Exclusive IWD2 Preview at Sorcerer's Place

Taluntain · Sat, 13th Jul '02, 8:08pm

Sorcerer's Place is proud to announce the first preview of Icewind Dale II posted on the Internet. The article also comes with 80 screenshots, so it is definitely worth checking out:
http://www.sorcerers.net/Articles/iwd2_preview.htm

Turambar · Sat, 13th Jul '02, 9:12pm

Congratulations

That's really good

Ragusa · Sat, 13th Jul '02, 10:22pm

Very interesting report about my most highly anticipated game of the year

Extremist · Sun, 14th Jul '02, 3:21pm

One day, one day...
...Briareus will register here.

ejsmith · Sun, 14th Jul '02, 5:41pm

Eye candy has never been a problem with IwD. The interface looks a little improved. The only thing I could have possibly asked for different would have been a independent status log that you could alter the transparent level of, and make fill the entire game screen. Similiar to Diablo1 when you talk to someone. Sometimes, I'd like to be able to review dialogue one entire screen at a time, rather than just being able to see 10 at a time.

But I'm just nitpicking here. IwD2 really looks awesome. I hope the atmosphere really pulls you into the world. Again.

But the whole "Q3/2002" really has me chapped. When I preordered in late april, I didn't realize it was going to be after august before it comes out.

Orkrist the Cleaver · Sun, 14th Jul '02, 9:44pm

Great to see more of IWD2. I'm looking forward to playing it more than NWN, which is sitting right next to me awaiting a new soundcard.

Anyway, I was initially wary about the "new and improved" interface, but after looking at the screens it really does look improved. Another plus is more inventory. If the word about game length is true than its going to be awesome.

IWD captured more of the feel from the PnP days than the other IE games, but its close with BG1. I just hope the music is on the level of IWD1. I'm sure this will be worth the wait.

Mollusken · Sun, 14th Jul '02, 10:09pm

Good preview Tal. Getting pretty excited here now

. 2002 will be a gaming year to remember.

Mathetais · Mon, 15th Jul '02, 10:17pm

Tal, thanks a TON for wetting my appetite. Very cruel of you since there is no solid release date. Its kind of like showing a starving man a picture of a juicy steak, and then telling him to pre-order it! ARGH!

ejsmith · Mon, 15th Jul '02, 10:25pm

I'm really anxious to check out the 'feats' deal. It's like Fallout meets IwD. Since FO1 and IwD1 both kicked serious ***, it looks like a MAJOR step up from 2nd edition. The snow just makes it all that much better.

What I want now is to hear about the developers. I want to hear these guys griping about the 110 hours they are working per week to get this hammered out. Nun of this pansy 40 hours stuff; I want sacrifice.

NoW!

Extremist · Mon, 15th Jul '02, 10:31pm

NoW?

Now what's that? IWD2 expansion perhaps?
If HoW was Heart of Winter, then I guess NoW could be:
- Nose of Winter
- Navel of Winter (thanks to Tal for a clue)
- Node of Winter (thanks to Mat for a clue)

Rastor · Tue, 16th Jul '02, 9:39pm

It looks like the portraits and such were pulled right out of the original. Needless to say, the game looks great.

Atreides · Tue, 16th Jul '02, 10:01pm

I've been eagerly anticipating the sequal to IWD ever since Black Isle announced it earlier in the year. The preview here at SP has given me even more to look foreword too. The only thing that kind of has me worried is that games like NWN and Warcraft III will overshadow a potentially great game

Taluntain · Wed, 17th Jul '02, 12:22am

Rastor, as I said in my preview, all original portraits will be included with IWD2, but also many new ones.

eveningdrive · Wed, 17th Jul '02, 2:23am

WOW!

Great going Tal.

Now I really gotta get a bigger hard drive. All these Bioware games are just killing me.

Abyssal Knight · Wed, 17th Jul '02, 5:03am

Very cool. I never played the 1st one, but I am certainly going to play the 2nd one!

[This message has been edited by Abyssal Knight (edited July 17, 2002).]

