1373 réponses à ce sujet

[silentassassin264]

In Exile wrote...

silentassassin264 wrote...

For the next time you decide to do a personal narrative, can you actually include something individual for said character. Hawke had no special power or something to set her apart and the only characterization you got with her interaction with other characters. You know, something to make your character seem unique and important. The only time you really get something saying you are important before the whole champion thing is when the "Lost Patrol" qunari seems to set you apart from the rest of the bas in Kirkwall based on pretty much nothing.

To expand on that, I think if a player is to get specialization (like Force Mage, Blood Mage or Spirit Healer) obtaining them should have plot specific interactions, like how Blood Mage in DA:O involved dealing with demons.

Learning force mage by discovering notes from Malcom, for example, or spirit healer from meeting a spirit of Faith or Charity in the Fade would be great.

This too.  I just found it rather stupid that they would completely ignore the fact that their champion was an apostate mage flaunting her blood magic and then they make her viscount.  Really?

Specializations should not be something trivial that does not effect the story.

Modifié par silentassassin264, 27 mai 2011 - 06:18 .

[lobi]

JohnEpler wrote...

Mike Laidlaw wrote...

lobi wrote...

Hard to take you seriously Mr Laidlaw.

It's the clown makeup, isn't it? Damn it, I knew that was a bad idea.

I said, 'Mike, if you set the unicycle on fire, you'll seem cool and dangerous'.

But nooo. Stupid OHSA.

Or he could reply to this...
Thanks for the teaser images, although why wait till now to show more Free Marches?
Is it really time to come back to the forums or is it an obligation as per DLC release schedule?"

And not get all ego about this
Hard to take you seriously Mr Laidlaw. but once again "nihil novi sub sole".

[DragonRageGT]

Melca36 wrote...

Mike,

I actually rate DA:2 a 7/8. I did have fun...I just have to beg for one thing....
Please Please bring back finishing moves at least to **some** extent.
I loved watching my Origins characters get the final blow for the ogre and High Dragon.
I don't see why the Hawke character has to be the one to get the final kill in the cutscenes.

Although I believe this is not intended and not meant to happen, this just made DA:O above Epic to me! I have a few finishing moves vids but this one, the context, it will never happen again!

Dragon Age - A Legendary Duet

[seraphymon]

Morroian wrote...

seraphymon wrote...

To be short some ofthe stuff that was said, wasnt experienced. The different degress i classify are either half truths or lies are for different specific things. WE only get to play 3 of the years.

What did you actually expect? 10 years worth of game play? Other alternatives would have been to cover more years but then the time spent in each period would have been shorter and there would have been the risk of the game being more disjointed than it is, and its disjointedness is a complaint people have about it as it is. The fact is the game covered 10 years to various degrees like they said it would.

Whats important to me is actual game play time and it took me 60 hours to finish which is more than reasonable. 

No. but like many have said, i expected to be Immersed in a story that spanned 10 years. Didnt feel like it to me the way it was handled.

[erynnar]

In Exile wrote...

erynnar wrote...

ROFL! I know sweetie, that's why I laughed. I figured you'd see I was being silly. I thought that was really what you meant. I am in a goofy mood. I should take myself to bed. I didn't have any super downer calls from cancer patients, but I had a lot of calls which is just exhausting, and leaves my brain like swiss cheese.

*HUGS* exile. I do like your posts.

I summoned my inner PR person by default. I think you're a really fun poster too and the you're great fun in the few TW2 threads. Now, let's bring this love in back on topic.

ROFL! Mr. Laidlaw wouldn't know about the inner PR person either, I bet.   Silly exile! And thanks, love.

Mr. Laidlaw, sorry I will do better tomorrow. Oh tomorrow is Friday...oh great, now I have that stupid Friday viral song in my head.... Love to all (and I mean that, seriously, not trolling...much).:wub:

[UltraBoy360]

highcastle wrote...

Serpieri Nei wrote...

Mike Laidlaw wrote...

Serpieri Nei wrote...

Why would you get points for controllable party members when you have done quite a lot to take that control away from the player?

Is this an armor thing? It sounds like an armor thing. If so, I hear ya!

More then an armor thing, I should't be forced to bring Anders because I need a healer and would rather bring Merill or have Fenris be more of a guardian or party protector then Aveline, or leave Isabelle behind in favour for ranged dps.

