I loved Dragon Age II. I just really fracking loved it. It makes me sad that so many people didn't enjoy it. Just really fracking sad.
The repeating dungeon issue is a legitimate complaint with Dragon Age II, but I'm surprised people are so upset about it. Compared to Mass Effect, the dungeon environments in Dragon Age II were incredibly varied. Mass Effect's many side quests took place in what, three different environments? Four? Nobody seemed to be complaining then, at least not to this degree. I'm cornfused.
It's between warrior and mage. It's always between warrior and mage. For some reason I never seriously consider being a rogue in these games. I don't know why. I wonder if that says anything about me.
@Steerer_Scott: Ah, I see. BioWare has no interest in making games with good writers. Duly noted. I'll let David Gaider and the others know.
@uberfunction: What if a game company isn't interested in being part of the VWC?
@Ogbert: Yeah, some people like it. No denying that. But there's no sense pretending that everyone does. If you're going to do something like that to yourself, you might as well know just how many people are going to find it unattractive.
Don't do something you can't undo until you've considered what you can't do once you've done it. -Robin Hobb
Don't do something you can't undo until you've considered what you can't do once you've done it. -Robin Hobb
Does the VWC want this to be a legitimate award for the purpose of recognizing the best video game writing of the year? Or do they just want an excuse to casually pressure studios into joining the VWC and paying their fee via sarcastic comments about how anyone who doesn't join must hate awards and unions?
Any award for the best video game writing in 2010 that doesn't include either Mass Effect 2 or Red Dead Redemption will not be recognized as a legitimate industry-wide award. Nobody cares about the Best Game Whose Title Begins With a Vowel, and nobody cares about the Best Writing In a Game Made By VWC Members. It's all or nothing.
But if the VWC was just looking for a reason to be sarcastic, well, there you go.
Any award for the best video game writing in 2010 that doesn't include either Mass Effect 2 or Red Dead Redemption will not be recognized as a legitimate industry-wide award. Nobody cares about the Best Game Whose Title Begins With a Vowel, and nobody cares about the Best Writing In a Game Made By VWC Members. It's all or nothing.
But if the VWC was just looking for a reason to be sarcastic, well, there you go.
@gametr4x: @hagren: @kicking222: I'm with you guys. I do not understand. I know people don't like being told what they should and shouldn't do, but I know I'm not the only one who finds these "modifications" unattractive and often sad.
@KimChen: I hate to let you down, but I have played Baldur's Gate, Baldur's Gate II, the expansions for both games, and the entire Neverwinter Nights series. I have probably played through Shadows of Amn, including all side quests plus a plethora of mods, more than a dozen times. Baldur's Gate II is my favorite game of all time. There are people who have spent more time playing BioWare games than me, but probably not very many.
I think I qualify as a dedicated BioWare fan, and I don't care about the top down view at all. I enjoyed Mass Effect 2 far more than I enjoyed Dragon Age: Origins. Both games were significantly more enjoyable than Neverwinter Nights. Everything about Dragon Age II sounds like an improvement over Origins.
As for Skyrim, I can't wait for that game. But if what you want is something similar to the experience the Baldur's Gate series offered in its day, the Elder Scrolls series is hardly the place to find it. If, on the other hand, what you want is a quality role playing game with a vast world, a deep story, and a great cast of characters, nobody is better than BioWare.
I think I qualify as a dedicated BioWare fan, and I don't care about the top down view at all. I enjoyed Mass Effect 2 far more than I enjoyed Dragon Age: Origins. Both games were significantly more enjoyable than Neverwinter Nights. Everything about Dragon Age II sounds like an improvement over Origins.
As for Skyrim, I can't wait for that game. But if what you want is something similar to the experience the Baldur's Gate series offered in its day, the Elder Scrolls series is hardly the place to find it. If, on the other hand, what you want is a quality role playing game with a vast world, a deep story, and a great cast of characters, nobody is better than BioWare.
@Dan2593: You said it. My thoughts exactly. I absolutely devoured DA:O, and everything about DAII sounds like improvements.
Nobody will ever take Tomb Raider seriously as long as Lara Croft is treated as a piece of T&A. The Lara Croft models are a perfect example of how she has been marketed as exactly that.
I'm not sure it's going to do any good changing tactics now, though. I can't help thinking the Tomb Raider ship has sailed, at least in terms of blockbuster games. Lara Croft's image problems are pretty deeply ingrained in the gaming public's consciousness.
I'm not sure it's going to do any good changing tactics now, though. I can't help thinking the Tomb Raider ship has sailed, at least in terms of blockbuster games. Lara Croft's image problems are pretty deeply ingrained in the gaming public's consciousness.
@Archaotic: It's funny, shortly before these articles started pouring in, I was starting to wonder when we'd hear from our pal Riccitiello again. It seemed like it had been a while.
@Batman: How come Kotick's PR shmultz makes me hate him? That does not make sense!
Splatterhouse seems like the sort of game that wants you to review its killing animations, not its gameplay. Or story. Or level design. Or anything else that goes into making a game actually good.
@cripto33: Hahaha, that comment could mean so very many different things. I'm not sure whether to be excited or terrified.
I'm intrigued to see how this game fares compared to The Old Republic. I'm much more of a DC fan than I am a Star Wars fan, but my money's on The Old Republic. BioWare trumps everything.
@Duuuuuuude: Yep. Once again I find myself rooting for once-hated EA.
@ConfederateRokr: Lol seriously this comment is long, but kind of short
@beanspeppin: Bingo. Seriously, the instrument setups cost more than current generation game consoles. When we buy a game console, we do so because we believe it will be around for years to come and we'll be able to play dozens of games on it.
But when we invest in a set of Rock Band instruments, they're outdated within a year--and even though we can technically continue to use our old instruments with new games, the new games are designed for new instruments.
The music genre will never get back to where it was when the Rock Band craze first hit. That was a one-shot deal.
But when we invest in a set of Rock Band instruments, they're outdated within a year--and even though we can technically continue to use our old instruments with new games, the new games are designed for new instruments.
The music genre will never get back to where it was when the Rock Band craze first hit. That was a one-shot deal.
@Skitch: All true--and the development costs are a great point. From what we know, licensing songs has only gotten more expensive, not less, even as game sales have dropped off.
Anyway, what you're describing with regards to peripherals is exactly what I did with Rock Band and Rock Band 2. The new instruments weren't necessary for Rock Band 2. But my point is, the instruments are where a huge portion of the innovation takes place.
Rock Band 3 is a better example of this than Rock Band 2, but it's true with every new iteration. Without the new instruments, what do you get out of Rock Band 3 that you don't already have in the first two games? A bundle of songs you may or may not like? Some gameplay tweaks that don't affect the core experience of banging on plastic drums along with notes on a screen? Without the instruments, you could argue that a new Rock Band game gives you even less than what you get in a new iteration of Madden, if that's possible.
Anyway, what you're describing with regards to peripherals is exactly what I did with Rock Band and Rock Band 2. The new instruments weren't necessary for Rock Band 2. But my point is, the instruments are where a huge portion of the innovation takes place.
Rock Band 3 is a better example of this than Rock Band 2, but it's true with every new iteration. Without the new instruments, what do you get out of Rock Band 3 that you don't already have in the first two games? A bundle of songs you may or may not like? Some gameplay tweaks that don't affect the core experience of banging on plastic drums along with notes on a screen? Without the instruments, you could argue that a new Rock Band game gives you even less than what you get in a new iteration of Madden, if that's possible.
