Click HERE to see this thread with all of the graphics, features, and links.

http://www.examiner.com/article/survey-points-to-dragon-age-3-possible-name-story-and-other-details
http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/large_lightbox/hash/4a/5e/4a5e0eafc55044adcdf411cd20d6433b.jpg

possible story outline Let's hope hope it doesn't turn out to be generic and bland, but givin Averageware's track record I'm have some what of a mid-low expectation. Though The Song of Ice And Fire/Game of Throneish plot gives me some hope.

Track record of making great games?

Well, Dragon Age 2 was a bit of a swing and a miss, but I think they know what mistakes they made with that and will fix it for the next game. I think the plot sounds cool, and hopefully they bring back some characters from the first game as party members.

I hope they take the series even further away from Origins then they did with DA2.

awesome

Much to people hatred for Bioware, I always felt that the company always seems to take fans feedback and apply it to their next games.

They also seems to take different approaches to sequels so that's one of the reason why DA2 was less liked. They tried to a bit different.

Originally posted by Phanteros
http://www.examiner.com/article/survey-points-to-dragon-age-3-possible-name-story-and-other-details
http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/large_lightbox/hash/4a/5e/4a5e0eafc55044adcdf411cd20d6433b.jpg

possible story outline Let's hope hope it doesn't turn out to be generic and bland, but givin Averageware's track record I'm have some what of a mid-low expectation. Though The Song of Ice And Fire/Game of Throneish plot gives me some hope. You're such a butthurt loser.

Will be following.

SHALL NAME MY CHARACTER EIIIIIISENHOOOOORN

Phanteros already made a thread

And as I said before, I hope Bioware continues to troll the pissy DA fandom.

Well poop.

Requesting merger.

Zane's butthurt2strong over DA2 sucking.

lol @ the megabutthurt on that link Neph posted though. Woah, that's a lot of Bioware hurt.

I had no problem with the graphics of Origins, or DA2. The thing that got me the most was the dated battle system. I mean it goes all the way back to KOTOR. DA2's towns were lack luster, and when you got into battle the backgrounds were all the same. At times I felt frustrated due to the game having too many weapons, and not enough time to get used to the one that you had, which also applied to the armors. Character creation hasn't been the same since Oblivion, and if you look carefully enough while playing DA2, every tenth person is a clone of the guy that you're having a conversation with at any given moment. I refuse to get rid of DA2 because I'm into sets, but I cringe at the thought of ever playing it again. I'm hoping part 3 will bring back the atmosphere of Origins that part 2 sorely lacked.

Oh yeah and it wouldn't hurt if they increased the bestiary, which is something that many games suffer from.

Personally the battle system was one thing that I really liked about Origins. It wasn't as good as Baldur's Gate, but it was close enough to still be fun.

The second game felt rushed as hell to me. Repetitive environments didnt help that either.

With this game I really hope they go back to the combat system from the first game, as it was superior imo, and not just because if they try to emulate the one from the sequel, they're inevitably going to be compared to Dragon's Dogma and Kingdoms of Amalur which, despite their faults, had excellent combat.

Basically, I wouldn't mind it being as much like the first game as possible, just with improvements rather than changes.

Originally posted by Tzeentch._
Zane's butthurt2strong over DA2 sucking.

Nah, I'm in a win-win situation here.

If they go the DA2 route, then I will have many laughs over everyone's tears.
If they return to the Origins-style gameplay, albeit improved, then I honestly don't care, I don't play DA for the gameplay anyway.

Just so long as we don't have something like the Fade again, I'm happy.

Finishers on the Frostbite Engine would be gorgeous.

http://www.examiner.com/article/indulge-me-some-speculation-what-will-dragon-age-3-be-about



http://i52.tinypic.com/291grqd.jpg

facepalm

Perry also said he's had a longer pre-production period on Dragon Age 3 then any other Bioware game he's worked on.

lZtOG0Epo-I

Meh.

I hope I can **** Varric in this one.

Originally posted by Nephthys
I hope I can **** Varric in this one.

http://i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/005/498/1300044776986.jpg

I wish they'd drop DA2's shit-tastic art style. It's ****ing awful imo

Originally posted by FinalAnswer
http://i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/005/498/1300044776986.jpg

Dat chest-hair, ROAW!