Merrill's a blood mage. It makes no sense that she'd be a healer too. I'm fine for choices like these being taken away from the player when it makes no sense with the character. It's the same reason I'm fine with Anders not being a blood mage. If choices are going to matter, they need to be logical. And if you wanted to kill Anders at the end, then you should have done it without worrying about "needing" a healer.

As to the main topic of this thread, DA2 might not be a perfect game, but I personally thought it was a very strong one. I loved the departure from the Wardens, I loved that the plot wasn't standard save-the-world-be-a-hero stuff that you get everywhere. The characters were unique and compelling. The story grabbed me from the getgo and still holds me even now, going into playthrough number 8.

I love the talks this game has spawned. The final endgame has sparked so much debate about terrorism, mental health, politics, and other real world issues. DA2 is one of the first games I now point to when the "Are games art?" question pops up. The fact that you can debate these issues, that DA2 (whether consciously or not) makes a comment on so many meaningful ideas, it's a great thing.

Are there faults? Yes. Repetitive environments, less challenging combat, and (seemingly) less dialogue with companions are annoyances. I understand the companions say as much as they did in Origins, but that some of those dialogues were moved to quests. I love this, I just want more. I think that's a testimony to the writing, actually. BioWare could likely triple the word budget and I'd still be left salivating for more. I connected with the vast majority of the characters, I enjoy debating their motives and intentions, so that's a major plus.

I'm also okay with the lack of armor. I wasn't at first. I was one of the first people who was scared they were going to Mass Effect-ify DA. But when I played the game, I realized the custom armor meant for some unique rigs. Like Anders, who looks like a normal, non-steroid-swallowing guy. It cements his status as an Everyman and makes the dichotomy with his eventual actions that much more jarring. He doesn't look like an action star, after all, but he's this tremendous mover and shaker. Would it have been less effective if you could throw him into plate mail and make him look like a warrior? I think so, yeah. His look said a lot about him. All of the characters did, really. I would have appreciated some variations, though. Some recolors, even. Something to give a bit more flavor to the world.

And before I write a book here, I'll make one last comment regarding the issue of choice. It's been said that DA2 offers superficial choices, that you can't change certain events. This is true. Just as it's true of Origins. But what DA2 did right is allow us to react to world events in just about any manner we see fit. The personality choices are key here. I really felt like Hawke was my character because he emoted exactly how I intended. He wasn't the blank slate of the Warden, he had a personality and it showed at appropriate times. I don't mind being rail-roaded as long as I can choose how to respond to the world events (if that makes sense). In fact, I'd rather more things be set in stone, because it's easier to write a tighter story when there are less variables.

So, anyway, my point is that some of us saw what you did and tried to do with DA2, and we support the direction you took. I hope you continue making these types of games. As much as I liked Origins, DA2 really rose above it in every way for me. I look forward to seeing where you take the game and its world and characters next.

Great post Highcastle. Sums up my feelings exactly. To me (and I know this is totally subjective) DA2 had so much more soul and poignancy than DA:O (which I also loved I should add). That I can't control every facet of the world adds to my immersion, On a macro level, I loved that despite Hawke's actions the Chantry gets all 'xpoldey and the world descends into chaos because of the actions of his lover, on a more micro level, the ability to dress Anders in Circle robes or equip Varric with a shortbow mean less than nothing to me, to do it would break my game because I care about the characters and their motivations and stories.

DA2 might not be the best game I've played (probably far from it), but it's one of probably the top three I have enjoyed and been utterly immersed in, so thanks Mike - I appreciate your post and can't wait for what comes next (unless it's a sequel to the Darkspawn Choricles, then I would descend into utter nerdrage). 

[Mike Laidlaw]

lobi wrote...

Or he could reply to this...
Thanks for the teaser images, although why wait till now to show more Free Marches?
Is it really time to come back to the forums or is it an obligation as per DLC release schedule?"

And not get all ego about this
Hard to take you seriously Mr Laidlaw. but once again "nihil novi sub sole".

Well, you see, when you ask me a question, and then say "I don't take you seriously," you are setting up a dialog in which there's not a lot of point in continuing, since by your own admission, you're not going to take me seriously. As to why we're showing those images now, it's because they're ready to be shown. As to why I'm returning to the forums now? Well, I thought it might be a nice treat to bring some images.

If you wish to see my numerous responses in this thread at midnight, on my own time, as a marketing ploy, there's not much I can do to stop that. But if you're not going to take someone seriously, you don't have a lot of right to complain if they crack a joke.

