BioWare says Dragon Age 2 to look 'super hot'
by James Ransom-Wiley { Jan 29th 2010 at 4:40PM } Xbox PlayStation PC
Dragon Age: Origins presents strong evidence that great games can overcome gawd-awful graphics, but BioWare isn't about to test that theory -- and the limits of our forgiveness -- again in the sequel. "I think one of the key things we're working on in Dragon Age 2 is the technology," BioWare VP Greg Zeschuk recently told Joystiq. "I can confirm that we're doing a lot of work on the Dragon Age engine, and doing a lot of stuff to pump it -- to make it visually super hot."
Now, to clarify, frisky rogue foursomes and lesbian alien sex are measured on different "super hot" scales, as Zeschuk conceded, "Dragon Age is, in the structural sense, a fundamentally different game than Mass Effect ... You have to make different technical considerations." Certainly, with Dragon Age: Origins, those considerations were designed to benefit the superior PC version.
Still, there's hope for a console sequel makeover, since, in Zeschuk's words, the process of iteration allows a developer to "get to a much higher level." "I think the overall visual style we're going to continue to evolve in Dragon Age," Zeschuk added. "People are going to see some cool ... I can't really say too much, but I think Dragon Age as a world is interesting. It's a timeline, and you can go anywhere." Go anywhere, huh? So, like the future Ferelden, where a race of sexy blue aliens has been possessed by horny desire demons? Super hot.
Gosh, you know what I am worried about? That they take everything away that made the game great, and turn it into a more actiony game like ME2.
I don't think they'd take DA2 and make it actiony. The first game wasn't aiming for that and people liked the formula. Mass Effect *was* trying to be actiony, though, so it only made sense to take that a step further, really.
"Think like a general and fight like a Spartan with dynamic new combat
mechanics that put you right in the heart of battle whether you are a
mage, rogue, or warrior."
While the combat was great, I would hardly consider it actiony. Maybe I just played too old school and more or less turned it into a turn-based thing with the pause button.@Sirean
Well, the game was very different from what the advertising showed. It may have not been accurate, but it worked, because the game sold insanely well.@Pug...
The only thing I fear is that DA2 will basically be what DA1 was marketed as, because that's what the console crowd was excited for.
Again, I don't think they are going to shit over their PC fanbase.
edit:
The fact that this sequel has been readied so quickly has me wondering if it was development even before DA1 was complete
yayyy
We put up to 5 choice options and 5 investigate options per dialog node. There is also a difference between choices (where you are actually deciding something) and giving you the opportunity to express yourself in different ways (which I think is quite cool, but not something I believe we have released any details on yet).
I'm not really sure where the "there are only three options for dialog" impression they got came from. Perhaps it was when I showed one half of the dialog wheel with three options...which, you know, leaves another half open for...you know...other....options. *Shrug*
Also probably worth noting that we're not locked into specific icons per place in the wheel. Oh no. We have -much- more flexibility than that. We're like gymnasts.
An interview with Lead Designer Mark Laidlaw printed in French gaming mag Joystick revealed details regarding the new game's camera options and mod support, namely that the PC version would no longer offer the overhead "strategic view" present in Origins, and that they had no plans to release a toolset for creating user-generated mods, citing that the original toolset was "very powerful but very complicated."
Hey folks,
Victor managed to hunt me down, and I wanted to clear up a few things with regards to what I'm seeing as the two major concerns on this thread.
First off, let's talk about the toolset issue. Obviously in this community there's going to be some concern that we wouldn't release a toolset, so let me clear the air a little: The tools we're using to make Dragon Age 2 are very, very close to the tools you guys have used to make your mods for DA:O. They're not identical, as we've made a few in-house improvements, but they're almost identical. As such, there isn't a new toolset to release, per se.
While we won't be releasing a toolset update in tandem with Dragon Age 2, we ARE investigating what it would take to update the community toolset to match ours, along with providing DA2 content in the future.
As to the subject of tactical view, I can confirm that we will not be doing a tactical view on consoles, though we are looking into some expanded party control that I think will make console players quite happy.
On the PC, however, we are still working with the camera to keep the key elements of the tactical experience there. I was actually playtesting some new camera code when Victor found me, in fact, so I can give you the latest news on that front.
While we likely won't pull as far up as we did in DA:O, I have always felt that the key to tactical play was actually freeing your camera from the character you're controlling to issue precise orders, which is what we're tuning now. So, this means you can still maneuver the camera around the battlefield and issue orders from a remote location, just as you could in Origins.
As you can probably tell from my phrasing, all of this is a bit in-flux right now, so things may change between now and ship, but I wanted to update you guys on the current direction of things.
Mike..
The PC interface looks largely the same too, but with the addition of a couple of fully customisable hotkeys in the bottom right. Instead of having a confusing row of varying health potions and stat replenishment, quick health and quick stamina buttons will map the most readily available potion for the job to the corresponding button. Don’t like how it works? You’ll be able to tailor the buttons to work in the way you want.
Tactical Camera 2.0, as Laidlaw referred to it, is shaping up pretty nicely too. You’ll be able to pause the game and now take the camera for a little wander, scoping out the battlefield and the terrain, seeing where the enemies are emerging from, where their backup is, and where all of the best vantage points are to be found. There’s more freedom to survey the battleground before plunging into combat, something that will undoubtedly help preserve the tactical elements that at least the PC version had to offer.
In an interview with NowGamer, Dragon Age 2 lead designer Mike Laidlaw revealed that save file importing in the upcoming sequel will change "the world" to reflect how you left it in Origins.
"Who's in charge of Ferelden, what happened with the Dwarves, who's running Orzammar?" Laidlaw said. "All of these things are reflected and accounted for in Dragon Age 2."
Shacknews -> Here's what Dragon Age 2 will pull-in for data from those who import their DAO saved games. (http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65900)
New trailer featuring in-game footage! (http://dragonage.bioware.com/?sourceid=eag2875)I already had "Rise To Power" up from GameSpot...
I already had "Rise To Power" up from GameSpot...haha sorry, I just got the Bioware newsletter and that was the highlight! At least it had some purpose :P
But yours is of a better resolution and quality.
So, I added it to front page. :)
EA was showing off the dual-wielding rogue during the session. Employing two swords, the class is characterized by nimble, agile attacks and speed-based buffs. It's a character that's designed to be quick and allow you to easily get in and out of battle. My favorite skill was "Springboard," allowing me to briefly vanish, only to reappear behind an enemy for a deadly backstab -- perfect for avoiding danger and striking critical blows.
"The big thing, the problem with the Rogue in Origins was they didn't know what role they were trying to fill," Darrah suggested. "Rogue was sort of half-warrior, half-nothing -- it had some of the same talents as the warrior: You had dual-wielding; you had archery; many of the same things the warrior did. So what we're trying to do here is make sure each of the classes has a distinct personality and purpose."
