| 22 FEB 2011 at 5:54pm |
StilerJourneyman
Posts : 1477
Joined: 27 SEP 2004
Location: US, TN
Status : Offline | You know you want to , just be prepared to wait. I finally got it started but it's going anywhere from 80-200'ish kb/s (2gb total to download).
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| 22 FEB 2011 at 6:13pm |
| Deleted User | For the most part I'm just really curious to see what it looks like. Trav's probably right, if it involves intense battle sequences that would have to be repeated then no, time and resources can be spent elsewhere instead.
The DL is transferring at a steady 175KB/Sec which is pretty much normal since I downgraded my ISP to something that I could actually afford.
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| 22 FEB 2011 at 6:26pm |
KarstenSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 347
Joined: 23 SEP 2006
Location: DK
Status : Offline | The point of the 1 million downloads from EA/Bioware's site is so that they can count if they get the 1 million downloads - and maybe get some new accounts on EA/Bioware's site.
Long time ago, I learned to not download a demo the same day it came out, but wait for a few days. Anyways, I won't be having time to play before the weekend.
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| 22 FEB 2011 at 7:25pm |
StilerJourneyman
Posts : 1477
Joined: 27 SEP 2004
Location: US, TN
Status : Offline | Well this is bollocks, demo got to 900mb after over two hours of downloading, then stopped for no reason as though it was done .
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| 22 FEB 2011 at 10:54pm |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By placeholder (22 FEB 2011 5:54pm)
...but tell us what you guys think of the demo, plz, ok?
Thanks. *_*
OK then. Well, basically some mixed feelings.
As I suspected and without giving too much away, yup it pretty much starts out on the battlefield.
[img]http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb35/Camaroboy1968/DA20.jpg?t=1298415057[/img]
Everyone knows (including myself) that I'm no expert on such things but the combat seems waaay too fast and unrealistic compared with DAO. The speed of the slinging blade almost made my dizzy. I sincerely hope this is smoothed out a bit in the full game.
Apparently according to the main forum this is considered an improvement although there does seem to be mixed reactions from the posters.
Since I don't have the hardware for DX11 I'm only able to select Medium graphic detail of which other options include Low, Medium, High, Very High. Of course the game does look very nice with Medium, I guess it's just the concept that my new system is already getting old and tired. :'(
Found out later that DX11 support is not included with the demo.
As for character generation, the only options are gender and class and thus my expectations for crafting an alluring female warrior were immediately dashed. :
Since there is no inventory screen you can't pick anything up. Now that's inconvenient.
Oh and by the way, there is no option to save so start early and plan on not dying. It may be that I need to progress further into the game to activate this as I am hearing of other players that have been killed but no complaints on this.
Although I started this as Miriam Hawkes, a warrior class character, I think I'll start over as a mage since I'm just more familiar controlling battle situations with that type of character.
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| 23 FEB 2011 at 6:29pm |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4040
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Hey, thanks for the feedback, CB! Very interested to hear about your progress. 8-)
I'm sad to hear about the lack of character modeling options...
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 23 FEB 2011 at 6:49pm |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By placeholder (23 FEB 2011 6:28pm)
I'm sad to hear about the lack of character modeling options...
Mybad, I just realized I should have stated that the lack of character modeling options only applies to the demo (grayed out) not the full version.
Sorry. [img]http://justadventure.com/yabb/Smilies/blush.gif[/img]
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| 23 FEB 2011 at 6:57pm |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4040
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Camaroboy1968 (23 FEB 2011 6:48pm)
Originally Posted By placeholder (23 FEB 2011 6:28pm)
I'm sad to hear about the lack of character modeling options...
Mybad, I just realized I should have stated that the lack of character modeling options only applies to the demo (grayed out) not the full version.
Sorry. [img]http://justadventure.com/yabb/Smilies/blush.gif[/img]
Oh! Well, no harm done then. Picture my relief! [smiley=cheesy.gif] [smiley=cool.gif]
I assumed that this was at least the case re the lack of inventory.
Have you in the meantime attained the ability to save games?
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 23 FEB 2011 at 8:18pm |
StilerJourneyman
Posts : 1477
Joined: 27 SEP 2004
Location: US, TN
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By placeholder (23 FEB 2011 6:56pm)
Originally Posted By Camaroboy1968 (23 FEB 2011 6:48pm)
Originally Posted By placeholder (23 FEB 2011 6:28pm)
I'm sad to hear about the lack of character modeling options...
Mybad, I just realized I should have stated that the lack of character modeling options only applies to the demo (grayed out) not the full version.
Sorry. [img]http://justadventure.com/yabb/Smilies/blush.gif[/img]
Oh! Well, no harm done then. Picture my relief! [smiley=cheesy.gif] [smiley=cool.gif]
I assumed that this was at least the case re the lack of inventory.
