THE BORE

General => Video Game Bored => Topic started by: Stoney Mason on February 01, 2010, 02:55:36 PM

Title: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on February 01, 2010, 02:55:36 PM
Might as well create a new thread instead of keep bumping that old one for the main game.


[youtube=560,345]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqYLe3V5usc[/youtube]
[youtube=560,345]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEJY43lwjuo[/youtube]
[youtube=560,345]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0yh6DX8pZ8[/youtube]

Details

http://pc.ign.com/articles/105/1058656p1.html
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 01, 2010, 03:12:32 PM
I'm just going to wait for the inevitable GOTY edition on this one.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Fragamemnon on February 01, 2010, 03:26:14 PM
I'm just going to wait for the inevitable GOTY edition on this one.

It was easily my favorite game of 2009 but I think I'll do the same. I've played it twice though, and revisiting the game with all of the add-ons/DLC + best mods after a year or so of refinement should make for a pleasant experience.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 01, 2010, 03:37:06 PM
You enjoyed Dragon Age: The Search for More DLC more than Spreadsheet Mech Warriors 2009? :P
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Human Snorenado on February 01, 2010, 03:59:08 PM
I'm just going to wait for the inevitable GOTY edition on this one.

Same.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on February 01, 2010, 04:08:26 PM
I'll take the hit. I enjoyed Dragon Age so much that I don't think I could tolerate waiting to play this one even though I think the price tag is excessive.




Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 01, 2010, 04:14:45 PM
Why? Even you admit the price is excessive. Plus, isn't there even more DLC planned? This seems like such a ploy to milk this thing dry that I'd rather wait it out for an affordable option.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on February 01, 2010, 04:14:57 PM
I'm just going to wait for the inevitable GOTY edition on this one.

Thirded.

On the other hand, I look forward to consumer whoring myself out for the ME2 DLC.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 01, 2010, 04:17:49 PM
I'm not looking forward to that even! My feelings are different. I felt like Mass Effect 2 was a complete game, and that any DLC is just milking the fanbase dry for extra stuff. Dragon Age felt so fragmented that even after finishing it that I felt like I was being sold the first part of a game that will be delivered via DLC. And then the expansion was announced. Ho, buddy.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on February 01, 2010, 04:19:33 PM
Why? Even you admit the price is excessive. Plus, isn't there even more DLC planned? This seems like such a ploy to milk this thing dry that I'd rather wait it out for an affordable option.


Oh I'm not saying the price isn't a gouge but I just like the game so much I don't overly mind in this case. And I know me. Once the game is out I will want to play it. I won't have the willpower to not do so.  ???

If I had played it on the console it would be a different story since I could just gamefly it, but I played it on the PC so its either buy it or wait and I'm not that strong...
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on February 01, 2010, 04:21:20 PM
I'm not looking forward to that even! My feelings are different. I felt like Mass Effect 2 was a complete game, and that any DLC is just milking the fanbase dry for extra stuff. Dragon Age felt so fragmented that even after finishing it that I felt like I was being sold the first part of a game that will be delivered via DLC. And then the expansion was announced. Ho, buddy.

Yeah, I finished Dragon Age and it was just like, "uh. nothing happened." That also seems to be the plot of the expansion. "You killed the Arch-demon ... but nothing happened! Find out why!" No, fuck you!
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 01, 2010, 04:21:40 PM
 :lol
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on February 01, 2010, 04:23:13 PM
Dragon Age also had the ending where each of your party members tells you about their Personal Quest they will be going on now that the Arch-demon is defeated, and Perhaps You Can Join Them One Day [INSERT CREDIT CARD TO CONTINUE]
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 01, 2010, 04:26:52 PM
:rofl

I also thought the game was pretty formulaic, even for BioWare. And the story stretched my suspension of disbelief a little much. I understand the necessity of having to solve problems to acquire teammates, but did every, single region have to be embroiled in a bitter power struggle for the crown or some kind of horrible incident with mages that threatened their very existence? Coincidentally at the worst possible time to do so?

I just wanted to visit one region where everyone was like, "Yeah, things are pretty quiet here. But we could really use this if we are to help you, go on this quest."

Instead it was like, "END OF THE WORLD? BAH. HELP US GET A KING AND/OR KILL A MAGE!"
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 01, 2010, 04:46:49 PM
wtf is a Burget King ???

Is that Polish knockoff?
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: demi on February 01, 2010, 04:47:35 PM
Yeah DAO is garbage. Shame that they are revisiting this drek after their FINALLY triumphant return (though to say they returned would be giving too much praise)
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on February 01, 2010, 04:59:26 PM
I never understand this you liked X, Y, Z thing so I can pigeon hole a person's taste or views.

I liked MW 2, Dragon Age, and Mass Effect 2. All for different reasons. All for different reasons regarding the story. What does one game have to do with the other outside of a person's personal preference?

Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: demi on February 01, 2010, 05:03:28 PM
I never understand this you liked X, Y, Z thing so I can pigeon hole a person's taste or views.

I liked MW 2, Dragon Age, and Mass Effect 2. All for different reasons. All for different reasons regarding the story. What does one game have to do with the other outside of a person's personal preference?



hurr durr they arent made by bioware
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on February 01, 2010, 05:06:53 PM
You're right. Its just that Willco was able to see beyond the ridiculous plot in MW2 and enjoy it.

I don't agree with Wilco on Dragon Age but at least Dragon Age and Mass Effect are in the same genre.

If we are going to compare like to like then let's compare MW 2 to other shooters where I would argue the plot is no more ridiculous than any other and right in line or above the norm for that genre. But that's a separate debate for some other day and thread.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 01, 2010, 05:07:12 PM
You're right. Its just that Willco was able to see beyond the ridiculous plot in MW2 and enjoy it.

This is probably the worst argument I've read on the forum. :lol

Stoney Mason hit the nail on the head. Kosma's lame argument is amplified by the fact that the story and presentation matter most in a RPG over all other genres, save for perhaps point-and-click adventures.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 01, 2010, 05:12:56 PM
Other games with ridiculous plots that I have enjoyed that Kosma can ridicule: Mario Kart, Street Fighter IV, Peggle, etc.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 01, 2010, 05:18:17 PM
Yeah, but you also think Roman Polanski should be allowed to rape minors because he directed Chinatown. Does the same rule apply to BioWare? Do they get to write a lame story for every good one they script?
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 01, 2010, 05:20:54 PM
Hey, I didn't invent the Kosma Rule (http://www.evilbore.com/forum/index.php?topic=31942.0). I'm just asking if it applies here.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: demi on February 01, 2010, 05:21:14 PM
Nope, yours is definitely worse
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 01, 2010, 05:22:13 PM
How can demi say he likes Bayonetta but dislike Dragon Age, considering Bayonetta's outlandish characters and story? What a ruse!

... back to the topic at hand, how much DLC is planned after Awakening, Stoney?
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 01, 2010, 05:25:38 PM
Ah, the 'ole Kosma Defense (http://www.evilbore.com/forum/index.php?topic=31942.msg936345#msg936345). Well played.

