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[RJT]

I hate BG too!

Spoiler

Can I get that tag? Can I? Can I?

 

[eznark]

awesome screen, hope restored.

 

[maniac-kun]

i realy hope we get gameplay footage at e3 looks like bg3 and the preview i read was awesum - every action has a reaction in the world - if you do something bad your party might start a fight or leave

 

[duckroll]

Looks cool. I hope the upcoming news keeps getting better now.

 

[Karakand]

There's a reason why some of the best world-building, character-driven fantasy out there comes in 3000+ page series.

And there's a reason why those books have a very narrow audience. (They suck.)

 

[Durante]

And there's a reason why those books have a very narrow audience. (They suck.)

*sigh*
Sadly you can't argue with bad taste.
(But I should mention that Lord of the Rings -- while I don't think it's all that great in many aspects compared to current works -- was selected as the #1 favourite book in a mainstream poll in Germany a while ago, so perhaps your claim of a very narrow audience is somewhat overstated)

 

[Sanjay]

Draft hates BG, moving on.

All this time I thought he really thought BG2 was the best rpg ever!, his tag was one of few reason i'm playing through the game right now and its allso hard to see that tag all the time and not constantly think why have I still not pld the best rpg ever yet.

 

[Haunted]

*sigh*
Sadly you can't argue with bad taste.
(But I should mention that Lord of the Rings -- while I don't think it's all that great in many aspects compared to current works -- was selected as the #1 favourite book in a mainstream poll in Germany a while ago, so perhaps your claim of a very narrow audience is somewhat overstated)

The Bible was the runner-up, btw.

 

[Karakand]

(But I should mention that Lord of the Rings -- while I don't think it's all that great in many aspects compared to current works -- was selected as the #1 favourite book in a mainstream poll in Germany a while ago, so perhaps your claim of a very narrow audience is somewhat overstated)

Book polls being skewed by rabid fanbases happens so often I don't even bat an eye anymore.

The great triumvirate of English lit is Tolkien, L. Ron Hubbard and Ayn Rand if we use your logic.

 

[Endless]

 

[hiryu]

The gameplay screenshot looks perfect.

 

[Durante]

At least the 4th of those screenshots is very old, and the GUI looks nothing like the one in the new shot.

Edit: In case you're wondering what I'm talking about, it's now gone.

 

[Epiphyte]

I hope they also try to recreate BG's odd sense of humor

 

[Vagabundo]

The game isn't using D&D, it's using Bioware's own ruleset that they haven't said anything about, yet.

I just hope that it is class based and D&Desque...

<---D&D Whore...

 

[Minsc]

Bioware's back! Hamsters and rangers everywhere REJOICE!!!

 

[CassSept]

First trailer =
Second traielr = (
Screenoshots = YES!
Bioware am gods, can't wait for it now

 

[Quazar]

Good morning to you too, Bioware.

 

[Joseph Merrick]

omg the gameplay screen :OO

 

[Jinfash]

Perfect.

second character from the top (on the sidebar), there used to be a gaffer with that avatar? who was he? (i know :lol major WTF question)

 

[Teknopathetic]

That would be Minsc. (Both the poster and the character)

 

[Timber]

Screens look really great. I'm really curious how/if they manage to recreate those epic battles from the trailer within the gameplay. In-game footage ASAP please!

 

[charlequin]

I just came in to say: it looks like Baldur's Gate

The great triumvirate of English lit is Tolkien, L. Ron Hubbard and Ayn Rand if we use your logic.

There are a lot more totally normal people who read and enjoy Tolkien's works than either of the other people, probably because at the end of the day the Hobbit and LotR are just fun stories to escape from the real world with and not insane polemic screeds or bizarre pseudo-religious shyster scams.

 

[ElyrionX]

HOLY FUCKING CRAP!!

BIOWARE!!! I'M YOUR BITCH!!!!

 

[Anasui Kishibe]

I pray to god this is not another console friendly dumbed down RPG. Come on Bioware, don't pull a ME 1.5

 

[Uncle]

second character from the top (on the sidebar), there used to be a gaffer with that avatar? who was he? (i know :lol major WTF question)

You mean the dude who posted about 30 minutes before you in this very same thread?

