Dragon Age 2

[Kyo]

According to Bioware, there were over a million unique downloads of the DA2 demo, so the 2 dlc items were unlocked for those with EA/Bioware accounts.

Lothering's Lament - Gives you some gold when used
Far Cliffs of Kirkwall - Gives a XP boost when used

I'm guessing these are small items, but more free dlc is cool by me.

Now there is a new contest on Facebook. If every post on the DA2 Facebook page is shared and reaches 1,000,000 impressions by March 4th, the new tome is unlocked. Get spamming.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/dragonage

[Tagus]

This guy is a fucking idiot

haha... that is a pretty weird interview... it's cool that he's cool with passionate forum posting, because if he wasn't, I just don't know how he'd feel, and it would be potentially annoying to him when people are passionate, and that would be totally not cool.

[Shuvo]

Finally got around to finishing the demo

... They took out friendly fire.... wtf. That alone takes out out half the strategizing from DA1 <_< Geez it must really be profitable to dumb the game down so any random teenager on their xbox's can play huh. I'm disappointed. I was really hoping they would add in an optional mode that focused more on the DnD style combat like how BG2 did. ugh.

Now i'm torn between weather to play after it comes out or wait for the community to create mods to fix all this crap up.

[Galkaeater]

yeah that opininal mode is called the difficulty settings, what makes you think it wont be in game?

[Elcura]

It's just a demo, so no one can say for certain if FF is still in or not. Chances are it will be, as an option or side effect from difficulty.

[Shuvo]

They said it won't be toggle-able. FF will only be on in 'nightmare' difficulty.

I just dislike this idea because on nightmare mode (from DA1) you have to be absoloutly 100% focused every single fight, which becomes too exhausting to be enjoyable. I found it's a lot more satisfying if after you reach a high-ish level to be able to smash through underlings without breaking a sweat, but have to be focused only for boss/high level mobs.

Speaking anecdotally, all the BG2 nuts from the late 90's / early 00's only disliked how much more simplified the combat was made in DA1, but they still mostly enjoyed it as it was 'close enough' and had a fantastic story/world. But DA2 has stretched it out way too much IMO, it's bordering on being a generic hack'n'slash console game. >_<

[BadKarma]

For clarification:

They did the same with DA2 as they did with ME2. They simplified the controls to make you feel more directly in control.

As long as the story is up to BW standards I wont complain

[Insanecyclone]

I still hope the mod support for the game on pc will be good. Running around with Soul Edge/Calibur was pretty hilarious to do.

http://360.mmgn.com/News/Dragon-Age-...rter-but-More?


Dragon Age II - Shorter, but More Cinematic

At the GDC 2011, Bioware exposes the localization for the upcoming title 'Dragon Age II'. Presented by localization representative Ian Mitchell, statistics were shown that involve the measurement and volume of what the game comprises of and some detailed information on the scope of the game in comparison to its predecessor (Dragon Age: Origins).

The following are of course approximated figures that show what the two games mainly consisted of:

Dragon Age: Origins
• 1,000,000 Words
• 1,000 Cinematics
• 1,000 Characters
• 56,000 Spoken Lines
• 60 Hours of Gameplay


Dragon Age II
• 400,000 Words
• 2,500 Cinematics
• 500 Characters
• 38,000 Spoken Lines
• 40 Hours of Gameplay


These are substantial changes in many terms and questionably shows what Dragon Age: Origins' successor is more aiming at.

Although in defense of Dragon Age II, its predecessor was in development for about five years compared to around its two years. That considerable differentiation and it shows from the fewer spoken lines yet with more cinematic and the relatively shorter gameplay of Dragon Age II.

[CasualPlayer]

Ugh...... everytime you guys post more news my heart drops a little more. No tactical view (which people are saying isn't missed but I'm not so sure), less skill talents, no friendly fire which I love because it actually makes you think as a mage instead of just mass AoE murdering everything, and now the games shorter.

Seems more and more like they're just trying to cash in on a great franchise name and losing sight of what made them great in the first place with games like Baldurs Gate 1&2 and NWNs. Bioware starting to sound like fucking SE. Anyone remember the expansions to either BG games? They were massive and epic, almost full games unto themselves. Not like this nickel and dime DLC shit we get today.

I truly hope Bioware knows what the fuck they're doing and haven't ruined this game for players like me. I'm fearful of the franchise future. Stop dumbing the fucking game down so it plays like random action adventure quest on xbox.

If it takes 5 yrs to make fuck it. We waited 10 yrs for DAO1.