I couldn't directly compare the Rogue to any of the other classes since the Rogue was the only one playable, but its strengths and weaknesses were very clear. Once I got acclimated to the dualist Rogue's abilities, it was apparent that it wasn't the tank the warrior is, but still an excellent class built around some strong melee combat abilities.
You can still pause combat. On the console or PC version you can stop the action, transfer from character to character, assigning their one next move (you can't stack commands).
Strategic fighting has not been eliminated, just not shown much to the press. BioWare, the rep explained, prefers to show off a more exciting, fast-moving play style for the sequel, even though they support the old-school turn-taking approach. That faster style is what they want to hook Fable fans with, what they think even a Borderlands fan might dig.
The bigger change, however, is that the game will no longer support an overhead tactical view on any platform. This was an art and combat-design decision, the BioWare rep told me today. Support for that Baldur's Gate-style view forced the artists to design rooms and scenes that didn't have important things on their ceilings and skies — which top-down players wouldn't see. It also forced the designers into an awkward spot where they had to accommodate top-down turn-taking players and behind-the-back action-first players.
By catering to the more reckless of those playing styles, the designers were forced to make the game's difficulty fairly low. Making all players play from some sort of from-the-rear camera view alleviates that.
But! PC gamers, your version will include a special option to zoom the camera out, just not up. Console gamers won't get that.
Since it's a little unclear - you can still pull the camera back and then adjust the yaw, which would allow for a fairly-close-to top-down camera perspective. You aren't stuck with varying degrees of over-the-shoulder.
Hey folks.
Thought I would slide in here to clarify this last query:
The camera is attached to your currently controlled character.
It may be rotated freely.
Ok, I'm gonna stop thinking of it as a Dragon Age game.. Maybe that'll dull the pain.
What the Fawke?;D
They’re also ditching the approval system. You won’t be trying to lobby your companions by saving kittens in front of them; now they’ll agree with you completely, or just stick around as a ‘rival’.
A rival respects your power and the role you play in the world, but thinks you’re kind of a dick. As a side effect of that, you can’t have an outright evil champion. You’ll have to settle for being ruthless in the pursuit of your ideals.
Youtube -> Dragon Age 2 - In-Game Footage from GameCity Vienna 2010. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4rrJENZlqw)
We had a pretty good game the first time around, and we thought it would make more money if we made is suck ass.
They've 'streamlined' companion inventory as well. No more do you have to 'worry' about the equipment your party members wear.
What the hell are they doing to this game? Not an RPG anymore? It is easy to blame the console crowd, but how stupid do they think people are? I think they are underestimating the intelligence of their fans.
I had no idea that Dragon Age outsold Mass Effect 2 by such a large margin, or even at all. That's honestly pretty surprising. Thing is, I wonder how many of those got the game only to question the marketing they had going. I'd suspect that people who fell for the marketing aren't the type of people to follow the development of the sequel and would therefore avoid it.
Still, with sales like that they could lose a lot of return customers and come out ahead (especially when development costs are being cut by producing what seems to be a smaller world).
I am still playing The Witcher, but I loved Dragon Age so much more.Combat gets better in The Witcher - once you get more skills and boosts; more boss battles; and more group battles, later on.
For me, it was sorta the opposite. While The Witcher has a fantastically rich world, with some excellent storytelling, and feels very original, the combat system is very boring to me. Hopefully that aspect of it will get better as I progress further through the game. Admittedly, I am only 20% or so through.
But from what I read of the developer interviews, The Witcher 2 will improve on the combat stuff quite a bit... so yea... at this stage it is the only RPG I have to look forward to with Diablo 3 ages away.
Bioware Forums -> Mike Laidlaw says DA2 might have Helmet toggle. (http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/141/index/5387591&lf=8)
I don't think you can, can you? It automatically disappears in conversations but I don't see a way to "hide" it in combat?I recall it was added to the options menu in one of the patches.
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/unnameddragonageprojectworkingtitle/video/6284996?tag=topslot;thumb;2
The game looks good, though I am not sure if I am impressed by some of the comments from the developers.
Yea I saw that not five minutes ago on the DA2 website. It does look cool, and better than I expected, but it seems to be lacking something.The overhead tactical viewpoint is what it's missin'.
The interface looks fine for DA2.D, no offence, but if the interface is that inconsistent and fugly an auxiliary camera angle is the least of their concerns and ought to be far down the priority list.
I am more concerned about the biggest mistake of Bioware's career with DA2 - the removal of the overhead cam.
D, no offence, but if the interface is that inconsistent and fugly an auxiliary camera angle is the least of their concerns and ought to be far down the priority list.
The current interface actually looks more akin to the Jade Empire PC interface, which clearly appeared to be an after-thought.
What are the system requirements?
Recommended:
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4 GHz Processor or equivalent
CPU: AMD Phenom II X3 Triple core 2.8 GHz or equivalent
RAM: 2GB (4 GB Vista and Windows 7)
Video: ATI 3850 512 MB or greater
Video: NVIDIA 8800GTS 512 MB or greater
DirectX 11: ATI 5850 or greater
DirectX 11: NVIDIA 460 or greater
Minimum:
OS: Windows XP with SP3
OS: Windows Vista with SP2
OS: Windows 7
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo (or equivalent) running at 1.8 GHz or greater
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 (or equivalent) running at 1.8 GHz or greater
RAM: 1 GB (1.5 GB Vista and Windows 7)
Video: Radeon HD 2600 Pro 256 MB
Video: NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS 256 MB cards
Disc Drive: DVD ROM drive required
Hard Drive: 7 GB
Sound: Direct X 9.0c Compatible Sound Card Windows Experience Index: 4.5
Its kind of amazing that an 8800GTS is still a "recommended spec" piece of hardware.I'm not, honestly - since we're talking about multi-platformed games here.
Oh for the sake of bacon. It is this sort of doom and gloom naysaying that depresses the heck out of me. "Oh, I don't really understand how things work in the industry, but 7GB is less than previous, so it must be bad."
I shall try to explain in 3 main points why Dragon Age II is 7 GB.
1 - We used a different compression scheme in DA II than DAO (something called "ogg" I am told).
2 - 2 less fully VOed langauages
3 - Optimized mesh data, physics and lighting (which I am told reduces the footprint of environments by close to 75%)
I know some will still doom and gloom, but the game is 7GB because we are better at making games. So, now that you have some reasons why the game is 7GB I hope this will calm some of you down.
Hey where did you get the Signature Edition for so cheap? Please let me know. I can't find it on Aamazon UK.Hey dude, it was located here (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0047GNN7K/ref=oss_product). I'm not sure if it's still available since the Sig Edition pre-order ended on 11 JAN. Check some of the other listings though, they might have some left.
Hi everyone
Recently there has been some concern over the DRM (Digital Rights Management) included with Dragon Age 2. Hopefully this post will help clarify what the DRM is for all versions of Dragon Age 2.
Steam versions use Steam DRM, no other DRM is added.
Non-Steam versions (digital or retail disc) are as follows:
- No disc check, you do not need the disc in drive to play.
- No limit on the total number of PCs you can install and play the game on.
