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[Cheylus]

What "open world" means clearly for BioWare?

In 2011, DA:I wasn't aiming to be an "open world" game.
In 2013, "Open world" in the conference, "open world" in headlines, "open world" in the website and official youtube channels:

"You'll make your mark in an expansive, story-driven open world filled with complex characters, challenging combat and difficult decisions."

Aaryn Flynn interview with gametrailers and his comments about "open world": basically, Frostbite opens new technical and visual possibilities. We didn't have a word for what "open world" means. In the latest interview of Aaryn Flynn on the BioWare Blog, he gave up the buzzwords "open world" to say:

You’ll have to cover huge areas of Thedas to uncover what happened.

After The Fires Above, you immediatly said it's a game not with an open world like Skyrim but with "larger & more open areas" than previous DA games. That doesn't mean it's an open world at all, or it's an open world like Baldur's Gate, Battlefield or FFXII. FFXII had large and open areas, that doesn't mean it was an open world. It was never advertised as such. Battlefield has large and open areas, but it's not open world either. "Large & open areas", video games do that for decades.

- What does "not like Skyrim" means?
- Does it mean you will be able to go wherever you want from the start?
- Does it mean the story won't be "linear"?
- Does it mean we won't have large roads with (invisible or "artificial") walls?
- Will I be able to free roam around all Thedas between quests?
- What does "open world" mean for you as a developper?
- Is it an "open world" like Baldur's Gate (ie not an open world but a world made of multiple big areas)?

I'm making a huge round up of all that has been said about DA:I on the french BSN since last september because I'm excited by the game. If I have to write maraas imekari I'm not interested in doing that and I'm not interested in waiting for news about this game either, because I won't be able to tell what's true.

In a trailer full of fanservice (only returning characters, conflicts and context known only by fans), the "open world" is (one of) the only aspect(s) of the game that could potentially appeal to new audiences so far.

What I fear is that BioWare refers to "open world" as they refered to the infamous "awesome button" for DA2: something every games in the market are trying to do and something which is only new from BioWare's perspective. There wasn't an awesome button in DA2. I don't care if DA:I is an "open world" or not, but I do care if it's a false promise, because there is a huge focus on that aspect in interviews. 

___________________________________________________________________________
Topics about that subject, showing how confusing BioWare is with that statement:
- More Open Dragon Age World: What does that actually mean?
- Dragon Age Inquisition Size
- How big an Open World?
- So is it fully open world?

Headlines with "Dragon Age Inquisition" and "open world".

___________________________________________________________________________
What has been presented as open worlds at E3 2013:

Traditionnal:
- Dead Rising 3 (the first 2 were not really open worlds, but the third definitely is)
- Assassin's Creed IV (we've seen vids and pictures about the world)
- InFamous: Second Son (idem)
- Saints Row IV (idem)
- The Elder Scrolls Online (idem)
- DayZ standalone (idem)

New open worlds:
- Watch Dogs (idem)
- Metal Gear Solid V (idem)
- Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (idem)
- Dying Light (idem)
- Mirror's Edge (idem)
- The Division (idem)
- Monolith Soft's X (idem)
- Tom Clancy's The Division (idem)
- Need for Speed: Rivals (idem)
- The Crew (idem)
- Below (idem)
- Sunset Overdrive (idem)
- Mad Max (not much content about it, but it's an Avalanche game - Just Cause)

To my knowledge, DA:I is the only game directly marketed as an "open world" at E3 2013 that we didn't see an aspect of this openness.

Modifié par Cheylus, 16 juillet 2013 - 10:02 .

[Tenshi]

because...



it sells well xD

Modifié par xxx2emo4Uxxx, 10 juin 2013 - 10:10 .

[Naitaka]

isn't an open world a "larger area" than say...a cave with sealed off passages.

[Doctoglethorpe]

This is something I would like clarification on.

Its easy to assume sandbox when open world is promoted, but that would be a departure not just from standard DA, but standard Bioware. They weren't really clear on that.

