Dragon Age 3: Inquisition announced

[bystander36]

I would have been happy with DA2 game play in DAI. I wouldn't call DAI an action RPG, but it has definitely taken steps that way. DA2, if polished up right, had controls that still gave you old school RPG feeling, but usable for consoles. This one definitely went far more console than what most who play these games would have wanted.

That said, Divinity Original Sin, while fun, was a bit boring on the story and graphics side. It was almost like it was a 1995 game in every respect. I'd love to have seen the game with some close ups and voice acting. I also felt a little disappointed in how character development didn't really go beyond just adding new classes to the characters. I would have preferred characters to get more specialized as you leveled, rather than more generic as you leveled.

 

[Mem]

I'm still playing DA:I,about 95+ hours into the game,just picked up the master focus perk but still not 100% sure what it exactly does?

 

[bystander36]

I'm still playing DA:I,about 95+ hours into the game,just picked up the master focus perk but still not 100% sure what it exactly does?

Look at your focus abilities. They give you 3 tiers of description. Unlocking the master level focus abilities, gives you the tier 3 description of those focus abilities. Most characters will have only 1 focus ability, the Inquisitor can have 2. That one free focus ability given doesn't describe much about the tiers, all the others do. That free one just does more damage as a result of having a higher tier level.

 

[Blanky]

How do you figure that? Assuming a roughly 3 year cycle, we'd see DA4 in roughly around 2017-2018, right on the tail end of the 8th gen console when we'll be seeing their replacements announced.

I know Bioware had to do some work on the Frostbite 3 engine to get it into a state where they could make an RPG on it, but I've seen nothing about EA making Dragon Age an annual release.




No. Just . . . no. Dragon Age should not be an annualized release. Last time they tried a dev cycle that quick, they delivered Dragon Age 2.

PS3 lasted 7 years, 360 went 8. This would indicate they are replaced in 2020 so we could see a da in 2017 then one in 2020...

 

[KeithTalent]

Crap, just noticed this is on sale for 40 bucks on Origin right now. I am only probably just over half way through DA2 but do you guys think it will go cheaper before the end of January?

KT

 

[Bateluer]

PS3 lasted 7 years, 360 went 8. This would indicate they are replaced in 2020 so we could see a da in 2017 then one in 2020...

Like I said, the 7th gen were aberrations for the reasons I gave earlier. Normal life cycle for a console is about 5 years, reference the PS1, PS2, OG Xbox, GameCube, Wii, etc. The 8th gen launched in Nov 2013 and will be refreshed in Fall 2018, especially because they're both so under spec'd. By 2018, they'll be outperformed by tablets and probably smartphones too. The 8th generation consoles will not have a near decade long life cycle. An interesting side note, at AMD's December earnings call, they've claimed they've signed contracts to develop an APU for another gaming related device to be unveiled in 2016. Speculation says its for Nintendo's Wii U successor. A 2016 release should easily allow it to exceed both the MS and Sony consoles.

A 2.5-3yr dev time for a DA4 would be put the game's release in 2017, the tail end of the life cycle.

 

[bystander36]

Well, Microsoft and Sony were telling us that they expect longer and longer life cycles on consoles as they feel they are good enough.

 

[Bateluer]

Well, Microsoft and Sony were telling us that they expect longer and longer life cycles on consoles as they feel they are good enough.

They initially said that back in Nov/Dec 2013, that they expected the XB1/PS4 to have 10 year long life cycles. Then they stopped that nonsense once people became aware of how weak they actually were and developers pushed back. The developer pushback was the reason the XB1 got those last minute clock frequency bumps in the 11th hour, from 1.6Ghz to 1.75Ghz on the CPU and from 800Mhz on the GPU to 853MHz.

Both 8th consoles will be refreshed in the fall of 2018, plus or minus a year. And this would put a 4th DA game being released near the end of the 8th gen cycle.

 

[bystander36]

They initially said that back in Nov/Dec 2013, that they expected the XB1/PS4 to have 10 year long life cycles. Then they stopped that nonsense once people became aware of how weak they actually were and developers pushed back. The developer pushback was the reason the XB1 got those last minute clock frequency bumps in the 11th hour, from 1.6Ghz to 1.75Ghz on the CPU and from 800Mhz on the GPU to 853MHz.

Both 8th consoles will be refreshed in the fall of 2018, plus or minus a year. And this would put a 4th DA game being released near the end of the 8th gen cycle.

I assume with such confidence, you have some sort of link or evidence to back up your claim?

Considering how slowly hardware is advancing now, don't be surprised if you are very wrong.

 

[exar333]

I assume with such confidence, you have some sort of link or evidence to back up your claim?

