1627 réponses à ce sujet

[Blue_Shayde]

EA already faced three class action lawsuits over Battlefield 4 ( which was AC:U levels of smoldering wreckage if not worse ) which were of a similar nature and won all three. Thanks to puffery.

You know...you'd think EA would learn a lesson or two and stop rushing out the games. I feel bad for the people bought up by EA. Forced to put multiplayer into everything and never given the proper amount of time to polish a game.

 

 

Now. Should I play the game in nothing but the skyhold pjs? Really, I feel like we have plenty of images by now that shows the broken arm syndrome. (ps...happy christmas eve to those it applies to. For others, happy holidays and I hope your december is going great.)

[Xhaiden]

At least Bioware was able to delay DA:I. It could have been worse given what happened to DICE and Maxis. >.>

 

Imagine what would have happened had DA:I been pushed out a 13 months earlier as it was originally slated for release.

[Lord Surinen]

You know...you'd think EA would learn a lesson or two and stop rushing out the games. I feel bad for the people bought up by EA. Forced to put multiplayer into everything and never given the proper amount of time to polish a game.

 

 

Now. Should I play the game in nothing but the skyhold pjs? Really, I feel like we have plenty of images by now that shows the broken arm syndrome. (ps...happy christmas eve to those it applies to. For others, happy holidays and I hope your december is going great.)

I don't think they would share your sentiment. They must get fat, greasy bonuses for shipping it this way-for shipping it in general('success' is more than probable with AAA ttitles anyway). Not to mention that for some of them making games is just a job, not a passion(most probably great many of them). Your 'tears' are their labels.

 

There is never enough of broken arms!

 

Time to sit, watch and listen to Christmas Carols in the TV!

[Xhaiden]

I don't think they would share your sentiment. They must get fat, greasy bonuses for shipping it this way-for shipping it in general('success' is more than probable with AAA ttitles anyway). Not to mention that for some of them making games is just a job, not a passion(most probably great many of them). Your 'tears' are their labels.

 

 

Well, EA executives do. No one at Bioware that actually makes games is making anything near what EA's management is making. Its all about the shareholders there. EA's executives have received a total of 42 million in compensation in 2014 so far. 14 mil for EA's CEO specifically. These aren't people that are going to stop or change what they are doing unless it actually affects their bottom line. Which it isn't. So why would they care?

 

This is the crux of the problem with publishers. None of the issues you have with a game are the result of malfeasance. As that would imply caring or attention. This is why I've been looking at this from a reasonable perspective. The people at Bioware actually making your game are not trying to screw you over. They're given a set amount of resources and a set amount of time. They do as much as they can within that time limit with what they are given. This is what results in post release problems. Not providing the amount of time and/or assets required to achieve the objective of the product.

 

The artists who made those amazing look elves in the promos didn't make them just so they could end up on the cutting room floor so to speak. Whomever made them is just as disappointed if not more so than you are that they did not make it into the final product by release. 

 

I mean, how would you feel if you poured hours of work into some fantastical player models only to have your boss tell you a few months later we're going to cut them from the game because we don't have the time or resources? You don't make games like Bioware does without passion and it has to seriously suck when your passion ends up getting tossed because of logistics or management decisions. 

[Tielis]

Well, EA executives do. No one at Bioware that actually makes games is making anything near what EA's management is making. Its all about the shareholders there. EA's executives have received a total of 42 million in compensation in 2014 so far. 14 mil for EA's CEO specifically. These aren't people that are going to stop or change what they are doing unless it actually affects their bottom line. Which it isn't. So why would they care?

 

This is the crux of the problem with publishers. None of the issues you have with a game are the result of malfeasance. As that would imply caring or attention. This is why I've been looking at this from a reasonable perspective. The people at Bioware actually making your game are not trying to screw you over. They're given a set amount of resources and a set amount of time. They do as much as they can within that time limit with what they are given. This is what results in post release problems. Not providing the amount of time and/or assets required to achieve the objective of the product.

 

The artists who made those amazing look elves in the promos didn't make them just so they could end up on the cutting room floor so to speak. Whomever made them is just as disappointed if not more so than you are that they did not make it into the final product by release. 

 

I mean, how would you feel if you poured hours of work into some fantastical player models only to have your boss tell you a few months later we're going to cut them from the game because we don't have the time or resources? You don't make games like Bioware does without passion and it has to seriously suck when your passion ends up getting tossed because of logistics or management decisions. 

