Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition has been announced to much fanfare and it looks like it will be getting a Linux version. Well sort of, maybe, we aren't quite sure.
Direct Link
The problem is "Linux" has only been mentioned once that we can see, and that's on their Steam coming soon button. It's not mentioned in any other announcement or their FAQ, but this is still on their official site.
We have reached out to Trent Oster about IWD:EE for clarification:
@TrentOster can you confirm IWD:EE will be on Linux? It mentions it on the steam image, but no where else? Bit confusing!
— GamingOnLinux (@gamingonlinux) August 31, 2014
No reply as of yet.
We always suggest holding off on buying anything until the Linux version is actually downloadable. We will update this article if we do get a reply, but if you see one elsewhere about it be sure to email us.
For someone like myself who always wanted to play the original and never got around to it this is exciting! I just wish they were more bloody clear about it.
About Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition
In the northernmost reaches of the Forgotten Realms lies the region of icy tundra known as Icewind Dale. Journey deep into the Spine of the World mountains, a harsh and unforgiving territory settled by only the hardiest folk. Beneath the carven glaciers and mountainsides, you must confront an evil that schemes to wreak destruction upon the face of Faerûn. This is the world of Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition.
Originally released in 2000, Icewind Dale is a Dungeons & Dragons game set in Wizards of The Coast's legendary Forgotten Realms. This Enhanced Edition allows players to experience the epic adventure on PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Android tablets and phones, and includes a host of new features.
Baldur's Gate
So, with the Steam button saying Linux why are we so confused? They are the same developers behind Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition which was announced to be coming to Linux in December 2012, and it still hasn't managed to surface. We do have a rather unhelpful update below on that though:
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.@IGerth News is we plan on shipping Linux on steam as part of our upcoming Steamplay support.
— Trent Oster (@TrentOster) August 31, 2014
Good to see you writing lots of articles again btw :)
also:
treating the linux gaming community as third rate peopleto be honest, technically we are just that :P
to be honest, technically we are just that :Ptechnically we are first rate people but numerically we are indeed third rate. I hope steambox will bring alot of new gamers and linux adepts
never could go back to the "horrible" graphics just for the gameplay
I personally think the graphics of the Infinity engine games are beautiful.
And if you're talking about the small screen space because of the low resolution: there's a mod for that.
to me the story is much weaker than both Baldur's Gates
Of course. The two Icewind Dale games were always meant as low story actiony titles. Planescape: Torment is the opposite: high in story and low in combat. The Baldur's Gate games are kind of in the middle, balancing story and action.
FutureSuture Sep 1, 2014
oldrocker99 Sep 1, 2014
Those are the games I am waiting for, at any rate. I did support both on Kickstarter (after getting excited over Wasteland 2), so it's just a matter of time.
lnever could go back to the "horrible" graphics just for the gameplay.So you value graphics more than gameplay?
lnever could go back to the "horrible" graphics just for the gameplay.So you value graphics more than gameplay?
I personally, if I'm being honest, value both. I want good game play, but I really want good graphics and sound too. I'm not saying I won't play a game without these things, but I am biased toward good graphics and sound design, because the reason I play video games is for total immersion. I want to feel like I'm in another world. If a game has no voice actors and 8bit graphics, why am I even bothering playing it on the computer? I might as well just go play a tabletop game at that point.
I am, however, mostly a player of RPG. So maybe that's different for people who play games just for the gaming/puzzle aspect.
oldrocker99 Sep 2, 2014
I play mostly arcade, action, fighting, adventure, puzzle, survival horror, and RPG, and I just can't stand pixels. I think they look OK with scanlines or in very small screens because the pixels get hidden and they look more like rudimentary drawings, but on clean LCD monitors they look absolutely horrendous to me. I really don't get this "retro" "pixel art" revival thing. I've always adored chiptune though.
Looks alone won't make a decent game, but gameplay alone also won't IMO. I like simple and 2D graphics (in fact, hand-drawn graphics are my favorite), just not ye olde ugly pixels.
Well as I stated above, Torment and Pillars of Eternity are just that kind of games!
I personally, if I'm being honest, value both. I want good game play, but I really want good graphics and sound too. I'm not saying I won't play a game without these things, but I am biased toward good graphics and sound design, because the reason I play video games is for total immersion. I want to feel like I'm in another world. If a game has no voice actors and 8bit graphics, why am I even bothering playing it on the computer? I might as well just go play a tabletop game at that point.I'm an almost strictly RPG player as well and I have found that the immersion I get because of the atmosphere and the gameplay has nothing to do with graphics. Good story can place your mind in a new world. Good graphics cannot. But when I say RPG, I mean RPG. Not just action, hack n slash games with lvl up system like Diablo or Torchlight.
I am, however, mostly a player of RPG. So maybe that's different for people who play games just for the gaming/puzzle aspect.
Go try some games like Darklands, Ultima7 and Planescape Torment and I assure you that you will see how meaningless the graphics are.
I really don't get this "retro" "pixel art" revival thing. I've always adored chiptune though.I agree 100% :)
Looks alone won't make a decent game, but gameplay alone also won't IMO. I like simple and 2D graphics (in fact, hand-drawn graphics are my favorite), just not ye olde ugly pixels.
Fortunately, the old DOSBOX games I buy from GOG seem quite decent in my 1280X800 laptop with scaler hq3x.
Changed Depots
228283/config/oslist: linux
228283/name: Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition for Linux
Hi, we're testing the linux build now. If you'd like to try it out use 'marchofpenguins' to unlock the beta. Please let me know if it works or doesn't for you.
http://steamcommunity.com/app/228280/discussions/0/864958088313803405/#c616189106529249059
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