[Drunkenmonk]

does that count all the add ons for origins? if so i can see why theres such a difference

[Mizango]

All of you pussies whining about "strategizing" should get it and play on Nightmare mode then. I mean, from what im gathering is that you guys are upset that FF is not on on Easy and Normal modes right? If you really want to strategize and truly loathe button mashing then put on your big boy britches and play it on the most difficult setting.

I mean I enjoy a challenge and always end up playing the most difficult mode anyway, so whats stopping you from doing the same? Too hard? If so this was never about the "settings" and was/is more about your weak casual gaming style(s). Either man up or shut up, seriously. Not liking the game because of shortness, more cinema etc is a different story, but bitching about settings that YOU can change and have access to? Pointless. Spent all morning playing and finishing the demo again and ill say that the cinema is fucking gorgeous but I still wish I could play my Elf instead of with this punk ass Hawke dude.

I like the fact that you have and can openly reply and converse now, instead of having a character talk and you stare blankly into the void as you choose how to reply to someone. No more having full armor and cut scenes having a change of gear and having no helmet or head garb on. Little shit like that was fixed along with making the ability and attribute tree more defined and less clunky. Play it or dont play it, im fucking stoked and going to get mine. QQ more, bitches.

[Mizango]

Oh and of the 3 classes I played in full, holy shit at Rouge and Mage. Warrior was nice but is the same as when you'd roll with Sten and Alistair. The switching between your dual daggers and archery is beautiful too. No more equipping bow, finding arrows, picking hand, unpicking this by mistake and blah blah. Granted that style grew on me a bit and thew me back into nostalgia fits of me wrecking D&D's Eye of the beholder on SNES and all, but still.

Mages aren't as fragile as they used to be and I like the fact that when you upgrade your Crit hit %, Constitution, Cunning etc, it shows you now what 1 point or 2 points raise rather that just an approximation. That part was much needed imo.

[CasualPlayer]

All of you pussies whining about "strategizing" should get it and play on Nightmare mode then. I mean, from what im gathering is that you guys are upset that FF is not on on Easy and Normal modes right? If you really want to strategize and truly loathe button mashing then put on your big boy britches and play it on the most difficult setting.

I mean I enjoy a challenge and always end up playing the most difficult mode anyway, so whats stopping you from doing the same? Too hard? If so this was never about the "settings" and was/is more about your weak casual gaming style(s). Either man up or shut up, seriously. Not liking the game because of shortness, more cinema etc is a different story, but bitching about settings that YOU can change and have access to? Pointless. Spent all morning playing and finishing the demo again and ill say that the cinema is fucking gorgeous but I still wish I could play my Elf instead of with this punk ass Hawke dude.

I like the fact that you have and can openly reply and converse now, instead of having a character talk and you stare blankly into the void as you choose how to reply to someone. No more having full armor and cut scenes having a change of gear and having no helmet or head garb on. Little shit like that was fixed along with making the ability and attribute tree more defined and less clunky. Play it or dont play it, im fucking stoked and going to get mine. QQ more, bitches.

Say what you want but this game was marketed as the spiritual successor to Baldur's Gate, at least make the game somewhat resemble the original masterpiece.

[Insanecyclone]

The thing that is making me fear the game most is the game itself. I loved Origins but I never beat it, reinstalled multiple times only to uninstall days later. I have a feeling I'm going to have a love & hate relationship with this.

[Kyo]

Strategy is for girls, I like to play my RPG's like my fighting games, button mashing.

Finished my Rogue playthrough a few days ago.

Spoiler: show

Clocked in at 53 hours

[CasualPlayer]

Strategy is for girls, I like to play my RPG's like my fighting games, button mashing.

Finished my Rogue playthrough a few days ago.

Spoiler: show

Clocked in at 53 hours

Nothing wrong with a good button masher. In fact the game I'm spending time on right now, Vindictus, is exactly that and I love it. But this is the successor fo Baldur's Gate. If they wanted to make a button masher they should've said that, instead of plying to the strategy fanbase, and then changing the premise of the game.

[Elcura]

I like strategy, but the face paced nature of this game makes complicated manoeuvres a pain to do all the time.

Lemme blast trolls with fireballs and I'll be happy.

[Mizango]

Say what you want but this game was marketed as the spiritual successor to Baldur's Gate, at least make the game somewhat resemble the original masterpiece.

But it does, it has Dragon Age in the title

Strategy is for girls, I like to play my RPG's like my fighting games, button mashing.

I wont lie, Drakengard is one of my favorite titles too. Buttan mashan fun to da max

[tyven]

idk how i feel about it being shorts. DA:O was p short to me when you think about it. also i felt the world was p small cuz so much of it was dungeons

[Isiolia]

Strategy is for girls, I like to play my RPG's like my fighting games, button mashing.

Jade Empire then?