58 réponses à ce sujet

[The Velveteen Rabbit]

I'm seeing a lot t of threads here regarding various aspects of people's disappointment with the recent expansion, and it makes me sad.

Now, before you stop reading, hear me out.

Whether it be that it's bugged, the characters are two dimentional, the conversation system sucks, there's no romance, or you miss your Starfang, oh and my favorite: "I want to play my dead Warden!". Please, I just want to say something.

Yes, we could go on about how Awakening wasn't what we expected and that it was rushed and they could have done so much more and even though it wouldn't be likely to change anything some of these threads are valid concerns and deserve to be addressed. I, too, feel the game was rushed and that it had the potential to be much more than it was, and had they taken more time on it, especially when dealing with such a fragile subject as what happens to our Wardens after the Blight is over when we all had such high hopes and were given months to build them up, that it would have been much more worthy of its name.

But we have to face facts, it's not the writers' fault: they weren't the only ones who decided when the expansion was to come out, if they had much of a say in it at all, and we must also remember that there is supposedly another game coming out in 2011. It's not anyone's fault really.

Personally, I think considering the amount of time that was given to create it, Awakening wasn't all that bad. It could have been better, and now it's in the hands of the modders.

All I am asking of you, good reader, is that you do not lose faith in Bioware because of this. Despite your disappointment, trust that they have taken from our (hopefully) constructive criticisms and learned from their mistakes. Feedback does make a huge difference, but it is also important to give credit where credit is due.

So, if I may ask, what is something you actually liked about Awakening? I don't think we have enough answers to that question floating around this forum. I just felt I needed to say something, feel free to flame me or what have you. If you think I'm wrong, that is your right, but please think before you say something you might regret: it is only a videogame, after all.

[Sovrath]

I actually think Awakenings is great.

The issues, bugs aside, is that it seems some stuff was rushed. I can't say spoilers in this thread but there were several interesting story points that either never went anywhere or were pretty much finished with one trip.

All of these could have been fleshed out much more. That, to me, is the real shame of Awakenings. Otherwise I loved it.

[dan107]

Sovrath wrote...

I actually think Awakenings is great.

The issues, bugs aside, is that it seems some stuff was rushed. I can't say spoilers in this thread but there were several interesting story points that either never went anywhere or were pretty much finished with one trip.

All of these could have been fleshed out much more. That, to me, is the real shame of Awakenings. Otherwise I loved it.

Pretty much exactly what I was thinking. Except I wouldn't call it great though. The bugs and lack of polish keep it firmly in the "pretty good" category.

[zahra]

I liked Awakening (like, not love), and I am one of the lucky ones as I haven't encountered any bugs yet. I like it enough so as not to feel the need to voice some of things I found lacking in the game as I am getting enough fun out of it to forgive them for it. (Or perhaps I am just too lazy to, lol)



But I dont agree with this whole attitude of "It is great, stop complaining, shut up, just don't buy it next time!" etc etc because it is necessary to point out the shortcomings, especially if you love the franchise. Its important that Bioware gets that feedback, otherwise they will see this as the acceptable standard for future expansions, and even though I said that I liked Awakening I really hope that the next expansion blows my mind instead of just the "Oh, this is pretty okay" feeling I get playing this expansion. I like reading passionate posts about hatred for the expansion (even though I don't share it), because it gives me hope; maybe the devs will up their game next time.



We all know they can do better. Thats the reason why we keep on coming back (I thought RTO was so underwhelming tbh).

[Varenus Luckmann]

Yeah. Awakening. Supposedly great. I'd love to play it with my current character.

If I could actually finish Origins through the sheer amount of gamebreaking bugs.

[ElnVld]

I do not know, if such expression in English..., but in Russian, to speak: It's was simply a big spittle in my soul!

Yes! I mean DA: Awakening.



How is it possible to spit on all my NPCs friends and my beloved Zevran from DA:O?!

I hate DA:A for it's emotional isolation from DA: Origins! And ... my rating for DA:A : 3 from 5!

[rabbitchannel]

Hello, fellow rabbit.



I quite liked Awakening! The only thing that bugged me was the haphazard execution of the crafting system and the crashing. And if they wanted to make it longer I wouldn't object. Otherwise I had fun and in some ways, enjoyed it more than DA:O.

