Beamdog is apparently doing NWN EE, cashgrab. Color me skeptical.

The video looks exactly like the original game

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=57&v=_exxVIpfA3s

It doesn't sound right somehow - the video just shows original gameplay, the website they are promoting (nwn.beamdog.com) just brings up a server not found error and I also thought they said their next game was going to be a Beamdog original. It'll be interesting to see how this pans out.

This would be an instant purchase for me if it is indeed true. We shall see. Their Twitter has a post about it too:

https://twitter.com/BeamdogInc/status/932821671139876864/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fforums.beamdog.com%2Fdiscussion%2F66873%2Fneverwinter-nights-ee

Also worth a look:
https://www.beamdog.com/

Looks like there is a Twitch livestream at 8pm (GMT) tonight regarding it. I added an event to our NWN Steam group for this - which should show the time in your region, if anyone is interested: https://steamcommunity.com/groups/NWN-Players

They got caught lying their asses off for 2 years when they made sure the classic versions of the BG games and such were removed from the stores. https://www.gog.com/forum/baldurs_gate_series/regarding_the_removal_of_the_original_ie_games_from_sale_on_gog/page1

My advice is to buy the classics ASAP if you don't have them, before Beamdog replaces them with a buggy mess of an EE version. Support Beamdog and you support the removal of classic rpgs.

Well, I have three copies of the original (original boxed, Diamond boxed and GOG), so no worries there.

I don't really see the problem of bundling the older version with the new one to be honest - unless they completely remove purchasing of the classic version separately.

They removed the classic BG, IWD, and Planescape from the stores. You get them bundled with the new ones now under Extras. They also removed the soundtrack from the package and they are selling that separately too.

BG and the others used to cost 9 bucks each - with soundtrack included.

Now they cost 20+ bucks each with another 10 bucks for the soundtrack. And your only option to get the classic version is by buying the EE version.

The option to purchase the classics separately has been gone for over a year. Beamdog claimed it was GoG and WoTC that was behind it. It wasn't the case at all. They lied. They even had their own employees hanging out on GoG spreading the lies.

They had to make a public apology right here in this thread.

https://www.gog.com/forum/baldurs_gate_series/regarding_the_removal_of_the_original_ie_games_from_sale_on_gog/page1

If that's true it does sound a bit dodgy indeed - especially selling the soundtrack separately. That's nuts. I hope they do not do it with NWN, but I suppose only time will tell.

It is true. Just search for Baldur's Gate in the GoG store and you can see only the EE version is available for purchase. Takes 10 seconds to confirm it.

They will do it with NWN too, and the soundtrack. They have done it will ALL the games so far. That will not change.

The problem is jacking up the price for marginal "upgrades", that are more like sidegrades, or degrades.

When I recommend it to new people, and the price is doubled, there will be less takers.

Also it swaps the date in the store to 2017, which makes people think it's a modern game, but they will be in for disappointment when they see state of the art from more than a decade ago.

NWN is really all about the community Mods, and there is no way they will even touch the tip of the iceberg testing against them.

So if/when problem happen, you won't know if it is a problem with your setup, or a new problem introduced by the EE changes.

Yeah, I can see your point. I suppose the balance has to be there between features and compatibility, especially with a game with such a large amount of community content as NWN.

If they just add my number 1 most requested feature I would be happy though: combat mode toggles that do not keep turning themselves off.

EDIT: Some more information on NWN EE, taken from https://www.mmorpg.com/news/neverwinter-nights-enhanced-edition-announced-by-beamdog-1000046460

- Improved Display: Your portrait, combat bar, inventory, and other UI elements adjust in size based on your chosen resolution including 1080p and 4k.

- Advanced Graphics Options: Pixel shaders and post-processing effects make for crisper, cleaner visuals. Enable contrast, vibrance, and depth of field options as preferred.

- Community Endorsed: Original developers have teamed with key members of the Neverwinter Nights community to curate important fan-requested improvements to support players, storytellers, and modders.

- Backwards Compatibility: Works with save games, modules, and mods from the original Neverwinter Nights. A galaxy of community created content awaits.

NWN:EE will be available in a Digital Deluxe bundle that includes three premium module DLC (Pirates of the Sword Coast, Infinite Dungeons and Wyvern Crown of Cormyr), two game soundtracks and a brand new portrait pack.

I'm guessing new mods made for the EE will probably not work with the original. Not angry about it, that's just how technology works, but it'll probably have a damping effect on the shelf life of the original.

But maybe I'm wrong.

"- Community Endorsed: Original developers have teamed with key members of the Neverwinter Nights community to curate important fan-requested improvements to support players, storytellers, and modders. "

Yeah right. They said that about BG too. A few people want some of their shitty changes = community endorsed.

The reviews of their products on GoG speaks volumes. Rpg fans and BG fans don't like Beamdog. They do rotten work. The positive reviews arrived on command, 1-2 days after the CEO begged people on their forum to upvote their games and write positive reviews.

"Community Endorsed" my ass. They found one or two people who support Beamdog.

I watched the twitch stream until I got bored, which wasn't long.

I really don't think there will be much in it for current owners.

Major points I remember:

4K support: This will matter to some.

Game match service: They will be getting this working again. IMO this is of close to ZERO value. NWN is not the type of game where you just want to play short bit with random strangers.

You can already play games with your friends, but starting a game a telling them the details.

Shader effects: Meh. The just added an optional contrast/vibrance boost along with distance blur.


UI Scaling: Looks very primitive. It doesn't even work at 1920x1080. Because it is 2x or 3x bigger. So it appear they are just pixel doubling or tripling the normal UI, This isn't scaling to taste.


Issues beyond price:

I think the big downside is splitting the community.

They said "some community content may need to be updated".

Also they want to expose new stuff to mod builders, that means if mod builder go new, they won't work on old copies.

It might also split server support.

I am NOT keen on this at all. Mostly it is minor window dressing and doubling in price, and potentially splitting the community.

press.beamdog.com/nwnee/

Just read about it. Why isn't this business dead yet? How many suckers actually bought their crap? Makes me mad enough to want to pirate ALL games.

SO basically they will pack in sweetfx or something and add new servers? Hope at least community content is talking about nwnce, or at a very least battle mods would actually act as mods, and not a skill to turn on in first round

SO no additions from pnp, no additional classes, no new feats/races... Yeah, kinda looks extremely poor here

And don't forget to wait for Siege of Waterdeep xD