Have you in the meantime attained the ability to save games?
Saving is not in the demo either. Pretty much ANY option that affects gameplay is not available.
I don't see why they took out inventory (I mean whoopie, you get a few items that are fairly low quality early on, how wold that hurt to equip?) and other things.
I'm not really feeling the look though, the graphics come off REALLY bland, especially the "Battlefields" that are just generic browns/dark browns. There's really no "artstic" touch on anything.
Also I HAAAAAAAATE how they changed character models. Flemeth looks simply TERRIBLE, like she walked out of a Final Fantasy JRPG game into a western rpg. Why change her model and look? This takes place literally after lothering, so she should look the same as in Dragon age 1, I mean the timeline is after you leave the swamp, but before you come back for Morrigan's quest, so it just feels weird and out of place.
Combat wise, there's still the pause and order type of gameplay, but moves are a lot faster, also the AI (at least for me) seemed quite unresponsive in continuing to attack. I'd have my character, give him a skill to use on an enemy, he'd use it, then just "stop" and not attack or anything until I made sure to right click again.
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| 23 FEB 2011 at 9:59pm |
| Deleted User | Glad to see you had better luck with that download Stiler. 8-) I noticed it's now hosted from numerous other sites.
Originally Posted By Stiler (23 FEB 2011 8:18pm)
Saving is not in the demo either. Pretty much ANY option that affects gameplay is not available.
I don't see why they took out inventory (I mean whoopie, you get a few items that are fairly low quality early on, how wold that hurt to equip?) and other things.
It would seem logical to me that a demo for any game scheduled for release in less than two weeks should at least give you all the tools necessary to play as it will be played even if it’s only for an hour or two, and not something like this. Personally I don’t think this applies as positive advertising in this case. It was interesting reading some of the posts on the Bioware forum. Initial response: awesome, fantastic, I like everything… and then a few nitpicks…and then a few more…
Originally Posted By Stiler (23 FEB 2011 8:18pm)
Combat wise, there's still the pause and order type of gameplay, but moves are a lot faster, also the AI (at least for me) seemed quite unresponsive in continuing to attack. I'd have my character, give him a skill to use on an enemy, he'd use it, then just "stop" and not attack or anything until I made sure to right click again.
That’s exactly what I thought, and so I thought for sure I had to be doing something wrong. I hardly noticed the small tactics box on screen bottom right. I wonder if I should have tried to do something with that, or for that matter if it even functions in the demo.
I only got to play a little yesterday, this weekend I’ll have a longer block of time to restart, check out Flemeth, and form a better overall opinion hopefully. :-/
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| 24 FEB 2011 at 6:22pm |
KarstenSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 347
Joined: 23 SEP 2006
Location: DK
Status : Offline | I played the demo yesterday evening. It took me about 2½-3 hours, probably because I dies a lot! Disabling tactics helped, though.
What I liked:
The new GUI (user interface) One of the most logical and user friendly interfaces I've seen in a long time in any game, including adventure, fps and yes, rpg games.
The framed narrative seems an interesting storytelling device, but I'm still undecided if it is a good idea or not. The point of the framed narrative should hopefully be 1) a device to drive the story forward and 2) prove that Varric is a narrator not to be trusted. The question still remains, though, why this is so?
The dialogue wheel seems to work OK; it is clear what the choices are and you still have an investigate option. Very logical it is.
What I don't like:
The combat, or rather the combat animations. They are way too hectic and fast and quick for me. And whoever thought up the rogue's backstab animations need a stern talking too... or probably have watched way to many Speedy Gonzaled cartoons as a kid. [Bioware should have toned down the combat animations a bit, or a lot, so I hear...].
The combat felt like playing Call of Duty with swords, though. There's nothing wrong with this. I'm just curious if the Call of Duty audience will buy this game? Mike Laidlaw said that ' the game sold best on consoles, so they (Bioware) went the way of the audience,' meaning they tuned the combat to the console audience. And by saying so, imo, Laidlaw actually bears wood to the fire (supports the argument made by some hardcore rpg gamers) that console players are kids with adhd that can't concentrate for too long. This is not my position, but it seems to be clear that at least EA and Bioware still thinks that the average gamer is about 18-25 years old, and not the mature 35-36 year olds that he or she actually are.
Further things I didn't like:
Isabella is a young woman with a blossoming and booming bust. Nothing wrong with that, but again this seems to be an indication of EA's and Bioware's thinking; the audience for this game is young boys from 18-25.