 

[Crisco]

More than Starcraft II and Diablo III combined, that screenshot has me falling back in love with PC gaming.

 

[syllogism]

Is the PR new?

EDMONTON, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Leading video game developer BioWare®, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced details of the highly anticipated dark fantasy Role Playing Game Dragon Age™: Origins which will be featured as one of the premier video games at the 2008 E3 Media and Business Summit, July 15-17.

As the spiritual successor to BioWare’s Baldur’s Gate™, one of the most successful role-playing games in the industry, Dragon Age: Origins represents BioWare’s return to its roots, delivering a fusion of the best elements of existing fantasy works with stunning visuals, emotionally-driven narrative, heart-pounding combat, powerful magic abilities and credible digital actors. The spirit of classic RPGs comes of age, as Dragon Age: Origins features a dark and mature story and gameplay.

“We’re thrilled to be returning to BioWare’s fantasy roots, with Dragon Age: Origins representing the culmination of over a decade of experience,” said Ray Muzyka, co-General Manager and CEO, BioWare and Vice President, Electronic Arts. “Dragon Age: Origins is a dark heroic fantasy that doesn’t pull any punches. Our fans are in for the most emotionally intense gaming experience we’ve ever created, and we hope to surprise them with just how dark and gritty it gets!”

BioWare will be demonstrating some of the compelling features of Dragon Age: Origins behind closed doors at E3, including:

* Epic Party-Based Combat – Dragon Age: Origins will introduce an innovative, scalable combat system, as players face large-scale battles and use their party’s special abilities to destroy hoardes of enemies and massive creatures.
* Powerful Magic – Raining down awesome destruction on enemies is even more compelling as players apply “spell combos,” a way of combining together different spells to create emergent unique effects.
* Deep Customization – Players will develop their characters and gain powerful special abilities (spells, talents and skills) and discover ever-increasing weapons of destruction.
* Your Story, Your Way – With its emotionally compelling story, players choose with whom they wish to forge alliances or crush under their mighty fist, redefining the world with the choices they make and how they wield their power.
* Origin Stories – Players will select and play a unique prelude that provides the lens through which the player sees the world and how the world sees the player. The player’s choice of Origin will determine who they are and where they begin the adventure, as they play through a customized story opening that profoundly impacts the course of every adventure.



Dragon Age: Origins is scheduled to ship for the PC in early 2009. For more information, the latest updates, or to join BioWare’s Dragon Age community, visit www.dragonage.com.

 

[Timber]

Behind closed doors?

 

[CassSept]

That would be Minsc. (Both the poster and the character)

Miniature Giant Space Hamsters ftw!

 

[Durante]

* Origin Stories – Players will select and play a unique prelude that provides the lens through which the player sees the world and how the world sees the player. The player’s choice of Origin will determine who they are and where they begin the adventure, as they play through a customized story opening that profoundly impacts the course of every adventure.

So the more positive speculation on the name was correct. This should be good for replaying if the game turns out to be worthy of a replay.

 

[Azih]

All this time I thought he really thought BG2 was the best rpg ever!, his tag was one of few reason i'm playing through the game right now and its allso hard to see that tag all the time and not constantly think why have I still not pld the best rpg ever yet.

Accomplished!

 

[Quazar]

Damn I'm so excited. I <3 Bioware

But what are the chances of us getting any gameplay trailers this week? Zero?

 

[bababa]

I guess Bioware was trying to appeal to the mainstream crowd with that trailer? Because that was retarded. Screenshot is amazing.

 

[Zilch]

The gameplay shot looks really cool, but everything we've seen of this game has really generic looking fantasy art. Meh.

 

[Woakes]

It's not that the cinematics were bad or generic as some were saying, it's just that as hype generators they were about as effective as saying "We're making a fantasy game". They should have just gone with that gameplay screenshot in the first place.

That said I'm still very wary about this game. For me a spiritual successor to BG2 has to have the same scale, scope, quality of writing and intelligent design that doesn't worry about trying to please everyone or bring in new players but focuses on the hardcore rpg fan like BG1/2 did. I haven't seen that from Bioware since BG2 and they've even been quoted many a time as saying they probably wouldn't/couldn't do it again.

