Note: I am currently playing Origins straight after my DA2 playthrough both games are fresh in my mind and I am starting to see where both games failed at filling gaps within eachother.
With the cliff-hanger ends of both DA:O (the offical ending of the Witch Hunt DLC), and DA2's we are, with no doubt, entering a huge climax in DA3, unless that climax begins in DA4. Anyway Bioware have created 2 great games in my opinion, though one was a little rushed due to the time limit (you can point fingers to who you want but a limit is a limit.)
Both games have serious and minor flaws that I think should be adressed in DA3.
City sizes: Though the DA franchise in not an Elder Scrolls game, the size of a city should be very important, especially if there is one main one. By size I mean everything. From the NPCs you can talk to, to the atmosphere, to the merchants... Each character in a city should have a unique personality. There should be random NPCs that do basicly nothing (like DA2) but walk around all day. The copy paste character models should at all costs be avoided. Even DA:O had these and it breaks any immersion within that city.
Characters: It fustrates me to see this happen. In DA:O characters were rich and deep, but basicly did nothing other than chat. Their interactions in camp were boring and basicly just stood there staring at nothing. In DA2 this was done perfectly. Characters visiting eachother, having their own lives, it really felt great to see them interact and act like friends. The only interaction between characters in camp was the bloody dog! But alas! Depth and Richness was not up to Origin's standards and so people were dissapointed. (Please understand when I say not upto Origins standard's I meant that DA2 rates an 8 and origins a 10, they are close but still...)
Combat: There has to be a medium. DA2's combat was significantly improved to the point that I'm dreading any combat in DA:O now. But then again, I think Bioware's ambition was to much and so they went over that perfect limit, upsetting the balance between action and stragety. The same goes for DA:O, combat is slow and tiresome, the animations are ridicolous! I could swing a sword faster than that! Yet when it comes to stragety Origins wins by far. Overall one goes to much to one side, and the other to much to the opposite side.
Dialouge: The writing for DA:O was amazing, and so was the writing for DA2, but yet at the end I could see that they were rushed to wrap it up this quick. Act 3's writing is much weaker than say Act 2, which had dialouge that could match BGII, I have said before, the Arishock is one of the best written characters I have seen in video games for a long time. Yet there are flaws in our choices of dialouge, it's the same case with the combat. In Origins I am having difficulty in choosing some options because I do not know what is intended of that certain phrase. Am I saying this to be funny? To be mean? To be sarcastic?! In DA2 there was no such problem... but then the paraphrasing came in and I had the same problems many had with ME. I think a great way to solve this is to return to DA:O's system, but adding little icons on the end of each line.
Immersion: It's a great way to experiance a game, the reason I love the Elder Scrolls games so much is because of it. In DA:O you have slight problems with this, but not to major, only the theif skills were a bit pathetic since you could rob a man in plain sight and no cry to the Guards was heard.. In DA2 however there is a huge problem. Believe it or not Bioware, kids loved Oblivion because of how 'realistic' it was. I'm sure the wide range of audience your trying to appeal to would appreciate the 'realistic' features of a mage being hunted by Templars or taken to jail if stealing. Think of BGII's cowled wizards :-). And come on! Who doesn't like heading into GTA and running away from the police? Or AC? No one?! Your so boring...
So overall a couple of years should do it. I think this would be good for hype, there is nothing like waiting for a game you want so bad for YEARS untill it's finally announced. DA2 was quite quick so I wasn't as excited as I would have been if I had waited another 2 to 3 years.
Thats sums it up. I would REALLY appreciate if a dev comes to see this, even though they would probably never do this since they have their own plans, it is great to hear a dev's response. A last word if I may...
Bioware, I want to thank you. Not for your games, or your 'epic' stories. But for your interaction with your fans. Seldom do I see this in other forums. I have never seen Todd Howard post anything in the TES forums, but I have seen Mike Laidlaw do it plenty of times. And I love that about you guys, you are so down to earth, so funny and so kind towards us fans, it angers me that they insult you and call you names, when you have been so patient towards their hate (please excuse me for my comment towards Laidlaw's reaction towards critism it was...immature of me to do so.)
