101 réponses à ce sujet

[Celene II]

What dept would that dev come from and what would your question be?

Would it be an art question and ask about the elves and darkspawn for example?

Would it be a mechanics question?

My one question would be to any and all devs and i would ask

"Has anyone on the dev team played Path of Exile and did they like it?"

[Allan Schumacher]

Upsettingshorts wrote...

The department doesn't matter for my question.

I'd ask them, "How does it feel to live in the same city as Edmontonian of 2012, Mark Meer?"

Bitter and jealous.

Oh look, you're commander shepard so you're all cool.  Where's my love huh!?  HUH!  I totally helped lead a beginner Rec volleyball team from bottom of the standings to championship contender within a year!  I donate blood!  Totally rigged!!!  Just because I don't have an Omni-Tool, or sell myself out to every store on the Citadel!!!

:crying:

[David Gaider]

Plaintiff wrote...

I'd probably ask the writing department about the process of writing for a videogame, but I don't think I could limit it to just one question.

The On Narrative Design series of blog posts I did runs through our writing process. Might answer some questions for you.

[David Gaider]

Fast Jimmy wrote...
If you could only take five video games with you to a desert island to play for the rest of your life, what would they be?

Assuming there's no Internet connection for an MMO, it'd be:

X-COM (the new one... or X-Com: Apocalypse, if I had to choose)
Civilization IV
Victoria 2
Hearts of Iron 2
Saints Row 3

As a follow-up, are you making a game that you think should belong in that list?

Ignoring the fact I personally can't play our own games after release (as by that point, I've played it to death and beyond-- there's no mystery at all for me), the answer would still be no-- I enjoy RPG's a great deal, but I play them once only for the story and then I'm done. No matter how immensely I enjoyed the game, if I'm stuck on a desert island I want something to keep me occupied.

[Allan Schumacher]

X-COM (the new one... or X-Com: Apocalypse, if I had to choose)
Civilization IV
Victoria 2
Hearts of Iron 2
Saints Row 3

My list is pretty much the same.... Though I had some crash issues with Vicky 2 when I first played it (shortly after release). I need to load that one up again. In the meantime, lets substitute it for EU3 haha.

I'd probably sub out XCOM for Jagged Alliance 2 (especially if I have access to 1.13). SR3 isn't one of my favourite games ever, but it is very good at sucking up time for just being absurdly fun.... I'd probably need to think on a 5th for a bit. Deus Ex is one of my favourites, but it's narrative does restrict it from the pure time sink that a game like SR3 would have. I'll go with Deus Ex though for now

As a follow-up, are you making a game that you think should belong in that list?

To echo David, it's hard to say. Making an exception to my biases having worked on the game, I should probably also note that the list I posted above is not my top 5 favourite games. The only one that would definitely be on that list would be Deus Ex. JA2 and Civ4 would probably qualify as honorable mentions, however.

Planescape: Torment
Deus Ex
Ultima 7
Half-Life
Fallout

[David Gaider]

vitae-vixi wrote...
Writing Department:

Why have you chosen to follow the path of generic human protagonist as opposed to a rich choice in races as seen in Dragon Age: Origins considering it's success and positive feedback regarding variation?

I'm not sure why you'd ask the writers that. It's not our decision to make. It's primarily a design decision based on resources, though I'm not personally opposed to it. Having more race options is nice (and fans appreciate having more options for anything, period), but hardly essential to a good story.

Is this an attempt to distance yourself from Bethesda & Elder Scrolls by restricting race types and instead following an EA "norm"?

Err... no. Mike Laidlaw has indicated he'd like to get back to more races later, if it's possible and appropriate for the project.

[David Gaider]

jillabender wrote...
Civ IV is an excellent choice! I also love Civ V, and Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri.

If there was a game I'd want them to make a modern version of, Alpha Centauri would be the one.

[David Gaider]

Darth Krytie wrote...
Another question, will there be more, new (or not) awesome, badass female characters? I kinda want to have another Genevieve or Evangeline or a non-crazy Meredith or someone like Anora. Yanno, strong, competent, possibly sword wielding lady folks who are not companions. I really, really enjoy DA ladies. I want more.

Nope. We don't like strong female characters, none of us. Total sausage-fest ahoy.