I can say with much certainty that if I wanted to be raped by a BioWare script, it sure as hell wouldn't be Dragon Age.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 01, 2010, 05:33:58 PM
I said I had fun playing it. That doesn't mean it is perfect. It was a good rental. I will pick up the GOTY edition in due time.

You just jumped the gun with your defensiveness of a property that isn't very well-written. Patel is the one that really hates it.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Human Snorenado on February 01, 2010, 05:34:49 PM
Yes, but Patel dresses up like a Mog and probably owns vending machine panties.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 01, 2010, 05:36:24 PM
 :lol
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on February 01, 2010, 05:40:06 PM
Yes, but Patel dresses up like a Mog and probably owns vending machine panties.

REAL TALK:
1) I haven't worn the moogle suit in over 8 years! Next year, I can finally celebrate a decade of being Furry-Free.TM
2) The only panties I ever bought from a vending machine were
    a) accidental - it was a blind box prize! I had no idea there were panties inside of that opaque gachapon!
    b) clean and unworn
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Human Snorenado on February 01, 2010, 06:03:09 PM
Dude, I'm pretty sure that I caught Furry Disease just from sleeping with a girl in high school who one day married a guy who just WENT to a furry convention and didn't dress up.  So there's no hope for you, no matter how many years go by.  :wag
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on February 01, 2010, 06:06:40 PM
well, furryism is like alcoholism - you're never cured, just cured-for-now

I know I'll never be completely free of the curse ... can't watch the Disney Afternoon ... can't take my children to petting zoos ... but with time and caution, I can move on
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on February 01, 2010, 06:11:48 PM
[youtube=560,345]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqYLe3V5usc[/youtube]
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Third on February 01, 2010, 06:25:39 PM
Wow, this game looks so bad compared to ME2.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Damian79 on February 01, 2010, 06:43:36 PM
IMO its a better game than ME2.  ME2 didnt have much in the way of customisation and was dull as hell.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Bildi on February 01, 2010, 07:02:03 PM
Dragon Age certainly gets more enjoyable as you level up a bit, like most RPGs I guess.  I'm still only near the start and level 7, but it's starting to get more engaging now.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on February 01, 2010, 07:29:53 PM
:piss Castle LEGO :piss2

:bow (http://i46.tinypic.com/10epwqq.jpg) :bow2

:bow (http://i45.tinypic.com/2n8vcx4.jpg) :bow2
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on February 01, 2010, 07:43:54 PM
yeah I played as a dual-wielding rogue which was apparently bugged to the point that the Dexterity stat did not affect damage and the off-hand weapon did not contribute to damage. So if I hate Dragon Age the fact that Bioware programmed the game so my PC was 1/4 as effective as I should have been the whole game probably had something to do with it :lol
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on February 01, 2010, 07:54:27 PM
right ... it was bugged at launch so that never happened and it continued to calculate only based on Strength

good jon Bioware :lol

game was patched, should be fine now
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on February 01, 2010, 07:55:13 PM
Is that kind of bug common? And you had taken Lethality, right? I'm playing an archer Rogue right now. I have about 23 dexterity and 12 strength. As I understand it, right now my damage is based on strength, but as soon as I take Lethality my damage calculations will switch over to dexterity, and so my damage output should increase tremendously. Do I have it right?

If you're playing now I believe the rogue issues have been patched along with some other patch fixes in general if you have the latest stuff.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: pilonv1 on February 01, 2010, 07:55:55 PM
:piss Castle LEGO :piss2

:bow (http://i46.tinypic.com/10epwqq.jpg) :bow2

fuck your space lego, here's the REAL awesome Lego

(http://www.toplessrobot.com/barracuda.jpg)

:bow PIRATE SHIP, the greatest Lego set :bow2
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Bildi on February 01, 2010, 08:16:21 PM
Sorry, space LEGO > *LEGO.  Except maybe TECHNIC which is also awesome.

:bow (http://www.nosvc.com/wp-content/gallery/starfleet-voyager-6929-released-1981/6929.jpeg) :bow2
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: GilloD on February 01, 2010, 08:22:23 PM
The first DLC was hilarious. That guy is like "YOUR DEAD MENTOR MADE ME A PROMISE. DO YOU WANT TO LET HIS MEMORY BE SULLIED? IF NOT INSERT CREDIT CARD NOW OR HIS SOUL IS DAMNED TO HELL"
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on February 01, 2010, 08:28:35 PM
The first DLC was hilarious. That guy is like "YOUR DEAD MENTOR MADE ME A PROMISE. DO YOU WANT TO LET HIS MEMORY BE SULLIED? IF NOT INSERT CREDIT CARD NOW OR HIS SOUL IS DAMNED TO HELL"

(http://i46.tinypic.com/34j5fz4.jpg)
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on February 01, 2010, 08:44:49 PM
The more I read about this, the more it seems like Bioware is going with absolutely the most despicable usage of DLC for this one.

DLC shouldn't be available on launch day. Anything available on launch day should be packaged with the game itself. DLC should be something that they start on after the main game is finished. Fuck this shit.

It's not Bioware or more accurately its not just Bioware. It's clearly something that EA is mandating as a company focus because its company wide for them.

They've never had the best practice when it comes to DLC. They mainly use it now as pre-order insurance in most of their games to try to induce you to pre-order or not buy the game used. It all comes down to the game. It's worse in some and better in others. Dragon Age was a particularly egregious case because of the way a game character essentially comes up to you as a salesman. Even that doesn't personally bother me. The real issue was the storage chest which is something that fundamentally should come with the game rather than be something you pay for. Characters, or little quests, or items bother me less.

I don't necessarily agree with the idea that all DLC must be developed after the game is released but certain core features should be there. That shouldn't be a hostage to DLC.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: demi on February 01, 2010, 08:50:00 PM
I like the part where you can have [character] leave your party and take your pre-order armor/weapon and you never get it back
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: cool breeze on February 01, 2010, 08:53:06 PM
The reason EA has the fucked up DLC situation is to add incentive to buy day one, or it would be more accurate to say they don't want people to buy it used from Gamestop or Ebay without seeing any profit.

The Dragon Age guy in the base camp was just complete garbage.  No excuse.

Actually, any content I don't get with my purchase is horseshit, collectors edition and per-order bonuses included.  Give away some stupid plastic toy or lanyard to people who care about that shit.  Anything that is for the game should be in the base package for no cost.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: ManaByte on February 01, 2010, 09:00:18 PM
The more I read about this, the more it seems like Bioware is going with absolutely the most despicable usage of DLC for this one.

DLC shouldn't be available on launch day. Anything available on launch day should be packaged with the game itself. DLC should be something that they start on after the main game is finished. Fuck this shit.

As people have said, it's an EA thing. They started it last year with NBA Live 09 with the DNA stuff that was free to first time purchasers, or $15 to anyone else.

The Madden 10 Online Franchise was the same. The game came with a code for it, but if you bought it used the feature cost you $10.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 01, 2010, 09:10:45 PM
While DLC might be an EA initiative, BioWare doesn't get a free pass - especially since the company just released a RPG with similar DLC infrastructure but without the same problems. As I said before, in addition to the ridiculous execution of DLC - both in-game and at launch - was that the end game was constructed in a way that pretty much telegraphed that it would be continued in DLC. I mean, Patel really hit the nail on the head a page ago.

