I’ve just finished reading about Bethesda’s “Skyrim Game Jam”, where they let the developers create anything they wanted for a week. They came up with some amazing sounding stuff. I already use mods to improve the UI and the look of water, fire, ice, and lighting. I even use the Midas Magic mod which adds spells to the game. But check this out.

• Stealth Enhancements
  From what I gather, there are some fans of the thief series at Bethesda. They’ve modded stuff to allow for the creation of Thief-style water arrows and guards that relight darkened areas. Considering how I play the game, this is my #1 mod. I love it.
• Dark dungeons
  This one has been on my mod wishlist since day one. I’ve tried a number of mods to darken nights and dungeons, but none have done it well. This would fit nicely with the stealth enhancements.
• Goblins
  Another one from my wishlist. Yes, please!
• Seasonal Foliage
  Very nice. This would be subtle, but I think I’d really like it.
• Spears
  The game could use more weapons. All they’ve got are swords, axes, maces, and daggers. Spears are wielded completely differently, and so this requires new character animations as well as new weapon art. It’s more of a project than you might realize, but I think it sounds great.
• Mounted combat
  Another big one. Attacking from horseback would be epic.
• Dragon mounts
  Whaa? Even in the game’s main plot when you fly on the back of a dragon, they fudge the effect. If they can pull this off, it will be amazing.
• Dungeon enhancements : handing structures and moving platforms
  Whoa. This sounds like it would create platforming in dungeons. Perhaps a bit too late for anything but add-on DLC, but it sounds cool.
• Fat giants
  Haha. Sounds good.
• Ice and Fire arrows
  Why not?
• Werebear
  Interesting. Just a reskin of the werewolf, I’d imagine.
• Lycanthropy skill tree
  Wow. A whole new skill tree. Considering how useless the werewolf form is, I’ll take it.
• Vampire Feeding
  I didn’t realize that this wasn’t already in place, having never been a vampire.
• Become a flying vampire lord
  Flying? Wow. This I would try.
• Vampire Imp Minions
  Imps were another monster from my wishlist.
• “Waygates” for fast travel
  Considering that fast travel already exists, I’m not sure of the point, but I’m willing to check it out.
• Flow-based water shader
  This could look really nice.
• Kill Cams for Magic and Ranged Combat
  I hadn’t thought about the fact that they don’t exist, but… they don’t exist. Adding them would be nice.
• Paralysis runes
  This must be high-level, but I’d use it often. Paralysis is the most powerful magic in the game.
• Water currents in dungeons
  I’d go for a mod just to strengthen all water currents. I’ve barely ever been pushed by water.
• New commands for followers: Combat style, set favorite equipment, etc.
  I use followers so rarely that I probably wouldn’t notice.
• Adopt a child
  Seems cruel, given that I’d be away adventuring so much that you’d have to categorize me as criminally neglectful.
• Build your own home
  I’m not quite sure how this would work, but I’m interested. Apparently, you can also have a skeleton butler. Personally, I’d prefer a monkey butler, but I’ll take what I can get.
• Spell combinations: Use flame and raise zombie to create a fire zombie
  Holy crap. Like Magicka? If they create enough combinations, this could be amazing.
• High-level Draugrs
  More powerful undead? Sure, why not?
• Epic mounts (flaming death horse)
  Seems a bit over-the-top for my taste.
• Kinect voice-activated shouts
  I still plan to try Thu’uMic,  but I think it’s awesome that someone is bringing this to the XBox. My console friends should be able to get some mod love too.
• Enhanced underwater visuals
  Sure. 
• Screen space ambient occlusion
  What?
• Giant mudcrab enemy
  Can I attack it for massive damage?

I’ll be watching closely for implementation of these features. If you’re interested, you can watch the video here.

I don’t know how it’s possible, but I hadn’t heard of EasyTutu until just this weekend. This project is completely made of win. It’s developed by the Pocket Plane Group, and the bottom line is that it takes the Baldur’s Gate 2 engine, and lets you play Baldur’s Gate 1 with all the enhancements of the sequel. This means BG2’s improved interface, kit classes like Sorcerers, Monks, and Bounty Hunters, and 1280×1024 resolution.

But unfortunately, I’m running Windows Vista, and Windows Vista hates old games. I’ve recently managed to get Thief 3: Deadly Shadows running on my Vista Machine, but it’s a wonky prospect, and functions only barely, with a lot of bugs. Luckily, I’ve recently gotten Microsoft Virtual PC running on my machine, and installed an old copy of XP Home. I’m still working on getting a Windows 98 virtual PC running to check out a copy of Clive Barker’s Undying that I bought on EBay, but in the meantime, the XP Virtual machine works great, and I spent the time today to install what I needed to get the EasyTutu version of Baldur’s Gate up and running. I’m loving it.

I started a multiplayer game, and created a barbarian and an archer. I picked up Imoen, Khalid, and Jahiera, and am ready to hit Nashkel. In the past, every time I’ve tried playing the game, I hit a crash bug when entering the Nashkel mine, but I’ve got a feeling that now that I’m playing with Tutu, I’ll be able to circumvent the bug, and that this will be my first full replay of Baldur’s Gate since I first played about a decade ago.

Installing EasyTutu is pretty easy if you follow their instructions. Install Baldur’s Gate, Sword Coast, and the patch, then install Baldur’s Gate 2, the expansion, and the patch. Then install EasyTutu. The whole process is somewhat time-consuming, but worth it when you can play a game that was originally intended for 640×480 resolution in hi-res fullscreen on your 32″ flat panel monitor.

For years, I’ve been following the work being done by the talented folks over at Black Mesa: Source. What they’ve been working on is a full remake of the original Half-Life game, using the source engine. Most importantly, they’re re-creating all game assets. Voice tracks, music, character models, textures, multiplayer maps, artificial intelligence, everything. Plus, you’ll be able to play Half-Life in co-op mode. Amazing.

Now, they’ve released a trailer. And it is also amazing. Check it out.