Considering how slowly hardware is advancing now, don't be surprised if you are very wrong.

I think it's actually very likely. Consoles were cheap this time around, they were designed to at least break-even, rather than lose a lot of $$$ the first few years. Folks gladly pay a few hundred dollars every year for a new cell phone, and all they get is a finger scanner + a little faster hardware.

 

[Bateluer]

I assume with such confidence, you have some sort of link or evidence to back up your claim?

Considering how slowly hardware is advancing now, don't be surprised if you are very wrong.

Hardware isn't advancing as slowly as you think. Remember, the XB1 is about 4 years behind a high end gaming PC; its GPU is a low end sku first launched in March 2012. But here are my four biggest bullet points for a 2018 refresh.

- DDR4, appearing already and mass production in 2015, solves the memory bandwidth bottleneck that plagues current APUs and IGPs. Look up some of the articles comparing DDR3 1066 vs 2133 on AMD's APU graphics performance. It makes a huge difference in performance, but its offset by the extra cost of the 2133 RAM.

- 20nm parts will appear in the first half of 2015. 16nm parts will appear in 2016. ARM parts alone will see pair of performance jumps for each of these. At the current TSMC 28nm node, you could create an ARM SoC that rivaled XB1 performance if you used active cooling and took the battery out of the equation. With a 2018 refresh time, the 16nm will very mature and 16nm parts readily available for both ARM and x86. You'll see tablets with performance that exceeds the XB1 before 2018.

- Console life cycles are usually ~5 years. The 7th gen was an exception due to the massive funds dumped into their development and the Great Recession. If they'd followed the usual 5yr cycle, we'd have seen 8th gen in 2010 and be gearing up for 9th gen next fall. Both MS and Sony seem to have learned from their expensive lessons with 7th gen and neither created unique proprietary silicon for their 8th gen. If one assumes they maintain this philosophy, which would be smart, a 9th gen on a 5yr tick would allow them to maintain profitability per unit sold while offering a significant bump in performance.

- Console devs right out of the gate needed to make concessions and reductions with their games in order to get them to run on the 8th gen hardware. Thats why we've seen so many high profile titles get their resolutions dropped to well below 1080, often 900p with a few 720p, and few hitting 60fps at all. Now we have to contend with PR/Marketing BS that claims 30fps is more cinematic. Mark my words, with the 9th gen arrives, the PR machine will hype up 1080p60. Ironically, while PC 4K displays are common place.


I know this is a DAI thread, but all of this has been rehashed before in threads in here, in Console gaming, in Gen Hardware, and CPU/Video cards. The current 8th gen consoles are simply too under powered to last a decade; MS and Sony know full well they won't and ceased the '10 year life cycle' PR months ago.

 

[bystander36]

Seriously, performance is taking much longer to advance than in the past. I know there are shrinks coming, but they've been coming for 3 years and they keep getting pushed back, as GPU's now take a back seat to everything else, as well as the shrinks are taking longer and longer to make. Not to mention there is a ceiling we are almost at, where totally new methods of manufacturing will have to take place to pass.

CPU's in the last 6-7 years have only doubled at best and an over clock makes that more like a 50% boost. No longer are the days of doubled performance every 2 years. CPU's are seeing FAR less, and GPU's are also slowing down a lot.

Not to mention, Sony and Microsoft lose money when they create a new console. The only reason they would want to upgrade is because a new console is coming from a competitor, or they are far too dated looking.

Unless you have seen reports from someone, do not be surprised if you are dead wrong.

 

[Bateluer]

Seriously, performance is taking much longer to advance than in the past. I know there are shrinks coming, but they've been coming for 3 years and they keep getting pushed back, as GPU's now take a back seat to everything else, as well as the shrinks are taking longer and longer to make. Not to mention there is a ceiling we are almost at, where totally new methods of manufacturing will have to take place to pass.

Even if we assume you're 100% correct, the XB1 is still over 4 years behind what PCs have today. If they waited until 2022 to refresh, they'd be some 15 years behind PC technology. Thats even worse off then where the 7th gen consoles left off.

CPU's in the last 6-7 years have only doubled at best and an over clock makes that more like a 50% boost. No longer are the days of doubled performance every 2 years. CPU's are seeing FAR less, and GPU's are also slowing down a lot.

And again, the Jaguar APU in the 8th gen consoles is a very slow CPU. It boasts excellent performance per watt, but its overall performance is very low. Ubisoft, as much as I loathe to cite them, has stated that ACU was CPU bottle necked due to this.

Not to mention, Sony and Microsoft lose money when they create a new console. The only reason they would want to upgrade is because a new console is coming from a competitor, or they are far too dated looking.