"Well, I guess we haven't seen the last of that character."

I mean, did anyone complete the game and didn't feel like there would be Morrigan DLC or DLC to explore Ostagar? Really?
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Cormacaroni on February 01, 2010, 09:25:56 PM
Dragon Age Origins Awakening?

Doesn't it sound like the timeline is going in reverse? What's next, Dragon Age Origins Awakening: The Beginning, the Bit Before the Awakening?
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Van Cruncheon on February 01, 2010, 09:33:26 PM
i am going to refer to the original dragon age origins correctly as "dragon age: enslumbering"
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Ichirou on February 01, 2010, 11:55:52 PM
Christ, this thread convinced me to cancel my Dragon Ages order.  This shit sounds awful.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 02, 2010, 12:00:30 AM
It's actually not a bad game, dude. Although Patel will say differently.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Ichirou on February 02, 2010, 12:03:47 AM
I'm going to wait for some kind of complete edition, just the idea of having to a character come up to you in-game and tell you "Hey dode, pay me some MS points so you can have an adventure" is incredibly annoying.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 02, 2010, 12:04:10 AM
He doesn't actually come up to you, but he does hang around the campfire :lol

I think he also honestly asks for your credit card in the PC version :lol
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Ichirou on February 02, 2010, 12:06:04 AM
"I require the numerals upon thy master's card 'fore I may inform you of your adventure, m'lord!"
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 02, 2010, 12:09:10 AM
Yeah, it was poorly executed and not repeated with Mass Effect 2. They built something into the Mass Effect 2 called the Cerberus Network, which is a DLC hub that exists in the main menu. Basically, you can download stuff from there and when you load your save file, it appears in the main game. The first DLC is free, which includes a little side mission and a completely new character.

Dragon Age attempted something similar, but also had DLC you had to pay for at launch (in addition to the free party member). It was a disaster. Then a month later they announced a $40 expansion. Totally lame.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: demi on February 02, 2010, 12:26:31 AM
Christ, this thread convinced me to cancel my Dragon Ages order.  This shit sounds awful.

Told ya. Get dat Erect 2
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on February 02, 2010, 02:11:31 AM
When does the DLC guy show up in camp? I just went to my camp for the first time. Right now it's just my party members and that dwarf and his distinguished mentally-challenged son.

The very first time as far as I remember. Just look around the camp. You have to go up and talk to him.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Herr Mafflard on February 02, 2010, 03:27:45 PM
DA it's still a longer and more tactical game than Mass Effect, with or without the dlc - especially on the PC.

The story or script isn't much better in ME either. It's just more cinematic.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 02, 2010, 04:38:16 PM
The characterization and the story are light years better in Mass Effect (hyuk hyuk, get it?).

And Dragon Age is longer, by virtue of some dungeons that are tedious and way too long. It is possible to overstay your welcome with length.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Herr Mafflard on February 02, 2010, 04:52:40 PM
I haven't completed Mass Effect 2 yet, so I can't really comment about the story at length.

I agree with the characterization comment. But even then, it's still typical soap opera stuff. I'm not complaining, but at least in DA, helping the different races foreshadowed a greater objective.

In ME2, everyone has their own personal problem- "Oh, yo daddy went missing for 10 year and now you want me to go find him? Well I'm sure he can wait a few more days while I save the entire HUMAN RACE, guy!"
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 02, 2010, 05:09:21 PM
Helping the other traces in Dragon Age didn't foreshadow anything! Here's the brilliance of Mass Effect, your party's personal quests are a) completely optional and b) all varied. The loyalty quests are also paced in a way that they're interrupted by the important stuff and do not impede story advancement. You usually tackle them while waiting for something (the computer to figure out the IFF, going through the relay, etc.)

In Dragon Age, everyone is fighting for the crown or magic has been misused. That's it!
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Herr Mafflard on February 02, 2010, 05:24:37 PM
well I meant you have to help an entire people find its feet to help destroy a greater threat, as opposed to just help your crew because, well, they want to bury the past. And I agree with you, the side-missions and personal quests in ME2 annihilate DA.

I just prefer the slower and more tactical gameplay of DA. I also don't have the burning urge to keep playing ME2 like I did with DA.

I'll give ME2 this though, I'm not continuously skipping the dialogue. Whereas in DA I was constantly hitting the Esc key.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 02, 2010, 05:28:35 PM
Dragon Age is not necessarily my bag, but it was fun enough. Mass Effect is so vastly different that I can see people enjoying the more RPG stylings of Dragon Age over the third-person shooter antics of Mass Effect.

I just felt that the presentation behind Dragon Age was pretty underwhelming, and the story/characters really reached on occasion. I will say, it was a lot better than I thought it'd originally be.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on February 02, 2010, 05:29:45 PM
I beat Dragon Age when it came out and I couldn't tell you the names of any party members besides Morrigan, Alistair, and Shale.

There was a dwarf guy? and an old priest lady? and, uh, a bisexual elf rogue? super cool characterization bro
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 02, 2010, 05:30:48 PM
Shale was the best character, and he isn't even in the main game!
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Herr Mafflard on February 02, 2010, 05:40:18 PM
the only characterization that matters in these games:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------


ALL THE CHICKS IN DRAGON AGE SUCKED. I HAD NO URGE TO BED ANY OF THEM! WHAT A FAILURE

BUT MIRANDA - SHE GETS ME HARD EVERY TIME!

(http://www.maximumpc.com/files/u69/Gamer_SP.png)
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on February 04, 2010, 01:19:14 PM
[youtube=560,345]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIji4UyPVUg[/youtube]
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: demi on February 04, 2010, 01:25:24 PM
Shale was the best character, and he isn't even in the main game!

> implying Shale is a he
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on February 04, 2010, 01:37:33 PM
haha wow

nice framerate, official trailer
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Fragamemnon on February 04, 2010, 01:42:47 PM
I'm all for more Dragon Age but man everything they've shown about this expansion reeks of 'phoning it in'.  That trailer included.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 04, 2010, 01:46:26 PM
Needs more Marilyn Manson. Right, Frag?
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on February 04, 2010, 01:49:48 PM
Needs more Marilyn Manson. Right, Frag?

I've come to expect that you can't judge anything by a trailer outside of that its a trailer. Everybody was down on Dragon Age on GAF until they actually played because of the Marilyn Manson stuff and "marketing".

Forum types love to think they are psychic for some reason despite all evidence to the contrary.


As far as the technical issues though Dragon Age was always a dog. It looks bad and doesn't run great and animates even worse. (In other words its like most PC RPG's)

I said as much when it came out.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Fragamemnon on February 04, 2010, 01:55:11 PM
Needs more Marilyn Manson. Right, Frag?

You know those trailers almost swore me off from buying the game period. I don't know who on earth handled the marketing for Dragon Age but they didn't get it right until they showed the CG trailer, where you saw "ooooh those characters look interesting" and "big fights!". That video and associated advertisements was what turned that game's marketing around.

and the game looks fine when in isometric, it just makes for a bad commerical I suppose
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 04, 2010, 01:57:06 PM
I am kind of surprised that BioWare just didn't make the game completely isometric.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Fragamemnon on February 04, 2010, 01:58:31 PM
I am kind of surprised that BioWare just didn't make the game completely isometric.

