Dragon Age is looking good!

[StriderGG]

Eurogamer basically acknowledged that DA won't be an immersive virtual world at all.

This kind of statement would depend on your definition of "immersive virtual world" and I am pretty sure Eurogamer didn't say anything about Dragon Age being not immersive. In fact, I am pretty sure that every single (p)review I've seen so far, mentions how incredibly immersive and well-written the game world is.

[Aganazer]

Eurogamer basically acknowledged that DA won't be an immersive virtual world at all.

This kind of statement would depend on your definition of "immersive virtual world" and I am pretty sure Eurogamer didn't say anything about Dragon Age being not immersive. In fact, I am pretty sure that every single (p)review I've seen so far, mentions how incredibly immersive and well-written the game world is.

"Immersive" is too subjective I agree. For me immersion is defined by a consistency of the game world and realism (fantasy realism? Yeah I think it exists). Things like zoning, auto-difficulty scaling, static NPC's that stand in the same place all day/night, timered respawns, and gamey convenience features all tend to work against immersion. Just my opinion though. I'm sure it means different things to different people.

[Freezer-TPF-]

Also it isn't an open world game- areas only open up after you are given direction to go there so you can't game the system by trying to visit everything early on and making them all low level.

At roughly the 8-10 hour mark you'll have access to the world map and can visit a good chunk of it.  It's not open world like Oblivion though - you "Gather your party before venturing forth", are presented with a map, click the destination, fight any random encounters, and then arrive there.

So travel between areas is pretty much like NWN2 (go to area exit, select destination on world map, then fast travel with intermediate random encounters fought on a small arena/piece of map)?

[ScubaV]

Ii definitely sounds better than Oblivion, but I could still see problems.  What if you open up a new area, but decide to do some side quests first before visiting it?  Then if you go to the area, find the enemies scaled too highly, you're out of things to backtrack to for leveling.  Any kind of scaling system makes me wary.

[Dan_Theman]

Ii definitely sounds better than Oblivion, but I could still see problems.  What if you open up a new area, but decide to do some side quests first before visiting it?  Then if you go to the area, find the enemies scaled too highly, you're out of things to backtrack to for leveling.  Any kind of scaling system makes me wary.

My understanding is that there will always be some "grind" opportunities available for you.  They may be meager and therefore would take quite some time to help, but they would still be there.  That, or you could just work at the game a bit more - this isn't supposed to be some hardcore-most-difficult-ever kind of game, afterall. 

However, I do agree with you that leveling doesn't engender warm fuzzy feelings in me.  On the other hand, I can somewhat understand it in this case: the blight is spreading over time.  The longer you take to get someplace, the tougher your opposition will wind up being.  If you strike at an area early on, you'll face opponents who haven't had the opportunity to bulk up and get reinforcements yet so there's a bit of tactics involved.

[Kevin Grey]

Ii definitely sounds better than Oblivion, but I could still see problems.  What if you open up a new area, but decide to do some side quests first before visiting it?  Then if you go to the area, find the enemies scaled too highly, you're out of things to backtrack to for leveling.  Any kind of scaling system makes me wary.

EDIT- Nevermind.  I misunderstood the comment. 

[StriderGG]

Journeys is live.

Well, the web site is up, I don't think the actual game is.

LOL, I saw 'click to play' and figured it was for the game. 


unless they're following the Metal Gear Solid format...

BTW, now it's up

[morlac]

Ii definitely sounds better than Oblivion, but I could still see problems.  What if you open up a new area, but decide to do some side quests first before visiting it?  Then if you go to the area, find the enemies scaled too highly, you're out of things to backtrack to for leveling.  Any kind of scaling system makes me wary.

The first time you visit it it remains static so doing side quest and gaining exp. should make it easier when you revisit it.  Since a large portion of the 'map' opens up early on I would guess there should be plenty of stuff to backtrack on if you find it too difficult.  80 + hours is a crap ton of sidequest.  It's the best of both worlds imo.   The fact that it scales somewhat means you do not have to necessarily do things in a set order but have some freedom to do what you want when you want whiles still having some stuff 'unlock' at set times in the game to keep you from accidentally advancing things to quickly.  Honestly,  I can't believe it hasn't been done like that before as I think it's a great blend of open wolrdness add linearity.

[morlac]

BTW, now it's up

Playing now.  So far it is very slick for a Flash game.