Originally posted by Tzeentch._
I wish they'd drop DA2's shit-tastic art style. It's ****ing awful imo Would you prefer they went back to Origin's?

Yes?

Origin's art style was fine. It had shitty graphics, but graphics =\= art style.

Art style includes things like having women that look like men with sewn on breasts. That isn't a graphical issue, unless you think Origins lacked the graphical power to even semi-realistically render a woman.

Hint: It didn't, games predating it on inferior systems managed this.

I prefer 2's art style and graphics. Everyone in Origins looked like they were sculpted from plastic, and proportions were generally really bizarre looking.

No doubt. Origins had crap designs, models and graphics. Basically it was all-around crap on every visual level. Almost charmingly so. I kinda dug it for some reason, as if the dated visuals gelled with the 'old-school' RPG atmosphere they were going for.

I didn't mind DA2's visuals at all though. Other than making elves look really strange. But at least the characters didn't look like complete jackasses like they did in Origins. Man they had some shit armor models in that game.

Originally posted by NemeBro
Art style includes things like having women that look like men with sewn on breasts. That isn't a graphical issue

Nope, it totally is. The women didn't look like men because they were designed too. They looked like men because the models they were built upon were male renders, with boobs poorly attached. idk why they used the same character model for both genders, but that isn't an art style issue- unless you think bioware wanted their female characters to look like men. DA1 had a terrible engine.

Originally posted by Nephthys
Other than making elves look really strange.

Elves in Origins are short humans with pointy ears.

Better than DA2 elves.

No.

Originally posted by Tzeentch._
Nope, it totally is. The women didn't look like men because they were designed too. They looked like men because the models they were built upon were male renders, with boobs poorly attached. idk why they used the same character model for both genders, but that isn't an art style issue- unless you think bioware wanted their female characters to look like men. DA1 had a terrible engine.

Clearly they did, if they just put boobs on the male renders.

Also, Nephthys, I prefer the elves looking strange. They aren't human, that should be made clear in their design, fatass.

Ugly, stupid looking dorks:

http://dragonage.nexusmods.com/mods/images/2491-1-1301432673.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lj2cy9vUde1qebkzwo1_500.jpg

http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz291/gilsa1/dragonage2/misc/windswept.jpg

Still ugly and stupid looking but not that bad:

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/4412/elf2z.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ltld1avuMP1qjpq6vo1_500.jpg

http://i.computer-bild.de/imgs/2/6/8/5/4/6/3/Komplettloesung-Dragon-Age-Origins-Zevran-745x466-ace49873f8137c81.jpg


Conclusion:

http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/7272/elvesz.jpg

Yes, 2 did indeed improve it.

The elves do not exist in-game to appeal to you sexually, misogynist.

Originally posted by NemeBro
Clearly they did, if they just put boobs on the male renders.


To someone who doesn't know anything about graphic design, I guess it would seem so.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f122/blaxican_templar/Clinteastwoodlol.gif

STFU 'Bro they're supposed to be attractive in the setting, not big-nosed bird-people.

Originally posted by Nephthys
they're supposed to be attractive in the setting Prove this statement.

Originally posted by Tzeentch._
To someone who doesn't know anything about graphic design, I guess it would seem so. Prove that they intended the females to look like females.

I accept your concession

Comparing random NPCs from 2 with main characters from Origins



http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/5434/1300628-dalish_elf.jpg

http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/20100000/Merrill-dragon-age-origins-20155792-390-469.png

Which looks better?

The second one looks like the first one with better face textures, worse hair and worse anti-aliasing.

First pic looks no stupider than humans do in Origins. Which is a lot. But not because of the racial design. As Blax says, Origins is just goofy looking in general.

Originally posted by NemeBro
Prove this statement.

Human dudes are all about raping elves in Origins. I rest my case.

One human dude rapes probably one of the few attractive elves in Origins.

Dumb ****ing animal.

First picture of Merrill looks like a dude, one can't help but notice.

Prove that she isn't a dude.

Dragon Age nexus, nude mods. estahuh

Originally posted by Tzeentch._
I accept your concession Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Indeed.

I joined the forum in January of 2006, you joined in May of 2007.

So thanks. I taught you everything I know.

Originally posted by Tzeentch._
Indeed.

I joined the forum in January of 2006, you joined in May of 2007.

