Dragon Age - Bioware's new PC-only RPG

Space Hamster · 8th November 2006, 11:54 AM

1Up has announced Bioware's new PC-only RPG.

Quote:

- The story is dark-much darker than the usual BioWare fare-and influenced by "realistic" modern fantasy like George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones.
- The game uses an evolved "tactical real-time combat" style of Baldur's Gate, only in 3D-you queue up orders for multiple party members, pause the game when you need to think, and your party members will be able to execute coordinated attacks.
- Large-scale creature combat will have your characters doing stuff like ducking between legs and jumping on backs of monsters (dare we say dragons?).
- Even though Dragon Age isn't a D&D game, per se, BioWare is sticking close to those roots with the class and rules systems.
- The game uses a "modified" version of the Mass Effect conversation system we're all so keen on.
- Depending on the type of character you choose, the game offers multiple different "origin stories"-meaning the first few hours of the game will be totally different depending on which character archetype you choose.
- The game's actually coming out in late 2007 or early 2008.

DigitalRain · 8th November 2006, 1:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Space Hamster

1Up has announced Bioware's new PC-only RPG.

Ahh, another BioWare RPG to sink my teeth into. Sounds good.

Wizdon · 8th November 2006, 1:39 PM

Great news.

Bioware do good work.

I hope its as plot driven as Baldur's Gate I & II. When I think about those games I get a urge to pick them up again.

Semi-Evolved · 13th November 2006, 9:47 PM

It's pretty funny that 1up are making out as if this is some great new announcement; Dragon Age was first announced at E3 2004

. That said, it's great to see the game press finally starting to take a bit of notice of it.

For more info on it, check out Bioware's Dragon Age forums.

Morgue · 13th November 2006, 11:21 PM

I did not know of this RPG until now, something else i can start to drool for.

Ziricon · 14th November 2006, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Semi-Evolved

It's pretty funny that 1up are making out as if this is some great new announcement; Dragon Age was first announced at E3 2004

. That said, it's great to see the game press finally starting to take a bit of notice of it.

For more info on it, check out Bioware's Dragon Age forums.

Yeah, I remember first reading about it a couple of years ago, apparantly its been in development this entire time (at least they say). They had a couple of publishers sign up and pull out I think.

Anyhow it looks like a good little game ! Hopefully they make it more like Baludurs Gate and less like Neverwinter Nights!

Semi-Evolved · 14th November 2006, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ziricon

Yeah, I remember first reading about it a couple of years ago, apparantly its been in development this entire time (at least they say). They had a couple of publishers sign up and pull out I think.

As far as I know development so far has mostly been funded in-house, and they've yet to seek a publisher for the end product. Bioware have done extremely well from their other games (BG1/2, NWN, KOTOR, Jade Empire), so they've got enough cash reserves to fund future projects such as this. Plus they've got Mass Effect coming up, which is a pretty sure-fire hit given the dearth of good console RPGs. It should continue to keep them fluid enough to extend DA development for as long as it takes to polish it to the extent that they have their previous games.

Quote:

Anyhow it looks like a good little game ! Hopefully they make it more like Baludurs Gate and less like Neverwinter Nights!

They're definitely aiming for a BG-styled game; full party control, a rich story, and more focus upon the gameplay itself (let's face it, NWN's campaign was little more than a tech demo for the engine and editor). Given Bioware's stellar history, there's little chance of the game being anything but amazing.

Space Hamster · 14th November 2006, 2:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Semi-Evolved

They're definitely aiming for a BG-styled game; full party control, a rich story, and more focus upon the gameplay itself (let's face it, NWN's campaign was little more than a tech demo for the engine and editor). Given Bioware's stellar history, there's little chance of the game being anything but amazing.

Seeing all these posts makes me want to pull out Planescape and play it all over again. What a brilliant game that was. I loved it even more than BG2 because I sympathised more deeply with the storyline ("What makes the measure of a man?"), and also because I could reach the end of it in a reasonable amount of time. And I loved the ending.