In past console generations, yes, the console manufacturer has lost money on the console itself and made their profits in game royalties. Not so with the 8th gen.

PS4 has been profitable since May 2014, straight from Sony.
http://www.polygon.com/2014/5/23/5744344/ps4-already-profitable-for-sony-ceo-says

Not sure about the XB1; MS may be profitable on console sales, but they've also dropped millions into securing exclusives. Rise of the Tomb Raider allegedly cost 35 million, for example.

Unless you have seen reports from someone, do not be surprised if you are dead wrong.

Unlikely, the evidence doesn't support it.

 

[bystander36]

It doesn't matter how slow they are compared to today's PC's, they are using current tech. They'll never use high end parts, even in refreshes. Just because they are slow, does not mean the tech is outdated. The next generations will most likely do the same thing as they did this generation. Use new tech, but go low power.

You can't act as if they are 4 years behind what we have now. They are current with today's tech. They are just slow versions. The same will hold true in the future.

 

[Mem]

Found another quest bug,http://www.reddit.com/r/dragonage/comments/2oio8d/minor_spoilers_quarry_quandary_quest_bug_in/ .

Same issue for me, guess I'll have to wait until its patched again and again, quite a few bugs even after first patch.


http://www.reddit.com/r/dragonage/comments/2oio8d/minor_spoilers_quarry_quandary_quest_bug_in/

 

[bystander36]

Found another quest bug,http://www.reddit.com/r/dragonage/comments/2oio8d/minor_spoilers_quarry_quandary_quest_bug_in/ .

Same issue for me, guess I'll have to wait until its patched again and again, quite a few bugs even after first patch.


http://www.reddit.com/r/dragonage/comments/2oio8d/minor_spoilers_quarry_quandary_quest_bug_in/

It is doubtful bugs like this will be resolved after a patch on your current play through with only a small chance it'll be fixed for future play throughs. I too ran into that one, but it's rather harmless. Who cares that I have an unfinished quest.

 

[Bateluer]

It doesn't matter how slow they are compared to today's PC's, they are using current tech. They'll never use high end parts, even in refreshes. Just because they are slow, does not mean the tech is outdated. The next generations will most likely do the same thing as they did this generation. Use new tech, but go low power.

You're wrong on multiple accounts. The are not using current tech, as I explained already, it launched in 2012. Its been replaced twice over since then, and it was low end at the time. Second, in all previous generation of consoles its been standard practice to utilize some of the most powerful hardware available in order to ensure the longevity of the product. With the 8th gen, then didn't go that route. In this instance, the 8th gen is the exception. The 9th gen could well follow the same strategy, starting with a price point first and building the console around that. I'm not going to speculate on whether the 9th gen will arrive ~4 years behind 2018 PCs or whether it'll give them a run for their money, I'm only saying the 8th gen will be refreshed around 2018.

You can't act as if they are 4 years behind what we have now. They are current with today's tech. They are just slow versions. The same will hold true in the future.

I can act like they are 4 years behind since they are 4 years behind a high end PC. Not sure if you're missing where I've pointed out that the Radeon 7790, the GPU side of the XB1, was launched in March of 2012 as a low end product in AMD's portfolio? The 7790 was a 100 dollar GPU in 2012 and marketed as such. The PS4's 7850 class GPU and DDR5 RAM let it fare better, and Sony could probably push the PS4 longer than MS. But if MS refreshes in 2018, Sony's not going to let them hold the crown for long. Or perhaps they will . . . Sony's not exactly known for sharp strategy and business sense.

 

[bystander36]

At the time of their release, consoles were using current tech. When they were refreshed, they'll be using current tech of their time. And when that happens, they'll be using low power parts again. Possibly even lower power parts in comparison to today, as consoles will always be built around portability and low maintenance. While PC's are starting to use water cooling to maintain high power parts, consoles will not.

And seriously, what new tech have we seen in the last 2 years that a console would use.

It's all relative anyway. Consoles at every generation will compare to PC's very similarly. The only problem is, PC progress has slowed down quite a lot over the last 5 years. That won't change for consoles.

Note: And I'm not saying that we won't have a 5 year cycle on consoles, but there is very good chance that we won't.

 

[Subyman]

I've heard and agree with the assertion that we may not even get another console like we are used to. Smart phones may take them over. With wireless cables looking to be more prominent over the next 5 years (such as Intel's Widi), it may make more sense for MS to launch an "Xbox smart phone" that streams to the TV to play Xbox games. Getting a console would be as easy as getting the upgraded phone. Which solves two things for MS. It gets people to use their phones and it reduces the entry cost of the console so more people can get their hands on it.

It makes sense in the long term. We may squeak out another generation, but I believe consoles as we know them will not last as a separate device for decades.

