Dragon Age Catch-All

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Now that I am back, I have no excuse to not revamp this first post. Let me know if I missed something please, or if this edit has made the thread too hard to scroll through.

Dragon Age: Origins is the "Spiritual Successor" of BG. It is a strictly single player "Dark Fantasy" RPG built on what Bioware called "the Eclipse Engine." The game uses a "DnD like" rule system. The PC version of the game will be released with a Toolset that is promised to be more powerful and more accessible then those of previous Bioware games.

The "What we know about the game" and "Reviews" sections below are updated most regularly.

Some important facts:

Release Date(Upadated 11/1):

PC & 360 - November 3, 2009 (NA), November 6, 2009 (EU)
PS3 - November 17, 2009 (NA), November 20, 2009 (EU)

PC System Requirements:
Windows XP Minimum Specifications
OS: Windows XP with SP3
CPU: Intel Core 2 Single (or equivalent) running at 1.6Ghz or greater
AMD 64 (or equivalent) running at 2.0Ghz or greater
RAM: 1GB or more
Video: ATI Radeon X850 256MB or greater
NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT 128MB or greater
DVD ROM (Physical copy)
20 GB HD space

Windows Vista/Windows 7 Minimum Specifications

OS: Windows Vista with SP1, Windows 7
CPU: Intel Core 2 Single (or equivalent) running at 1.6Ghz or greater
AMD 64 (or equivalent) running at 2.0Ghz or greater
RAM: 1.5 GB or more
Video: ATI Radeon X1550 256MB or greater
NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT 256MB or greater
DVD ROM (Physical copy)
20 GB HD space

Recommended Specifications

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4Ghz Processor or equivalent
AMD Phenom II X2 Dual-Core 2.7 GHz or greater
RAM: 2 GB (XP) or 3 GB (Windows Vista/Windows 7)
Video: ATI 3850 512 MB or greater
NVIDIA 8800GTS 512 MB or greater
DVD ROM (Physical copy)
20 GB HD space

The Pre-order DLC Confusion:
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For a very nice comparison of the pre-order bonus of CE version of DA from different vendors, please check out the nice article from Gear Diary
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There will be 3 different versions of the game being released:
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Without worrying about vendor specific additional items.
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Regular Edition (boxed or digital):
- Game
- The Stone Prisoner DLC (quests, recruitable golem NPC)
- Blood Dragon Armor (for both DA and ME 2)
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Boxed Collector's Edition:
- Stuff in Regular edition of DA
- Tin case
- cloth map
- Bonus DVD (making of etc.)
- Soundtrack
- Wallpaper (digital)
- Bergen's Honor (DLC item)
- Grimorie of the Forzen Waters (DLC Item)
- Final Reason (DLC Item)
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Digital Deluxe Version (Digital CE) Can be bought from Impulse, Gamersgate and Steam.
- Stuff in Boxed CE version of the game, minus cloth map, tin case, Bonus DVD
- Additional DLC: Warden's Keep (Player base, quests)
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Links:
Excel Character planner spreadsheet, created by Adaram on the Bioware Social Network.
Official Site
DA wiki
Character Creator Download Create your character now, and upload it to the Bioware Social network and you will get another bonus in game Ring.
GWJ Group on Bioware Social Network
Skill Database and Talent Database from Gamebanshee
(10/22)Flash game: Dragon Age Journeys. Apparently you get 3 items, to be used in DA:O, for playing this flash game. (thanks Bullion Cube)

What we know about the game(Updated: 10/23):
(Newer info bits are posted first)