I mean NWN2 can look and play like BG2 when you set it up right but that doesn't make it the spirital successor to BG2 either.

Hope +10, but keeping my hype level low for fear of dissapointment.

 

[PhoenixDark]

ok, this game just shot up my WANT list

ASoIaF inspired world/story? check
top down RPG? check x100000000

 

[kallisto76]

best game ever confirmed in the PR

 

[clutha]

There are many types of trailers. Some can hype a game but tell/use little of the gameplay itself. I hope these are done "in game" and as such can't be held/compared to those that aren't. Either way game screens look great... (but I'm biased coming off of BG series and this genre.)

 

[Teknopathetic]

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/...x.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken

EDMONTON, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Leading video game developer BioWare®, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced details of the highly anticipated dark fantasy Role Playing Game Dragon Age™: Origins which will be featured as one of the premier video games at the 2008 E3 Media and Business Summit, July 15-17.

As the spiritual successor to BioWare’s Baldur’s Gate™, one of the most successful role-playing games in the industry, Dragon Age: Origins represents BioWare’s return to its roots, delivering a fusion of the best elements of existing fantasy works with stunning visuals, emotionally-driven narrative, heart-pounding combat, powerful magic abilities and credible digital actors. The spirit of classic RPGs comes of age, as Dragon Age: Origins features a dark and mature story and gameplay.

“We’re thrilled to be returning to BioWare’s fantasy roots, with Dragon Age: Origins representing the culmination of over a decade of experience,” said Ray Muzyka, co-General Manager and CEO, BioWare and Vice President, Electronic Arts. “Dragon Age: Origins is a dark heroic fantasy that doesn’t pull any punches. Our fans are in for the most emotionally intense gaming experience we’ve ever created, and we hope to surprise them with just how dark and gritty it gets!”

BioWare will be demonstrating some of the compelling features of Dragon Age: Origins behind closed doors at E3, including:

* Epic Party-Based Combat – Dragon Age: Origins will introduce an innovative, scalable combat system, as players face large-scale battles and use their party’s special abilities to destroy hoardes of enemies and massive creatures.
* Powerful Magic – Raining down awesome destruction on enemies is even more compelling as players apply “spell combos,” a way of combining together different spells to create emergent unique effects.
* Deep Customization – Players will develop their characters and gain powerful special abilities (spells, talents and skills) and discover ever-increasing weapons of destruction.
* Your Story, Your Way – With its emotionally compelling story, players choose with whom they wish to forge alliances or crush under their mighty fist, redefining the world with the choices they make and how they wield their power.
* Origin Stories – Players will select and play a unique prelude that provides the lens through which the player sees the world and how the world sees the player. The player’s choice of Origin will determine who they are and where they begin the adventure, as they play through a customized story opening that profoundly impacts the course of every adventure.

Dragon Age: Origins is scheduled to ship for the PC in early 2009. For more information, the latest updates, or to join BioWare’s Dragon Age community, visit www.dragonage.com.

About BioWare

BioWare develops computer, console, handheld and online video games focused on rich stories and memorable characters. Since 1995, BioWare has created some of the world's best-selling titles including the award-winning Baldur's Gate™ and Neverwinter Nights™ series, and Star Wars®: Knights of the Old Republic™. Original BioWare-created IPs include Jade Empire™ and the 2007 Game of the Year, Mass Effect. With studios in Edmonton, Canada, and Austin, Texas, BioWare is hard at work on the epic fantasy RPG, Dragon Age™: Origins and Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood for the Nintendo DS™, as well as several unannounced projects including a massively multiplayer online game. In 2008, BioWare was acquired by the world’s leading electronic entertainment publisher, Electronic Arts. For more information on BioWare, visit www.bioware.com.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, cellular handsets and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS™, EA™, EA SPORTS Freestyle ™ and POGO™. In fiscal 2008, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.67 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

BioWare, Mass Effect, Dragon Age and Jade Empire are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by EA International (Studio and Publishing) Ltd. in the U.S. and/or other countries. EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS Freestyle and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.



Looks like the Origins subtitle is due to the whole Origin story thing and not Dragon Age: Episode 1.