Now, back to dipping that unicycle in kerosene. Epler: get those matches ready, buddy. We're going to the moon.

[In Exile]

Melca36 wrote...
My apologies for misunderstanding you.

That is something we agree with you. I want my money's worth when I play a game.  I definitely got my moneys worth with Origins and while I did have fun with DA:2 it was not worth the $60.00 I paid for it.
$39.95 to $45.00...perhaps but not $60.00

DA2 was a fun game for me as well. And I replayed it. But DA2 was not the game it promised to be. It felt like the alpha build.

[Dave of Canada]

Mike Laidlaw wrote...

Epler: get those matches ready, buddy. We're going to the moon.

Woah woah, there. You need your fishbowl helmets or else you're going to suffocate!

[jds1bio]

I will offer my thanks here regarding the forum communications, experience, and the posted feedback. While I am disappointed regarding the story choice situation in DA2, it won't stop me from beginning yet another playthrough as soon as the latest patch is released.

I did think, though, that the Flemeth Sundermount scene might have worked better towards the end of the game. Exactly where did she go off to?

[Firky]

Dave of Canada wrote...

Woah woah, there. You need your fishbowl helmets or else you're going to suffocate!

Zak McKracken!

[lobi]

Mike Laidlaw wrote...
Well, you see, when you ask me a question, and then say "I don't take you seriously," you are setting up a dialog in which there's not a lot of point in continuing, since by your own admission, you're not going to take me seriously. As to why we're showing those images now, it's because they're ready to be shown. As to why I'm returning to the forums now? Well, I thought it might be a nice treat to bring some images.

If you wish to see my numerous responses in this thread at midnight, on my own time, as a marketing ploy, there's not much I can do to stop that. But if you're not going to take someone seriously, you don't have a lot of right to complain if they crack a joke.

Now, back to dipping that unicycle in kerosene. Epler: get those matches ready, buddy. We're going to the moon.

Difficult to, not refuse to.
You think I am being too harsh and overly suspicious and critical, you should have been here three weeks ago.
Then you would not need the kerosene, or matches.

Modifié par lobi, 27 mai 2011 - 06:35 .

[KLUME777]

Griffons!?

Ughh! Now i have to get the DLC!

I was definitely not getting them before, but now they put griffons in it! Why can't you just leave griffons alone until Dragon Age returns to the Origins style?

[Droma]

First of all thanks to mr Laidlaw and the rest of the team, for a great game. I really enjoyed Dragon Age 2. Was my second xbox game which I played 100% directly after release (after ff13, which also got too much criticism and hate on the internet imo).

You made great companions in my opinion (actually I liked all of them more than any DA1 character (except Morrigan =D)) and i actually enjoyed the combat a lot. Played it on hard the first time and it was a nice challenge. Normal is great for a second and third playthrough, because you can just enjoy the story and the fast combat imo. Having a hard time now trying to get my last achievements in DAO, cause of the slow combat compared to DA2. Also a voiced Protagonist was great, i really liked it and it feeled far more alive then DAO (btw great job with your german voice actors, kudos to your german localization team).

For the companion costumization I personally would prefer a somewhat middle way between DAO and DA2, which leans more in the DA2 direction. For example give every companion 2-5 armors (should be unlocked throughout quests/romances =D) and make some sort of a color costumizator (does this word exist? x_X) like the one for Sheppards armor in Mass Effect 2. But stick with the rune system, I think it should allow for enough costumization if you add some more runes next times (maybe some skill improving runes as well). But sort of a fixed outfit (or a small set of outfits) is a great thing in my opinion. Every companion should have his own style and not look exactly like everyone else (DA:O plate armors =D). This is also a reason why I really enjoyed the specialization in skills for every companion. If everyone could the same things and everyone could potentially look the same it would ruin their personality for me. I know after playing DA2 that Aveline is the strong tank, Fenris is the raging two handed warrior, Varric is the chest haired crossbow shooting rogue, Merril is the naive, but so sweet blood mage and so on. I think you made a great improvement there.

For the re used areas, we (and of cause you devs aswell) know that it is a big flaw and I'm pretty sure the next game and/or dlc won't really have any reused maps at all (be honest you had a story dlc ready short after release but it reused some of the maps so you delayed it to make everything look new! =D). Concerning the isue I would love to see the same improvement ME2 made after ME1. And I'm pretty sure you can do that =D.

