Dragon Age - What is your feeling on this?

The game is a single double layer sized DVD as usual, so no problems with a digital download there


//edit: or maybe 2 standard sized DVDs, not sure, but definitely not more than that.

Here is an interesting read regarding the inventory space (or lack thereof) in DA and EA's "solution" for its customers.

http://fidgit.com/archives/2009/11/dragon_age_the_hidden_seven_do.php

The Eurogamer review is a little critical, but I suspect that (based on the pre-release material, etc), it's probably the one I'm likely to end up agreeing with. The world building is no doubt impressive, but nothing shown yet has really convinced me this isn't going to be unimaginative cliche city. I felt the same way about Mass Effect, which got similarly glowing reviews for its original story.

I'm still going to make a (rare) exception and get this on pre-order, though - and I definitely hope/expect to enjoy it.

@Pak40: The manual is reported to be the typical wafer-thin, black-and-white EA manual; i.e., not worth paying money for.

/Strategy
Designer/Developer, The Imperium Project

IGN's UK review was rather glowy.

http://pc.ign.com/articles/104/1040976p1.html

I have no sig. I often have no sig--it's part of my charm.

Well, I sprang for the $75 for the PC version and the strategy guide. I know I shouldn't, but I always like to get a strategy guide for a game, if it's available.

This is for the missus...who has been looking for a good RPG, since we got fried like an egg on WoW. Eight level 80's between us, time for something completely different, to quote Monty Python.

I have Borderlands, Tropico 3, Endwar, Civ IV BTS, and others to keep me occupied....but I will be looking over her shoulder!

honestabe


29.9 gigs of graphics and .1g of game if that.

One tenth of a gigabyte for the gameplay is perfectly acceptable.

That is 100 megabytes. One hundred MILLION bits of information. That's a gi-normous number.

Shelldrake - not having a go at you as I know you're only posting the article for people to discuss, but people who complain about this sort of stuff really wind me up.  The game is not broken and is playable and enjoyable without the added content.  EA are selling DLC that includes something that makes the game better- a marketing strategy that has served them well- most noticeably in the Sims.  The thing is, for my money as a business, as long as the product they provide works, they are entitled to charge what they like for other products.  Ultimately it's their call - if they don't sell any that's their own fault.  If they do sell a lot, which you know they will, that means they receive more money- surely the aim of any business.  Call them cold hearted and cynical, but ultimately they are not a charity.  I would be interested to know whether the people who complain about such things end up buying extra content, or even the main game or not- seems slightly hypocritical if they do.  Personally I am really looking forward to this game and quite happily paid for the extra content.  There are plenty of collectors editions that contain a lot less and still sell at the same cost.  Given a choice of extra content or a few DVDs of "making of" documentaries, with a cloth map and commemorative drinks mat I know what I would choose.

DennisS

honestabe


29.9 gigs of graphics and .1g of game if that.

One tenth of a gigabyte for the gameplay is perfectly acceptable.

That is 100 megabytes. One hundred MILLION bits of information. That's a gi-normous number.

I remember a conversation with a friend at school where we were discussing hard drives, where we both agreed that 20mb for a hard disk was crazy and that you'd never be able to use all that space.  Monkey Island fit onto less than 5mb.  The speed things have changed at is frightening.

Strategy




@Pak40: The manual is reported to be the typical wafer-thin, black-and-white EA manual; i.e., not worth paying money for.

Amazon had the hardcover collectors edition of the strat guide for 18.99 yesterday.   I believe it's 20.99 today, but still a good price for 400+ pages.  Similar to the Fallout 3 guide.  I love my hardcover collectors edition of the Fallout 3 strat guide and used it quite a bit.

DL'ing physical copy as I type!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
 
[edit] Sorry meant to say installing not DL'ing.
 
Good eye Gopher/Beaver/Chipmunk!

It is better to die by a swords quick thrust than to be impaled for a lifetime upon the sharp tongue of a woman.
-Grim Jack

That must be some awesome futuristic computer that you have considering you are able to download a physical copy!

I got to get into this dude's pelt and crawl around for a few days. Who's the gopher's ally. His friends. The harmless squirrel and the friendly rabbit.
......  Carl Spackler

ross_ntu


Shelldrake - not having a go at you as I know you're only posting the article for people to discuss, but people who complain about this sort of stuff really wind me up.  The game is not broken and is playable and enjoyable without the added content.  EA are selling DLC that includes something that makes the game better- a marketing strategy that has served them well- most noticeably in the Sims.  The thing is, for my money as a business, as long as the product they provide works, they are entitled to charge what they like for other products.  Ultimately it's their call - if they don't sell any that's their own fault.  If they do sell a lot, which you know they will, that means they receive more money- surely the aim of any business.  Call them cold hearted and cynical, but ultimately they are not a charity.  I would be interested to know whether the people who complain about such things end up buying extra content, or even the main game or not- seems slightly hypocritical if they do.  Personally I am really looking forward to this game and quite happily paid for the extra content.  There are plenty of collectors editions that contain a lot less and still sell at the same cost.  Given a choice of extra content or a few DVDs of "making of" documentaries, with a cloth map and commemorative drinks mat I know what I would choose.