 

[BobsRevenge]

Tears of joy are streaming down my face.

 

[Timber]

That said I'm still very wary about this game. For me a spiritual successor to BG2 has to have the same scale, scope, quality of writing and intelligent design that doesn't worry about trying to please everyone or bring in new players but focuses on the hardcore rpg fan like BG1/2 did. I haven't seen that from Bioware since BG2 and they've even been quoted many a time as saying they probably wouldn't/couldn't do it again.

I'm pretty sure the length/scope of the game will not match BG2. BioWare has already stated the game will have high replayability. Combine that with production values and I don't think we're looking at a 100 hour game here.
They're marketing it as a spiritual successor to Baldur's Gate yet at the same time they keep saying we shouldn't expect another BG2, well, ever again. I'm expecting quite a bit of anger from some circles once the first reports of "This game can be completed in 30-40 hours!" start dripping in.

 

[BobsRevenge]

I'm pretty sure the length/scope of the game will not match BG2. BioWare has already stated the game will have high replayability. Combine that with production values and I don't think we're looking at a 100 hour game here.
They're marketing it as a spiritual successor to Baldur's Gate yet at the same time they keep saying we shouldn't expect another BG2, well, ever again. I'm expecting quite a bit of anger from some circles once the first reports of "This game can be completed in 30-40 hours!" start dripping in.

Yeah, people need to wake up and realize that games just can't be that long anymore. The content just takes way too long and costs way too much to create to make it worthwhile.

 

[Jack Random]

I'm so fucking there

 

[RJT]

* Origin Stories – Players will select and play a unique prelude that provides the lens through which the player sees the world and how the world sees the player. The player’s choice of Origin will determine who they are and where they begin the adventure, as they play through a customized story opening that profoundly impacts the course of every adventure.

I thought the Origins name would be because of episodic content. Boy, did they listen to the complaints about BG2 opening chapter :lol

This has just become my most anticipated game ever.

 

[Quazar]

Christmas in July motherfuckers!

Even if they release a few more game play pics I'd be happy. So hoping for a trailer though.

 

[No_Style]

Looks nice. I wonder how it'll be in motion though...

 

[Woakes]

I'm pretty sure the length/scope of the game will not match BG2. BioWare has already stated the game will have high replayability. Combine that with production values and I don't think we're looking at a 100 hour game here.
They're marketing it as a spiritual successor to Baldur's Gate yet at the same time they keep saying we shouldn't expect another BG2, well, ever again. I'm expecting quite a bit of anger from some circles once the first reports of "This game can be completed in 30-40 hours!" start dripping in.

I think though these production values are wasted. Firstly, I don't need the epic cutscenes with all the motion capture and studio rent time that entails; And I'm pretty sure that's where most of the extra production comes from. Sure you probably have to pay voice actors more now as well and the whole game is likley voiced, but then I'm not sure it'd be the end of the world if every line of dialogue wasn't.

Which just leaves the gameplay graphics. BG's pre-rendered backdrops were made in a modeller and textured/rendered. That gameplay screenshot from DA is in a lot of ways even worse than BG2, from a pure top-down standpoint. Blocky shadows and octagonal barrels because it's rendered real time with performance concerns. Either way the production time for an area, sans mo-cap for the character models, is likley the same as BG2 was. I know it has over the shoulder views too but my argument is I didn't need that in BG2 and I don't now.

Anyway,... I know I just said BG2 > DA because DA has octagonal barrels. /skulks off

Yeah, people need to wake up and realize that games just can't be that long anymore. The content just takes way too long and costs way too much to create to make it worthwhile.

I don't believe you.

 

[Durante]

Yeah, people need to wake up and realize that games just can't be that long anymore. The content just takes way too long and costs way too much to create to make it worthwhile.

As a programmer I'm still holding out hope that with much more sophisticated tools this will change again in the (sadly not so near) future. It's not like BG2's environments were a low-effort affair.

 

[Kinan]

edit: beaten.


early 2009 release - awesome.

 

[clutha]

Woakes is right. Futhermore, I believe it was a culture/mentality like this that was present back in the at BioWare (hopefully some of it still resides there) that made BG possible.

In a word: ambition.