Pretty sure they just couldn't get it to work with the console control scheme.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 04, 2010, 01:59:52 PM
I think that is a hot load. Isometric would have look fine on consoles. I think the reality is that they couldn't market it as an action/adventure game on consoles with an isometric view, which immediately sets up red flags for dudebros looking to avoid nerdy RPGs.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on February 11, 2010, 04:01:18 PM
[youtube=560,345]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsalswMiokE[/youtube]
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on February 11, 2010, 04:31:27 PM
zzzzz ha hork listening
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Yeti on February 11, 2010, 05:01:15 PM
I loved Dragon Age while playing it, but I don't think I can ever go back again. Especially after Mass Effect 2.  :(
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: demi on February 11, 2010, 05:08:38 PM
Velanna Disapproves -10
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Velanna Disapproves -10
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Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on February 17, 2010, 04:50:01 PM
Quote
BioWare's new Dragon Age: Awakening website has gone live and revealed many new areas, characters and creatures arriving in the March-bound expansion.

Among the discoveries are the haunted Blackmarsh, dwarven fortress Kal'Hirol, bastion against Orlesian invasion Vigil's Keep and the once tranquil but now troubled Wending Woods.

Key new creatures include Queen of the Blackmarsh - a giant, spectral dragon - and The Children, grinning worm creatures (on spindly legs) that devour their fleshy prey.

Important new characters are Velanna, a human-hating Dalish elf, and Anders, a trouble-making mage that doesn't take kindly to orders. Returning companions include Wynne, Loghain and Alistair.

The new Dragon Age: Awakening website has a detailed FAQ to answer your questions with, too. From this we know that there will be six new specialisation, 24 new spells and 32 new talents. Interestingly, there will be no romantic options in DA: Awakening, and the romances uncovered through Origins will be on hold while you tackle a new threat.

System specs for the expansion are the same as for Dragon Age: Origins, and you'll be able to import your saved character from that game should you wish - all items and loot will travel with your hero, apart from promotional DLC loot.


Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening will only be available to download on PS3 and Xbox 360 here in Europe. The PC version will be available on Steam and other digital distribution channels.

Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening will be released on 16th March.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/no-romance-in-dragon-age-expansion
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Herr Mafflard on February 17, 2010, 04:58:46 PM
wow that's alot of new skills - and no romance - yay!

I'm gonna do another runthrough of the game before I get this. Dragon Age - rpg of the decade.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 17, 2010, 05:13:01 PM
True. It came out in 2009, thus securing Mass Effect 2 as the rightful owner of RPG of the Decade.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: demi on February 17, 2010, 05:22:11 PM
Dragon Age Journeys > Dragon Age Origins

Prove me wrong
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 17, 2010, 05:23:24 PM
Trying to prove that wrong is like trying to prove humans don't need to breathe or that the Earth is flat!
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Herr Mafflard on February 17, 2010, 05:51:36 PM
wow Dragon Age even has flash games that require more thinking than Mass Effect.

Thanks Demi. Oh, and Willco - try not to over stimulate your fragile brain whilst you try to decide between the 'nade launcher or the rocket gun. I know it's a tough, meaningless choice, but hey, this is Mass Effect we're talking about here.

I'll be over here trying to pick one of dozens of fundamentally disparate game changing spells/skills for my mage/warrior to learn.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 17, 2010, 05:54:03 PM
Actually, since I pre-ordered the game at GameStop, I get that wicked Terminus black hole gun. Have fun with, uh, yeah... :smug
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Herr Mafflard on February 17, 2010, 05:59:16 PM
oh, one those 'lets make an easy game even easier' pre-order wotsits 

I bet it isn't even half as cool as they make it sound.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: demi on February 17, 2010, 06:00:36 PM
I'll be over here trying to pick one of dozens of fundamentally disparate game changing spells/skills for my mage/warrior to learn.

I'll be here spamming Cone of Cold and yawn
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: The Fake Shemp on February 17, 2010, 06:07:31 PM
 :lol
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Herr Mafflard on February 17, 2010, 06:08:48 PM
pfff..  It's all about Sleep + Horror
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on February 18, 2010, 07:11:27 PM
Quote
Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening: Hands-On
Added by Vinny Caravella on Feb. 18, 2010
The first thing to know about the upcoming content for Dragon Age: Origins is that it is a full-blown expansion for the game. This isn't some extra dungeon, or merely a new set of armor, but a significant chunk of content that promises to justify its $39.99 price tag.
 
The expansion picks up after the final events of Origins, in which your character defeated the Archdemon and stopped the Darkspawn from overrunning the world in a full-blown Blight. For reasons that I'm sure will become clearer throughout Awakening, the Darkspawn are still hanging around, causing all sorts of trouble for the Grey Wardens, the ordained destroyers of all things dark and spawning. So, a mere few months after the events of the first game, you are charged with rebuilding the Grey Wardens and further investigating these troubling developments.

Since we're talking about a Bioware game, I don't feel too guilty in revealing that events may have occurred, and choices may have been made, that would make things difficult for your character to make a triumphant return to action in this expansion. Well, forget all that! If you have an indisposed character at the end of Dragon Age: Origins, you'll be able to bring him or her into Awakening via a bit of historical rewriting. Upon importing your character, you may find previous events did not occur the same way you remember, and certain choices have been made for you. This seems like an understandable concession, considering the circumstances, but retconning my previous choices definitely stings a bit.

If you'd like to let your choices stand, you will be given the option to start a new character. You'll take on the role of an Orlesian Grey Warden, who has come to Ferelden (aka Blight Central) to oversee the rebuilding of the Wardens. For those Dragon Age historians out there, you'll remember that not too long ago, Orlais was an occupying force in Ferelden, and the locals are none too happy about welcoming former invaders back onto Ferelden soil. This will, obviously, cause some interesting interactions as you make your way through a land that, for all intents and purposes, wants nothing to do with you.
 
The same writing team from Dragon Age: Origins is back, so you can expect more sharp dialogue and characters that go beyond the typical fantasy archetypes. Though many of your party members from the original game won't be joining you on this adventure, Bioware has promised to flesh out Awakening with characters just as dynamic. I briefly got to see Velanna, the Dalish mage with a huge chip on her shoulder about that whole "humans enslaving my Eleven brethen" thing. There was also Anders, who initially seemed like the apostate mage version of an even snarkier Alistair. Finally, I was joined by Sigrun, a female Dwarf rogue who is a member of the Legion of the Dead. I'm excited to see more being done with The Legion of the Dead, as they are an interesting part of the Dragon Age fiction, but only briefly touched upon in Origins.


