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[Nirolak]

Remember that Dragon Age 2 expansion pack that was never announced?

No?

Well, it's been canceled.

Hey everyone,

With last week marking the one year anniversary of the release of Dragon Age II, I wanted to take the time to share some news and some great milestones we’ve had lately with Dragon Age. And though I can’t say too much, I also want to briefly address what is coming in the future.

First, I was delighted to hear that the Dragon Age brand has passed one million “Likes” on Facebook! This was an incredible reminder for me, and our entire team, that there are a lot of you out there who are invested in the franchise and who want to explore the world more. From all of us, I want to send a massive thank you!

Next, the latest and greatest patch for DAII is out, addressing a number of the issues you have helped us track on our tech support forums. Thank you again to those of you who took the time to submit feedback in order to help us make the game better.

And finally, while we will still be keeping an eye out for any issues that might crop up in DAII and supporting the community should any emergencies should arise, we’re moving the entire team’s focus to the next phase of Dragon Age’s future.

You’ve most certainly heard the rumors floating around, and unfortunately I can’t really comment on them. However, what I can say is that we’ve been thinking a lot about Dragon Age – what it means, and where it could go. This past year, we’ve spent a lot of time both going back to the “BioWare vault” of games and re-examining them, and looking at some new possibilities that today’s industry allows.

With that, the next thing for the Dragon Age team members and I to do is hear from you, and not just on the forums, or Facebook, or Twitter. We’ll be attending a number of conventions and gatherings, including PAX East in April. The most valuable thing we can get out of those meetings is to hear from you on those same topics – what does Dragon Age mean to you, and where would you like to see it go? We’re excited to hear what you have to say!

On behalf of the entire team, we are incredibly eager to reach the moment when we can tell you more and show you where we are taking Dragon Age. But for now, thank you for your continued support, and we will be back here with more as soon as we can.

Thanks,
Mark Darrah

Source: http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/260/index/10245444

We will try to bring some closure to Hawke's story but likely not in a playable form. Originally we had planned to do an expansion pack but had to stop to focus on what we are working on now.

Why are you announcing that you're cancelling an expansion pack you never annoucned again?

I don't want to hide the expansion pack. We even had shirts that people saw.

Why was it canceled?

Team sizes are relatively fixed. For us to continue working on the Expansion, we had to have people not working on... something else.

Sorry, I realize that likely didn't help.

We did have plans for an expansion pack to DA2 but, other DA opportunities came up. There were even shirts! It was called Exalted March.

...

TL;DR2 - We'll be -very- actively looking for feedback on the next DA title, and will be showing the game more than before as it develops.

Source: http://twitter.com/#!/BioMarkDarrah

 

[Aeana]

Huh. Well, if this will allow them to put more into DA3, I'm all for that.

 

[Prophet Steve]

Well, I'm glad that my question was solved in the first three sentences of the OP. But by now they should have enough feedback.

 

[Pranay]

The more time they invest on DA 3 , the better.

 

[LiK]

Cancel this and work on the ME3 Expansion. Hohoho

 

[erpg]

More bisexual characters, climaxes and happy endings.

 

[Patryn]

Hidden in the headline: "Bioware: Dragon Age 2 DLC sold like shit, going back to the drawing board!"

 

[K.Sabot]

Work on DA3.

-Keep the style.
-Unstupify the combat.
-Fire all of your writers.

Fan feedback.

 

[Zeouterlimits]

Glad that they came out and said it, transparency is best.

Not really sure what I want/trust them to do.

 

[fanboi]

Dragon age universe was a good idea... but it didn't feel mystical enough (played the first game only...) like the DnD universe.

 

[Zzoram]

I think fans have been very clear about what they want. More Dragon Age Origins, less Dragon Age 2. Even sales have given them the same feedback since DAO sold a lot better. DA2 was the game nobody wanted but Bioware.

 

[dragonelite]

So how much did the ME 3 back fire contributed to this?

 

[subversus]

Bioware, we gave you feedback a long time ago. Make it like DA:O but better.

 

[WanderingWind]

Feedback, huh? BRB, pulling up post history.