[Eudaemonium]

I liked Awakening, I thought it was rushed and buggy, but I liked it. One thing I really liked? The new conversation system. I think it provided a lot more context to character discussions, which aided in the depth of the interactions. The problem is there isn't enough of it. I did enjoy the cosy fireside chats of Origins, but I felt Awakening's system just felt a lot more real. Naturally, I'd like a system incoporating both, maybe with Awakening-style dialogues leding into more deep discussion in a camp setting about X or Y, but I really enjoyed it.

[Yrkoon]

Seriously,   I,  Yrkoon,  as a card carrying member of the "this game sucks" whiner's club, am happy that you enjoyed it and saw it as a great expansion.  I wish I  could feel the same.

But to address one of your points.  I  have already lost SOME faith in Bioware.... but only some.   A small amount.  In DA:O terminology,    I'd say that over the last decade, Bioware gave me enough "gifts" to  get my approval up to 100 (love).   But Awakening  brought it down to 80 (adore).  If they put out another game like Awakening, they risk
 further disapproval...  perhaps dropping my approval down to  "care",  "interested", or, heaven forbid... "neutral"


That all said, I did like the new skills and talents in Awakening. especially the new warrior skills.  But that is all.

[Hulk Hsieh]

I can accept most of the issues except the big bugs like missing companion quests or losing main character equipment.Those are just too obvious to ignore.

[Feraele]

Uh.."I want to play my dead warden".



Update: You CAN play your dead warden..there's just no explanation as to why all of a sudden (remember this is an rpg first and foremost) the dead warden walks.



THAT really isn't the issue that had a 40 page thread going for 19 days.



The issue WAS...the Ultimate Sacrifice, and the fact that..yes you "could" leave your heroic warden dead, but nothing after that..acknowledged the hero's fate or sacrifice. The epilogue indicates a commemorative statue at Vigil's Keep in Amaranthine, as well as an honourable burial at Weisshaupt ..along side the other four wardens who did the self-same sacrifice.



What happens in reality? Nothing. No information carries forward to educate the Orlesian warden on his predecessor's fate.



THAT was the issue.

[The Velveteen Rabbit]

Ah, very well, I wasn't sure if the problem was that you could or you couldn't. Thank you for clearing that up for me.

[The Velveteen Rabbit]

zahra wrote...

I liked Awakening (like, not love), and I am one of the lucky ones as I haven't encountered any bugs yet. I like it enough so as not to feel the need to voice some of things I found lacking in the game as I am getting enough fun out of it to forgive them for it. (Or perhaps I am just too lazy to, lol)

But I dont agree with this whole attitude of "It is great, stop complaining, shut up, just don't buy it next time!" etc etc because it is necessary to point out the shortcomings, especially if you love the franchise. Its important that Bioware gets that feedback, otherwise they will see this as the acceptable standard for future expansions, and even though I said that I liked Awakening I really hope that the next expansion blows my mind instead of just the "Oh, this is pretty okay" feeling I get playing this expansion. I like reading passionate posts about hatred for the expansion (even though I don't share it), because it gives me hope; maybe the devs will up their game next time.

We all know they can do better. Thats the reason why we keep on coming back (I thought RTO was so underwhelming tbh).

Well said, my friend. I wasn't trying to say that people should just shut up if they feel it was lacking, I simply want to make sure something comes of it. Saying "I hate this" and nothing more is just as unproductive as saying "It was okay". There is just so much negitivity floating around in a lot of threads - and granted, probably for a good reason, mind you - that I just thought maybe we could have one topic to discuss some positive things about Awakening. Hell, I'm not going to say it was perfect, because it wasn't and there were obvious areas were it could be improved but I think we should try and take a moment to consider what was done right,

[ModerateOsprey]

I am still playing Awakenings and I really like it. I am bit lost on the conversation system and my only one complaint and, sadly, its a biggie and it is this:

Feraele wrote...

The issue WAS...the Ultimate Sacrifice, and the fact that..yes you "could" leave your heroic warden dead, but nothing after that..acknowledged the hero's fate or sacrifice. The epilogue indicates a commemorative statue at Vigil's Keep in Amaranthine, as well as an honourable burial at Weisshaupt ..along side the other four wardens who did the self-same sacrifice.

What happens in reality? Nothing. No information carries forward to educate the Orlesian warden on his predecessor's fate.

THAT was the issue.

Modifié par ModerateOsprey, 30 mars 2010 - 12:17 .

[cylriasilver]

The Velveteen Rabbit wrote...

Whether it be that it's bugged, the characters are two dimentional, the conversation system sucks, there's no romance, or you miss your Starfang, oh and my favorite: "I want to play my dead Warden!". Please, I just want to say something.

