<s>
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
is	I-Application
a	O
fantasy	O
role-playing	O
video	O
game	O
that	O
was	O
developed	O
by	O
BioWare	O
and	O
published	O
in	O
1998	O
by	O
Interplay	O
Entertainment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
series	I-Application
and	O
takes	O
place	O
in	O
the	O
Forgotten	B-Application
Realms	I-Application
,	O
a	O
high	O
fantasy	O
campaign	O
setting	O
,	O
using	O
a	O
modified	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
Advanced	O
Dungeons	O
&	O
Dragons	O
(	O
AD&D	O
)	O
2nd	O
edition	O
rules	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
to	O
use	O
the	O
Infinity	O
Engine	O
for	O
its	O
graphics	O
,	O
with	O
Interplay	O
using	O
the	O
engine	O
for	O
other	O
Forgotten	O
Realms-licensed	O
games	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
Icewind	B-Application
Dale	I-Application
series	O
and	O
Planescape	B-Application
:	I-Application
Torment	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
expansion	O
pack	O
was	O
released	O
entitled	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Sword	I-Application
Coast	I-Application
,	O
as	O
was	O
a	O
sequel	O
entitled	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Shadows	I-Application
of	I-Application
Amn	I-Application
,	O
which	O
later	O
received	O
its	O
own	O
expansion	O
called	O
Throne	B-Application
of	I-Application
Bhaal	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
enhanced	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
Infinity	O
Engine	O
was	O
later	O
created	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
Beamdog	O
's	O
remake	O
entitled	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	I-Application
Enhanced	I-Application
Edition	I-Application
,	O
the	O
first	O
new	O
release	O
in	O
the	O
franchise	O
in	O
nearly	O
nine	O
years	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
original	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
continues	O
to	O
be	O
referenced	O
as	O
a	O
point	O
of	O
inspiration	O
in	O
modern	O
roleplaying	O
games	O
,	O
and	O
is	O
cited	O
often	O
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
video	O
games	O
ever	O
made	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
conduct	O
the	O
game	O
from	O
a	O
top-down	O
isometric	B-Application
third-person	O
perspective	O
,	O
creating	O
a	O
character	O
who	O
then	O
travels	O
across	O
pre-rendered	O
locations	O
,	O
taking	O
on	O
quests	O
,	O
recruiting	O
companions	O
to	O
aid	O
them	O
,	O
and	O
combating	O
enemies	O
,	O
while	O
working	O
towards	O
completing	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
main	O
story	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Control	O
is	O
done	O
through	O
a	O
user	B-Application
interface	I-Application
that	O
allows	O
a	O
player	O
to	O
move	O
characters	O
and	O
give	O
them	O
actions	O
to	O
undertake	O
,	O
review	O
information	O
on	O
on-going	O
quests	O
and	O
the	O
statistics	O
of	O
characters	O
in	O
their	O
party	O
,	O
manage	O
their	O
inventories	O
,	O
and	O
organize	O
the	O
formation	O
of	O
the	O
party	O
,	O
though	O
the	O
screen	O
does	O
not	O
need	O
to	O
be	O
centered	O
on	O
the	O
characters	O
being	O
controlled	O
and	O
can	O
be	O
moved	O
around	O
with	O
the	O
mouse	O
and	O
keyboard	O
,	O
the	O
latter	O
also	O
capable	O
of	O
accessing	O
various	O
player	O
options	O
through	O
keyboard	O
shortcuts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
main	O
UI	B-Application
consists	O
of	O
three	O
action	O
bars	O
surrounding	O
the	O
main	O
screen	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
ability	O
to	O
switch	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
AI	B-Application
on	O
or	O
off	O
,	O
and	O
change	O
what	O
script	O
a	O
character	O
uses	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
takes	O
place	O
in	O
the	O
fictional	O
world	O
of	O
Ed	O
Greenwood	O
's	O
Forgotten	B-Application
Realms	I-Application
setting	O
,	O
during	O
the	O
year	O
of	O
1368DR	O
in	O
the	O
midst	O
of	O
an	O
apparent	O
iron	O
shortage	O
,	O
where	O
items	O
made	O
with	O
iron	O
inexplicably	O
rot	O
and	O
