It's no secret that I enjoyed BioWare's latest WRPG, Dragon Age: Origins. Easily my second favourite RPG of 2009. I've been playing it more or less consistently, and I think I'm finally getting close to wrapping up the main story.
Tiny, overpriced morsels of DLC aside, I couldn't help but wonder when I would get a chance to experience more of Dragon Age's world. Well, EA and BioWare have recently revealed that the wait won't be as long as I might have thought.
Coming this March, EA will be releasing Dragon Age: Origin's first 'official expansion,' Awakening.
Awakening reportedly takes place after the events of Origins, and puts the player in the position of the new Commander of the Grey Wardens. Players can choose to keep their original character, or start fresh with a new character from Orlais with a new origin.
Unlike the DLC packets which typically unlock a small amount of additional content, Awakening will introduce full story complete with five new recruitable characters (plus apparently one 'favourite' from the main game).
Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening will reportedly be available on March 16, 2010 in either digital or retail versions, and will set you back $39.99 regardless of your platform choice.
I don't usually buy add-ons to games, but this sounds actually pretty tempting.
BioWare and EA's upcoming multiplatform RPG, Dragon Age Origins, is going for a very extreme image. Violence, blood, sex, and mature storytelling are the order of the day for the title. Maybe this has sold you on the new IP, maybe it hasn't. But either way, EA is hoping that the below CG trailer will peak your interest in the game. Check it out.
Definitely hardcore stuff. The CG is extremely impressive, as is the voice work in the trailer. (I don't know, something about British accents make medieval fantasy just a little more believable to me.)
I've personally enjoyed BioWare's other works, but Dragon Age's image of mature storytelling is a little intimidating. I guess I'll rent it first, or something.
Dragon Age Origins will be available in North America for PC and Xbox 360 on November 3, 2009, and in Europe on November 6, 2009. The PlayStation 3 version will be available later in the month for both regions.
BioWare and EA's upcoming adult-oriented RPG, Dragon Age: Origins, has been officially postponed by a couple of weeks.
Currently, the publisher has announced that the PC and Xbox 360 versions of the game will ship out on November 3, 2009, rather than on October 22, as originally planned. The PlayStation 3 version has not yet received an official date, but EA says that it will ship 'soon' after the 360 and PC versions.
Though EA has offered no solid reasoning for the delay, I would like to pretend that EA needs time to hold a pagan ritual on All Hallow's Eve to ensure the new IP's success. Hey, it's as good a guess as any.
At any rate, I guess you can now go trick-or-treating without missing out on any bloody/steamy RPGing. Good news?
BioWare and EA's upcoming "adult-oriented" WRPG, Dragon Age: Origins may be a new property, but EA is convinced it will be a winner. In an effort to make sure fans get something they can proudly display, EA has announced that the game will be getting a limited premium edition alongside the regular package.
The newly announced box will contain the following (in addition to the game and game manual):
-Tin Game Case - A Bonus DVD Containing Making of Documentary, Soundtrack, Trailers, Wallpaper, Concept Art Video, and Strategies for the Game -A Cloth Map -3 Bonus In-Game Extras: Bergens Honor, Grimoire of the Frozen Wastes, and Final Reason -Additional In-Game Quest: The Stone Prisoner -Additional In-Game Recruitable Character: Shale -An Bonus Item for Mass Effect 2*
That's quite a bit of stuff, I must say.
I am personally sort of on the fence with this game. I have no doubt that the story will be compelling, but the "intense gore and sex" attitude with the game's direction sort of puts this out of the realm of my interests. Especially since they seems to be there just to sell more copies. :/
Dragon Age: Origins will be available for PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 on October 20, 2009 in North America, and on October 23, 2009 in Europe.
*From what I understand, the Mass Effect 2 content will also be available on the PS3 version of the game, but will work for your 360/PC version of ME2. Not exactly sure how that works, but I just report 'em as I hear 'em.
If you had told me two years ago that EA would be showing 3 hardcore RPGs at E3, I would have laughed in your face. EA? RPGs? Hardcore? Pfft. What planet are you from?
But since the publisher has decided to put a little more effort into making games for us ("us" meaning "gamers"), their efforts have paid off in spades (at least in reputation). Some of the fruits of their labours include BioWare's two upcoming WRPGs, Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect 2, both of which were shown off during their press conference yesterday. Take a look below.
Dragon Age: Origins
This appears to be one of the bloodiest, one of the most scandalous, and one of the most graphic RPGs of recent memory, and EA makes no apologies for it. In fact, they are releshing in it, as the above trailer so poignantly depicts. And I have to admit, I'm a little intimidated by it.
Dragon Age: Origins will be available for PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 on October 20, 2009 in North America.
