Talk:Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn

Release date conflict
So it appears that there are reliable sources claiming different release dates.

We are claiming September 24, which is also what appears at CNET, however both [ http://www.amazon.com/Baldurs-Gate-II-Shadows-Collectors-Pc/dp/B00004XOWL Amazon] (the site that we cite the release date from) and IGN claim that it was released on September 22nd. What to do?  S ven M anguard  Wha?  23:43, 16 July 2013 (UTC)


 * Gamespot and Metacritic both say Sept. 24. Gamespy says Sept. 22. I'd tend to trust Gamespot's date, as they were one of the few video game site around back then. Also, there is another listing for BG2 at Amazon [ http://www.amazon.com/Baldurs-Gate-2-Shadows-Amn-Pc/dp/B00004KHB7 here] that says Sept 26, which makes me doubt their reliability. —Tourchiest talkedits 04:25, 17 July 2013 (UTC)


 * This matter is far more complicated, and I will work on it again. I believe that GameSpot could in fact be wrong, and that IGN is nearer to the mark. I have a source somewhere on my computer that says they (the developers, publishers) were happy to release before the weekend, or wanted to release then, or something along those lines. Now, September 24 was actually Sunday if I am not mistaken. I have always thought that September 24 is just the "conventional wisdom" release date (probably first propagated by GameSpot) but isn't strictly correct. GeoffreyA (talk) 09:33, 19 June 2017 (UTC)


 * Game launched 21 September:, . You shouldn't cite database/store pages. Both IGN's and GameSpot's have errors. Cite their articles instead.--The1337gamer (talk) 16:53, 20 August 2017 (UTC)

Directors or not
The sources need a better reading. Maybe they can not be labeled as "directors" but their contribution is shown very well:


 * Chris Avellone -  thanks to penning and designing large portions of games like the Baldur's Gate series (including the first console version, the blackberries decidedly action-driven Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance)  1


 * Feargus Urquhart -  a surge That started with the original Fallout and its sequel, then progressed - in remarkably rapid-fire succession - through games like Planescape: Torment, Icewind Dale and Baldur's Gate series (developed by BioWare under the guidance of Black Isle).  2

So not only it is historically recognized their contribution but also the contribution of Black Isle itself (the game in fact is published by Black Isle and Interplay). They were central figure of RPG games, in those years, especially Avellone, if they can not be labeled as directors, then it goes recognized their contribution as designers. Also where is the source that says that James Ohlen is the director? 82.49.196.107 (talk) 05:42, 11 February 2016 (UTC)
 * None of that mentions this game. 73.168.15.161 (talk) 12:20, 11 February 2016 (UTC)
 * 73.168 is correct. To list them with a specific credit for BGII, you need it explicitly stated in the source. Unfortunately, the sources do not even directly mention BGII. There's nothing we can really say with these sources. Note that if the BGII credits mention them and their role, that's enough to put them in the infobox. Unfortunately I only own the Enhanced Edition and don't know if it includes the full original credits, but will try to check later today. -- ferret (talk) 12:54, 11 February 2016 (UTC)

You guys are probably right, thinking about "specifity". But it is true that both sources specify Baldur's Gates series and makes you think about all the series, so both chapters of the game. Add to this then when Baldur's Gate III, was cancelled, and they could not develop it, they left Black Isle. So, it is for sure, that they had their weight in the series; and "series" in fact, means all the chapters of the game.

I understand the problematic, also this is a good article so it would be wrong to report something that is not. But would be a shame to not give them the right contributions they gave. Checking in the game credits is a good move, but yes it is "Enhanced" so don't know how useful and "original" could be. 82.49.196.107 (talk) 16:44, 11 February 2016 (UTC)
 * Your additions might be better served on the Baldur's Gate (series) article. 65.126.152.254 (talk) 22:12, 11 February 2016 (UTC)

BG2EE credits (which include original credits) lists Feargus as the "Black Isle Studios Division Director"... This isn't a creative credit so much as a company position, and wouldn't belong in the infobox. Avellone is not mentioned. The BGEE credits mention neither. Avellone's work seems to have been for Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (Where he is already listed in the Infobox). Feargus was the corporate director over Black Isle Studios and doesn't seem to be credited with any direct creative role for the games. As for the comment about James Ohlen, yes, he is directly credited as BG2's director of writing and design.-- ferret (talk) 23:12, 11 February 2016 (UTC)

Well, strange. For sure the credits are the best source, but I don't think that IGN says bullshit. I mean: if Feargus is mentioned in the credits it would be something of value, and I think IGN is right saying that BGates series is made by BioWare under the guidance of Black Isle. But on the opposite is true that Feargus was in Black Isle, and not in BioWare. Maybe his work was "external"; important but external. Don't know. But, yes, give up and leave thing how they are. Even the thing about Avellone can't be done, since he is not even mentioned in the game-credits of BG2 and BG1.