Khazraj · Wed, 17th Jul '02, 1:14pm

Taluntain, in the interview there is mention of a Preview Copy of IWD2, is this a demo that can be downloaded or tested?

the_eleven · Wed, 17th Jul '02, 1:58pm

Khazraj, judging by that review that T$ put up here at S.P. it's most likely a 'beta test' that Taluntain had the opertunity to mess around with. So I'm guessing it's not avaliable to the masses.
BTW Taluntain, thanks for that phatty review. I'm deffintly looking forward to this game!

Extremist · Wed, 17th Jul '02, 5:08pm

Tal, two technical questions:
1. Is the console present?
2. Does Inf. Explorer work with it?

If both answers are "yes", what's stopping you to publish some Spells/Items/Pics/Creatures unavailable in the "lobotomized" game?

Taluntain · Wed, 17th Jul '02, 8:55pm

The preview copy is only available to the press, there is no demo.

Extremist, there's an option to toggle "Cheats" on in the config, so I'm pretty sure the console will be available in the final version. It didn't work now though.

And no, Infinity Explorer doesn't work on it. It only spews out an "unrecognized game" or something like that. So I'd have to extract pretty much everything manually at this point.

8people · Wed, 17th Jul '02, 9:32pm

I love this review thingy!

Mathetais · Thu, 18th Jul '02, 3:19pm

IS IT OUT YET?

Sheesh...I'm going to be starting a new job (probably)in a month, and I can't think of a better way to end my career with my present employer than by sitting alone in a conf. room playing IWD2!

Abyssal Knight · Wed, 24th Jul '02, 6:25am

Yeah really is there even one hint on when it is coming out?

[This message has been edited by Abyssal Knight (edited July 24, 2002).]

Mollusken · Wed, 24th Jul '02, 9:22am

No other hints than Black Isle stating that is sooooo almost finished. They're just removing bugs from the game. Shouldn't take forever.

Taluntain · Wed, 24th Jul '02, 10:45am

My guess is early August.

ejsmith · Wed, 24th Jul '02, 3:51pm

Yeah, July 1st is Q3. I bet right now all the QA geeks aren't getting any sleep.

Which is the way it *shooooould* be...

/me cracks whip.

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Sat, 13th Jul '02, 8:08pm	#1
Taluntain SPS Account Holder Founder Resident Alpha and Omega Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Cori Celesti Posts: 20,808 Blog Entries: 13 Like: 159 Liked 124 Times in 80 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 53,170 Level: 58 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 50.18% Daily Activity 71.92% Weekly Activity 174.25% Monthly Activity 105% Achievements Awards	Sorcerer's Place is proud to announce the first preview of Icewind Dale II posted on the Internet. The article also comes with 80 screenshots, so it is definitely worth checking out: http://www.sorcerers.net/Articles/iwd2_preview.htm

Sat, 13th Jul '02, 9:12pm	#2
Turambar Gems: 13/31 Latest gem: Ziose Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Lierskogen, Norway Posts: 518 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 1,161 Level: 11 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 68.45% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	Congratulations That's really good

Sat, 13th Jul '02, 10:22pm	#3
Ragusa Eternal Halfling Paladin Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: ... this world, where reality beats satire ... Posts: 10,131 Like: 5 Liked 17 Times in 12 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 25,505 Level: 43 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 92.66% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	Very interesting report about my most highly anticipated game of the year

Sun, 14th Jul '02, 3:21pm	#4
Extremist Gems: 31/31 Latest gem: Rogue Stone Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Croatia Posts: 4,366 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 9,532 Level: 29 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 22.3% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	One day, one day... ...Briareus will register here.

Sun, 14th Jul '02, 5:41pm	#5
ejsmith Gems: 25/31 Latest gem: Moonbar Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Over the rainbow Posts: 2,238 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 5,128 Level: 22 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 39.87% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	Eye candy has never been a problem with IwD. The interface looks a little improved. The only thing I could have possibly asked for different would have been a independent status log that you could alter the transparent level of, and make fill the entire game screen. Similiar to Diablo1 when you talk to someone. Sometimes, I'd like to be able to review dialogue one entire screen at a time, rather than just being able to see 10 at a time. But I'm just nitpicking here. IwD2 really looks awesome. I hope the atmosphere really pulls you into the world. Again. But the whole "Q3/2002" really has me chapped. When I preordered in late april, I didn't realize it was going to be after august before it comes out.