- There is a limit to the number of unique/different PCs that can start/play the game within a time window [5 PCs in 24hrs].
- Each install requires logging in to your EA account to verify game ownership and if you are a member of these forums, you have an EA account.
- You can play offline but the game will require a login check after a select period of days.
Release Control (does not use securom)
. It does not install anything to the PC.
. Sole purpose is to check with a server to validate whether the game release date has passed or not.
. It completely removes itself after the game release date has passed.
. You will not be able to play until that date has passed.
. Dates & times are set to the retail street date per country.
Hopefully this explains the DRM included in Dragon Age 2.
If you still have questions, please ask them here. However, this thread is NOT for the general discussion of DRM, the pros and cons of other DRM systems or any talk about circumventing DRM (which is against the rules of conduct and will be diciplined as such). Thanks.
DA2 Website -> Dragon Age 2 DEMO released - around 1.9 GB. (http://dragonage.bioware.com/da2/demo/)There's a torrent floating around too if direct download is not a viable option for you.
Damn...their servers are getting hammered.
It's pretty big, especially for a direct download!Actually, the game is supposed to span over a decade...
Anyway, I liked it alright but it feels strangely console-oriented. I mean it's still very similar to the original but this time around it feels like a lot of the combat is geared around well-timed button presses, it feels more real-time. The game's new pace feels like it was made with a gamepad in mind. I'd love to see how the game plays with the gamepad but Bioware seem to be the only people incapable of providing that option for the PC.
Btw, regarding the performance there's a huge framerate difference between DirectX 9 and 11 on my system (Asus G73JH with a Radeon HD 5870)! The game is playable on DX11 but it's prone to crashing and it hiccups occasionally. When I switched to DX9 the framerate shoots up and it is smooth as butter with little to no detriment to the visual quality.
In terms of the new structure it's very streamlined as opposed to the seemingly more open DAO. I like the direction they've taken but for some reason I was under the impression the story was set years after the events of DAO but they're actually parallel! It is strange to see everything in a very different artistic style, especially Flemeth's radical alteration. It does feel much more refined than DAO though.
Anyway, the release date is around the corner so I'll get a better idea when it comes in.
3.Inventory Management Is Better
Your allies in Dragon Age II each have a set of armor that they wear all the time. This means that you can’t equip them with the helmets, boots, and gauntlets that you find in your quest. This may sound disappointing at first, but it results in you spending much less time in the menus sizing up and optimizing equipment.
If you pick up a new suit of armor that isn’t an improvement for Hawke, you can just sell it; no need to look at all of your active and inactive party members to see if it’s better for them. Plus, you can still outfit your companions with rings, amulets, and belts, so the customization isn’t gone completely. Your inventory will be less cramped, especially since you get a storage chest early on and you aren’t carrying around crafting reagents all the time.
4. Skills Are Gone
When you level up, you allocate ability points and talent points. You no longer get skill points, because skills as they existed in Origins are no longer present. Your character can still do many things that used to be skills, like crafting and lockpicking, but these have migrated to other parts of the game. For instance, the rogue’s ability to pick locks automatically increases for every 10 points in their Cunning ability (simple locks at 10, standard locks at 20, etc.).
5. Kirkwall Is The Main Setting
Don’t expect to travel to the four corners of the Free Marches like you did in Ferelden. Dragon Age II tells the story of Hawke’s rise to power in Kirkwall, and as such, almost all of the action takes place within the city. You’ll take a few trips to surrounding locations, but don’t be surprised when your adventures have you hopping between different parts of Kirkwall instead of different parts of the continent.
6. Not The Usual BioWare Story
BioWare’s plots generally follow a predictable arc. Players go through an introductory sequence, and then the world opens up to four larger areas with their own quests and storylines. When those areas are complete, the tale converges for the thrilling finale. I won’t spoil anything about specific events in Dragon Age II, but I will say that the narrative does not follow this structure at all.
10. It’s Shorter, But Not Short
I finished Dragon Age II, along with every sidequest, in approximately 40 hours. While that isn’t the 70 hours it took me to play through Origins, it’s still a large chunk of time, and I certainly didn’t feel cheated by the amount of content.
Below are the details of the final version of DRM that will be used with Dragon Age 2 for PC and Mac.
We appreciate your patience and feedback on this. DRM is always a topic of much debate, even internally. It requires a delicate balance between providing some level of IP protection while minimizing the inconvenience or intrusion to a player’s experience. These decisions are not made lightly - and a lot of time and effort was dedicated to ensuring that the system for DA2 is skewed to the player side of the experience. It is as follows:
Dragon Age 2 Physical & Digital PC/Mac DRM are as follows:
* No disc check, you do not need the disc in drive to play.
* No limit on the total number of PCs you can install the game on.
* There is a limit to the number of unique/different PCs that can play the game within a time window (if online) [5 PCs in 24hrs].
* After each new install there is a 1-time online check needed the next time you play, requiring a log in to your EA account to verify game ownership. If you are a member of these forums, you already have an EA account – just use the same email/password.
* You can play offline thereafter - the game will NOT require any subsequent login checks. If online, a game ownership check happens each time you play.
Steam versions use Steam DRM, no other DRM is added, which means:
* No disc check, it is used for digital game versions purchased from Steam only.
* No limit to the total number of PCs you can install the game on.
* There is a limit to the number of unique/different PCs that can play the game at any one time (if online) [1 PC].
* Each install requires logging into your Steam account to verify game ownership.
* You can play offline thereafter. If online, a game ownership check happens each time you play.
* Steam pre-loads use Steam release control – you will not be able to play until the release day/time has passed for that region.
Dragon Age 2 Release Control (non-Steam versions)
* Does not use securom.
* It does not install anything to the PC.
* Sole purpose is to check with a server to validate whether the game release date has passed or not.
* It completely removes itself after the game release date has passed.
* You will not be able to play until that date has passed.
* Dates & times are set to the retail street date per country.
Common questions:
Does this apply to consoles?
* No. This is applies to PC/Mac only.
What about Mac/Cider, does it use Securom?
* Dragon Age: Origins for Mac/Cider used Securom. Dragon Age 2 for Mac/Cider will NOT use Securom and instead it will use the same non-Steam system listed above.
A PC review mentions Securom, what gives?
* All EA preview & review game builds sent to press use Securom which is where the assumption came from. The Dragon Age 2 actual retail & download version of the game that you will play will not use Securom, it uses one of the systems above.
If you have other questions please feel free to post here – as always, a reminder that this thread is NOT for the general discussion of DRM, the pros and cons of other DRM systems or any talk about circumventing DRM (which is against the rules of conduct and will be disciplined as such). Thanks.
