Are you putting forth any effort at all to differentiate between "We don't want to do this because it would make our players feel bad" and "We'd like to do this, but we don't have the resources to rewrite the entire goddamn plot to cater towards players being a certain race/class/gender?"
Nope.
You either do it right or don't do it at all.
yes , having different races and the ability to make characters with different personalities does matter to a get many gamers. As i stated in a post some time ago there is two ways to role play a character. One is to create the character from scratch. The other is to step into a pre-defined character.
For many Geralt is simply to defined for their taste (cannot change race or sex). For some Hawke was more defined than they wanted. In my opinion Hawke was less defined than Geralt and the CC in DA2 let you modify Hawke and during the game pick a dominant personality.
You simply cannot do that as well in the Witcher series.
I like party games more than single protagonist character games. Dragon age fits that bill the Witcher does not. I want to control a squad that has interaction with each other.
While Geralt may be a good NPC in a Dragon Age game he could not be the main protagonist in my opinion. Also I found the combat in Witcher 1 to be tedious to the point of boredom. Therefore I never touched Witcher 2 even though I have two copies unopened on my game self. My son-in-law picked them up for 99 cent at a local Gamestop for the PC.
There are also occasional games which show that a compelling narrative and being able to create your own character aren't mutually exclusive. Vampire the Masquerade: bloodlines, Baldur's Gate 2, Fallout new Vegas, morrowind, pillars of eternity, KotOR 1 & 2, Mass Effect 1, Origins, Mask of the Betrayer. All examples of great or well-told stories that also allow character creation.
I find that in games where the narrative doesn't shine through so much, it's less as a result of customisation, and more to do with open world (and even here there are exceptions).
This.
It's really reductive when people go all "your headcanons ruin the storyline!!!!"
Some people just enjoy having some agency over their protagonist. Sometimes those same people don't even have that much headcanon over their characters.
I do think that Inquisition mainstory was too short and less developed than I had hoped. But I'm more prone to blame the huge amount of content filler that Bioware created (did we really needed 3 desertic zones for example?) and the engine transition than the character creator.
This is also a thing that is commonly heard about the Elder Scrolls games, (and even then I'd like to point out Morrowind, THAT was a compelling storyline) when Bethesda first priority is creating a world that is its own character.
And some of the games you mentioned can be played in a more straightforward manner for people who prefer a more linear and directive storyline.
TW provides that kind of experience for people who likes more pre-define protag and it's cool.
I have played through 30 minutes of the witcher 3 and it just seems like that game has 100 times bigger budget than what DAI ever had.
Witcher 3 budget.
"TW3 will cost at least 110 000 000 PLN (34 000 000 USD), out of that 40 000 000 PLN is for production and is paid by CDPR, and marketing budget (25 000 000 USD) will be paid by distributors and publishers in advance and deduced from the copies they sell."
I can't find what is DA3 budget.
Witcher 3 budget.
"TW3 will cost at least 110 000 000 PLN (34 000 000 USD), out of that 40 000 000 PLN is for production and is paid by CDPR, and marketing budget (25 000 000 USD) will be paid by distributors and publishers in advance and deduced from the copies they sell."
I can't find what is DA3 budget.
Spoiler
Shouldn't that picture use the actual gameplay footage between DA:I and TW3's now downgraded PC release (which is going to be a lot better than what we've seen in screens; apparently the PC version will have stronger settings unlocked with the patch).
Shouldn't that picture use the actual gameplay footage between DA:I and TW3's now downgraded PC release (which is going to be a lot better than what we've seen in screens; apparently the PC version will have stronger settings unlocked with the patch).
No it shouldn't because it's a joke not actual representation. I doubt 10 Adidas tracksuits cost 34 mil.
Witcher 3 budget.
"TW3 will cost at least 110 000 000 PLN (34 000 000 USD), out of that 40 000 000 PLN is for production and is paid by CDPR, and marketing budget (25 000 000 USD) will be paid by distributors and publishers in advance and deduced from the copies they sell."
I can't find what is DA3 budget.
Spoiler
I don't know what's your point there?
No it shouldn't because it's a joke not actual representation. I doubt 10 Adidas tracksuits cost 34 mil.
But are any of those shots from DAI game footage? I can only see stuff from the trailers (including the Sacred Ashes trailer which isn't even for DAI) and some alpha shots of Cassandra. And David Gaider holding plushies. So I guess I don't get the joke?
I don't know what's your point is there?
Game budget. I responded to post about budget.
