Dragon Age Writer Suggests That Everyone Just Calm Down

[Jake Martinez]

"You might, in fact, want to see exactly how we're implementing these features you dislike and seeing for yourself whether they differ from, say, Mass Effect's," he continued. "There are similarities, of course, but there are also differences... and to assume you know everything about how the game is going to feel based off the most cursory of information is just going to make you look foolish.>

...has this EVER been the case? I can't think of a single time when this kind of no-details "don't worry, it's not what you think!" reassurance has ever panned out. It's nothing more than a knee-jerk reaction any time a company gets a negative response to somethink they're doing.

Making judgments off of cursory information > "Trust us, you won't mind us taking away the things that made the first game great!"

I tend to agree. I'm an older gamer (35) with a lot of history behind me and I can't recall a time where when a company was forced to go to its fan base and say, "Don't worry!" that it actually worked out in the end. Generally these kinds of missives are a precursor to epic fail, we'll just have to wait and see.

 

[Jake Martinez]

Sometimes I want to experience the story you, the creator, have to tell. Just because a game doesn't let you build precisely the kind of stunted, idiotic character you want doesn't mean it's a failure. Quite often, in fact, it makes the game better.

They have an invention for you. It's called Television. Also see: Film and Books.

 

[Caliostro]

You've already announced that you are completely forgoing one of the most interesting and praised things about the first game.

Yeah, I think people have a right to question you and be pissed.

Wait, character customization was the MOST INTERESTING AND PRAISED thing about the first game? Must have been a shit horrible piece of atrocious software then.

When the best thing you can say about a game is how you can change pixels around to adjust your character's meaningless visual, you're playing a horrible game.

That said, didn't the first game use that crappy "MMO-style point and click" combat? How do you simply THAT? That's the absolute lowest point of "dumbing down". Turn based with infinite time and hints?

 

[Notthatbright]

The fact of the matter is that Dragon Age: Origins didn't really differ all that much depending on which starting person you picked, aside from the origin story and maybe a character line or two along the path to the end.

So instead of making it more robust, which would cost more, they "streamline" it, and nip that problem in the butt.

I expect to see a lot more streamlining in the future of this title. And a lot more controversy.

 

[The Righteous One]

Don't mind it if Bioware changes core aspects of the game, I would like to sea a Dragon Age 2 not version 1.2. Just let the good people of Bioware do their magic and make something original, interesting, compelling and most of all fun.

 

[Caliostro]

Sometimes I want to experience the story you, the creator, have to tell. Just because a game doesn't let you build precisely the kind of stunted, idiotic character you want doesn't mean it's a failure. Quite often, in fact, it makes the game better.

They have an invention for you. It's called Television. Also see: Film and Books.

Alternatively we may want to play a game with a meaningful protagonist instead of a completely hollow placeholder for the sake of retarded and meaningless vanity. Give me a well built character any day. I know my own personality. I'm myself the entire day, everyday. I'm not so insecure I need to force it in on a game.

 

[CarpathianMuffin]

There's really nothing to worry about here. The "Simplified combat" is indeed raising a few flags with me, but I'm not going to jump to conclusions quite yet as to whether I'll like it or not.
Again, more information needs to be given before I feel judgment should be passed.

 

[Rooster Cogburn]

"You might, in fact, want to see exactly how we're implementing these features you dislike and seeing for yourself whether they differ from, say, Mass Effect's," he continued. "There are similarities, of course, but there are also differences... and to assume you know everything about how the game is going to feel based off the most cursory of information is just going to make you look foolish.>

...has this EVER been the case? I can't think of a single time when this kind of no-details "don't worry, it's not what you think!" reassurance has ever panned out. It's nothing more than a knee-jerk reaction any time a company gets a negative response to somethink they're doing.

Making judgments off of cursory information > "Trust us, you won't mind us taking away the things that made the first game great!"

Experience tells me an announcement with -0- content about the game and long winded, vague assurances is a very bad sign. I have seen this play out many times, and it always ends the same way. But Bioware games are usually renters for me, anyway. I'm sorry if I dishearten anyone, but I think those who are reassured by this announcement are just setting themselves up for a fall.

 

[MadMechanic]

Fact. BioWare has a great track record, and has yet to put out a bad game. Even the Sonic RPG was good.