This means that you can’t equip them with the helmets, boots, and gauntlets that you find in your quest. This may sound disappointing at first, but it results in you spending much less time in the menus sizing up and optimizing equipment
Not having any DAO history to rely on, I played the demo and wasn't much impressed. It consists mostly of cutscenes and running down this nondescript trail, plain brown landscape around, while hacking and slashing (or spellcasting the second time). Press a button repeatedly while abilities recharge on 2 other buttons, use those, resume button mashing and dodging. I discovered I could switch across the party members, which is cool, and I read that I could pause and issue orders to the party members. (I loved this in Dungeon Siege.) But I haven't tried that. I made it to the next brief scene in my second demo run, which was at least more visually interesting, but still all I could think of was going back to Darksiders, which looks a hell of a lot better, and is much more fun as an action brawler.
I saw the level-up screens as well, complete with skilltrees (or whatever they're called here). So I'm sure I'm missing a lot of what the game is about. All I can say right now is that I can wait for more feedback and price drops without any salivating involved.
Dragon Age II Patches
High Resolution Texture Pack for the PC version of Dragon Age II
This will add the option to enable higher detail replacements for most textures in game. A big difference will be noticed on level art especially.
Requirements:
Using high-resolution textures requires a graphics card with at least 1024MB video memory.
Most of the benefits from the Hi-resolution textures will only be seen if you are able to run the game in DirectX 11.
To manually download your new content on the PC:
1. Download the installer from the link below and run it.
2. Run Dragon Age II.
3. Open the Options menu.
4. Select Video options.
5. Check the "Hi-resolution textures" checkbox.
Note: In order to enable the "Very High" setting you will need a video card that supports DX11 and the latest drivers.
Game informer gives the PC version a 7.75.Yeah, I already got that posted in my reviews areas. :P Beat cha!
http://www.gameinformer.com/games/dragon_age_ii/b/pc/archive/2011/03/08/dragon-age-ii-pc-review-a-port-caught-in-the-middle.aspx
Wow.
NWN may have been watered down from BG2 in some areas, but its focus was D&D multiplayer with friends, where it had a lot of depth, easily more than BG2. Initially it wasn't even supposed to have singleplayer.Hell, NWN wasn't supposed to ship w/ a SP component!
This just feels rushed. You should see the DA2 forums.... people are disappointed. Even the hardcore fans are finding it hard to defend.
If you purchased the game new, you'll automatically receive The Black Emporium, which includes a new area that shares the DLC's name and a Mabari warhound. I downloaded the content and loaded up a save about two-thirds of the way through the game.
What I found random was there's no explanation of how the dog gets there, the game just pretends like it was there all along. I wish there had been a quest of some sort like they had in Origins (The dogs were poisoned from the Darkspawn taint and you had to save them. As a reward you received one as a gift.) so it made more sense, but oh well.
The warhound is battle-ready, but he isn't a full-fledged party member like he was before. Instead the dog can be summoned via the Sustained Abilities tab; much like the Ranger could call upon animals in Origins.
BioWare on Dragon Age 2 DRM
[Mar 11, 2011, 9:16 pm ET] - Share - Viewing Comments
We haven't heard from EA on the story about reports of SecuROM DRM in Dragon Age 2, but BioWare Live Team Technical Producer Derek "CrushBug" French made a couple of posts to our forums that discuss the matter. He says:
"Sorry, but there is some confusion on this. We use Sony Release Control which shares some functionality with other Sony products (SecuROM), but we do not use SecuROM for the DRM. Once the Sony Release Control check is passed, Release Control self-destructs, removing the Release Control wrapper and it is never used again. Game updates will not use Release Control because obviously the release date is passed. Additionally, installing the game and then any future game patch will also remove the Sony Release Control check and it will never run on your computer."
When asked about a running SecuROM process, he said: "There is no running process once it unwraps and self-destructs." In reply to a question about registry entries, he replies: "An inert registry entry that does nothing." Finally, when asked about files remaining on users' hard drives, he explains: "In a temp folder that is never referenced again. This part is sloppy and should be cleaned up, though. We will see about doing that in a patch."
Mike seems to be in damage control mode... but I LOVE those questions from Eurogamer. No holds barred.
Eurogamer: One stronger criticism levelled at Dragon Age II was that it was designed by committee; it tried too hard to appeal too far and wide, and in doing so it lost a sense of self. What do you say to that?
Mike Laidlaw: Dragon Age II was designed by just the senior, core team. Honestly I don't feel it's a game that's been designed to appeal far and wide and so on. If it were, there were choices we could have made that would have taken it much, much further. We would have probably simplified down to a single character, maybe with companions; probably looked at doing some even deeper changes to inventory management, making sure that... You wouldn't want to confuse people with enchanting or anything complex like that.
Really what we wanted to do with the game, just talking about first-principles, was to look at elements of Origins that were over complex and needlessly so and see if we could pull those out in a clean way and didn't take out what I always saw as core elements of the experience: strong, character-driven stories, and the idea that the combat should be a party working together, especially at higher difficulty levels.
Dragon Age II certainly made some changes but holds very true to what us as a team sees as core tenets of the series. There's certainly refinement to do, there's learnings to be had, but I don't think it loses as much of the personality as it certainly could have.
Zur: Sure thing. I’m actually really anxious for the game right now, so I can pop it in and start playing. I’m really looking forward to see it. I know there are a few bugs that still need to be fixed. Unlike other titles from Bioware, this [score] was kind of a rush job. EA really wanted to capitalize on the success of Origins, so the game was really being pushed hard to be released now. So I’d like to know if there are bugs, or if there’s anything we could patch or fix.
Edge Magazine gave the game a 6.0!
That review seemed a little unfair. It fixated on one flaw and docked too many points for it. Granted, DA:O had you travelling around Fereldan and not bound to one city, the reviewer quickly got bored of Kirkwall, what about the rest of the quality of the game?
Visually, I like the artistic style they've chosen for the game but I'm not too keen on the architecture and environments; very rudimentary design, castles look like they're made of sharp-edged wooden blocks; a lot of duplication or copy/pasted locations. Technically, some textures seem low-res, which are supposedly fixed by the hi-res texture pack.
Aside from that I'm liking the game so far. It still adheres to the typical gameplay I've come to expect from a Dragon Age game.
Speaking of gameplay, anyone know how I can equip swappable weapons? e.g. Daggers and a bow and switch on-the-fly with a button? Or did they remove them for some stupid reason?
Who am I? Is the question I’ve wondered the most often since starting Dragon Age II. Simon, the warrior Grey Warden I played as for something like 120 hours across Origins and Awakenings, was a man I understood. Beginning in his family home, in his hometown, I fought as his parents, nieces and nephews were tragically killed. I escaped the onslaught, then started a life of my own, first by becoming a Grey Warden, and second by spending dozens of hours travelling the lands of Ferelden to recruit an army that could counter the attacks of the Blight.
Samantha Hawke, the mage I’m playing as in DA2, is, um, a person. Dumped on me in a deliberately obfuscated series of flashbacks, I’m apparently with my mother, brother, maybe sister? I’m not sure. Someone got killed in a cutscene and I think I was supposed to care. We were in the middle of nowhere, apparently during the Blight, and then we weren’t. I was sold into servitude by an errant uncle, and then it was year later, and everyone seems to know me except for, well, me.