So thanks. I taught you everything I know. I made it catch on. You didn't. No biggie, whoever you are.

I accept your concession

Originally posted by FinalAnswer
Comparing random NPCs from 2 with main characters from Origins



http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/5434/1300628-dalish_elf.jpg

http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/20100000/Merrill-dragon-age-origins-20155792-390-469.png

Which looks better? I can only see 1 =[

The templates in Dragon Age 1 are why I use female body mods.

Kind of annoyed that DA3 will only let you play human, though.

Urgh, really? Goddamn it.

Originally posted by Nephthys
Urgh, really? Goddamn it.

That's what I read, though they may have changed it.

Some oldish stuff:

http://www.examiner.com/article/dragon-age-3-inquisition-producer-talks-character-creation-and-plot-progress

Character creator will be deeper due to using the new version of the Frostbite engine (the first DA to do so), but you can still only play as human.

Other benefits of the engine include being able to do the "walk and talk dialogue" much easier.

Funny, because Kotaku says you can choose your race.

http://kotaku.com/dragon-age-inquisition-lets-you-choose-your-heros-rac-1045961945

Originally posted by Tzeentch._
I accept your concession I don't concede I only accept them.


That being said Dragom Age Inquisition looks great.

2 months later.

Originally posted by Tzeentch._
2 months later. It isn't over till I say its over.

Originally posted by Smasandian
Funny, because Kotaku says you can choose your race.

http://kotaku.com/dragon-age-inquisition-lets-you-choose-your-heros-rac-1045961945

Link doesn't work for me.

That said, if that's true, i'll be happy. I prefer playing as human, but the other origins were quite fun to play.

Okay, so it's confirmed, and Smasandian was right: Race choice is returning.

http://tomodom.com/2013/08/dragon-age-inquisition-will-allow-players-to-choose-their-race/

Awesome.

Also, nice video:

dvu_U83PMKo

Already looks great even in the Pre-Alpha stage. Open World, horseback riding(maybe combat), fully voiced protagonist(Fiiiinaaaaally, and while technically they did it with Hawke, DA:O with voice would have been amazing). I hope they bring back the true finishing moves. Those were my favorite part about DA:O combat and I was miffed they removed it in 2.

Originally posted by KingD19
Already looks great even in the Pre-Alpha stage. Open World, horseback riding(maybe combat), fully voiced protagonist(Fiiiinaaaaally, and while technically they did it with Hawke, DA:O with voice would have been amazing). I hope they bring back the true finishing moves. Those were my favorite part about DA:O combat and I was miffed they removed it in 2.

Imagine charging in to a horde of darkspawn or shades on horseback? Epic stuff.

I honestly don't mind whether it's voiced or not. The open world stuff looks great though, and I spotted my favourite Warden armour in that alpha too, so hoping it gets brought in to the full game.

yeah, agreed @ deathblows. I loved those so much I even used the mod for them in the first game.

Originally posted by -Pr-
Okay, so it's confirmed, and Smasandian was right: Race choice is returning.

http://media.tumblr.com/bacea92ea3d37827eea88d0ff03e6b61/tumblr_inline_mmgmkcPmNM1qz4rgp.jpg

Even though I am happy that Witch Hunt gave me something of a sendoff, I still wish they'd pull a swerve and let us play our Origins character as leading the Inquisition.

Would be amazing to be the Warden. But at least maybe there's a chance we'll meet up witht he Warden and Hawke.

that would be funny.

from the trailers, I keep getting the impression that varric and Cassandra will be companions. i'd be happy with that tbh.

I'd love Varric casually shittalking her while making it seem innocent.

lol agreed. I'm on act 3 of Dragon Age 2 atm, and his dialogue is one of the best parts of the game.

Though Isabela and Aveline's verbal sparring is just as entertaining I think.

mmm

http://i.imgur.com/2tp6VFV.png

Ridiculous. Bioware continues to descend into mediocrity.

It isn't his bisexuality that I call into question. He could go around f*cking Ash Wraiths and giant spiders for all I care. It's the fact that this entire war is pretty much his fault. I have two saves just so I could see what difference killing him and keeping him alive would make. Because honestly, a lot of people killed him just because of what he did.

The GameInformer article revealed some pretty sweet info though which makes this not as hard hitting as it would be otherwise.

