Tag: BioWare

  • Dragon Age Veilguard’s Failure: EA’s Erratic Strategy Explained

    Dragon Age Veilguard’s Failure: EA’s Erratic Strategy Explained

    Key Takeaways

    1. Corporate Changes Impact Development: EA’s attempts to reshape its identity led to significant changes in the Dragon Age project, impacting BioWare’s creative control.

    2. Shift to Live-Service Model: The game shifted towards a live-service model, focusing on multiplayer and action instead of the strategic combat and dark storytelling that defined earlier titles.

    3. Leadership Resignations: Key leaders from BioWare resigned in protest over the shifting goals, leading to further instability in the game’s development process.

    4. Return to Single-Player Format: EA later demanded a return to a single-player format, complicating development as the team struggled to integrate existing multiplayer elements into a cohesive story.

    5. Mixed Reception and Sales Forecast Issues: Although Dragon Age: The Veilguard initially debuted well, it failed to satisfy legacy fans, leading EA to drastically lower its sales forecasts and raise concerns about BioWare’s future.

    A unique insight into the making of Electronic Arts’ Dragon Age: Veilguard has exposed the reasons behind BioWare’s highly anticipated game faltering so quickly.

    The Corporate Shuffle

    While it might seem like the usual tale of a large company engulfing a smaller studio that doesn’t mesh with its culture, it was actually EA’s chaotic attempts to reshape its identity that caused the latest Dragon Age title to falter. Known for its widely successful sports game franchises that generate a significant portion of its revenue, EA acquired BioWare for $860 million, aiming to broaden its sports-centric portfolio.

    However, in the process, EA altered the Dragon Age concept so drastically that the BioWare team struggled to adapt to the constant changes, leaving them racing against the clock while losing creative control. Instead of sticking to the dark storyline of the semi-open Dragon Age world that had brought EA its first major success with BioWare’s Inquisition, which sold 12 million copies, EA opted to shift towards a live-service game model.

    A Shift in Direction

    The shift away from the intense atmosphere of earlier Dragon Age games aimed to mimic the financial success of lighter online games like Overwatch, but the BioWare team was skeptical. They believed EA was steering them towards creating “Anthem with dragons,” a nod to another EA project that had failed. While past games in the series featured strategic combat, this new direction would focus solely on action. Instead of quests meant for single experiences, it would be packed with missions for replayability with friends and random players. Important characters were also not allowed to die since they needed to remain for multiple players in the endless gameplay.

    In light of this, both the leaders of the BioWare studio and the Dragon Age franchise resigned in protest of the team’s shifting goals, only to be swiftly replaced by EA, who demanded yet another change in direction.

    The Return to Single-Player

    Now, EA wanted BioWare to revert to the single-player format that had initially brought success to the Dragon Age series. However, the team was challenged with creating a new story based on the multiplayer elements they already had, all while racing to finish the game in a year and a half instead of starting from scratch, which is usually the case with such major changes. EA even enlisted the Mass Effect team to steer development towards completion, pushing aside the Dragon Age leaders during critical decisions about the game’s tone and characters. The Mass Effect heads, for instance, advocated for revamping the dialogue from typical multiplayer chatter to a more serious tone, with mixed results.

    Consequently, Dragon Age: The Veilguard ended up missing both the live-service narrative it was originally meant to have and the compelling single-player storyline filled with tough choices that fans had eagerly anticipated from previous games.

    Despite this, Dragon Age: The Veilguard debuted strongly on Steam, receiving positive reviews from critics and newer players, making it an instant chart-topper and displacing Call of Duty from the top position. However, legacy Dragon Age fans, while initially excited by EA’s trailer, never truly embraced the game after its release.

    In a cautionary turn of events, EA had to revise its sales forecast dramatically, causing its stock to plummet and leaving the future of the BioWare team within Electronic Arts uncertain.

    Source:
    Link

    Tags: , ,
  • Legendary RPG Series Surprise-Drops Parts 1 and 2 on Xbox Game Pass

    Legendary RPG Series Surprise-Drops Parts 1 and 2 on Xbox Game Pass

    Key Takeaways

    1. Baldur’s Gate, created by BioWare in 1998, is a classic role-playing game set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe.
    2. The game features a rich narrative, team-based gameplay, and character creation influenced by player choices and moral decisions.
    3. Baldur’s Gate II, released in 2000, continues the story and enhances gameplay with more complex systems and expanded world.
    4. Enhanced Editions of both games were released by Beamdog in 2012 and 2013, featuring modern updates, bug fixes, and new content.
    5. The Enhanced Editions are now available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, expanding access for players.

    Baldur’s Gate is a timeless role-playing game that first came out in 1998, created by BioWare for Windows and macOS. Players take on the role of an unnamed hero who gets caught up in a complex political situation, setting out on an adventure across the Sword Coast in the Forgotten Realms. This classic, team-based quest includes allies, groups, and a multitude of missions. Built on the famed Dungeons & Dragons tabletop rules, the game features challenging real-time-with-pause combat, detailed character creation, and branching dialogues influenced by moral decisions. Its sequel, Baldur’s Gate II, was launched in 2000 and continues the story seamlessly. Captured by the powerful wizard Irenicus, you must battle for your freedom. The second part enhances the original with more detailed class choices, a bigger world filled with cities and dungeons, and more complex gameplay systems.