It’s such a gross misunderstanding of how we identify with characters we play as in an RPG. It took me a while to figure out who Hawke was, before realising it must be me. Nothing had told me that was my name. I’m accompanied by what must be the most egregious example of BioWare’s “First Male Companion Is Always Tedious” rule – my brother Carver, who apparently hates me for reasons everyone knows but me, along with my ever-complaining mother. What a treat.
Dragon Age II Patch 1.01 is now available for the PC and Mac systems. You can download patch 1.01 here (http://social.bioware.com/page/da2-patches)
Patch 1.01 resolves the following issues:
GENERAL
* Fixed save game issues on single core machines
* Fixed game asking for non-existent drives
* Fixed release control issues where some players were unable to unlock
correctly
* Fixed a Steam-specific issue related to VO not playing after switching
languages
BioWare and the Dragon Age II team are continuing to investigate and work on fixing issues for all platforms. When we have information about the next patch we will let everyone know.
By and large, though, I played Dragon Age II the same way I did Origins: by pausing frequently to issue orders to my mages while my rogues and tanks followed a set of painstakingly algebraic tactics -- if-then statements designed to maim and dismember. The tactics system is more robust this time, with more sophisticated parameters and more slots to work with. The branching skill trees open up more interesting abilities earlier in the game, as opposed to the more restricted skill lines of Origins -- no more spending ability points on useless skills just to get down the line. To boot, each class is varied enough to compensate for most builds and play styles -- some abilities, like Rush or Archer's Lance, need to be micro-managed while others, such as Backstab, can be easily automated.
Like the story, though, the game’s combat leaves much potential untapped -- rogues no longer have access to traps, and because combat abilities are only available during combat mages can no longer lay down defensive glyphs. Dragon Age II -- especially on the Hard difficulty, which I recommend -- demands smart, tactical play but impedes it at every turn. The camera is given much less freedom than it had in Origins, which makes laying down precise area-of-effect spells and picking strategic targets difficult, and your companions don’t hold positions like they should.
Defying all expectations, BioWare managed to take one of the most memorable Western RPGs in recent history and completely destroyed everything that made it so good. I have absolutely no idea how such a respected development house could have made so many colossal mistakes and turned out such an unpleasantly rushed, shallow, utter waste of time... but they did, and it is. I forced myself to play the game to completion despite wanting to quit out of disgust and boredom at least a dozen times before credits rolled, but I shouldn't have bothered. The insulting level of quality in Dragon Age II is perfectly clear to see from the first hour or two, and everything that comes after is just more salt in the wound.
Dragon Age 2 is a mediocre and deeply flawed action RPG, rushed out to earn EA a quick buck and betting on Bioware's reputation to pull up the sales. Even though the setting and the events are interesting, and the various options show potential, the overwhelming focus on killing things keeps you from digging into the world and its characters in a satisfying manner, and cripple replayability. Unfortunately, the combat is too repetitive to carry the game on its own. It's bad enough that even the mainstream reporters have noticed, though they are generally quick to make excuses.
Mike Laidlaw of Bioware:
I do think Dragon Age II is running up against some elements of Origins, and it's not something we went into completely blind. We certainly knew there would be some friction between what Origins players have come to expect and what Dragon Age II delivers. But I don't see the two in opposition to each other. I've talked to Origins players who said, "As soon as I moved it to hard, I totally see where Origins is again." That's fair, and I think that's something over time we'll continue to tune and capitalize on that fusion between the Origins experience and Dragon Age II.
GS: You have less control over your companions since you can't equip them directly as you can Hawke. Can you describe the idea behind this particular change, and did you feel that you might be running the risk of players not feeling as much of a connection to those characters?
ML: The key driver behind it was the idea of unique visuals, being able to have Isabela stay Isabela instead of generic rogue put into the same leather armor your character is wearing. It lets us create a visual space between Hawke and the companions. And it gives the companions their own personalities [in the form of] unique body models and animations that are tied to how they idle--simple stuff like Aveline and the way she stands with more of a straightforward stance as opposed to the cocked hip Isabela has and so on. The overall goal there was to keep the companions in a place where they had more personality, but still provide customization in terms of amulets and rings, because having things like fire resistance is important.
Long term, do I think it hurt people's connection to them? I don't think so. I think if anything, the criticisms I've seen leveled at that are largely, "I don't like it, simply because I either want to control them or I don't." That's fair and something we'll end up evaluating over time. It's likely that we'll end up coming back to a way to equip your followers, but at the same time, I really do think that having their own visual signature is really important. It's something that resolves one of the parts I really disliked about Origins where I'd see people's screenshots with their badass team and they would kind of all look the same. Near the end of the game, everyone had the same set of suits of armor. It was kind of like, "Man, that's not Morrigan if she's not in those robes." We ended up in this space where we decided to go with that visual style, and I think it's something we'll continue to iterate on in the future.
Yeah, I kinda toggle the helmets on and off depending on the look. A big part of roleplaying for me is my character's appearance, and being to manage it is always welcome.I'm betting I'd be toggling the "iconic look" on when it conversation and then switching it OFF on the battlefield.
On the other hand, I do appreciate not having to micromanage my party members' gear since their armour automatically improves with level-ups and finding special items. Also, Varric's crossbow (Bianca) improves with levels and I gave Aveline the special blade Fadeshear which also improves with levels. I'm kinda lazy like that because I prefer to focus on my main character and let the rest of the team manage themselves and auto-level.Hmmmm. If Bioware was to make gear customization more like DA:O, how would they solve the problem of making players who are into DA2 style? Would every item have to be ranked or something by the game? Or there'd have to be a button for the player to just equip best equipment?
Really DA2 is neither an action game or a tactical semi-turned based RPG (like BG2 was and to a lesser degree DA:O was). It falls in the middle somewhere and like anything that doesn’t really define itself it has the potential to alienate players at either end of the spectrum. It is difficult to make both styles of gameplay awesome in the same game.
As an action game it is not responsive enough (i.e., I was clobbered by the ogre even after I was on the other side of the map several times) and as a tactical game I really mostly only controlled one character unless it died… there was no need, at least in the demo, to control party members.
News is circulating through the interwebs about Bioware writer David Gaider's supposed homophobic leanings for portraying certain homosexual characters in DA2 in a negative way. The major issue is how the character Anders will proposition or hit on your character, and turning him down reflects poorly on your relationship with him. The gay community (or rather some of the gay community) has objected to this treatment, calling it a stereotype that homosexuals are unable to be normal people and will think only of sex.
The cacophone has almost reached a fever-pitch with petitions and counter petitions being thrown about.
Gaider himself has responded very little to the fervor, but did give an interview with Destructoid, illustrating his story choices in very simple terms.
Bioshock director, Ken Levine has thrown his two cents into the mix saying, "Writers don't have a responsibility to make exclusively noble gay characters, they have a responsibility to portray human gay characters. You know, good and bad, smart and dumb, well intentioned and not. Ditto jews, asians, the dutch and hobbits."