 

Like in any big morally-bankrupt company, I'm sure the turnover rate for employees is astronomical.  Also, they probably only hire recent grads with "passion" who will do anything for peanuts just to have the "honor" of working for the name.

 

All we can do is pray for the good people to move on, at least that's what I do.  Eventually EA will reap what it sows, though it may not be in my lifetime.

 

In the mean time, dress your male elves in armor with nice shoulderpads, people, and have a Merry Christmas, for those who celebrate it!

[Lord Surinen]

Well, EA executives do. No one at Bioware that actually makes games is making anything near what EA's management is making. Its all about the shareholders there. EA's executives have received a total of 42 million in compensation in 2014 so far. 14 mil for EA's CEO specifically. These aren't people that are going to stop or change what they are doing unless it actually affects their bottom line. Which it isn't. So why would they care?

 

This is the crux of the problem with publishers. None of the issues you have with a game are the result of malfeasance. As that would imply caring or attention. This is why I've been looking at this from a reasonable perspective. The people at Bioware actually making your game are not trying to screw you over. They're given a set amount of resources and a set amount of time. They do as much as they can within that time limit with what they are given. This is what results in post release problems. Not providing the amount of time and/or assets required to achieve the objective of the product.

 

The artists who made those amazing look elves in the promos didn't make them just so they could end up on the cutting room floor so to speak. Whomever made them is just as disappointed if not more so than you are that they did not make it into the final product by release. 

 

I mean, how would you feel if you poured hours of work into some fantastical player models only to have your boss tell you a few months later we're going to cut them from the game because we don't have the time or resources? You don't make games like Bioware does without passion and it has to seriously suck when your passion ends up getting tossed because of logistics or management decisions. 

EA is EA. BioWare chiefs get their money from  all of this too. They are not the bought innocent party who happens to be working under greedy publisher. Both EA and BioWare are benefactors.

 

I have never said that they would break something on purpose but yes, they have choice to refuse publisher and accept the following consequences. It is not only about elves but every other bug including still present gamebreaking ones. But honestly, who would risk jail and loss of millions (probably someone with fable like integrity)

 

I don't know if they are disappointed. I would feel nothing, it would be my job. Most of the people I know don't do their work because of passion but because of money and available set of skill they posses (skills they aquired during hormonal voyages of growing up, while the world was wonderful and tumblr smelled like roses). It is not as if artists care more. It is perfectly doable to make game like DA:I without passion. You just do your job and that's it. I don't see a need for glorification here. It is a work like any other.

[Xhaiden]

EA is EA. BioWare chiefs get their money from  all of this too. They are not the bought innocent party who happens to be working under greedy publisher. Both EA and BioWare are benefactors.

 

I have never said that they would break something on purpose but yes, they have choice to refuse publisher and accept the following consequences. It is not only about elves but every other bug including still present gamebreaking ones. But honestly, who would risk jail and loss of millions (probably someone with fable like integrity)

 

I don't know if they are disappointed. I would feel nothing, it would be my job. Most of the people I know don't do their work because of passion but because of money and available set of skill they posses (skills they aquired during hormonal voyages of growing up, while the world was wonderful and tumblr smelled like roses). It is not as if artists care more. It is perfectly doable to make game like DA:I without passion. You just do your job and that's it. I don't see a need for glorification here. It is a work like any other.

 

Nobody designing, coding or modelling for Bioware is making millions of dollars. Bioware doesn't see the millions of dollars EA makes off their work. That kickback goes to the CEOs and shareholders. That's the point I'm trying to get across: Your ire is misdirected. EA does things the way it does because it makes money. End of story. Its not going to change the way it does things unless it stops making money. EA is the publisher. It owns Bioware. Ultimately, you do what EA says or you lose your job and get replaced by someone who does. That's not much of a choice and it would not affect the outcome in anyway. When beholden to a publisher you do the best you can do within the confines of what they give you. 

 

Try going into your job tomorrow and telling your boss you're not going to do your job because you disagree with him. See how well it goes. >.>

 

No, its not work like any other. When working in a creative field your work will directly reflect your attitude more so than many occupations. If your staff is just slapping things together because its their job. The product will be equally soulless. Developing a game often takes years of your life to bring to fruition. Bioware games have always succeeded on the strength of their writing and imagination. Take that away and you're left with crap like Kingdoms of Amalur. Which are just soulless paint by the numbers "rpgs". 