    Enhanced Editions

    Thanks to Beamdog and its internal team called Overhaul Games, fans received a refreshed version of the original game in 2012 with the release of Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition. In the following year, an updated version of Baldur’s Gate II was launched as well. These editions introduced support for modern resolutions and operating systems, along with a redesigned user interface. Many bugs from the original games were fixed, and improvements for player convenience were included, such as an expanded quick bar, inventory search, and better party management. Beamdog also added several new companions, each featuring unique backgrounds, dialogues, and personal quests. The Enhanced Edition of Baldur’s Gate additionally included Siege of Dragonspear, a brand-new adventure that connects the storyline between the first and second games.

    Game Pass Announcement

    Microsoft had previously revealed its list of upcoming Game Pass titles, with just two games initially slated for this week. However, unexpectedly, the Enhanced Editions of Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II have been added and are currently available through the subscription service. The only limitation is that both games are exclusive to Game Pass Ultimate members.

    Source:
    Link

    Tags: , ,
  • RPG Shooter Trilogy with All DLCs for $6 on Steam Deal

    RPG Shooter Trilogy with All DLCs for $6 on Steam Deal

    Key Takeaways

    1. Mass Effect is a beloved sci-fi franchise known for its engaging narrative and player choices, with the original trilogy released between 2007 and 2012.
    2. The Mass Effect Legendary Edition, released in 2021, features enhanced visuals and includes all single-player DLC, but lacks the multiplayer mode from Mass Effect 3.
    3. The series is set in a rich sci-fi universe where player choices significantly impact the storyline, characters, and outcomes across the trilogy.
    4. While the remaster improves visuals and performance, some outdated mechanics from the original games, particularly in the first installment, remain.
    5. The Legendary Edition offers great value with three full games and over 30 expansions for a discounted price, receiving a positive reception on platforms like Steam and Metacritic.

    Mass Effect is a beloved sci-fi franchise from BioWare that stands out in the genre for its captivating narrative and significant player choices. The first installment debuted in 2007, followed by sequels in 2010 and 2012. In 2021, the renowned trilogy returned as the Mass Effect Legendary Edition, which boasts enhanced visuals, technical improvements, and includes all single-player downloadable content in one bundle. However, the multiplayer mode from Mass Effect 3 is absent, as the Legendary Edition focuses solely on the single-player journey.

    A Rich Sci-Fi Universe

    The Mass Effect universe is a classic sci-fi setting where humans are part of a vast galactic alliance with various alien species. Central to the plot is the conflict with the Reapers, an ancient race of machines intent on exterminating all organic life. The games combine third-person shooter gameplay with role-playing elements, such as dialogue choices, skill trees, and a moral system that allows players to take either an idealistic (Paragon) or brutal (Renegade) approach. What distinguishes the series is how decisions affect the entire trilogy, influencing characters, plotlines, and the destinies of entire planets. Players can transfer progress from one game to another via save files.

    Gameplay Evolution

    In the initial Mass Effect, Commander Shepard discovers a long-dormant threat and embarks on a mission to save the galaxy, emphasizing exploration and role-playing. Mass Effect 2 shifts the emphasis to action and team relationships, as Shepard gathers a new crew to confront the enigmatic Collectors, each with their own backstory and loyalty missions. The conflict against the Reapers culminates in Mass Effect 3, where choices from prior games come to fruition, impacting the galaxy-wide war’s outcome.

    The German site Eurogamer.de reviewed the Mass Effect Legendary Edition, commending it for being a well-rounded remaster of the trilogy, with the first game showing the most significant enhancements. Thanks to modern upgrades like 4K resolution, high-resolution textures, improved effects, and smoother performance, the games feel more contemporary while retaining their original appeal. Enhancements to controls, user interface, and loading times also make for a more pleasant experience. Eurogamer.de noted the great value, as players receive three full games along with all single-player DLCs for the price of a single new title.

    Room for Improvement

    While the updates are commendable, it’s important to remember that this is a remaster, not a complete remake—so some fundamental issues from the original games persist. In particular, the first game has dated mechanics, like a clunky cover system, repetitive mission designs, and awkward inventory management. The notorious Mako vehicle, though improved, still feels slow and cumbersome. Although the first installment received a substantial visual facelift, the changes in parts 2 and 3 are subtler, with aging animations and character models becoming more noticeable.

    Since its launch in 2021, the Mass Effect Legendary Edition has garnered over 50,000 reviews on Steam, of which 91% are positive. On Metacritic, the remastered trilogy enjoys a solid Metascore of 86. However, the user score tells a slightly different tale, standing at 6.7. This discrepancy can be attributed not only to technical problems at launch but also to the still-contentious ending of Mass Effect 3, which has continued to divide fans more than ten years after its original release.

    Bundle of Content

    Created by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts, the Mass Effect Legendary Edition includes all three main games and nearly every downloadable content. It offers over 30 expansions that introduce additional missions, characters, weapons, armor, and story elements to the single-player campaign. The standard price on Steam is $60, but the Legendary Edition is currently available for just $6 due to a 90% discount, which lasts until March 27.

    Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not accountable for any price changes made by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this article was valid at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.

    Source:
    Link

    Tags: , ,