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Dragon Age: Origins
- Thread starter JackAxe
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It should be much improved, especially since they've had plenty of time to take in the UT3 engine. I also recall that Epic hadn't delivered on their promises, because they were so tied up with GoW at the time, so I'm assuming that's been resolved.
The changes I'm hoping for are more in user interface, mainly the inventory system. DA's UI is nice overall, so I'd like to see something similar in ME2.
I was up til 4:am last night playing. It's one of those games where as it's hard for me to stop playing once I get going. Really good RPG so far.
Bioware, makes it a big plus for me. One thing about fantasy RPGs, it frequently seems you are struggling against mobs especially as a caster. This is in comparison to Borderlands where with the right equipment, you can actually make one head-shot kills.I enjoy the fantasy setting but wish I had more opportunities in the fantasy RPGs to really have that supreme sense of power.
I'm getting better, it just took time and a few levels. Having a mage really helps, I just don't have the main mage yet -- what's her name.
I noticed that this game seems to focus on a rogue, even kind of singling that class out in all the attributes. Anyways, all the chests I can't unlock have me wondering if I'm really missing out, or is this another Mass Effect, where as the items are generally useless.
I like that supreme sense, but only towards the end. I'm always disappointed if I feel I didn't earn it and the game is too easy.
The game really does need a mouse, but that's of course not ideal in all settings. The game is good enough so far that even with the added steps I think you'd still really enjoy it. But my vote is for playing it on a comp with a mouse.
I wonder why Bioware didn't support the PS3 mouse option? Doesn't seem like it would be that much extra work to QA for over the gamepad, since they're already doing so for the PC.
I have a similar party right now, so I'm probably in the same area. I fire on the dark spawn with my archer and mage until one of them runs close enough, then I finish them off with my sword guys.
I'm only level 4.
Ok so I plumped for the PC version and I'm installing now on my macpro. Just hope it's up to the job of doing the game justice. Running Windows 7 64Bit too.
If this turns out to be a disappointing game, I wont be able to trade it back in - meaning any cost saving buying the PC version is automatically null & void.
EDIT....
So installed and up and running . Running at 1920x1200 4x AA All Settings Very High.... Game looks great and plays as smooth as butter on my MacPro.
Still getting used to the controls though.
Decided to play as a MAGE first as I like all that magic sh*t in games
So far so good.....
EDIT to my EDIT.....
OK graphics wise this game is really funny. Some really nice character models and environments, and then statues with texture and geometry that look out of a ps1 title ? Very strange. Also weird how in the gameplay world, my frame rate is as smooth as could be and never hiccups, and yet in the in-game engine cutscenes the framerate can be a little shakey ? Strange but hey ho.
If this turns out to be a disappointing game, I wont be able to trade it back in - meaning any cost saving buying the PC version is automatically null & void.
EDIT....
So installed and up and running . Running at 1920x1200 4x AA All Settings Very High.... Game looks great and plays as smooth as butter on my MacPro.
Still getting used to the controls though.
Decided to play as a MAGE first as I like all that magic sh*t in games
So far so good.....
EDIT to my EDIT.....
OK graphics wise this game is really funny. Some really nice character models and environments, and then statues with texture and geometry that look out of a ps1 title ? Very strange. Also weird how in the gameplay world, my frame rate is as smooth as could be and never hiccups, and yet in the in-game engine cutscenes the framerate can be a little shakey ? Strange but hey ho.
Really looking forward to this game, picked up the Xbox 360 version a few hours ago. I'm gutted to find that there is one, day one downloadble content pack for this game that we have to pay for, I just bought the game full price on launch day! I knew EA would be fleecing customers yet agin...
I have all the settings maxxed out on my Windows box (quad 2.6, ATI 5870, 30" monitor) and the game runs super smooth... except as you mentioned the cutscenes. I don't think vsync kicks in on the cutscenes or something. They aren't horrid, just definitely distracting. I did notice the low rez textures on some of the environment stuff but I think that's semi-normal for things you aren't going to look at often. Heck the game is about 16GB anyway!
