Dragon Age Countdown

Sarkus · 2009-11-02T10:45:02.000Z

Gendal:

Also just finished the Stolen Throne, the first tie in novel. Surprisingly good for a game novel but disappointing as far as world building goes. I was hoping for more details and history to draw me into the game but it was surprisingly light on them. What was there I liked, I just wanted more.

Yeah, I’m reading the second novel right now having read the first one earlier this year. Like the first, it doesn’t have all that many details of the world.

Kevin Grey:

Not sure where I sawit (might even have been here) but I read that, due to limitations in how many enemies can be onscreen on the console version, the game is balanced so that while you fight fewer enemies at a time, the enemies you fight do fight are a little tougher to compensate.

The example was something like on the PC you may fight two Level 3 guys, and four Level 1 guys (so six enemies total) while the same encounter on the console would be two Level 4 guys and one Level 2 guy (3 enemies total).

That would be contrary to dev posts that claim there is zero difference between the versions other than the UI changes.

Edit: nm, see Boink’s post above.

idrisz · 2009-11-02T10:46:14.000Z

in the strategy guide, there are a few areas where they mention fights differ between pc and console version, certain fights are missing on console version in a few dungeons.

Sarkus · 2009-11-02T11:01:20.000Z

As an aside, the new social site which is now the official boards has one very glaring flaw - it only displays about half as many thread titles per page as the old one did, or about 25. Right now, which the sticky’s taking up about 1/4 of those slots, the oldest thread that’s been posted in was five minutes ago.

:-)

idrisz · 2009-11-02T11:02:44.000Z

the social network site is super slow for some odd reason.

Gendal · 2009-11-02T11:03:30.000Z

Damn that’s a lot of 16 digit offer codes to enter. One for the game, one for the Collectors edition, one for the Stone prisoner, and one for the Blood armour. The web site where you enter these also rejected each code on my first click on the submit button, then a random number of tries after before magically working. I didn’t change a single character once, and only clicked multiple times out of frustration.

Purchasing the Warden’s keep went a bit better at least, though the assholes don’t use XBL points. They do at least have the good graces to sell amounts identical to what you need, but then proceed to charge tax, 61 cents on $7.

Whatever, I think I can actually start to play now.

MSUSteve · 2009-11-02T11:09:11.000Z

You have to buy the Warden’s Keep, even if you have the Collector’s Edition?

Xemu · 2009-11-02T11:10:29.000Z

Hm, Amazon is still saying expected delivery of Nov 3 but haven’t seen email confirming that they’ve sent anything yet…

Vesper · 2009-11-02T11:10:41.000Z

MSUSteve:

You have to buy the Warden’s Keep, even if you have the Collector’s Edition?

It’s only included in the Digital Deluxe Edition (online via Steam/D2D/etc).

Sarkus · 2009-11-02T11:13:02.000Z

MSUSteve:

You have to buy the Warden’s Keep, even if you have the Collector’s Edition?

Vesper:

It’s only included in the Digital Deluxe Edition (online via Steam/D2D/etc).

Basically, Warden’s keep was included in the more expensive digital version since they obviously aren’t getting a special tin case, cloth map, etc.

Everyone else has to pay $7 for it.

LesJarvis · 2009-11-02T11:13:11.000Z

MSUSteve:

You have to buy the Warden’s Keep, even if you have the Collector’s Edition?

The digital deluxe editions come with Warden’s Keep, but not the boxed CE.

MSUSteve · 2009-11-02T11:13:12.000Z

Vesper:

It’s only included in the Digital Deluxe Edition (online via Steam/D2D/etc).

Oh man, that is f’ing weak. I assumed my CE would come with everything there was to get.

idrisz · 2009-11-02T11:13:20.000Z

I was surprised when I found I have the stone prisoner DLC code in my box, didn’t know that.

Does everyone gets it? cause I have blood armor and stone prisoner, plus some freebie belt or something.

all I did was pick up a normal copy from gameplay.

LesJarvis · 2009-11-02T11:17:20.000Z

idrisz:

I was surprised when I found I have the stone prisoner DLC code in my box, didn’t know that.

Does everyone gets it? cause I have blood armor and stone prisoner, plus some freebie belt or something.

all I did was pick up a normal copy from gameplay.

Yes, everyone gets Stone Prisoner and Blood Armor. I think the theory is that they are incentives for buying a new rather than used copy of the game.

Edit: here’s a helpful chart.

Taken from here:

http://www.geardiary.com/2009/10/16/geardeal-getting-the-most-for-your-dragon-age-origins-pc-xbox360-ps3-pre-order-money/

Rock8man · 2009-11-02T11:19:01.000Z

LesJarvis:

Yes, everyone gets Stone Prisoner and Blood Armor. I think the theory is that they are incentives for buying a new rather than used copy of the game.

I thought everyone got Stone Prisoner, but Blood Armor was only for people who pre-ordered?

LesJarvis · 2009-11-02T11:21:14.000Z

You may be right, the whole thing is so damn confusing.

SirTomster · 2009-11-02T11:21:19.000Z

Sarkus:

It does seem pretty disappointing relative to what Bethesda did with the Fallout 3 DLC. Those were good for 3-4 hours minimum, while a lot of people regularly got more then that out of them. They cost more then $7, but not that much more.

I guess we’ll have to see. I kind of get the impression that the early DLC is really Bioware trying to capitalize on the lack of any early user made content. Once fans start putting stuff out, hopefully Bioware will realize that they need to offer something beefier.

Meanwhile, the hype for this game is really getting to me. I’m seriously thinking about hitting a 24 hour Walmart tonight and picking up a copy.

If you do, call ahead. Last time I went to my local one they had the game out about 5 days after release. They might be good for DVD’s and CD’s not sure about games. So call ahead

idrisz · 2009-11-02T11:22:40.000Z

the items I got is not in that list, I got a belt that gave +5% resist to everything, I think that list only list the CE edition, I just picked up a normal copy, no cloth map or tin box.

Gamestop’s normal copy only comes with blood armor.

Reserve Dragon Age Origins and receive a code to download Blood Dragon Armor, a full set of armor that grants exceptional protection in combat. Activate the code in Dragon Age: Origins and the Blood Dragon Armor will also be available for use in BioWare’s upcoming science fiction epic, Mass Effect 2. Available online and in-store while supplies last.

Sarkus · 2009-11-02T11:22:53.000Z

idrisz:

the social network site is super slow for some odd reason.

That’s an understatement. I started a topic, then left, then came back later and there were 3 responses. I looked at a different thread and when I came back out my topic showed 15 responses. I loaded it up, but there were only 9 posts in it.

:-)

Sarkus · 2009-11-02T11:23:47.000Z

SirTomster:

If you do, call ahead. Last time I went to my local one they had the game out about 5 days after release. They might be good for DVD’s and CD’s not sure about games. So call ahead

I work at one part-time. The PC version showed up last week.

:-)

Vesper · 2009-11-02T11:24:00.000Z

Switching forum software on launch day is probably not the smartest idea on their part.