The Wardens won't be the only ones gathering new forces in Awakening, though. Something is definitely amiss in Darkspawn HQ, with some freakish new creatures lurking in the depths beyond the Dwarven city of Orzammar. In the brief time I had with the game, I encountered The Children milling about in the Deep Roads. These things are foul. Do you remember how nasty the Broodmother was in Origins? Consider her a beauty queen when imaging the grotesque nature of The Children. They appear to evolve in stages, and I mostly encountered forms akin to slimy grubs, but with faces. Nobody wants to see that, especially when they are overpowering you and eating your head. A bit less creepy, but equally intriguing, are the sentient Darkspawn. The last thing the world needs are Darkspawn questioning their own existence, especially when the answers to those questions usually involve more efficient ways to kill you. If you've kept up with some of the Dragon Age fiction in the books, you'll already be familiar with the Architect, the thinking man's Darkspawn, and he'll definitely be playing a role in Awakening, though what that role is remains to be discovered.

With the world descending back into chaos, it's a good thing Bioware has raised the level cap and given you a host of new abilities and talents to use in your fight. Each class appears to have gained two new specializations, which will add plenty of new abilities ready to eat up those hard-earned talent points. In fact, I'm told there will be 50 new abilities across all the classes, and from what I saw it looked like that roughly translated into one new row per block of abilities. Of course, you'll also get plenty of new loot. I saw some snazzy new armor during the bit I played, which should please the image-conscious adventurer in all of us. Along with looking sharp, you'll be able to add runes to your armor as well as your weapons this time around. Did I mention that you'll be able to manage your runes yourself this time? No more heading over to Bodann and his...touched son for your enchantments. Enchantments? Ugh.

There's certainly a lot going on in Awakening, and every answer I received opened up two more questions. Bioware is -- understandably -- keeping a lid on many of the story elements in the game, but the team promises that they have been working long and hard to make sure that this is every bit as engaging as your first visit to the world of Dragon Age. If you want to make make someone working on Dragon Age sigh, ask them how long it will take to complete their game. Considering I've heard playthrough times ranging from 18-80 hours for the original game, I understand why. For its $39.99 price tag, there's an expectation of content that Bioware appears to understand, and I'm looking forward to diving back into their universe when Awakening is simultaneously released on March 16 across the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.



http://www.giantbomb.com/news/dragon-age-origins-awakening-hands-on/1876/
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Herr Mafflard on February 19, 2010, 01:46:50 PM
[youtube=560,345]0GLlkMJbC5k[/youtube]

from the comments:
Quote
he'll be an interesting romance option lol. she'll be able to suck ur cock standing up.

:rofl
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: demi on February 24, 2010, 12:14:41 AM
http://www.xbox360achievements.org/news/news-4468-Dragon-Age--Origins-Updated-to-1375.html

lolz. It's not a 1000 game, meager 250.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on February 24, 2010, 12:20:44 AM
I thought it would be 250. This seems like a Gay Tony, or Shivering Isle situation. (Albeit it costs more). I don't think they are allowed to go above 250.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on February 24, 2010, 12:24:52 AM
$40 for a 250 point expansion? That's like a $160 retail game.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: demi on February 24, 2010, 12:29:28 AM
Now we just wait for the DLC for Awakenings to come out
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Herr Mafflard on February 24, 2010, 01:20:50 PM
I doubt there's any correlation between gamerscore and the length and quality of the game. Hopefully it's just an XBL regulated cap. I'll be disappointed if this expansion takes anything less than 20hrs to complete.

Dragon Age fans have come to expect substance. I wonder if people would express the same disappointment when they announce the inevitable $40, 250GS expansion for ME2. I expect a six hour campaign + new romantic interest for that so-called expansion.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: demi on February 24, 2010, 02:19:00 PM
Somebody's been doing their homework. I am strangely erect.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on March 01, 2010, 02:02:07 PM
[youtube=560,345]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWWEbxy8g8A[/youtube]
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Herr Mafflard on March 01, 2010, 03:31:11 PM
Mhairi > Miranda

cutsenes are quite jarring with shitty facial animation, it's like watching Orlando Bloom try to act. I try to offset it by focusing on the text but it's dam hard... thank  god for the esc key.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on March 05, 2010, 09:03:52 AM
[youtube=560,345]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqKnzgYbqhU[/youtube]
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on March 12, 2010, 07:42:17 PM
[youtube=560,345]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjNuT8VSyvs[/youtube]
[youtube=560,345]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yyFOkb4YPM[/youtube]
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on March 12, 2010, 09:38:28 PM
Quote
Dragon Age: Awakening Raises Level Cap To 35, Boosts Lesser Players
You can be more powerful in next week's expansion to Dragon Age: Origins.

I got a quick demo of Dragon Age: Awakening, today, just enough to get a basic feel for the first major expansion to BioWare's celebrated 2009 role-playing game. Awakening takes players to a new land where they will be Grey Warden with authority over the city of Amaranthine and the castle Vigil's Keep. Your key problem will be the appearance of Darkspawn who talk, evidence of a new enemy threatening the Dragon Age world. Your key asset will be the game's raised level cap. Dragon Age: Origins capped players at Level 20 characters. Awakening allows players to rise to Level 35.

A member of BioWare's quality assurance team offered a couple more numbers regarding Awakening: 62 new talents, about 50 new abilities. But he refrained from offering another number gamers might want to know about: Hours needed to complete this $40 expansion. Player times varied so much with the promised 80-hour Dragon Age: Origins, the BioWare developer said, that it doesn't make sense to offer a figure. Some Origins players blazed through the game in 30 hours, others needed 120.

Whichever kind of player of Origins you were, you'll be able to play Awakening. The expansion requires a copy of the original game but does not require a high-level character. Players can start with a brand-new character or bring over their Origins hero. If their imported character is low-level, they will be raised to level 18 and offered points to spec their character. If they are higher than level 18, they will be play as is. Players who have maxed their character already need not worry about missing any of Awakening's new powers and abilities. Awakening offers in-game items, books, that allow a character to be re-specced.

Players of Origins will see some of their moral choices referenced in Awakening, I was told. We didn't have time to dig into that.

I played too little of Awakening to say anything about its quests. I was told that BioWare recognized that mages seemed overpowered in Origins and have raised the capabilities of other fighter classes in the expansion. Performance of the console versions may be improved, in terms of frame-rate, but again, the BioWare developer wasn't able to get into specifics.

Awakening will be out next week, on disc for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, also as a download for the PS3.

http://kotaku.com/5492350/dragon-age-awakening-raises-level-cap-to-35-boosts-lesser-players
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Bocsius on March 12, 2010, 09:56:57 PM
Hold up, this is out next week?

 :hyper



Crap, I want to bring my mage character into the expansion, but that presents a handful of problems. (Dragon Age end game spoilers, numbnuts.)

spoiler (click to show/hide)
1) She's dead.
2) Being that she's a she, she can't accept Morrigan's proposal.
3) I can't have Alistair accept the proposal. Just wouldn't be right, seeing as how I fixed him up with the Queen.
4) I can reload a save prior to the final battle and then let Alistair sacrifice himself instead. But then Alistair would be dead.
5) I can reload a save prior to the landsmeet and recruit Loghain and then let him sacrifice himself. But then Alistair would be pissed.
[close]


 :(

I guess I could use my human noble warrior character. But being a mage was so much cooler.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on March 14, 2010, 12:32:59 PM
[youtube=560,345]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHIE8uIRT0I[/youtube]
[youtube=560,345]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOyYOEJPU30[/youtube]

 
Quote
Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening Q&A - High-Level Abilities, Characters, Items, and StoryNews by Staff, GameSpotMar 12, 2010 10:41 am PT47 commentsLead designer Ferret Baudoin explains Awakening's new skills, items, and story.

