Dragon Age, new LOTR game due by April '09

[Mara]

EA reveals BioWare's long-in-development fantasy RPG, mystery Tolkien/Jackson-inspired title will arrive before the company's next fiscal year ends.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6185476.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=newstop&tag=newstop;title;3

:read:

[Kalbrecht]

Phew! I thought for a second they'd changed Dragon Age into a Tolkein inspired title. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but you know...I was looking forward to a new IP.

The new fiscal year can't come soon enough for it.

[Mara]

Dragon Age Name Change, Tease Continues [July 09, 2008, 9:34 pm ET] - 10 Comments
Dragon Age Website has not yet been updated, still teasing saying: "More July 9, 2008." On what may or may not be a related note, however, EA sends word to expect a trailer from BioWare's upcoming RPG this weekend on both the telly and the internets in preparation for the game's showing at next week's E3. Here's the announcement, which refers to the game's title as Dragon Age: Origins and once again confuses 1:00 am Saturday morning with Friday night:
Dragon Age™: Origins, the highly anticipated dark fantasy epic from leading video game developer BioWare is set to be shown during E3 2008! Beginning with a world exclusive trailer on GameTrailers TV, airing this Friday night at 1:00 AM on Spike TV and Spike HD, fans will get their first look at Dragon Age™: Origins before it is shown to media during E3 2008, July 15-17. The trailer will be available in high definition after it airs on TV at www.gametrailers.com




http://www.bluesnews.com/

:read:

[Kalbrecht]

Can't wait for more info!

Although I hope they haven't gone the generic 'dark' fantasy like everyone else.

Insert the cliched generic dark hero with father issues, no memory and oh guess what, he's also the key to everything in the universe!

[Mara]

Screenshots & trailers:
http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/news/39957/Dragon-Age-Origins-Podcast-Screenshots-Trailers

:read:

[Kalbrecht]

That...was..disappointingly generic, actually. It looks like every other generic RPG "dark age" setting, with hints of LOTR, Warhammer, Oblivion...the list goes on.

I hope I'm wrong about that. I have faith in Bioware.

[Eddie Ismail]

What, no gameplay video? Color me skeptical...for now

[Mara]

Previews:
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/dragonage/news.html?sid=6193813&mode=previews

http://pc.ign.com/articles/889/889399p1.html

http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/dragon-age/890315p1.html

:read:

[Mara]

Preview:
http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3168782&p=1

[Kalbrecht]

I like that they're gong back to the roots, with the lack of a voice for the main character, and the way the party works, and the pausable combat.

The stackable/combined spell effects is a good idea, too.

All good things.

The emphasis on "the world is so daaark" is still frustrating to me, mainly because EVERY fantasy world is 'dark' at the moment. I'm not saying that a game should be smiley and happy, but that you don't have to one-up everyone else in the "dark, brutal, more doomed" stakes. Not all armour needs to be covered in spikes.

[Mara]

Another preview:
http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/previews/40250/Dragon-Age-Origins-Preview

:read:

[Mara]

Screenshots:
http://news.filefront.com/new-screens-for-dragon-age-origins-look-yummy/

:read:

[Gary V.]

Thanks for all the info on this and many other games, Mara! Dragon Age is a must buy for me. Can't wait.

[Mara]

Introducing the Dragon Age Toolset
The Dragon Age Toolset provides builders with powerful, developer-grade tools.
Key features include:

Create Original Adventures: Using Dragon Age's rich set of assets and locations as starting blocks, you can modify these stunning areas by adding new quests, characters and scripting to create your own adventures, conversations and cut-scenes.

Powerful Script Editor: You can fully customize combat and creature AI to create detailed action sequences full of heart-pounding party-based tactical combat.

On-Going Toolset Content Updates: We have plans to release additional assets and features for the toolset in the future, allowing for expanded creation of new areas.

Live Toolset Demonstration at the Penny Arcade Expo
The Dragon Age Toolset will be part of a stage demonstration during the Penny Arcade Expo, August 29-31, 2008, at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center in Seattle, Washington.

At the time of this writing, you can attend the live demonstration scheduled to be on the PAX main stage Sunday, August 31, at 1:30 PM Pacific Time. For more PAX information and coverage please check out our Conferences 2008 web page.

Toolset Demonstration Highlights
At PAX, Dragon Age: Origins Producer Fernando Melo and Senior Designer Ferret Baudoin will be presenting a 45 minute overview of the toolset for Dragon Age fans.

The demonstration takes place in the Ruins of Ostagar area

A quick look at the extremely flexible Face Morphing feature

Clothing, armor and weapons will be selected giving a quick look at the variety

Enemy monsters will be selected and placed in the area

The new dialogue editor will be featured

The module created on stage will be played through live in the Dragon Age: Origins game

We hope to see you at PAX. Stay tuned for more toolset updates and information.



http://www.bluesnews.com/

[Mara]

Coming to consoles:
http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=217002

[RangerRick]

Here's another preview.

http://www.tomsgames.com/us/2008/08/21/dragonage_preview/

I'm really looking forward to this! :): Not in the same realm as Balders' Gate, but it's heir apparent. I just hope the story line is as well thought out! :yes:

[RangerRick]

Gamespy preview:

http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/dragon-age/901903p1.html

[Mara]

Dragon Age: Origins Footage Features Intense Old-school Discussion
http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/54356

:read:

[Mara]

Preview:
http://www.gamesradar.com/pc/dragon-age-origins/preview/dragon-age-origins/a-20080917105643846040/g-2007021318127502086