Most of the content of Dragon Age Central has been developer posts to the official Dragon Age forums, first opened in May 2004. But all things must come to an end, and these forums were shut down on 2nd November 2009, the day before the game’s release in North America.
Since I haven’t had time to add much other content to the site for most of 2009, I’ve decided to also shut down Dragon Age Central as it was, leaving it here as an archive.
The new Dragon Age Central is now a much simpler (and fully automated) website dedicated to making developer posts to the new official forum (on Bioware’s social site) easier to find and search through.
It’s been interesting running this site, and in a way I’ll miss it... but hopefully I’ll be too busy finally playing the actual game to care :)
Dragon Age Central
Updated: Monday, 02 November 2009 02:07PM | Synced: 389221 mins ago
Forum posts were made by game developers. Please do not take posts out of context. While these individuals will have special insight into certain game-related questions, they are by no means the final authority. Please read the full topic and all its replies before forming an opinion. Remember, all things are subject to change.
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Fernando Melo ~ Producer Categories:
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Thread: DOOM. (UGO Interview) [+9]
Date: Wednesday, 13 August 2008 07:43AM
Correct.
You play (explore, fight, etc) as you've seen in the in-game footage so far - towns/cities exploration would be handled this way, if these exist in DA:O.  But distance travel between towns/cities would be handled through a map selection, as LS noted. Edited By Fernando Melo on 08/13/08 07:45 |
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Fernando Melo ~ Producer Categories: Quality:
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Thread: (Introverted) amazing characters [+6]
Date: Friday, 08 August 2008 06:32AM
It is even more impressive to witness... PC: "Gather up party, we're journeying forth." (a few moments later) Party Member 1: "are we there yet?" PM1: "nearly there?" PM1: "how about now?" PM3: "shut up already!" PM1: "now?" PM1: "are we almost there?" PM3: "I need to go pee" PM1: "we should be close right?" PM2: "that's a nice statue" Edited By Fernando Melo on 08/08/08 06:33 |
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Fernando Melo ~ Producer Categories: Quality:
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Thread: Load times and seamlessness [+1]
Date: Thursday, 31 July 2008 05:41AM
Well certainly 'some' secrets of the universe will be revealed through additional community posts (namely DA:O things)  But sadly, no fudge is planned.My joking aside, if you read between the lines however, hopefully you can recognize that we're not ready to answer your original questions directly yet, but what I can hint at I've done so indirectly (aka. lifts) which at least partially addresses some of the questions on the thread. 
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Fernando Melo ~ Producer Categories: Quality:
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Thread: UPDATE - Dragon Age: Origins is coming to Indianapolis, Leipzig Germany and Seattle! [+10]
Date: Thursday, 31 July 2008 05:24AM
I'll, uh, take your word on that one
Non-sense, people here say it all the time - there's even an Abba song to go with it!  Although, now that you mentioned it, "Your Majesty" does have a certain ring to it But seriously, don't make me say please - we're not allowed!  I would have to skin & de-claw zombie kittens every time someone posted Mr. Melo instead of Fernando or something suitably evil. 
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Fernando Melo ~ Producer Categories: Quality:
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Thread: UPDATE - Dragon Age: Origins is coming to Indianapolis, Leipzig Germany and Seattle! [+10]
Date: Thursday, 31 July 2008 12:09AM
No worries ... and please, no more Mr. Melo - its WAY too upstanding and respectable-like, and bound to go to my head.  Besides, IRL only salespeople that ring at absurd hours call me that 
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Fernando Melo ~ Producer Categories: Quality:
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Thread: Load times and seamlessness [+1]
Date: Wednesday, 30 July 2008 11:58PM
Keep in mind we're still in development, but at the moment there are no plans for lifts in DA:O
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Fernando Melo ~ Producer Categories: Quality:
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Thread: UPDATE - Dragon Age: Origins is coming to Indianapolis, Leipzig Germany and Seattle! [+10]
Date: Wednesday, 30 July 2008 11:55PM
He's back home and doing well. We're all anxious to have him back in the office and poke at his cool new scar - thanks for asking I_B
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Fernando Melo ~ Producer Categories: Quality:
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Thread: In the beginning(s).. [+7]
Date: Friday, 25 July 2008 02:32AM
I think the dilemma there would be the very nature of making an origin story meaningful to your character (in the context of what these actually do for you in DA - which of course, we can't go too much into at this time)  is that there isn't the 'quickly hurry all this along' route available - apart from sticking to the critical path.
