user
@BioMarkDarrah @Cameron_Lee @Mike_Laidlaw Just curious..how much time has passed from the end of da2 to the beginning of da:I?
@user@cameron_lee @Mike_Laidlaw just a bit from the outer narrative frame. Travel time.
Interesting. Does anyone know exactly what he means by "travel time?" I took it to mean time that Varric, Cassandra, Leliana, et al would take to travel from Kirkwall to whatever locale the initial fade tear takes place in (maybe Andoral's Reach?).
@BioMarkDarrah @Cameron_Lee @Mike_Laidlaw Just curious..how much time has passed from the end of da2 to the beginning of da:I?
@user@cameron_lee @Mike_Laidlaw just a bit from the outer narrative frame. Travel time.
Interesting. Does anyone know exactly what he means by "travel time?" I took it to mean time that Varric, Cassandra, Leliana, et al would take to travel from Kirkwall to whatever locale the initial fade tear takes place in (maybe Andoral's Reach?).
Probably so. My guess is that Cass and Varric leave Kirkwall together right after Cass comes out of the mansion and talks to Leliana.
Allan, do you think you could ask the relevant members of the team if post launch integration is a feasible endeavor for future projects? Or perhaps a clarification on what it is about integrated character content that makes it difficult to implement post launch, because I can't for the life of me figure out why this is such an issue? As an artist, I'm not particularly knowledgeable about programming/engine limitations, but I was the best out of the artists in terms of understanding programming principles in my obligatory coding class, so if a technical explanation was available, I'd appreciate it, as it would help me more fully understand this limitation.
I actually know the answer.
To integrate DLC content into main content requires the main content to be patched in order to support that content. The more the content is integrated, the more patching is necessary. This creates a risk because every time you change something, there are potential knock on effects that might not be properly known. This will affect people that have no interest in the DLC, since the patch must be deployed to the main game and cannot be something that is only applied to people that own DLC. This goes beyond simply "it's a nightmare to try to support multiple versions in the wild," but is also the type of thing that First Party certification isn't very keen on us even allowing (for many of the same reasons).
Internally, development is not as seamless as if it exists from the start, because you have to keep the packaging separate otherwise we'll make things even more complicated during development. If we don't keep a distinct "patched version of the game" and "DLC focused content" and just start adding that new content and merging it in with the main game's content going forward, it means we'll need to spend a fair amount of time trying to decouple "patch content" from "DLC content." I cannot overstate that his is NOT a pleasant task for whichever poor source control expert gets saddled with it. We actually had something similar happen to one of the builds on DA2, where it wasn't properly archived. Patch content kept happening on that content, but once we realized the archive was missing a programmer literally spent days ensuring that not a single thing that existed in the release build was missing, and that not a single thing that existed after the release build was present, because it'd cause serious issues as we'd be attempting to build a patch on a build that didn't actually exist in the real world.
Depending on how we do our bundling, this can really explode patch size requirements if lots of different aspects of the game end up getting touched that otherwise wouldn't be.
That was my question and that's what I took it to mean as well.
I actually know the answer.
To integrate DLC content into main content requires the main content to be patched in order to support that content. The more the content is integrated, the more patching is necessary. This creates a risk because every time you change something, there are potential knock on effects that might not be properly known. This will affect people that have no interest in the DLC, since the patch must be deployed to the main game and cannot be something that is only applied to people that own DLC. This goes beyond simply "it's a nightmare to try to support multiple versions in the wild," but is also the type of thing that First Party certification isn't very keen on us even allowing (for many of the same reasons).
Internally, development is not as seamless as if it exists from the start, because you have to keep the packaging separate otherwise we'll make things even more complicated during development. If we don't keep a distinct "patched version of the game" and "DLC focused content" and just start adding that new content and merging it in with the main game's content going forward, it means we'll need to spend a fair amount of time trying to decouple "patch content" from "DLC content." I cannot overstate that his is NOT a pleasant task for whichever poor source control expert gets saddled with it. We actually had something similar happen to one of the builds on DA2, where it wasn't properly archived. Patch content kept happening on that content, but once we realized the archive was missing a programmer literally spent days ensuring that not a single thing that existed in the release build was missing, and that not a single thing that existed after the release build was present, because it'd cause serious issues as we'd be attempting to build a patch on a build that didn't actually exist in the real world.
Depending on how we do our bundling, this can really explode patch size requirements if lots of different aspects of the game end up getting touched that otherwise wouldn't be.
Thank you so much. This helps a lot! 
(And now I think I better understand the timeline for Day 1 [or as I liked to call it, "Keep the devs working so they don't have to be let go period"] DLC development, too.)
Does that mean no future DLC? Or possibly a more focused effort towards expansions?
Does that mean no future DLC? Or possibly a more focused effort towards expansions?
DLC would just contain different content aside from a permanent party member that can be used throughout the game.
This doesn't prevent it from being like Citadel, Lair of the Shadow Broker, Mark of the Assassin, or Legacy.
DLC would just contain different content aside from a permanent party member that can be used throughout the game.
