15897 réponses à ce sujet

[Wolven_Soul]

I'm not talking about CDPR gloating. I'm talking about idiot trolls rooting for Bioware to fail. I want CDPR to say it loud and proud, because hopefully their example will encourage other developers.

 

And they have said that it did very well. Most successful launch yet, critically acclaimed (which of course doesn't hold much water here, but it can't be discounted). You can choose to believe them or not, I guess. As far as I can tell though, actually announcing these numbers, particularly digital numbers, is a rarity, whether they're positive or not. Just keeping their cards close, as it were.

 

I am highly critical of DA:I, but I definitely don't want them to fail.  I might have lost faith in Bioware, but there is still a small part of me somewhere deep down that still has hope that they can return to their full glory someday.  Not a lot of hope, but it's there.  As long as EA has their claws sunk so deeply into them though...I don't know that things will get all that much better.  I think we can safely assume that things like multiplayer in DA:I came down from EA.  

[Wolven_Soul]

Just broke Yen's heart last night.

 

Spoiler

I like her a lot. Not as much as Triss, but ya know. The conversation after the djinn, and breaking it off, was well done. I do think it would have been a little more affecting if she played it cool right after I let her down, and later - maybe much later - let it slip about how disappointed she was. I think I'll go with her in my NG+ though.

 

Uma is disgusting but pretty cute, also.

 

I'm done with Skellige for the moment I guess, but I turned on POI out of curiousity last night to see what I didn't hit, and there are like a million things in there. It's unbelievable.

 

Also, holy dammit, Kaer Morhen is beautiful.

 

Isn't it though?  

 

Spoiler

I just got done reading the first book, and so far, I am having a hard time understanding some of the love that Yen has gained through the books.  She treated Geralt like crap during their first meeting and still he can't seem to stay away from her.  I suppose maybe it changes in the later books, but even so, the way the relationship started makes me think Geralt is a closet masochist.

[Akrabra]

I am highly critical of DA:I, but I definitely don't want them to fail.  I might have lost faith in Bioware, but there is still a small part of me somewhere deep down that still has hope that they can return to their full glory someday.  Not a lot of hope, but it's there.  As long as EA has their claws sunk so deeply into them though...I don't know that things will get all that much better.  I think we can safely assume that things like multiplayer in DA:I came down from EA.  

Every developer will eventually hit this snag, but its no coincidence it happened after the EA takeover. They need to adjust to the new system, and make the studios function properly again. I think it could happen actually, and we'll see with ME:A. I fear the day when Bethesda makes a poor game :/ or CDRP; because it is going to happen. 

[TmTapani]

I am highly critical of DA:I, but I definitely don't want them to fail.  I might have lost faith in Bioware, but there is still a small part of me somewhere deep down that still has hope that they can return to their full glory someday.  Not a lot of hope, but it's there.  As long as EA has their claws sunk so deeply into them though...I don't know that things will get all that much better.  I think we can safely assume that things like multiplayer in DA:I came down from EA.  

Make no mistake: I want Bioware to fail. The years have proven that it's the only possibility that they'll actually correct any of their missteps. If they continue to enjoy a meager amount of success for their games they will just continue to produce them. No risk, no reward

[Wolven_Soul]

And yet for all those perceived and subjective flaws: GOTY 2014. Seems there were some folks that played that are of a very different opinion.

 

And I will say it here as well.  GOTY awards from traditional games media means nothing.  Not when we see things like Game Informer giving shooter of the year to a game like Bioshock: Infinity, with it's fantastic story but poor shooting mechanics.  Then the next year they give the same award to Destiny, with it's fantastic shooting mechanics but story.  Traditional games media can't even make up it's mind about what makes a game great.

[Wolven_Soul]

DAI doesn't have a limited weight? (God, it's been so long since I've played that I can't remember. ) I agree with you about the books. In Skyrim, between all of my houses, I probably have well over a thousand, if not more, considering you can build libraries in your dlc houses, which I do and pack them in trunks when I run out of room. I like to get all the sets, too. 

 

Wow, typing that out and reading it, I think I may have issues. 

 

Your not the only one.  I did the same thing.  I loved building my libraries in Skyrim.  

[Wolven_Soul]

Every developer will eventually hit this snag, but its no coincidence it happened after the EA takeover. They need to adjust to the new system, and make the studios function properly again. I think it could happen actually, and we'll see with ME:A. I fear the day when Bethesda makes a poor game :/ or CDRP; because it is going to happen. 

 

Yeah, it will happen, but at least when it does it will be because they made it based on their own decisions rather than because of some greedy publisher.  I just hope they don't panic and then decided they need a publisher after that.  

 

I always wondered what it was that made Bioware sell out to EA, when pretty much every game they ever made did so well.

[hoechlbear]

I'm not talking about CDPR gloating. I'm talking about idiot trolls rooting for Bioware to fail. I want CDPR to say it loud and proud, because hopefully their example will encourage other developers.

 

And they have said that it did very well. Most successful launch yet, critically acclaimed (which of course doesn't hold much water here, but it can't be discounted). You can choose to believe them or not, I guess. As far as I can tell though, actually announcing these numbers, particularly digital numbers, is a rarity, whether they're positive or not. Just keeping their cards close, as it were.

