Dragon Age Central

Quote: Posted 03/31/09 03:43 (GMT) by danielkx

And I still hold to the belief that if the game was never being made for the consoles, Dragon Age for PC would be just as polished by May as it will be when it is released in fall, supposedly November from what one of the GDC articles said. I believe this to be true because the resources for the PC version will likely be very thin once development for the consoles goes full scale. If consoles weren't in the equation, the resources would stay with the PC version, meaning less time would be needed to polish the game.

Also, the sales projections would be dramatically lower. And, all things consider, we kind of like money and getting paid.
More platforms means higher profitability, which is good news for the franchise and our ability to make games (which is an expensive proposition).

Resources are given to a game based on sales projections and predicted profitability. It is delusional to think that the game would get the level of QA, marketing $$$ and development time it is getting now if there were no console versions.

Platform exclusives are mostly a thing of the past. There are two ways this can go:
a) create on one platform, shovel it onto all others
b) create the game and then properly port it to all platforms, making the changes necessary for it to feel and play right on all of them.

We're kind of fans of (b), because it has served us well in the past, because we want as many people to play our games as possible, and because we want these people to buy our next games as well.

BioWare done multiplatform as far back as MDK2, and so far I don't think we screwed it up for any of our games.

Whether or not DA would be out today if we didn't do a console version is really pointless lamenting. Maybe it would, but evidently we're still working on it, and the additional weeks on the schedule have done great things for the game.

We like doing the console versions because it means we're reaching a much bigger audience for our game that doing it on the PC alone. Bigger audience means more
people play it and we make more profit. We kinda like these things.

Why release simultaneously? Because all data indicates it is much more effective in terms of sales (and we very much like that) and it means you can focus your marketing campaign instead of running multiple campaigns at different times, which is less effective and more costly.

There really ain't any dark secrets here, we've explained all of this several times now - except for some reason a few people seem to believe that we got it all wrong

Really, you better get used to multiplatform games, because that's where the industry is heading when it comes to AAA titles. It's inevitable given the production costs.

All that said, it should ease you that we're approaching this by finishing the PC version first and then moving on to do deep ports for the consoles, because that means you don't need to be worrying about those conspiracy theories of us 'dumbing down the game' because of additional platforms.

BioWare has not yet announced any collectors editions for any platform (PC or console). As I said, when we do, you'll be able to read about it around here someplace.

We have no word yet on any collector's editions for any versions. When we do, we'll make it known around here someplace.

We have not released any details yet.

When we do you will be able to discuss them.

Until then this gets closed due to the fact that these threads always end up about what they were not intended for.

thx

If you are going to try to belittle people here:
1 - It is "console kiddies". You are trying to call them immature. Not cats.
2 - Don't. We do not allow name calling on these forums.

We do not have any word on exact release dates yet.



LOCKDOWN!

We do not have any plans for a game demo, but there is a Dragon Age toolset demo now accepting applications. You can learn mroe in the sticky thread at the top of the forum.

Quote: Posted 03/18/09 09:25 (GMT) by Mordaedil

If I were to jump to conclusions, I would say "ban this sucker", since he's obviously asking for an illegal version of the game.

Since I'm not, I'd like to ask him to either turn away and never return or specify what exactly he wants.

Either way, time will give us answers.

You might want to tone down the disdain you have and watch your posts.

As others have said, the game hasn't been released yet.
When we are closer to the point of providing a firm date we will most likely have more info on the distribution methods that we will be using.

As this will not go anywhere good...

thx

You may have noticed that BioWare never put up any sort of information on pre-orders or collectors editions. Part of the reason is we have not finalized the contents of any editions or how many editions there will be available or where.

We are working now on such editions and their contents. When we have official word on any editions, you'll be able to read about it/them around here someplace. Stay Tuned.

You'd be wrong. I sent a list of everything you all suggested from more common suggestions (soundtrack, posters, etc) to the more "creative" (plushie nug, full size sword and scabbard, etc).

Keep in mind, the list is for the people responsible for collector editions to consider. They have to look at the suggestion, figure out if the item(s) can be created and delivered in time to be included in a CE, what the cost of them is, how that gets added to the overall cost. yadda yadda yadda. So there is no guarantee that no matter how cool or popular a suggestion is, it will make it into a CE.