No one hate's Ander's for his bisexuality. They hate him because he's a terrorist and started a war that will most likely doom the Mages; and just a bad character that was poorly characterized. Get you head out your ass and stop using sexuality as a shield for your bad writing.

I have to wonder if this is EA's influence; they used sexuality as a smokescreen in the past when people voted them the worst company in America.

I don't mind Anders' sexuality; I was just surprised that he was so strong about it after being less-so during Awakening. What does concern me, is that the decision about Anders' fate is an absolutely MASSIVE part of act 3, if not the game. This man, this guy that you've fought alongside, and shared a deeply personal story with, goes and does something that, even to me, was shocking as hell.

The decision about whether to kill him was, to me, one of the absolutely biggest decisions of the game (regardless of Sebastian's involvement), and was in keeping with the more personal nature of the story arc.

Overriding that and letting him live annoys me.

Now, If they turn around and say that he and Justice did die, but their essence escaped in to the fade because, like Anders said, they were "one", then I might be all right with that.

Flat out saying that Hawke didn't kill him? No. **** that.

====

One thing that gives me more hope about the game, though, is that the more I think about it, the more I wonder if the Warden from Origins (assuming he survived in your playthrough) is actually going to make an appearance. I imported a Witch Hunt save where the Warden left through the mirror with her to be together, and yet Alistair still mentions, many years later, that the Warden was visiting him in Ferelden. I'd like to think that it was intentional rather than just a bug or an oversight.

Though tbh, what I would ideally like (assuming I don't get to play the Warden) is to come across Hawke and the Warden in a Sandal-esque scene where they've cleaved through nothing less than a demonic army. Maybe they fight alongside you for a short time, using the abilities you'd actually given them during your playthroughs.

Inquisition hears about a demon horde somewhere. They go to check it out. They see your Warden and your Hawke(assuming you transferred saves) standing there, calmly conversing and joking, absolutely bathed in blood head to toe. And just thousands of bodies littering the area. And then your new guy can be like, "Well thanks alot for saving some for me."

I'd buy the game for that one scene alone.

Plus, I like how my Warden is a warrior and my Hawke is a mage, so it works out that they'd compliment each other in combat.

Just so we're clear, this will be on the PS4, right? None of that timed Xbox exclusive for several months bullsh*t?

PS3/PS4, Xbox360/Xbox One and PC. All at the same time.

PC for me, all the way.

Originally posted by -Pr-
Even though I am happy that Witch Hunt gave me something of a sendoff, I still wish they'd pull a swerve and let us play our Origins character as leading the Inquisition. I agree.

Originally posted by -Pr-
PC for me, all the way.

If I had the money, I'd get it for PC just for the massive amount of mods and new stories I know the DA community will generate.

If the Warden and Hawke came back, how plausible do you think transferring their physical appearance over would be? Or even just pulling up a character creation on their introduction?

Originally posted by KingD19
If I had the money, I'd get it for PC just for the massive amount of mods and new stories I know the DA community will generate.

I'm hoping that I've built a PC by then; I just need to pay off some debts first.

Originally posted by Nephthys
If the Warden and Hawke came back, how plausible do you think transferring their physical appearance over would be? Or even just pulling up a character creation on their introduction?

mass effect managed it, so I think the framework is already in existence. They'd just have to make it work for DA. I mean, the save files for Dragon Age (on PC at least), actually have the character model details saved in the das files.

Originally posted by quanchi112
I agree.

For me part 1 was my absolute favorite video game of all time. Part 2 was a huge and utter disappointment with the expectations from playing Origins. I just hope they can get close to part 1. I'm not even hoping for part 1 glory as I realize how high on my mountain that is but still don't want another part two type letdown.


The Grey Wardens were the shit. I am glad about the storyline part 3 has from the onset. I want more Geey Warden action but not to the level of part 1. To be great again they don't need to rehash part 1. Make it different and exciting.

Yeah. I have a laptop that can barely run SWTOR right now. So I'd need a mighty strong one to run Frostbite 3. But if I can come into enough money to make a decent gaming PC, I'll definitely do so.

And like -Pr- said, it's possible. The only snag might be switching over to the Frostbite graphics engine which is very different from the previous ones. But they've got until around this time next year to make it happen. I'm sure they can.