This doesn't prevent it from being like Citadel, Lair of the Shadow Broker, Mark of the Assassin, or Legacy.
Ah, ok. So this means we won't have a Javik situation then?
Ah, ok. So this means we won't have a Javik situation then?
Nor Shale or Sebastian, but yes.
Nor Shale or Sebastian, but yes.
It's a matter of perception imo, although technically you're doing more work by making this character it comes as feeling "less", in my experience day one DLC (when handled like sebastian or javik) it just feels like bad timing, it gives me the vibe of "i just bought a full game and there's already something substantial to buy, almost like a requirement". where as in shale's case, because it was free for all, she felt more like a gift, an incentive to buy.
If javik or sebastian were paid DLC but *announced and released* later (maybe month and a half or two months), i'd be more excited than if it was available at day one, at least for me.
Most times the perception of the consumer on the deal, regardless of how much more or less work was put on the product, will influence the consumer's thoughts on its overall quality.
Anyway i'm looking forward to the Pax panel
DLC would just contain different content aside from a permanent party member that can be used throughout the game.
This doesn't prevent it from being like Citadel, Lair of the Shadow Broker, Mark of the Assassin, or Legacy.
AWESOME
So more of a Tallis type of deal?
I took it to mean time that Varric, Cassandra, Leliana, et al would take to travel from Kirkwall to whatever locale the initial fade tear takes place in (maybe Andoral's Reach?).
I think this is correct. Varric, Cassandra and Leliana were all in the same place in the final scene of DA2, and I expect the "travel time" is however many weeks it takes them to go from there to where Inquisition begins.
(This means, I suppose, that Asunder and Masked Empire have already finished by the time Inquisition starts - they must take place slightly before the end of DA2 in 9:40 Dragon.)
I think this is correct. Varric, Cassandra and Leliana were all in the same place in the final scene of DA2, and I expect the "travel time" is however many weeks it takes them to go from there to where Inquisition begins.
(This means, I suppose, that Asunder and Masked Empire have already finished by the time Inquisition starts - they must take place slightly before the end of DA2 in 9:40 Dragon.)
I'm guessing it'll be somewhere between orlais and ferelden. Just an educated guess.
It would depend on who's there for the event and why.
EA's E3 press conference will be on June 9 at 1pm US Pacific Time. Last year it was one hour long.
(Here's a timezone conversion of that date and time.)
It would depend on who's there for the event and why.
It appears to be a peace conference or a negotiation, perhaps hosted by the Chantry, to bring together the mages and templars. It's possible that this was expanded to include a bunch of other warring factions, maybe to account for all the player races and backgrounds being there. Hard to tell.
The reason I think the Chantry is important is that it seems to suffer the greatest losses from whatever magical attack happens - to the point of maybe having its entire leadership incapacitated. If that's true, I had a feeling the opening might even take place in Val Royeaux.
It appears to be a peace conference or a negotiation, perhaps hosted by the Chantry, to bring together the mages and templars. It's possible that this was expanded to include a bunch of other warring factions, maybe to account for all the player races and backgrounds being there. Hard to tell.
The reason I think the Chantry is important is that it seems to suffer the greatest losses from whatever magical attack happens - to the point of maybe having its entire leadership incapacitated. If that's true, I had a feeling the opening might even take place in Val Royeaux.
I don't think so, it would have to occur in a neutral area, Val Royeaux will be the heart of Celene's power and I think the chantry will be trying to negotiate Celene and Gaspard's peace treaty as well as mages, templars, the kitchen sink etc.
It might be near the Dales? Perhaps Ferelden? They would all meet on neutral ground that's for sure.
@BioMarkDarrah @Cameron_Lee @Mike_Laidlaw Just curious..how much time has passed from the end of da2 to the beginning of da:I?
@user@cameron_lee @Mike_Laidlaw just a bit from the outer narrative frame. Travel time.
Interesting. Does anyone know exactly what he means by "travel time?" I took it to mean time that Varric, Cassandra, Leliana, et al would take to travel from Kirkwall to whatever locale the initial fade tear takes place in (maybe Andoral's Reach?).
So, the game start a few weeks after DA2 ending. This is interesting. I'm still wondering why Varric would rush out of the house and demands to come along though...
So, the game start a few weeks after DA2 ending. This is interesting. I'm still wondering why Varric would rush out of the house and demands to come along though...
Because he likes getting on Cassandra's nerves?
Because he likes getting on Cassandra's nerves?
Cassandra: Why are you following me Varric?
Varric: Because Seeker you're a non-stop source of entertainment.
Cassandra: *sighs*
Varric: So Seeker?
Cassandra: Yes?
Varric: Are we there yet?
Cassandra: ...
Oh, please, the Varric-Cassandra relationship is a Castle-Becket type thing. She's totally his fangirl 
Oh, please, the Varric-Cassandra relationship is a Castle-Becket type thing. She's totally his fangirl
Cassandra is a proud woman would she admit to that? Or even allows hints to slip out.
Oh, please, the Varric-Cassandra relationship is a Castle-Becket type thing. She's totally his fangirl
Retour en haut