Everybody loves launch-day DLC, right? It reminds them that content has been included and withheld from the disc, which means is a good thing because of reasons. Anyway, what I really need to tell you is that Dragon Age: Origins will be "supported" on day one with the "Wardens Keep" DLC, along with the "Stone Prisoner" content we already knew about.
"Wardens Keep" brings a whole new dungeon to the game, along with six abilities, new items, and a base where players can trade with merchants. The storyline will be "supernatural" in theme, with the ghostly Grey Warden keep being the setting. It'll cost 560 Microsoft Points on Xbox 360, or $7 via PC and PS3.
Seriously though, I'm all for DLC, but give players some time before buying the full game and buying the content you've already made, right? I'm otherwise really geared up for Dragon Age: Origins, but day one DLC gets on my nerves.
EDMONTON, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Leading video game developer BioWare™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS), today announced that it has crafted special bonus content for Dragon Age™: Origins to be released on launch day. The award winning developer will release several packs of downloadable content (DLC) for the highly anticipated RPG including The Stone Prisoner, the Blood Dragon Armor and Warden’s Keep.
“BioWare is dedicated to delivering at high quality for our fans, and we’ve created something quite special here, some really cool new downloadable content. A brand new party member, fresh adventures and environments to explore, plus powerful new items and abilities – together these will enrich and extend the core game experience, and enable our fans to dive even deeper into the dark, heroic fantasy universe of Dragon Age,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, co-founder of BioWare and the Group General Manager of the RPG/MMO Group at EA.
In Dragon Age: Origins, players take the role of a Grey Warden, one of the last of an ancient order of guardians. Now, as a rising evil threatens to destroy all life, it is up to players to unite the shattered lands and slay the corrupted dragon known as the Archdemon. To restore peace, players must make ruthless decisions and be willing to sacrifice their friends and loved ones for the greater good of mankind. On this journey, players will need to make critical choices that affect the various members of their party.
The Stone Prisoner will give players access to the mighty stone golem Shale who can become one of the most powerful party members in the game. Shale comes with its own personal back-story and unique quests for the player to discover. The Stone Prisoner DLC will also include new environments, items and hours of additional gameplay, further deepening the epic Dragon Age experience. The Stone Prisoner will be available to original purchasers of new copies of Dragon Age: Origins at no additional cost via a code* on an insert card in the retail version or as provided by the retailer for digital purchases. The Stone Prisoner can also be purchased separately for $15 on the PlayStation® Store, the PC via the in game menu or for 1200 points on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace.
The Warden’s Keep premium DLC will provide players of Dragon Age: Origins with a new dungeon-exploring adventure, new loot including a set of ancient Grey Warden armor, a chance to gain two of six mysterious new abilities, a new base complete with merchants and a party chest to store their hard-earned items. The Warden’s Keep adventure is based on an ancient myth in the Dragon Age universe, where two centuries ago the legendary guardians known as the Grey Wardens were expelled from the land amidst a storm of blood and betrayal. Until very recently, the Wardens have been in exile, while their fortress remains overgrown and reportedly haunted. Over the long years, legends of great treasures and forgotten lore have been told of this hidden location, but no one has ever ventured there and returned alive. Warden’s Keep gives gamers the chance to unearth this lost chapter of Grey Warden history. With their trusty party and a new guide, Dragon Age: Origins players will have an opportunity to unravel the mystery behind the fall of Warden’s Keep, and finally reclaim it for the order. Warden’s Keep will be available for $7 on the PlayStation® Store, the PC via the in game menu or for 560 points on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace. It is also included with the purchase of the Digital Deluxe Edition via a code provided by retailers.
In addition, BioWare will release the Blood Dragon Armor DLC, a set of themed armor that will give players additional protection in combat. This DLC is available to players who purchase a new copy of Dragon Age: Origins (original or Collector’s Edition) via a code* included with the game. This armor will be available for use in both Dragon Age: Origins on the PlayStation 3 computer and entertainment system, Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system and PC and in Mass Effect™ 2 on the Xbox 360 and PC.
Dragon Age: Origins will be released on November 3rd in North America and November 6th in Europe on the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system and PC. The PlayStation®3 version will follow later in November. Dragon Age: Origins is rated M by the ESRB and 18+ by PEGI.
*One-time use code available with full retail purchase. Expires April 30, 2010.
Contest:
9:00 AM on 10.08.2009
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Does this mean we lowly retail deluxe edition purchasers do not get it?
Honestly didn't think nthis was Bioware's bag at all!