 

[Nirolak]

Bioware, we gave you feedback a long time ago. Make it like DA:O but better.

I get the impression they intend to unveil the game soon and ask for feedback on what people are actually seeing instead of just their opinions on the previous games.

 

[Patryn]

Step back from the action focus, give us auto-attack on the console.

Realize that you're making a true RPG and that following the path of Mass Effect just bit you in the ass hard.

Bring back the complexity!

 

[LumpOfCole]

Exalted March is basically the Dragon Age parable for "The Crusades" where the Chantry goes and fucks up some Mages.

I would love a Dragon Age that dealt with this contrast instead of focusing on the Darkspawn. In fact, a Dragon Age that didn't have any Darkspawn would make me pretty happy - I like my fantasy with antagonists that aren't 99%+ evil and have some real meaty and empathetic motives to them.

 

[Neuromancer]

One million Facebook likes? Holy shit

 

[Orayn]

This might be good news if they actually gave a care about fan feedback, but...

"Internet cancels faith in BioWare, asks for money back."

 

[Disheveled_Zen]

Sounds more like they are putting DA2 to the grave for now and will just shift focus to stuff that you know...will actually sell? Did anyone even buy the DA2 DLC?

 

[Deleted member 17706]

Good. I wouldn't have bought it. I loved Dragon Age, bought all of its DLC and the expansion. Played through all of it.

Dragon Age 2 soured me on the series quite a bit. I had to push myself to finish it in hopes it would somehow get good (those hopes never pay off, do they?). It was just bad. I didn't even look at the DLC, and as a result I'm extremely suspicious of any future entries in the series.

 

[Tajin]

How to fix the Dragon Age series:
1. Rehire Brent Knowles, lead designer of Dragon Age: Origins
2. Place him in charge of Dragon Age 3
3. Stop trying to turn Dragon Age into Call of Duty.

 

[Sir Garbageman]

Work on DA3.

-Keep the style.
-Unstupify the combat.
-Fire all of your writers.

Fan feedback.

Pretty much this.

Did anyone play the DA2 DLC they released? Were they any good?

 

[Zzoram]

I'm one of the many people who bought DAO and played every origin and beat the game, but ignored DA2 once I realized they dumbed down the game and reused the same dungeon a dozen times.

 

[Moaradin]

How to fix the Dragon Age series:
1. Rehire Brent Knowles, lead designer of Dragon Age: Origins
2. Place him in charge of Dragon Age 3
3. Stop trying to turn Dragon Age into Call of Duty.

They should just get James Ohlen instead. He still works at Bioware.

 

[Aeana]

Pretty much this.

Did anyone play the DA2 DLC they released? Were they any good?

I thought Legacy was pretty good, but I didn't like Mark of the Assassin very much.

 

[Tajin]

Pretty much this.

Did anyone play the DA2 DLC they released? Were they any good?

The one with Felicia Day is fun. I probably only tolerated it because I'm a fan of The Guild. The story has some real personality and elaborates more on the Qun, so it's worth if if you're into the DA-world.

I couldn't get the motivation to play the other DLCs. DA2 is the definition of a chore.

 

[ace3skoot]

more DA:O, less DA:2

 

[TemplaerDude]

Fucking try. When you're using the same god damn dungeon every where and spawning enemies out of bloody nowhere, you're not fucking trying.

 

[inky]

One million Facebook likes? Holy shit

So sad.

You want my feedback? Don't make any more games

 

[MightyHedgehog]

This past year, we’ve spent a lot of time both going back to the “BioWare vault” of games and re-examining them, and looking at some new possibilities that today’s industry allows.

What exactly does this mean? A DA III that recalls more of the gameplay of Baldur's Gate, perhaps?

 

[K.Sabot]

Also stop treating your fanbase like potential revenue and treat them like a fanbase.

 

[Patryn]

I'm curious how terrified some people at Bioware are about Dragon Age 3. Because if they misfire on that, they could have just killed what at one point was looking like it'd be their best-selling franchise.

A lot is riding on it, and they have to satisfy their fans who expressed their extreme displeasure with the previous game while also satisfying their bosses who want them to hit that CoD crowd.