Edit:  Ok I have played enough to know i want to save this for my business trip to San Francisco next week.  Good stuff.

[StriderGG]

Ii definitely sounds better than Oblivion, but I could still see problems.  What if you open up a new area, but decide to do some side quests first before visiting it?  Then if you go to the area, find the enemies scaled too highly, you're out of things to backtrack to for leveling.  Any kind of scaling system makes me wary.

The first time you visit it it remains static so doing side quest and gaining exp. should make it easier when you revisit it.  Since a large portion of the 'map' opens up early on I would guess there should be plenty of stuff to backtrack on if you find it too difficult.  80 + hours is a crap ton of sidequest.  It's the best of both worlds imo.   The fact that it scales somewhat means you do not have to necessarily do things in a set order but have some freedom to do what you want when you want whiles still having some stuff 'unlock' at set times in the game to keep you from accidentally advancing things to quickly.  Honestly,  I can't believe it hasn't been done like that before as I think it's a great blend of open wolrdness add linearity.

Besides, unless you are going through the game the second time, you wouldn't even notice the scaling system, it sounds to be completely transparent. Just play the game normally, i.e. if you got into some "advanced" dungeon and found out that it has too strong enemies, don't load the previous (pre-dungeon) save, just exit the dungeon normally, go level up somewhere and come back to this dungeon. The enemies that USED TO BE too strong will be waiting for you in the "state" you left them, they won't autoscale to match your new level (like it used to be in Oblivion IIRC).

At the same time this system ensures that whenever you enter this "advanced" dungeon *for the first time*, it will always provide certain challenge, so that (if you are up for this challenge) you can try and tough it out.

IMO it's the best of both worlds. It doesn't have those static, supposedly hard quests that became too easy by the time you got there just because you completed a couple of extra side quests prior to that. At the same time you are not matched against super strong enemies all the time, allowing you to level up, come back and kick some butts.

Playing now.  So far it is very slick for a Flash game.

Yep, I am pretty impressed so far. But then again, I don't play that many Flash games.

I really dig the idea though. Having this kind of minigame 10 days before the release allows me to have some quality time, get familiar with the system (attributes, spells, etc.), learn some stuff about the game world AND gives me an item reward that can be used in the "main" game. Awesome idea.

[Knightshade Dragon]

Dragon Age: Origins went gold for PC, 360, AND PS3!   -> http://www.gamingtrend.com/News/news.php?NewsID=14480

[CeeKay]

Since I'm at work I supposed the naked happy dance of joy would be inappropriate, so instead I shall do the shorts down around the ankles while sitting on the toilet happy shuffle of glee instead.

[MonkeyFinger]

Wow... really didn't need that image in my head. 

[CeeKay]

the guys at Penny Arcade did a short mini-series for the game.  I'm thinking it will make more sense once we know more of the world, but these templars seem to be a nasty bunch.

[CeeKay]

a bit about the toolset.

also available in HD.

[CeeKay]

PC Gamer: RPG of the Decade with a 94.

ONE WEEK!!!!

[Greg Wak]

I asked this on QT3 and got ignored. Wardens Keep is to be downloaded the day the game is released. Anybody wondering if the servers are going to get clogged up? Or is the DLC already on the disk and we just have to unlock it? I want to fire up this puppy as soon as I get it wioth everything in place. I don't really want to spend 2-3 hrs trying to hook up to a server.

[Kevin Grey]

I'm pretty sure they said that the Day One DLC is not on the disk but I don't have a link offhand.

I'm assuming that Warden's Keep is at least a little ways into the game so I'm not worried about getting it Day One. 

[Ridah]

PC Gamer: RPG of the Decade with a 94.

ONE WEEK!!!!

PC Gamer is also the place that called Half-Life 2 the "greatest game of all time" with a 90-something score.

[Kevin Grey]

PC Gamer: RPG of the Decade with a 94.

ONE WEEK!!!!

PC Gamer is also the place that called Half-Life 2 the "greatest game of all time" with a 90-something score.

Considering HL2 is one of my favorite games of all time then that's hardly something to make me question their taste.  Their Doom 3 review on the other hand....

However this is actually the PC Gamer UK review, not the US branch.  However it is reviewed by John Walker (one of the Rock Paper Shotgun guys) so it's certainly a good sign.