Ashpool · 13th December 2006, 7:03 AM

Kinda looks like oblivion in this first screenshot...

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More here:
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3154863

power · 13th December 2006, 7:45 PM

damn my pc's trembling in fear at that first screenie

Daexkor · 13th December 2006, 10:20 PM

First screenie? damn, my PC just died trying to load the screenie itself! =)

But yeah, Mass Effect + Dragon Age should be freaking awesome.

jon181 · 21st December 2008, 10:47 PM

was just browsing the bioware website about this. it looks like they are trying to make a game that contains most of the elements from BG:2 as in the way it plays, not bhaal spawn. The videos I see of this game were what I thought NWN was going to be but wasn't.

can't wait for this to come out.

Zerstorer · 21st December 2008, 10:59 PM

Ain't PC only any more. Console versions come out a couple of months after the PC.

Thunder · 21st December 2008, 11:22 PM

I've been watching development on and off for a little while, looks good, I just hope it doesn't have nazi DRM on it.

Ospi · 21st December 2008, 11:25 PM

Didn't know about this. After spending a good 100+ hours on Oblivion lately I can't wait for this, offline RPG's are the bomb.

13th November 2006, 9:47 PM	#4
Semi-Evolved Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,430	It's pretty funny that 1up are making out as if this is some great new announcement; Dragon Age was first announced at E3 2004 . That said, it's great to see the game press finally starting to take a bit of notice of it. For more info on it, check out Bioware's Dragon Age forums. __________________ Something pithy.

13th November 2006, 11:21 PM	#5
Morgue Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Broken Hill, NSW Posts: 149	I did not know of this RPG until now, something else i can start to drool for. __________________ AMD 4400 X2 - ASUS A8R32-MVP Deluxe - HIS Radeon X1900XT /w IceQ - OCZ Platinum EB PC4000 2GB - Probably a DVD Player - Samsung 940B - Audigy2ZS - Logitech G5 + G15 - Logitech Z-5500 5.1 - Possibly a case - Large chunk of something I dont recognise

13th December 2006, 7:03 AM	#9
Ashpool Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Horsham Posts: 2,125	Kinda looks like oblivion in this first screenshot... Click to view full-sized image! Hosted by UGBox Image Store Click to view full-sized image! Hosted by UGBox Image Store Click to view full-sized image! Hosted by UGBox Image Store More here: http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3154863

13th December 2006, 7:45 PM	#10
power Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: brisbane Posts: 17,705	damn my pc's trembling in fear at that first screenie __________________ This is Who We Are.

13th December 2006, 10:20 PM	#11
Daexkor Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Brisbane Posts: 750	First screenie? damn, my PC just died trying to load the screenie itself! =) But yeah, Mass Effect + Dragon Age should be freaking awesome. __________________ "Dude live closer to the edge in life to at least feel the breeze of insanity, I've fallen off the edge into the frozen wastes of delirium.. Its fun down here!! "

8th November 2006, 1:39 PM	#3
Wizdon Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,759	Great news. Bioware do good work. I hope its as plot driven as Baldur's Gate I & II. When I think about those games I get a urge to pick them up again.

21st December 2008, 10:47 PM	#12
jon181 Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 14	was just browsing the bioware website about this. it looks like they are trying to make a game that contains most of the elements from BG:2 as in the way it plays, not bhaal spawn. The videos I see of this game were what I thought NWN was going to be but wasn't. can't wait for this to come out.

21st December 2008, 10:59 PM	#13
Zerstorer Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Central Coast, NSW Posts: 3,143	Ain't PC only any more. Console versions come out a couple of months after the PC.

21st December 2008, 11:22 PM	#14
Thunder Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Brisbane Posts: 685	I've been watching development on and off for a little while, looks good, I just hope it doesn't have nazi DRM on it.