 

I haven't seen any of those trolls in here though. I don't think any DA fan wants to see Bioware fail. Maybe they want DAI not to do so well because they hate the direction Bioware went with it, but I'm pretty sure those people want more DA games in the future and that's why they are still posting on the forums, because they care and want Bioware to go back to its roots. Those people are often called haters or trolls just because they criticize one game from a franchise they love.

 

I only asked about DAI's sales because seeing TW3's success, I got curious. Yet the response I got was some people going straight into defensive mode, throwing a few numbers around without any sources and accusing me of being hostile for doubting it. I have a right to be skeptical since we don't have any solid proof, am I not? But unlike some people might think, I don't want Bioware to flop because I want DA4 to happen. I support Bioware, I just don't support DAI.

[Akrabra]

Yeah, it will happen, but at least when it does it will be because they made it based on their own decisions rather than because of some greedy publisher.  I just hope they don't panic and then decided they need a publisher after that.  

 

I always wondered what it was that made Bioware sell out to EA, when pretty much every game they ever made did so well.

There are alot of rumors about the sale. The most obvious one is that Ray and Greg wanted to secure their future as they were going to leave the company Others have said it is because of Bioware's economy and they would actually have gone bankrupt without EA. Either way i blame the Bioware founders. Money will always change people, and it will have a negative influence in the long haul.

 

Even though Bioware games have been highly praised they haven't sold that well comparing to other AAA games and as the price for developing has gone up so much, you need a big publisher to be a part of that market. Ofc Bioware could just gone the Kickstarter route rather than beeing a part of EA, but it came out a few years to late for that to be a possibility. CDRP has almost gone under twice now, because of rookie mistakes. The gaming industry is not a good place to work, its unstable and almost always will be. We'll see in the future if they have to compromise themself to keep on going or not.

[Elhanan]

To be somewhat on topic: I haven't played DAI yet. Most likely I never will. I ditched Bioware just before ME3, haven't bought/played a game that came from them since. Never regretted it, the company I loved (Baldur's gate, Torment, NWN) has been dead for years now. And as far as the things I previously got and sought from them go: CDPR has delivered them to me for years now and they show no signs of stopping. Customer loyalty. Cultivating that is the most important thing (IMO) that the present "bioware" can learn from CDPR and the Witcher. You provide, I buy. It's as simple as that.

Could not help but notice that this is posted on their forums; not dead yet, it seems....

[Elhanan]

And I will say it here as well.  GOTY awards from traditional games media means nothing.  Not when we see things like Game Informer giving shooter of the year to a game like Bioshock: Infinity, with it's fantastic story but poor shooting mechanics.  Then the next year they give the same award to Destiny, with it's fantastic shooting mechanics but story.  Traditional games media can't even make up it's mind about what makes a game great.

And awards seem to mean something to those in the industry; TW3 mentions having over 200 of them on the top right of their Official site. As mentioned, "some folks"....

[Realmzmaster]

There are alot of rumors about the sale. The most obvious one is that Ray and Greg wanted to secure their future as they were going to leave the company Others have said it is because of Bioware's economy and they would actually have gone bankrupt without EA. Either way i blame the Bioware founders. Money will always change people, and it will have a negative influence in the long haul.

 

Even though Bioware games have been highly praised they haven't sold that well comparing to other AAA games and as the price for developing has gone up so much, you need a big publisher to be a part of that market. Ofc Bioware could just gone the Kickstarter route rather than beeing a part of EA, but it came out a few years to late for that to be a possibility. CDRP has almost gone under twice now, because of rookie mistakes. The gaming industry is not a good place to work, its unstable and almost always will be. We'll see in the future if they have to compromise themself to keep on going or not.

 

Ray and Greg did not sell out to EA. Elevation Partners (an equity firm) went into partnership with Bioware and Pandemic Entertainment to the tune of $300 million dollars in 2005. The partnership was called VG Holding Corporation. Elevation partners was the major partner having invested the most money in the partnership. 

 

Elevation partners wanted out of the partnership in 2007. Neither Bioware nor Pandemic had the money to buy Elevation Partners out. So Elevation partners put VG Holding up for sale and EA bought the company for $860 million. EA retained Ray and Greg as officers overseeing Bioware (for a time).

Pandemic was shut down in 2009.

 

Why did Bioware form a partnership with Elevation Partners? I can speculate that it was as you stated game development of AAA games is expensive. cRPGs are a niche market compared to other genres. So selling well in that niche does not generate the same amount of profit that can be plowed back into new game development that a sports or shooter game may have.

 

One of the reasons Mass Effect 1 came out was because of front money by Microsoft. Mass Effect 1 was suppose to be an XBox exclusive (which it was for six months) with Microsoft Game Studios being the publisher. .

EA was able to convince Microsoft to allow Mass Effect to come out on other platforms (Windows) after buying VG Holding.