Hi Everyone
We know that people are waiting on more patching to fix issues they are having with Dragon Age II. We have said previously that we are working on patching for all 4 platforms (PC, Mac, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3), but we have not yet given any detail about what this patch will contain nor when it will be available. We greatly appreciate your patience as we work to fix issues with Dragon Age II and ensure that these fixes do not introduce new issues to the game. To help keep you updated on the status of the next patch (the first patch for PC and Mac Dragon Age II can be found HERE (http://social.bioware.com/page/da2-patches)) we wanted to provide you with a more detailed message on the next Dragon Age II patch.
BioWare has prepared a patch for PC, Mac, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. We are currently testing the patch and are submitting it for certification with EA, Microsoft and Sony. Certification is where testing teams outside of BioWare confirm the fixes we make and ensure that no new issues are introduced. We continue to test the patch during the certification process to ensure quality. Once the patch has passed certification, it is then released to the public. We do not have a more exact ETA of when it will be available to you, but when we do know when it is available, we will let everyone know.
We cannot reveal to you the exact contents of the patch until it passes certification. We can say that there are more than 100 fixes including gameplay, quest and platform specific issues. We can also say that the implementation of auto-attack on both Xbox 360 and PS3 is included. When we can reveal the patch notes, we will let everyone know.
BioWare is dedicated to continuing to support Dragon Age II. We thank our community members who have helped our team fix issues by providing details and reports on the problems they are having. We appreciate your patience and your support.
Hi Everyone
We know that people are waiting on more patching to fix issues they are having with Dragon Age II. We have said previously that we are working on patching for all 4 platforms (PC, Mac, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3), but we have not yet given any detail about what this patch will contain nor when it will be available. We greatly appreciate your patience as we work to fix issues with Dragon Age II and ensure that these fixes do not introduce new issues to the game. To help keep you updated on the status of the next patch (the first patch for PC and Mac Dragon Age II can be found HERE (http://social.bioware.com/page/da2-patches)) we wanted to provide you with a more detailed message on the next Dragon Age II patch.
BioWare has prepared a patch for PC, Mac, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. We are currently testing the patch and are submitting it for certification with EA, Microsoft and Sony. Certification is where testing teams outside of BioWare confirm the fixes we make and ensure that no new issues are introduced. We continue to test the patch during the certification process to ensure quality. Once the patch has passed certification, it is then released to the public. We do not have a more exact ETA of when it will be available to you, but when we do know when it is available, we will let everyone know.
We cannot reveal to you the exact contents of the patch until it passes certification. We can say that there are more than 100 fixes including gameplay, quest and platform specific issues. We can also say that the implementation of auto-attack on both Xbox 360 and PS3 is included. When we can reveal the patch notes, we will let everyone know.
BioWare is dedicated to continuing to support Dragon Age II. We thank our community members who have helped our team fix issues by providing details and reports on the problems they are having. We appreciate your patience and your support.
I'm just saying that probably isn't the headline you want to use for a patch announcement... of course, it wasn't. That was just D's choice. I guess I could have checked the link before speaking.Haha that's our D! :P
"Junk" Category In The Inventory - I love the function of the "Junk" category of my Inventory. I wonder why more RPG's don't have this function. Basically, there are items you pick up in the game-world, that wind-up automatically into Junk - and have no function but stuff you find [i.e. treasure] that it's only use is for selling it so you can make some more money. There's more: any item that you pick-up period - Armor, Weapons, Potions, etc - you may select to toss into "Junk," if you are thinking of later selling it or getting rid of it. So, if you find a sword, helmet, ring, etc that you don't want to keep around - you have the option to move it into "Junk." So, when you see a merchant, there's an extra option to sell "ALL Items in Junk Category" - which makes it so you don't have to sell items one-by-one. Brilliant - why didn't many other games think of this before?That is a pretty cool feature. I could have really used something like that in Mass Effect.
That is a pretty cool feature. I could have really used something like that in Mass Effect.
If you're gonna store it does it qualify as junk? Either way, you can just put it in your storage chest at the house/mansion.
"We were clearly disappointed with some of the response from the fanbase, because we want them to be as excited about it as we are," EA Games boss Frank Gibeau told Eurogamer. “We're very proud of the game. We tried to innovate and do some different things with the combat system and some of the way we told story. For some fans it worked well. In fact, we brought a lot of new fans into the Dragon Age franchise.”
"But to be honest, we lost some fans as well. They were not pleased with some of the innovations and things we'd done. We understand that and we're listening. As we think about where we take the franchise next, we're going to take that into consideration and really engage them," he added.
Dragon Age 2 DLC will listen to core fan criticism, BioWare head honcho Ray Muzyka recently told Eurogamer.
"It’s been one of the most polarizing launches we’ve had, frankly," Muzyka said. "Many people who played Dragon Age: Origins loved it as well. But also there were a lot of fans of the original Dragon Age: Origins who weren’t as happy with it. Maybe they were looking for more of the same, and it was different and innovative in ways they weren’t expecting."
Our own Dragon Age 2 review (http://www.g4tv.com/games/xbox-360/64227/dragon-age-ii/review/) would agree, as we found just as much to love as we found questionable.
VIDEO: Dragon Age 2 Is A Bi-Sexual Romp - Sessler's Soapbox (http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/710909/dragon-age-2-is-a-bi-sexual-romp-sesslers-soapbox/)
"We’re committing to making sure all the products in the franchise going forward are going to appeal to a wide audience, both the core and more," Muzyka said. "We think it was innovative. We’re proud of the risks the team took. We think it’s the right direction for the franchise."
What statements like these mean for spin-off titles or sequels we can't say. But meanwhile, that upcoming DA2 DLC is "going to try and address some of the comments and try and provide the fans with the things they’re looking for, both the core fans and the new fans," according to Muzyka.
VIDEO: Will Work For Games: Videogame Composer Inon Zur (http://www.g4tv.com/videos/52315/Will-Work-For-Games-Videogame-Composer-Inon-Zur/)
"We also think there’s an opportunity to listen to the core fans who loved Dragon Age: Origins to make sure they’re with us on the journey going forward. We need to work hard to make sure that happens, that that is the case," Muzyka said.
Well, I'm with you BioWare. I might need a Lyrium potion or two, but I'm with you. But what about you? Do you think Dragon Age 2 is too far removed from its predecessors or do you still hold hope in your heart.
Source: Eurogamer (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-06-17-dragon-age-2-dlc-to-address-fan-feedback)
Read more: http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/713797/dragon-age-2-dlc-to-incorporate-fan-feedback/?cmpid=sn-110418-facebook-28-fbfantrack#ixzz1PdLeWc00
Ok, I can't imagine they could do much with DLC to satisfy the fans. An expansion perhaps, or rather an overhaul pack.
Face all new darkspawn, forge a powerful new weapon and come face to face with an ancient horror.