I also agree that the five year cycle is over. It costs far too much these days to launch a new console to make it profitable to do every 5 years. They are also under less pressure from improved compute since we've had a major slow down in consumer compute advancement. On the other end, developers throwing 50+ million into engines that run on these consoles will not want to switch so quickly. They'd like to get as many games out on the platform as possible before going through the transition to another set of hardware platforms.

If this year is any indication, it is beginning to be very hard for the massive publishers to pivot to new platforms. I think it will only get harder in the future.

 

[facetman]

It is doubtful bugs like this will be resolved after a patch on your current play through with only a small chance it'll be fixed for future play throughs. I too ran into that one, but it's rather harmless. Who cares that I have an unfinished quest.

Yep- I have the same bug, as well as a few others preventing me from full 100% completion - no biggie- I posted them earlier. I did manage to get all the shards - which as I understand it is difficult for some players because they cant get to them. SO , now have defensive upgrades to fire, cold , electric and spirit. Getting ready for the big final showdown with the head bad guy. I think it will be a let down as I am too OP due to being such a completionist - level 23 with about 50K. I do wish there was a way to figure out which dragons I have put down - maybe a room in the Sky castle with trophies/skulls or maybe a tooth from each on display showing which dragons have been defeated and where the battle took place. Some of them are far away from spawn points and I cant remember who I have killed so far.

What did some of you guys choose regarding drinking from a certain pool? Is there a spoiler section?

 

[Blanky]

Both 8th consoles will be refreshed in the fall of 2018, plus or minus a year. And this would put a 4th DA game being released near the end of the 8th gen cycle.

If true, and if we use the 2.5-3 year DA release schedule you mentioned, that means that we see 9th gen in fall of 2019 and another DA game in spring of 2017, then one in fall of 2019 right on the tail end

I really hope Nintendo gets their ass in gear and if they release their next console in 2-3 years and it's more powerful than the PS4, then it will attract non-Nintendo gamers and possibly encourage sony and MS to hurry up.

 

[Blanky]

Anyway, PS4 again but I bet this is on PC. Some strange happenings to me:

1) In Hinterlands there is a bridge and next to it a diamond on my map to go to the bandit camp. I've gone there, I've found the camp, killed whomever, but it's still a diamond, like I cannot complete the quest
2) I've won at least one other fight by all of the enemies magically disappearing

Not a bug, but stupid design: There is a shard in the hinterlands that requires jumping up a bunch of vertical pillars. The jumping mechanics in the game are so stupid they probably shouldn't even exist, and jumping up to get the shard was hard, not because it should have been, but because the jumping is stupid.

Otherwise, this game is growing on me still. It has had a very long wind up. I can't say I truly started enjoying it until I hit at least 10 hours (!). Fighting as Cassandra is more rewarding than as a mage, utilizing shield.

 

[Mem]

It is doubtful bugs like this will be resolved after a patch on your current play through with only a small chance it'll be fixed for future play throughs. I too ran into that one, but it's rather harmless. Who cares that I have an unfinished quest.

Just one more on top of the rest which all add up ,I expect the next patch to be even bigger then the last one.

I don't know why they included jumping in this game,not really needed and can be tricky on keyboard and mouse,jumping on columns you either love or hate.


Btw found another bug as well,to do with the bridge and Suledin keep,this one http://forum.bioware.com/topic/527230-missing-quest-in-suledin-keep/ they just keep on coming.

 

[bystander36]

Just one more on top of the rest which all add up ,I expect the next patch to be even bigger then the last one.

I don't know why they included jumping in this game,not really needed and can be tricky on keyboard and mouse,jumping on columns you either love or hate.


Btw found another bug as well,to do with the bridge and Suledin keep,this one http://forum.bioware.com/topic/527230-missing-quest-in-suledin-keep/ they just keep on coming.

That isn't a bug. You just have to talk to the NPC there a few times to get him to talk about it.

And most of these "bugs" are not really bugs. If you complete an action that invalidates another quest, it's not really a bug, other than maybe they should remove the quest from the quest tracker.

 

[Mem]

That isn't a bug. You just have to talk to the NPC there a few times to get him to talk about it.

And most of these "bugs" are not really bugs. If you complete an action that invalidates another quest, it's not really a bug, other than maybe they should remove the quest from the quest tracker.

The exclamation mark at NPC(Suledin keep) means quest available but there is not one even if you speak 1000x to the guy,it's a bug,sure minor one but still a bug,should of got removed once the bridge etc is done.


Tip for anybody that gets stuck between rocks while jumping around(happened to me a few times) click on one of your group companions and walk away then your stuck character will appear with group.