Game News Dragon Age Preview on computerandvideogames.com

[Texas Red]

Quick, someone photoshop an Osama Bin Legolas.

What about an Elfolf Hitler?

Trying to ease the pain of guilt by making jokes about the past, eh? But yeah, elves are annoying. I wanted to slaughter every elf I could find in TW because you couldn't have a conversation with them without some remark about their superiority towards humans.

 

[Baksheesh]

Screen shot looks alright to me...but just alright.
My problem with the shot is that it looks too much like standard fantasy art to me.

I really wish we could see more fantasy RPGs brave enough to try distinctive art direction and world design.

Art direction and world design sold me on Morrowind and World of Warcraft for a long time, despite the unsatisfying game underneath in both cases.

World design and unique setting was a huge part of the appeal of Gothic and PS:T for me.

Fingers crossed for a unique feel and look to Dragon Age. If they pull that off the engine could easily be a little out of date and still have mass appeal.

Plus then all our computers could handle it....

 

[bezimek]

Screen shot looks like KOTOR ( interface) in fantasy but its ok.

btw. About thing which is not exist we can tell everything and all will be true :twisted:

 

[Lumpy]

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).

Morrawind?

 

[Binary]

wut.

Anyways why do people bemoan EA purchase of Bioware?

EA aquisitions tend to do serious damage to brilliant RPG series. Main example: Origin.

Your main example wasn't fucking Ultima?

Are you really that ignorant or just wanted to say something nonsensical?

Anyway, I'm kinda getting the impression that Dragon Age is going to be "more of the same". Might not necessarily be a bad thing - although I doubt it. Even those screenshots don't really show anything new, but more of the same "fashionable" 3d engine these days.

Now let's just wait for EA to rush it and be a commercial flop because of the bugs and unfinished plot.

NEXT!

 

[bezimek]

"Ultima I-IX" was a game serie made by "Origin" as I remember right ?

 

[Rhett Butler]

We're not trying to tell a story about there being no right and wrong and how everything is grey.

I like that they say this, I just can't believe they are capable of delivering. Still, I like that they say it. It shows that they are aware that people actually want intelligent stories and characters. Lets hope they get it right, and the game sells.

EDIT: I FUCKING MISSED THE NOT! HOW COULD I MISS THE NOT! This isn't a good thing at all! Fuck!

Even if all the world is against you, you will have love, and friends that stand by you.

Quit watching anime you faggot.

 

[Radisshu]

I'd like to point out that the guy who wrote the article has taken all of his information from th e DA forum. The "elves are either terrorists or freedom fighters, depending on your point of view" doesn't actually come from any Bioware dev.

 

[inwoker]

dgaider, can you comment on the article? At least how much percent of each assumtion is true. Please. Or codex will send amount o mh dicks to you.

 

[Texas Red]

Even if all the world is against you, you will have love, and friends that stand by you.

What love and friends?

 

[dagorkan]

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).

Both the Tolkien Elves and the Dunedain were kind of fascistic in some ways. Very strict hereditary/hierarchical command, genealogical/racial purity, etc.

Dwarf Communists is a great idea though.

Someone should do some kind of adaptation of HG Wells' "Time Machine". The Elves live on the surface, free, romantic but decadent, petty, bickering, arrogant, believing in a 'fixed' natural order, reliant on the Sun and slave labor. The Dwarves live under ground, miserable but proud, living off their own labor and ingenuity, realistic, and conscious of their own material and social class conditions.

Both of these are evolutions of contemporary human beings. A present day human (you) is transported to that far future and must decide which side to take.

 

[Section8]

What love and friends?

Well, you'll have the spirited and independent "little-sis" character, the "insane" warrior with a catchphrase, the "used-to-be-evil-until-the-player-showed-me-the-light" born again douchebag, the proud remnant of a defeated race of former enemies who lives for battle, the timid but good-hearted and loyal sidekick, the pantomime evil wizard who cares only about power, the contemplative philosopher who chooses not to side with any political view, the stalwart amazon ice-queen who eventually shows her tender side...

That's pretty much it for Bioware characters isn't it? Who did I miss?

 

[dolio]

Goofy, absent-minded gnome who annoys people with his rambling, outlandish stories?

 

[Suicidal]

Or an equally goofy, annoying kobolt.

 

[Kingston]

Or the stuttering and emotionally fragile demon-slaying girl. Whom you can romance with, btw.

 

[dagorkan]

Elvish imperialists
Dwarven communists
Gnomish libertarians
Orcish radical environmentalists
Hobbit bourgeois moderates
Snakeman religious extremists
Hobgoblin social democrats

 

[Section8]

Goofy, absent-minded gnome who annoys people with his rambling, outlandish stories?

Since "annoys people" is a trait of all Bioware characters, let's ignore that bit, which leaves you with "Abe Simpson without humour value".

Or the stuttering and emotionally fragile demon-slaying girl. Whom you can romance with, btw.