[Allan Schumacher]

jillabender wrote...
Civ IV is an excellent choice! I also love Civ V, and Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri.

I could probably survive a desert island with any 5 Sid Meier games.

[John Epler]

rolson00 wrote...

i would ask..why do buns come in packs of ten when hotdogs come in 8?

Our buns come in packs of either 8 or 12, and our hotdogs come in packs of 6, 8 or 12.

There are many possible permutations and combinations with which to achieve optimal hotdog:bun ratio with little wasteage.

[Allan Schumacher]

Blue Gloves wrote...

Ooooh- good question!  SO here's mine to any dev who wants to take a few seconds-long break from hard work and  reality (Cause we're all aware that these forums resemble reality about as much as a koala resembles a grizzly, right?): Do the devs have favorites, as in favorite DA 'verse characters?  If so, will you tell us?

For the first game, definitely Alistair.

I'll probably go with Isabella in the second, but Varric is suuuuuuuuper close.

[Allan Schumacher]

Fast Jimmy wrote...

Here's another one to the devs:

If you had a magic wand that could make the next sequel to a game series, what game series would that be? Active or dormant, your pick.

Heck, I'll be generous and say you even get to pick THREE if you want! Change the wand to a genie lamp.

Can I be a party pooper and use the wand to create some kickass unique IP?


If you force me to choose a game series, I pick Fallout.

Are you taking your time with the game? Will it come out when is ready? Or you have a deadline and you are rushing some things?

There's always deadlines, for better or worse.  A game with no restriction on putting in content is a game that will never ship (can always add more things).

Our schedule is certainly longer than DA2s, however.  We have planned for a lot more time for "iteration" (which is basically going over existing systems and ironing them out and polishing them) for sure.

[Allan Schumacher]

Plaintiff wrote...

Dhiro wrote...

Boxers or briefs?

Boxer briefs!

Yup! Haha

[Allan Schumacher]

Oh wait! I have a better one, does the writing team hands over a copy of the script and it's dialogue branches to the QA team for testing?

I don't know if they just "hand over a script and say 'Whaddya think?'" but I do know that there is a writing QA embed (he's in the same room as me) that goes over the plots and conversations and he will give feedback on it.

He definitely looks at it in a way to make sure that players understand what is going on, potential plot/lore breaks and continuity errors.

He'll also look at it from a flow perspective: is there too much/too little information provided, and so forth.

This is on top of the feedback that the editors and cindesigners will also provide when reviewing the writing work.


Our games are conversation heavy, so there's also a general "Content QA" section that will provide feedback on weird/stilted conversations and so forth.

Everyone (from writers to QA to senior leads) is also encouraged to play the game more, just to get a feel for the game and to provide feedback as gamers.  (This is something I struggled with on DA2 and I need to do more of on DA3)

Modifié par Allan Schumacher, 03 février 2013 - 10:04 .

[Allan Schumacher]

Just curious, where did the struggle come in for you? Was it the repetition, playing a scene fragment with no context, too jarring to play something that is partly finished (text to speech inserts)?

Time. I had spent very little time in the actual game itself (As Technical QA I spend more time verifying the tools than anything but snippets of stuff in game). I like to joke "I didn't know we were making a game. I thought we were just making some tools!"

[Fiddzz]

Fast Jimmy wrote...

Allan Schumacher wrote...

Fast Jimmy wrote...

Here's another one to the devs:

If you had a magic wand that could make the next sequel to a game series, what game series would that be? Active or dormant, your pick.

Heck, I'll be generous and say you even get to pick THREE if you want! Change the wand to a genie lamp.

Can I be a party pooper and use the wand to create some kickass unique IP?


If you force me to choose a game series, I pick Fallout.

What would make if you had a chance to make your own kickass unique IP?

To Allan or any other developer, I'd be really curious to hear.

Can't say because then you'll all steal our ideas!!!!

Serious note tho, i'm with Allan, if I could make another fallout game that would be it.  But not the Bethesda ones, I it was a Fallout 2 sequel.  God, i love that game.

But here is the thing with game development.  I wouldn't ever want to WORK on that game, because then I could never enjoy it the same way as if I had no meta knowledge.

So to awnser the question if i had a bazillion dollars i'd make a Fallout 1 -2 sequel but not work on it myself

[Fiddzz]

Josielyn wrote...

