Ironworks Gaming Forum - View Single Post - Throne of Bhaal

joetbd · 07-04-2001, 07:41 AM

"you can play it as if starting w/ a new game"

The thing that makes it an expansion is that it requires the original game discs. TOSC, and HOW (I think) could also be started as their own games. That did not make them full games.

"But it is most pertanent to compare it to Amn because it is the direct sequal to Amn. "

It is an add on, just as were the other expansions. So it should be compared in size and scope to the other expansions. Also, you should make a Icewind Dale- Heart of Winter style comparision, because that is the question the guy asked. Heart of Winter was really TINY and SHORT, and he wanted to know if TOB was the same. He did not ask if it fully matched SOA. Or at least, thats how I read it. You can compare it to the original full game, but why? There is no way it was going to be as big or good as the full game, which just came out months before. And as for the price, that’s what a rip off expansion goes for now days, see Diablo 2's expansion. They push them as full games, just enough, so they can sell them for higher prices, but at the same time, advertise them as expansions, to keep expectations low.

1) Baldur’s Gate - Tales of the Sword Coast
2) Ice Wind Dale - Heart of Winter
3) BG2 - TOB

There is a pattern here. The expansions have always been much smaller projects. Not only smaller in size, but they have also lacked the story telling and general depth of the original game. None of the expansions were as grand as the game it was milking. Why did you expect something different from the Throne of Bhaal expansion?

"if you are correct in your analysis (people craving a new game) then Blackisle made a huge blunder dumping a $30 expansion program."

I did not say there were millions of such people. I said: "These expansions are merely being put out, for the people that crave something (anything) new, because they have already played through the games, more then once sometimes." Maybe they rushed this one out the door, to beat the Diablo 2’s game out of the gate. Because Last year, IWD and D2 came out on the very same day.

They are looking to tap a mark of people who have burned out on playing the same SOA, people that want more. These people are not going to refuse a product just because it’s not as great as the last full game. The makers are looking to take that market and combine it with some new users, and get decent sales.

This expansion was the equivalent of a summer movie. Something fun, but its not going win any awards. Like Jurassic Park 3. If you liked seeing dinosaurs the first couple of times around, well here’s some more. Anyone expecting great things from JP3, well… good luck.

I guess the thing that got me going was the $75 price tag you suggested, for SOA. Few of us are confident enough in our ability to choose a game, costing that much money. Most of us would probably switch over to console games, like the xbox or PS2.

[This message has been edited by joetbd (edited 07-04-2001).]

07-04-2001, 07:41 AM	#17
joetbd Manshoon Join Date: June 6, 2001 Location: KC Posts: 164	"you can play it as if starting w/ a new game" The thing that makes it an expansion is that it requires the original game discs. TOSC, and HOW (I think) could also be started as their own games. That did not make them full games. "But it is most pertanent to compare it to Amn because it is the direct sequal to Amn. " It is an add on, just as were the other expansions. So it should be compared in size and scope to the other expansions. Also, you should make a Icewind Dale- Heart of Winter style comparision, because that is the question the guy asked. Heart of Winter was really TINY and SHORT, and he wanted to know if TOB was the same. He did not ask if it fully matched SOA. Or at least, thats how I read it. You can compare it to the original full game, but why? There is no way it was going to be as big or good as the full game, which just came out months before. And as for the price, that’s what a rip off expansion goes for now days, see Diablo 2's expansion. They push them as full games, just enough, so they can sell them for higher prices, but at the same time, advertise them as expansions, to keep expectations low. 1) Baldur’s Gate - Tales of the Sword Coast 2) Ice Wind Dale - Heart of Winter 3) BG2 - TOB There is a pattern here. The expansions have always been much smaller projects. Not only smaller in size, but they have also lacked the story telling and general depth of the original game. None of the expansions were as grand as the game it was milking. Why did you expect something different from the Throne of Bhaal expansion? "if you are correct in your analysis (people craving a new game) then Blackisle made a huge blunder dumping a $30 expansion program." I did not say there were millions of such people. I said: "These expansions are merely being put out, for the people that crave something (anything) new, because they have already played through the games, more then once sometimes." Maybe they rushed this one out the door, to beat the Diablo 2’s game out of the gate. Because Last year, IWD and D2 came out on the very same day. They are looking to tap a mark of people who have burned out on playing the same SOA, people that want more. These people are not going to refuse a product just because it’s not as great as the last full game. The makers are looking to take that market and combine it with some new users, and get decent sales. This expansion was the equivalent of a summer movie. Something fun, but its not going win any awards. Like Jurassic Park 3. If you liked seeing dinosaurs the first couple of times around, well here’s some more. Anyone expecting great things from JP3, well… good luck. I guess the thing that got me going was the $75 price tag you suggested, for SOA. Few of us are confident enough in our ability to choose a game, costing that much money. Most of us would probably switch over to console games, like the xbox or PS2. [This message has been edited by joetbd (edited 07-04-2001).]