151 réponses à ce sujet

[Anarya]

Dave of Canada wrote...

David Gaider wrote...

Anarya wrote...
So you draw too? Huh, I never knew that. Do you still draw in your spare time?

Not much anymore, I'm way out of practice. All I do now in my spare time is write, when I'm not at work... writing.

Hmm. Maybe I should pick that up again.

Would be interesting if you drew concept art, to be honest. You'd be able to share you vision even more!

Yeah I'd think drawing skill would be a useful tool for that sort of thing. But the actual concept artists are so great at what they do, maybe if I were a writer I'd rather have them do their own thing and watch what happens. Hm.

[Dave of Canada]

I don't want to add to the twenty questions already going on but how much does a specific writer impact a character? I'll take Mary and Sten for example. Mary did the work on Sten, yet if she wasn't assigned to Sten and somebody else did Sten; would he still be himself or would the character be completely different?

[jazzy B 3]

NSFW? Now Start Flipping Writing?

[Mary Kirby]

Dave of Canada wrote...

I don't want to add to the twenty questions already going on but how much does a specific writer impact a character? I'll take Mary and Sten for example. Mary did the work on Sten, yet if she wasn't assigned to Sten and somebody else did Sten; would he still be himself or would the character be completely different?

That depends on what constitutes the character for you.

If someone else had written Sten, for instance, he'd still be:
1) Male
and
2) Qunari

Everything else would have been up to the writer. If someone other than David had written Alistair, he'd still be a Grey Warden, a bastard prince, and a former Templar, and all the rest would be completely different.

[Apollo Starflare]

Mary Kirby wrote...

Dave of Canada wrote...

I don't want to add to the twenty questions already going on but how much does a specific writer impact a character? I'll take Mary and Sten for example. Mary did the work on Sten, yet if she wasn't assigned to Sten and somebody else did Sten; would he still be himself or would the character be completely different?

That depends on what constitutes the character for you.

If someone else had written Sten, for instance, he'd still be:
1) Male
and
2) Qunari

Everything else would have been up to the writer. If someone other than David had written Alistair, he'd still be a Grey Warden, a bastard prince, and a former Templar, and all the rest would be completely different.

I honestly don't want to consider a world where Sten was written without his love of cookies.

[Dave of Canada]

Mary Kirby wrote...

That depends on what constitutes the character for you.

Oh okay, so Sten could've been talkative, happy and such if the other writer desired? 

Modifié par Dave of Canada, 23 août 2010 - 11:48 .

[AbounI]

thanks for the link, I consider this is one of my favorite interview, not only because it is not strictly focused on DA2, but also because it's bringing a fresh taste when a BioWarian is speaking about the conception of a video game and its story.

[Angel of Nessus]

David Gaider wrote...

Sylvius the Mad wrote...
Not really.  As mentioned, that's a very old picture.

Umm... yeah. That's about 100 pounds ago or so. Gosh.

So, does this mean that you DO have a giant wizard beard now?

Please say yes, my perception of reality demands it.

Modifié par Angel of Nessus, 24 août 2010 - 11:00 .

[Angel of Nessus]

Dave of Canada wrote...

Mary Kirby wrote...

That depends on what constitutes the character for you.

Oh okay, so Sten could've been talkative, happy and such if the other writer desired? 

No, because it wouldn't have been Sten.  He may have looked like Sten, but his personality would be...

Wait, if that's what Sten had ended up being, then the Sten we hold the standard to would not have existed, so we can't...
...

My brain is melting.

[ZtalkerRM]

Just read the interview....nice to get some insight into the process of creating these games. Cool to see every writer get's to write a single character.



The writers pit sounds a bit...nasty though.

Writer: "I made Sten love little kittens."

Gaider: "You dare to bring me this bad news?"

Writer: "This is....madness."

Gaider *kick* : "This...is...BIOWARE."

*Scream of falling writer*

Other writer: "What about cookies?"

Gaider: "Cookies will be fine. Back to work."

[Shining Ghost]

Dear writers of DA, my only request to you guys is - please, try to make the story as much surprising as possible. Because as a gamer, having played 50+ games in my so far life already, when I can see what's going to happen a mile away in a game, the game starts to feel like work.