 

We have an endless supply of games that were put together because it was someone's job and in general that tend to suck ass. ( Look no further than the mobile game industry there ). They're shovelware. The same thing happens in any creative medium. Movies, tv show, books, music, etc. There's a distinct difference between a product made by people who care and one made by people cashing a paycheque with low morale. 

[Lord Surinen]

Nobody designing, coding or modelling for Bioware is making millions of dollars. Bioware doesn't see the millions of dollars EA makes off their work. That kickback goes to the CEOs and shareholders. That's the point I'm trying to get across: Your ire is misdirected. EA does things the way it does because it makes money. End of story. Its not going to change the way it does things unless it stops making money. EA is the publisher. It owns Bioware. Ultimately, you do what EA says or you lose your job and get replaced by someone who does. That's not much of a choice and it would not affect the outcome in anyway. When beholden to a publisher you do the best you can do within the confines of what they give you. 

 

Try going into your job tomorrow and telling your boss you're not going to do your job because you disagree with him. See how well it goes. >.>

 

No, its not work like any other. When working in a creative field your work will directly reflect your attitude more so than many occupations. If your staff is just slapping things together because its their job. The product will be equally soulless. Developing a game often takes years of your life to bring to fruition. Bioware games have always succeeded on the strength of their writing and imagination. Take that away and you're left with crap like Kingdoms of Amalur. Which are just soulless paint by the numbers "rpgs". 

 

We have an endless supply of games that were put together because it was someone's job and in general that tend to suck ass. ( Look no further than the mobile game industry there ). They're shovelware. The same thing happens in any creative medium. Movies, tv show, books, music, etc. There's a distinct difference between a product made by people who care and one made by people cashing a paycheque with low morale. 

I have never said that these people get millions. BioWare is not made up only by coders and artists. There are people overlooking projects and their decisions mean business. BioWare or EA, at this point it does not matter since BW belongs to EA both are responsible. People at the top of BioWare have power to stop the release, it might not mean doing things by the book and as I have said it might mean jail but it is doable.

 

My boss would never dare to release anything that is botched.

 

It is exactly work like any other. You just do your job. I don't like big words and descriptions. All that there is, is task and its completion, you don't need to feel blazing wonderful about it, you just do it. I can't really agree, both writing and imagination of BW are pretty much shallow, I don't appreciate it much. In comparison with The Elder Scrolls and 'some' of its obscure lore, DA is like a hamburger with some agenda onions, you want more of it even though it offers empty calories (fast food among  the tumblr coloured games). I buy it because there are not many RPG and it is  better to play this than nothing. Actually I liked Kingdoms of Amalur, pity that it was released just after Skyrim, it got overshadowed. It was quite a fable like world with beautiful music and charming places. Nice introduction the world. I wanted to try their MMO but it got cancelled when the studio perished.

 

I don't think that games are bad because of people doing their job, they are bad because people do their job badly. All that is required for 'creative media': talented people doing their job.

[tmp7704]

My boss would never dare to release anything that is botched.

Welcome to the gaming industry where the dominant philosophy has for years been "Ship it now, patch it (maybe) later. We'll see".

[Lord Surinen]

Welcome to the gaming industry where the dominant philosophy has for years been "Ship it now, patch it (maybe) later. We'll see".

Yes, I don't like it very much. I was never interested in this business. I just wanted to enjoy my hobby and to be honest I were enjoying it in the times of old-old consoles. I didn't even know that they were releasing updated cartridges, games were simply running good. Different times, different sizes but considering progress in the industry one would think that they will pay more attention to their products, unfortunately with every passing year bugs or even unfinished products are being treated like something normal. I see it everywhere 'lol u like bought game durin its premiere, its like guaranteed to be shite. lol wait for patches'. I don't like this whole 'patching'. It is almost as revered as game content itself. "Thank you for patches", Maybe I should start thanking people when they fix their mistakes. I guess I'm not progressive enough.

[Blue_Shayde]

Welcome to the gaming industry where the dominant philosophy has for years been "Ship it now, patch it (maybe) later. We'll see".