Sun, 14th Jul '02, 9:44pm	#6
Orkrist the Cleaver Gems: 13/31 Latest gem: Ziose Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 599 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 2,184 Level: 15 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 43.46% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	Great to see more of IWD2. I'm looking forward to playing it more than NWN, which is sitting right next to me awaiting a new soundcard. Anyway, I was initially wary about the "new and improved" interface, but after looking at the screens it really does look improved. Another plus is more inventory. If the word about game length is true than its going to be awesome. IWD captured more of the feel from the PnP days than the other IE games, but its close with BG1. I just hope the music is on the level of IWD1. I'm sure this will be worth the wait.

Sun, 14th Jul '02, 10:09pm	#7
Mollusken SPS Account Holder Decayed Feature Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Norway Posts: 1,952 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 5,366 Level: 22 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 84.61% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	Good preview Tal. Getting pretty excited here now . 2002 will be a gaming year to remember.

Mon, 15th Jul '02, 10:17pm	#8
Mathetais Gems: 28/31 Latest gem: Star Sapphire Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Moving Posts: 2,767 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 6,733 Level: 25 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 19.04% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	Tal, thanks a TON for wetting my appetite. Very cruel of you since there is no solid release date. Its kind of like showing a starving man a picture of a juicy steak, and then telling him to pre-order it! ARGH!

Mon, 15th Jul '02, 10:25pm	#9
ejsmith Gems: 25/31 Latest gem: Moonbar Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Over the rainbow Posts: 2,238 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 5,128 Level: 22 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 39.87% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	I'm really anxious to check out the 'feats' deal. It's like Fallout meets IwD. Since FO1 and IwD1 both kicked serious ***, it looks like a MAJOR step up from 2nd edition. The snow just makes it all that much better. What I want now is to hear about the developers. I want to hear these guys griping about the 110 hours they are working per week to get this hammered out. Nun of this pansy 40 hours stuff; I want sacrifice. NoW!

Mon, 15th Jul '02, 10:31pm	#10
Extremist Gems: 31/31 Latest gem: Rogue Stone Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Croatia Posts: 4,366 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 9,532 Level: 29 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 22.3% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	NoW? Now what's that? IWD2 expansion perhaps? If HoW was Heart of Winter, then I guess NoW could be: - Nose of Winter - Navel of Winter (thanks to Tal for a clue) - Node of Winter (thanks to Mat for a clue)

Tue, 16th Jul '02, 9:39pm	#11
Rastor FFG's Baatorian Mate Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Avernus Posts: 3,533 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 7,942 Level: 27 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 4.06% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	It looks like the portraits and such were pulled right out of the original. Needless to say, the game looks great.

Tue, 16th Jul '02, 10:01pm	#12
Atreides Gems: 7/31 Latest gem: Tchazar Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Arlington Tx. Posts: 241 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 888 Level: 10 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 37.91% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	I've been eagerly anticipating the sequal to IWD ever since Black Isle announced it earlier in the year. The preview here at SP has given me even more to look foreword too. The only thing that kind of has me worried is that games like NWN and Warcraft III will overshadow a potentially great game

Wed, 17th Jul '02, 12:22am	#13
Taluntain SPS Account Holder Founder Resident Alpha and Omega Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Cori Celesti Posts: 20,808 Blog Entries: 13 Like: 159 Liked 124 Times in 80 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 53,170 Level: 58 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 50.18% Daily Activity 71.92% Weekly Activity 174.25% Monthly Activity 105% Achievements Awards	Rastor, as I said in my preview, all original portraits will be included with IWD2, but also many new ones.

Wed, 17th Jul '02, 2:23am	#14
eveningdrive Gems: 8/31 Latest gem: Skydrop Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Manila, the Philippines Posts: 281 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 1,075 Level: 11 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 29.59% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	WOW! Great going Tal. Now I really gotta get a bigger hard drive. All these Bioware games are just killing me.

Wed, 17th Jul '02, 5:03am	#15
Abyssal Knight Gems: 10/31 Latest gem: Zircon Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Abyss Posts: 380 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 1,243 Level: 12 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 5.1% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	Very cool. I never played the 1st one, but I am certainly going to play the 2nd one! [This message has been edited by Abyssal Knight (edited July 17, 2002).]

