Game News Dragon Age Preview on computerandvideogames.com

[Jasede]

Someone hasn't heard of Dark Sun.

 

[JarlFrank]

I'm not sure why, but I think in a few years time, the "opressed freedom fighter" elves will become just as big of an RPG cliche as "tolkienesque" elves up to the point of all the cliche haters begging to have the "old" elves back in fantasy RPGs.

Also, speaking of stereotypical races, why aren't the dwarves ever changing?
In just about every fantasy RPG/movie/book I've played/watched/read dwarves always match the following criterias:
-Live in underground cities
-Have beards they can sweep the floor with
-Are greedy and grumpy
-Have a Scottish-like accent
-Don't have much liking for other races (especially elves) but help them or ally with them if need be
-Prefer steel and technology to magic
-Are expert blacksmiths, miners, etc...
-Did I miss anything?
In other words, are always exactly the same.

Why are humans always exactly the same?

Well, humans are based on reality, and making them different than real humans would be weird. Dwarves and Elves are based on mythology, mostly Norse and Celtic mythologies, also Slavic a bit, so they're naturally fitting to the stereotype that has been developed by those mythologies. Sadly, especially Elves tend to be pussified and made into something "cool" just for the sake of being cool. Tehy are liek... mysterious, lulz! And always the good guys. Or Dark Elves, which are evil. The worst thing they tend to do to Elves though is making them either "totally awesomely good" or "totally badassed evil"m with almost no in-betweens.

I'd prefer Elves to be some nature-magical and mystical forest-dwellers, with a culture similar to Druidism [the Celtic druids, not D&D ones] and some deep spirituality and connection to nature. And not in the clichéd way. More like nature-philosophers.
In short: Not as childish good/evil characters, but as some deeper and more serious race.

 

[doctor_kaz]

The no-healing approach could work if the game was turn-based, otherwise bio's typical real-time monster-lawnmowing approach will have no room for such design decisions.

This is exactly what I'm thinking. I love the idea of challenging the user by making him use tactics to win battles, but real-time-with-pause is a crappy system for doing this, and Bioware hasn't had a good combat system at least since Baldurs Gate 2 (I havne't played Mass Effect yet though).

 

[Gay-Lussac]

From the bioware DA forums:

Posted 01/09/08 16:30 (GMT) by David Gaider

Posted 01/09/08 16:26 (GMT) by Melirinda
Interesting summary in this case, though I am a bit worried about the elves. Though if you play one, you can hopefully play a good character still.

I'm not quite sure where the terrorist thing comes from, but even were that so you wouldn't be forced into such a mold, no.

So maybe they won't be terrorists after all.

EDIT: for proper quoting

 

[fastpunk]

Dragon Age sounds good on paper, it always did, at least to me. And I also think that Bioware can pull off a great game, they have the talent. However, there are 2 elements I'm very afraid of: 1) I hope Bioware is not going to be as timid with the actual game design as they were with previous efforts and 2) I also hope that that Karphysyn guy isn't doing the writing.

Also, this article is somewhat a first. Does this mean that the hype machine is firing up its engines?

 

[Seboss]

But where are the shiny graphics?

 

[fastpunk]

But where are the shiny graphics?

http://media.1up.com/media?id=3167859&type=lg

Not that shiny eh? It's probably just a prototype done on their old Odyssey engine, but it has an interesting HUD.

 

[Hümmelgümpf]

But where are the shiny graphics?

http://media.1up.com/media?id=3167859&type=lg

Not that shiny eh? It's probably just a prototype done on their old Odyssey engine, but it has an interesting HUD.

Doesn't look like Odyssey to me, not even improved Odyssey. In any case, this screenshot was published back in 2006, so graphics should have been improved by now. BioWare has never released an ugly game.

 

[Seboss]

Well, I'd hardly call that "ugly" but I don't have very high standards regarding graphics.

 

[Hümmelgümpf]

Well, I'd hardly call that "ugly" but I don't have very high standards regarding graphics.

By 2008 standards it is ugly. We're talking about mainstream here.

Edit: Spellling

 

[fastpunk]

Well, I'd hardly call that "ugly" but I don't have very high standards regarding graphics.

By 2008 standartd it is ugly. We're talking about mainstream here.

That it is. Also, judging by the terrain and the trees it looks pretty Odyssey-ish to me. They probably used that engine to prototype some interface elements or game mechanics, it's not an uncommon practice.