I want you to please understand that this dissapointment is just a cry for help. I have come to understand that with fans. The 'haters' and 'whiners' in my opinion are the biggest fans of us all, and their hate is confused with trolling. Sure some come hear to post pointless posts and offer nothing towards the community. But others to express their concerns...it really touches me that they do so in such a formal and calm manner, they care for you alot.
Paying money doesn't concern me at all, we all need to make a living one way or another, some steal, some work hard, some beg, thats life. Those who complain about buying a product that was not to their standards should be more cautious in doing so in the future. But really thanks Bioware, for being patient and optimistic towards us. If I would have worked as a dev, I do not know how I could handle some situations the way you do.
How long should DA3 be in development to get that perfect balance between DA:O and DA2?
Débuté par
Guest_simfamUP_*
, mars 24 2011 12:37
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#2
Posté 24 mars 2011 - 12:48
Nathan Redgrave
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An RPG needs a healthy development length to really live up to genre expectations. It's a style of game meant to take a lot of the player's time, but consequently it also has to take a lot of the developer's time. The "bigness" and complexity just necessitates a longer development period. When a game is limited to a shorter development period than a stand-alone title would need, it usually only works if you're building off of the tech and/or gameplay of a previous title. DA2 did this in part, but still didn't have quite enough time to get everything they wanted to do with it squared away.
At any rate, DA3 should be given at least a healthy amount of time to do what it tries to do well--I say this more for the benefit of those deciding the deadlines than for those actually doing the designing. Yes, you're running a business, but you don't see Square releasing a new main-series Final Fantasy game every eighteen months, and it's been quite a delay between Oblivion and Skyrim. They're running businesses, too. They just happen to have a better handle on how to balance deadlines with quality. If the quality of a franchise becomes shaky, the integrity of the long-standing customer base becomes shaky as well. Don't screw this up, guys! You have the foundation of a perfectly good classic series, here, and of a spectacular long-standing reputation to spur game sales along. You need to take advantage of those, not just the potential sales of the one game you're presently trying to shove off onto the market.
[/pretendingIknowwhatI'mtalkingabout]
At any rate, DA3 should be given at least a healthy amount of time to do what it tries to do well--I say this more for the benefit of those deciding the deadlines than for those actually doing the designing. Yes, you're running a business, but you don't see Square releasing a new main-series Final Fantasy game every eighteen months, and it's been quite a delay between Oblivion and Skyrim. They're running businesses, too. They just happen to have a better handle on how to balance deadlines with quality. If the quality of a franchise becomes shaky, the integrity of the long-standing customer base becomes shaky as well. Don't screw this up, guys! You have the foundation of a perfectly good classic series, here, and of a spectacular long-standing reputation to spur game sales along. You need to take advantage of those, not just the potential sales of the one game you're presently trying to shove off onto the market.
[/pretendingIknowwhatI'mtalkingabout]
#3
Guest_simfamUP_*
Posté 24 mars 2011 - 12:51
Guest_simfamUP_*
Guest_simfamUP_*
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Nathan Redgrave wrote...
An RPG needs a healthy development length to really live up to genre expectations. It's a style of game meant to take a lot of the player's time, but consequently it also has to take a lot of the developer's time. The "bigness" and complexity just necessitates a longer development period. When a game is limited to a shorter development period than a stand-alone title would need, it usually only works if you're building off of the tech and/or gameplay of a previous title. DA2 did this in part, but still didn't have quite enough time to get everything they wanted to do with it squared away.
