BioWare TV Gamescom 2011 Livestream

Man, this modern technology is really neat, isn't it? Lame joke aside, definitely check out BioWare's LIVE feed from the EA area at Gamescom for updates and live interviews with game producers for Battlefield, Mass Effect, SWTOR, Need for Speed, gameplay footage and lots more. It's like watching TV, but not really because your TV is in the other room. Or it's in the one you're in now, but you're not paying attention to it.

E3 2011: Mass Effect 3 Is One Of My Games of the Show (Or, Yup, It's All That)

As solid as the previous installments were, it looks as if Bioware is pulling out all the stops even further for the third installment. Refined, faster combat and a slicker visual upgrade should give the game even more appeal to the action gamer crowd and of course, that character interaction Bioware is famous for is in full effect. While ME3 was one of the games of the show for me (sequel division) I'm hoping the strangely addictive mining mini-game makes a return (with a few tweaks to make it easier to hop into for newbies) and we get more side missions that add depth to the overall plot. The fight to (hopefully) save Earth begins on the PC. PS3 and Xbox 360 March 6, 2012.

Mass Effect 2 PS3 Hands-On: BioWare, Beautiful & Brilliant

PS3 owners may have missed out on the original Mass Effect, but the stellar sequel plus four DLC chapters and a little something extra (plus a LOT of something extra under the hood) is headed your way in a great standard edition pack that's bound to fly off store shelves faster than the new Normandy hits light speed. I had the opportunity to play a demo version of Mass Effect 2 and was immediately floored by the visual upgrade (thanks to what was recently revealed as the Mass Effect 3 engine), the tweaked puzzles and a few other niceties BioWare has seen fit to add. I'd have to safely say this is going to be the definitive console version of the game and even if you've played the Xbox 360 version, you might want to snap up a copy of this one, provided you also have a PS3 in the house.

BioWare & Treehouse Brand Stores Want You to WIN BIG!

Yup, ANOTHER awesome holiday giveaway, this time from Treehouse Brand Stores and BioWare. Click HERE to enter for your chance to win one of 100 very cool prizes including tricked out gaming PC's, headphones, hoodies and collector art packs! The contest ends in 12 days and if you've a Facebook or Twitter account (or both), you get even more chances to snag the swag!,

So get moving already! You guys are super lucky, as we poor media folk can't enter to snag one of those PC's (well, that WOULD be a bit unfair and a wee bit shifty, so it's all good)...

Mass Effect 2 Headed to PS3, Bioware Says...

Well, that's just supremely grand and excellently peachy, I say (glaring at his non-functioning RROD 360). As the first game isn't (boo, hiss!), I'm hoping PS3 owners get some sort of brief recap or even a bit of new content, but we shall see, no? That is all. You may now resume your present activities.

Review: Dragon Age: Origins

Platform: PS3, Xbox 360

Developer: BioWare

Publisher: EA

# of Players: 1

Rating: M (Mature)

Official Site

Score: A

Has BioWare ever made a bad game? I'm inclined to shout a defiant "No" towards the heavens, as I've enjoyed everything they've ever done, warts and all. Hell, I may be somewhat biased here, but at least I'm definitely right (that's a little in-joke, by the way). Anyway, in terms of their RPG output, the company has a superb track record with everything from the Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale games to Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire and even Sonic Chronicles: the Dark Brotherhood. Of course, their two current console projects, the upcoming Mass Effect 2 and the recently released Dragon Age: Origins will be the games on RPG fans' lips and minds for quite some time thanks to the developer's ability to craft completely different sub-genres while consistently bringing gamers superb storytelling and deep, challenging gameplay.

The game works almost perfectly as it delivers a completely new IP onto the scene with plenty of dramatic flourish, dynamic combat and a deeply engrossing storyline that absolutely begs for a sequel. No matter which of the six story lines you delve into the game just soars. Once you're hooked you in for one tale, you just HAVE to replay it as another character (or have two or more save files going) just so you can experiment with every dialog response, every choice until you've exhausted your options and see just how characters major and minor react. Your chosen hero or heroine is customizable, standard fare for any decent RPG these days. Once that's done (or you pick a pre-made avatar), you'll guide your hero or heroine through their lengthy quest chock full of events that make each play through unique.

With well over 60 hours of gameplay here for each character plus some great additional download content available right from the game's launch (and more on the way), hardcore RPG fans won't be coming up for air for quite some time. New players may feel a bit swarmed by what's here, but the very handy tutorials and wealth of other reading material will get them up to speed and coming back for more in short order. There's actually so much stuff to read (and all of it important or informative) that you'll absolutely want to play this on an HD setup. Running DA:O on a standard definition TV will have you breaking out the reading glasses AND a pair of binoculars.

In the game, your character is selected to become a Grey Warden (a legendary group of skilled warriors chosen from all walks of life) as a massive horde of demons known as Darkspawn reappears and resumes their terrorizing ways throughout the kingdom of Ferelden. How and why each character is chosen as a Warden makes up the introductory section and after a bit of exploration and exposition, the game world opens up. As you set out with a few new companions to put an end to the Darkspawn blight and the Archdemon leading them, you'll run into quite a few folks that can use a bit of heroic help. Your other party members may include a sultry forest witch, an elf assassin, a stoic warrior type, a drunken elf and others, but depending on how you interact with some of these characters, you can choose to drop them from your party forever or never get them to join at all.