I am enjoying the game but I switched it down to easy. I got kinda far on normal but it got to the point where I felt I had to mico manage way too much. Fine for some, but not my preference. I also didn't care to play the rogue class in this game which is usually my favorite. You end up being a warrior in light armor anyway so there's not much point in it as far as I could tell. Although I only got to level 8 and hadn't unlocked a specialization yet. Now I'm a dwarf warrior.
Hooked it up to my 50" 1080p and sat on my sofa with my magic mouse & wireless keyboard and it's great Loving it so far, and the mage story is great if not a little too familar (very lord of the rings)...
Loving it so far, and the mage story is great if not a little too familar (very lord of the rings)...
I was in Best Buy today and DAO (PC version) called to me. I knew for Vista that I'm running on my MBP, that my computers video card technically is below game specs. I took a chance and purchased it, but it does not seem to want to run. Initial splash screen comes up, then the screen turns black and the progress wheel just turns and turns.
Any suggestions? Of interest is this thread over at the DAO forums describing excrutiatingly long game load time.
Any suggestions? Of interest is this thread over at the DAO forums describing excrutiatingly long game load time.
^ For me game load times are small....
As for running on a MBP, I would have thought a 9600 up to task ?
As for running on a MBP, I would have thought a 9600 up to task ?
Hmmm ... I have no issues with load times - could always be shorter, but the game-to-load ratio is very high for me.
Mine is an 8600M. I discovered I had about 35 Vista updates to install including two service packs. After I'm done with that I'll try it again.
None of the load times have bothered me, they've all bee small in comparison to my other favorite recent RPG. I could see load times taking longer on a notebook, since they generally ship with 5400 rpm drives.
Keep us updated Hutn, hopefully you'll get it running under Vista. I hadn't noticed until you mentioned it, that the game's requirements are steeper for Vista.
I found this thread, maybe it will help;
http://daforums.bioware.com/viewtopic.html?topic=704663&forum=146&sp=0
There's also a patch out, but it only fixes some minor issues and makes the game easier for the easy levels...
+++++
OK, being able to turn my mage into a spider is GROSS! It actually bothers me and I wish I could trade it in for another skill. I'm afraid of spiders! They carry shotguns and eat babies.
Keep us updated Hutn, hopefully you'll get it running under Vista. I hadn't noticed until you mentioned it, that the game's requirements are steeper for Vista.
I found this thread, maybe it will help;
http://daforums.bioware.com/viewtopic.html?topic=704663&forum=146&sp=0
There's also a patch out, but it only fixes some minor issues and makes the game easier for the easy levels...
+++++
OK, being able to turn my mage into a spider is GROSS! It actually bothers me and I wish I could trade it in for another skill.
I'm afraid of spiders! They carry shotguns and eat babies.
None of the load times have bothered me, they've all bee small in comparison to my other favorite recent RPG. I could see load times taking longer on a notebook, since they generally ship with 5400 rpm drives.
Keep us updated Hutn, hopefully you'll get it running under Vista. I hadn't noticed until you mentioned it, that the game's requirements are steeper for Vista.
I found this thread, maybe it will help;
http://daforums.bioware.com/viewtopic.html?topic=704663&forum=146&sp=0
There's also a patch out, but it only fixes some minor issues and makes the game easier for the easy levels...
+++++
OK, being able to turn my mage into a spider is GROSS! It actually bothers me and I wish I could trade it in for another skill.
Thanks Jack! Thinking of Mages and Magic, just watched Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix. I think the climatic battle between Dumbledore and He Who Shall Not Be Named is the finest example of an on-screen magic duel I've ever seen!
(not the first time I've seen it.)I'm not really sure what the problem was, after fiddling I got the game running and so far it's been running at about 22fps- playable on my MBP. See my signature for specs. Things I did- played with my firewall, updated Windows with about 35 updates
; updated my video driver via Windows, but I might still go back and get the latest beta Nvidia driver at Laptopstogo.com; and put the game into a window. Although my computer does *not* meet min specs as far as the game's read-me goes for Vista (see below), it is running the game well. On the first launch of the game, it seemed to take forever, like 5 min for the game to start. However, now it is starting pretty quickly. I have no idea if it is now starting faster because I installed a NO-CD patch or not.The readme for the PC version talks about the Dragon Age updater. Based on the read-me, my impression is that it is a windows program accessible by running "services.msc". I don't see a stand alone application. Anyone know if one exists?