Mass Effect 2
The follow-up to 2007's critically acclaimed science fiction WRPG, Mass Effect 2 looks to be shaping up to outdo its predecessor in every category. Perhaps its only downside is that we have to wait until 2010 to play it.
The above footage really only plays the pre-E3 trailer that we have already seen, which is a little disappointing, but I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more about the game as the year presses forward.
Mass Effect 2 will be available for PC and Xbox 360 early next year in North America.
APB (All Points Bulletin)
Finally, EA announced that a strategic parterniship with Crackdown developer Realtime Worlds in order to publisher their upcoming gangs vs. cops MMORPG, APB. Origjnally announced for both Xbox 360 and PC, only the PC version has been confirmed so far. Since it's EA we're talking about, a release on multiple consoles in the future is definitely possible.
Unfortunately, we have no word on a release date other than '2010.'
It should also be noted that EA is publishing BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic MMO, though details are still very slim.
E3, for all intents and purposes, starts Monday morning with Microsoft's press conference. But everyone's all excited this week, showing off new stuff, releasing info and trailers, the whole bit. Who are we to stop them?
So if you just can't wait until all the new stuff, here are a bunch of new trailers for a bunch of upcoming games. Hopefully all of this is just a shadow of things to come, as I certainly hope we don't spend next week just talking about these trailers...
Alpha Protocol PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 Obsidian, Sega Q3 2009 (North America)
Dragon Age: Origins PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 BioWare, EA October 20, 2009 (North America)
Mass Effect 2 Xbox 360, PC BioWare, EA TBA
White Knight Chronicles PlayStation 3 Level 5, Sony TBA
None of the above are very long or show off much in terms of gameplay, and are clearly 100% focused on hype. That said, anyone have a favourite? :P
You used to like RPGs, you say. But lately, they just feel so, oh, I don't know, childish. You wish someone would come along and make an RPG that feels like it understands the grown-up you.
Don't worry, my mature friend, BioWare understands all too well what growing up is all about. To prove it, they've made sure that their upcoming PC and console RPG Dragon Age: Origins will cater to the refined mature tastes that you have come to appreciate in life.
Don't believe me? Just watch the trailer below, and prepare to feel mature.
Yes, with all that violence, blood, and sex, you are sure to feel right at home with Dragon Age. No no, BioWare asks for no thanks. Just about $60 and you're good to go.
Isn't it nice to know that someone is looking out for you and your maturity in this juvenile world? I know I feel relieved.
Dragon Age: Origins will be available in North America on November 3, 2009 for PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.
EA held a press conference yesterday in which they announced vague release targets for two of their upcoming BioWare RPGs, Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect 2.
Dragon Age, originally slated to release early this year on PC, then later on consoles, has been pushed back to the latter half of 2009, though now all three versions (PC, 360, PS3) will all ship at the same time.
Mass Effect 2, heavily rumored to drop this year, has been dated for the first quarter of 2010. The game was announced to be "multiplatform," though it is unclear exactly which platforms it will be. PC and Xbox 360 are probably a given, but anything beyond that remain uncertain.
I honestly forgot that Dragon Age was supposed to come out early this year. Nice to hear that the PC version will coincide with consoles. :)
BioWare and EA's upcoming PC RPG, Dragon Age: Origins, has been hinted at going to consoles since it was officially unveiled earlier this year (though it had been shown off previously).
BioWare confirmed yesterday that Dragon Age will indeed be heading to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 next year for the holiday season (so about a year away). The game is still set to release during the first quarter of next year on the PC.
I like BioWare, but I don't like EA (especially their DRM policy), so I'm prepared to wait for the console version. What about you?
BioWare fans, you probably already know this, but the official website for Dragon Age: Origins is up and chock full of new content for your viewing/reading/downloading pleasure.
The bursting-at-the-seams webpage includes multiple gameplay trailers, galleries of screenshots, info on heroes and monsters, and even a history of the game's world. Wow, that's a lot of stuff.
You can check it out here, where you can pretend like you are playing it.
Last evening at EA's press conference, the only RPG shown was BioWare's upcoming PC RPG, Dragon Age Origins. Announced a few years ago, Dragon Age has been a long time coming, but looks to be finally nearing completion.
The game is scheduled to release on PC early 2009, but the developers have also indicated that the game will eventually make its way to "consoles." ...So, Dragon Age on Atari 2600. Confirmed?
Check out the E3 trailer shown at the conference below.
It's no secret that I enjoyed BioWare's latest WRPG, Dragon Age: Origins. Easily my second favourite RPG of 2009. I've been playing it more or less consistently, and I think I'm finally getting close to wrapping up the main story.