1)Great record so far
2)It appears that we have different opinions of 'bad' (joke)

I like DA:O as it is thanks very much.
The game play is thrilling and unique. (Like ME, but not at the same time)
Yeah there are problems, [sub]magi run out of mana quicker than I can eat cake, it takes eons to regain mana - you can use potions - but, there is a limited number in game. Buy 'em all up and...[/sub] but then most games have problems.

I don't really care that my current grey warden cannot be played as (due to death/time/the 30years old thing...)
Character creation in DA:O is perfect, and probably the reason I like it so much. I can be a redheaded female human mage, or I can be a stocky, brickbuilt male drawf warrior. Theres something about other RPG character creators that just isn't as good as DA:O

If DA:2 is anything like Leliana's DLC, I think I'll pass. It just isn't the same, as good as it was. It felt like...Dragon Age-Diet Lite Zero.

 

[Sartan0]

Having introduced players to their mythology of DA it makes sense to simplify how they make the games so they can crank them out. One of the things I liked about ME was that the story was more focused then DA. So if they can maintain the freshness while basically delivering hero focused gaming interactive 'books' everyone might win. (Or at least me as I like more focused writing)

Sure there are challenges there but Bioware might well meet them.

 

[Irridium]

They're simplifying it... for who?

Apparently it was a hit with the mainstream, so who the hell are they simplifying it for? Unless they mean they're making the combat on the consoles much better, in which case perhaps they should word it better.

 

[Warped_Ghost]

We can complain about the game when it comes out.
Doing so before is pointless.

 

[TOGSolid]

and simplified combat.

But only for console players.

....

>.>

<.<

MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

[BloodSquirrel]

We can complain about the game when it comes out.
Doing so before is pointless.

No, complaining once it's out is pointless. At that point, what's done is done.

 

[Ve1ociraptor]

The whole "make your own character" thing is an incredibly weak mechanic. Yes, you get to choose what you look like, but you're also removing most of the ability of the developers to give your avatar personality. They just have to give you some lame "choices" that don't really personalize your mute character at all.

Frankly, I'm glad that they're putting only one character in. This will allow for a much better experience due to *actually having a character with personality*. After all, this is a series that prides itself on epic storytelling, and you can't tell a good story with weak characters.

This really bugs me. The idea that spawned RPG's to begin with, the very crux of the whole genre, is that you ROLE PLAY. When you make a character, you're not just stamping on a face to a human shell, you're CREATING A PERSON. This is why they have the "Biography" button on the menu. You sketch in his story: where he came from, his hopes and fears, and his principles.

This was the status quo in the old fantasy RPGs. This was how it was done. Now, with modern RPGs they've moved away from that because APPARENTLY the average gamer today can't handle that amount of input into the game. In the old days, you had more choices than today's "Evil Shepard" and "Good Shepard". You had the anarchanistic yet good-hearted ranger, you had the craven, self-absorbed thief; you got to play ANY CHARACTER YOU WANTED. When BioWare said that DA:O would be a return to old-school fantasy RPGing, this is what they meant! You crafted the main character and you got to play him, picking what you think he/she would pick out of a myriad of choices.

Yes, you're removing the developer's ability to characterize the protagonist, but you're adding yours! This is what RPGs originally were all about! Saying "the whole 'make your own character' thing is an incredibly weak mechanic" is the height of ignorance.

[/rant], but COME ON.

 

[silver wolf009]

Hes on the mark. Its just a game guys, if it works then good but if not, eh.

 

[spinFX]

Simplified combat and a lack of character customization... Human only...

I am frightened.

 

[Dragon Zero]

I'm optimistic about this. I really don't get it but I saw the rage coming, and sometimes the internet just boggles my mind, we'll complain that everything is the same then when a franchise changes directions (which to me is probably better than creating a new IP from the ground up) we act as if they killed our mothers and ate the corpse. Maybe some people prefer a streamlined game, that does NOT mean we're stupid or that we're not a true fan, it just means we prefer something different. We don't know if this is how the rest of the series will turn out, they might decide that this will be the only time they do it. Besides which the older game is still there, you could play that and not buy this, that would send a message more than simply bellyaching about it.

 

[daftalchemist]

WTF Bioware?! So it's yet another RPG where I'm forced to play a male character, when the reason I've loved you so long is for actually letting me play as my own sex? WTF?!!!