 

[JarlFrank]

What's the problem with that screenie, it actually looks pretty good to me. Add some shinier graphical effects and better textures, and it might be almost close to the Witcher.

 

[Hümmelgümpf]

What's the problem with that screenie, it actually looks pretty good to me. Add some shinier graphical effects and better textures, and it might be almost close to Fable.

Fixed.

 

[slipgate_angel]

So all things magic is feared, and fantasy races each have there equal shades of dark? I'm all for it. ^_^

Meanwhile, potions are simply excised from the game entirely, alongside healing spells. To get through a tricky fight, you'll need to rely on your wits, not a backpack full of red bottles.

...*sniff*, see these tears in my eyes? Those are tears of joy and happiness. i_i

EDIT: Although, will Bioware have enough time for this project? With there being a Sonic RPG, among other projects?

 

[Suicidal]

I think the game looks fine as it is, graphically, and I hope they don't go out of their way to make it look like ME so that you would have to buy a quad-core CPU and the bestest video card in order to get it to run.

Also, what the fuck is with that dragon/unicorn thing sticking out of the wall, it looks out of place.

 

[Volourn]

"Also, speaking of stereotypical races, why aren't the dwarves ever changing?
In just about every fantasy RPG/movie/book I've played/watched/read dwarves always match the following criterias:"

You obviously haven't played D&D.

-Live in underground cities - not all dwarves live underground.
-Have beards they can sweep the floor with - most dwarves don't, this is a myth
-Are greedy and grumpy - very few dwarves ar egreedy or grumpy.
-Have a Scottish-like accent - only in silly video games
-Don't have much liking for other races (especially elves) but help them or ally with them if need be - nah, not really, but yeah, they and elves aren't pals
-Prefer steel and technology to magic - mostly true
-Are expert blacksmiths, miners, etc... - and?
-Did I miss anything? - you ar edumb.
In other words, are always exactly the same. - balony

That must explain that dwarven child killer in the BG series, those dwarven DRUIDS in that one FR novel. The list goes on.

P.S. Read the IWD trilogy. There are dwarves in there, espicially a certain main characetr that eaisly vreak your pathetic streotype. Sure,m they ahve similarities with the typical dwarf; but not exactly the same, He adopt a human child, he spares a foe on the battlefield and then helps him, he befriends a drow, he gets along with a halfling theif (streotype!), etc.

 

[obediah]

P.S. Read the IWD trilogy.

Don't do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unless your 9. Then it's the closest you'll come to jerking off for years.

 

[doctor_kaz]

But where are the shiny graphics?

http://media.1up.com/media?id=3167859&type=lg

Not that shiny eh? It's probably just a prototype done on their old Odyssey engine, but it has an interesting HUD.

Why do I hate that screenshot so much? Could it be because it makes the game look like "Kotor with Swords"? Even then minimap in the upper right corner is discouraging (hey look it's the tight closed-in maps that everyone loved in Kotor and Jade Empire yayyy! )

 

[Saxon1974]

I want another baldur's gate game, please bioware???

ok, nevermind.

 

[Lurkar]

On the note of elf stereotypes, it amuses me that people constantly reference the stereotype as "Tolkein-esque elves," because good lord, the elves in the Silmarillion were nothing like that at all.

While there was a lot about the game I disliked, I did like how the wood elves in Heroes of Might and Magic 5 were displayed.

 

[The_Pope]

The elf/terrorist thing is so that RPGs can have a target more fun to kill than nazis. Next up, dwarf communists and orc, er, nazis.

Actually, elf nazis would make a pretty cool plot. Maybe they could use their superior magic, weapons, skill and general master race-ness to put a stop to those nasty humans and orcs taking over their lebensforest (the whole world).

 

[sabishii]

Quick, someone photoshop an Osama Bin Legolas.

 

[crakkie]

Well, there are two more pictures in the article

http://medialib.computerandvideogames.c ... 190018.jpg
http://medialib.computerandvideogames.c ... 190017.jpg

Which I'm pretty sure are screenshots. If so they look a good bit more polished than that old one (I recall seeing it years ago).

 

[Jaime Lannister]

No, it's concept art. Look at the backgrounds.

 

[JarlFrank]

Quick, someone photoshop an Osama Bin Legolas.

What about an Elfolf Hitler?