Last year's Dragon Age: Origins told an epic fantasy tale of a world torn apart by both a monstrous invasion and a traitor's civil war. As a Grey Warden, your character defeated the threat of the evil darkspawn--the ugly monsters from the depths of Earth that threatened to overrun the kingdom--and reunited the shattered country. However, in Awakening, you find that the darkspawn threat hasn't ended--there are rumors of a darkspawn general who thinks, speaks, and organizes his forces into an army while spawning a whole new battalion of enemies. Lead designer Ferret Baudoin explains what to expect.


We chat with online producer Fernando Melo about Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening.

Comment on this videoWatch this video in High Def
GameSpot: We understand that the expansion isn't being built around one whiz-bang new feature, but rather on giving players more of what they want--story, interesting characters, and decisions with consequences. Why go in this direction?

Ferret Baudoin: Awakening is a true expansion pack, not a sequel. Expansion packs seem rarer than they were in yesteryear. Awakening harkens back to some of the expansions we did in the past, like Hordes of the Underdark for Neverwinter Nights or Throne of Bhaal for Baldur's Gate II.

We started work on the expansion pack during the latter part of Origins' development. The Awakening team is full of Origins veterans. We [combined] all our knowledge of how to make our engine really shine while creating an exciting new story and a host of memorable new characters.

You definitely nailed some of the key things we focused on, though--story, characters, consequence. It was a great experience for the writers, especially, because there were so many more stories we wanted to tell.

GS: We also understand that there will be all-new high-level skills and advanced professions in the expansion. Give us an overview of them.



Awakening's battles will be bigger, badder, and tougher.

FB: Absolutely. Awakening takes place after the events of Dragon Age: Origins, and the expansion pack allows you to import your hero from the first game. This means that returning characters are already high level--so we focused our new abilities on exciting high-level talents and spells. New characters created for Awakening start off at level 18 so they'll be able to pick up the great new content quickly.

Each fighting style has a new chain of four abilities. For example, the archery chain starts with "accuracy"--a modal ability that you turn on (and should leave on) that gives you a great damage boost based on your dexterity and also adds to other ranged attack stats. It culminates with "rain of arrows," which lets you shower a large area with a gazillion deadly missiles. Good stuff!

Rogues and warriors get a new chain of abilities added to them, and mages get two chains. These chains include abilities like "peon's plight," which lets your warrior outright kill one non-lieutenant enemy in one powerful swipe, which is very useful and can turn the tides of battle in your favor.

We also have two new specializations for each class and three new skills. If all of this sounds like a lot...it is! We have close to 70 new spells, abilities, and skills available to your party.

GS: What do these new skills and professions add to the game? Were there some gaps or interesting opportunities in the original Dragon Age that these high-level classes and abilities fill in?

FB: In Origins, mages were very potent forces on the battlefield. Many folks found that a three-mage party was one of the most powerful combinations out there. So while mages certainly have been given some neat new spells, we spent extra time on rogues and warriors to make them more valuable additions to your party.

It's really paid off. Archers have received a significant boost to their damage-dealing capabilities. Dual-wielding rogues are simply murderous when their weapons are fully slotted with runes (especially if a friendly mage adds a "flame weapons" spell to the mix). And a fully decked-out warrior can wade into the thick of any fray and hold the line until the party annihilates the opposition.

The result is better balance between the classes and their roles. A lot more party combinations are fun and entertaining.

GS: What about the new characters who will join your party? Do they fill in any particular gaps that the team noticed from the first game? How will the new high-level abilities give players more flexibility out of a four-character party?

FB: One of the features we've added in Awakening is the ability to "re-spec" your character--and your companions, as well. Anders, for example, starts as a spirit healer with a great collection of utility spells to help out. He has also picked up a bit of rune crafting during his misadventures. But the nice thing is that you can re-spec him to be whatever you want him to be.



There will be all-new foes, like the Queen of Blackmarsh, who is part ghost, part dragon, and all trouble.

So if you enjoy a particular companion's company, you can always kit that character out to be an ideal companion for your adventures. And since the classes are more balanced, you can bring your favorites alongside you and not have to worry so much about your party's class composition. Parties with three rogues, three fighters, or three mages all work (as do any other combination).

GS: We understand there will be hundreds of new items and new item tiers. What are they and how will they work?

FB: Since you're facing greater threats, the rewards have been beefed up, as well. There are two new advanced tiers for all weapons and armors available with higher base stats, rune slots, and exciting new item properties, as well. We've spent a lot of time placing loot in chests, on monsters, and in stores for people who live for the next item upgrade. In addition, Master Wade is back from Origins, and this time he has a whole new set of exciting new items he can craft for you--if you can bring him the "essential" materials he demands.

GS: We know that the expansion will challenge players with new foes like the Children, which are part of the new brood of darkspawn. Tell us about some of these foes and the new threats they offer.

FB: The Children are one of the creepiest monsters in Dragon Age. The artists really outdid themselves. In their larval stage, they aren't especially deadly--unless they swarm. When that happens, they have a penchant for overwhelming party members and feeding on them unless they are bashed off or killed.

If one of the Children eats enough, it can evolve. They'll eat anything--you, Velanna, other darkspawn. So things can get scary fast, and it can become a race to kill them before you're surrounded by increasingly dangerous foes.

In their final phase, the Children are especially brutal with quick strikes, area-based attacks, and worse. When one of the Children pop out of hiding, it can really make you jump in your seat. They're trouble.

GS: Tell us about the new direction of the story. The original Dragon Age was about sacrifice, betrayal, and standing in the face of overwhelming odds. What are the main themes of Awakening? How will the expansion explore these themes?

FB: Overwhelming odds are still a theme in Awakening. But a new theme that has been added is "heavy is the head that wears the crown." As the Grey Warden commander of Ferelden, you are tasked with recruiting more Wardens and subjecting them to the Joining. And as players saw in Origins, the Joining doesn't always end well...

If that wasn't enough responsibility, you are the ruler of the lands of Amaranthine. Your word is law. This is made especially interesting if you start a new character because that new character will actually be from the neighboring kingdom of Orlais, which had previously invaded and ruled Ferelden for generations with tyrannical excess. Orlais had only recently been overthrown after a bloody war, so obviously your subjects won't be happy about your new character's nationality.



Grab an axe and get moving. What are you waiting for...an invitation?

In Awakening, you're faced with many difficult choices, often with no clear "right" answers. Plus, the darkspawn are evolving now--they think, they talk, they strategize. It can make their actions far more villainous, and defeating them becomes that much trickier. Put it all together and you have an exciting new chapter in the Dragon Age universe.

GS: Finally, is there anything else you'd like to add about Awakening?

FB: March 16 can't come soon enough. The team is eager to share our new story and give our fans a chance to come back to Ferelden. We've missed you.

