Multi-Plat Dragon Age 2 Release Date

[Tiael]

During the Electronic Arts GamesCom 2010 press conference, BioWare revealed that Dragon Age 2 will release in North America on March 8, 2011, and in Europe on March 11, 2011.

The date puts it out a little over a month later than the date BioWare teased with the release of Dragon Age Origins: Awakenings, which contained an insert highlighting February 1, 2011. So, alas, we'll all have to wait just a little bit longer than that.

BioWare also showed off a new cinematic trailer for Dragon Age 2, showing new hero Hawke battling a demon in front of what seemed to be an outdoor throne room. Eventually Hawke had some kind of flashback similar to dreams of the Archdemon that Grey Wardens had in the first Dragon Age, and this appeared to unlock new power inside Hawke to finish the demon off. We'll try and have the trailer up here as soon as possible.

http://www.1up.com/news/dragon-age-2-march-8

Can't wait for DA2, though they're changing a lot, no more Origins, as it's just the main character human (either a male or female version, no other races)

 

[Raesvelg]

They're apparently moving more towards the Mass Effect style of storytelling in this one, which is actually somewhat disappointing to me. But, it does open a number of doors for them, and greatly simplify a lot of what they'd have to do otherwise. Somewhat of a mixed bag in that regard.

 

[Valandil]

Gamescom Trailer:

 

[Gerry]

Definitely looking forward to this. I have this pre-ordered already =)

 

[Dancingweapon]

Do we know any details on when/if it's attached to the first game? So pumped for this.

 

[Valandil]

Do we know any details on when/if it's attached to the first game? So pumped for this.

It's attached in name and lore only. If I remember correctly, the events of DAO2 take place about 200 years after the end of Awakenings and the story revolves around a Grey Warden named Hawke (I believe).

 

[Draciot]

It's attached in name and lore only. If I remember correctly, the events of DAO2 take place about 200 years after the end of Awakenings and the story revolves around a Grey Warden named Hawke (I believe).

No, it starts during the same time as Origins and the story takes place over ten years. Hawke is not a Grey Warden (at least, they haven't said he is). They're pretty much ruining the best RPG ever by turning it into a Mass Effect 2 clone.


Official Description:

Dragon Age 2 thrusts players into the role of Hawke, a penniless refugee who rises to power to become the single most important character in the world of Dragon Age. Known to be a survivor of the Blight and the Champion of Kirkwall, the legend around Hawke’s rise to power is shrouded in myth and rumor. Featuring an all-new story spanning 10 years, players will help tell that tale by making tough moral choices, gathering the deadliest of allies, amassing fame and fortune, and sealing their place in history. The way you play will write the story of how the world is changed forever.

 

[Strid]

No, it starts during the same time as Origins and the story takes place over ten years. Hawke is not a Grey Warden (at least, they haven't said he is). They're pretty much ruining the best RPG ever by turning it into a Mass Effect 2 clone.

Not that there is anything wrong with Mass Effect 2. It's not that far off from the first (I found it much, much better). However, this is a huge problem, in my opinion, from the foundation Dragon Age was built off of.

 

[Draciot]

Not that there is anything wrong with Mass Effect 2. It's not that far off from the first (I found it much, much better). However, this is a huge problem, in my opinion, from the foundation Dragon Age was built off of.

Exactly. The Mass Effect series is solid and enjoyable, better than most RPGs coming out; but Dragon Age: Origins was one of the best RPGs ever made. Now, since it sold more copies on the consoles compared to the PC, they're dumbing it down for the thirteen year old ADD, button mashing, hack n' slash crowd. No more top down view, it's now third person over the shoulder. We might not be getting a toolset, which means no mods (at first they said they weren't, people raged, now they say maybe). No more strategic combat. The piece of shit rotary dialogue system, similar to Mass Effect 2, where you don't know what you're about to say (I loathe that system, I didn't think it could get any worse until I played Alpha Protocol, they added a timer). Dragon Age 2 will probably be enjoyable if you take it on it's own, but I doubt it will stand up to Origins. Hopefully the third game will be better.

 

[Gerry]

Exactly. The Mass Effect series is solid and enjoyable, better than most RPGs coming out; but Dragon Age: Origins was one of the best RPGs ever made. Now, since it sold more copies on the consoles compared to the PC, they're dumbing it down for the thirteen year old ADD, button mashing, hack n' slash crowd. No more top down view, it's now third person over the shoulder. We might not be getting a toolset, which means no mods (at first they said they weren't, people raged, now they say maybe). No more strategic combat. The piece of shit rotary dialogue system, similar to Mass Effect 2, where you don't know what you're about to say (I loathe that system, I didn't think it could get any worse until I played Alpha Protocol, they added a timer). Dragon Age 2 will probably be enjoyable if you take it on it's own, but I doubt it will stand up to Origins. Hopefully the third game will be better.

This is Bioware we're talking about though, they generally put PC as the first and foremost platform they will make a game for. Plus, they've looked at what worked and what didn't in DA:O and ME, and they'll make sure to make the best game possible from the advantages and disadvantages of those works.

That and they've never really made a bad game.

 

[Strid]

Now, since it sold more copies on the consoles compared to the PC, they're dumbing it down for the thirteen year old ADD, button mashing, hack n' slash crowd.

Which is the case with just about everything anymore.

 

[Draciot]

This is Bioware we're talking about though, they generally put PC as the first and foremost platform they will make a game for. Plus, they've looked at what worked and what didn't in DA:O and ME, and they'll make sure to make the best game possible from the advantages and disadvantages of those works.

That and they've never really made a bad game.