Oh great, someone else who completely misses what the problem is.

[Varenus Luckmann]

Yrkoon wrote...

Seriously,   I,  Yrkoon,  as a card carrying member of the "this game sucks" whiner's club, am happy that you enjoyed it and saw it as a great expansion.  I wish I  could feel the same.

But to address one of your points.  I  have already lost SOME faith in Bioware.... but only some.   A small amount.  In DA:O terminology,    I'd say that over the last decade, Bioware gave me enough "gifts" to  get my approval up to 100 (love).   But Awakening  brought it down to 80 (adore).  If they put out another game like Awakening, they risk
 further disapproval...  perhaps dropping my approval down to  "care",  "interested", or, heaven forbid... "neutral"


That all said, I did like the new skills and talents in Awakening. especially the new warrior skills.  But that is all.

Now apply that to me.

But without getting any help whatsoever to resolve gamebreaking issues that is preventing me from continuing Origins.

[Addai]

I'm not sure "faith" is the realm we're in. It's a commercial product, and if a consumer is dissatisfied, they have a right to voice that. I do understand that criticism can be tempered. It's also a creative product, and the writers and artists have a lot of heart invested in it. But so do the players! That's where some of the heat comes from.



Personally, I found it a bit slapdash and too expensive, but am happy to see the story advance a bit. I hope it is a waystation to something better.

[asaiasai]

I have to say that i enjoyed Awakenings quite a bit, my only real complaint is that it was not really worth the 40 dollars it cost me. I am willing to give Bioware a little latitude in this regard and hope that they will make it up to me in the future.



Asai

[JaegerBane]

Feraele wrote...
What happens in reality? Nothing. No information carries forward to educate the Orlesian warden on his predecessor's fate.

THAT was the issue.

And that is pretty much why there were many (including the OP) who feel that the issue is a molehill made mountain. Most normal people wouldn't freak out and brand the game and Bioware and EA and Canada and capitalism and eveything else as evil and satanic because the game didn't make some character come up to you and drone on about stuff you already know.

It's a minor annoyance, true, but this isn't the sort of thing that changes scores, or is held up as an example of the top 10 worst things to put into a game.

Modifié par JaegerBane, 30 mars 2010 - 08:08 .

[RobbertDewulf]

The problem is that the fans have each time greater expectations (almost impossible ones) about Bioware.



Meanwhile we already know that all the next games will be criticized and insulted but they will buy it anyway, lol. Bioware makes great games, but the fans got too spoiled and always want more and more.



I liked all their games, with defects or no defects.

[Vicious]

The problem is that the fans have each time greater expectations (almost impossible ones) about Bioware.

Indeed. However you must admit they fell short in another regard: Awakening is very buggy. It is a damn shame I did not know Velanna and Sigrun had companion quests until I read the boards... because they never triggered. Ugh!

[Dark Lilith]

I liked it also and you can play your dead warden,someone obviously didn't read the manual.I'm playing my dead mage!

[Wozza78]

My first play through of DA:A was actually pretty smoothe. Alistair greeted me as I expected since I made him King in Origins. It was a little buggy in places yes, and there wasn't the depth of character interaction that existed in Origins between the companions, but as far as the story goes I really enjoyed it. It explained more about what was happening behind the scenes in Origins and added a whole new layer to that game. Im annoyed about all the bug but I certainly don't regret buying it. Im even considering upgrading my PC so I play the finished version once the community modders have had their way with it.

[missedstations]

I dunno, I rather enjoyed the plot, and I can't tell the difference between game crashing on its own and my underpowered laptop. (Always amusing. I find gaming very educational, you see. I can read at least five pages while things are loading!)

Crafting system was very annoying though. Sorry, I'm the goddamn Warden Commander. Why do I have to sit there making my own runes again?! Bugs I'm 'meh' about. It's why one should always buy games at least 3 months after they come out, right?

I did want to snuggle Anders and I do love Ser Pounce-a-Lot though.

So overall, it was amusing, and I didn't want to smash my computer even once! B+

PS. Considering my dwarf noble romanced Alistair, then broke his heart by telling him to marry Anora, then sent him off to kill the Archdemon without taking Morrigan's offer... I've had no continuity problems. xD That's just luck though. My elven mage romanced Zevran and lack of continuity there will make me sad if I get around to a second playthrough.

Modifié par missedstations, 30 mars 2010 - 02:59 .