So long post short. Thanks for that game. It wasn't perfect but it was a lot of fun to play. I'm hoping we will finally see some DLC/expansion trailer at E3 =D (make it Borderlands style: "hey btw there will be a DLC .. in 3 days woho!")

[In Exile]

erynnar wrote..
ROFL! Mr. Laidlaw wouldn't know about the inner PR person either, I bet.   Silly exile! And thanks, love.

Mr. Laidlaw, sorry I will do better tomorrow. Oh tomorrow is Friday...oh great, now I have that stupid Friday viral song in my head.... Love to all (and I mean that, seriously, not trolling...much).:wub:

Trixx are for kids? Couldn't help it.

Back to DA2:

I think the game fought against the player. Every RPG has to assume a certain level of buy in from us. DA:O doesn't really work if you don't take your role as a Warden seriously, for example.

But in DA2, you had more freedom at the start of the game as a peniless refugee. Yet there is only one way you can progress through the game. You have a vague justification of coin to escape the templars and getting 50 sovereigns for Bartrand... but really, it feels like there is no real reason to embark on the quests that you do other than the fact you are there.

The story has to give us more. More motivation. More reasons. Something to really capture us as Hawke. DA:O's twist was Ostagar and the blight running rampant, with the Warden and Alistair being the only hope for Ferelden. You could come up with half a hundred reasons not to be a Warden. But you had a reason to actually undertake all the main quests.

In DA2, you don't. You have to invent your own buy-in.

I think there needs to be more work done for the PC to have a reason. Even if it's just a cutscene or two, it can make the difference between living the adventure and playing it.

[JakePT]

Mike Laidlaw wrote...

JakePT wrote...
We know you're listening, we know you're aware of the issues the game had, all I want is for you to be more upfront with us. Otherwise, how can we trust you in the future to make a great game when all you've given us regarding Dragon Age 2 is "Whoops!".

There are few commercial ventures that can afford to be completely transparent, and this is no exception. If not hearing a detailed post-mortem for DAII is going to be a game breaker for your trust, that is unfortunate, but not something I would expect rectified.

Sorry.

My trust isn't an issue, as unless I'm informed otherwise, I expect that I know the reason for the games flaws, and have high hopes the critical response and, according to some thread around here, dwindling sales, will motivate your bosses to give you all the resources you need to make a great game (or not let you make one at all, which seems less likely). I have faith that given the right resources you can make a truly amazing game (as you did with DA:O). I'm more concerned about the greater community perhaps not giving you the benefit of the doubt, and what impact this may have on you getting the resources you need, and deserve.

As for transparency, I know we'll never get 'full' transparency (I know, public company, shareholders blah blah blah), nor do I want it, but I would love something, just some indication

I should say, as I left it out of my last post, so as not to distract from my point, that I do love BioWare games, I love Dragon Age Origins and really truly do appreciate a lot of what you were doing with DA2, and did actually really enjoy it, despite its flaws, albeit not as much as DA:O, unfortunately. It's just that I know you can do better, I've seen you do better, and I do believe that if DA2 had the kind of development time and resources that Mass Effect 2 (and, it seems, 3) had, it could have been just as well received and could even have been one of the greatest fantasy RPGs in gaming history. It just pains me to see you being screwed over by the bean-counters and have to, effectively, put forward the appearance that it was actually your fault, when it clearly wasn't. That's where I'm coming from.

Hell, I can't see any possible reason I won't buy Dragon Age III, whatever it is, I still love the franchise, I just want you to be able to make the best game you can. Hopefully now you'll be able to.

[snfonseka]

I really hope that BW will pay more attention to the story in whatever upcoming game. Because the idea in the market is "Sky is blue; Grass is green and BW games have good stories", that is not something hard to archive. But with DA2s' story it looks like BW is going downhill in this section.

I know some of you may disagree with this but I know that a lot of people feel like this, regarding the story.

[John Epler]

Firky wrote...

Dave of Canada wrote...

Woah woah, there. You need your fishbowl helmets or else you're going to suffocate!

Zak McKracken!

Good god, that brings me back. I loved that game. That and Maniac Mansion - ahh, memories.

As to the wider point - I think that most people on these forums are very well-spoken, even if they weren't necessarily happy with DA2, whether in whole or in part. And those aren't the folks that I take issue with - it's when personal attacks enter the equation that it becomes a bit much. It's one thing to see people dissecting something you worked hard on - sure, it's difficult, but criticism is a necessary part of growing in any artistic capacity. It's quite another thing, of course, to see people wishing for your firing and worse.