About James Ohlen: ok he is the director but even writer and designer, but he is not mentioned in the "designer(s)" section of infobox, and even the "writer(s)" section is empty. Should be add? It can make the article more clear and fill empty section of infobox; maybe with a source that says that he is listed on the game-credits. 82.49.196.107 (talk) 02:11, 12 February 2016 (UTC)
 * Ohlen's official credits in BG2:


 * Director of Writing and Design (We would put this in the infobox as Director)
 * Original Baldur's Gate Game Design (We don't put this in the infobox here. He is already listed as designer as Baldur's Gate)
 * Manual Writing and Editing (Not something we put in the Infobox)
 * Reading over the three games, Baldur's Gate, Baldur's Gate II, and Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, everything seems correct. Reading over Feargus Urquhart and Chris Avellone, they both seem to already be appropriately credited as well. -- ferret (talk) 12:29, 12 February 2016 (UTC)

Ok. I apologize I didn't know writer and design are put under "director". Anyway I recommend this new. It is about few days ago, it says that David Gaider moved to the team of Beamdog (those of Enhanced Editions, as I know). In his page he is already credited as contributor on BGII. Should be add in the infobox, as writer and designer? Maybe using this new as source? 82.49.196.107 (talk) 13:20, 12 February 2016 (UTC)
 * For BGII, David Gairder is listed as a "Designer". Kevin Martens is listed as "Lead Designer". Per the documentation rules of Template:Infobox video game, the infobox is correct in listing only Kevin Martens. For whatever reason, the BGII credits do not explicitly credit anyone as a "Writer", so we'll need to leave that field blank. I did add Mark Darrah, Ben Smedstad and Marcia Tofer to the infobox though, as they are directly credited as Lead Programmer, Producer and Art Director respectively. -- ferret (talk) 13:34, 12 February 2016 (UTC)

Well, it seems my contribution here is useless, and I'm out of ideas. But afterall it is a good article, so it doesn't need help anyway. 82.49.196.107 (talk) 14:10, 12 February 2016 (UTC)

Source

 * https://web.archive.org/web/20031004145056/http://www.gamespy.com/legacy/articles/cmbg2_a.shtm
 * https://web.archive.org/web/20020204093854/http://www.gamespot.fr/stories/news/0,1610,2024939,00.html - sales stuff
 * 10-page "post-game wrapup" from the creators (reuses some info from the Gamasutra article)
 * https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-2000-01/page/n23
 * Interview
 * https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-2000-01/page/n23
 * https://web.archive.org/web/20010119044300/http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/Textonly/0,78,0-3414,00.html
 * https://web.archive.org/web/20190113120342/http://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/web/die-spiele-der-saison-baldur-macht-das-rennen-a-100685.html - German sales analysis
 * Thank you! 2600:1700:E820:1BA0:F547:54CF:BB57:887D (talk) 02:50, 27 March 2018 (UTC)
 * Yes, thank you! I only saw the interview today, and it's really going to be a great aid to the development section. Much appreciated. GeoffreyA (talk) 12:12, 30 April 2018 (UTC)

David Warner
He was the voice of Jon Irenicus. It's very strange to me, the article praised the voice acting in this game, but his name is never mentioned? 139.138.6.121 (talk) 07:26, 24 February 2021 (UTC)
 * Do you have a citation for that? 98.32.192.121 (talk) 13:40, 24 February 2021 (UTC)
 * Some of you people can be absolutely insufferable. The David_Warner_(actor) ref. is right here in David Warner's article, on Wikipedia.  If you need more hand-holding, you can crack open the game's manual, or check IMDB. 139.138.6.121 (talk) 00:11, 26 February 2021 (UTC)
 * Why do you think other people should do the work of providing sources for you? 2601:249:8B80:4050:1C1F:AFFA:964D:46A3 (talk) 00:38, 26 February 2021 (UTC)
 * Providing sources *for ME*? I'm not the one that asked for source -- but I provided several anyway. 139.138.6.121 (talk) 01:05, 26 February 2021 (UTC)
 * Good point. I haven't edited the article in a long time, but if I get a chance, I'll try to mention him in the Reception section perhaps. RPGamer will be the source because I remember his praise of Warner, that he was the best of the voice actors. Which, indeed, he was. GeoffreyA (talk) 20:56, 23 January 2024 (UTC)

Linux version?
The info box reckoned the platforms include Linux, but the game's website only mentions Windows and (classic) MacOS. Being runnable under WINE doesn't count, does it?

The Enhanced Edition has a Linux (and Android and iOS and..) version. Lovingboth (talk) 15:27, 30 August 2021 (UTC)
 * Looks like it was added in 2015 by an infrequent editor with no source or further info. I didn't find anything at a glance that didn't mention Wine. -- ferret (talk) 16:38, 30 August 2021 (UTC)