Wed, 17th Jul '02, 1:14pm	#16
Khazraj Gems: 20/31 Latest gem: Garnet Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 1,257 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 3,629 Level: 19 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 27.56% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	Taluntain, in the interview there is mention of a Preview Copy of IWD2, is this a demo that can be downloaded or tested?

Wed, 17th Jul '02, 1:58pm	#17
the_eleven Gems: 14/31 Latest gem: Chrysoberyl Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Chicago Posts: 621 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 631 Level: 8 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 92.75% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	Khazraj, judging by that review that T$ put up here at S.P. it's most likely a 'beta test' that Taluntain had the opertunity to mess around with. So I'm guessing it's not avaliable to the masses. BTW Taluntain, thanks for that phatty review. I'm deffintly looking forward to this game!

Wed, 17th Jul '02, 5:08pm	#18
Extremist Gems: 31/31 Latest gem: Rogue Stone Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Croatia Posts: 4,366 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 9,532 Level: 29 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 22.3% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	Tal, two technical questions: 1. Is the console present? 2. Does Inf. Explorer work with it? If both answers are "yes", what's stopping you to publish some Spells/Items/Pics/Creatures unavailable in the "lobotomized" game?

Wed, 17th Jul '02, 8:55pm	#19
Taluntain SPS Account Holder Founder Resident Alpha and Omega Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Cori Celesti Posts: 20,808 Blog Entries: 13 Like: 159 Liked 124 Times in 80 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 53,170 Level: 58 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 50.18% Daily Activity 71.92% Weekly Activity 174.25% Monthly Activity 105% Achievements Awards	The preview copy is only available to the press, there is no demo. Extremist, there's an option to toggle "Cheats" on in the config, so I'm pretty sure the console will be available in the final version. It didn't work now though. And no, Infinity Explorer doesn't work on it. It only spews out an "unrecognized game" or something like that. So I'd have to extract pretty much everything manually at this point.

Wed, 17th Jul '02, 9:32pm	#20
8people SPS Account Holder 8 is just another way of looking at infinite Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Chirofen Posts: 7,140 Blog Entries: 252 Like: 63 Liked 17 Times in 15 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 19,563 Level: 39 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 44.44% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	I love this review thingy!

Thu, 18th Jul '02, 3:19pm	#21
Mathetais Gems: 28/31 Latest gem: Star Sapphire Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Moving Posts: 2,767 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 6,733 Level: 25 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 19.04% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	IS IT OUT YET? Sheesh...I'm going to be starting a new job (probably)in a month, and I can't think of a better way to end my career with my present employer than by sitting alone in a conf. room playing IWD2!

Wed, 24th Jul '02, 6:25am	#22
Abyssal Knight Gems: 10/31 Latest gem: Zircon Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Abyss Posts: 380 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 1,243 Level: 12 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 5.1% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	Yeah really is there even one hint on when it is coming out? [This message has been edited by Abyssal Knight (edited July 24, 2002).]

Wed, 24th Jul '02, 9:22am	#23
Mollusken SPS Account Holder Decayed Feature Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Norway Posts: 1,952 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 5,366 Level: 22 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 84.61% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	No other hints than Black Isle stating that is sooooo almost finished. They're just removing bugs from the game. Shouldn't take forever.

Wed, 24th Jul '02, 10:45am	#24
Taluntain SPS Account Holder Founder Resident Alpha and Omega Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Cori Celesti Posts: 20,808 Blog Entries: 13 Like: 159 Liked 124 Times in 80 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 53,170 Level: 58 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 50.18% Daily Activity 71.92% Weekly Activity 174.25% Monthly Activity 105% Achievements Awards	My guess is early August.

Wed, 24th Jul '02, 3:51pm	#25
ejsmith Gems: 25/31 Latest gem: Moonbar Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Over the rainbow Posts: 2,238 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 5,128 Level: 22 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 39.87% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	Yeah, July 1st is Q3. I bet right now all the QA geeks aren't getting any sleep. Which is the way it shooooould be... /me cracks whip.