And in the same way, Flemeth in DA2 looks to polished, even if Bioware did give her a wrinkle or two at the eyes. In the same way, the whole game looks and feel well polished. It looks great, but the charm of the old school cartoony feel from DA: Origins are now gone - maybe forever? It seems that Bioware and EA are going to the way of cinematic presentations; apparently they're in the movie business now....(sort of)
The quest from a further chapter felt tacked on, as sort of an afterthought like 'hey, we need a quest for the hardcore fans'.
Especially because the pathfinding (still) is horrible; my female rogue kicked at (thin) air many times as well as didn't move....to where I ordered them to go. [Hopefully, this is fixed in the full version].
The conclusion: DA2 is a game in the DA universe, it is not DA2.
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| 28 FEB 2011 at 6:07pm |
| Deleted User | Not particularly looking forward to re-playing the intro with its very post apocalyptic landscape and countless waves of Darkspawn, but at least I know that I’m up to it. Played for a while with the pre-set tactics but that didn’t work out well at all, RIP, so I found it best to disable all and continue with a simple healing spell or two. It seemed that doing so vastly improved the AI as well. Go figure. Took me about three hours to finish but then I pause a LOT. Something I miss from DAO are the little reassuring EXP blips that pop up during battle sequences.
Hehe, I have to admit that Flemeth does appear a bit younger (I presume that being a shape-shifter does have its merits) and of course the hair and related accoutrements does emphasize this to some degree.
Now as for Isabella, well since I’m older than 25 I’ll just concur that Karsten describes that right on the money although I might give some more thought to character creation…not.
Checked my EA account, yup Hader’s Razor is there. 8-)
Doesn't appear that they will hit the million dlds although I suspect there is something a bit fishy with the counter. :-X
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| 28 FEB 2011 at 7:54pm |
InesrocksPrivate Detective
Posts : 682
Joined: 16 OCT 2008
Location: PT
Status : Offline | What? No saves? No inventory? No looting? What's going on with DA2??
Ok, now I see, that was only in the Demo... right?
I see we're having mixed feelings here.. somehow im not that excited to try it out.. :-/ Yet, I need a RPG fix, and The Witcher, ME and the next Elder Scrolls are still months away!
Playing: Skyrim (ongoing)
Last Finished: can't recall, been too long.
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| 28 FEB 2011 at 10:35pm |
markornikovJourneyman
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Posts : 1312
Joined: 28 OCT 2011
Location: BE, Antwerp
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Stiler (23 FEB 2011 8:18pm)
I'm not really feeling the look though, the graphics come off REALLY bland, especially the "Battlefields" that are just generic browns/dark browns. There's really no "artstic" touch on anything.
²
The game looks 'empty' :-/
Maybe it's just that location, but wouldn't they show a much more lush environment as a demo :-?
Plus I don't like the way 'combat' works. I click to target and click when your abilities have recharged...
since i didn't play the original game this might not be an issue to others.
The UI on the other hand feels perfect, quick and easy to navigate.
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| 28 FEB 2011 at 11:05pm |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By markornikov (28 FEB 2011 10:34pm)
The game looks 'empty' :-/
Maybe it's just that location, but wouldn't they show a much more lush environment as a demo :-?
It does indeed look rather bleak. On the other hand I just had to accept the fact that due to the circumstances of the invasion things appear as they are with the outlying burnt trees and rising smoke. It’s a shame that players didn’t get much of a chance to investigate Kirkwall.
If anyone is/plans on playing the demo, do not press Alt – Tab. Believe me, you will hate yourself.
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| 28 FEB 2011 at 11:52pm |
StilerJourneyman
Posts : 1477
Joined: 27 SEP 2004
Location: US, TN
Status : Offline | You'll prolly be disappointed to know that the actual game takes place mostly in Kirkwall, just that one city. It isn't an "epic adventure" where you'll be visiting many locations and things. It's mostly containted within Kirkwall the majority of the game, so there's really no change of scenery going from a city, to questing for the urn, to traveling the deep roads a la DA1.
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| 1 MAR 2011 at 2:19am |
| Deleted User | Yes that is definitely disappointing although I'm not totally surprised considering the rather minimal HD space requirement.
Appreciate the heads-up.
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| 1 MAR 2011 at 7:25am |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4040
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Aaargh... I can't help feeling terribly disappointed all of a sudden.. :'( I'm strongly considering cancelling my pre-order. Luckily I was holding back on paying it - was going to pay it just before the game came out... which is pretty soon - so I'd better make up my mind quickly!
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 1 MAR 2011 at 10:32pm |
InesrocksPrivate Detective
Posts : 682
Joined: 16 OCT 2008
Location: PT
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By placeholder (1 MAR 2011 7:25am)
Aaargh... I can't help feeling terribly disappointed all of a sudden.. :'( I'm strongly considering cancelling my pre-order. Luckily I was holding back on paying it - was going to pay it just before the game came out... which is pretty soon - so I'd better make up my mind quickly!
