So Dragon Age 3.... No Pressure?

[Erttheking]

Dunno, not gonna buy it, never was going to

 

[Realitycrash]

I think I will sit this one out. I did not enjoy DA2 at all, with its Mass Effect-like feel, stupid dialog-system (yes, I can't stand the conversation-wheel), equipment-limitations for followers, and simplified combat.

The thing I did like about the conversation wheel is that it gave you an idea of your characters tone with what they're gonna say. I remember picking chat options seriously in DA:O, only to have people tell me to stop being sarcastic.

Problems I have with the wheel: I do not get a clear signal of what my character would say. All I have are "Serious" or "Flirting" or "Humorous" icons. So I decide "Okay, my character would probably be serious in this situation", and then Hawke spits out something semi-threatening or GI-Joe militaristic, and I'm like "Wtf? No, this is NOT my character".
It ruins immersion.
What also ruins immersion is that we only have two voices (male, female), meaning that I lose replay-value based on roleplaying. Sure, I can take different conversation-paths, but it just feels like I am playing an alternate-universe with the same Hawke, that might look differently, but is still essentially the same person. It bugs the hell out of me.
And finally, I enjoyed (just like I enjoy in the Fallout-games) to read the available conversation-options, because even if you were not planning on taking one of them, some are genuinely funny to read. But now I don't even get to see them, and it feels like the game is telling me "To see what you COULD have said, you have to replay the game, HAH!", which just feels like false replay-value.

 

[Fappy]

I think I will sit this one out. I did not enjoy DA2 at all, with its Mass Effect-like feel, stupid dialog-system (yes, I can't stand the conversation-wheel), equipment-limitations for followers, and simplified combat.

The thing I did like about the conversation wheel is that it gave you an idea of your characters tone with what they're gonna say. I remember picking chat options seriously in DA:O, only to have people tell me to stop being sarcastic.

Problems I have with the wheel: I do not get a clear signal of what my character would say. All I have are "Serious" or "Flirting" or "Humorous" icons. So I decide "Okay, my character would probably be serious in this situation", and then Hawke spits out something semi-threatening or GI-Joe militaristic, and I'm like "Wtf? No, this is NOT my character".
It ruins immersion.
What also ruins immersion is that we only have two voices (male, female), meaning that I lose replay-value based on roleplaying. Sure, I can take different conversation-paths, but it just feels like I am playing an alternate-universe with the same Hawke, that might look differently, but is still essentially the same person. It bugs the hell out of me.
And finally, I enjoyed (just like I enjoy in the Fallout-games) to read the available conversation-options, because even if you were not planning on taking one of them, some are genuinely funny to read. But now I don't even get to see them, and it feels like the game is telling me "To see what you COULD have said, you have to replay the game, HAH!", which just feels like false replay-value.

I know they won't but I really wish they'd go back to a no voice protagonist. I've been playing DAO again for the first time in years and the plethora of dialogue options is making me depressed

 

[SweetShark]

Will all honesty I have, I will enjoy more this game, than I would enjoy Dragon Age 2:

Loren: The Amazon Princess

Spoiler

Seriously, heared good things about this game. This game have even a DLC.

 

[burningdragoon]

BioWare needs to stop making their games for money and start making the games that they want to make.

To do that they need to leave EA.

And to do that they would all need to quit and start up a new company, which means they wouldn't be making Dragon Age 3 anyway.

 

[BoogityBoogityMan]

Here is what will happen: EA will spend more to market the shit out of the game then the game cost to make, promising everyone everything in order to drive presales and ULTRAMEGAOMG $200 collectors editions. Then the people who got super excited and pre-paid for the game thinking they were going to get something special will be pissed off because they were hustled, AGAIN. Then they will take to the internet and rage against EA for their own stupidity.

It will happen again with DAIV and V, as well as MEIV and V, and whatever other AAA EA releases with giant marketing budgets.

If people would stop pre-ordering things, they might actually start making good games.

 

[Thoric485]

I think that if SW:TOR enters 2013 with less than 500k subs, BioWare will be shut down and this won't see the light of day.

