Comments on: Qualified Yays: Planescape Re-Release?

By: Javier-de-Ass

Javier-de-Ass — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:27:58 +0000

Amazon are shipping these out right now btw.

By: Adam Whitehead

Adam Whitehead — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:47:11 +0000

It is a bit of a myth that the game ‘sank’. IIRC, it sold about 400,000 copies in its first two or three years on sale, which compares favourably to BALDUR’S GATE and BG2 (which have each ‘only’ sold 2 million copies apiece in ten years). However, the lack of an expansion – Black Isle didn’t seem to like them, considering how bad the one for ICEWIND DALE was – meant it couldn’t be re-released in a handy budget omnibus edition and they decided not to re-release it in packs with BG2 (despite some references in BG2 to the events of PST, and even some weapons showing up).

The other problem is that in 2000 PLANESCAPE ceased to exist as a separate entity (Wizards of the Coast folded the setting into core 3rd and now 4th Edition) and Wizards of the Coast seemed reluctant to allow the game to be re-released under the trademark. I’m not sure why, but that seems to be the only difference between TORMENT and the other Infinity games, which were all set in the FORGOTTEN REALMS (which remained and remains a separate trademark and license).

Either that or I’m misremembering it. Still, I know Avallone said they were going to do another PLANESCAPE game, not a sequel but something set in the same universe, but they got sidetracked by the ICEWIND DALE games (which were much easier to make) and then the original version of FALLOUT 3 (VAN BUREN) before Black Isle collapsed. Apparently it made enough money to make a sequel viable, anyway.

By: Carra

Carra — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:04:03 +0000

On gog.com for $30? That’s about three times as much as their most expensive game.

By: caleb

caleb — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:40:24 +0000

Yeah, it looks like I might have to bother one of the other writers over at the Dreamcast Junkyard.

By: Lars Westergren

Lars Westergren — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:58:45 +0000

Caleb – don’t you know anyone in the UK? Perhaps they could order one for you and mail it over.

By: Adam Whitehead

Adam Whitehead — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:14:30 +0000

I think what was meant was that strategically re-releasing FALLOUT 1, 2, BoS and TACTICS at the same time FO3 was coming out was a good idea, financially.

Interesting they’ve also gone with TORMENT. Maybe its recent appearances on many Best Game Evaaah lists had something to do with that, or they decided to subsidize TORMENT’s renaissance with FALLOUT money, which is fair enough. Doubt they’ll do the same for ICEWIND DALE though ;-)

By: caleb

caleb — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:48:53 +0000

Oh…it looks like UK only.

That sucks. I really want a physical copy of this game. If nothing else I want to be able to download it from somewhere…

By: caleb

caleb — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:46:36 +0000

PLEASE release this in NA!

I want a physical box and stuff…

By: Lars Westergren

Lars Westergren — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:21:46 +0000

Just to report this game seems to work fine in Windows 7 – I’ve installed the Widescreen mod, the GUI fix, the nvidia patch, and enabled software mirroring (else everyone breakdanced backwards when moving right).

By: Lucas

Lucas — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:29:46 +0000

Just be thankful Bethesda didn’t buy the rights to Torment along with the Fallout franchise.

By: Subject 706

Subject 706 — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:24:13 +0000

There are fan patches for that, y’know. I’ve got both Thief games and System Shock 2 running nice on Windows 7 64 bit.

By: Subject 706

Subject 706 — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:11:45 +0000

I’ll certainly buy it again if they release it in a digital format, so I don’t have to muck about with 4CD’s any more.