At any rate, DA3 should be given at least a healthy amount of time to do what it tries to do well--I say this more for the benefit of those deciding the deadlines than for those actually doing the designing. Yes, you're running a business, but you don't see Square releasing a new main-series Final Fantasy game every eighteen months, and it's been quite a delay between Oblivion and Skyrim. They're running businesses, too. They just happen to have a better handle on how to balance deadlines with quality. If the quality of a franchise becomes shaky, the integrity of the long-standing customer base becomes shaky as well. Don't screw this up, guys! You have the foundation of a perfectly good classic series, here, and of a spectacular long-standing reputation to spur game sales along. You need to take advantage of those, not just the potential sales of the one game you're presently trying to shove off onto the market.
[/pretendingIknowwhatI'mtalkingabout]
your post pretty much sums up on what I'm trying to say in a bundle
Modifié par simfamSP, 24 mars 2011 - 12:51 .
#4
Posté 24 mars 2011 - 01:08
EDarkness
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Well said. I agree that they should extend development time to make it the best it can be. They have a lot of people who enjoyed Origins and it would be silly to throw that all away. Take they good will you have and put as much love into the product as you did with Dragon Age: Origins. So take what you know and refine the experience. There are a lot of people who have a lot of faith in their product and capabilities. Many companies would love to have that kind of a reputation. Don't squander it.
#5
Posté 24 mars 2011 - 01:15
dewayne31
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i agree it need a decent amount of time. but i doubt it'll get it. i think we'll see it by november 2012, which a election for the US. da3 seems to be setting up something of a politicial setting
#6
Posté 24 mars 2011 - 01:17
AlexXIV
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It should be in development until Bioware is happy with it and thinks it is ready to release. Without EA pushing them to keep their deadline.
#7
Guest_simfamUP_*
Posté 24 mars 2011 - 01:28
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I am glad no one has resorted in ranting about how much they hate Bioware for now. I agree with the above post. EA should know that given time, they could make ALOT of money. They are not stupid, they know about marketing, their presence did not effect DA:O's goals in anyway. But still, even the most intelligent man is a child compared to the wiser. EA may be smart but are they wise?
#8
Posté 28 juillet 2011 - 10:14
Warden Majere
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I loved Oblivion as much as I loved Origins.... And that is a significant amount XD I like that Bethesda takes their time on their games. I was sorely disappointed when I found out my computer won't run Skyrim =( Yes I want to play DA3 just as much as the next Bioware fan but I would rather wait to play a great game then get a lower quality game sooner!! Don't try to push them EA...
Thank you Bioware for the GREAT games!!!!
Thank you Bioware for the GREAT games!!!!
#9
Posté 28 juillet 2011 - 12:21
Raycer X
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30 months develptment time. Not including planning, prototyping, post production, etc.
#10
Posté 28 juillet 2011 - 01:32
wetnasty
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I feel like they can take as long as they want if they're properly putting out things for the fans like DLC during the wait time. 
#11
Posté 28 juillet 2011 - 02:20
FieryDove
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simfamSP wrote...
their presence did not effect DA:O's goals in anyway.
I disagree.
To the OP:
Hopefully as much time as they need/want.
#12
Posté 28 juillet 2011 - 03:50
Giltspur
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I think the time in development would vary with 1) the scale of their ambition 2) the size of their team. So you can't talk about the time it needs to make something without considering those other things.
But assuming they have a similar team and we're guessing how much more they need to add...well, I'll still defer. I remember in an interview Gaider had said 2.5 years would be a good amount of time to make a game (less than Origins and more than DA2). That makes sense.
Now as a gamer I want them to increase the size of the team to a zillion and put out new games the size of Baldur's Gate II every three to four months and be profitable enough to keep doing it.
But assuming they have a similar team and we're guessing how much more they need to add...well, I'll still defer. I remember in an interview Gaider had said 2.5 years would be a good amount of time to make a game (less than Origins and more than DA2). That makes sense.
Now as a gamer I want them to increase the size of the team to a zillion and put out new games the size of Baldur's Gate II every three to four months and be profitable enough to keep doing it.
#13
Posté 28 juillet 2011 - 04:44
LilyasAvalon
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They can take as much time they need/want, I don't care, as long as we NEVER get a repeat of the rushed effort that is DA2.