Hince why most of my fellow college students in the gaming majors all would prefer to work for an indie group then a triple A game company.

[tmp7704]

Hince why most of my fellow college students in the gaming majors all would prefer to work for an indie group then a triple A game company.

I dunno, given the amount of indie games nowadays offering the 'early access' and other such basically paid pre-alpha releases, it doesn't look like things are really all that different there. If anything, they're getting more similar.

[knotsofwonders]

Bringing Offtopic but a bit of good news: CheatEngine now has walk toggle!

 

http://forum.cheaten...5568456#5568456

 

And Bioware said "Hopefully" walking toggle will be added in patch 3 which is not out yet

[Lord Surinen]

Hince why most of my fellow college students in the gaming majors all would prefer to work for an indie group then a triple A game company.

 

 

I dunno, given the amount of indie games nowadays offering the 'early access' and other such basically paid pre-alpha releases, it doesn't look like things are really all that different there. If anything, they're getting more similar.

Whenever I think of indie industry, digit 5 pops out in my head and big-big-smile. Indie industry and its rotten ways.

 

Bringing Offtopic but a bit of good news: CheatEngine now has walk toggle!

 

http://forum.cheaten...5568456#5568456

 

And Bioware said "Hopefully" walking toggle will be added in patch 3 which is not out yet

New lows achieved. Someone should carve in a wood achievement window and send it to BioWare.

 

Waiting for fix during holidays is especially unpleasant. I would like to enjoy the game at this point. Maybe patch 3 will bring new clothes in Skyhold, MP armours in singleplayer, toggle walk, fix for elves and more? Maybe.

[Xhaiden]

I have never said that these people get millions. BioWare is not made up only by coders and artists. There are people overlooking projects and their decisions mean business. BioWare or EA, at this point it does not matter since BW belongs to EA both are responsible. People at the top of BioWare have power to stop the release, it might not mean doing things by the book and as I have said it might mean jail but it is doable.

 

My boss would never dare to release anything that is botched.

 

 

The people at the top of Bioware already had the game delayed 13 months. But ultimately the decision on when to ship lays with EA. Also, jail? Really? You think they should be willing to go to jail over noodle arms? Even after you yourself just stated you think its just a job for them? Why should they be willing to go to jail for just a job?

 

Also, I didn't ask about your boss's integrity. I said what would happen if you told your boss you were not going to do your job because you disagreed with him. 

 

As for Elder Scrolls vs Dragon Age lore...really? Much as I love Elder Scrolls games Bethesda can't even keep its lore straight from one game to the next. Never mind the Elder Scrolls Online ( ugh ) or the fact Bethesda relies entirely on modders to fix their games for them. Kingdoms of Amalur on the other hand was a paper thin generic derivative of WoW. Not in the least helped by the fact the game was originally built to be an MMO then turned into a single player rpg. It was an okay rpg romp, if badly balanced, but the entire thing was generic and derivative.

 

The indie industry is a different beast altogether though and yeah things like Early Access are of debatable benefit to gamers. The underlaying problem with the indie industry is that "indie" has become a label onto itself. You have a lot of groups claiming to be "indie" to basically use the label as marketing. When they're not really indie in any way shape or form. But as a whole the indie scene has brought us a hell of a lot more good games than the main stream industry has in recent years. 

 

The basic problem with indie is that its like forming a band. Any group of assholes and morons can get together and call themselves a band. But whether or not they can actually play music is a different story all together. Then the main stream industry is record labels. They have bands that are bankable talent. But those bands are basically at the mercy of their record label and they vary in quality from actual talented bands to bands that are purely corporate products that churn out focus group approved songs every year that are guaranteed to make them x amount of money ( Call of Duty <cough> ).

 

Now, the continuing shift of the mainstream game industry towards shoving **** out the door before its finished is a matter of seeing how far publishers can push the consumer. As long as they can keep making money doing what they're doing ( ship it now, fix it later ) they'll keep doing it. They only way that's really going to stop is if gamers collectively say they're fed up and stop pre-ordering games. 

 

I mean, its really sad when you can say we're lucky here because at least we're not dealing with Ubisoft. >.>

[Lord Surinen]

The people at the top of Bioware already had the game delayed 13 months. But ultimately the decision on when to ship lays with EA. Also, jail? Really? You think they should be willing to go to jail over noodle arms? Even after you yourself just stated you think its just a job for them? Why should they be willing to go to jail for just a job?

