do your fingers ever get sore?Feraele wrote...
I'm not saying that codexes are not useful and/or interesting, particularly the ones referring to npcs and quests. I'm more concerned with the historical background, lore, and game controls, as they are directed more at the player's lack of knowledge of the world they are playing in, rather than my character's. I would imagine that my character would be a lot more knowledgeable of the world he/she inhabits than I, the player, am. Therefore, that information is not strictly a part of the game.
The only thing that has changed is that, in newer games like DA:O, all this information now must be found in the game world. In the past, most of this information, and in particular that which refers to game controls, would have been contained in a manual, the reading of which would not be included in the estimated gaming hours.
I have no problems with the change of delivery as such (though I do enjoy reading a good game manual I confess), because I realise that boxed games, complete with massive manuals, are probably becoming a thing of the past. Putting it in the game saves the developers, and probably the players, quite a bit of money after all. But at the same time, I still maintain that it's a bit cheeky to then include the reading of that information in estimated gaming hours.
The change in delivery of player information should, imo, be taken into account when comparing the length of DA:O and older rpgs like BG and NWN. Also, what I don't want to see, is this information steadily overtaking the "real" game play due to budget and/or time constraints.
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@ Peeker
I think and believe that the reason its done that way..is to encourage people to explore, not rush through it as if its some sort of fast action shooter, get to the end and proclaim..Voila!! I beat the game. Its an rpg, its about discovery, about the story, about the people in it, and about how it affects your character in the whole scheme of things.
And..really the codex is there ..SHOULD you choose to have a look at it. If thats not interesting to you...you don't have to. I'm just saying if you don't you might miss a quest opportunity...or the whys and wherefores of how something happens...good example: how broodmothers come to be.
I think its a clever way to present information, especially in this day and age, where alot of folks, myself included, tend to go for the digital deluxe downloads, as opposed to having masses of manuals and cardboad game boxes filling up their computer room/den.
I see it as an adjustment to how people buy the games these days. There's always the walkthroughs and such that pop up on IGN..if you are more interested in that. Or buying manuals from Prima Games (personally I don't bother would rather discover things for myself.)
just asking not being mean.
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I love discussion...how about you? 
Origins was already a very content-filled game, especially compared to almost every other game out there. If one honestly expects the price point for any additional content to match the playing length of the original game and take nothing else into consideration (such as the smaller audience) then the solution would seem to be that we need to make smaller games if we wish to continue making additional content for purchase.