GS: Thanks, Ferret.


http://gdc.gamespot.com/story/6253504/dragon-age-origins-awakening-qanda-high-level-abilities-characters-items-and-story
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on March 15, 2010, 09:24:52 PM
[youtube=560,345]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyWf1JulUHw[/youtube]
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: pilonv1 on March 15, 2010, 09:52:18 PM
I'm waiting for the GOTY edition. No interest in playing the vanilla DA now.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Herr Mafflard on March 16, 2010, 01:10:37 PM
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/dragon-age-origins-awakening-review?page=1

9/10

dragon age - rpg of the year for the second year running. :bow2
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Herr Mafflard on March 16, 2010, 01:19:26 PM
spoiler (click to show/hide)
1) She's dead.
2) Being that she's a she, she can't accept Morrigan's proposal.
3) I can't have Alistair accept the proposal. Just wouldn't be right, seeing as how I fixed him up with the Queen.
4) I can reload a save prior to the final battle and then let Alistair sacrifice himself instead. But then Alistair would be dead.
5) I can reload a save prior to the landsmeet and recruit Loghain and then let him sacrifice himself. But then Alistair would be pissed.
[close]

Wow didnt even think about the fact that
spoiler (click to show/hide)
if youre a female youre fucked
[close]




spoiler (click to show/hide)
I would risk getting Alistair pissed. Who knows, he might actually like being king, and might even forgive you in DA: Awakening.
[close]
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: bork on March 16, 2010, 01:28:04 PM
Is a GOTY version official or are you guys just hoping for one to come out?
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Herr Mafflard on March 16, 2010, 01:44:52 PM
no, the GOTY version isn't official yet and is just conjecture on our part.

Remember, there is possibly another expansion or even sequel slated for Feb 2011. So who knows when a GOTY version with all the expansions included might come out. Most likely bundles will be available for DA:Origins & Awakening, though.

Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: bork on March 16, 2010, 01:48:57 PM
If I find the battle systems in turn-based RPGs boring, should I bother with Dragon Age?  I liked KOTOR and Mass Effect, although the latter obviously doesn't count.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: WrikaWrek on March 16, 2010, 02:05:45 PM
If I find the battle systems in turn-based RPGs boring, should I bother with Dragon Age?  I liked KOTOR and Mass Effect, although the latter obviously doesn't count.

Sure. The game doesn't feel turn based at all, it's pretty close to KOTOR, so you should really like it.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on March 16, 2010, 02:52:47 PM
http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1864/Dragon-Age-Origins-Awakening/p2/
http://www.videogamer.com/xbox360/dragon_age_origins_a_awakening/review.html
http://g4tv.com/games/xbox-360/63130/Dragon-Age-Origins---Awakening/review/

The length seems to be about 15 to 25 hours.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Madrun Badrun on March 16, 2010, 03:00:31 PM
That's really short for that price :(
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: ManaByte on March 16, 2010, 03:54:58 PM
This is up on XBLA for 3200 points. Only about a gig download.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on March 16, 2010, 04:32:29 PM
That's really short for that price :(

Seriously?

SP games are 10 hours nowadays for 60 a pop. Metro, Uncharted, GoW, Gears, Alan Wake.....

I think what he means to say is that its much less bang for the buck than the original game was and perhaps for that genre which is probably a valid statement. I'll still play it myself though.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: demi on March 16, 2010, 04:36:16 PM
That's really short for that price :(

Seriously?

SP games are 10 hours nowadays for 60 a pop. Metro, Uncharted, GoW, Gears, Alan Wake.....

Would you rather spend 10 hours on good games like that, or waste 25 on a shit one like Dragon Age, is what he is saying
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Madrun Badrun on March 16, 2010, 07:20:11 PM
That's really short for that price :(

Seriously?

SP games are 10 hours nowadays for 60 a pop. Metro, Uncharted, GoW, Gears, Alan Wake.....

RPG's move much slower though.  15 hours is like 2 real dungeons from the first game.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: GilloD on March 16, 2010, 08:51:06 PM
I OD'ed on DA:O and never finished it. Now I want this. help.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Bocsius on March 16, 2010, 08:54:14 PM
I think I've settled on playing another run through Dragon Age from the beginning, as a male mage this time so I can avoid the pitfalls I outlined in my spoiler post earlier. And then I'll take him into Awakening.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Madrun Badrun on March 16, 2010, 09:23:25 PM
And then I'll take him into Awakening.

That sounds kinda homosexual
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Lucretius on March 16, 2010, 11:31:59 PM
This is up on XBLA for 3200 points. Only about a gig download.

Interesting... when you install the Awakening disc to the 360 HDD, it just shows up as "Dragon Age: Origins" in your Memory under System Settings.  5.4 GB install.

Playing the DLC version requires you to have the Origins disc in the tray.  But you don't have to own the main game if you are playing the retail version.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: demi on March 16, 2010, 11:34:00 PM
Can you play Awakenings directly off the CD? Or do you require DAO in the machine. How do you start the DLC?
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Lucretius on March 16, 2010, 11:36:55 PM
Can you play Awakenings directly off the CD? Or do you require DAO in the machine. How do you start the DLC?

You can play it directly off the CD.  A friend is borrowing my copy of DAO.  I was worrying I wouldn't be able to play Awakening till I got it back.  Turns out I don't need it.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: demi on March 16, 2010, 11:41:41 PM
INTERESTING. Guess I better rent it then
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Lucretius on March 16, 2010, 11:48:28 PM
Hmm... when i went to import my DAO save file, it imported my character with no clothes.  Not sure what gives.  I start the game in my frikkin underwear.  Is the Blood Dragon Armor not compatible with Awakening?
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: demi on March 16, 2010, 11:49:57 PM
Is it a Dwarf? Leave it...
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Lucretius on March 16, 2010, 11:52:51 PM
From the official launch FAQ:
Weapons, armor and other items that are unique to all other DLC releases will not transfer.

well, shit... the only armor I had on me at the end of the game was the Blood Dragon armor.  Guess it's nudy groovin' till I can find something to wear.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Lucretius on March 16, 2010, 11:53:14 PM
Is it a Dwarf? Leave it...

No, he's a red headed muscle bear human.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: demi on March 16, 2010, 11:54:10 PM
YUCK
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Lucretius on March 16, 2010, 11:54:51 PM
YUCK

Yuck about the armor situation or yuck about red headed bears?
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: demi on March 16, 2010, 11:55:20 PM
Yuck it being a human
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on March 17, 2010, 01:51:52 AM
http://pc.ign.com/articles/107/1077905p1.html
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on March 17, 2010, 02:56:13 PM
Hmmm... I was going to just create a new character since there really isn't a mass effect level of cohesion between the stories and my character died at the end of Dragon Age but I guess I'll just import my old one over anyway.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on March 20, 2010, 06:53:26 PM
I'm about 6 hours in.

My early impressions are its about what you would expect which is more Dragon Age.

The more relevant question is if that is something you want if you've beaten the game relatively recently like I did (and put in around 100 hours into)

The pacing is definitely accelerated to fit the shorter length. You get your party really quickly and you already start to unlock their friendship related skill tree things. The gifting and romance options (haven't tried that yet) seem to be greatly streamlined also to fit the shorter length.