[Realmzmaster]

And I will say it here as well.  GOTY awards from traditional games media means nothing.  Not when we see things like Game Informer giving shooter of the year to a game like Bioshock: Infinity, with it's fantastic story but poor shooting mechanics.  Then the next year they give the same award to Destiny, with it's fantastic shooting mechanics but story.  Traditional games media can't even make up it's mind about what makes a game great.

 

I would agree with you that those GOTY awards may mean nothing, but what about the People's Choice awards that the gaming public vote on? Also if those awards mean nothing why does every publisher that wins one or more put in a prominent position on their websites and in ads if it has no effect?

[Lawrence0294]

And yet for all those perceived and subjective flaws: GOTY 2014. Seems there were some folks that played that are of a very different opinion.

To be honest, I think DA:I earned it's GOTY last year. I personally voted for it. But it wasn't simply for it's qualities it won, it was also because...well the competition was pretty miserable. DA:I was very lucky it landed last year and was the obvious choice compared to the other options. 

However, had DA:I released this year, boy would it've been a very different story.

[TheOgre]

... 8( 1k crowns for a respec potion

 

I have to restart, because the decisions I've made were poor

 

Makes me miss the DAI 42 gold necklace indeed

[Cz-99]

Yeah, I think the mermaids might've actually been sirens.

 

Either that, or they were cut, like these little bastards...

 

Spoiler

 

 

[TmTapani]

Yeah, I think the mermaids might've actually been sirens.

 

Either that, or they were cut, like these little bastards...

 

Spoiler

 

Looks like a breed of nekkers to me. You sure they were cut out? Maybe they're a high level variant or something related to a certain place or quest?

[Elhanan]

To be honest, I think DA:I earned it's GOTY last year. I personally voted for it. But it wasn't simply for it's qualities it won, it was also because...well the competition was pretty miserable. DA:I was very lucky it landed last year and was the obvious choice compared to the other options. 

However, had DA:I released this year, boy would it've been a very different story.

Am glad that it did not have to compete this year. Between the hype for TW3, FO4, and XCOM 2, it will be hard fought for the title.

Don't know the past competition as I stick to cRPG's as a rule, but will gladly accept last years accolades for what I perceive is a major step forward.

[Xetykins]

Am glad that it did not have to compete this year. Between the hype for TW3, FO4, .

Mmhmm.I'm sure DAI was not hyped at all.

[Elhanan]

Mmhmm.I'm sure DAI was not hyped at all.

Games are far easier to play without shoulder chips....

Sure DAI is hyped, and for good reason. Most major titles are hyped; nothing wrong with that as long as one knows it, and does not purchase because of it.

[Akrabra]

Mmhmm.I'm sure DAI was not hyped at all.

The hype is only as big as the fans make it out to be though. Your expectations is made by what you see, but you can also control them and keep them in check. It is what i am doing with Fallout 4 now. The trailer was awesome, the E3 presentation blew me away and i was hyped, but i've calmed down.  Also Dragon Age was kind of hyped, but not in the same way as TW3 and FO4. The marketing budget for TW3 cost almost as much as the development, and FO4 sells itself on franchise name and developer alone. Bioware isn't as big out there as people think, small fish compared to Bethesda atleast. And the Dragon Age franchise isn't Bioware's most popular either, its Mass Effect by a long shot. 

[hoechlbear]

I would agree with you that those GOTY awards may mean nothing, but what about the People's Choice awards that the gaming public vote on? Also if those awards mean nothing why does every publisher that wins one or more put in a prominent position on their websites and in ads if it has no effect?

 

Dragon Age has a very dedicated and close fanbase which probably helps a lot when voting for those type of awards. It doesn't happen only with DA. TV shows and actors that aren't exactly well known (or that a lot of people actually hate) also get those awards because of their fans that vote as much as they can. And that's not a bad thing, DA is lucky to have its fans, it's a shame Bioware treats them so poorly.

[Akrabra]

I don't need special treatment though. I never understood why people care so much about a developer reaching out that much. I buy products i believe in and i support them to the extent i believe in them. It doesn't matter if it is an Indie game or an AAA title either. I know people differ alot on this point, but for me atleast it doesn't matter. Let the flaming commence. 

[Dread-Reaper]

Yeah, I think the mermaids might've actually been sirens.

 

Either that, or they were cut, like these little bastards...

 

Spoiler

The mermaids are the sirens and those are Nekkers, that particular shamanistic group can be found in Skellige.

[Nette]

... 8( 1k crowns for a respec potion
 
I have to restart, because the decisions I've made were poor
 
Makes me miss the DAI 42 gold necklace indeed

Check your inventory first. You might have picked up crafting components that are worth a lot of money, meteorite plates, rubies, gemstone dust for example. (And sell them at appropriate stores, armorers and blacksmiths pays better for stuff like the meteorite plates and gemstones)

If you've kept trophies from witcher contracts there's a special Alchemist near Oxenfort gate in Novigrad that pays full price for them. He's at the marker on the map below.



Go to the Vivaldi bank at Hierarch Square and exchange your orens for coins.

If you have a lot of honeycombs, herbalists usually pays quite nicely for them. (At least the female one in White Orchard did, easy money early on)