But are any of those shots from DAI game footage? I can only see stuff from the trailers (including the Sacred Ashes trailer which isn't even for DAI) and some alpha shots of Cassandra. And David Gaider holding plushies. So I guess I don't get the joke?
You do same think again you analyzing joke as serious mater. IT A JOKE. Smaller studio with small budget makes better games then big studio with big studio with big budget. And joke become not fun then you explain it.
I figured it would only be fair to showcase what FB3 DA:I could do given the context. I've uploaded a few screenshots I've taken with my most recent (human mage) character. They're the most cinematic quality shots at 1080p with all settings maxed out besides MSAA at 2x (which is superflous anyway). Mostly they're showing off character faces, not environment (I don't take environmental shots). I think the Corypheus shot (given that his face is pre-baked) is pretty solid.
It's almost like a different budget might have something to do with the far different costs of labor between Canada and Poland.
Whoa!
Nope.
You either do it right or don't do it at all.
It baffles me how people can actually say this and not have their heads explode from the paradox in logic.
One quite literally can NOT do something right without first attempting it and almost certainly failing in the process (something I like to call "learning"). If it really were as simple as "do it right or don't do it at all", human society would be stuck in caves and struggling to hunt animals for food and skins.
Game budget. I responded to post about budget.
You do same think again you analyzing joke as serious mater. IT A JOKE. Smaller studio with small budget makes better games then big studio with big studio with big budget. And joke become not fun then you explain it.
You'll forgive me if that meme came across as "lol Bioware doesn't know how to model hot pixel ladies", it's not like we haven't had our fair share of this "concern" expressed on this boards afterall.
Comparing budgets based on two screenshots that are only there to showcase the (non final) graphic quality of a game is silly anyway. You have to account for gameplay, content etc...and it's not like TW was some project founded by kickstarter (like, IDK, Pillars of Eternity for example).
I'm still scratching my head as to why people think it's some kind of competition.
I figured it would only be fair to showcase what FB3 DA:I could do given the context. I've uploaded a few screenshots I've taken with my most recent (human mage) character. They're the most cinematic quality shots at 1080p with all settings maxed out besides MSAA at 2x (which is superflous anyway). Mostly they're showing off character faces, not environment (I don't take environmental shots). I think the Corypheus shot (given that his face is pre-baked) is pretty solid.
Spoiler
Forgive the side question, but are you going with Fade Touched or Ultra? I have noticed little change myself. I also stick to low to medium tessellation. My vid card could handle higher, but I noticed that the difference was negligible at best.
You'll forgive me if that meme came across as "lol Bioware don't know how to model hot pixel ladies", it's not like we haven't had our fair share of this "concern" on this boards afterall.
Comparing budgets based on two screenshots that are only there to showcase the (non final) graphic quality of a game is silly anyway. You have to account for gameplay, content etc...and it's not like TW was some project founded by kickstarter (like, IDK, Pillars of Eternity for example).
I'm still scratching my head as to why people think it's some kind of competition.
Plus don't forget using footage from Alpha for the DA:I comparison. Oh and don't forget the Alpha version of Morrigan from the first Origins trailer. TW looked incredibly plastic to me. I mean, that's what some folks are bragging about? Alrighty then.
It baffles me how people can actually say this and not have their heads explode from the paradox in logic.
One quite literally can NOT do something right without first attempting it and almost certainly failing in the process (something I like to call "learning"). If it really were as simple as "do it right or don't do it at all", human society would be stuck in caves and struggling to hunt animals for food and skins.
Haha yeah I used to think that way when I was still a kid but learned over time it's very rare you do anything right the first time, and only doing things you know you can do right the first time leads to safe boring crap.
Game budget. I responded to post about budget.
You do same think again you analyzing joke as serious mater. IT A JOKE. Smaller studio with small budget makes better games then big studio with big studio with big budget. And joke become not fun then you explain it.
I figured it would only be fair to showcase what FB3 DA:I could do given the context. I've uploaded a few screenshots I've taken with my most recent (human mage) character. They're the most cinematic quality shots at 1080p with all settings maxed out besides MSAA at 2x (which is superflous anyway). Mostly they're showing off character faces, not environment (I don't take environmental shots). I think the Corypheus shot (given that his face is pre-baked) is pretty solid.
Spoiler
I approve the Dragon leather mage robes 10/10
Forgive the side question, but are you going with Fade Touched or Ultra? I have noticed little change myself. I also stick to low to medium tessellation. My vid card could handle higher, but I noticed that the difference was negligible at best.