As ou meet up and recruit characters, you'll find yourself growing attached to some and possibly ignoring others. This is a bad idea, as everyone is useful to some extent and there's nothing worse than jumping into battle with a few guys or gals you ignored because you didn't like their starting skills. Not only can some members only equip certain magical gear, having certain party members in certain areas can unlock new quests, dialog options or even a special skill or two. Let's just say if you're a dog's best friend, poke around for certain trees that will give your pet a nice advantage in combat.

If you've played Mass Effect, you'll notice similarities in how BioWare's brilliant storytelling such as the branching conversation paths and the possibilities of romantic couplings with certain party members under the proper circumstances. Finding and giving gifts to your teammates unlocks new skills and more of their stories, which also leads to new quests most of the time. There's no “pure” good or evil path here and other than how your party and a few other characters react to your decisions, you won't feel as if you've done something “wrong” if you decide to play the game as a pure saint or a total bastard. The extremely well-written script offers up some great dialog and as you travel throughout the nicely-sized game world, some of the conversations your companions have with you and each other are priceless, informative and often hilarious.

Combat can be tackled as real-time hacking and spellcasting, but you can also pause the action and input commands for each party member, much like in BioWare's other RPGs. Things can get really hectic in some large scale battles and it would have been nice to have the ability for some sort of multiplayer mode where up to four players could dive in together on one screen. On the other hand, the game has a few areas (particularly during the last epic battles) where a multiplayer mode would be a bit impossible to manage. There's a great series of fights where you'll get to "command" units and fight side by side with them against waves of Darkspawn and I'd imagine how tough that would be to pull off with four live players and dozens of other AI units fighting it out. You'd be hearing stories of real people rolling on the floor in living rooms all around the world.

Now, where was I? Right - As you're limited to four active members in your party, deciding whom to select is part of the fun. In some areas, having certain party members around allows access to locked chests or doors. If you consider yourself a treasure hunter supreme, I'd recommend playing as a Rogue if you want easy access to a great deal of chests in the game's beginning stages, but if you want to be a Warrior of Mage, go for it. Just don't expect those chests to magically open themselves. The fact that you can't go back to certain areas is a bit annoying, but once you start seeing all the cool gear that shows up at your camp shop and in other places in the game, you really won't miss those earlier chests.

The game's world map initially seems massive, but compared to other recent RPGs, there are actually only a few locations to explore along with a number of combat-focused areas you'll only get to visit once. To spice things up, you'll be able to take on guild quests as well as run into the occasional random over world map battle. Some of these mid to late game side quests can actually be more brutal than a few of the bosses in the main storyline. The dungeons and majority of other areas you move about in are pretty expansive, nicely designed and packed to the gills with everything from undead, giant spiders and later on more than a few dragons of different sizes.

In terms of difficulty, new players can stick to the easier modes, but hardcore RPG fans will want to crank the challenge up so fights don't fly by in a few button presses. If a character falls in battle, they're only lost for the duration of that fight and revived afterward. Of course, getting all your party members knocked out is an automatic Game Over and a trip to a previous save. Bumping up the difficulty is more rewarding in terms of experience gained, but the game has a number of very brutal bosses that can wipe the floor with an unprepared party on the easiest setting. If you love playing the "tank", you'd best have some great mages and ranged weapon users in your team, as status effects and the occasional powerful knockdown are commonplace when things get up close and personal.

Presentation here is mostly stellar on both consoles, with the PS3 getting the slight advantage. The visuals are pretty solid, with some grand in-game engine movies, beautifully detailed characters and plenty of lovely environments. Unfortunately, you'll also see some graphics glitches (mild clipping issues plus textures and the occasional background popping in) and hear the occasional sound drop during extended dialog sequences. However, the technical issues don't destroy the illusion of the richly detailed world BioWare has crafted. Still, picky purists will whine a bit about things not being “perfect” all the way through. The game nabs a Mature rating for a ton of blood, a bit of mild (but still not for the kiddies) sexuality and some rough language. I'd say some of the dialog and plot surprises are where the real M-rated content lie.

As for the game being "shocking" in its depictions of characters having desires for one another, all this fuss over sexual content in video games has been so overblown (well, unless you've got a copy of Pocket Pool for the PSP) that when you finally do get to the naughty bits here, you may be disappointed. Then again, if you need a video game to get your kicks that way, you really need to get outside more. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the sound effects, music and voice acting are all stellar, pulling you into the game world for a near-perfect aural experience. Those pesky sound drops that take place are a bit of a letdown, but never a game-killing blow at all. There's so much spoken dialog in the game that you get used to hearing everyone speak all the time and when the conversation abruptly cuts out, it's jarring.