break	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Focusing	O
upon	O
the	O
western	O
shoreline	O
of	O
Faerûn	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
set	O
within	O
a	O
stretch	O
of	O
the	O
region	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Sword	O
Coast	O
,	O
which	O
contains	O
a	O
multitude	O
of	O
ecologies	O
and	O
terrains	O
,	O
including	O
mountains	O
,	O
forests	O
,	O
plains	O
,	O
cities	O
,	O
and	O
ruins	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
story	O
encompassing	O
both	O
the	O
city	O
of	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
,	O
the	O
largest	O
and	O
most	O
affluent	O
city	O
in	O
the	O
region	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
lands	O
south	O
of	O
it	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
Cloud	O
Peaks	O
,	O
the	O
Wood	O
of	O
Sharp	O
Teeth	O
,	O
the	O
Cloakwood	O
forest	O
,	O
the	O
town	O
of	O
Beregost	O
and	O
the	O
village	O
of	O
Nashkel	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
fortress	O
citadel	O
of	O
Candlekeep	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
the	O
region	O
,	O
a	O
variety	O
of	O
organisations	O
from	O
the	O
Forgotten	B-Application
Realms	I-Application
setting	O
also	O
feature	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
main	O
story	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
Zhentarim	O
,	O
the	O
Red	O
Wizards	O
of	O
Thay	O
,	O
The	O
Iron	O
Throne	O
,	O
the	O
Flaming	O
Fist	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Chill	I-Application
,	O
The	O
Black	O
Talons	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
Harpers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
includes	O
around	O
25	O
player	O
companions	O
that	O
can	O
join	O
with	O
the	O
PC	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
number	O
of	O
the	O
characters	O
who	O
appear	O
include	O
several	O
who	O
are	O
canon	O
to	O
the	O
official	O
Forgotten	B-Application
Realms	I-Application
campaign	O
setting	O
,	O
including	O
Drizzt	O
Do'Urden	O
and	O
Elminster	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
character	O
is	O
the	O
young	O
and	O
orphaned	O
ward	O
of	O
the	O
mage	O
Gorion	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
two	O
live	O
in	O
the	O
ancient	O
library	O
fortress	O
of	O
Candlekeep	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Abruptly	O
,	O
the	O
Ward	O
is	O
instructed	O
by	O
Gorion	B-Application
to	O
prepare	O
to	O
leave	O
the	O
citadel	O
during	O
the	O
night	O
with	O
no	O
explanation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
That	O
night	O
,	O
a	O
mysterious	O
armoured	O
figure	O
and	O
his	O
cohorts	O
ambush	O
the	O
pair	O
and	O
order	O
Gorion	B-Application
to	O
hand	O
over	O
the	O
Ward	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Gorion	B-Application
refuses	O
,	O
and	O
dies	O
in	O
the	O
ensuing	O
battle	O
,	O
while	O
urging	O
his	O
Ward	O
to	O
escape	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
next	O
morning	O
,	O
the	O
Ward	O
encounters	O
Imoen	O
,	O
a	O
childhood	O
friend	O
and	O
fellow	O
orphan	O
from	O
Candlekeep	B-Application
,	O
who	O
had	O
followed	O
them	O
in	O
secret	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
Candlekeep	B-Application
no	O
longer	O
accessible	O
to	O
them	O
without	O
Gorion	B-Application
's	O
influence	O
to	O
circumvent	O
its	O
admission	O
fee	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
city	O
of	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
currently	O
closed	O
off	O
to	O
outsiders	O
due	O
to	O
bandit	O
raids	O
,	O
the	O
Ward	O
resolves	O
to	O
investigate	O
the	O
cause	O
of	O
the	O
region	O
's	O
Iron	O
Crisis	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Travelling	O
to	O
the	O
mines	O
of	O
Nashkel	O
,	O
the	O
main	O
source	O
of	O
the	O
region	O
's	O
iron	O
,	O
the	O
Ward	O
's	O
party	O
discovers	O
that	O
the	O
mine	O
's	O
ore	O
is	O
being	O
contaminated	O
by	O
a	O
group	O
of	O
kobolds	O
led	O
by	O
a	O
half-orc	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
they	O
and	O
the	O
bandits	O
plaguing	O
the	O
region	O
are	O
being	O
controlled	O
by	O
an	O
