Game News Bard's Tale IV Kickstarter Update #5: Original Bard's Tale Trilogy Rerelease

[Dehumanizer]

Which version of BT I-III is considered "the best" version? Apple II, Amiga, DOS, etc.?

Apple II

Why? (not said in a sarcastic tone but actual curiosity)

I am going by memory, better graphics, also Burger made the complete port on that platform so it had the least bugs and the most improvements, is basically the most recent version.

That's correct, but it's Apple IIGS, not regular Apple II.

If you have the comedy Bard's Tale, the included emulated versions are Apple IIGS for BT1-2 and Apple II for BT3 (even though it's still running on a IIGS emulator -- the machine was backward compatible with the regular II). That's why BT3 looks and sounds completely different (and much worse), not even having mouse support. The reason for that is that by the time BT3 came out, the IIGS was mostly dead (Apple never promoted or supported it because they saw it as competing with the Mac), so it never got a BT3 version, even though I think I remember Rebecca recently saying that she had it mostly ready for release. I'm assuming the new version of BT3 will be based on that.

As for the machines themselves, the Apple II (being a late 70s machine) looked and sounded far worse than a Commodore 64, while the IIGS looked as good and could sound even better than an Amiga (though it was somewhat slower).

 

[Darkzone]

Which version of BT I-III is considered "the best" version? Apple II, Amiga, DOS, etc.?

Yes Apple IIGS is mostly considered as the "best" version, but i prefer the C64 version.

 

[Dehumanizer]

Yes Apple IIGS is mostly considered as the "best" version, but i prefer the C64 version.

I agree that the C64 versions of all three games have a special charm of their own (and are also less buggy than the PC and Amiga versions). However, the load times are terrible, especially in the first game (BT3 is much better in that respect), even under emulation.

 

[Kersey]

I agree that the C64 versions of all three games have a special charm of their own (and are also less buggy than the PC and Amiga versions). However, the load times are terrible, especially in the first game (III is much better in that respect), even under emulation.

Under emulation there are a couple of ways around that for the first game that I've found. There's a hacked disk version floating around somewhere that doesn't include the EA fastloader on the boot disk and it works in WinVICE with the 'true drive emulation' option turned off, which pretty much completely gets rid of the loading times. Though I can't guarantee this doesn't introduce any problems at all later on, I've played it like this for a good while into the first dungeon with no problems. The other way is to use the tape version, which doesn't include all the graphics and makes saving a hassle - but there are no loading times apart from loading the program into memory which is of course very fast with emulation.

Now, if only I could find such a comfortable way to play Bard's Tale II on the C64...

 

[Brother None]

The reason for that is that by the time BT3 came out, the IIGS was mostly dead (Apple never promoted or supported it because they saw it as competing with the Mac), so it never got a BT3 version, even though I think I remember Rebecca recently saying that she had it mostly ready for release. I'm assuming the new version of BT3 will be based on that.

Yup, Rebecca will base all versions on the IIGS versions, including the unreleased IIGS version of BT3.

 

[Dorateen]

If this gets funded by/over the weekend, I want a stretch goal for party creation size larger than 4.

 

[Darth Slaughter]

If this gets funded by/over the weekend, I want a stretch goal for party creation size larger than 4.

And that i'm able to transfer my bt 1-2-3 roster, even if it's cosmetical.

 

[Drax]

I wonder why Electronic Arts' evil mysteriously seems to vanish when Fargo talks to them.

We are starting to see the result of Lord Avellone's appointment in the battle against the darkness.

 

[Darkzone]

If this gets funded by/over the weekend, I want a stretch goal for party creation size larger than 4.

The 1.3mio stretch goal is for two CNPC's, form which you can hire one at the time. So in other words there are 6 spaces in the party: 4 for PCs, 1 CNPC and one for a summon. The first bard's tale had 7 spaces and 1 of them was for the summon. In Bard's Tale III all of the 7 spaces were for the PCs. So perhaps there will be a stretch goal for one additional space, which presumably can be filled with one additional PC or CNPC. I would prefer a NPC, in the way that WL1 has made: 4 PC and 3 CNPC or so.

 

[MurkyShadow]

And that i'm able to transfer my bt 1-2-3 roster, even if it's cosmetical.

Wait. Just let me plug in my olde C-64, transfer back those save files from cassette over my datasette
to a 5 1/4" disk. Now I just need my occult transfer cable to plug the 1541 drive to my PC, get those
saves over and test them in an emulator. Yes, yes, looking good.

 

[Dorateen]

Darkzone That's why we need an additional stretch goal so that players can screw the CNPCs and have a full Bard's Tale party.

 

[Decado]

Kinda wishing the the new versions would be based off the PC Compatible version that I played on my Tandy 1000 HX.

Edit: Looking at the screenshots of the game on the IIGS, they appear identical. I didn't know! Good news for me.

 

[Darkzone]

So a stretch goal for a possible / optional 6 PCs and one Summon party, like from the Bard's Tale: Tales of the Unknown.

 

[Dehumanizer]

And that i'm able to transfer my bt 1-2-3 roster, even if it's cosmetical.

Wait. Just let me plug in my olde C-64, transfer back those save files from cassette over my datasette
to a 5 1/4" disk. Now I just need my occult transfer cable to plug the 1541 drive to my PC, get those
saves over and test them in an emulator. Yes, yes, looking good.

Yes, I don't think importing from those versions is doable. Importing from the new remastered versions should be, though. And maybe from the old DOS versions, too.

 

[LESS T_T]

 

[Alchemist]

The latest Matt Chat has an interview with Burger Becky about the plans for the remastered trilogy.



Key take-aways:

• Will run natively on Windows - this is a real port and not emulated
• Apple IIgs graphics, sound, and music and some additional art from the Amiga version
• 320 x 200 original resolution - no redrawn art
• No major game design changes - mostly the same game aside from spelling error fixes and maybe tweaking some numbers for better balancing
• All 3 games in the trilogy will now have the Auto-mapping feature
• Might be available in a few months - definitely before Christmas

She also talks about how the deal came about, her impressions on the Bard's Tale IV Kickstarter and some stuff about Dragons of the Rip's conception.

 

[Lord Azlan]

The latest Matt Chat has an interview with Burger Becky about the plans for the remastered trilogy.



Key take-aways:

• Will run natively on Windows - this is a real port and not emulated
• Apple IIgs graphics, sound, and music and some additional art from the Amiga version
• 320 x 200 original resolution - no redrawn art
• No major game design changes - mostly the same game aside from spelling error fixes and maybe tweaking some numbers for better balancing
• All 3 games in the trilogy will now have the Auto-mapping feature
• Might be available in a few months - definitely before Christmas

She also talks about how the deal came about, her impressions on the Bard's Tale IV Kickstarter and some stuff about Dragons of the Rip's conception.

I think this is the best gaming news I have come across for a very long time.

More excited than hearing about Wasteland 2? Yes sir.

More excited than hearing about new Dungeon Master clones Legend of Grim? No doubt.

Surely not more excited than hearing the good news about Fallout coming in 3D? Bah - I never even completed Fallout 1 until 25+ years after buying the originals. Currently doing Fallout 2.

What about Baldurs Gates remakes, BG3 or Icewind Dale new game with more of everything? Those games were rubbish.

What about the sequel of Planescape - surely that makes you quivering wreck - it's the best GAME EVER, don't you know. - Actually its on my list to play - I don't like the faffing about with CDs.

Then what - WHAT?

Hmmm - I think only an Ultima Underworld remake or Alternate Reality update could do something of nearly equal excitedness.

But Bards Tale - she was the one.