That would fit under "the timid but good-hearted and loyal sidekick". Don't try to pretend whoever you're talking about is different to Khalid.

 

[Radisshu]

dgaider, can you comment on the article? At least how much percent of each assumtion is true. Please. Or codex will send amount o mh dicks to you.

http://forums.bioware.com/viewtopic.htm ... 0&forum=84

Quote: 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.

 

[dolio]

Since "annoys people" is a trait of all Bioware characters, let's ignore that bit, which leaves you with "Abe Simpson without humour value".

Actually, I meant "annoys the other NPCs ...." Like Jan Jansen or Grobnar Gnomehands (although that was an Obsidian game, though it seemed to take cues from Bioware). Deekin might also fit there, but I can't remember other NPCs' reactions to him so well.

Most Bioware NPCs seem to be oblivious as to how annoying their compatriots are (except when good guys complain about evil guys, and vice versa), so I thought it was a notable trait, but call it what you will.

 

[Radisshu]

I'm pretty sure DA will have a darker and more realistic tone than at least NWN2, that game really took "annoying and cartoonish companions" to a new level. And I even liked it a bit.

 

[Edward_R_Murrow]

Well, you'll have the spirited and independent "little-sis" character

No doubt. Though I bet she'll be the jail bait romance option this time around to fit in with the "edgier" theme that EA will force Gaider and crew to work towards.

the "insane" warrior with a catchphrase

Go for the.....uhhhh......groin......uhhh.....Oob! That's totally new inventive and not derivative of a previous character.

the "used-to-be-evil-until-the-player-showed-me-the-light" born again douchebag

Can't say I know who you're referencing here. Maybe the furry in KOTOR? Because Sarevok was pretty unrepentant and probably one of the few decent characters in a Bioware game.

the proud remnant of a defeated race of former enemies who lives for battle

A bit to specific to Canderous. Montaron, Korgan, and the orc guy from Neverwinter Nights just loved to kill stuff. Although this does fit Wrex perfectly.

the timid but good-hearted and loyal sidekick

Khalid, the elf cleric from Neverwinter Nights, and that Jade Empire whats-her-face fit into this pretty well.

the pantomime evil wizard who cares only about power

Edwin pretty much monopolized this one, and he was kind of a total joke anyways. Although it has been awhile since they rehashed his character.....

the contemplative philosopher who chooses not to side with any political view

All the druids, Haer'Dalis, and a few Jade Empire dumbasses fit in this sort of well.

the stalwart amazon ice-queen who eventually shows her tender side...

Like Jaheira, Bastilla, Aribeth, and Ashley?

That's pretty much it for Bioware characters isn't it? Who did I miss?

You missed quite a few staples.

Like the emotional wrecked male warrior overcome with grief over past issues. They've milked this one every game, whether it be Kivan, Anomen, Carth, Kaiden, or the forgetables from Neverwinter Nights and Jade Empire.

Don't forget the zany character who is even crazier than the insane warrior. Like Xzar, Jan, Henpecked what's his face and the like.

Or the emotionally stunted, submissive female who comes from a race of supermodels who has magic power and can fight dragons, demons, giant robots, and/or space worms without breaking a sweat but breaks down in normal conversation. Also goes from total prude to sex goddess within a short time of sharing a horribly traumatic experience with the player character.

Then there's the forced Dirty Harry who doesn't follow anybody's rules....not even his own. Valygar, Garrus, and crew fill this one up.

There's more, but I think everyone can fill in the rest.

 

[Shannow]

"the emotional wrecked male warrior overcome with grief over past issues" Anomen?
Maybe if you lead him to the dark side. I can't remember but as a goody he's just a braggart and definately neither emotional nor wrecked.

 

[Volourn]

L0L You guys are funny. This keeps it up, you'll have listed more BIO character stereotypes than actual characters. L0L

 

[DemonKing]

Thought of a couple more:

* The hot alien/elf chick you can have a lesbian relationship with.

* The extremely annoying, whining male NPC who you are suppossed to romance if you're female and not into Lesbians (Annomen, Carth, that pony-tailed dude in Jade Empire...).

* The badass evil dude that despite behaving like an arrogant loner and always threathening to betray you never does and always sticks with the group till the bitter end.

 

[muds_animal_friend]

Both the Tolkien Elves and the Dunedain were kind of fascistic in some ways. Very strict hereditary/hierarchical command, genealogical/racial purity, etc.

Well there's certainly a similar obsession with the glories of the past. Tolkien's Middle Earth is based on European heroic epic and ballad (with Christian overtones). A large part of the epic tradition is longing for a bygone era when men were (supposedly) mightier; this theme is prevalent and consistent across diverse ethnic groups. Great heroes always lived just at the cusp cultural memory; men were better in the distant past: stronger, braver, wiser, and purer. Tolkien just takes this theme and runs with it ad nauseum, where each race is a lesser version of the preceding one. Even the forces of evil are given this treatment. Morgoth could field legions of dragons and Balrogs, by the end of the Third Age all Sauron can muster are orcs and trolls.