organization	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Iron	O
Throne	O
,	O
a	O
merchant	O
outfit	O
operating	O
out	O
of	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
sabotaging	O
a	O
mine	O
operated	O
by	O
the	O
Iron	O
Throne	O
in	O
the	O
Cloakwood	O
that	O
would	O
presumably	O
give	O
them	O
total	O
control	O
over	O
the	O
region	O
's	O
iron	O
,	O
the	O
Ward	O
's	O
party	O
travels	O
to	O
the	O
newly	O
reopened	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Invading	O
the	O
Throne	O
's	O
headquarters	O
,	O
the	O
group	O
learns	O
that	O
proof	O
of	O
the	O
organization	O
's	O
involvement	O
with	O
the	O
Iron	O
Crisis	O
was	O
taken	O
by	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
regional	O
leaders	O
when	O
they	O
and	O
the	O
rest	O
of	O
the	O
leadership	O
headed	O
to	O
Candlekeep	B-Application
for	O
an	O
important	O
meeting	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Revealing	O
their	O
findings	O
to	O
Duke	O
Eltan	O
,	O
the	O
leader	O
of	O
the	O
Flaming	O
Fist	O
,	O
the	O
group	O
receive	O
a	O
rare	O
and	O
valuable	O
book	O
,	O
which	O
would	O
allow	O
them	O
access	O
into	O
Candlekeep	B-Application
,	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
spy	O
on	O
the	O
meeting	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Ward	O
then	O
finds	O
a	O
letter	O
from	O
Gorion	B-Application
revealing	O
that	O
the	O
Ward	O
is	O
among	O
the	O
offspring	O
of	O
Bhaal	O
,	O
known	O
as	O
Bhaalspawn	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
their	O
stay	O
at	O
Candlekeep	B-Application
,	O
the	O
Ward	O
's	O
party	O
is	O
imprisoned	O
for	O
the	O
murders	O
of	O
the	O
Iron	O
Throne	O
leaders	O
,	O
regardless	O
of	O
whether	O
or	O
not	O
they	O
did	O
so	O
,	O
until	O
they	O
can	O
be	O
transported	O
to	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
to	O
be	O
executed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tethoril	O
,	O
a	O
prominent	O
keeper	O
in	O
Candlekeep	B-Application
,	O
visits	O
the	O
party	O
and	O
reveals	O
that	O
a	O
suspicious	O
character	O
the	O
party	O
met	O
earlier	O
,	O
Koveras	O
,	O
is	O
really	O
the	O
foster	O
son	O
of	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
now	O
dead	O
Iron	O
Throne	O
leaders	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
His	O
name	O
is	O
Sarevok	O
,	O
the	O
one	O
responsible	O
for	O
Gorion	B-Application
's	O
murder	O
,	O
and	O
who	O
also	O
wishes	O
to	O
kill	O
the	O
Ward	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Believing	O
the	O
Ward	O
to	O
be	O
innocent	O
,	O
Tethoril	O
transports	O
the	O
party	O
into	O
the	O
catacombs	O
beneath	O
the	O
fortress	O
,	O
where	O
the	O
party	O
battle	O
their	O
way	O
through	O
doppelgängers	O
taking	O
on	O
the	O
forms	O
of	O
people	O
the	O
Ward	O
knew	O
in	O
Candlekeep	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Returning	O
to	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
,	O
the	O
Ward	O
's	O
party	O
find	O
themselves	O
accused	O
of	O
causing	O
the	O
Iron	O
Crisis	O
on	O
the	O
orders	O
of	O
the	O
Kingdom	O
of	O
Amn	O
,	O
assassinating	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
city	O
's	O
Grand	O
Dukes	O
,	O
and	O
poisoning	O
Duke	O
Eltan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
tensions	O
rising	O
between	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
and	O
Amn	O
,	O
the	O
organization	O
hoped	O
to	O
sell	O
the	O
stockpiled	O
iron	O
to	O
the	O
city	O
at	O
exorbitant	O
prices	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Afterward	O
,	O
they	O
aimed	O
to	O
de-escalate	O
tensions	O
between	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
and	O
Amn	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
party	O
also	O
discovers	O
that	O
Sarevok	O
,	O
having	O
discovered	O
that	O
he	O
was	O
a	O
Bhaalspawn	B-Application
,	O
hoped	O
to	O
fuel	O
distrust	O
between	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
and	O
Amn	O
by	O
making	O
each	O
think	O
the	O
other	O
was	O
responsible	O
for	O
creating	O
the	O
crisis	O
,	O
and	O
cause	O
them	O
to	O
go	O
to	O
war	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sarevok	O
remained	O
loyal	O
to	O
his	O