From the Readme:
DAO Min Sys Requirements:
11/8 Update: No need to run this game in a window. The frames are just as good full screen as in windowed mode! My frames are mostly from low 20's-30's.
I've started a Mage but only up to about level 5 or so. This game is 100x more story driven than Oblivion, and it is excellently done. The battle between the Greywardens and the beasties (whatever they are called) is very cinematic and done in such a way that you feel that you are right in the middle of it with the important job of getting the tower beacon lit to signal the second wave of attack. I am loving this game so far.
Awesome! Glad to hear it's working.
I'm up past the tower, but not much further. I haven't been able to play since Thursday night, so I'm itching to get back into to my game.
I have a few download codes that came with my collector's edition, but have yet to put them into the game. I don't want to unlock any item or character that will make the game easier.
I'm up past the tower, but not much further. I haven't been able to play since Thursday night, so I'm itching to get back into to my game.
I have a few download codes that came with my collector's edition, but have yet to put them into the game. I don't want to unlock any item or character that will make the game easier.
Just started the game over the weekend, pretty good. I kind of like the way they implemented the buffs and spells over what they did in NWN and Baldur Gates.
One thing I find to be very funny is when they engaged in any battle no matter how small, they will always be covered in blood splatter. Makes me feels like blood thirsty animal.
One thing I find to be very funny is when they engaged in any battle no matter how small, they will always be covered in blood splatter. Makes me feels like blood thirsty animal.
Awesome! Glad to hear it's working.
I'm up past the tower, but not much further. I haven't been able to play since Thursday night, so I'm itching to get back into to my game.
I have a few download codes that came with my collector's edition, but have yet to put them into the game. I don't want to unlock any item or character that will make the game easier.
I downloded with the codes. They appear in my downloaded catagory, but do not appear in my 'installed' catagory and therefore I don't think I can use them and have no idea as to how to install them once downloaded... It's very weird.
The codes won't make the game that much easier. You get some rings which give you marginal benefit at best and you don't have to equip them, some dragon scale armor which is impossible to wear for a while anyway since it requires ridiculous amounts of strength to wear, and the rest of the downloads are side quests.
Good to know. I was worried they were some hold-me-hand items.
MacRumorUser,
I'll put in my codes and see if there's another step. I was wondering if it's like Mass Effect, where as the content just shows up in the game?
MacRumorUser,
I'll put in my codes and see if there's another step. I was wondering if it's like Mass Effect, where as the content just shows up in the game?
Good to know. I was worried they were some hold-me-hand items.
MacRumorUser,
I'll put in my codes and see if there's another step. I was wondering if it's like Mass Effect, where as the content just shows up in the game?
Yep. Any saved games you have will be granted the items and any new games you'll start with them. The quest lines will just open up, I believe they are "started" at your party camp.
Just a heads up, there is a "bug" in the dwarf noble beginning story. (super minor nobody would probably care spoiler) --> I haven't done that story but from what I understand you lose all your items at some point. Soooo you lose your bonus content! <-- There is some save game/load game voodoo you can do after you get out of the opening story to fix it if you want.
For those of you already playing on your mac, are you using Bootcamp, Paralells, Vmware Fusion 2/3?
I haven't used bootcamp yet but I do have VMWare 3 which I run Win7 on.
I just bought a macpro 15", 4GB RAM a couple weeks ago. I do have a Win7 Desktop if need be though to run the game.
I haven't used bootcamp yet but I do have VMWare 3 which I run Win7 on.
I just bought a macpro 15", 4GB RAM a couple weeks ago. I do have a Win7 Desktop if need be though to run the game.
Weird, Bioware's site won't load. They must have overloaded their new social network.
Thanks for the heads up on the dwarfs SilentPanda. It will be a few before I get to that race, as I like the EVIL elves. Gimili is by far my favorite Lord of the Rings character though.
Tarrant64,
They're using Bootcamp. It's worth setting up, if you're going to use your Mac for games like this one.
