Rumor: Dragon Age Getting Multiplayer

[AugustFall]

This is absolutely true. I want my cleave back! That bloody rocked for clearing out mobs. The older games were clearly attempts at creating a DnD style game, hence the settings of Neverwinter and Baldur's Gate which I think is a major fault of the newer games in that they stray from it. I felt like KOTOR was the perfect mix of engaging combat with control over a party of chars and the customization available from a DnD-esque game.

Aye! We want our Cleave! A few tweaks and you could kill everything within melee range.

Well it's hard to start from scratch and make a setting as incredible rich and detailed as the Forgotten Realms, which has been enriched over the decades with contributing ideas. I think the Dragon Age setting has potential - or at least did before EA got their hands on it.

Knights of the Old Republic is also based on the Wizards of the Coast Star Wars RPG; I really wish you could be some other race than a human in KOTOR. Gamorrean Jedi!

I really would have liked to see a game that covers a vast chunk of Faerun (the central continent in the Forgotten Realms setting), with a table-top battle system (turn based, following D&D rules) and gameplay. The point of the game isn't to play out a pre-made campaign (although one would be included), but to be a means for players to play D&D together, with all the benefits of a video game. The GM creates the campaign using a simple editor that allows him to pick a location and build from there, creating quests and plots, and if the players just wanna dive into a dungeon, the game would be packed with them, including famous dungeons created for the table-top editions.

That would be the perfect RPG.

Yeah that sounds awesome. For DnD virgins like myself it would be a nice easy way to get a group of friends together to try it without all the peripherals required to play DnD. However the DM's job in that setting would be minimal as it would be a lot harder to come up with stuff on the fly and to incorporate it into a game.
I was pretty annoyed to hear the next NWN is going to be an MMO, it seems like WRPGs were gradually moving to the point where we are today where the graphics and power of the machines could create incredible stories and settings but now that we are here everyone has abandoned it either in the way that DA dropped the established setting and others expanding into MMOs.

 

[Pandabearparade]

Bioware fans in 'refusal to buy game before knowing the smallest thing about it' shocker.

I gave Dragon Age 2 a chance despite misgivings, and I was burned for sixty dollars. Not happening again.

 

[getoffmycloud]

To everyone saying Bioware has sold there soul all im gonna say is neverwinter nights had PvP so this isnt new to them and if you were true older bioware fans like you all claim to be you would know this

This is an interesting comment. Sadly, it'll be ignored

Also, i never tried a NWN game, how are they?

yeah I know it will but never mind

The first one is pretty awesome never really played the second one as computer couldn't run it very well but the little bit I did play was fun

 

[shrekfan246]

To everyone saying Bioware has sold there soul all im gonna say is neverwinter nights had PvP so this isnt new to them and if you were true older bioware fans like you all claim to be you would know this

Pahaha, you think Bioware fans are going to be rational? You clearly haven't visited the Bioware forums. Quoted for truth though. Bioware made Neverwinter Nights, which had multi-player, so it's not like this is unheard of.

Anyway, OT: I love how everyone is saying "SKYRIM PROVED YOU DON'T NEED MULTIPLAYER" and don't even give passing nods to the other large single-player games released this year:
Dragon Age 2 (even if you hated it, it was a critical success and a big release)
L.A. Noire
The Witcher 2
Infamous 2
Alice: Madness Returns
Shadows of the Damned
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3DS
Limbo (Arguably, it was released on XBLA in 2010 but retail, PSN, Steam and etc. in 2011)
Bastion
From Dust
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Ico & Shadow of the Colossus HD Collection (If I put Ocarina of Time, I might as well put this too)
Batman: Arkham City
Sonic Generations (Does have online leaderboards for zone clear times, but that's about it from what I know)
Super Mario 3D Land
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

And Single-player with Co-Op but not competitive multi-player just for the hell of it:
LittleBigPlanet 2
Two Worlds II
Red Faction: Armageddon
de Blob 2 (big for Wii owners at least)
Hunted: The Demon's Forge
Kirby's Return to Dreamland

Now, granted, Skyrim may have out-sold all of those games, but don't pretend it's the only significant single-player game released this year.

 

[SnakeoilSage]

Yeah that sounds awesome. For DnD virgins like myself it would be a nice easy way to get a group of friends together to try it without all the peripherals required to play DnD. However the DM's job in that setting would be minimal as it would be a lot harder to come up with stuff on the fly and to incorporate it into a game.
I was pretty annoyed to hear the next NWN is going to be an MMO, it seems like WRPGs were gradually moving to the point where we are today where the graphics and power of the machines could create incredible stories and settings but now that we are here everyone has abandoned it either in the way that DA dropped the established setting and others expanding into MMOs.

