OS X BG II Enhanced Edition, Beamdog purchase

[Solomani]

Hi all,

I wanted to ask those players who had already purchased/played either the Baldurs Gate I EE or the newly-released BGIIEE this week…..

My question is about multi-player. If I purchase directly from the developers Beamdog, does that mean my copy (for OSX) can play cross-platform multiplayer with other Mac and PC players? Only is it only Mac-to-Mac and PC-to-PC online play?

And does anyone (yet) know if the new BGIIEE if purchased from Beamdog… does it secretly (e.g. something they fail to mention on their website) require me to use a Steam account to even play the game? Believe it or not, some online games are starting to do this now, they put in tiny small print that you eventually require a Steam account to play/activate, yet they don't mention it anywhere else in their initial advertising of the game, even when the game is sold outside of Steam by a 3rd party distributor.

 

[Cougarcat]

Yes, it's Mac-PC. No, it does not require Steam.

 

[Dirtyharry50]

I plan to get it on the App Store myself. I don't know how long Beamdog will be around but I feel safer with the App Store not going anywhere anytime soon.

As for Steam, they still haven't even released the Mac version of the first game there yet. I wonder if they even have any plans to. Why? I have no idea. The new game is on Steam for Windows only presently. There is no Steamplay version currently available.

I bought the first game on the App Store too.

I'd be hesitant to invest much time in playing it yet as early reports on the Windows side indicate the initial release is buggy just like last time. On a bright note they did ultimately patch up the first game and so one can reasonably hope they'll fix this one up with a patch or two.

See the game's official forums for further info on the issues being reported by Windows users so far.

 

[Cougarcat]

I plan to get it on the App Store myself. I don't know how long Beamdog will be around but I feel safer with the App Store not going anywhere anytime soon.

I'd go with Beamdog as it's the only way you'll get updates in a timely fashion, due to the MAS approval process. Just back up your copy if you're concerned about Beamdog's longevity.

As for Steam, they still haven't even released the Mac version of the first game there yet. I wonder if they even have any plans to. Why? I have no idea.

Atari has been handling the Steam version, you'd have to ask them. Although, supposedly Beamdog finally got direct Steam access to release the latest BG1 patch, so maybe this will change soon.

 

[Solomani]

This is the first weekend of release. I peeked at the Beamdog forums. Both Mac and PC users are having installation problems and snafus.

Maybe wait a week or two until these problems are resolved?

And interestingly, at least 2 forum posters at Beamdog forums are upset because one of the main NPCs is "bisexual" (he can tilt either way; apparently there is romantic relationships included in the game, LOL).

 

[Washac]

This is the first weekend of release. I peeked at the Beamdog forums. Both Mac and PC users are having installation problems and snafus.

Maybe wait a week or two until these problems are resolved?

And interestingly, at least 2 forum posters at Beamdog forums are upset because one of the main NPCs is "bisexual" (he can tilt either way; apparently there is romantic relationships included in the game, LOL).

Or nearly a year as in BG Enhanced Edition =(

 

[Solomani]

Or nearly a year as in BG Enhanced Edition =(

No, that's not a fair comparison. The delay of The Big Patch for BGEE1 was due to some legal or licensing snafu with Atari. You knew that, right? It's really not a good indicator of how fast Beamdog can muster up some bug fixes.

My understanding is that the legal/licensing snafu has been settled and cleared.

 

[Washac]

No, that's not a fair comparison. The delay of The Big Patch for BGEE1 was due to some legal or licensing snafu with Atari. You knew that, right? It's really not a good indicator of how fast Beamdog can muster up some bug fixes.

My understanding is that the legal/licensing snafu has been settled and cleared.

Not the point really they sold a game that was not fit for purpose and still needs work on it, end of.

 

[Cougarcat]

This is the first weekend of release. I peeked at the Beamdog forums. Both Mac and PC users are having installation problems and snafus.

Maybe wait a week or two until these problems are resolved?

And interestingly, at least 2 forum posters at Beamdog forums are upset because one of the main NPCs is "bisexual" (he can tilt either way; apparently there is romantic relationships included in the game, LOL).

That's more sad than interesting. Romance was in the original, it's nothing new.

Not the point really they sold a game that was not fit for purpose and still needs work on it, end of.

And the legal issues didn't enter the picture until five or six months after release.

 

[Dirtyharry50]

I'd go with Beamdog as it's the only way you'll get updates in a timely fashion, due to the MAS approval process. Just back up your copy if you're concerned about Beamdog's longevity.



Atari has been handling the Steam version, you'd have to ask them. Although, supposedly Beamdog finally got direct Steam access to release the latest BG1 patch, so maybe this will change soon.

The latest patch (1.2 I think it is) came to MAS in a timely enough fashion. It was only a few days after it was announced that my MAS copy updated. I can live with that.

I just know what I see as far as where it is has been and is releasing for both 1 and 2. Right now, it is not Steamplay on launch for some reason but it is supposed to be releasing on MAS soon if I recall correctly. I suppose it may also release on Steam too which would be fine but I will believe it when I see it.

I actually prefer Steam but I am fine with MAS if something is there and not on Steam. I have not had any negative experience with MAS at all personally.