 

[Nero18]

I think that if SW:TOR enters 2013 with less than 500k subs, BioWare will be shut down and this won't see the light of day.

They probably have charts and stuff that predict the number of subs, if it looks bad im sure they will start to look att the free2play model if they havent already. BioWare has been a big asset to EA and they are in no way shutting them down.

Also to get to the point, i really wish that BW would focus on some other franchise than this. DA feels so generic and un-interesting. I really would like something new from them especially now that ME trilogy is over.

 

[Fappy]

I think that if SW:TOR enters 2013 with less than 500k subs, BioWare will be shut down and this won't see the light of day.

They probably have charts and stuff that predict the number of subs, if it looks bad im sure they will start to look att the free2play model if they havent already. BioWare has been a big asset to EA and they are in no way shutting them down.

Also to get to the point, i really wish that BW would focus on some other franchise than this. DA feels so generic and un-interesting. I really would like something new from them especially now that ME trilogy is over.

I believe they've already mentioned going F2P about a month ago. It's just a question of "when" now.

 

[Savo]

I'm giving Bioware the benefit of the doubt on this one.

The've had enough failures lately that they must know that a lot rides on this one. I think since they're on the rebound, they'll attempt to make a game that gets people to trust the Bioware brand once more.

Also, a large amount of DA2's problems came from how rushed the development was. It doesn't look like they're looking to rush this one out the door, so here's hoping that this one turns out well.

 

[Ranylyn]

I just want Orlais, is that too much to ask!?

Yes, the movie is in Orlais. BUT IT'S A MOVIE.

DA:O gave a lot of setup for Orlais. I was angry when I found out 2 wasn't there. I mean really....

- You know a lot about politics and how their games work, from Leliana
- You know a bit about the gender inequality from that woman in Denerim's market
- You know about their fashions and cities, from Leliana
- You know they have their own Grey Wardens thanks to Riordan.

Orlais sounds like a really great setting, why on earth did they ignore it in favor of KIRKWALL of all places?

 

[Soviet Heavy]

I definitely will not be buying it on day one again. Dragon Age 2 was the first game I got the day it was released, and look where that got me.

I'll sit and watch, like I have with ME3. Enjoy the flame wars and roast the marshmallows until I come to a decision. And the less said about that horrendous anime flick the better.

 

[Fappy]

I just want Orlais, is that too much to ask!?

Yes, the movie is in Orlais. BUT IT'S A MOVIE.

DA:O gave a lot of setup for Orlais. I was angry when I found out 2 wasn't there. I mean really....

- You know a lot about politics and how their games work, from Leliana
- You know a bit about the gender inequality from that woman in Denerim's market
- You know about their fashions and cities, from Leliana
- You know they have their own Grey Wardens thanks to Riordan.

Orlais sounds like a really great setting, why on earth did they ignore it in favor of KIRKWALL of all places?

In some panel thing they did back at PAX they heavily implied it was going to be set in Orlais. Sounds cool to me, though I hope they don't half-ass the VO budget and give us a bunch of horrendous French accents. D:

 

[WFox]

I think that if SW:TOR enters 2013 with less than 500k subs, BioWare will be shut down and this won't see the light of day.

They probably have charts and stuff that predict the number of subs, if it looks bad im sure they will start to look att the free2play model if they havent already. BioWare has been a big asset to EA and they are in no way shutting them down.

Also to get to the point, i really wish that BW would focus on some other franchise than this. DA feels so generic and un-interesting. I really would like something new from them especially now that ME trilogy is over.

Well I do enjoy the Dragon Age franchise (though DA2 somewhat less than Origins), but I agree in that it would be nice to see Bioware do some other franchises. I'd love to see another Jade Empire. Knights of the Old Republic 3 would be nice too (but I doubt that'll ever happen at this point).

 

[FieryTrainwreck]

DA2 was garbage.

Reusing your dungeon layouts when they're already highly linear and thoroughly unimaginative.

Side quests that consist entirely of looting a random item and returning it to someone you've never seen before (but conveniently highlighted on your map) in exchange for one line of dialogue and some pocket change.