 

Also, I didn't ask about your boss's integrity. I said what would happen if you told your boss you were not going to do your job because you disagreed with him. 

 

As for Elder Scrolls vs Dragon Age lore...really? Much as I love Elder Scrolls games Bethesda can't even keep its lore straight from one game to the next. Never mind the Elder Scrolls Online ( ugh ) or the fact Bethesda relies entirely on modders to fix their games for them. Kingdoms of Amalur on the other hand was a paper thin generic derivative of WoW. Not in the least helped by the fact the game was originally built to be an MMO then turned into a single player rpg. It was an okay rpg romp, if badly balanced, but the entire thing was generic and derivative.

 

The indie industry is a different beast altogether though and yeah things like Early Access are of debatable benefit to gamers. The underlaying problem with the indie industry is that "indie" has become a label onto itself. You have a lot of groups claiming to be "indie" to basically use the label as marketing. When they're not really indie in any way shape or form. But as a whole the indie scene has brought us a hell of a lot more good games than the main stream industry has in recent years. 

 

The basic problem with indie is that its like forming a band. Any group of assholes and morons can get together and call themselves a band. But whether or not they can actually play music is a different story all together. Then the main stream industry is record labels. They have bands that are bankable talent. But those bands are basically at the mercy of their record label and they vary in quality from actual talented bands to bands that are purely corporate products that churn out focus group approved songs every year that are guaranteed to make them x amount of money ( Call of Duty <cough> ).

 

Now, the continuing shift of the mainstream game industry towards shoving **** out the door before its finished is a matter of seeing how far publishers can push the consumer. As long as they can keep making money doing what they're doing ( ship it now, fix it later ) they'll keep doing it. They only way that's really going to stop is if gamers collectively say they're fed up and stop pre-ordering games. 

 

I mean, its really sad when you can say we're lucky here because at least we're not dealing with Ubisoft. >.>

I have not said only about noddle arms in my previous comment. There are plenty of model and non model bugs. Many lacks of basic content like toggle walk or even a storeroom. Game was clearly made in haste. Since when 'job' is a synonym for botching products. Job should be completed the best one  could.

 

But these are completely different situations, disagreeing with a boss who is ready to botch something and boss just giving orders. I would disagree with my boss every time when he tells me to do something that I cannot sign under.

 

Yes, really.The Elder Scrolls lore is highly mythic, metaphysics ridden and 'deep'. Probably one of the most unique games that keep such level of lore past 2k. Pearl among the pearls. There are no changes in the lore, not really. When you learn mechanisms behind the world then everything becomes clearer, I would not dare to say clear, too much acid were spent there. Kingdoms of Amalur, voiced quests, many of them, zones full of treasures - large game with very much action filled combat. Actually Kingdoms of Amalur were not supposed to be an MMO, Project Copernicus was but it got cancelled and it looked fantastic, one of the best fable like designs ever created.

 

I can agree that publishers are in control now. Few shiny trailers, couple of buzzwords and pre orders fly high. there are no chances to win, so at least I try make as much smoke as I can.

[Xhaiden]

Well, the publishers marketing department has been the downfall of more than a few games. The marketing department is separate from the development team and their only job is to sell sell sell. Facts of the matter be damned. Hyped trailers, fake screenshots, whatever it takes really. 

 

DA:I wasn't made in haste, it was finished in haste. This is a problem throughout the mainstream industry. Once the publisher deadline starts to loom the developers are forced into crunch time to try and finish as much of what they planned as possible before they have to ship. This is what leads to these problems and oversights. I mean there's no way no one at Bioware thought of a storage chest for example. But when told they have x days to finish the game before it goes gold the storage chest is the bottom of the priority list after major gameplay features. 

 

EA has a notorious and checked past with crunch time and working employees to death to get products out the door by a set date ( always set by someone higher up ). It wasn't that long ago they had to settle a class action lawsuit by their employees over unpaid overtime wages, 85 hour work weeks, etc. 85 hours! Without overtime pay. They were basically a sweatshop. There's a reason EA was voted the worst company in America. Labour issues, deceptive business practices, buying out and closing down beloved developers, etc. EA is straight up pushing gamers buttons to see exactly where the line is. The point where they snap and stop paying money. 