 

[Erudite]

Build upon what DA:O started, in terms of gameplay, and I'll be happy.

 

[ClovingWestbrook]

Perhaps they should cancel DA3 instead.

 

[Foffy]

More bisexual characters, climaxes and happy endings.

Two of those sounds verrrrrrrry similar....:3c

 

[MightyHedgehog]

Also stop treating your fanbase like potential revenue and treat them like a fanbase.

How can they do that if they're part of EA?

 

[Sothpaw]

What exactly does this mean? A DA III that recalls more of the gameplay of Baldur's Gate, perhaps?

Hahahahahahahahaha. Good one man.

 

[LunaticHigh]

Interesting... but I don't believe it. I assume DA3 will be even worse than DA2, that seems to be their trend.

Nice of them to say they are looking for fan feedback, but lets face it, they already got it and already know whats wrong with their game, this just seems odd to me.

 

[Zzoram]

Also stop treating your fanbase like potential revenue and treat them like a fanbase.

I don't care if they treat us like potential revenue. They just need to recognize that the fans are fans because they liked the BG2 and DAO gameplay and turning the game into a stupid action game is only going to turn off all those fans.

 

[K.Sabot]

I'm curious how terrified some people at Bioware are about Dragon Age 3. Because if they misfire on that, they could have just killed what at one point was looking like it'd be their best-selling franchise.

A lot is riding on it, and they have to satisfy their fans who expressed their extreme displeasure with the previous game while also satisfying their bosses who want them to hit that CoD crowd.

They already pulled the trigger on themselves with DA2, this is most likely them giving out an olive branch with the excuse that they don't know what we want.

 

[Orayn]

What exactly does this mean? A DA III that recalls more of the gameplay of Baldur's Gate, perhaps?

DA III sounds like it'll be based more on II and the Mass Effect series than anything. :/

 

[H3xum]

I don't know if as a franchise they can own up to the fact that everything they did in DA2 was wrong and go back to DA:O style. I'm guessing pride is going to get in the way that way DA2 can't just be swept under the rug.

That being said. I fear DA3 will just be a gui overhaul and nothing more.

 

[Confidence Man]

I'm curious how terrified some people at Bioware are about Dragon Age 3. Because if they misfire on that, they could have just killed what at one point was looking like it'd be their best-selling franchise.

A lot is riding on it, and they have to satisfy their fans who expressed their extreme displeasure with the previous game while also satisfying their bosses who want them to hit that CoD crowd.

It's already dead.

 

[Emitan]

They're scared of Baldurs Gate Enhanced.

RUN FROM YOUR SHADOW, BIOWARE

RUN FOR YOU LIVES

 

[Balehead]

Is it the majority's opinion that DA2's graphical style was superior to the first game? Origins may be a bit generic, but I'd rather have the 3rd game go back to that with some improvements instead of that cartoony look we got for DA2.

 

[Kyoufu]

All I ask is for original dungeons, not rehashed crap. More than ONE town. You know, stuff you had in the first game.

 

[dionysus]

What exactly does this mean? A DA III that recalls more of the gameplay of Baldur's Gate, perhaps?

I doubt they go further back than KOTOR. People need to realize that Bioware intentionally abandoned the old school rpg after NWN. I think Jade Empire is indicative of that transition, as it was their own IP and before EA bought them.

 

[Patryn]

DA III sounds like it'll be based more on II and the Mass Effect series than anything. :/

I really doubt this. They tried it with DA2 and it burned them. Hard.

I have a feeling they'll be walking back some of those changes. It won't be to the extent of DA:O, but it'll be something.

Is it the majority's opinion that DA2's graphical style was superior to the first game? Origins may be a bit generic, but I'd rather have the 3rd game go back to that with some improvements instead of that cartoony look we got for DA2.

I found DA:O bland and DA2 ugly. What they did to the darkspawn was especially heinous.

 

[Wolfgunblood Garopa]

DA:O isn't a fun game. DA2 is a little better. I wouldn't bother with a third game, unless they completely overhaul the gameplay. Start with getting rid of cooldowns, it's an outdated mechanic that was never fun.