I'm all for larger more open spaces, but I hope it isn't true sandbox. It works for games that aren't really story driven, but detracts from the ones that are.

[Cheylus]

Yeah, I know.
So BioWare are aiming at Skyrim's (and The Witcher 3's) audiences without assuming their choice?

Skyrim is assuming direct control of your choice. This is not good.

[FaWa]

Dragon Age: Skyrim is NOT going to happen. Stop trying to make it happen.

[Welsh Inferno]

We'll have to wait for clarification from a dev on this. Could be just marketing spiel. Or not.

[kjdhgfiliuhwe]

Well, if you're actually traveling everywhere, and not clicking on points of a map, it can be open world.

Open world does not equal sandbox, btw.

[Cheylus]

The clarification is already here:
http://social.biowar...832520#16834750

Open world doesn't mean "size", it's a full concept.

Marketing.

Why?

[devSin]

Cheylus wrote...

Marketing. 

Why?

Because: marketing.

Modifié par devSin, 10 juin 2013 - 10:21 .

[Hazegurl]

I hope it is open world but with more story that drives me to complete it. Skyrim just didn't do it for me. so i hope the story elements are still strong and yeah I still want a voiced protagonist

[deuce985]

I don't think anyone realistically believes it's open like Skyrim. You will see "open" levels though as Frostbite allows it. A game doesn't have to be full sandbox where you can run from one end of the map to the other in an hour to be considered "open". I see this as great news by both the release date and Bioware finally shelving their archaic level design. It was perhaps the biggest flaw I saw in their games.

[jstme]

Open world does not equal sandbox. I hope that it means deep story and characters (unlike Skyrim) together with relatively large world where you can actually travel and not just click on map locations.

And if they add moddability of Skyrim - this has the potential to be an amazing game.
In any case, more open world and another year of development should be considered a positive development,in my opinion.

[EmperorSahlertz]

I just figured that it was a lot of huge open areas, seperated by load screens. So that for instance Orlais got its own open world box, and Ferelden would have its own seperate open world box, and you would be able to travel between them.

[Thetford]

How does one describe open world? Even in games such as GTA, TES etc, you still had to load into a completely separate map if you enter a building (or, for some strange reason, go upstairs), and the maps have their limits ... I'm guessing they are just larger maps that give the illusion of an open world?

[Wulfram]

"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less."

[Kingthlayer]

If it's open world and still has the great BioWare story telling, then that just makes it even better.

When Projekt Red announced they were going to try to combine the open world of Skyrim with the rich story of Origins, they get praised. When BioWare tries to do it, it's the opposite.

If both Witcher 3 and DA3 hit what they're aiming for, it should be a great year for RPGers.

[Whitering]

Oh god, don't do Skyrim, there is a reason I don't play those games, one of them is aimless wandering.

[deuce985]

Big Mac Heart Attack wrote...

If it's open world and still has the great BioWare story telling, then that just makes it even better.

When Projekt Red announced they were going to try to combine the open world of Skyrim with the rich story of Origins, they get praised. When BioWare tries to do it, it's the opposite.

If both Witcher 3 and DA3 hit what they're aiming for, it should be a great year for RPGers.

This has always been my dream for an RPG. A full sandbox RPG with excellent storytelling/characters. If Bioware could merge both together it would be a masterpiece. Because none currently exist for me.

Agreed. 2014 might be the best year for RPG gamers in quite some time if W3/DA:I meet promises.

Modifié par deuce985, 10 juin 2013 - 10:29 .

[Guns]

Big Mac Heart Attack wrote...

If it's open world and still has the great BioWare story telling, then that just makes it even better.

When Projekt Red announced they were going to try to combine the open world of Skyrim with the rich story of Origins, they get praised. When BioWare tries to do it, it's the opposite.

If both Witcher 3 and DA3 hit what they're aiming for, it should be a great year for RPGers.

