Bioware has changed... kinda.

[LarenzoAOG]

Am I the only one that was disappointed with Mass Effect 2 and Dragon Age II?

Every time you utter the phrase "am I the only one..." all the other people that are/doing/feeling/whatever, what you are about to desribe have their life spans shortened, and that a lot of people, this is the internet, not trying to be rude but if you think you are the only person with a given opinion you are incredibly wrong and you just might have an inflated opinion of yourself.

Again, I'm not trying to be a dick or anything, I'm just laying down some truth, you dig?

It's kind of astonishing how often I see this response whenever someone says "Am I the only one...?" Do you people just not understand how standard phrases work?

It's insulting to everyone's intelligence when this gets pointed out.

Maybe if people are annoyed when other point out the stupidity of a certain phrase then maybe we should stop using that stupid phrase.

Good day sir.

But it's not a stupid phrase... It's just basic exaggeration to get a feeling across, used all the time various ways in conversations. Connotation.

There's just something about that specific phrase that makes all the people who pretend not to understand social norms jump on it every time. I mean let's be serious now, you do know that phrase isn't meant to be taken literally, and you know the OP didn't mean it literally, but you and half a dozen others on this thread decided to play dumb and explain it to him anyway, as if you think he's stupid enough to have meant it literally. So is the problem with the guy who uses a well-known phrase to make a point or the people who have arbitrarily decided that connotation is no longer a thing.

And it's an overwhelmingly specifically targeted phrase. Somewhere on the internet someone complained about it and people said "Look at that cool logical guy" and it's gained popularity ever since. I guarantee that when you and the others in this thread said that, it wasn't the first time they'd seen it written. They saw "Am I the only one...?" and thought "Time for me to show how logical I am!" The same people who would target that phrase are also the ones who would say "I died a little on the inside", so it's not consistent, just an automatic response to that phrase. I'm not trying to be a dick either, but this behavior is not only backwards and filled with irony, but nauseatingly predictable.

Whatever, I think its a stupid phrase and I will tell everyone who uses it just how stupid I think it is. I'm not doing it to show off or anything, I simply think its stupid and wish people to quit using it.

Have a good day sir/madame.

 

[Ascarus]

Dragon Age 2 was shit.

Mass Effect 2 i played the hell out of.

 

[AlternatePFG]

While I think their games can hardly be considered decent RPG's anymore, I do very much enjoy them for what they are.

Yes, even Dragon Age 2.

I still miss the games like Baldur's Gate or KOTOR though.

 

[Nargleblarg]

Dragon Age 2 was shit.

Mass Effect 2 i played the hell out of.

I was just about to type this same thing when I saw this brilliant scholar already had for me. Thank you kind sir.

 

[Zwilorg]

After NeverWinter Nights bioware went downhill (on the complex RPG status) i never liked any of their games as much as i did with NWN... DAO was cool but still very simple :S that was how i felt... that party management...omg... and DAO2 for hack and slash i prefer devil may cry thank you!

Mass Effect 1 rocked, ME2 not so much :S

 

[robinkom]

But it's not a stupid phrase... It's just basic exaggeration to get a feeling across, used all the time various ways in conversations. Connotation.

There's just something about that specific phrase that makes all the people who pretend not to understand social norms jump on it every time. I mean let's be serious now, you do know that phrase isn't meant to be taken literally, and you know the OP didn't mean it literally, but you and half a dozen others on this thread decided to play dumb and explain it to him anyway, as if you think he's stupid enough to have meant it literally. So is the problem with the guy who uses a well-known phrase to make a point or the people who have arbitrarily decided that connotation is no longer a thing.

And it's an overwhelmingly specifically targeted phrase. Somewhere on the internet someone complained about it and people said "Look at that cool logical guy" and it's gained popularity ever since. I guarantee that when you and the others in this thread said that, it wasn't the first time they'd seen it written. They saw "Am I the only one...?" and thought "Time for me to show how logical I am!" The same people who would target that phrase are also the ones who would say "I died a little on the inside", so it's not consistent, just an automatic response to that phrase. I'm not trying to be a dick either, but this behavior is not only backwards and filled with irony, but nauseatingly predictable.

As the OT, I thank you for explaining this as it's something so commonplace in our speech that I didn't feel it needed explaining to those who thought they were being funny. But that's the nature of the beast, the internet. Anonymity and safety from behind your monitor to say what you want without real repercussions. I realize bringing up Bioware as a subject of disgust is nothing new but there will always be someone reaching this conclusion at different times and a desire to discuss it.

If you feel the need to sound intelligent at the expense of someone else, do it with someone who's actually making a terrible point about something... such as $60 games having a tremendous amount of DLC out there being actual large parts of the main game that should have been part of the initial purchase.

 

[LTAshler]

Wait, You *Like* having broken, uninteresting combat? Look I'm all for heavy RPG elements but when it comes to gunplay, keep your grimy mitts off my aim.

And you *Like* Hiding behind a wall for 90% of a game, waiting for a chance to shoot the same enemy with the same gun, and use the one useful ability you have?
Aim wasn't too badly affected in ME1, except for the sniper rifle sway, that was bullshit. I was always able to aim any gun well with or without skill points in the gun. I however loved the ability to leave cover and live, and the ability to use more than one ability at a time. I'll take slightly harder aiming over extreme monotony any day (seriously, tell me any fight in ME2 had more to it than hide behind wall, shoot, use ability x. I'll give you the one that I found: That cave full of husks, and that was just ludicrously too many husks...)

Ever play a Vanguard?

/acerbic wit ftw.

 

[DustyDrB]

snip relating to "Am I the only one?"

It's no use. People want to hate on others for stupid reasons. So I always say if you do hate on others for saying "Am I the only one", then you're either ignorant (not realizing what a figure of speech or hyperbole is) or an asshole (belittling others for very trivial reasons).

 

[Joccaren]

Ever play a Vanguard?
/acerbic wit ftw.

Vanguard is the game I HAVE finished. It is no better, especially playing on a high difficulty. 1. Use Charge. 2. Shoot enemy with shotgun. 3. Take cover. 4. Shoot enemy with shotgun whilst waiting for charge to recharge, staying in cover the whole time. 5. Repeat.

I miss having any class able to run in the open for more than 3 seconds without death. It just doesn't happen in ME2. You sit behind a wall for the vast majority of the game. If you stay out of cover with enemies around after charging as a Vanguard, you will die very fast. It is not as fun as ME1 combat. Sure, the graphics are better, and the sniper aiming is a vast improvement over the ridiculous sway in 1, but the rest of it is stupidly monotonous hiding behind cover, peeping/charging out and shooting, taking cover again. It is rare that you do anything different.

 

[Zeraiya]

I think BioWare has changed - but for me - not for the worse. I think we should all accept that their two latest releases have far more action in them than their other games, and I think a lot of people don't like that or don't want to accept it.

The question lies in: are you a hardcore RPG fan? Or do you like lots of action? If you like action and RPG than I'm pretty sure you're going to love BioWare and the new direction they are taking. If you don't, well then you'll probably not be happy with the 'new BioWare'.

As far as the company goes, the people aren't changing. They are changing the games they make in order to appeal to a larger audience, they've said that themselves. There's even an article going around of them saying that the old RPG "are dead" and that new RPGs should be made to adapt to the market. That point is up for debate, but just offering some insight.

On a personal note, if BioWare has 'changed' I don't have a problem with it. I love their new games and I think their company has some really good developers in it. BioWare also seems to be one of the only companies that actually listen to their consumers and their fans. They also seem to be one of the only companies that care how their consumers enjoy their games.