Well MMO's are really the easiest setup for game developers. You don't need a lot of content or story, its nothing more than a glorified scavenger hunt. World of Warcraft is slightly steering away from this; Cataclysm boasts some minor region-based storylines, and many dungeons have some interesting challenges besides just bashing things.

Still, these are not true RPG's and I'm not happy about WRPG's steering in that course, because WoW has had years to polish and tweak itself and very few other developers are willing to take it that far... they just want a fast, simple, cheap MMO to make them fat subscription dollars.

 

[getoffmycloud]

To everyone saying Bioware has sold there soul all im gonna say is neverwinter nights had PvP so this isnt new to them and if you were true older bioware fans like you all claim to be you would know this

Pahaha, you think Bioware fans are going to be rational? You clearly haven't visited the Bioware forums. Quoted for truth though. Bioware made Neverwinter Nights, which had multi-player, so it's not like this is unheard of.

No I haven't been on the Bioware forums but they way you describe them it sounds like a great place to annoy some fanboys

 

[Casual Shinji]

Thank God I'm not a Bioware fan, otherwise my heart would probably be breaking right now (if it didn't already with DA2).

Instead I'll just exude a sigh followed by a headshaking smirk.

 

[shrekfan246]

No I haven't been on the Bioware forums but they way you describe them it sounds like a great place to annoy some fanboys

It's . . . hard to describe. I'll let Sir Alec Guinness do it for me:

Well, I couldn't find a shorter clip, but the first 14 seconds are the relevant bit. Just replace "Mos Eisley Spacesport" with "The Bioware Forums".

It does have some normal threads, but . . . overall, it's a pretty creepy place, filled with hatred for Bioware over every little thing they do.

 

[AugustFall]

Yeah that sounds awesome. For DnD virgins like myself it would be a nice easy way to get a group of friends together to try it without all the peripherals required to play DnD. However the DM's job in that setting would be minimal as it would be a lot harder to come up with stuff on the fly and to incorporate it into a game.
I was pretty annoyed to hear the next NWN is going to be an MMO, it seems like WRPGs were gradually moving to the point where we are today where the graphics and power of the machines could create incredible stories and settings but now that we are here everyone has abandoned it either in the way that DA dropped the established setting and others expanding into MMOs.

Well MMO's are really the easiest setup for game developers. You don't need a lot of content or story, its nothing more than a glorified scavenger hunt. World of Warcraft is slightly steering away from this; Cataclysm boasts some minor region-based storylines, and many dungeons have some interesting challenges besides just bashing things.

Still, these are not true RPG's and I'm not happy about WRPG's steering in that course, because WoW has had years to polish and tweak itself and very few other developers are willing to take it that far... they just want a fast, simple, cheap MMO to make them fat subscription dollars.

Agreed, I have played a bunch and there is a burn out factor. I love guildwars as it had a coherent story behind it and the multiplayer was very fun. Looking forward to GW2. But it wasn't a WRPG. Honestly Skyrim may have divided a lot of people but the perk system which adds new gameplay elements as you advance has totally engrossed me just the same the feats in KOTOR and NWN did.
Also it has no multiplayer and has sold very well (I don't like Jim but that was a good point he made) so hopefully this will push a movement of Single Player RPGs.

 

[SnakeoilSage]

Agreed, I have played a bunch and there is a burn out factor. I love guildwars as it had a coherent story behind it and the multiplayer was very fun. Looking forward to GW2. But it wasn't a WRPG. Honestly Skyrim may have divided a lot of people but the perk system which adds new gameplay elements as you advance has totally engrossed me just the same the feats in KOTOR and NWN did.
Also it has no multiplayer and has sold very well (I don't like Jim but that was a good point he made) so hopefully this will push a movement of Single Player RPGs.

I thought that the improvement system in Skyrim was fantastic, a stroke of genius that should find its way into more RPGs. As much as I enjoy a good set of character classes, Skyrim pretty much made the whole concept obsolete. Implemented into an MMO, I would design it so that character have a base class (like Tank, Healer, Striker, whatever) and give each one a set of skills that work similarly to Skyrim's, with perks you can purchase. And THEN I would give it a Talent tree, to tweak what Perks you have so that you can be, say, a hardcore Archer Striker or a jack-of-all-trades Tank who can control crowds with two-haned weapons or defend with shield and one-handed weapons, or bolster allies with strategic commands.

I've got to write the stuff down...

 

[synobal]

Bioware games use to have multiplayer often, but it was a co op or something like NWN, I was really sad that dragon age origins didn't have a multi player similar to NWN. How ever what they seem to be doing with the new DA sequel is some silly pvp death match style thing. Hell they are even using the frostbite engine.