father	O
until	O
the	O
Iron	O
Throne	O
's	O
meeting	O
in	O
Candlekeep	B-Application
threatened	O
his	O
plans	O
,	O
which	O
led	O
Sarevok	O
to	O
eliminate	O
him	O
and	O
the	O
other	O
regional	O
leaders	O
of	O
the	O
Iron	O
Throne	O
before	O
taking	O
over	O
the	O
outfit	O
and	O
transferring	O
their	O
stores	O
of	O
iron	O
to	O
the	O
city	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
be	O
seen	O
as	O
a	O
savior	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Ward	O
's	O
party	O
gain	O
entry	O
to	O
the	O
Ducal	O
Palace	O
,	O
where	O
the	O
coronation	O
of	O
Sarevok	O
as	O
a	O
Grand	O
Duke	O
of	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
would	O
be	O
held	O
,	O
and	O
present	O
evidence	O
of	O
his	O
schemes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Exposed	O
,	O
Sarevok	O
flees	O
into	O
an	O
ancient	O
underground	O
ruin	O
beneath	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
,	O
with	O
the	O
Ward	O
and	O
the	O
party	O
following	O
after	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
final	O
ending	O
cinematic	O
,	O
Sarevok	O
's	O
tainted	O
soul	O
departs	O
his	O
body	O
and	O
travels	O
deep	O
underground	O
to	O
a	O
large	O
circular	O
chamber	O
of	O
alcoves	O
,	O
and	O
destroys	O
a	O
statue	O
of	O
himself	O
contained	O
in	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
alcoves	O
,	O
whereupon	O
it	O
is	O
revealed	O
that	O
the	O
other	O
alcoves	O
each	O
contain	O
a	O
statue	O
of	O
a	O
Bhaalspawn	B-Application
that	O
exists	O
in	O
Faerûn	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
began	O
development	O
in	O
1995	O
by	O
Canadian	O
game	O
developer	O
BioWare	O
,	O
a	O
company	O
founded	O
by	O
Ray	O
Muzyka	O
,	O
Greg	O
Zeschuk	O
,	O
Trent	O
Oster	O
,	O
his	O
brother	O
Brent	O
,	O
Zeschuk	O
's	O
cousin	O
Marcel	O
,	O
and	O
Augustine	O
Yip	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
initially	O
titled	O
Forgotten	B-Application
Realms	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
primary	O
script	O
engine	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
(	O
used	O
mainly	O
as	O
a	O
debugging	O
tool	O
)	O
was	O
Lua	B-Language
.	O
</s>
<s>
DirectDraw	B-Device
was	O
used	O
for	O
the	O
graphics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Wasteland	B-Application
was	O
a	O
major	O
influence	O
on	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
,	O
particularly	O
its	O
design	O
philosophy	O
of	O
having	O
more	O
than	O
one	O
possible	O
method	O
to	O
achieve	O
each	O
goal	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unusually	O
for	O
the	O
time	O
,	O
the	O
graphics	O
were	O
not	O
built	B-Application
from	I-Application
tiles	I-Application
;	O
each	O
background	O
was	O
individually	O
rendered	O
,	O
which	O
greatly	O
extended	O
the	O
amount	O
of	O
time	O
needed	O
to	O
create	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
wife	O
of	O
Dean	O
Anderson	O
,	O
a	O
team	O
member	O
who	O
later	O
served	O
as	O
the	O
art	O
director	O
of	O
the	O
2009	O
role-playing	O
game	O
Dragon	B-Application
Age	I-Application
:	I-Application
Origins	I-Application
,	O
was	O
the	O
basis	O
for	O
Imoen	O
's	O
facial	O
features	O
as	O
depicted	O
in	O
her	O
character	O
portrait	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
was	O
released	O
on	O
December	O
21	O
,	O
1998	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
published	O
by	O
Black	O
Isle	O
Studios	O
,	O
an	O
internal	O
division	O
of	O
Interplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Feargus	O
Urquhart	O
,	O
Interplay	O
's	O
commercial	O
forecasts	O
for	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
were	O
"	O
very	O
low	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
its	O
shipment	O
to	O
retailers	O
on	O
December	O
21	O
,	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
began	O
to	O
sell	O
at	O
a	O
"	O
phenomenal	O
rate	O
"	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
Mark	O
Asher	O
of	O
CNET	O
Gamecenter	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
its	O
second	O
week	O
,	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
rose	O
to	O