Combat mechanics that include unpredictable ninja enemy spawns, completely invalidating the concepts of positioning and intelligent cool down usage.

Uneven, poorly paced story where none of your decisions ended up mattering hardly at all.

DA2 was an objectively bad game based on the standards of Bioware and DA:O. If they didn't want to call down that kind of wrath, they should have named it something else.

 

[Nero18]

I think that if SW:TOR enters 2013 with less than 500k subs, BioWare will be shut down and this won't see the light of day.

They probably have charts and stuff that predict the number of subs, if it looks bad im sure they will start to look att the free2play model if they havent already. BioWare has been a big asset to EA and they are in no way shutting them down.

Also to get to the point, i really wish that BW would focus on some other franchise than this. DA feels so generic and un-interesting. I really would like something new from them especially now that ME trilogy is over.

I believe they've already mentioned going F2P about a month ago. It's just a question of "when" now.

But they havent confirmed going f2p have they? I remember it being a rumor.

Personally I assume they will run Dragon Age into the ground once and for all, in which case they will have killed all their IPs in 3 years. Quite an achievement.

We'll see. But I'm done with giving Bioware the benefit of the doubt.

Its really sad. After ME2 i considered them to be maybe the best dev studio in the world, now i have zero faith in them.

 

[Fappy]

I think that if SW:TOR enters 2013 with less than 500k subs, BioWare will be shut down and this won't see the light of day.

They probably have charts and stuff that predict the number of subs, if it looks bad im sure they will start to look att the free2play model if they havent already. BioWare has been a big asset to EA and they are in no way shutting them down.

Also to get to the point, i really wish that BW would focus on some other franchise than this. DA feels so generic and un-interesting. I really would like something new from them especially now that ME trilogy is over.

I believe they've already mentioned going F2P about a month ago. It's just a question of "when" now.

But they havent confirmed going f2p have they? I remember it being a rumor.

Personally I assume they will run Dragon Age into the ground once and for all, in which case they will have killed all their IPs in 3 years. Quite an achievement.

We'll see. But I'm done with giving Bioware the benefit of the doubt.

Its really sad. After ME2 i considered them to be maybe the best dev studio in the world, now i have zero faith in them.

I am 90% sure I read a quote from a dev shortly after the recent layoffs that they are strongly considering going F2P. There was an article here about a month ago I believe.

 

[templar1138a]

As someone who actually loved Dragon Age II and hasn't been too inclined to play Origins because of how awkward the gameplay is by comparison, I hope that Bioware just continues to do what they do best: Make a well-written RPG that actually makes me care about the characters I interact with. And in the debacle over Mass Effect 3's ending, very few people acknowledged how damn good the rest of the game is.

As far as I can tell, the people at Bioware actually care about the games they make, so as long as they keep doing what they've been doing, I'll be happy with Dragon Age 3 and everyone else can keep weeping piss.

 

[Jeff Gennick]

I won't be getting it. My first Bioware game was the original Kotor, I spent more time in that then I care to think about. And they've only disappointed me since.

 

[Fappy]

DA2 was garbage.

Reusing your dungeon layouts when they're already highly linear and thoroughly unimaginative.

Side quests that consist entirely of looting a random item and returning it to someone you've never seen before (but conveniently highlighted on your map) in exchange for one line of dialogue and some pocket change.

Combat mechanics that include unpredictable ninja enemy spawns, completely invalidating the concepts of positioning and intelligent cool down usage.

Uneven, poorly paced story where none of your decisions ended up mattering hardly at all.

DA2 was an objectively bad game based on the standards of Bioware and DA:O. If they didn't want to call down that kind of wrath, they should have named it something else.

Way to tell it like it is. I always try to cut DA2 a fraction of some slack, but this logic is absolute. Unfortunately it is my belief that DAO is a game from another era, and we'll never see another RPG with that kind of development cycle ever again. I remember reading somewhere that they had worked on it for 5 years? Compared that to DA2's >2 year dev cycle.