Description:
Targeted by a vicious criminal cartel that are hunting "the blood of the Hawke," you must put an end to their relentless attacks. Leave Kirkwall, and journey to an ancient Grey Warden prison in order to find the source of the aggression and uncover the harsh truth about the Hawke lineage. Playable from any point in the DAII campaign, face all new darkspawn, forge a powerful new weapon and come face to face with an ancient horror.
Features:
Uncover the harsh truth about the Hawke lineage
Adventure through several new locations including a prison constructed by the Grey Wardens
Obtain a powerful class-specific weapon to which you can apply upgrades of your choice
Details:
Release Date: July 26, 2011
Platforms & Pricing:
Playstation 3 - $9.99
PC/MAC - 800 BioWare Points
Xbox 360 - 800 Microsoft Points
Dragon Age 2 PC pulled from Steam. (http://www.vg247.com/2011/07/27/dragon-age-ii-pulled-from-steam-as-legacy-dlc-launches/)True but not in my region! The bastards!
Worth noting - Microsoft, of all corporations, does have Fable 3 PC Steam version has ALL of their game and ALL of their DLC sold ALSO sold through Steam.
Dragon Age II was pulled from online games retailer Steam after the game's first downloadable expansion, Legacy, was released this week.
It's believed that due to the expansion being purchasable from within the game, and not the Steam client, that lead to Valve dropping the game completely. Dragon Age: Origins is still available, however.
EA would not address the specific reasons for why Dragon Age II was removed, only saying it hopes to reach an agreement with Valve in the future.
"At EA, we offer our games and content to all major download services including GameStop, Amazon, Direct2Drive and Steam," said David DeMartini, SVP of Global E-Commerce for EA in a statement given to IGN.
"Unfortunately, Steam has adopted a set of restrictive terms of service which limit how developers interact with customers to sell downloadable content. No other download service has adopted this practice. Consequently some of our games have been removed by Steam.
"We hope to work out an agreement to keep our games on Steam."
Last month, EA's Crysis 2 was also pulled from Steam after downloadable content was released for the game. EA denied any involvement with the move, saying it was due to a distribution deal for the DLC that violated Valve's agreement.
Which part is the dick move EA did? Steam pulled the game because it doesn't conform to the new DLC rules put in place last month. EA sells their DLC directly themselves, and Valve now requires that DLC also be sold through them (so they get a 30% cut on it). Neither side is really doing anything wrong, its just a dispute over the new Steam regulations.Wow - Valve gets that much of a cut on it, eh? :o
The issue I discovered was with Bad Company 2 Vietnam. Apparently, if you have the Steam version you can only get the Steam version of the DLC and vice versa. SO for my brother, who had the retail version I wound up having to re-buy the base game in Steam so he could play Vietnam (the reason being that the only option for retail was through the EA Store and it was around 15 Euros as opposed to $15 USD). We got lucky that the BFBC2 pack went on sale during the last event.But yes - I think THIS is another reason exactly why Valve wants to sell on their website game + ALL expansions + ALL DLC - so their fan-base don't get screwed over w/ having to jump through hoops w/ Origin and other programs. This way, DLC works w/ their version of the game.
Now my brother technically has two legitimate BFBC2 keys permanently tied to his EA account. Can he give away his old key? According to EA, NO! Why? No good reason at all.
But yes - I think THIS is another reason exactly why Valve wants to sell on their website game + ALL expansions + ALL DLC - so their fan-base don't get screwed over w/ having to jump through hoops w/ Origin and other programs. This way, DLC works w/ their version of the game.My brother had the retail version, which we set up in Origin anyway, however therein lies the problem: EA is anal about regional restrictions. Most sales and specials seem to be US-only, aside from that the Origin Store (formerly EA Store) determines region by IP. Here's the kicker: even with a VPN in the US sales won't go through without a North American credit card; once I decide to check out and enter my card details it rejects the purchase stating that it needs a US credit card.
On another hand - we could, if we really wanted to, blame Steam for FORCING their client to run w/ ALL Steam-sold games.
This is probably what causes the trouble and incompatibility issues here - b/c the game has an extra layer here added [Steamworks].
You don't see D2D forcing their client to run/boot say any of the EA games they sell, do you?
No - they basically make you use Origin.
Since most recent EA game keys register on Origin, I'm guessing you guys could have registered Steam version BC2 on Origin.
You'd probably want to "Archive" [for back-up purposes] and uninstall BC2 Steam Version [b/c Origin recognizes if EA games, even if it's tied to Steam; it recognizes Burnout: Paradise - Steam version].
Then, you could DL the Origin version of BC2 [so you don't have Steam wrapped around it].
Then, if Vietnam went sale on Origin, you could've bought BC2: Vietnam from Origin. [shrug]
You know what I miss? Games that came on disks. And then the expansion was on a disk and it would always work with the original game. And you didn't need the internet AT ALL to play.I could go on and on about this more than I'll probably type, but let me explain a lot of this madness.
Why did we go away from that again?
Can you summarize what you said?
You know, Steam isn't cutting out the middle man. They are the middle man.
Hence why Steam and EA are pushing the hell out of their digital services - they can cut out the middle-men, since they are dev's AND publishers.That means this only pertains to THEIR games from their own self-owned companies.
I guess this is the right time to talk about the two business models, publisher and independent.
The traditional publishing model is awful for developers, it's their gilded cage. It requires costly pitching, to emissaries of publishers, who return to corporate rooms & badly pitch the idea to large groups who need consensus to act, and typically take 6 months to close any deal they offer. Publishers are motivated by greed, but restrained by fear of risk, and thus seek sure deals, licenses and sequels, which makes pitching innovation almost pointless. Should you get a deal, the usual is 20 percent royalties, but after the retailer takes their share of 50 percent, you are getting 20 percent of the 50 percent left (so 10 percent of retail price). That doesn't sound too bad, until you realise that the developer is the one that actually pays for the development, the publisher has just advanced the developer their share of the royalties to pay for making the game.
So...the developer takes 10 percent of retail, after ALL costs have been repaid from that 10 percent. Assuming the game cost £2m to make, and sold for 20 pounds, the developer gets 2 pounds for every unit, once the 2 million punds is repaid, so that's 1 million copies before the developer sees their first 2 pounds, meanwhile the publisher has recouped their 2 million pound and is sitting on an extra 6 million pounds. What happens next? History shows us the developer goes bust, or gets acquired by a publisher, and the publisher maybe buys another publisher for kicks.
The self-funded, digitally distributed model should be the future, it brings 70 percent of the retail price back to the developer, which means 14 pounds for every unit sold. Assuming the game cost 2 million pounds to make (although it wouldn't, being independently developed it would be half the price, being twice as efficient!), that's a break even for the developer at 142,000 units, instead of at 1 million units. If they did get very lucky and sell 1 million units they'd make a profit of 12 million pounds, instead of 0. For an efficient team like ours, we made the game for 700,000 pounds, so our break even would be at 50,000 copies. Instead of games development being seen as a hit or miss industry, it should be seen as a break even or profit industry, there is no miss, only the chance to do better next time.