#2	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Interplay	O
,	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
also	O
took	O
#1	O
on	O
the	O
charts	O
in	O
Canada	O
and	O
France	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
remained	O
in	O
PC	O
Data	O
's	O
weekly	O
top	O
3	O
from	O
January	O
10	O
through	O
February	O
6	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
subsequently	O
took	O
#4	O
for	O
February	O
in	O
the	O
German	O
market	O
and	O
#3	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
after	O
holding	O
in	O
the	O
latter	O
country	O
's	O
weekly	O
top	O
10	O
from	O
February	O
7	O
–	O
March	O
6	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
mid-February	O
,	O
Gamecenter	O
reported	O
sales	O
of	O
450,000	O
units	O
for	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
,	O
which	O
Asher	O
called	O
"	O
the	O
biggest	O
hit	O
Interplay	O
has	O
had	O
since	O
Descent	B-Application
"	O
and	O
a	O
rebuttal	O
to	O
the	O
common	O
belief	O
that	O
role-playing	O
games	O
were	O
commercially	O
moribund	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Brian	O
Fargo	O
attributed	O
the	O
losses	O
in	O
part	O
to	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	O
he	O
wrote	O
that	O
it	O
"	O
did	O
not	O
ship	O
until	O
the	O
last	O
days	O
of	O
1998	O
,	O
which	O
reduced	O
shipments	O
in	O
the	O
quarter	O
to	O
about	O
half	O
the	O
projected	O
volume	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
maintained	O
its	O
unbroken	O
streak	O
in	O
PC	O
Data	O
's	O
weekly	O
top	O
10	O
through	O
the	O
week	O
ending	O
March	O
27	O
,	O
after	O
which	O
it	O
was	O
absent	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gates	I-Application
sales	O
in	O
the	O
German	O
market	O
during	O
its	O
initial	O
months	O
reached	O
90,000	O
units	O
,	O
a	O
success	O
for	O
the	O
region	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Coinciding	O
with	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
the	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Sword	I-Application
Coast	I-Application
expansion	O
pack	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
returned	O
to	O
PC	O
Data	O
's	O
top	O
10	O
for	O
a	O
week	O
in	O
May	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Interplay	O
reported	O
worldwide	O
sales	O
of	O
nearly	O
700,000	O
copies	O
for	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
by	O
June	O
,	O
and	O
it	O
was	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
 '	O
second-best-selling	O
computer	O
game	O
during	O
the	O
first	O
half	O
of	O
1999	O
,	O
behind	O
SimCity	B-Application
3000	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
November	O
1999	O
,	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
had	O
sold	O
roughly	O
1	O
million	O
units	O
worldwide	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sales	O
of	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
continued	O
in	O
2000	O
:	O
by	O
March	O
,	O
it	O
had	O
surpassed	O
500,000	O
copies	O
sold	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
which	O
led	O
Desslock	O
of	O
GameSpot	O
to	O
describe	O
the	O
title	O
as	O
an	O
"	O
undisputed	O
commercial	O
blockbuster	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Worldwide	O
,	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
ultimately	O
surpassed	O
2.2	O
million	O
sales	O
by	O
early	O
2003	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
received	O
positive	O
reviews	O
from	O
virtually	O
every	O
major	O
computer	O
gaming	O
publication	O
that	O
reviewed	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
time	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
release	O
,	O
PC	O
Gamer	O
US	O
said	O
that	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
"	O
reigns	O
supreme	O
over	O
every	O
RPG	O
currently	O
available	O
,	O
and	O
sets	O
new	O
standards	O
for	O
those	O
to	O
come	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Maximum	O
PC	O
magazine	O
compared	O
the	O
gameplay	O
to	O
Diablo	B-Application
,	O
but	O
noted	O
its	O
more	O
extensive	O
selection	O
of	O
features	O
and	O
options	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
main	O