I'm happy to share. I should have double-checked my settings, because I forgot not everything's highest setting is named "Ultra". I use Fade Touched and Ultra tessellation. On the benchmark my FPS is at 56.9 avg with a 48.3 low. Out of curiosity I put everything on its absolute max (i.e., switched to 4X) and my FPS went down to 49.4 avg with a 38ish low, but honestly I can't see what the MSAA does differently. The tessellation I sort of notice but it's not worth losing FPS for IMO.
I approve the Dragon leather mage robes 10/10
I'm happy to share. I should have double-checked my settings, because I forgot not everything's highest setting is named "Ultra". I use Fade Touched and Ultra tessellation. On the benchmark my FPS is at 56.9 avg with a 48.3 low. Out of curiosity I put everything on its absolute max (i.e., switched to 4X) and my FPS went down to 49.4 avg with a 38ish low, but honestly I can't see what the MSAA does differently. The tessellation I sort of notice but it's not worth losing FPS for IMO.
Dragon leather works really well for the mage stuff, IMO.
I usually keep it down to Ultra, but I drop water and shadow settings down to low. In every game I've played, shadow and water effects are pretty enough, but as you mentioned, not worth the FPS decrease. It isn't much, but it's enough to where I notice in the most nitpicky way. Mine is averaging about 56-60, with about 50 as the low. I haven't gotten the DLC yet, so I'm not sure of the hit there. My graphics card finally got a new driver, but I'm waiting for it to get out of beta first. I also play offline from both the DA servers and from Origin. I've noticed about a 5-7 overall FPS increase by doing that. I think the game looks nice.
We should probably take this to PM for the sake of the topic.
.
Geralt is a bad protagonist but the Inquisitor isn't?
lolHe/She is probably the most boring and bland protag ever, always so neutral hell even the voice actors sound bored
There are no origin stories, no emotions, you can't be ruthless etc.
Inquisitor ain't no Shepard, that's for sure. I even had a much stronger connection to my Revan, who's vocals were limited to "Huh?", "Sure", and "Yeah?" etc.
In a general reply to the topic, I actually think Bioware need to rediscover their own identity which peaked in the likes of Dragon Age: Origins, and Baldur's Gate 2. The core of which was a great, story driven narrative, and superb tacttical combat.
The Witcher 3 looks awesome, but Bioware keep trying to copy others and failing miserably. Just return to your roots FFS and give us all more adventures which made us fall in love with Bioware in the first place, before it became an EA slapper.
I suspect the OP's suggestion that DA be more like The Witcher is not the right one.
That said, if it was 'can DA learn something from The Witcher', that's a different question, and one that can be answered soon.
Sounds like splitting hairs to me. Nowhere did I state that a Witcher clone is what's needed for Bioware, though that is obviously how many knee-jerkingly interpreted this thread. To "be more like" one thing that does what you're trying to do, only better, IS learning from it.
I'm still scratching my head as to why people think it's some kind of competition.
You're right, it's not.
I enjoy both franchises and would like to play different games, not the same game twice.
You're right, it's not.
I enjoy both franchises and would like to play different games, not the same game twice.
Been asking myself that question for over 20 years. The one that makes me the most puzzled is when this is over single player games. I can understand a competitive attitude in RTS/PvP games, or in an e-sports environment. Otherwise, it's silly and makes the gaming community overall far more hostile than it needs to be.
It's like someone telling me that I only have to like chocolate or vanilla ice cream. What about one of my favorites, chocolate/vanilla swirl? Am I suddenly supposed to decry the swirl idea and only stick with chocolate or vanilla because like a mix of the two means that I'm not a real fan of ice cream? If I do like chocolate/vanilla swirl, do I immediately decide that anyone that disagrees with me just doesn't understand ice cream? Is the person that created the swirl cone just trying to rip off another company by combining the two?
That's how asinine this sounds to me. As I stated earlier, I'd love to hear feedback. Give me more flavors! If TW3 has some good execution in their story, gameplay, graphics and/or combat, I think that BioWare could take notes.
It's folks going, "Well, I'm counting down the minutes until TW3 comes out and until then, anyone like that likes DA:I isn't a real RPG fan,*" sounds like a kid fighting with his friends over a favorite kind of ice cream.
Note: I'm not talking about the original post, but this is an attitude I've been reading an awful lot. Thanks to the fans that are giving some good feedback, and why you felt TW series did something more strongly than DA did.
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