Milkman dan is exactly right. It's not quite as free a baldur's gate, but baldur's gate was by no means a fully open world either. It's easier to crank out maps and locations in a BG style environment hence easier to create a game and make good profit from the work you put in.

Have we had a PERFECT reincarnation of BG using modern day gaming standards? Not yet, but it was close. Maybe it's a holy grail we're looking for, all us die hard BG fans.

I will however admit that the side quests and storyline in BG were so incredibly involved and engorging. Dragon age did not drag me in as much. I was absolutely infatuated with Leliana's accent and when i realised i could get my sexy redhead elf girl to get it on with the sexy orlaisian bard temptress, i was obsessed with getting that to happen.

I don't think that counts, though. I believe it was Durlag's Tower that i always remember most of all from any game, ever. The story and depth of that place was immense, you were slowly taken through the dwarf's footsteps and his eventual decline into insanity which led him to kill all his loved ones. That storyline really blew my socks off, and it didn't need lesbian sex or a hugely attractive exotic accent to do it.

Alright, Dragon Age isn't QUITE our new baldur's gate, but it's been the best contender by miles and miles. Maybe if this one does so well and we show our appreciation for the display of quality in areas that we most wanted it, they'll be able to improve on it and give us more. And maybe then we'll have our new baldur's gate.

>> ^Lodurr:
One of the only fantasy RPG conventions not included in Dragon Age is the thing about freedom--an open world to explore, where the main quest can get eclipsed by the much more interesting side quests. This was present in Oblivion, Morrowind, and the Baldur's Gate series, so I'm surprised no one's really commented on it. ...

I am a huge fan of open-world, sandbox style games. The first game that I got massively intrigued with was Ultima 6 -- I played it at least semi-regularly for around 2-3 years, yet I almost completely ignored the main story. I just enjoyed exploring the extremely large world, building up my character, etc. Morrowind came close to that for me. Oblivion was good, but seemed like a step back in gameplay and overall experience from Morrowind. Having everything in the world be scaled to your level bothered me a lot -- Dragon Age scales enemies and loot, but it doesn't feel as forced to me, at least not yet.

I also loved the Baldur's Gate series, but I don't feel like they were open-world games. They had multiple distinct location maps, just like Dragon Age does. There were more areas in either BG game than in DA, but it takes a lot less time and fewer artists on the development team to crank out (notably well made) 2D areas than 3D maps.

So I guess that in my opinion Dragon Age is more directly related to Baldur's Gate than Oblivion/Morrowind or Ultima (not surprising since the developer is the same, and refers to it as a 'spiritual successor'). I am 100% happy with Dragon Age as a new Baldur's Gate-esque game. It doesn't innovate, but it didn't need to for me to enjoy it.

I would be greatly pleased if there was a new, entirely non-original rehash of the design philosophy and sandbox experience of the Ultima games but put into new graphics and interface. In other words, Dragon Age is to Baldur's Gate as this would be to Ultima. Unfortunately it seems that sandbox style games are falling more and more out of favor, which I understand to a certain extent due to the fact that it would be a massive undertaking to create a world as large as Ultima 6's with 3D environments instead of sprite tiles...

Tags for this video have been changed from 'Battlestar Galactica, BSG, BG, gets, repossessed, masbup, cylons, parody, spoof, SciFi' to 'Battlestar Galactica, BSG, BG, gets, repossessed, mashup, cylons, parody, spoof, SciFi' - edited by calvados

I keep waiting for Microsoft to release Windows BG. 'Cause you KNOW Bill Gates' machine is rock solid, and if he ever gets a BSOD, he has an army of engineers going down to the memory registers to figure out what happened.

I want that OS.

I've always had problems picking a BG color. It seems like there are maybe ten colors to pick from, but finding them is like finding Osama Bin Laden.

I suppose this means we need to give a LOT more attention to the Beggar's Canyon.

That's usually the place I try to get those last couple votes. In the past anything under 7 votes I thought didn't have a chance getting out of the BG. Looks like I'll need to readjust my standards as to what I'll put in there.

Still, this is going to be a tough change to get used to. It's probably going to be difficult for new members to feel confident getting sifts through.

It looks like a conceptual render to me. I saw this a while ago, and although it certainly looks like Jade, I've not seen it confirmed that this is actually BG&E2.

shit is for teenage girls and the boys who love them.

good demographic. good market. not much soul.

i walked out on their live set back during bumbershoot oh so long ago now. i sat for a bit, then looked over at my friend who made me go, shrugged, and said 'let's go'.

the hacky sack stoners on the key arena floor were the most entertainment during that set.

and furthermore BG is not cute... just creepy. that is all.

Your video, Battlestar Galactica (BG/BSG) at United Nations (UN)., has made it into the Top 15 New Videos listing. Congratulations on your achievement. For your contribution you have been awarded 1 Power Point.

>> ^Issykitty:
^Yeah, funny I was so fixated on Olmos and laughing so much by the end, and suddenly was like, "Wait, did I see Whoopi??"


She was in Star Trek:TNG too. Wrong show. Ha.

>> ^RedSky:
Dang, beaten by 5 hours. Ending is so massively cheesy


But so cool. SO SAY WE ALL!

>> ^Raaagh:
How old is this? I seen Baulders gate...1 i think.


I remember playing BG back in 1999 or 2000, so I assume around those times.

As much flack as they have received, mostly deservedly, I have to sympathize with the No Mutants Allowed crowd.

Back in the nineties, western RPGs were epic, in depth interactive stories. They didn't have much to impress people with, so they poured their effort into the story and dialog.

As a result, I connected with those blurry, distant 2d figures. I can remember the names of every character I traveled with in Fallout 2, BG 1 & 2 and Planescape Torment. Yet, I can't remember a single character from Morrowind or Oblivion, and I played them far more recently.

Hopefully they'll find a way to combine the open worlds of today and brilliant writing of the nineties. Unfortunately I don't see that happening any time soon.

Thank you very much. Unfortunately it won't let me override the general background-color people's custom bg-color, so most people get a very bright contrast with the standard white bg color.

In reply to this comment by lucky760:
By the way, I love your profile styles. Really, really great look. Very stylish and feels solid without beating you over the face.

This gallery is awesome! Skillz are abound.
<sub>Thanks, I really needed the laugh.

ETA: I just realized how close my comment bg is to siftbot. o.o I'm so fashionable. n.n</sub>