Also, interesting note on the Frostbite Engine, the Game Informer piece said since that engine is so good with destruction, they're adding elements like destructive environments(blow up a bridge to weaken an enemy or keep them from coming after you, etc..) but also they're focusing on the inverse as well. You might come across a ruined castle, and with the right resources you can rebuild it to serve as an Inquisition outpost or something.

I wonder if BioWare learned to make choices matter. But then again that would involve me playing DA2 again and nobody got time for dat.

They pointed out in the Game Informer interview that your choices do matter and you'd see them as the story unfolded, not at the end. But it all remains to be seen until it comes out.

To be honest, I actually felt like my choices had weight, even when they really didn't. Towing the line with the Qunari, for example. Or trying to appease the Mages and Templars. Yes, you don't have any real power over the over-arching events, but you still felt like you were part of them, like you were involved in them.

I know people rag on it, but I honestly think DA2, at least writing wise, was a step up from the first game.

I felt like the chocies when made were fvcking wonderful. Your Warden could be a martyr, or you have sex with Morrigan to save you, or you could be the king of Ferelden or you give that up to Alistair or you can tell him to go drunk in a bar every night for the rest of his life.

Then when you play DA2 you get like one cutscene explaining what happened. Now that there's a canon even more choices are rendering useless. I'll give it a fair chance but I'm not holding on hope. BioWare is usually quite rigid on every game they have.

DA2 had a good story but that's the only reason why it's playable. Skyrim's the opposite. The story is quite bland but everything else was so amazing that it made the average gamer really into dragons and fantasy mythos. I can't find 5 people IRL that are as big DA fans.

There is really so much potential in all of BioWare's IPs but it's really coming up short which is a shame.

TBH, I really enjoyed the combat mechanics in DA2, for example how magic was implemented. I wasn't a fan of the almost complete lack of tactics or the spawning waves, but it was still really enjoyable itself.

Also, some of the characters are REALLY well done, imo.

My favorite character of all time from Dragon Age was Teryn Loghain. Awesome.

Originally posted by -Pr-
To be honest, I actually felt like my choices had weight, even when they really didn't. Towing the line with the Qunari, for example. Or trying to appease the Mages and Templars. Yes, you don't have any real power over the over-arching events, but you still felt like you were part of them, like you were involved in them.

I know people rag on it, but I honestly think DA2, at least writing wise, was a step up from the first game.

It was. A huge step up IMO. It had well developed characters and an original storyline. The choices also weren't as black and white as DA2 making the choices actually difficult.

Sadly, aside from the writing, DA2 was awful. It had horrible level design and terrible combat mechanics.

Zane's butthurt2strong over DA2 sucking.

Oakley Sunglasses


http://garden.fulltomlins.com/1.jpghttp://garden.fulltomlins.com/2.jpghttp://garden.fulltomlins.com/3.jpghttp://garden.fulltomlins.com/4.jpghttp://garden.fulltomlins.com/5.jpg

Originally posted by ares834
It was. A huge step up IMO. It had well developed characters and an original storyline. The choices also weren't as black and white as DA2 making the choices actually difficult.

Sadly, aside from the writing, DA2 was awful. It had horrible level design and terrible combat mechanics.

I didn't mind the design of Kirkwall so much; I just hated that it was severely repetitive in its use of environments, and that it lacked a certain graphical polish when it came to the environments.

I honestly, looking at it now, feel like the combat was a step forward, even with its faults, and I hope they bring forward the positives of it, while leaving the negatives.

So, the lady who was lead writer on DA2, Jennifer Hepler, has quit Bioware. She says she did it for family reasons, but apparently she had gotten death threats in the past over articles she'd been referenced in, and the disappointment people had in DA2.

It's no excuse, but at the same time, Dragon Age 2 is not a bad game by any means imo. People (even myself at one point) are imo overreacting when they slam the game as being a piece of shit.

Yeah, that shit was messed up.

In all honesty, I disagree with most of what she said as regards content in games, but the way people act towards her is just... Yeah.

I hope this won't affect the game too badly either; DA: I, even with the early worries (and the comments about Anders) is still shaping up to be a really good game, I think.

