Baldur's Gate 4???

[rebel3_6_1]

This thought just came to me. Baldur's Gate 1 was tremendously successful and Baldur's Gate 2 surpassed Baldur's Gate 1. If they do release a Baldur's Gate 3 and if it is as successful as the first two, it's likely someone would make a Baldur's Gate 4, and possibly a Baldur's Gate 5 after that. Is it possible that Baldur's Gate could become a huge franchise like Ultima, Final Fantasy, or Breath of Fire? Anyways, that's just a thought.

This also makes me realize that almost all of the Final Fantasy games were unrelated to each other, and most of them were good. Baldur's Gate 3 wouldn't necessarily have to be tied in to BG 1&2 to be good if they have creative writers and innovative designers working on it.

[Xandax]

Interesting thought actually - but I'd wait untill we know more about BG3 before I will draw conclusions about the "path" of BG-name

[me0w]

One thing to dampen your thoughts though. Ultima, Final Fantasy, Breath of Fire, etc. They all had names that to be honest had nothing to do with there story. They all were totaly different from #1 - #2 - #3, etc. Also, the company's behind those games had not released similar games on different time periods, story's etc, like Interplay. Interplay have already released PS:Torment, Fallout, Baldurs Gate, Icewind Dale. Because of these reasons, I really doubt they have Seriously stray from the story. Otherwise, 1 there just using the name as a franchise, which is a *****, 2 they would piss off alot of people.

[rebel3_6_1]

I'm not saying that it's etched in stone that BG will become a huge franchise. As I understand we are still not 100% certain that BG 3 is even going to happen, although it does seem inevitible-if not now, sometime in the future. But if BG 3 is done well, I have no doubt that it will sell millions of copies, and if Baldur's Gate 3 sells millions of copies, someone will want to make a Baldur's Gate 4. As far as straying from the story, it's pretty obvious that the Bhaalspawn saga is over. I don't see Baldur's Gate 3 being anything more than loosely related to the first two, possibly similar to the way Breath of Fire 2 is related to the first Breath of Fire. A couple of references to the earlier characters, and the towns remaining more or less the same. The games would obviously have to take place in Faerun, but as far as the games having names that don't relate to the story, the name Baldur's Gate hardly refers to the bhaalspawn story. You could name Baldur's Gate 2 "Athkatla" and it would be more relevant than "Baldur's Gate 2" considering that you never travel north of Amn.

[Tower_Master]

The one problem I deduce is that of storyline.

SPOILERS (feel free to stop reading).

At the end of BGII: Throne of Bhaal, the remainder of the NPC's lives were summed up. Admittedly, there are several that could be brought back, or the game could continue without them (as another "thread" discusses), but there is also the singular problem of the "PC". What if you chose to ascend to deityhood at the end of ToB? Would you just pretend that never happened? And are we to believe that the "PC" would continue infinitely onward, never dying, without drawing the attention of SOMEONE (or SOMETHING) more powerful, thus obliterating him/her? And would the purpoted games be the same if, like Final Fantasy, they completely branched away from the Bhaalspawn? I have no answers...only these questions.

[Xandax]

It is not unthinkable that the Baldurs Gate name would become a franchise-name if Baldurs Gate 3 became a success. Then it wouldn't be unlikely that a BG4 would be made.

And of course, they can't continue the Bhaalspawn storyline, and they can't continue the same playercharacter - that is quite obvious.
The rumor is even that BG3 will not continue the Bhaalspawn, but take place before BG1's storyline.

[Adahn]

What about the fact that Black Isle don't exist no more? huh? Do you guys really think the game is going to be as good? Or is it just going to become some crap fest like Temple of Elemental Evil? Or Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance? I think i'll just wait until it come out, and you guys try it out. I'm not going to risk buying a game, that's probably going to mess up the last two.

[Daveron]

I think there is a very high chance of there being a bg4 or even a bg5. The only problem with this pheory is the story... hmmm

[rebel3_6_1]

Originally Posted by Adahn

What about the fact that Black Isle don't exist no more? huh? Do you guys really think the game is going to be as good? Or is it just going to become some crap fest like Temple of Elemental Evil? Or Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance? I think i'll just wait until it come out, and you guys try it out. I'm not going to risk buying a game, that's probably going to mess up the last two.

As far as Black Isle not existing anymore, it doesn't necessarily have to be the same company, or even the same people for that matter, who make BG games. Breath of Fire 1, as I recall, was released by squaresoft whereas the subsequent BOF's have been released by Capcom. I'm not sure the exact reasons for this, but a game can make a successful series despite not being released by the same company. I would like the BG team to work on BG3, but it isn't a necessity as long as they get good people. C'mon guys, the BG team was great, but there are other creative people in the world.

I plan on buying the game when it comes out, regardless of whether it's a "crapfest" or not simply because I loved the first 2 so much. Yep, I'm one of those people who will buy a game because I love the prequel. Sometimes it does lead to me being rather dissappointed, but other times I'm glad I'm that way.

[Adahn]

Originally Posted by rebel3_6_1

other times I'm glad I'm that way.

Well good for you I say. - You sure you're not on drugs?

[garazdawi]

I have always thought of NWN as a kind of BG3 and I would not be surprised if the story around BG3 relates to both BG1&2 and NWN events in someway. I'm pretty sure that there atleast will be references made. As for going on to Bg4 and so on it really depends on how well this game makes it. If it brings in enough money then it will surely be continued until such a time when it doesn't bring in money any more....

[Bad Karma]

Okay, so lemme get this straight. BGIII looms on the horizon, none of us know ANYTHING about it (let's not kid ourselves here, because we don't), and you're looking forward to a fourth and fifth game in the series? Don't get so far ahead of yourself.

[afterblue]

Baldur's gate can go as long as it wants to. Here are just a few of the spin offs.

1. What about the time before your current NPC was born. Maybe you could enlist the likes of Thundersmith, Elminister and Gorion himself to aid yourself in the quest.

2. It could be several generations after your NPC, maybe the descendant of your current character who thinks he is a mortal child of normal parents who is thrust into adventure. You could meet characters who descended from your old henchmen. What about a young female ranger who roams around with a hamster and is ready for righteous butt kicking?

3. You might have become a God or a mortal, but the world is still not at peace because of the current Lord of Murder, the lord of trickery. Maybe he wants to start having mortal offspring to ensure he can be resurrected. If you are a God, you could have some amazing NPCs working with you, Solars, Planetars, Fiends, Demons. If you are mortal, maybe your first quest is to go looking for all your old hench men, and that itself would be interesting. Maybe some are dead, maybe some do not wish to return to the world of adventuring, it would be so much fun to persuade them (for old time's sake). If you have married the NPC you romanced, maybe their death triggers off your need to go on the quest.

[WARLORD HECTOR]

Why not!!!

BG has it's own fans, and there can be very different storylines. It could be that Black Isle leaves the project like Van Buren. But that means not there will be not a BG3.

I like'd the first two, and will also buy the 3. one (if it happens). I enjoyed them much much more as NWN. Hopefullyit would not take long for the new game (like Fallout3)...

[Xandax]

I am not sure what you mean, but Black Isle is no more - and haven't been for a while, so they have not been connected to Baldurs Gate for a long time. And furthermore Van Burren has been killed by Interplay some time ago.