How do you beat the "numbness" or "desensitizing" factor during testing?

It beats itself, because just when you are getting bored of running through the same plot/area/combat.  SOMETHING new is there.  And your just like "Whoa, this game is alive, yesterday this dungeon was just a square room, now its got these cool levels with traps and cool art and enemies.. etc"

Its fun

[Fiddzz]

SeismicGravy wrote...

Pepsi or Coke?

Coke but not in bottle/can, fountain cokes are the best

[Fiddzz]

wsandista wrote...

Doctor Strange or X-Men?

X-men!!!!!

[Fiddzz]

DominusVita wrote...

They say life is a learning experience. From your time thus far at the BioWare offices(or the game industry in general), what have you learned?

How difficult making a game actually is, and the crazy hours/hard work the teams put in.

Worth it? Absolutly.

[Fiddzz]

Two questions, actually:

1. (Lighthearted) Star Trek or Star Wars?
2. What keeps you up at night, in terms of developing the DA franchise?

1. Star wars, but I do love me some revenge of kahn and TNG.
2. That we might miss something and people don't enjoy the game.  It's our baby and we want you to love it like we do

Shadowfang12 wrote...

What are you most excited about for people to see in DA3? (combat, graphics, story, etc.)

Also....what class do you usually find yourself playing as in DA and why? Rogue, mage, or warrior?

1. The visuals, mostly because that will be the biggest intial shocker/impact from people as it is BEAUTIFUL.  Once people get a hold of the game..... theres some cool game design things happening that we can't talk about yet that are VERY fun, that I think people will enjoy too. (I would also say story and companions, but thats what people expect so no shock for it being amazing)

2. Most rpg's I play warriors or mages, warriors for badass armour and weapons, mages for the pew pew.

Modifié par Blair Brown, 05 février 2013 - 07:26 .

[Fiddzz]

Shadowfang12 wrote...

I have another question...I know I'm kind of cheating. Deal with it hahaha.

When you play a game such as Mass Effect do you find yourself going more paragon or renegade?

I almost always play (first playthroughs anyways) games going as evil as the game allows... don't know why... and saying it outloud seems kinda weird lol. But hey, give me the option to blow up a town with a nuke....... challenge accepted.

[Allan Schumacher]

1. (Lighthearted) Star Trek or Star Wars?
2. What keeps you up at night, in terms of developing the DA franchise?

1. Star Wars
2. Currently, this illness

What are you most excited about for people to see in DA3? (combat, graphics, story, etc.)

Also....what class do you usually find yourself playing as in DA and why? Rogue, mage, or warrior?

1. The companions. It's always the companions!
2. Historically warrior type, but lately more rogues.

When you play a game such as Mass Effect do you find yourself going more paragon or renegade?

Typically Paragon, though I'm not afraid to punch Quarian Admirals when they recklessly endanger my life.

Modifié par Allan Schumacher, 05 février 2013 - 07:47 .

[Fiddzz]

Foopydoopydoo wrote...

Do the devs who frequent BSN tend to develop opinions about individual posters or are we all kind of an amalgamous (is that a word?) mass of love/hate/what-ever-the-flavor-of-the-day-is?

Individuals. your all lovely snowflakes.

[Allan Schumacher]

What's your favourite book?

Heart of Darkness

During development, do the ME fans of your crew sometimes peek into the
story of the unfinished games when they're too eager about it and vice
versa?

I'm sure some do.  I have never done it.  I enjoyed the Mass Effect games and preferred to avoid spoilers so I can play it "for realz" when it is done.

Are the majority of people that work in Bioware into other geek culture?
Or is it a super stereotype that rpg-makers play pnp rpgs and such?

Wide variety of people.  I have virtually no history with PnP games, but did play a lot of CRPGs.  We have some people that work here that came from working for Intuit and aren't really avid gamers at all.  Depends on the challenges of the job.  You don't have to be a passionate gamer to be passionate about some programming field and whatnot.  Although in general I'd say most are pretty avid gamers.

"Can we get confirmation on NPCs reacting to PC's specialization?"
Pretty please?

No. (You will not get confirmation)  I strongly considered leaving out that parenthetical remark... >.>