What The People Behind Mass Effect And Dragon Age Are Trying To Do [Vision Statements]

I spoke to the men running the studio behind many of the world’s biggest role-playing games a couple of weeks ago, to discuss a variety of things. I left with a bonus: The BioWare Vision Statement. More

PS3 Dragon Age Players Return To Ostagar Next Month [Dlc]

After numerous lengthy delays, the PlayStation 3 version of Dragon Age: Origins’ Return to Ostagar downloadable content has passed certification, with a release scheduled for two weeks from tomorrow. Return to Ostagar was originally slated for release during the holiday season for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC, but constant delays pushed the release date into January. It was released for the Xbox 360 in early January , only to be withdrawn due to general bugginess . On January 29th BioWare released the downloadable content once again , though only for the PC and 360. Now an official post on the BioWare forums has announced that the new content has finally passed PlayStation 3 certification, and will be hitting the PlayStation Network on March 11th, giving players four days to blaze through Ostagar before the Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening expansion is released. It’s still a relatively long wait, but at least you’ll be busy for a while once it drops. Return to Ostagar PS3 Release Date Confirmed! March 11, 2010 [BioWare Forums - Thanks Lisa!]

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PS3 Dragon Age Players Return To Ostagar Next Month [Dlc]

Dragon Age Action Figures Will Probably Look Like This [Bioware]

If you want Dragon Age: Origins action figures , DC Comics’ collectibles division has you covered. DC Unlimited will give gamers a quadruple dose of plastic, fully poseable playthings based on BioWare’s role-playing game later this year. Recently announced but heretofore lacking in photographic evidence, the four Dragon Age figures are due to ship on September 29. As you can see for yourselves, the Duncan, Genlock, Morrigan and Loghain figures feature the same solid sculpts that DC Unlimited has become known for with its World of Warcraft figures, but are still “pending licensor approval.” Should things change for the better, we’ll no doubt let you know. Who’s psyched for some slightly late Dragon Age toys out there?!

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Dragon Age Action Figures Will Probably Look Like This [Bioware]

The Return of the Return of Ostagar [Dlc]

Is BioWare actually letting Charlie Brown kick the DLC football? Looks like Return to Ostagar, the DLC pack for Dragon Age: Origins , came back sometime yesterday to Xbox Live Marketplace and for PC download. The DLC originally went live on Jan. 14 but had to be removed because a title update created a bug within it. That followed earlier bug-related delays in development. The pack is 400 Microsoft Points or $4.99 US. As of publication, it is still not on the PlayStation Network and is classified as “coming soon” on the BioWare page. Return to Ostagar [Bioware via Blue's News ]

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The Return of the Return of Ostagar [Dlc]

The Return of the Return of Ostagar [Dlc]

Is BioWare actually letting Charlie Brown kick the DLC football? Looks like Return to Ostagar, the DLC pack for Dragon Age: Origins , came back sometime yesterday to Xbox Live Marketplace and for PC download. The DLC originally went live on Jan. 14 but had to be removed because a title update created a bug within it. That followed earlier bug-related delays in development. The pack is 400 Microsoft Points or $4.99 US. As of publication, it is still not on the PlayStation Network and is classified as “coming soon” on the BioWare page. Return to Ostagar [Bioware via Blue's News ]

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The Return of the Return of Ostagar [Dlc]

The Best Role-Playing Games Of 2009 [Special Awards]