  • PC version of DA is bit harder than the Console version. Also, "Nightmare" mode will be extremely challenging.
  • Difference in Console version: "Ring Structure" to access commands, I am assuming this is like the radial menu in NWN. Also, Console version will have a more action oriented feel to it. Another video showing the console interface.
  • You can give gifts to your companions to make them happy. This is going to be great for those of us that save and reload at every possible events/dialogs just in case it screwed up our Companion Influence...
  • Tons of NPC banter, little to no repeats in one play through.
  • Origin stories are awesome, you will want to try all the origins.
  • Influence "mini-game": In addition to your actions/dialogs, you can give gifts to your companions. Gifts will affect each companion differently. It is up to the player to find out what gifts will please which companion the most.
  • A lot of sidequests are based off of the main quest. While there are purely ancillary quests, DA provides a much more directed gaming experience then games like Oblivion.
  • Not completing some of the ancillary quests can be a good thing, since complete them can negatively affect your influence with a companion.
  • Most dungeons provide players with different tactical challenges, instead of just providing generic battles.
  • Six Origin stories: Dalish Elf, Dwarf Commoner, Magi, Human Noble, City Elf, Dwarf Noble. Each of them offers a different starting experience. And they will affect how NPC react to you.
  • Ignore all the "new sh*t" trailers, watch the 20 minutes or so quick look from Giant Bomb instead.
  • DA will have NO DRM! from RPS
  • Party based RPG, with a lot of focus on dialogs, choices, and story.
  • Isometric view is ONLY available on the PC version. Thanks to Rat Boy for spotting this news.
  • Don't fret about the lack of character skill selection from the character creator. There are Spcialization Classes that you can take later on (there are quests needed to be done to get these). More info here
  • Mages are very powerful in DA, but they are countered by Templars.
  • You can mix spells together for new affects! These are only the "official mixtures." There should be more user created mixtures.
  • There is no level cap but enemies don't scale, and there no known grinding spot yet.
  • "Hub of interest" based overland map. Like in past BG games. (Not free roaming like in Oblivion or Risen) There are random encounters though.
  • You can create your own AI scripts for your part members in game. It is like the "Gambit system" in Final Fantasy 12.
    Excellent Summary of this system from Corin Tucker over at SA:
    Dragon Age lets you create "If X Then Y" scripts for each member of your party, automating as much or as little of the combat as you want. It's sort of like the Gambit system in FFXII. You start off with a set amount of script slots, and as you level up (and your characters get new powers and run into new challenges) you automatically gain more. You can also invest skill points (NOT talent points which you use to buy combat abilities) into Combat Tactics, which will grant you additional slots.
  • The game has been in polish mode for a while now. Reviewers like Desslock have reported great stability of the game.
  • (Not Shilling I promise ) There are currently two books written for Dragon Age. First there is The Stolen Throne then there is The Calling. I am reading the first one right now, and while the expert opinion is that the books don't have supurb writing and incredible stories, I am enjoy the book very much.
    I think they are worth reading for fans of Dragon Age for sure. Both books can be considered "prequel" to the game.

Reviews (Updated: 10/26/2009)

Pre-Release Reviews and Feedbacks from players like us

  • ***NEW***PC Zone Review 93% (thanks Kuddles!)
  • PC Gamer UK supposedly have a review of the game, by John Walker (from RPS) who previously pretty much panned the game based on his E3 impressions, the score is 94%.
  • ***NEW***In PC Gamer UK Podcast eps 34, John talks about why he gave the game his all time high score. And recommends the PC version for best experience.
  • Desslock wrote a very extend review (he was given 8 pages!) for PC Gamer US. The review is not yet published yet, but from what Desslock have posted over at QT3, DA is going to live up to the "spiritual successor of BG" title.
  • (10/20)Great user review of DA by Woolen Horde of QT3, GWJ post link here
  • (10/20)More great feeback at QT3, quoted here on GWJ. Topic include quest/level designs, origin stories, NPC interplay, NPC influence system "mini-game" (Social Links lite )

[size=4]Oh and I totally blame console for the delay of DA! I should be playing it right now, instead of making this post. :twisted:[/size]

Excellent news.
Was starting to think Duke Nukem would be making an appearance in the game at some point

Doesn't really matter to me if it gets ported or not eventually but i would hope - since they have said as much in the past - that because it's first and foremost a PC CRPG that it actually RESEMBLES a PC RPG.

For example, can we try to avoid having an interface that looks like it's been designed by fisher-price please.

