came out, it was a rather by the numbers RPG, with a slightly sophisticated main plot that impressed, one or two great characters (like Minsc) and a lot of standard tropes. People were just happy to be in the AD&D world again after SSI effectively shut down. And it was brought to life with relative splendor and detail.

But ultimately, it was a game looking back for it's inspiration. Looking back towards basement RPG sessions with the guys. Looking back towards the old Forgotten Realms novels that fueled teenage imagination.

You can't make more and throw away those sources.

The problem with Beamdog is they simply aren't coming from the same creative place as the original games were made. They come at it from a lamentably post modern perspective, where everything needs to be deconstructed, and flipped on it's head. They feel compelled to break new ground morally, declare their work morally superior to what came before, even if it's not.

They want to blaze a trail instead of staying true to the past or the source material. And good on them if that's what they want.

They should make a new game and keep their hands off these classics.

I think the original version is still attached to those Beamdog EE releases

What Beamdog does is very much like what Gearbox did with Duke nukem.

They added some very throw away content to Duke Nukem 3D and jacked up the price just like Beamdog.

Seeing the Baldurs gate games go up as "Beamdog bundles" on gog really irks me too, it feels like Beamdog is usurping the games from the original developers.

There are probably more of the original development staff now working at Beamdog than there are still working at BioWare and Black Isle (or rather Interplay, as Black Isle no longer exists).

It is. But people can't buy the classic anymore, unless they buy the remake. Which is way more expensive.

https://www.gog.com/game/planescape_torment_enhanced_edition

It's here. So far the original is still sold separately.

I might go for the EE at some point when it hits a summer sale or something, right now I'm frustrated with the constantly crashing modded original.

If the reviews are any good, that is.

Uh-oh:

Note: Planescape: Torment Enhanced Edition will feature the unaltered original version and the Enhanced Edition in one definitive collection exclusively on GOG.com. The original game will no longer be available for purchase on its own, after the Enhanced Edition is released. Owners of the classic Planescape: Torment will not be affected by upcoming changes to the product.

I am slightly comforted that they have Chris Avellone "curating" the update process.

I am still filled with profound trepidation at the final product though.

I'm just going to be happy that I still have my original Planescape CDs. Nothing can take those away from me.

Screenshots are up on GoG now. Called it. Those messed up sprites they added to the BG EE versions are in PT EE as well. Looks as terrible as expected.

They also went for the "pay for our version or no version" crap they did with BG. Which also means the superb reviews the original got, will transfer over to their new version. Leeching reviews, I have seen it been called.

Its a real shame that the legacy of the game is is tarnished by Beamdog (just like they did with Baldurs gate) and that new players wont likely even see the original game anymore.

Even if the EE is good i feel strongly against pulling a game off the store just because a new more expensive version is out.

Well... native support for 4K (Debatable sprites quality), remastered of the music, now official locations available for other languages, changes approved by Chris Avellone, the chance of disabling the remastered elements for having the vanilla experience (maybe, similar to the day of the tentacle? )

Yeah... I'm seeing why I must hate beamdog with all my soul for this specific product..
.
Anyway, I don't find a real reason to buy two times the game (About all, I don't like the final "remaster" quality of the characters). Yet, at least for me, this a sane approach from them to the original product.

It's a bit early to say to say that the game is "tarnished" before the Enhanced Edition is even out. Let's reserve judgment until it is, yes? And even if the EE turns out to be awful...yes, it will perhaps be a shame that the original will no longer be available on its own, but a game that was still being sold new more than 17 years after its original release had a pretty good innings, better than most games manage. Anyway, the original will still be there alongside the EE, and the release price, while higher, is still reasonable. Or if you object to buying the EE to get the original, the latter is still available new on disc (at least in the US and UK), and even if it ceased to be so tomorrow then second-hand copies would still be in plentiful circulation for years to come.

I am so happy that Beamdog is pissing and butchering Planescape Torment that, even if I already have a CD with Planescape Torment found in a magazine and a digital version from the Dungeons & Dragons Anthology: The Master Collection, I bought another digital copy here on GOG of the classic edition.. Like I did the same thing some time ago for Baldur's Gate 1/2 and Icewind Dale 1.. They can go put their SJW rhetoric in a Bioware game like Mass Effect or Dragon Age.. Wishing for 4K on a game like this is idiocy because enlarging 3D pre-rendered backgrounds will only blur them without rerendering them from the 3D sources.. And the music will probably be worse like the translations because the ego of those working on it is over inflated.. They reek of failed writers and wannabe maestros.. Not that also in the past were not egocentric maniacs but at least the games were good..

The Icewind Dale EE is pretty damn good though. Credit where credit is due.

Unless they have added those cartoony sprites to that one too now, of course.

Like I said, the original version can still be bought on disc. In fact it's cheaper on disc than on GOG.