What I've learned is that people in large numbers tend to devolve into brutes. The guy who basically oversees multiplayer in Call of Duty Black Ops 2 has gotten thousands of death threats on simply nerfing 2 bolt action sniper rifles that have cut down on quickscoping. He actually has to have body guards for himself and his family.

Which is, of course, retarded that something like that is necessary.

Very small people take something like COD that seriously.

Video about combat, including some early gameplay:

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2013/08/16/combat-of-dragon-age-inquisition.aspx

I thought the Warrior in the pointy hood was a Qunari at first. And I was like, REJOICE!!!! THE QUN HAS SHOWN IT'S POWER!

Oh lawd: https://twitter.com/BioMarkDarrah/status/364864515717873665

If that's true... ****.

Well great thing about a game of choice. Canon is what you make it in your own game. Because my Shepard sure as Hell wasn't a white guy(since I'm black in real life) I never would have expected the Origins one to be the canon way of things(except dying as a Warden, I figured that) But the human playtrhough seemed so sure. Since Loghain was the main bad guy and directly responsible for the bad stuff you went through in the Human Noble campaign.

Dragon Age 2...I had a feeling Mage Hawke was canon since the commercial was him as a mage, and he looked so badass as a mage.

Originally posted by KingD19
What I've learned is that people in large numbers tend to devolve into brutes. The guy who basically oversees multiplayer in Call of Duty Black Ops 2 has gotten thousands of death threats on simply nerfing 2 bolt action sniper rifles that have cut down on quickscoping. He actually has to have body guards for himself and his family. Yeah, people really overreact to this kind of stuff. I'd say though for the most part that is a very tiny number of lunatics who threaten the game designers. But still if you get one threat and you believe it could be a possibility one must take precautions.

It's a very small percentage. Like 1/10th of 1%. But considering how many people that is, it's still a really big number.

Why did they have to pick the worst damn origin......

Originally posted by KingD19
It's a very small percentage. Like 1/10th of 1%. But considering how many people that is, it's still a really big number. Anything great or this widely loved by gamers will definitely attract some lunatics.

Originally posted by KingD19
What I've learned is that people in large numbers tend to devolve into brutes. The guy who basically oversees multiplayer in Call of Duty Black Ops 2 has gotten thousands of death threats on simply nerfing 2 bolt action sniper rifles that have cut down on quickscoping. He actually has to have body guards for himself and his family.

Speaking of.....

haermm @ the story.

The internet is insane.

...Yup.

Yise6U5VFN8


IML4hhg8Yz0

g6rV1Y6Vcxg

bbGN7OBngCQ


Ok, I'm pretty excited about this game now.

Use of environments has long been a weakness of BioWare. It looks promising so maybe they're trying to learn from their mistakes.

Personally I'm really looking forward to playing as a female Qunari mage.

Originally posted by Based
Use of environments has long been a weakness of BioWare. It looks promising so maybe they're trying to learn from their mistakes.

the only time ive ever felt that way was in DA2. Otherwise, to me Bioware has always had solid, and at times exceptional level design.

Originally posted by Nephthys
Personally I'm really looking forward to playing as a female Qunari mage.

I'm amazed they'd even allow that.

Everybody was raging for it, but yeah from an in game standpoint, not only a female, but a female Qunari mage would cause a crazy amount of anger from the Qunari populace. But that might be a super interesting story point.

Also, am I the only one hoping for a return of Finishing Blows? I used to love those in DA:O.

Yeah, I missed those too in DA2.

I just sat and watched those three videos Nephthys posted. Have to say... I'm sold. I'll be preordering. The game looks amazing.

Originally posted by -Pr-
the only time ive ever felt that way was in DA2. Otherwise, to me Bioware has always had solid, and at times exceptional level design.


Mass Effect 1 was great even if the environments got bland and reused. But the attempt was there, especially in the Citadel. Then it just get progressively worse as technology improves..

The Citadel keeps shrinking down in size and the possibility of exploration also decreases. You could go to any planet and land in ME1. You can go to like 3 planets in ME2 and land. You can go to like 1 planet during a specific arc and land in ME3 then you lose access.

I'm not going to bust them on KOTOR, but yeah KOTOR was pretty bad in their exploration and scale of environments. But that's a minor nitpick on an otherwise great game.

Due to narrative concerns BioWare seems to abhor player freedom. In some cases obviously BioWare needs to have a hard stance but at times it's ridiculous like in DA2.