 

As for your boss, I'm guessing you don't work for a large corporation and/or you do not work in, around or with American companies where this type of corporate culture is commonplace. 

 

I'm not saying the Elder Scrolls doesn't have good lore, it does ( even if it has a hard time keeping it straight ) I'm saying that DA's lore is hardly McDonalds compared to it. The Elder Scrolls has always been strong on lore but weak on writing. You don't play Elder Scrolls games for the story. You play them for the freedom of the sandbox world they give you. Dragon Age is the other way around. Neither one is better honestly. They're just different flavours. 

 

Kingdoms of Amalur on the other hand is as generic as they come. It was pretty much single player WoW. Even the zones were analogous to zones in WoW. Never mind the art style. Filled mostly with generic MMO style quests to fill up all that space. The combat was decent enough but the game was poorly balanced. It had the same problem as practically every Elder Scrolls game: You could craft your way to absolute godhood. Then there was the class balance where mages ruled all. It was a fun enough distraction but like you I was basically just playing it for lack of any good RPGs to play at the time. 

 

Sadly we don't get really good rpgs that often and half the games that get labeled as RPGs are just action games with some stats thrown on top. 

[Lord Surinen]

I've heard a lot about how big and empty are DA:I zones. It does not  sound to me very promising.

 

oh no, nothing american about my work.

 

On the contrary! I play TES for the lore. Lore in TES is not of intrusive nature though, you just discover locations and the deep lore is in the details you get.. Dragon Age is a humburger because it serves you most of the answer straight forward and DA:I seems to me like somebody's dream about making tumblr into a game. It was most probably my last DA game. If they won't stop with 'progress' then I might captitulate. DA:O mm-mm goodie goodie, DA:II mm-mm goodie-terrible-awful DA:I I want only to learn about the elves and close eyes to most atrocities I see there. I will stop at this point I start to get shivers.

 

Amalur served me well for many hours. I still hear its music in my head

[tmp7704]

DAI zones are anything but empty. Whether the content present there is up to one's liking is another story and it'll vary depending on your tastes, but it is there in spades.

[Lord Surinen]

DAI zones are anything but empty. Whether the content present there is up to one's liking is another story and it'll vary depending on your tastes, but it is there in spades.

Well, that's fine. I wonder how this MMO aspect people complain about will show up.

[Xhaiden]

Yeah its kind of the opposite problem. DA:I zones are so full of crap to find that drives me OCD nuts. >.>

 

How does Dragon Age serve you everything straight forward? Elder Scrolls is an open world sandbox, but it still in effect has a "codex" through books. There are more lore books/notes in Skyrim than there are codex entries in Dragon Age Inquisition or Dragon Age Origins. So your point is kind of moot. The Elder Scrolls is more straight forward in that regard and the Elder Scrolls has weaker story quest lines and shallow characters. So I don't know where you're getting the idea that Dragon Age is simple and straight forward by comparison. The key classic difference between the two is that Elder Scrolls is an exploration based sandbox while Dragon Age is a roleplaying game with emphasis on the role. 

 

Plus given that you haven't really played DA:I much by your own admission you're not in much of a position to judge it. But for the record, elves probably have the most interesting story in DA:I out of all the races. So you do have something to look forward too once they unbreak the male elf's collarbones. -.-

[Lord Surinen]

Discussions with NPC, companions even very often push forward the story in a straightforward manner. You learn the explanations from them. Of course there is plenty of mysteries but these mysteries are simple in nature. Yes, there are more books in TES and general questlines in TES seem to be pretty simple, you see guys, you have reasons to dislike them ornot and kill them. This is what it may appear to be a sandbox focus but there is far deeper lore coming from the books and interactions, even the smallest of details between the world character and shaky narrative. Completely different level of depths. in DA one may wonder if the ancient ones and old gods ar ethe same, shades of one another. in TES you have myriads of layers, a little course in theology.  Yes, it appears straight forward and shallow, you are a nobody at the beginning of TES games, you learn through your journey, mostly end in apotheosis state, or you mantle godhood.

 

Yes I do, I'm looking very much forward for the fix. I was quite excited to buy DA:I. The more I've learnt about the 'progressive' content the less I like it but still I'm eager to consume my portion of mysteries and butchery.

 

So where is my fix!