For example: In DA:O, pretty much right after finishing the prologue, Duncan broke my heart when he gave away the ending of the game. That is, I would have to kill the archdemon, a dragon - a common creature I've fought in BG2, NWN numerous times and in the same way. Toe to toe.

[SeanMurphy2]

Good interview. It is always interesting to hear David chat away on different topics.

Also nice insight into the day to day life of a game writer. And the reality of just being one part of a collaborative process and needing to work within technical and gameplay limitations,

Also reminded me of how much of an emotional up and down the release of DA:O would have been,for the writers.

Us fans will tend to immediately whinge about tiny details,and how we would have done things better. You probably worry about things you would have done differently or regret favourite plot lines that got cut.

 Probably need to always remember you created a great game and universe out of nothing,. And characters that people enjoyed, connected with and will remember. And all those moments you never thought you would get the game finished and released.

I suppose each game will never be as perfect as you imagined it in your mind.. But in compensation there are possibly aspects of the game you didn't intend that turn out unexpectedly good or popular.

Modifié par SeanMurphy2, 24 août 2010 - 12:36 .

[NKKKK]

Mary Kirby wrote...

Dave of Canada wrote...

I don't want to add to the twenty questions already going on but how much does a specific writer impact a character? I'll take Mary and Sten for example. Mary did the work on Sten, yet if she wasn't assigned to Sten and somebody else did Sten; would he still be himself or would the character be completely different?

That depends on what constitutes the character for you.

If someone else had written Sten, for instance, he'd still be:
1) Male
and
2) Qunari

Everything else would have been up to the writer. If someone other than David had written Alistair, he'd still be a Grey Warden, a bastard prince, and a former Templar, and all the rest would be completely different.

Imagine Sten with ther personality of a used car salesman

[ankuu]

Apollo Starflare wrote...

Mary Kirby wrote...

Dave of Canada wrote...

I don't want to add to the twenty questions already going on but how much does a specific writer impact a character? I'll take Mary and Sten for example. Mary did the work on Sten, yet if she wasn't assigned to Sten and somebody else did Sten; would he still be himself or would the character be completely different?

That depends on what constitutes the character for you.

If someone else had written Sten, for instance, he'd still be:
1) Male
and
2) Qunari

Everything else would have been up to the writer. If someone other than David had written Alistair, he'd still be a Grey Warden, a bastard prince, and a former Templar, and all the rest would be completely different.

I honestly don't want to consider a world where Sten was written without his love of cookies.

OMG neither do i....Sten and Alistair were cast perfectly! Sten's love for cookies, and Alistair's love for cheese :happy:

[Anarya]

Shining Ghost wrote...

Dear writers of DA, my only request to you guys is - please, try to make the story as much surprising as possible. Because as a gamer, having played 50+ games in my so far life already, when I can see what's going to happen a mile away in a game, the game starts to feel like work.

For example: In DA:O, pretty much right after finishing the prologue, Duncan broke my heart when he gave away the ending of the game. That is, I would have to kill the archdemon, a dragon - a common creature I've fought in BG2, NWN numerous times and in the same way. Toe to toe.

That's not really a big reveal anyway. Sure it's the final battle but I wouldn't really consider it spoiling the ending to know you're gonna have to kill that giant dragon that keeps showing up.

[They call me a SpaceCowboy]

Anarya wrote...

Shining Ghost wrote...

Dear writers of DA, my only request to you guys is - please, try to make the story as much surprising as possible. Because as a gamer, having played 50+ games in my so far life already, when I can see what's going to happen a mile away in a game, the game starts to feel like work.

For example: In DA:O, pretty much right after finishing the prologue, Duncan broke my heart when he gave away the ending of the game. That is, I would have to kill the archdemon, a dragon - a common creature I've fought in BG2, NWN numerous times and in the same way. Toe to toe.

That's not really a big reveal anyway. Sure it's the final battle but I wouldn't really consider it spoiling the ending to know you're gonna have to kill that giant dragon that keeps showing up.

Especially since the game is called Dragon Age..

[WilliamShatner]

Making jokes about slitting wrists is not funny Mr. Gaider. It's a very serious and hurtful issue.