While the jury may still be out on our Game of the Year, we’ve already rolled the dice on the Best Role-Playing Games of 2009. Why are we doing a best Role-Playing Game award and not a Best Shooter, Best Driving Game, etc.? Because this is an Editor’s Choice category, ladies and gentlemen, and role-playing is my genre of choice. When my writing is done for the day and I’m in-between reviews, I spend my free time increasing stats, gaining experience points, and managing my skills in strange worlds where the fate of everything rests on my shoulders. It wasn’t easy, narrowing down the RPGs I’ve played in 2009 down to three runners-up and one winner, mainly because I can squeeze a great deal of enjoyment out of the worst the genre has to offer. It’s like judging your own children. You know they have flaws but you overlook them, because flaws and all, they’re a part of you. Once I forced myself to look at them with a more critical eye, however, the overall best floated to the top rapidly. Runners-Up Demon’s Souls (PS3) Demon’s Souls is a contender for Game of the Year, yet it doesn’t make Role-Playing Game of the Year? How can this be? Demon’s Souls is an amazing game, no doubt. It’s challenging to the point of being punishing, and the tension generated by knowing death lurks around every corner is almost a tangible thing. It’s a knot in your stomach that only fades with repeated play-throughs, and even then you’d be foolish to let your guard down too much. And honestly, that’s why it’s only a runner-up. It’s fantastic experience, but a bit too tense. Read Our Demon’s Souls Review Ar Tonelico 2 : Melody of Metafalica (PS2) With so many RPG developers moving on to 3D, Japanese developer GUST continues to do amazing things with 2D graphics on a system that’s on its last legs. Ar Tonelico 2: Melody of Metafalica isn’t just about pretty sprites, however. It’s an excellent example of the way GUST crafts its traditional, turn-based role-playing game systems. At the start, the game is a simple turn-based RPG affair, but then the developers begin to layer on new elements – Replakia, Girl Power, Dualstall, Synchronicity Chains – building up a complex system at a pace that makes it easy for the player to handle these new concepts. The game also excels at creating compelling characters, allowing the player to “Dive” into the minds of his Reyvateil companions, exploring their subconscious and crafting new song magic in the process. It’s complex, entertaining, gorgeous, and just a bit racy. In short, it’s exactly what I look for in a 2D Japanese RPG. Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor (Nintendo DS) The Shin Megami Tensei series made its explosive debut on the Nintendo DS this year, and it wasn’t simply a rehash of other games in the series. Sure, the story had certain similarities, with demons invading Tokyo and a group of high school teens discovering a way to make pacts with the invaders, using their powers to survive in a city doomed to die. The story goes deep, and the characters are as entertaining as we’ve come to expect, but the gameplay is where Devil Survivor truly stands out. On one hand it’s a tactical RPG, with characters being deployed on a field and positioned to attack. On the other hand, attacking with a character switches to a traditional turn-based RPG battle, with the character and up to two demon companions facing off against the enemy. Between its unique battle system and the sheer amount of gameplay packed into the tiny cartridge, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor is a game no DS RPG fan should miss. Winner: Dragon Age: Origins (PC, Xbox 360, PS3) While my RPG tastes generally lean towards the more traditional Japanese turn-based affairs, BioWare has proven time and time again that a more action-oriented role-playing experience can captivate me just as readily as one in which I have to wait my turn to attack. From the moment you create your character, Dragon Age: Origins makes sure you realize that this is your story. Sure, the battle against the Blight and the political intrigue of Ferelden figure into the overall plot, but the story is all about how you handle these elements, rather than how you react to them. The gameplay itself is excellent, with a multitude of options, skills, and equipment to bolster your party. Your companions are extraordinarily human, at least on the inside, with motivations and emotions that compel you to explore their stories further. But in the end, it’s all about you. You create your character. You make decisions that change the face of the game world. Dragon Age: Origins is all about the role you play, and that makes the game truly worthy of being called the Best Role-Playing Game of 2009. Read Our Dragon Age: Origins Review Games that came close to making the cut include Borderlands, which was a bit too much of a shooter for my taste; Nostalgia for the Nintendo DS, which was technically lovely but somewhat bland; and Rune Factory: Frontier for the Wii, which upon closer inspection was one giant crafting simulation, but a very pretty one. If your favorite game didn’t make the cut, rest assured that I likely played and enjoyed it to some extent. Just not as large an extent as these other titles. Either way, I’m sure you’ll let me know what I “missed” in the comments section. Do try to stay in character.

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The Best Role-Playing Games Of 2009 [Special Awards]

Dragon Age Return To Ostagar DLC Now Unavailable [False Start]

Briefly going up for sale on Xbox Live yesterday , BioWare has pulled the Return to Ostagar downloadable content for Dragon Age: Origins until it can fix a title update that was breaking specialization classes. A title update released yesterday meant to prepare the Xbox 360 version of Dragon Age: Origins for the Return to Ostagar DLC did more harm than good. Players began complaining that the specialization classes – subclasses of Dragon Age’s four main character classes – were no longer functioning. In response, BioWare pulled the DLC, urging players not to download the title update in a post on the official game forums. This morning a title update on the Xbox 360 for Dragon Age: Origins was made available in preparation for the release of Return to Ostagar. This title update introduced a previously undetected issue that causes specialization classes to not work correctly in Dragon Age: Origins. We are removing Return to Ostagar from Xbox Live until the issue is resolved and are recommending that you do not download the title update. If you have already performed the update, we apologize for this and are working hard to ensure a fix is available as soon as possible. We will provide more information to you when it is available. The downloadable content was previously delayed due to unforseen bugs. Yesterday’s release for the Xbox 360 marked the first platform to get the new downloadable content, with PC and PlayStation 3 owners waiting impatiently for news on a release for their platform of choice. Hit the link below for the announcement, followed by a couple dozen pages worth of angry player responses and console bickering. Title Update, Specialization issue and Return to Ostagar Update [BioWare Community Forums - Thanks Kevin!]