 
No offence taken ross. I just thought it was an interesting column from Tom Chick given that the rest of his diary raved about DA. Several readers comments mirrored your own.

So far I've only had a slight glimpse at DA.  Immediate impression is very good.  The opening sequence was amazing and gory.  The dwarven fighter tearing through his enemy getting bloodied was great.  No lagging or tearing at least on my CPU.  The gameplay so far is very similar to Mass Effect story telling wise - cut scene with text character responses.  The tactical movement very NWN2 except the graphics, again only an initial reaction, are much smoother and look very nice.  Again no jumping feature, which is something I wish Bioware could incooperate but not a game killer.

I decided to make a dwarven commoner warrior.  I chose two hand weapon focus.  So far all I know is I have a hottie sister that every dwarf I've meet seems to want (thats all the spoiler's I'll give).

I thought about getting the DA TM, but decided against wanting to explore Bioware's new world and character build system on my own.

DLC is a good way for companies to make money, and although I'm usually not a sucker for DLC (well, to be honest, except for Steam I don't really use any service offering DLC), I bought the Deluxe edition. 5 extra bucks for a new area, some extra items, the soundtrack and a new potential party member is a pretty good deal in my opinion.
 
I do think that Digital Download games are too expensive currently, considering that they probably cost the publishers a lot less per unit than the regular retail ones, but there's very little I can do about that.
 
In my opinion, 60 slots of storage space doesn't seem to be all that problematic as long as you could put something in a chest if you needed to. I don't think I ever put anything in chests in the BG series. I also don't get why paying for more in-game storage space, in the shape of backpacks or whatever, with in-game money would be a bad thing. He must've forgotten how expensive a good Bag of Holding is in D&D.
 
Having said that: Steam is now saying the game will be available on the fifth, but in 23 hours. In short: that would make it roughly around 00:00 GMT on the fifth, or 01:00 for me. I think I'll be playing it on Thursday morning, I've already stayed up to 2 AM today playing NWN:HotU, where a Mimic has just stolen my clothing, as I want to complete HotU before diving into Dragon Age: Origins.

This is an amazing game.

I am smoking right along in Borderlands, one of the best games I have played in years, and I find myself looking around, and over my wife's shoulder as she begins her game.

She is a Dalish Elf, female, warrior. I could have guessed this, before she started! 33 years of marriage, and a happy gaming family have taught me a thing or two!

She also played, in order, Darklands, Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall, Morrowind, both versions, and the Witcher. Oh...Baldur's Gate is in there somewhere, as is Might and Magic VI: Mandate of Heaven.

THIS is the one she wanted, ever since a young gentlemen at Gamestop started talking it up. She was in there buying me Tropico 3 at the time.

Life is good. I may have to cook dinner for the next couple of weeks, and I suspect that she is going to lose some sleep, but it will be fun!

This is the same lady that purchased a second WoW account, and ended up being our (large) guild's vault manager.

I am biting down on a block of wood to keep from purchasing right now.

I must demonstrate some patience, self-control...

Just remember kids, when you need something wholesome and innocent like Sesame Street twisted into something sick and perverted - I'm just a phone call away.

-HR

^ To Hell with that Gus, get it. Now!

It is better to die by a swords quick thrust than to be impaled for a lifetime upon the sharp tongue of a woman.
-Grim Jack

Must say after playing for an hour last night I was highly impressed with the game.
 The graphics are pretty good and run very smoothly in my slightly above average machine (using an 8800 Ultra graphics card).
 Character creation is fun and pretty detailed.
 The story is very in depth and there is a codex that lets you read about everything just in case you forget or want to learn more of the lore.
 Combat is fun, with lots of blood. Maybe to much blood because its kind of comical to see yorself and your dog walking around completely covered in blood after taking out a dozen big ass rats.
  Must say that I cant wait to get back to playing.
Between Dragon Age, Bloodbowl, and Football Manager 10, this is the best time I have had gaming in a while.

 
 

bboyer66
 

 Combat is fun, with lots of blood. Maybe to much blood because its kind of comical to see yorself and your dog walking around completely covered in blood after taking out a dozen big ass rats.
  Must say that I cant wait to get back to playing.
 
 
My sentiments exactly. About and hours worth of play as well.

<message edited by purplehelmetedwarrior on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 8:47 AM>

It is better to die by a swords quick thrust than to be impaled for a lifetime upon the sharp tongue of a woman.
-Grim Jack

I am at least going to wait for that import version to save some clams.

Boyer's got the same vid card I do so I got my fingers crossed that I will have few issues running it.

I keep seeing TV commercials for DA too!

Just remember kids, when you need something wholesome and innocent like Sesame Street twisted into something sick and perverted - I'm just a phone call away.

-HR