[David Gaider]

WilliamShatner wrote...
Making jokes about slitting wrists is not funny Mr. Gaider. It's a very serious and hurtful issue.

Only if you do it wrong.

[The Edge]

David Gaider wrote...

WilliamShatner wrote...
Making jokes about slitting wrists is not funny Mr. Gaider. It's a very serious and hurtful issue.

Only if you do it wrong.

[Brockololly]

David Gaider wrote...

WilliamShatner wrote...
Making jokes about slitting wrists is not funny Mr. Gaider. It's a very serious and hurtful issue.

Only if you do it wrong.

*rimshot*

[macrocarl]

Brockololly wrote...

David Gaider wrote...

WilliamShatner wrote...
Making jokes about slitting wrists is not funny Mr. Gaider. It's a very serious and hurtful issue.

Only if you do it wrong.

*rimshot*

Nyuk nyuk

Can't wait to see the next installment of the interview. It's really cool to see inside how all these things work!

[Shining Ghost]

Shinian2 wrote...

Anarya wrote...

Shining Ghost wrote...

Dear writers of DA, my only request to you guys is - please, try to make the story as much surprising as possible. Because as a gamer, having played 50+ games in my so far life already, when I can see what's going to happen a mile away in a game, the game starts to feel like work.

For example: In DA:O, pretty much right after finishing the prologue, Duncan broke my heart when he gave away the ending of the game. That is, I would have to kill the archdemon, a dragon - a common creature I've fought in BG2, NWN numerous times and in the same way. Toe to toe.

That's not really a big reveal anyway. Sure it's the final battle but I wouldn't really consider it spoiling the ending to know you're gonna have to kill that giant dragon that keeps showing up.

Especially since the game is called Dragon Age..

Look, during the end parts of the game I was praying for a grand twist and I didn't get it. Because if 4 people can kill a dragon then what was the point of all this alliance?

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic had its main-character-identity twist that got revealed when about half the game was over and look how ecstatic that made people.

[Zangler1]

Shining Ghost wrote...

Shinian2 wrote...

Anarya wrote...

Shining Ghost wrote...

Dear writers of DA, my only request to you guys is - please, try to make the story as much surprising as possible. Because as a gamer, having played 50+ games in my so far life already, when I can see what's going to happen a mile away in a game, the game starts to feel like work.

For example: In DA:O, pretty much right after finishing the prologue, Duncan broke my heart when he gave away the ending of the game. That is, I would have to kill the archdemon, a dragon - a common creature I've fought in BG2, NWN numerous times and in the same way. Toe to toe.

That's not really a big reveal anyway. Sure it's the final battle but I wouldn't really consider it spoiling the ending to know you're gonna have to kill that giant dragon that keeps showing up.

Especially since the game is called Dragon Age..

Look, during the end parts of the game I was praying for a grand twist and I didn't get it. Because if 4 people can kill a dragon then what was the point of all this alliance?

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic had its main-character-identity twist that got revealed when about half the game was over and look how ecstatic that made people.

The point of the alliance is to give the Grey Wardens the chance to slay the Archdemon. Our little party wouldn't have been able to stand against the entire horde; we'd be overwhelmed. The army occupies the horde, and while it's distracted, the Archdemon is vulnerable.
 
I think the twist you're looking for lies in the fact that someone must die in order for the Archdemon to be slain. Granted, we're given a way out through the DR, but that choice most likely has very drastic consequnces that we just haven't seen yet.

[In Exile]

The real issue is that killing the archdemon isn't interesting. The blight has no build up. It's talked about as this incredible threat that shatters worlds as a horror, and historically it was (the shortest blight took decades) but in DA:O you never see the blight.

What happens instead is that the blight just barely picks up, your origin is absolutely untouched by the blight (unless you happen to be a dalish elf and even that is not that impressive a thing) and you never see the effect of the blight or darkspawn on the land. The archdemon isn't even a real antagonist for most of the game - you just run arround being an errand boy.

So defeating the archdemon does not feel particularly rewarding or impressive, because as it turns out the entire game did nothing other than preserve the status quo in Ferelden.