That said - if a already complete dungeon/level of a game doesn't fit in with the story or 'feel' of the game and gets cut, I can see why Dev's include it as Day 1 DLC.
Like a deleted scene from a DVD, or a B-side/Bonus Track on an album.
Ask yourself if you would have wanted them to pretend that they didn't have a DLC ready for you to buy until a few weeks/months down the road.
Gift horse's mouth and all that.
Sure it may have been created by another team, and the game was pushed back, but give players some time before releasing extra PAID content that is not released with the standard edition game.
Also please, no horse barding for sale.
It's just another silly anti-used game move.
Do you suggest you would leave your horse unprotected? It's only like $2 to protect your horse, you know, from stuff, and things...
But yeah, I can't see Bioware pulling a horse armor, and I think Sedeolnedus hit it on the head.
Speaking of DLC...where's my Mass Effect DLC? You know, the non-sucky kind that actually works with my Platinum Hits edition? The kind you promised?
Man, release day DLC just pisses me off.
With that said, given the known situation in this instance, I have no problems with it to be frank.
I'm not really an animal lover, so I would let it take the hits for me then pick up a new one.
:D
Oh just to let you know as well, the stone prisoner which is FREE was content that was cut from the game due to time restraints but as the game got pushed back, the DLC team got round to finishing it and is been given away FREE.
If you where referring to my statements on releasing DLC after the game release as being "distasteful and utterly unforgivable" than WTF?
If not, then cool. :D
I mention that the DLC should be released later, so as to not upset the player base for seeming to sell content that should have been included on release.
Now "I" understand what is going on and won't be upset, but i am sure hundreds of uninformed gamers will bemoan the whole process and add a black mark to the companies other wise clean name. I understand the idea and purpose of multiple internal teams working on projects, that's fine. It is the timing of the release for the DLC I have an issue with, not the DLC content itself.
Also, I think this is free if you order the digital download CE version (you get the Keep DLC instead of the crappy junk they have in the CE boxed edition).
People talk about separate teams developing the game and the dlc, but that doesn't necessarily mean separate budgets. If BioWare budgeted 1 mil (for the sake of argument) to develop a game, then split off 250k worth of developed content to deliver as dlc at a premium, that feels suspiciously like Ticketmaster charging me a $10 fee just to print my ticket.
Not getting this in any case. Games with extensive dialogue trees aren't my thing.
OK it is nice for DLC to be released later on, but at least everyone can get all the content, unlike Empire Total war, or the other games that have pre-order bonuses with just one shop or even worse one shop on one type of console.
I know, if I don't want it don't buy it. I won't. But please don't complain about me ranting, that's what man made blogs for.
Bioware shot themselves in the foot.
Voting with your wallet was never more meaningful than now, in the DLC/extra content age. If I really enjoy Dragon Age, I'll be sure to pick this up. If Dragon Age is a dog, I'll be happy not to pick this up.
I get the entitlement, and the fear of being had. Nobody likes their Milkshake drank, because they'll drink it up. But if revenue means as much as gamers think it does, essentially "tipping" the makers of a game you enjoy doesn't seem like a bad deal.
People do make these games, and people like to get paid for their work, right?
Hmm... less DLC? or More DLC? Yeah I go with More.
It is but the part of it being time sensitive rubs me the wrong way. So if you were to say purchase a new copy of Dragon Age after April 10th you'd be stuck without it. Now you can also say it's time sensitive to take into account the discounts the retail game will receive as time goes on but it still feels bad to make you not only buy new (which is alright) but buy new and buy within a certain time frame of release (which is not alright).
I'm personally biased against pay DLC in general (excepting expansions) so doing some kind of circus here with it makes me concerned of how companies in general are treating DLC let alone pay DLC. And I was honestly starting to turn around my negative feelings of DA prior to this, how disappointing.
Am I misunderstanding this quote, or are they actually adding armour for Mass Effect 2 with Bragon Age: Origins? Not that I have a problem with wearing Blood Dragon Armour in space.
You really seem to be missing the point everybody is trying to make. The DLC is DONE. why is it not in the actual game itself?
The way you're raving on about DLC, you'd be willing to pay $60 for just the Dragon Age main campaign and absolutely no side quests.. then pay individually for each and every side quest? You are definitely a marketing departments wet dream.
Further reason why Dragon Age will never get my money (as if I really needed another one of those).
People also bitch about "Oh this was on the disc" you know, they could just as easily put stuff on the disc and make their downloads 5 GB with only 1 byte access code and everything else just being ANTI-whiner trash. If you want it you buy it, if not you don't.
As long as the games is complete, no problem.