criticism	O
was	O
of	O
the	O
problems	O
with	O
the	O
path	B-Algorithm
finding	I-Algorithm
algorithm	O
for	O
non-player	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
was	O
named	O
the	O
best	O
computer	O
role-playing	O
game	O
of	O
1998	O
by	O
the	O
Academy	O
of	O
Interactive	O
Arts	O
&	O
Sciences	O
,	O
the	O
Academy	O
of	O
Adventure	O
Gaming	O
Arts	O
&	O
Design	O
,	O
Computer	O
Gaming	O
World	O
,	O
the	O
Game	O
Developers	O
Conference	O
,	O
Computer	O
Games	O
Strategy	O
Plus	O
,	O
IGN	O
,	O
CNET	O
Gamecenter	O
,	O
The	O
Electric	O
Playground	O
,	O
RPG	O
Vault	O
,	O
PC	O
Gamer	O
US	O
and	O
GameSpot	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
editors	O
of	O
Computer	O
Games	O
wrote	O
that	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
"	O
delivers	O
everything	O
you	O
could	O
ask	O
for	O
in	O
a	O
computer	O
game.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
was	O
#3	O
on	O
CBR	O
's	O
2020	O
"	O
10	O
Of	O
The	O
Best	O
DnD	O
Stories	O
To	O
Start	O
Off	O
With	O
"	O
list	O
—	O
the	O
article	O
states	O
that	O
"	O
beyond	O
giving	O
some	O
insight	O
on	O
the	O
Sword	O
Coast	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
also	O
provides	O
a	O
diverse	O
cast	O
of	O
characters	O
that	O
your	O
character	O
can	O
recruit	O
into	O
their	O
party	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
IGN	O
,	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
did	O
much	O
to	O
revive	O
the	O
role-playing	O
video	O
game	O
genre	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
GameSpy	O
,	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
was	O
a	O
"	O
triumph	O
"	O
that	O
"	O
single-handedly	O
revived	O
"	O
the	O
computer	O
role-playing	O
game	O
and	O
"	O
almost	O
made	O
gamers	O
forgive	O
Interplay	O
for	O
Descent	B-Application
to	I-Application
Undermountain	I-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
ranked	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
number	O
five	O
on	O
their	O
list	O
of	O
"	O
The	O
Top	O
11	O
Dungeons	O
&	O
Dragons	O
Games	O
of	O
All	O
Time	O
"	O
in	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Phil	O
Savage	O
of	O
PC	O
Gamer	O
praised	O
Bioware	O
's	O
level	O
design	O
for	O
the	O
titular	O
city	O
in	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
,	O
stating	O
that	O
"	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
feels	O
vast	O
,	O
exciting	O
and	O
dangerous	O
—	O
just	O
like	O
a	O
proper	O
city	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
was	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
series	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
followed	O
by	O
the	O
expansion	O
pack	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Sword	I-Application
Coast	I-Application
(	O
1999	O
)	O
,	O
then	O
the	O
sequel	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Shadows	I-Application
of	I-Application
Amn	I-Application
(	O
2000	O
)	O
and	O
its	O
expansion	O
pack	O
Throne	B-Application
of	I-Application
Bhaal	I-Application
(	O
2001	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
series	O
set	O
the	O
standard	O
for	O
other	O
games	O
using	O
AD&D	O
rules	O
,	O
especially	O
those	O
developed	O
by	O
BioWare	O
and	O
Black	O
Isle	O
Studios	O
:	O
Planescape	B-Application
:	I-Application
Torment	I-Application
(	O
1999	O
)	O
,	O
Icewind	B-Application
Dale	I-Application
(	O
2000	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
Icewind	B-Application
Dale	I-Application
II	I-Application
(	O
2002	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
novel	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
(	O
1999	O
)	O
by	O
Philip	O
Athans	O
was	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
was	O
re-released	O
along	O
with	O
its	O
expansion	O
in	O
2000	O
as	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
Double	O
Pack	O
,	O
and	O
again	O
in	O
2002	O
as	O
a	O
three	O
CD	O
collection	O
entitled	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	O
The	O
Original	O
Saga	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2002	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
and	O
its	O
expansion	O
were	O