[Xhaiden]

Not all companions are straight forward nor do your companions have any more answers about whats going on then you do. To be honest DA:I probably has the most varied cast of any Dragon Age game so far. I really wasn't sure I would like them all and figured I'd be sticking Varric in my party all the time for the familiar face. That ended up lasting like 45 minutes. Usually with Dragon Age and Mass Effect I sort of settled on my favourite party and only occasionally switch things up. In DA:I you want to change your party all the time just to see how different characters play off each other and the world. 

 

Elder Scrolls is a different flavour. Which is pretty much my point here. Neither franchise superior to the other. They are different things. The strength of Elder Scrolls in the immersion, adventure and exploration. The strength of Dragon Age is the engagement, story and characters. I don't play Skyrim for the characters or story. I play it for the world and exploration. Frankly, companions in Bethesda games detract from the experience rather than add too it. Dragon Age is the other way around. Its no fun playing a party oriented RPG without a party. 

 

As for DA:I, its essentially become more like Dragon's Dogma both in controls and presentation. Which is not a bad thing at all. Dragon's Dogma is one of the best rpgs I've ever played. If DA:I has a fault in its systems its that it didn't copy enough of Dragon's Dogma ( Mainly because its still saddled by skill systems from Origins and DA2 ). >.>

 

I play Skyrim to take on the world by myself. I play Dragon Age to save the world with my friends. 

 

As for a fix, hopefully once they get back in the office after Christmas we'll see it pretty soon. I'd like to get a full elf play through in as well to see the story from an elven perspective. I stalled out half way on my human rogue because of the noble origin. I could do a human mage I guess. But I want the world to utterly loath me again like city elf so I am justified in being a blunt, sarcastic ******* to people that deserve it. Not just be scared of me because I'm a mage. ;p

 

On human rogue I always feel like I need to be diplomatic for the sake of the Inquisition. 

[Lord Surinen]

But you get a much clearer sense of things than in TES games. Skyrim is a little bit dilluted although my favourite because of the climate. Morrowind has rich story. Nothing as for now can beat TES in story department in my opinion, or maybe if not the story itself then lore we get to learn about.

 

Never played DD, still waiting for it to visit PC. I've heard its great and I've seen some of its spells, got myself hyped by the false release announcement and burnt out.

 

I have no idea when holidays end in Canada, but hopefullllllllllllly soon. I want to learn about the patch as soon as possible. The best part of holidays in Poland is that I can walk under influence of heavy 'aneasthetic' every day. These last days were much easier on me and it will only get better. Soon patch, soon, my sweetest mage.

[Xhaiden]

But you get a much clearer sense of things than in TES games. Skyrim is a little bit dilluted although my favourite because of the climate. Morrowind has rich story. Nothing as for now can beat TES in story department in my opinion, or maybe if not the story itself then lore we get to learn about.

 

Never played DD, still waiting for it to visit PC. I've heard its great and I've seen some of its spells, got myself hyped by the false release announcement and burnt out.

 

I have no idea when holidays end in Canada, but hopefullllllllllllly soon. I want to learn about the patch as soon as possible. The best part of holidays in Poland is that I can walk under influence of heavy 'aneasthetic' every day. These last days were much easier on me and it will only get better. Soon patch, soon, my sweetest mage.

 

Its really the lore and the sandbox world building that Elder Scrolls stands on. Its the ability to just do whatever the fark you want in a world that persistently exists regardless of whether or not you are present. Because the world is a simulation. Characters have their own schedules, there's day/night cycles, weather patterns, random monster attacks, etc. Its a different kind of rpg from a party based rpg like Baldur's Gate or Dragon Age. Skyrim is more "I wonder what's over there" or "I wonder what happens if I do this". Dragon Age is more "I wonder what happens next" or "I wonder what I should do here". If that makes any sense.

 

The holidays here in Canada end tomorrow, fyi. Only Christmas Day and New Years Day are statutory holidays here. Bioware seems to have at least a skeleton crew about today just for the holiday update stuff ( Everyone in multiplayer got a free large loot chest for example and their Twitter is active ). So at least one warm body was around. Hopefully the rest come back in tomorrow. 

 

We do know that there's a bunch of stuff they wanted to put into the game that they simply didn't have the time to finish. Which they want to start rolling out with Patch 3 and beyond. So in addition to more fixes hopefully we'll get storage chests, face codes, etc.