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Dragon Age Return To Ostagar DLC Now Unavailable [False Start]

Dragon Age Retail Expansion Coming In March [Rumor]

Product listings from retailers in New Zealand suggest a full retail expansion for Dragon Age: Origins is heading to the PC in March. Eurogamer’s Czech Republic site has posted an article detailing a new expansion for Dragon Age titled Dragon Age: Awakening . Apparently culled from product listings from unnamed websites in New Zealand, the land of movie extras, the new expansion is said to take place after the events of the original game, with a new character, a new origin story, and upwards of 15 hours of gameplay. We’ve been scouring New Zealand’s finest gaming websites, but so far have only been able to find a listing for Dragon Age: Awakening at The Game Station, where the PC version is listed at $69.95 NZD and the Xbox 360 version listing for $10 NZD more. There is no PlayStation 3 version listed. Eurogamer.cz says the expansion will retail for two-thirds the price of the full title, so that sounds somewhere in the vicinity of right, all things considered. It’s certainly a plausible rumor. BioWare is committed to providing new content for Dragon Age, and a new expansion would sure taste great right about now. We’ve contacted BioWare for comment, but considering the holidays, we aren’t holding our breath. Odkrytí Dragon Age Procitnutí ( Translation Here ) [Eurogamer.cz - Thanks L.!]

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Dragon Age Retail Expansion Coming In March [Rumor]

Dragon Age Retail Expansion Coming In March [Rumor]

Product listings from retailers in New Zealand suggest a full retail expansion for Dragon Age: Origins is heading to the PC in March. Eurogamer’s Czech Republic site has posted an article detailing a new expansion for Dragon Age titled Dragon Age: Awakening . Apparently culled from product listings from unnamed websites in New Zealand, the land of movie extras, the new expansion is said to take place after the events of the original game, with a new character, a new origin story, and upwards of 15 hours of gameplay. We’ve been scouring New Zealand’s finest gaming websites, but so far have only been able to find a listing for Dragon Age: Awakening at The Game Station, where the PC version is listed at $69.95 NZD and the Xbox 360 version listing for $10 NZD more. There is no PlayStation 3 version listed. Eurogamer.cz says the expansion will retail for two-thirds the price of the full title, so that sounds somewhere in the vicinity of right, all things considered. It’s certainly a plausible rumor. BioWare is committed to providing new content for Dragon Age, and a new expansion would sure taste great right about now. We’ve contacted BioWare for comment, but considering the holidays, we aren’t holding our breath. Odkrytí Dragon Age Procitnutí ( Translation Here ) [Eurogamer.cz - Thanks L.!]

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Dragon Age Retail Expansion Coming In March [Rumor]

Dragon Age Retail Expansion Coming In March [Rumor]

Product listings from retailers in New Zealand suggest a full retail expansion for Dragon Age: Origins is heading to the PC in March. Eurogamer’s Czech Republic site has posted an article detailing a new expansion for Dragon Age titled Dragon Age: Awakening . Apparently culled from product listings from unnamed websites in New Zealand, the land of movie extras, the new expansion is said to take place after the events of the original game, with a new character, a new origin story, and upwards of 15 hours of gameplay. We’ve been scouring New Zealand’s finest gaming websites, but so far have only been able to find a listing for Dragon Age: Awakening at The Game Station, where the PC version is listed at $69.95 NZD and the Xbox 360 version listing for $10 NZD more. There is no PlayStation 3 version listed. Eurogamer.cz says the expansion will retail for two-thirds the price of the full title, so that sounds somewhere in the vicinity of right, all things considered. It’s certainly a plausible rumor. BioWare is committed to providing new content for Dragon Age, and a new expansion would sure taste great right about now. We’ve contacted BioWare for comment, but considering the holidays, we aren’t holding our breath. Odkrytí Dragon Age Procitnutí ( Translation Here ) [Eurogamer.cz - Thanks L.!]

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Dragon Age Retail Expansion Coming In March [Rumor]

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