Thanks for the heads up on the dwarfs SilentPanda. It will be a few before I get to that race, as I like the EVIL elves.
Gimili is by far my favorite Lord of the Rings character though.Tarrant64,
They're using Bootcamp. It's worth setting up, if you're going to use your Mac for games like this one.
agreed. the rogue in this game is not very rogue'ish at all. at least not as good as WoW rogues are. you really don't feel like you're doing any real sneaking around or backstabbing.
I took out the ogre (I think that is what it was) at the top of the tower, doing the Mage Gray Warden quest where you lite the beacon. I assume that all classes go to the same battle after their initiation/starter areas?
For the Mage Class, you have to survive the "Harrowing", an initiation fighting a demon in a dream world, that proves you got the right Mage stuff!
Anyway the fight at the top of the tower was not fun. I took me about 10 tries to kill it. At that point, you no longer think you are on your game, but just struggling to get through. I went over to the DAO, Bioware forums and read about this fight. This is the first real boss. Seems like the best way is to kite him around the room, letting party members snipe him. When he changes his focus, change to the character that has just acquired aggro and run in a big circle so he does not smash you to a pulp!
But it started me wondering if I was leveling my mage properly. Don't think I was. The game is too new to have any real strategy guides online. I found this thread of interest so much of interest I started a new elf mage and instead of focusing on self healing and power attacks, worked towards "Sleep" in Entropy and "Cone of Cold" in Primal. In groups you do seem to be more effective in fights. The emphasis for Mages seems to be on AOE attacks and crowd control that are achieved through things like Cone of Cold, Sleep, Crushing Prision, Walking Bomb, Mass Paralysis, with a little healing thrown in.
I also read about spell combos like Glyph of Repulsion + Glyph of Paralysis= a big boom. Let the games continue!
For the Mage Class, you have to survive the "Harrowing", an initiation fighting a demon in a dream world, that proves you got the right Mage stuff!
Anyway the fight at the top of the tower was not fun. I took me about 10 tries to kill it. At that point, you no longer think you are on your game, but just struggling to get through. I went over to the DAO, Bioware forums and read about this fight. This is the first real boss. Seems like the best way is to kite him around the room, letting party members snipe him. When he changes his focus, change to the character that has just acquired aggro and run in a big circle so he does not smash you to a pulp!
But it started me wondering if I was leveling my mage properly. Don't think I was. The game is too new to have any real strategy guides online. I found this thread of interest so much of interest I started a new elf mage and instead of focusing on self healing and power attacks, worked towards "Sleep" in Entropy and "Cone of Cold" in Primal. In groups you do seem to be more effective in fights. The emphasis for Mages seems to be on AOE attacks and crowd control that are achieved through things like Cone of Cold, Sleep, Crushing Prision, Walking Bomb, Mass Paralysis, with a little healing thrown in.
I also read about spell combos like Glyph of Repulsion + Glyph of Paralysis= a big boom.
Let the games continue!
Cool, spell combos! I didn't know about them. I'm still figuring out the mage that joined my party though, so that's my excuse. Just made some potions for the first time.
I beat the Ogre on my 3rd try on nightmare difficulty. I got lucky! Oh, and I had lots of healing salves.
What I like about the mage and my ranger, although this is somewhat cheese, is I tend to pick off guys from a distance until they run away from their group, then they're easy to take down. Now I'm in a battle where that won't work. These EVIL refugees are after my head, so they ambush me as soon as I get close.
I like the soundtrack on this game. I really really wish they had included actual AIFF though. I can hear the compression with the included MP3s.
I beat the Ogre on my 3rd try on nightmare difficulty. I got lucky! Oh, and I had lots of healing salves.
What I like about the mage and my ranger, although this is somewhat cheese, is I tend to pick off guys from a distance until they run away from their group, then they're easy to take down. Now I'm in a battle where that won't work. These EVIL refugees are after my head, so they ambush me as soon as I get close.
I like the soundtrack on this game. I really really wish they had included actual AIFF though. I can hear the compression with the included MP3s.
I beat the ogre on first try and with a Mage.
Though I'm playing on easy because I do not want to micro manage my team.
Though I'm playing on easy because I do not want to micro manage my team.