I'm looking at you Bethesda

This is, without question, the upcoming title I'm most looking forward to. Thanks for the link!
---Todd

I think I already heard news that it won't be coming out until at least next summer, something about it being removed from EA's fiscal year plan during the last shareholder meeting. Not that it upsets me much, Fallout 3, Witcher Enhanced, Sacred 2, Rise of the Argonauts and all the upcoming NWN2 stuff is bound to keep me occupied Western RPGwise until then anyways.

And yeah, PC exclusive is pretty much unlikely now, but this one was built from the ground up to be PC-focused last I heard, that'll be enough for me. They've already kind of downplayed the community aspect, though, which has me a little down because I was hoping for something as open as the first NWN was in terms of fanmade adventures.

So I just got to read the forum a little, and the indication that there is no VO brought a HUGE smile on my face, here's hoping for more complex dialogs for NPCs and better immersion!

Bioware Dev: David Gaider wrote:

Yes, this is a tough one. We actually discussed this for a while and tried it out just to see if it could be done.

The main problem, really, is the sheer size of providing VO for a PC. They are, without a doubt, the single largest character in the game -- so how many options do you provide? Even one for each gender, so two sets in total, would be a *huge* amount of recording. Trying to then find one voice that would be suitable for all three races, never mind any variation in personality, would be a challenge to say the least.

There is a sacrifice in cinematic quality, sure, but I'm not sure "cinematic" need necessarily always be the most important goal. DA focuses a bit more on a diversity of character options, which I assume many will still appreciate.

lethial: I completely concur! Who cares about voice acting if it means all of the NPCs are lifeless husks?

kuddles wrote:

And yeah, PC exclusive is pretty much unlikely now, but this one was built from the ground up to be PC-focused last I heard, that'll be enough for me. They've already kind of downplayed the community aspect, though, which has me a little down because I was hoping for something as open as the first NWN was in terms of fanmade adventures.

I think they've focused too much on the 'community' in the past. It has led to a decline in single-player quality, which is my primary focus when it comes to RPGs.

I have a huge game boner for this, PC exclusive or not. Can't wait until July 9th!

Not sure if this is new, but maybe the 1st Wallpaper for DA has appeared

Lower left side of the page are the different resolutions of the wallpaper.

lethial wrote:

Not sure if this is new, but maybe the 1st Wallpaper for DA has appeared

Uh, no, that's been there since the game was first announced.

Honestly, I don't know how I feel about no voiceover. After how immersive Mass Effect was, I don't know if I could go back to the hokey silent protagonist again. Doesn't matter, though. I've been a hardcore fanboy of BioWare forever so it could be announced the game is Ray and Greg punching me in the groin and I'll still pre-order it.

So long as everyone else has a voice and we're not being forced to read text on a constant basis like BG or NWN, I'll be fine with it. Oh, by the way, that loud cracking sound is Certis slapping himself on the forehead because Dragon Age continues to exist in defiance of his Nostradamusing.

kuddles wrote:

I think I already heard news that it won't be coming out until at least next summer, something about it being removed from EA's fiscal year plan during the last shareholder meeting. Not that it upsets me much, Fallout 3, Witcher Enhanced, Sacred 2, Rise of the Argonauts and all the upcoming NWN2 stuff is bound to keep me occupied Western RPGwise until then anyways.

And yeah, PC exclusive is pretty much unlikely now, but this one was built from the ground up to be PC-focused last I heard, that'll be enough for me. They've already kind of downplayed the community aspect, though, which has me a little down because I was hoping for something as open as the first NWN was in terms of fanmade adventures.

I swear, every time you post something, I get a little more depressed. Its like having some evil moment of clarity

Anyway, its about damn time they opened the kimono a bit regarding this game. For a while,it seemed like there was more information on the Sonic RPG than Dragon Age. I'd like to think it means the game is coming out sooner than later...but SOMEONE already shot that hope down...

After getting Mass Effect so soon after the 360 release, I'm not too disappointed over the loss of Dragon Age as a PC exclusive, although it would be a nice feather in the PC's cap.