Yeah, but they specifically said they were focusing DA2 for consoles because DAO sold more on them. I'll try and find the page. Like I said, they're dropping all the good PC RPG elements (top down view, strategic combat, real character creation, etc) and replacing them with the Mass Effect 2 style of RPG lite.

Also, Jade Empire.



And I found the articles.

Source: http://www.gamesradar.com/pc/dragon.../a-20100809105815357047/g-2010070893233136058

BioWare designing Dragon Age 2 for consoles
Sequel loses isometric tactical view to focus on console-centric third person view


It’s called the consolization of PC games, the idea that PC titles suffer because most big budget games release on multiple platforms – and developers also need to design them for the larger console market. Dragon Age: Origins was a refreshing exception to the trend. Despite its multiplatform release, the PC version of Dragon Age: Origins retained a beautiful isometric viewpoint in battles that never made it to the console versions. It gave PC players a ton of freedom with the camera during battles, allowing them to zoom in for tight close-ups or to zoom out to get a clean view of the battleground while planning their next move.

Unfortunately, that’s going to change in Dragon Age 2. In an interview with French magazine Joystick, Dragon Age 2’s lead designer Mike Laidlaw revealed that the much-loved tactical viewpoint and the modding toolset from the PC version won’t be included in Dragon Age 2. “The game mainly sold on console, so we’re going that way of the audience,” explained Laidlaw, adding that BioWare will be focusing on the more console-centric third person view for budgetary reasons.

That’s not to say that BioWare is entirely dismissing the tactical viewpoint. Although it won’t be appearing in the console version, BioWare has plans to include ‘key elements’ of the tactical view system for the PC version of Dragon Age 2. “As to the subject of the tactical view, I can confirm that we will not be doing a tactical view on consoles, though we are looking into some expanded party control that I think will make console players quite happy. On the PC, however, we are still working with the camera to keep the key elements of the tactical experience there,” explained Laidlaw.

Another article with a little more information: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=259160

Bioware co-founder Dr. Greg Zeschuk recently said that 'consoles are the past', and encouraged studios to branch out, these changes indicate a conflicting attitude.

Which is the case with just about everything anymore.

Yeah, with multi-plat games. That's one of the reasons I loved Dragon Age so much. It was like an old school RPG.

The people who say PCs are dead/consoles are the future need to take a look at Star Craft 2. This article: http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/...blitz-a-success-sales-crush-console-games.ars explains in more detail, but Blizzard says that it sold 1 million copies in the first 24 hours and took less than 24 hours to become the best selling game of the year.

 

[Dancingweapon]

While I am upset that they are dropping the PC elements (I loved the top down and character creation choices) this is Bioware we're talking about (much like Gerry pointed out). I'm sure they can provide us with something good at least! Fingers crossed. I just hope they have a change of heart about the PC gamers thing but probably not.

 

[Gerry]

1up has an article previewing the game up. I think this is the notable impression that was left:

What I'm struck by most though is that the Dragon Age franchise now seems to have the confidence to strike out in its own direction. This isn't Mass Effect II: Fantasy Edition ("If this is Mass Effect, then I played a different Mass Effect," Laidlaw says), and it's not Baldur's Gate or Lord of the Rings either. Even the combat feels more confident in the way that activating an ability basically causes packs of Darkspawn to explode.

http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3180929

 

[JP]

This really needs to be called more of a spin-off of the game or something because so far, I'm not liking how this is going to turn out. Now I'm not saying that it's going to be a bad game and I'm not even saying that I won't like it. But I just can't see this game topping Origins right now. I do agree that Origins was one of the RPGs and the only aspect I was hoping they may take from Mass Effect (not saying that they are taking stuff from Mass Effect, just by what others have been saying) was the whole importing your character from one game to another thing or something. Then again, I haven't finished Origins yet so I don't know what exactly happens at the end.

 

[Gerry]

Actually, while you may not be able to import your character into DA2, the choices your character made in Origins apparently will effect the story. This includes choices made in Awakening.

 

[Dancingweapon]

Actually, while you may not be able to import your character into DA2, the choices your character made in Origins apparently will effect the story. This includes choices made in Awakening.

That's a kind of cool aspect at least. Still pumped for the game even if they are changing a lot about it. I just hope that any DLC is released on all platforms at the same time and none of this "oh the 360 and PS3 get it now but the PC will get it in like... 4 months" bullshit.

 

[Raesvelg]

That's a kind of cool aspect at least. Still pumped for the game even if they are changing a lot about it. I just hope that any DLC is released on all platforms at the same time and none of this "oh the 360 and PS3 get it now but the PC will get it in like... 4 months" bullshit.

You mixed that up with "the 360 and PC will get it, and the PS3 will get it someday down the road", which is what happened with Return to Ostagar at least.

 

[Dancingweapon]

Meh, I'm not sure which way it goes around. I just thought if they were making it more console friendly that if anything the PS3 and 360 would probably get it first?

 

[Aaleel]

Edit: OK, I've looked up some articles since my first post and all I can say is WTF.

I'm mad that the over the head view is going away.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Drag...th-Modding-Tools-and-Aerial-View-151369.shtml

I think they're doing DA like they did ME1. People complained about the graphics and what not, and now they're stripping away some of the RPG elements and strategy.

ME2 is a great game because of the improved battle system, but I think ME1 had a much better storyline and was more of an RPG.

This review scares me:

http://www.gamesradar.com/pc/dragon.../a-20100817181710168083/g-2010070893233136058

Battle felt like God of War, just tearing through enemies. If this is hack and slash with less strategy I will be pissed, I mean pissed.

I hate the fact that you can only play one race, and the character is already named, just for the sake of having your character be able to talk. Also I would have liked to import my characters, and play multiple playthroughs of different characters of different races.

I think they're taking out some of the things that made the first game special, just a shame.