Skyrim was a much, much, much greater hit not because it's story trumped DA, but it offers freedom and customization coupled with a decent story. Endless content too.

Obviously trying to be Skyrim would fail but they need to accept that actually devolving on this aspect is only hurting them. WHich I think they have somewhat accepted especially since they've mentioned being akin to Skyrim especially since it kicked their ass.

Bioware games are never about player freedom. If you expect that then you never going to like them.

Comparing Bioware games to Bethesda is not right. Both companies try to do something completely different with their franchises.

One is about story and experience. The other is about content, openness and character creating. Both do separate things.

I think criticism about Bioware games is because people call them RPG's. Get rid of that label and this wouldn't be an issue. Do people complain that Gears of War is not open? Nope. Why? Because it's an action game.

Originally posted by Smasandian
Bioware games are never about player freedom. If you expect that then you never going to like them.

Comparing Bioware games to Bethesda is not right. Both companies try to do something completely different with their franchises.

One is about story and experience. The other is about content, openness and character creating. Both do separate things.

I think criticism about Bioware games is because people call them RPG's. Get rid of that label and this wouldn't be an issue. Do people complain that Gears of War is not open? Nope. Why? Because it's an action game.

Originally posted by Smasandian
Bioware games are never about player freedom. If you expect that then you never going to like them.

Comparing Bioware games to Bethesda is not right. Both companies try to do something completely different with their franchises.

One is about story and experience. The other is about content, openness and character creating. Both do separate things.

I think criticism about Bioware games is because people call them RPG's. Get rid of that label and this wouldn't be an issue. Do people complain that Gears of War is not open? Nope. Why? Because it's an action game.



I also think it has to do with people having a sometimes rather small definition of what a RPG is. I mean Witcher 1 or 2 wasn't exactly open either, yet people have no problem calling them a RPG, even though you have as much freedom there (in terms of roaming) as you do in Dragon Age, actually I'll argue for more openness in Dragon Age 1 then in Witcher (personal opinion). But the RPG genre is, and always have been, a mixed breed of a variaties of genres, and people need to learn to accept that. Just to mention a few we have MMORPG, Action RPG, Tactical RPG, Strategi RPG. It's a hybrid genre.

I would also become absurdly bored if every RPG I bought was a mirror of Elder Scrolls.

I would be too.

In fact, I wish Bethesda learned a few things from Bioware about character development and how to create very interesting story lines.

You right, RPG is a hybrid genre. It is what it is.

Originally posted by Based
Mass Effect 1 was great even if the environments got bland and reused. But the attempt was there, especially in the Citadel. Then it just get progressively worse as technology improves..

The Citadel keeps shrinking down in size and the possibility of exploration also decreases. You could go to any planet and land in ME1. You can go to like 3 planets in ME2 and land. You can go to like 1 planet during a specific arc and land in ME3 then you lose access.

I'm not going to bust them on KOTOR, but yeah KOTOR was pretty bad in their exploration and scale of environments. But that's a minor nitpick on an otherwise great game.

Due to narrative concerns BioWare seems to abhor player freedom. In some cases obviously BioWare needs to have a hard stance but at times it's ridiculous like in DA2.

Skyrim was a much, much, much greater hit not because it's story trumped DA, but it offers freedom and customization coupled with a decent story. Endless content too.

Obviously trying to be Skyrim would fail but they need to accept that actually devolving on this aspect is only hurting them. WHich I think they have somewhat accepted especially since they've mentioned being akin to Skyrim especially since it kicked their ass.

I think you honestly have the wrong expectations from Dragon Age 3, personally.

It shouldn't want to be like Skyrim, imo.

So the lady in the videos that was serving as the team's mage is Vivienne, an Orlesian that's pro-circle, and until things went to hell she was next in line to be first enchanter at one of the orlesian circles. Looking forward to interacting with her, though I can see myself romancing Cassandra first.

Here's a new trailer showing off the environments:

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Have to say they look pretty good. Wish they'd give us a release date too. By Andraste is that Fall tease irritating.

At least the graphics look pretty stellar. It should make the atmosphere of the game top notch.

I heard rumours from around the Internet that the gameplay will be similar to DA: Origins and would be more strategic than Origins. We will see.

