Editorial Did BioWare dumb down Dragon Age ?

[hoverdog]

remember that combat is supposed to be completely different for lolbox & pcs.

also, the "journalist" here is a fucking moron. are the standard that low nowadays?

 

[Carlos' Bitch1]

They might have been imps or goblins or demons, actually. We're not nerdy enough to know the difference.

No. You must be cool.

 

[Ruprekt]

MMO-lite mechanics were too complex... so they're turning DA into an action rpg?

 

[Antihero]

I thought they were overhauling the combat only on the console versions. CBA to find the thread saying that right now, though.

You skipped the best :

We also got to see the new conversation system. Dialogue has been simplified so that you only have up to three choices. Each choice is represented by an icon that indicates whether or it's a "good," "nasty," or "badass" choice. Good choices are represented by an olive branch, nasty by a Greek comedy mask, and badass by a red fist. This is an easy way to gauge what response your dialogue choices will produce.

So much for subtlety. Then again, even if you do get different responses to each choice as they claim you do since ME2, half the time it probably still won't make an overall difference except flavour text.

 

[ChristofferC]

They should remove dialog options altogether. They break the flow and immersion of the cinematic experience. Also, reading is boring.

 

[Silellak]

I thought they were overhauling the combat only on the console versions. CBA to find the thread saying that right now, though.

Yeah, it was mentioned in the Game Informer article that was posted. Combat in the PC version is staying pretty much the same, which isn't a bad thing, because the fundamentals of the combat system were fine - it was the encounter design that was lacking.

Another change - and this might be the biggest - is that only the
PC version will retain Origins' "strategic combat". The console
versions will feature a new combat system, one BioWare says plays to
the strength of the control pad. "Rather than try to mimic the PC
experience on consoles", the GI report states, "Dragon Age II has a
battle system more tailored to the strengths of the PS3 and 360."

Not only that, but Bioware mentioned in a podcast that one of the thing they want to improve is the encounter design.
https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1H2Fk-tooxKl-DL7FaEx_gvaAdUTpc26VZQHsyrK6llw

I'm not saying the game is going to be great, but there is some good news out there as well as bad.

 

[Begriffenfeldt]

They might have been imps or goblins or demons, actually. We're not nerdy enough to know the difference.

 

[ChristofferC]

I think he actually does know the difference. He just wants to collect konsole kiddie kool kredits by pretending not to know.

 

[Brotherman Bill]

It is a dumbing down competition, and Bioware has just taken the lead. It is up to Obsidian to take the next step and invent a new dialogue system, with two options: a smiling face for the good option and a frowning face for the evil option. Molyneux will probably skip that step and go directly for the sole "smiling face" dialogue option in his game.

And all will be controlled by playstation move/xbox kinect/wiimote

 

[Mortmal]

Mass effect with swords and a 20 hours campaign, i suppose it will follow the same exact pattern of finding companions then you launch the final missionto kil some archfiend .
Last article ive read in a serious gaming magazine (canard pc) was about free facebooks game taking over normal gaming , the future is farmville, logically we should see a dragon age or mass effect social game next , they make millions and cost nothing to develop , EA wont just skip that.

 

[mondblut]

Why is this in RPG news?

 

[racofer]

Who cares about the RPG elements? DA is good because of its story and depth. And DA2 will improve even further because it will allow for an incestuous relationship with your sister!

For me RPGs are about having sex with as many characters as possible while out in the field, and DA delivers this in the right dosages.

 

[Sceptic]

You skipped the best :

We also got to see the new conversation system. Dialogue has been simplified so that you only have up to three choices. Each choice is represented by an icon that indicates whether or it's a "good," "nasty," or "badass" choice. Good choices are represented by an olive branch, nasty by a Greek comedy mask, and badass by a red fist. This is an easy way to gauge what response your dialogue choices will produce.

Oh fuck. I actually thought you were joking and had to go look it up in the article.

This is the kind of thing that worked in Sam & Max Hit the Road. You know, a comedy adventure game.