Hey Zen, thanks for the thought but some of us are at work, y'know? Hence Gamers with JOBS.

lethial wrote:

So I just got to read the forum a little, and the indication that there is no VO brought a HUGE smile on my face, here's hoping for more complex dialogs for NPCs and better immersion!

Wait, so... they're not going to spend millions of dollars out of development funds to get *dreamy sigh* Sean Bean?

ubrakto wrote:

This is, without question, the upcoming title I'm most looking forward to. Thanks for the link!
---Todd

Not to criticize, but what, exactly, are you looking forward to? A BioWare game with the word "Dragon" in the title? We don't really know anything else about it.

At this point they could just as easily say they killed Dragon Age, release it under a different title, and we'd be none the wiser. Considering how long it's been delayed I wonder if that might not be a bad idea...

In a nutshell? Pretty much, yeah. Baldur's Gate 2 is probably my favorite PCRPG (up there with Ultima IV - VII) and the initial discussion on this one was that it's more or less meant to be an epic (long), high fantasy RPG done in the same spirit as BG2. For me, it's a "You had me at hello," proposition.
---Todd

LobsterMobster wrote:

Not to criticize, but what, exactly, are you looking forward to? A BioWare game with the word "Dragon" in the title? We don't really know anything else about it.

We know quite a bit actually.

It'll be real-time tactical and party based similar to the Baldur's Gate series, but be more dynamic and context-sensitive (you'll have different types of attack depending on the enemy.) Conversation system will be similar to Mass Effect. They claim this time they're finally ditching the obvious good/evil system.

Also, a BioWare game with the word "Dragon" in the title sounds exciting to me.

kuddles wrote:

It'll be real-time tactical and party based similar to the Baldur's Gate series, but be more dynamic and context-sensitive (you'll have different types of attack depending on the enemy.) Conversation system will be similar to Mass Effect. They claim this time they're finally ditching the obvious good/evil system.

Yes, but this could be true about ANY future BioWare game. It's mechanics. It's the story that makes Dragon Age different from all other games, right?

Zen Mutty wrote:

You mean Duke Nukem isn't in the Dragon Age game!!!!? What a buzz killer. NSFW IMG

I remember seeing that image on a magazine I used to subscribe to.

Found this thread at the DA forums via a post at Rock. Paper. Shotgun. post. It's got a load of little details about the game rounded up from other forum threads and sources. Makes for some good reading while waiting for Wednesday.
---Todd

Can we stop posting that image please?

There's a bit of a write-up in wikipedia.

stevenmack wrote:

Excellent news.
Was starting to think Duke Nukem would be making an appearance in the game at some point

Doesn't really matter to me if it gets ported or not eventually but i would hope - since they have said as much in the past - that because it's first and foremost a PC CRPG that it actually RESEMBLES a PC RPG.

For example, can we try to avoid having an interface that looks like it's been designed by fisher-price please.

I'm looking at you Bethesda

You mean Duke Nukem isn't in the Dragon Age game!!!!? What a buzz killer.

IMAGE(http://pressthebuttons.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/dukenukemforever.jpg)

*EDIT* For the safety of the workplace and for all those of us proudly slacking off! Sorry about that guys.

These jerks need to hurry up and update their stupid website for jerks.

Certis wrote:

These jerks need to hurry up and update their stupid website for jerks.

No kidding, it's been July 9th for like 14 hours now!

Certis wrote:

These jerks need to hurry up and update their stupid website for jerks.

haha I have been refreshing that damn page every hour today...

One of the devs mentioned in the BioWare forums last night that they planned on doing it in the late afternoon, so by Edmonton time we're still a few hours away, so get back to work and stop visiting video game websites!

News at 11: Australian gamers to sue BioWare since it's already July 10th.

Herumph. It's 21.10 in the UK.

*Shakes fist at, still blank, Dragon Age teaser page.*

I'm refreshing way too often. Hopefully this will be worth it.

If they take much longer putting it up, Certis will accuse the website of being vapourware.

kuddles wrote:

If they take much longer putting it up, Certis will accuse the website of being vapourware.

I say let him, since of course two seconds later, it'll show up.

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