So thank you to those of you who have remained polite and civil throughout. I think it speaks well to the quality of this community that those who felt the need to descend to personal attacks are the minority, and those who can discuss their concerns rationally and reasonably are the majority.

[Thelzar]

Good post Mike. Glad you still care.
Mmmm nice pictures.

[In Exile]

JakePT wrote...
I should say, as I left it out of my last post, so as not to distract from my point, that I do love BioWare games, I love Dragon Age Origins and really truly do appreciate a lot of what you were doing with DA2, and did actually really enjoy it, despite its flaws, albeit not as much as DA:O, unfortunately. It's just that I know you can do better, I've seen you do better, and I do believe that if DA2 had the kind of development time and resources that Mass Effect 2 (and, it seems, 3) had, it could have been just as well received and could even have been one of the greatest fantasy RPGs in gaming history. It just pains me to see you being screwed over by the bean-counters and have to, effectively, put forward the appearance that it was actually your fault, when it clearly wasn't. That's where I'm coming from.

Hell, I can't see any possible reason I won't buy Dragon Age III, whatever it is, I still love the franchise, I just want you to be able to make the best game you can. Hopefully now you'll be able to.

I just want to echo this sentiment, with respect to the potential of DAII. It could have been brilliant. But it wasn't.

For me, this was the first Bioware misstep. I'll still be onboard for DLC and DAIII. But there needs to be a higher standard. This thread was a great first step. Now, there needs to be content that follows up on the promises here. A substantive show that DAIII and DAII DLC will be better.

Modifié par In Exile, 27 mai 2011 - 06:46 .

[andrastepreserveme]

Dear Mr Laidlaw,

Thank you so much for this note. It's great to see you on here again, and to know that you have seen the concerns of some of your fans.

For myself, I loved the sped up combat, and didn't feel like the wave system undermined your ability to strategise. Honestly? I just learned to expect another wave.

If I could ask for one thing it would be *more* of the good stuff. I know you don't want to have as many conversations as Origins, and that is understandable for plot and other reasons, but I do feel that in a ten-year friendship, or relationship, that a handful of conversations, comments and interactions simply isn't enough. A few more permutations, possible outcomes of conversations and nuance would provide added depth. I love what there is, I'd just like a bit more.

I will also say I love the developments in party banter and quest related interjections. They definitely add to the replay value of a game I really love.

Once again, thanks for popping by, and I hope you weren't too disheartened.

--Manda

[wildannie]

I'm really looking forward to seeing how the constructive criticism is applied in the future. I was a bit disappointed with DA2 but I'm sure that the changes/improvements that were made can be built upon to create a game that is as good, deep and involving as DAO was, without going back.

Thank you Mike for taking the time to post

[Luke Barrett]

In Exile wrote...

I just want to echo this sentiment, with respect to the potential of DAII. It could have been brilliant. But it wasn't.

For me, this was the first Bioware misstep. I'll still be onboard for DLC and DAIII. But there needs to be a higher standard. This thread was a great first step. Now, there needs to be content that follows up on the promises here. A substantive show that DAIII and DAII DLC will be better.

If it helps at all, I've got a long list of items that I made entirely from forum feedback that I check new content against when I'm working with it. Basically, I want to make sure everything we touch going forward meets and exceeds community expectations on all fronts. I'm sure the higher-ups have similar lists when they are dealing with the macro of it all (I deal primarily in micro)

Modifié par Luke Barrett, 27 mai 2011 - 06:51 .

[v_ware]

No not exited. Most of that speech was a nice load of BS.

Mike Laidlaw wrote...
A larger potential audience? Sure, who wouldn’t want more players diving into the experience of playing an RPG? More importantly, though, I believe that there's also more potential for rich stories, for deeper RPG mechanics, for more choice, and for something even more epic to come. The story events of DA II have fundamentally altered the political and power landscape of Thedas, in a way that's open to intrigue, drama and sweeping conflict in the future, and evolves a world that, while still very much involving the Grey Wardens and Darkspawn, is about more than just that one struggle. 

WHY DIDN'T YOU MAKE DA2 TO BE ALL THAT YOU STATED. It could have been everything we wanted. It wasn't.

DA2, the gift that keeps on sucking. With or without DLC.

Not going to buy it. But if the DA2 DLC is on the level of LOTSB I might consider being exited about DA3. Unlikely but wth.

Modifié par v_ware, 27 mai 2011 - 07:14 .