 

[Lockkaliber]

They're not making games for us anymore, if they ever did. There's no reason to be surprised by anything Bioware does anymore.

 

[Jaedar]

Who cares about the RPG elements? DA is good because of its story and depth. And DA2 will improve even further because it will allow for an incestuous relationship with your sister!

Gaider specifically mentioned we would not be able to do that The man knows his audience

 

[racofer]

Who cares about the RPG elements? DA is good because of its story and depth. And DA2 will improve even further because it will allow for an incestuous relationship with your sister!

Gaider specifically mentioned we would not be able to do that The man knows his audience

derp herp MODS durrr!!

 

[aries202]

Oh, come on now. It isn't that difficult to guess which responses are nice, and which respones are nasty and which responses are badass in Dragon Age: Origins. On the other hand, I thought Bioware didn't do moral choices and moral meters anymore; seems they're trying to bring them back via the dialogue system. Or maybe, reading really is 'teh hard' for young people today. (and here I'm not couting on people with Asperger's or ADHD).

 

[Jaesun]

Jebus christmas. By the time DA III comes out it will be X Button, THE GAME!

 

[MetalCraze]

DA III will come out by the end of next year relax. They still have DA 4 and 5 to make before "5 years with EA" will run out and Riccitiello will thankfully kill them off.

 

[Turjan]

I think he actually does know the difference. He just wants to collect konsole kiddie kool kredits by pretending not to know.

The most benevolent interpretation would be that they are ridiculing Bioware's choice to rename their LOTR orcs to something else, but pretend ignorance. Not that I think that's likely.

 

[Ruprekt]

What was the plan for dragon age, anyway?

Self containted stories with each showcasing a different part of Thedas, or was there meant to be an overall plot arc?

 

[AnalogKid]

Why is this in RPG news?

This is a very good point. I know it'd be a slow place around here if there weren't postings about ME2, DA2, and AP, but we're helping fuck up any conceivable definition of "RPG" by posting news items (not just general discussion threads) about this crap.

Have we finally just thrown in the towel and admitted that NO-ONE is making RPGs anymore? Or should we rename this to the "fantasy and post-apoc setting codex"?

 

[Malachi]

We also got to see the new conversation system. Dialogue has been simplified so that you only have up to three choices. Each choice is represented by an icon that indicates whether or it's a "good," "nasty," or "badass" choice. Good choices are represented by an olive branch, nasty by a Greek comedy mask, and badass by a red fist. This is an easy way to gauge what response your dialogue choices will produce.

You know, this kind of reminds me of one of the first things I posted in this forum. I said that there was room for a KOTOR sequel to be even dumber, in that they could have Fable-like quest trails on the ground: red trail for Dark Side, blue trail for Light Side.

The disturbing part is that *I was joking*, and here we have proof that there are individuals in the game publishing business who think this way in all seriousness.

EDIT:

Self containted stories

I think you've unintentionally (and hilariously) hit upon the quality of future Dragon Age sequels...

 

[Volourn]

"This is a very good point. I know it'd be a slow place around here if there weren't postings about ME2, DA2, and AP, but we're helping fuck up any conceivable definition of "RPG" by posting news items (not just general discussion threads) about this crap. "

They're RPGs. You can argue if they're bad or good rpgs, but theya re rpgs. Just like FO, MW, DTU, GBG, and a host of other games are rpgs. Qiuality has nothing to do what genre a game is.

 

[Brother None]

You skipped the best :

We also got to see the new conversation system. Dialogue has been simplified so that you only have up to three choices. Each choice is represented by an icon that indicates whether or it's a "good," "nasty," or "badass" choice. Good choices are represented by an olive branch, nasty by a Greek comedy mask, and badass by a red fist. This is an easy way to gauge what response your dialogue choices will produce.

It is the best

Only it's not true
We put up to 5 choice options and 5 investigate options per dialog node. There is also a difference between choices (where you are actually deciding something) and giving you the opportunity to express yourself in different ways (which I think is quite cool, but not something I believe we have released any details on yet).