Hopefully they build on the stuff we've already seen; the combat system looked pretty nice before, imo.

After the 2nd game, I don't think I'll be getting 3 until I see the game play, and read the reviews.

You didn't see the Alpha gameplay footage?

Originally posted by Stoic
After the 2nd game, I don't think I'll be getting 3 until I see the game play, and read the reviews. I almost guarantee it will be better.

Originally posted by quanchi112
I almost guarantee it will be better.

I sure hope so friend, because I was stoked at the thought of 2 only to be deflated 2 hours in.

2 gets a lot of flak, but for me, it's a really good game. Sure, it has its issues, and it is very different from the first game, but I still think it's a worthy entry in the series.

Everything I've seen about the third one looks promising, imo. I may even preorder it, tbh.

Originally posted by KingD19
You didn't see the Alpha gameplay footage?

Sorry man, I missed your post the first time around. Didn't think I'd come back to this thread until the game came out Yep I saw the footage, but graphics, and game play are unfortunately two different things. I'm a Bethesda junkie, and even though you can't really compare the games pound for pound, you can compare replay value.

I hope you're not hoping it's too much like Skyrim. I'm worried enough about that already, tbh.

Fallout, now, that's different.

You can't compare replay value. Replay values depends on what the player likes.

Some people like to play Skyrim because it's massively huge. Some people like playing the same game 5 times in a row.

Originally posted by Smasandian
You can't compare replay value. Replay values depends on what the player likes.

Some people like to play Skyrim because it's massively huge. Some people like playing the same game 5 times in a row.

That's true.

Bioware is not gonna add any downloadable companions in Inquisition.

Thank god because if they were to repeat that Javik incident, I would've just lost it.

Javik... Yeah. Having someone so integral to the lore that was ALSO a party member in a game with much less selection than the previous one, was a really bad move.

I like the other DLC for 3, but that... Yeah.

I'm sure Inquisition will get some good dlc though. I think Bioware is usually solid with actual content.

Yeah, Bioware does do pretty good DLC. I enjoyed all of ME3 and ME2 DLC.

Any DLC out on Day 1 though isn't really DLC unless you're saying that short for disc locked content. I'm just glad Bioware will be delivering everybody onto the retail upon release this time and not making us spend extra unless we want to buy any special editions. EA is learning.

Originally posted by Nemesis X
Any DLC out on Day 1 though isn't really DLC unless you're saying that short for disc locked content. I'm just glad Bioware will be delivering everybody onto the retail upon release this time and not making us spend extra unless we want to buy any special editions. EA is learning.

it can be day one dlc and not be on-disk. while I don't agree with all dlc practices, saying that it can't possibly be actual dlc is a little much, tbh.

Originally posted by Smasandian
Yeah, Bioware does do pretty good DLC. I enjoyed all of ME3 and ME2 DLC.

i'm playing the ME3 dlc right now, and I've been very impressed so far. 2's was excellent, yeah.

Originally posted by -Pr-
it can be day one dlc and not be on-disk. while I don't agree with all dlc practices, saying that it can't possibly be actual dlc is a little much, tbh.

Sure if you ignore the fact Bioware is owned by EA



I only meant to use Javik as an example being the victim of a greedy publishing giant's string pulling. I didn't mean to derail the thread here.

Bioware does good with DLC, and since this is Dragon Age, focusing on DA-centric DLC only further proves that point, as well as the fact that they can release multiple strong DLC packs.

DA:O
Golems of Amgarrak
Stone Prisoner
Warden's Keep
Return To Ostagar
Leliana's Song
The Darkspawn Chronicles
Witch Hunt

And all the misc DLC like the Blood Dragon Armor(which transferred over to ME2) and the Feast Day packs.

Let's not forget about the "Awakening" expansion.

DA2
Exiled Prince
Legacy
Black Emporium
Mark of the Assassin

And all the ones mentioned for ME as well.

I've been talking about the content out on Day 1. Not the whole bloody list.

I was just affirming that Day 1 or no, Bioware makes damn good DLC. Especially when EA shuts up and lets them work.

If you want to keep talking about Javik, who I'm starting to regret ever bringing up, we can continue the conversation in the ME3 thread. Right now, as I was saying before, hooray! No worrying about additional downloadable characters for Inquisition!

no worries. and Agreed. It's a positive move.