released	O
along	O
with	O
Icewind	B-Application
Dale	I-Application
,	O
Icewind	B-Application
Dale	I-Application
:	I-Application
Heart	I-Application
of	I-Application
Winter	I-Application
and	O
Planescape	B-Application
:	I-Application
Torment	I-Application
as	O
the	O
Black	O
Isle	O
Compilation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2004	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
re-released	O
,	O
this	O
time	O
along	O
with	O
Icewind	B-Application
Dale	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
in	O
Part	O
Two	O
of	O
the	O
compilation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Atari	O
published	O
the	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
4	O
in	O
1	O
Boxset	O
including	O
all	O
four	O
games	O
on	O
a	O
combination	O
of	O
DVDs	O
and	O
CDs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
and	O
its	O
expansion	O
were	O
released	O
digitally	O
on	O
Good	O
Old	O
Games	O
(	O
later	O
GOG.com	O
)	O
on	O
September	O
23	O
,	O
2010	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
has	O
also	O
been	O
made	O
available	O
via	O
GameStop	O
App	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
D&D	O
Anthology	O
:	O
The	O
Master	O
Collection	O
,	O
which	O
also	O
includes	O
the	O
expansion	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	I-Application
Tales	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Sword	I-Application
Coast	I-Application
,	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Shadows	I-Application
of	I-Application
Amn	I-Application
,	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Throne	I-Application
of	I-Application
Bhaal	I-Application
,	O
Icewind	B-Application
Dale	I-Application
,	O
Icewind	B-Application
Dale	I-Application
:	I-Application
Heart	I-Application
of	I-Application
Winter	I-Application
,	O
Icewind	B-Application
Dale	I-Application
:	I-Application
Trials	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Luremaster	I-Application
,	O
Icewind	B-Application
Dale	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
Planescape	B-Application
:	I-Application
Torment	I-Application
,	O
and	O
The	B-Application
Temple	I-Application
of	I-Application
Elemental	I-Application
Evil	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
March	O
15	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
a	O
remake	O
was	O
announced	O
entitled	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	I-Application
Enhanced	I-Application
Edition	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Five	O
days	O
later	O
,	O
Overhaul	O
Games	O
announced	O
that	O
the	O
Enhanced	O
Edition	O
would	O
also	O
be	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
Apple	B-Device
iPad	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
September	O
14	O
,	O
Trent	O
Oster	O
,	O
president	O
of	O
Overhaul	O
Games	O
,	O
announced	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
release	O
would	O
be	O
delayed	O
until	O
November	O
,	O
citing	O
an	O
overwhelming	O
response	O
and	O
a	O
desire	O
to	O
"	O
make	O
the	O
best	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
possible	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
launched	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
on	O
November	O
28	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
for	O
iPad	B-Device
running	O
iOS	O
6	O
or	O
greater	O
on	O
December	O
7	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
for	O
Mac	B-Application
OS	I-Application
X	O
on	O
February	O
22	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
and	O
for	O
Android	O
on	O
April	O
17	O
,	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
III	I-Application
is	O
currently	O
in	O
development	O
by	O
Larian	O
Studios	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Skybound	O
Games	O
,	O
a	O
division	O
of	O
Skybound	O
Entertainment	O
,	O
brought	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	I-Application
Enhanced	I-Application
Edition	I-Application
to	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
and	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
on	O
October	O
15	O
,	O
2019	O
.	O
</s>
