It all started back in February with a new website popping up with a countdown clock.  The site itself got the gaming community thinking:  Could there be a new Baldur's Gate game coming?  Intrepid Internet investigators searched through the code and found clues as to what might be going on.  First of all, there were lines from the original game set in as invisible comments.  Then there was the source of the audio file, which proved to be from Beamdog -- a company started by former members of Bioware that has already rereleased at least one Bioware title.  We all waited for the countdown to end, and at noon yesterday, I spent more than my fair share hitting refresh once the clock zeroed out.

The trouble was, nothing happened.  So many people were slamming the server that it couldn't handle the traffic load.  Instead we heard that Beamdog gave up their hype ploy and emailed Joystiq directly, announcing the Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition.  Several hours later the site did come back up, but with hardly 1/4 of the information Joystiq had received directly from the horse's mouth.

This new version of the game appears to be an HD remake, which would allow gamers who never got the chance to experience the original glory of Baldur's Gate to jump in without the barrier of outdated technology.  I just wish that countdown wasn't such a let down.  I postponed my nap for that, for heaven's sake!  Despite my crankiness, I am also happy to tell you that Baldur's Gate 2 will also be receiving the Enhanced treatment, and that both games will be receiving new content, whatever that means.