To be honest, I think you should cancel the pre-order and try out the game first (if you know what I mean). Then, if you like it, you'll buy the game.
Playing: Skyrim (ongoing)
Last Finished: can't recall, been too long.
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| 6 MAR 2011 at 7:00pm |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4040
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | @ Inesrocks: I pre-ordered the first Dragon Age game without hesitation, but this time round, I'm starting to wonder if EA and Bioware is not riding on the coat tails of DA's success.
In another thread, Akhilles said, talking of Grey Matter by Jane Jensen : The cut scenes are stylized art, I've seen this done in countless games, even the latest budgetless games like Dragon Age by Bioware/EA. Even if no one else did them... they're a way of conveying the action artistically. Just because the game engine wasn't used doesn't make it a good means to tell a story...
Stiler replied:
Where did you see them in Dragon Age? The game had tons of in -game cutscenes galore.
Akhilles replied: Originally Posted By Akhilles (6 MAR 2011 6:05pm)
Dragon Age 2
The original Dragon Age has some, not exclusively, but some. But my point being is that it's a design choice, not a money dodge.
Although sometimes I've thought that and come to find out later during an interview the designer would say that something wasn't a design decision but a way to cut the budget so that the game would ship. I just don't believe that's the case here.
Didn't that Chthulu game have them too?
Ok, which trailer there would you have us watch, Akhilles?
I watched the champion trailer now, and although many of the visuals seemed rather flat and untextured, I'm not quite sure what we are seeing there.
Best to wait and see with the game proper, I'd say. Countdown 2 days for the US guys, and 4 days for me! Whoo, I'm gonna be chewing my old socks while you guys climb in!
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 6 MAR 2011 at 8:42pm |
InesrocksPrivate Detective
Posts : 682
Joined: 16 OCT 2008
Location: PT
Status : Offline | I don't wanna rush to criticisms without having played the game yet.. Maybe it's good, the demo is just a sample anyway... But I do think the space between the first game and the sequel was too short, it's good for us, the players, but did the developers have enough time to design a complex and good game? We'll see..
Playing: Skyrim (ongoing)
Last Finished: can't recall, been too long.
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| 6 MAR 2011 at 8:48pm |
sylvaedawnIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 12
Joined: 5 JAN 2011
Location: CA
Status : Offline | Well, I read through all the messages here concerning DA2 demo and saw that most of them were about visuals and gameplay - which, I agree, are blend (visuals - might be due to medium textures and limited settings allowed in demo) and fast-paced (gameplay - battle, etc).
But what was I dissapointed the most about the demo were characters and their voice-overs. Cassandra is great - and that's all (for me, at least). The dwarf (I even forgot his name), Hawke and his family, even Flemeth are... well... strangely-voiced for me. Sometimes I felt like I was listening to some kind of robots or something.
To be honest, I felt like this when I played the first Mass Effect, also, and gradually got used to it (strange thing - it didn't bother me in ME2, at all... hm... ), so maybe DA2 would be the same - but "robots" are OK in Sci-Fi, definitely not in Fantasy...
Yeah, I know, it's demo, but considering that it was the beginnig of the actual game, after all, I'm getting worried about the game itself.
For me, demo succeded in one thing - got me "vigilant" (playing and finishing DA made me Grey Warden, after all... )
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| 6 MAR 2011 at 8:58pm |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4040
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Yep, this is why I've also become a bit wary now. Luckily my pre-order only expires on the 11th of March, the EU release date) so I'm going to sit tight until that very day, and check out what the other US gamers have to say, who will be getting the game on the 8th.
Also what really scared me a bit is when someone said the entire game will only be taking place in one city. I really enjoyed the part of DA that took place in the woods with the Dalish Elves.
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 6 MAR 2011 at 9:02pm |
JKingSchattenjger
Posts : 2350
Joined: 4 MAY 2008
Location: 0
Status : Offline | I've not played the demo (and indeed knew exactly nothing about the game before looking here today, so my opinion is rather uninformed. Still, after reading previous messages in the thread, I see the game will take place almost entirely in one city, eh? A little disappointing, indeed.
It's not necessarily a bad thing, I'm sure, as a city can have lots of different geography: mansions of the rich, a business center, poor and more affluent residental quarters, the obligatory alienage, lovely sqaures with churches and parks, roads crowded with foot and cart traffic. There's lots which can be done with modern technology, after all.
I suppose you could even have some out-of-doors stuff. Still, to not have any (or much) true wilderness would be a crying shame...
Perhaps I should grab that demo, but I suppose I'll wait on opinions on the game proper and see from there.
You can't kill someone in a studio.
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