 

[FedericoV]

To everyone saying Bioware has sold there soul all im gonna say is neverwinter nights had PvP so this isnt new to them and if you were true older bioware fans like you all claim to be you would know this

The NWN MP community was great and it was a great thing to be part of because it was something like a "build your shared MMO" movement. But unfortunately the game was mostly played as SP. Its MP appeal was minimal and the community was just a small niche of players (a vocal and active and creative niche, still not much in term of numbers). Most of the sales/revenue came from SP gamers anyway. NWN+expansion sold half of BG2+ToB copies. That was the main reason they used during DA:O's development to explain the lack of of a MP component and that even explain why DA:O's tool was just a late add-on, a bone thrown to the old NWN community just for niche PR.

Gamers play Bioware's games for certain reason, they look for certain feature in their games and MP competition is certainly not one of it.

 

[burningdragoon]

This wouldn't be the worst news if combat wasn't the weakest part of both Dragon Age games.

 

[aegix drakan_v1legacy]

Ok, playable dragons DOES sound cool.

But...Multiplayer? ...Why? Why does Dragon age need multipl-....Oh RIIIIIGHT, because EA thinks that all games need multiplayer in order to sell!

Yeah, it's probably not Bioware's fault. EA is probably putting the pressure on them to insert competitive multiplayer in any way, shape or form.

 

[spectrenihlus]

Vote with your dollars people you don't like it don't buy it. Or buy it and never use the pvp multiplayer thus forcing EA to rethink spending money on a feature that is never used. Really you people act as if it is the end of the world. Who knows you might like it, i mean 10 years ago many games came out with quick multiplayer games. Just look at Conker's Bad Fur day for the N64, those minigames were awesome but you didn't buy the game for the minigames did you.

 

[getoffmycloud]

To everyone saying Bioware has sold there soul all im gonna say is neverwinter nights had PvP so this isnt new to them and if you were true older bioware fans like you all claim to be you would know this

The NWN MP community was great and it was a great thing to be part of because it was something like a "build your shared MMO" movement. But unfortunately the game was mostly played as SP. Its MP appeal was minimal and the community was just a small niche of players (a vocal and active and creative niche, still not much in term of numbers). Most of the sales/revenue came from SP gamers anyway. NWN+expansion sold half of BG2+ToB copies. That was the main reason they used during DA:O's development to explain the lack of of a MP component and that even explain why DA:O's tool was just a late add-on, a bone thrown to the old NWN community just for niche PR.

Gamers play Bioware's games for certain reason, they look for certain feature in their games and MP competition is certainly not one of it.

Yeah fair enough I do agree with you and I don't play Bioware games for the MP I am just saying its not something worth getting worked up over Bioware know what there fans are after and this will just be a small little add on for those that are interested

 

[FedericoV]

Yeah fair enough I do agree with you and I don't play Bioware games for the MP I am just saying its not something worth getting worked up over Bioware know what there fans are after and this will just be a small little add on for those that are interested

I would have agreed with you before DA2. After DA2 I'm not that sure even if I hope that you are right. I mean, what's the biggest criticism to DA2? That execution was bad. I think that most players would have passed on certain design decision if the game exectued it in the right way, if act. 3 wasn't such a rushed disaster, just like how they have accepted ME2 design. The other issues were the loss of choices during the story (even if with flavour consequences like DA:O) and the scope of the setting (recycle and all).

The devs explained that the cause of those flaws was the rushed dev cycle and the lack of resources. And what they do to solve those issues about the SP game and to reassure the fanbase that it will never happen again? Well, they leak a rumor about a possible MP wich will probably take resources from the main game without any visible return. Not only, a PVE arena mode that reinforce the "buttom/awesome" hatred... because, now you can play as a "drrragon".

I know, maybe that issue does not deserve all the work up, maybe it's just a rumor (hard to believe after ME3 MP), maybe you are right and we're just wasting our time. But EA and Bioware seems really clueless to me right now. They really seem out of touch with their customer base. They seem unable to communicate positively with their players and to understand what they want. Or they are simply tired of us and want a new player base. Well, in case, I wish 'em good luck.

 

[getoffmycloud]

As much as I think DA2 was a disaster how many games have Bioware ever released that have been that bad its only DA2 that I have played that is so its not worth abandoning faith of Bioware yet

 

[YunikoYokai5]

Oh god please no! I liked Origins so much, I even liked 2. I don't have any any friends that play video games! Multiplayer is useless to me! (sigh) please just be a horrible rumour...

 

[Ruedyn]

Who the fuck cares? It's optional and they've done it before on never winter nights. It's not going to take away from anything important.