Haven't really dipped too much into the main plot yet as I've mostly been doing sidequests.

Game seems a bit easy early on since you are so powered up from the previous game. I bumped it up to hard after playing Dragon Age on normal and it still seems pretty easy so far.

I'll post more when I get further into the game.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on March 21, 2010, 04:19:22 AM
I put in a healthy number of hours today. Game is starting to pick up and get more enjoyable. Still pretty easy though.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Herr Mafflard on March 21, 2010, 08:29:01 AM
Yuck it being a human


I can totally see Demi rocking a party full of dwarves in Awakening  :lol

How do you feel about elves, Demi? Worse or better than humans? My rogue elf is so damned scrawny and baby faced... it makes me sick. I think I'm gonna hafta give him a fat beard in Awakening if I can. Make him resemble something of a man.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: WrikaWrek on March 21, 2010, 10:58:44 AM
Think i'll just create another character. Seems to me, that it makes more sense for it to be a new Grey Warden coming in from another country since it's badly connected to the choices you made in the first and only one character actually comes back, and it's the shittiest one.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: demi on March 21, 2010, 02:51:21 PM
Yuck it being a human


I can totally see Demi rocking a party full of dwarves in Awakening  :lol

How do you feel about elves, Demi? Worse or better than humans? My rogue elf is so damned scrawny and baby faced... it makes me sick. I think I'm gonna hafta give him a fat beard in Awakening if I can. Make him resemble something of a man.

Even Dwarves are disappointing. I refuse to believe all dwarves are chiseled beasts, since they all love to be all sloven and drink beer all day and fuck all night.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Herr Mafflard on March 21, 2010, 03:06:11 PM
yeah I think every member of a race in DA has the exact same body model, which sucks  :lol   :'(

except this guy: husky cheeseburger dwarf  :-*

(http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/1415/dahusydwarf.jpg)
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on March 21, 2010, 11:01:09 PM
Think i'll just create another character. Seems to me, that it makes more sense for it to be a new Grey Warden coming in from another country since it's badly connected to the choices you made in the first and only one character actually comes back, and it's the shittiest one.

I was going to do that but since it isn't really like Mass Effect that was what made me decide to just use my guy from the first game. What does it matter really since it isn't a true connected story and you get to retain your leveling and most of your items.

Shame thought it would be harder then you describe it.

So far its not hard but then once you were powered up in the original game it also became much easier. You have so many powers now including the new ones and new items like potions that can restore your stamina so you just have so many options and chances to be over-powering.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on March 24, 2010, 03:15:15 AM
About 26 hours in although I'm a slow player when it comes to RPG's. I would guess I have maybe 5 to 10 hours more to go.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Fragamemnon on March 25, 2010, 01:25:09 PM
I'm a pretty slow/methodical player and would probably go about at that pace. Thanks for the update-length/price was somewhat of a concern, but that seems to be a good value.

I do want to finish my current character first in the main game though, only have a little bit more to go.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on March 25, 2010, 01:31:06 PM
I'm gonna finish it up today. I'm really close to the end. I'm kind of mixed on it honestly. Not because of the length to price value because I actually think that's alright especially if you do all or nearly all the side quests. The smaller scale of the game is what sort of suffers imo. Part of the appeal of Dragon Age was basking in this massive RPG with a lot of fleshed out stuff and ideas

Awakening sort of is the streamlined version of that and when you streamline it, some of the charm and appeal is missing. It's enjoyable but its sort of hard to call it a must play. I'll do my full "review" later this evening probably after I finish it. 

For someone like you Frag I'm also guessing it will be crazy insane easy. It was easy for me and I'm certainly not a top notch strategy guy.

My character was level 21 when I brought him over and it just seems like the game was balanced for a lower level or something. Plus some of the new abilities they added and enhancements in general really buff up your party a huge deal. Its neat because you feel powerful and you get to use your special abilities more, but the monsters just can't handle it. 
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on March 25, 2010, 01:42:20 PM
Doesnt sound too amazing.

You know I don't want to give the impression that I don't like it. I do. If somebody loved the original Dragon Age (like I did) then I think its a worthwhile play. Its just doesn't necessarily hit as hard or as fresh as the original did. Which is understandable with it coming so soon after the original.

If you go in with the proper mindset of what this is, I think its a lot of fun. But undeniably it is much easier and slightly less impressive in a scope and scale sense than the original. 
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Herr Mafflard on March 25, 2010, 01:53:29 PM
thanks for the impressions, stoney. I'm looking forward to it. Like Frag, I'm gonna finish up my final runthrough of the original before I take this on.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on March 25, 2010, 05:54:38 PM
lame. I've actually accidentily made the final part harder on myself because of how poorly they set up the end game flow.

spoiler (click to show/hide)
Basically you have to split your party into two groups sort of like in the first game. One defends your home base and the other goes on the final mission although it's not 100% clear when you make this decision that this is the final decision. So now I have to do the final part with only three party members instead of 4.
[close]
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on March 25, 2010, 08:48:19 PM
Finished it. Somewhere between the 30 to 35 hour mark. I forgot to check the time of my last save.

As I said before I'm mixed on it overall. And the last portion of the game doesn't help my opinon because its a jumbled mess. The over-arching problem here is that this content feels rushed, slightly incomplete, and too much material and story fit over too little time. If given a full dev cycle or simply more dev time, like releasing this in the fall or something you would have had something  probably that I could easily recommend but since that isn't the case its hard to recommend this unless you are a Dragon Age diehard and absolutely must have more Dragon Age before the real sequel eventually comes out.

It's simply an inferior experience in nearly every way to Dragon Age which I think everybody knew it would be going in simply because of the time it took to make it, but until you actually play and experience the consquences of that, you won't understand the dissappointment. I think a concept like this could have been good but they would have had to limit the scope and really focus on a few things. Instead you feel like you are playing something that has intentions on being epic and great but falls very short of it. I was hoping the final portion of the game would sort of redeem and validate the experience but instead it just sort of displays the worst shortcomings of the game.

Decent to fun experience that starts with a great hook and seems really good early on but simply wilts the more you get into the game unfortunately. Very easy also as I've mentioned time and time again (except for a final boss that is annoyingly hard, always a bad sign that a game has been rushed).

If you're curious about how much you will level I started the game at level 21 and finished at around level 32.

Also the game is pretty buggy. Clearly a lot less QA went into this.

Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Madrun Badrun on March 25, 2010, 08:56:52 PM
This is the same price as the original according to amazon.ca.  :cancry
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: tehjaybo on April 04, 2010, 02:15:30 PM
bump from the dead because I'm FUCKING PISSED OFF.  There's a glitch at the Silverite Mine that you can go in the door WAY before you're supposed to, and without certain party members. It also fucks over other quests.  I'm gonna have to completely restart because of this bullshit.

GOOODDADAMMNITTTT.
Title: Re: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Post by: Stoney Mason on April 04, 2010, 02:20:48 PM
Yeah there were a lot of quests I noticed that either seemed poorly thought out or had easy potential for breaking. The smugglers quest in the town is one of the worst designed missions I've ever played.

Awakening has a lot of broken things about it. Eurogamer gave it a 9.  :lol