You can keep suggesting things if you want (and nice work on the summary and tracking down of threads), but I have already sent off a list of suggested items to those who investigate such things for consideration.

You can keep suggesting things but it is now unlikely that anything that hasn't already been suggested would be included.

Quote: Posted 02/06/09 21:25 (GMT) by Demigod
Point me to where I'm wrong but EA has told us its for marketing and Chris P told us it was for polishing to ensure a AAA launch for both the PC and console. No bugs or even extra finishing time for the PC mentioned. If it had been said clearly that the PC version needed all the extra time then fine but it wasn't, we have been told the PC version is delayed to allow a simultaneous launch withe console version. Who do we believe?

EA said it was for both, with regards to DAO. And "polishing" does not mean "the game is done"... it means finishing the game and getting rid of bugs. That is how you polish a game. And, yes, we benefit by having a single campaign and releasing both the PC version and the console versions together. That is also true.

As for what you wish to believe, I'm not sure we can dissuade those people who have already made up their minds anyhow. There's really not much more to say.

Sorry, can't hear you. I'm too busy working on the game which doesn't have a public demo that's not in New York right now.

Quote: Posted 02/06/09 00:00 (GMT) by Vori
Just to clarify, Priestly saying he's completed the game was a lie then, because to me, a game that's finishable and evidently playable and as far as his testimony goes, is also enjoyable...to me that smacks of a game near completion. I know you'll deny this, because it's obviously not the case, but you have to understand that it sounds amazingly suspect. jus' sayin'

How does it sound suspect? The fact that one can play through the game from beginning to end generally occurs at the Alpha stage of development, perhaps the Beta stage. This does not mean it's in a releasable state. Think about it -- do you really want a game released in that condition? The fact that Chris could play through it and still enjoy it was despite the no-doubt-numerous issues he would have needed to ignore. That's something he can do, but certainly not something any right-minded player would expect to be paying for.

Saying that we are "just" working on bugs fails to take into account that the last half of development is ALL bug-fixing. You put all the pieces together and try to get it to the point where it roughly resembles a game... and then you start testing it, and fixing it, and testing it again.

You guys certainly don't need to believe us, that's true, and I'm not going to go about trying to prove anything to you, but there's justified disappointment -- which you have every right to -- and then there's conspiracy theories and hysteria, which is taking things a bit far.

Like I said, I do hope you enjoy the game once it comes out and you see for yourself what went into it. If you really feel you can't or won't, that's really too bad. Many thanks to those of you that have shown more patience after all this waiting -- we are doing our best to deliver the best game we can to you.

And that's all I'm going to say on it, thanks.

Quote: Posted 02/04/09 04:48 (GMT) by Dantaes

OBVIOUSLY done for advertising reasons. EA will be more willing to put up a high budget ad campaign for a PC:DA if it is attached to console versions(which are generally considered the money makers). Also would be more cost effective by focusing on one large ad blowout, raising awareness for the console versions, and in turn the PC.

Not necessarily a bad thing however; if PC:DA is nearing completion, then that gives more time for polish; as well as a sales boost from one large ad budget instead of having a split budget.

Smart move Bioware.

While I was not a part of discussions with Ray & Greg, Dan, JR, etc I would guess that there is likely some truth to this. JR himslef in teh press conference acknowledged that a simultaneous launch was part of the reason for the date change.

And is IS a good thing. We all (BioWare, EA and all of you fans) WANT Dragon Age Origins to be a huge success. We want DAO to be huge so there is tons of DLC, expansion packs, sequels, toys, movies, collectable salt shakers, bed sheets, etc. When we do launch the game, we want the biggest impact possible.

Think of other recent titles like GTA 4, Fallout 3, Halo 3, etc. They had BIG releases for their games. The more advertising, the more attention, the better for the launch and the bigger the impact the game will have on the market place.

We all have high hopes for Dragon Age Origins and we feel a huge launch of a top quality BioWare game will be great for DA and our fans.

Quote: Posted 02/04/09 04:34 (GMT) by severius_darkbane
Personally I miss the old BioWare the one that didn't announce their games until they were almost done.

You mean "the old us" who announced Dragon Age 5 years ago long before EA came into the picture?