Because Projekt Red didn't screw their fans over with a shoddy sequel and don't have to prove themselves as much. A lot of fans are looking for Bioware to redeem themselves with Inquisition before writing off Bioware. 

[Cheylus]

Big Mac Heart Attack wrote...

If it's open world and still has the great BioWare story telling, then that just makes it even better.

When Projekt Red announced they were going to try to combine the open world of Skyrim with the rich story of Origins, they get praised. When BioWare tries to do it, it's the opposite.

If both Witcher 3 and DA3 hit what they're aiming for, it should be a great year for RPGers.

Where did CDProjekt said they will bring the "rich story of Origins" into TW3 in the first place?
I'm not complaining because they told us it's an open world game, I'm worried because they said it about "larger and more opened areas" than DA:O and DA2, basically. That doesn't mean open world at all.
Open world, to me at least, means no invisible walls between areas and the absence of linearity. If the "big area" is only a broader road, it's not an open world to me.

[kjdhgfiliuhwe]

Big Mac Heart Attack wrote...

If it's open world and still has the great BioWare story telling, then that just makes it even better.

When Projekt Red announced they were going to try to combine the open world of Skyrim with the rich story of Origins, they get praised. When BioWare tries to do it, it's the opposite.

If both Witcher 3 and DA3 hit what they're aiming for, it should be a great year for RPGers.

Well, to be fair, I love CDPR, but I am very anxious about their "open world" change to W3. But, not because it's an open world, but because they have clearly said they want it to be a sandbox game.

There has NEVER been a sandbox game with a strong narrative. NEVER. And, a strong narrative-for me-is why I play RPGs.

In Bioware's case, they never said DA:I was going to be sandboxed, so I have no worries that it won't be a story-driven game. 

Maybe CDPR will be the first company ever to create a sandbox with a strong narrative, but here's my worry: Anyone who's into the lore and novels of the Witcher can already start putting two and two together from the myriad interviews that the story is likely going to be Geralt's journey to find Yennefer as the overarching story, while you perform Skyrim-style "infinite" quests where you go kill monstors in various towns as the sandbox-side of things. The cynic in me views this as using sandbox elements to pad the story, which is essentially what any sandbox does, which always results in a very weak narrative. Again, maybe CDPR will be the first exception ever, but my heart dropped when I heard they intended W3 to be a sandbox. 

So, unlike what your comment would portray, I am NOT praising CDPR (despite them being my favorite contemporary RPG company), while I am happy to see that DA:I will be more open than DA: 2. One is promising a sandbox (which I hate), and one is not. 

[Morroian]

deuce985 wrote...

This has always been my dream for an RPG. A full sandbox RPG with excellent storytelling/characters. If Bioware could merge both together it would be a masterpiece. Because none currently exist for me.

It won't be a sandbox, as someone else said open world does not mean sandbox.

[FaWa]

Big Mac Heart Attack wrote...
When Projekt Red announced they were going to try to combine the open world of Skyrim with the rich story of Origins, they get praised. When BioWare tries to do it, it's the opposite..

CD Projekt Red has created two A+ games and their recent work has been high quality. They have proven they are capable and people are waiting for them to branch out.

Bioware is in a different position. They haven't made a game worth talking about since Dragon Age Origins and ME2, really. People are looking for them to go back to their roots. No matter how you slice it, the fanbase HATED DA2 and was very split on ME3. In fact, the ending distracted everyone from the core problems of the game. Honestly the only way for them to get the fanbase back on their side is to make Jade Empire 2 lol

The companies are in two different places right now. Projekt are going up, Bioware is going down. Not to say this can't change, but thats just how its going right now. 

Modifié par FaWa, 10 juin 2013 - 10:36 .

[Cheylus]

"Well, to be fair, I love CDPR, but I am very anxious about their "open world" change to W3. But, not because it's an open world, but because they have clearly said they want it to be a sandbox game."

Not at all.
http://www.strategyi...dbox-experience