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Fernando Melo ~ Producer Categories: Quality:
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Thread: Talk to the devs, part 2 [+15]
Date: Tuesday, 22 July 2008 05:44AM
Why yes, as a matter of fact... no, not at all In fact I usually go out of my way to dress extremely casual. Except every 2nd tuesday of odd months... then the plaid leisure suit comes out. By the way, thanks for all the great questions everyone. Let's see now... Name: Fernando Melo Job: Producer, I'm responsible for a small group within the DA:O team Boss: Dan Tudge Subordinates: Some of the amazingly talented DA:O folks, although most of the time they tell me what to do  Time on DA: Since April '07 Treat of Choice: Fudge, with assorted nuts mixed in Opinion on Forum Users: Its awesome to see the relationship that exists here between the dev team (and to a larger extent BioWare as a whole) and all of you. Now that we are allowed to start talking about the game I think it will only get better. I'll share with you a little secret ... There is an exceptionally talented team working on DA:O, yet even so, being tight-lipped for so long I think there was some honest apprehension in general with E3 and what the reaction would be like. In a lot of ways DA:O is going against the grain of most games these days - the team is exclusively focused on PC, we are going back to our gaming roots and the spirit of what made BG2 so great (a classic, but many see it as 'aged' in comparison to games & gameplay today), and our primary audience (the main thing we think about in every decision daily) is a so called 'niche' (a smaller market - all of you) whom some believed we had abandoned and potentially lost touch with in all these years away from PC - even as the team continuously worked on DA:O behind the scenes. This past week with E3 we opened our doors again to the world, and the press reaction was cool. But really, the only thing that ever truly mattered to the team was what you folks thought... and you did not disappoint. The number of posts and feedback myself and the team saw saying 'this feels just like BG2 - I love it!' was tremendous. Just wanted to say thanks for that, it really meant a lot that we were able to deliver on this goal for all of you (even if it is just a small glimpse so far). Right, enough sappy stuff, now I must resume evil mode again and return balance to things...  Favorite Non-BioWare Game: VERY tough to nail down just one, not even per genre or era ... if I had to pick one old school game - Wasteland. Off from left field - Falcon 3. Industry changing - GTA series. RPG - (non-BW or related...toughie) Darklands.Favorite BioWare Game: BG2, probably followed by KOTOR, ME, Jade, then NWN (I know, call me a heathen). Companions: Were there others besides Boo and Minsc? Race and Class in DA: (to be edited later) Best Part of Working on DA: I think a lot of the other devs already commented on this, but really the reason I never regret getting up on monday mornings is because of the people I work with. Its hard to go wrong when you are surrounded by people that are extremely talented and passionate about what they are doing, and now fueled by your affirmation for the direction we've gone, its intoxicating. It'll be a great ride until we launch! |
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Fernando Melo ~ Producer Categories: Quality:
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Thread: Carth looks like he has something to tell you... [+2]
Date: Saturday, 19 July 2008 05:12AM
I'm pretty sure party members just come up to you and stab you in the face when they have something to say... mature game and all that
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Fernando Melo ~ Producer Categories: Quality:
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Thread: How huge is the development team? [+7]
Date: Friday, 18 July 2008 05:49AM
Doh! Eric... and we had them going too! Edit: I mean, note to self - get more sleep, you're believing your alts are real again.  Edited By Fernando Melo on 07/18/08 05:51 |
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Fernando Melo ~ Producer Categories: Quality:
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Thread: This game will totally rock! Thanks Bioware! [+2]
Date: Friday, 18 July 2008 04:58AM
Obrigado Veon1, boa sorte!
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Fernando Melo ~ Producer Categories: Quality:
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Thread: The MEN in Dragon Age III [+7]
Date: Friday, 18 July 2008 04:34AM
Mmmaybe
I'm a Producer on DA:O
That's a great idea! I know there's lots of folks on the team only lurking so this (and cookies) might entice a few more out to play.
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Fernando Melo ~ Producer Categories: Quality:
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Thread: The MEN in Dragon Age III [+7]
Date: Friday, 18 July 2008 04:26AM
Damnation... his stab-fu is still better than mine! I thought for sure if I weaved left and then right, but to no avail...the horror
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Fernando Melo ~ Producer Categories: Quality:
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Thread: The MEN in Dragon Age III [+7]
Date: Friday, 18 July 2008 04:17AM
That would be great, send us the youtube link though. On the forums I could probably dodge Chris' eeevil stare long enough, possibly even David's face stabs, but I darenot try to awake the copyright and legaleeze dept... some things are best left unstirred. (or unshaken, depending on your pref)
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