[CeeKay]

Would 2000 be considered part of this decade?  If so then they're saying it's better than BG2.

[Freezer-TPF-]

Would 2000 be considered part of this decade?  If so then they're saying it's better than BG2.

Indeed--that is the critical question.  2000 was a key gaming year.

[Kevin Grey]

Desslock, who is reviewing it for PC Gamer US, has said that it's the best Bioware game since Baldur's Gate 2.

[Sarkus]

Desslock, who is reviewing it for PC Gamer US, has said that it's the best Bioware game since Baldur's Gate 2.

Emphasis added. He then said (this is all on QT3 by the way) it wasn't the best RPG in the last year, but hasn't clarified that part.

[Kevin Grey]

Sure but he's a huge fan of Bioware games anyway so it's not like he meant it as a slight. 

But my point was that he wasn't saying it was better than BG2. 

[CeeKay]

I don't know, I loved Mass Effect and Jade Empire more than their previous games, possibly even more than KotOR, so hopefully I'm not let down.

[Knightsabre]

So my PC just barely - and I mean BARELY - meets the minimum requirements.  Has anyone heard anything about how it plays at the low end of the scale?  I just really want it to run smoothly from the BG2 isometric view!

[JCC]

So my PC just barely - and I mean BARELY - meets the minimum requirements.  Has anyone heard anything about how it plays at the low end of the scale?  I just really want it to run smoothly from the BG2 isometric view!

I will be anxious to hear this too. I don't think I want the 360 version, but I really doubt my PC is up to this. So... I am probably looking at 2010-11 before I ever try Dragon Age.

[Pharaoh]

Anyone have any experience with Steam pre-loading? I got the CE edition when they had the billing snafu, and it says Pre-Loading starts today, but either can't find it, or its not up yet. Any info on how the whole process works?

[coopasonic]

Anyone have any experience with Steam pre-loading? I got the CE edition when they had the billing snafu, and it says Pre-Loading starts today, but either can't find it, or its not up yet. Any info on how the whole process works?

generally noon pacific at best, possibly later. It should show up on their news page.

[Blackjack]

Desslock, who is reviewing it for PC Gamer US, has said that it's the best Bioware game since Baldur's Gate 2.

I didn't much enjoy the BG games (I did buy BG1 in its day, but I guess I'm a mundane hack'n'slasher at heart). So I guess I'm going to be disappointed then?  

[coopasonic]

Anyone have any experience with Steam pre-loading? I got the CE edition when they had the billing snafu, and it says Pre-Loading starts today, but either can't find it, or its not up yet. Any info on how the whole process works?

generally noon pacific at best, possibly later. It should show up on their news page.

Never mins, looks like it opened up about 20 minute ago, you may need to restart steam, then you can right click dragon age in your games list and select view pre-load info... or click the preload now button on the news page when it pops up. If it says try again later, wait a minute and try again.

I'm 1% pre-loaded, woohoo!

[Kevin Grey]

Desslock, who is reviewing it for PC Gamer US, has said that it's the best Bioware game since Baldur's Gate 2.

I didn't much enjoy the BG games (I did buy BG1 in its day, but I guess I'm a mundane hack'n'slasher at heart). So I guess I'm going to be disappointed then? 

If you are a mundane hack and slasher at heart then it may not be up your alley. From what I understand, Dragon Age (like BG2) is more focused on a deep tactical combat system, plot driven story, and dynamic character interaction. 

[fyedaddy]

Have we seen a list of items included in the retail versions? I want to support Steam 1st but might have to go retail again if the book/map is like the original BG2.

[Destructor]

Come on...somebody big break the street date on this so I can play it early...

[CeeKay]

anyone been playing Journeys?  I'm about halfway through it and it's pretty decent.

[Destructor]

anyone been playing Journeys?  I'm about halfway through it and it's pretty decent.

I meant to start it this weekend at work, but work was crazy busy.

[CeeKay]

anyone been playing Journeys?  I'm about halfway through it and it's pretty decent.

I meant to start it this weekend at work, but work was crazy busy.

ugh, just hit a part where you encounter the 'big boss fight right after finishing another fight without any chance to heal' syndrome.

[Purge]

Dragon Age: Origins is currently preloading on steam.

That is all.

[TiLT]

Welcome to yesterday's topic in this thread.