All money aside, innovation is hard. Coming up with the next big idea is hard, and it's even harder to make it into a reality. Creating a good team, keeping them happy, and keeping the project on track is hard. Developers don't need a monkey on their backs making it harder.
However, the independent route still has the key flaw of needing funding. Investors are justifiably skeptical about developers (after all, we usually go bust), and banks don't lend, despite the public bail out, so where will the development capital come from? At the moment, the main option remains a publishing deal, and while it seems like a lifeline, it's more like a shackle with a death sentence at the end.
EA Policy on Selling Games on Third-Party Download Sites
At EA, we believe in choice. We want our products in all the places gamers go to download the best games and services. To that end, we offer games to EVERY major download service including Amazon, Walmart, Gamestop, and Steam.
One of the most exciting aspects of games is that they just keep getting bigger and better. Both developers and consumers have evolved beyond the traditional model that used to limit us to 15-20 hours of play on a typical disc. Today, post-launch downloads of new maps, vehicles and other content extend the experience, adding hours of fun and a lot of value.
Every download site that hosts our games sets business terms for our relationship. These terms are often complex, but the goal is to provide a hassle-free experience for the gamer. Prices, content exclusives, and loyalty programs may differ from site to site. Consumers can pick the site that bests suits their needs.
Any retailer can sell our games, but we take direct responsibility for providing patches, updates, additional content and other services for the individuals and communities that play our games. These players are connecting to our servers, so we want to provide them with the very best service. This works well for our partnership with Gamestop, Amazon and other online retailers.
However, when a download service forbids publishers from contacting players with patches, new levels, items and other services – it disrupts our ability to provide the ongoing support players expect from us. At present, this is the case with only one download service. While EA offers its entire portfolio to this site, they have elected to not post many of our games. We hope to find a mutually agreeable solution to this issue soon.
Going forward, EA will continue to work with download partners and continue offering our games for sale on all major download sites.
The good news is: you’ve got plenty of choices.
The issue I have with EA-store exclusivity is the fact that it's despicable for region support. No fair pricing policy, US store only works with North American credit cards, no gifting options, etc. Overall it's just not a great store. Fortunately when alternate stores have the content they often have their own fair pricing policies i.e. Gamersgate.com.That's really crap-tastic. Bleh.
HEY GUYS ANNOUNCEMENT OUT: I'm starring in a new Dragon Age II DLC, Mark of the Assassin! I'm playing the same character I created in the web series I wrote and produced, Dragon Age: Redemption. Full motion and facial capture, voice acting, the whole bit. First time ever something like this has been done!
Both launch October 11th. Tomorrow I think I'll be able to link you some footage ;) Such a dream come true!! Ok good night :)
PC Gamer looks back at DA2 (http://www.pcgamer.com/reinstall-dragon-age-2/)
This seems apropos. I'm on the fence on whether to pick up the 360 XBL version for $8. That price tag goes back up to normal in a couple of days (somewhere around $20, I guess). After sinking so much time into Inquisition, I'm now more curious than ever about the one DA installment I'm missing. The reviews have mixed things to say, but they are generally positive. I remember not liking the demo, 4 years back. But the videos I'm watching go far beyond that limited corridor run through an empty landscape. Hmm.Keep in mind - I ran DA2 on the PC. And keep in mind - it's also been much cheaper on the PC. Hell, it was even in a Origin Humble Bundle BTA Tier w/ a bunch of other EA games.
And then there's Varric again. Can't get enough Varric. Oh, and the story of Hawke, which affects Inquisition rather prominently. Yes, maybe I'll bite.
Edit: My original comments on the demo. (http://www.overwritten.net/forum/index.php?topic=5616.msg99626#msg99626) At the time, I hadn't played any Dragon Age at all. It was all the DA talk here that made me jump into DA:O. I had forgotten that.
I'm aware of the PC-console differences, of the repeated look of areas like dungeons, and of the setting being limited to Kirkwall and environs. I'm also aware of the simplifications, including the fixed gear on companions. All quite unfortunate, and all of which kept me from buying the game when it was new, and DA was a blank slate to me. But now in the bargain bin, and after my long involvement with the rest of the series, it's looking more attractive, especially for the rest of the story, and the good characters. As long as the gameplay is decent, it should fit the bill.Curious - did you buy DA2?
Thanks for confirming what I've been reading. A mixed bag to be sure, but nothing seems to be a complete deal breaker. Games do get cheaper on PC than on consoles--particularly digital purchases on the console service. Anywhere below $10 is exceptionally good here, for a game like this. Of course, it doesn't beat free, and a game or two will become free every month on XBL. It'd be just my luck if DA 2 goes that route in June.Yeah, it's all over the place. Even then, I still liked it, for certain reasons. I really loved the Three Act structure all w/ each having its own story (there are others who hated this). I also loved the characters in this - Merrill, Varric, and Avelline are great; not to forget to mention even the rest of the cast such as Fenris + Isabella, which I also did like.
Yes, I just bought it today. It's downloaded and ready to go. I'm not sure when I'll start playing it, since I'm still heavily into DA:I. Going back and forth may present a problem with controls and such. I'll still try it out soon. I'm too curious not to. :)
Did you get to Skyhold yet? I don't want to say anything that will spoil things for you. For now, I'll just say that there are plenty of DA2 spoilers when you get there and even before, if you like to hear all the dialogue possible. (I do.) I guess I'll have a general idea of what's to happen when I jump into the previous game.
If you're dying a lot in Normal difficulty in Inquisition, you should have some rewarding times learning how not to do that. There is much to develop on your party characters, and some effective synergies between them. And fade-touched items crafted into their gear can give them abilities normally only available to another class. I could go on, but I won't. Figuring it out is half the fun, no?
It's unreal how primitive these graphics look now in comparison to DA:I's. I checked some PC footage of the same game intro sequence on youtube, to make sure it wasn't just a bad console port. Nope. They're nearly as crude on the PC. The story is fascinating, though. I got to Kirkwall, and quit for the night. The gameplay is going to take a lot of getting used to. It's so much better on the newer game. Let's see where it goes from here.
Cassandra is so much hotter here, in a dark way. I guess the years weren't kind to her. :D
I finished this. Quite a strong story, and the repeated areas didn't bother me as much as I thought they would. The companions are superb. If everyone had a friend like Varric, the world would be a much better place.I'm glad you enjoyed DA2. I do agree w/ you that the companions in this game were superb. I really liked the game - and that's even despite the repetitive areas (especially that), the lack of customization on certain things on party members; and the removal of strategy elements (tac-cam removal + the lack of strategic elements in Normal difficulty mode); and that the game never really had a story of epic scope like that of DAO + DAI.
I finished this. Quite a strong story, and the repeated areas didn't bother me as much as I thought they would. The companions are superb. If everyone had a friend like Varric, the world would be a much better place.There is the Dawn of the Seeker animated film, which sheds a light on the history of Cassandra.
So now I'm fully versed in the Dragon Age saga (so far). I want more. Books? Comics?