bladeofBG: ^ LOL! I juss read the wikipedia file on it. Now I got the real perspective; they only named it BG3 because of licensing issues, as the story in the proposed game had nothing to do with the Bhaalspawn saga. The proposed story actually takes place in the Dalelands, way east of the Sword Coast, Icewind Dale, and Neverwinter regions.
@ Naudriel: Get rid of the hacks currently running WotC/Hasbro, and put Ed Greenwood (creator of the Forgotten Realms & true creator of Planescape, whom I believe is the true author of the BG series for PC) in full charge without anyone hindering him, and we'll get a new high quality Planescape game and at least two FR game series for PC that'd be the true spiritual successors to the BG series for PC. For real. Obsidian would even be able to do that The Black Hound game, give it a better title (away from BG b/c it has nothing to do with it), and say its the spiritual successor to the IWD series, perhaps with even more roleplaying elements to it.
chivalrousknight: I totally agree with what you mentioned, and had been waiting for eternity for a title that is resembling BG2 or PS:T, but the problem is these days, gamers are overcrowded by action hack&slasher who only want to talk about how many monsters they killed and what great items they can possess, plus they are also multiple mongering of the graphical quality .. these are the factors limit company from producing high quality RPG, the closest thing may be Dragon Age but look what BioWare(once a respectable force along with Interplay&Black Isle) did with DA2? and mockingly it seem tons of ppl still making a hype of BioWare ...
Obsidian seem to blow it with Dungeon Siege 3, but i suspect it was out of their hand, as they did tried to included a good story there....but Obsidian seem to be the last possible company that can make good RPG these days, we have to see.....but without mass market appeal, it is difficult to have another good title... personally i wish i can play a good old 2D RPG with a good story like the good old days
Ah, but BG:2 & PS:T are the outright top rated games & were both top-10 sellers on GoG.com, even before their promo a few weeks ago. Let's remember that GoG is also a top-3 online game distributor.
So there is indeed a big market for these type of games. Is it as big as the market for WoW or The Sims? Probably not, but the market is still big enough wherein the game would make a very healthy profit.
Yeah since Bioware was captured by EA, their games haven't come close to their legacy games except perhaps Mass Effect, which was mostly finished by the time their 'merger' was announced.
The main culprits behind there not being games like the BG series & PS:T in so long are the way how Wotc/Hasbro & TSR before them (the owners of the AD&D IP) have continually jobbed Ed Greenwood, whom I've said numerous times over the past month that I believe he's the true author of the BG series for PC. Really, if they aren't gonna respect an amazing artist like that, but rather have manipulated him in every aspect a big business can possibly manipulate someone, then they aren't gonna respect anything of any virtue, period.
Also, EA has a conspiracy against genuine art. They've proven it each time they've acquired a company, as each time, that companies' games become crap in comparison with the games they made before being acquired by them.
Hence my saying put Ed Greenwood in charge of everything AD&D related with no one telling him what to do or hindering him - and also free Bioware from EA. Bioware was already big enough in 2007 wherein they could make their own publisher if they were so inclined, thus showing their merger wasn't needed. What's more, I've a good mind to say that EA seeking Bioware's capture was the worst mistake they'll ever make. I full out believe it'll lead to their own undoing - the criminals at the top & enablers elsewhere within & beyond, I mean. They've destroyed & manipulated enough in broad daylight wherein not even high powered lawyers or slimy politicians can bail them out. It's only a matter of time before they fully & unwittingly devour themselves.
So keep the faith man. I believe it's only a matter of time. In the meanwhile, enjoy GoG's offerings.