Despite the sound flaws and occasional graphics hitches, the overall experience is consistently grand and yes, epic. I ask again, Has BioWare ever made a bad game? After about a dozen years of personal experience playing hit after hit, I certainly can't think of one. With Dragon Age: Origins, BioWare continues its long-running streak of solid, high quality epic role-playing experiences with yet another deep and incredibly addictive time eating monster gaming experience that's going to please genre fans new and old alike. Like any great story, the game is always highly compelling and rarely misses a thematic beat throughout. There's so much content packed onto the disc that it's almost overwhelming, but you'll find yourself staying up “just one more hour...” each time you step into the rich world the dev team has created.

If you're a huge fan of Western-style RPGs (hell, ANY type of RPG) and want something that's going to be expanded upon in DLC as well as sequels down the road, definitely make this one a purchase. The Grey Wardens, whose local chapter just so happens to be your nearby game shop or other retailer that sells Dragon Age: Origins are waiting patiently. Or maybe not so patiently... those Darkspawn certainly aren't going to kill themselves, that's for sure...

Thanks to Prima, Dragon Age: Origins Quizzes Me Somewhat...

Well, then - according to this Prima Guides Dragon Age: Origins Quiz, I'm a Warrior! Eeek. I hate playing "tanks" in RPGs. Give me a ranged weapon and some good spells to keep the beasties at bay and I'm a happy camper. We shall see, however, we shall see... The game is out NOW, so i hope you pre-ordered!

Dragon Age: Origins Update: Oghren (Plus Gold!)

It's done and gone gold, folks. Dragon Age: Origins has gone into production, so those final retail copies are only a short time away from your hot little hands. BioWare has also announced a DA:O social network which you'll be able to read more about below this week's character update. Anyway, without further adieu, heeeeeeere's Oghren!

Oghren

Oghren, of House Kondrat, was once a promising member of the Warrior Caste who had earned great prestige in the dwarves’ gladiatorial proving grounds. When a Smith Caste family with plenty of money but few political connections offered their daughter in marriage, his family accepted the match. And then everything changed. His wife, Branka, invented a process that revolutionized the smelting process and was declared a Paragon - the first in a generation, forever ensuring an honored place among the ancestors. Oghren gladly joined his wife’s new noble house, but when Branka took her followers and vanished into the Deep Roads, she left him behind. He remains determined to find Branka again and learn what obsession keeps her hidden away from the rest of her kind

Oghren intro trailer

DRAGON AGE: ORIGINS from BIOWARE HAS GONE GOLD ON ALL PLATFORMS

All Versions of Dragon Age: Origins to be Available November 3

EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA – October 23, 2009 – Leading video game developer BioWare™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc., announced today that the PlayStation®3 version of Dragon Age™: Origins will be available on November 3, 2009 in North America. The PlayStation 3, Xbox 360® and PC versions of the game have “gone gold” in North America and are currently in manufacturing ready for their November 3 launch date. At launch, Dragon Age: Origins will be available on all three platforms with several packs of downloadable content (DLC) including The Stone Prisoner, the Blood Dragon Armor and Warden’s Keep; each further enriching the gameplay experience.

“We’re excited to confirm that all three versions of Dragon Age: Origins will be available to fans on November 3 in North America,” said Ray Muzyka, Group General Manager, RPG/MMO Group of EA, and Co-Founder, BioWare. “The Dragon Age: Origins development team was able to polish the PlayStation 3 version to our high standard of quality and we are ready to deliver the richest and deepest role-playing fantasy experience across all three platforms.”

In anticipation of the game, players can begin their Dragon Age: Origins experience early by joining the BioWare Social Network -- a destination to share in-game screenshots, review game data and share story information. Players can also download the free* to download Character Creator where players can create and customize a player character on the PC and then upload their character data and avatar to the BioWare Social Network before Dragon Age: Origins launches. The Dragon Age: Origins Character Creator will provide players with the tools to create a character with a nearly endless amount of options. Players can download the character creator and get more information on the BioWare Social Network HERE.

Mass Effect 2 Release Date, Pre-Order Info In Full Effect

As I think I've said previously (and on more than one occasion), BioWare really loves you, particularly if you're a fan of their games. Here's a nice bit of pre-order info about Mass Effect 2 that may come in handy. Nice armor, huh?

BIOWARE ANNOUNCES JANUARY 26 LAUNCH DATE FOR MASS EFFECT 2 TOGETHER WITH EXCITING PRE-ORDER INCENTIVES

Unique Armor and Weaponry Available with Pre-Orders at Select Retailers Worldwide

Edmonton, Alberta (October 16, 2009) – Mark your calendar and lock in your copy of Mass Effect 2 now! Leading video game developer BioWare™, today announced that the epic Shooter/RPG Mass Effect™ 2 will be on store shelves in North America on January 26, and on January 29 in Europe. With its larger-than-life hero Commander Shepard, intense shooter action, nuanced characters and a rich storyline, the much-anticipated sequel to the original award-winning opus is one of the most anticipated titles of 2010.

In support of the launch, BioWare is releasing unique Mass Effect 2 pre-order incentives* at key retailers in North America and across Europe. Codes for downloading these items will be provided to players who have pre-ordered, usable when the game is released.

“Our fans are in for a genuine thrill in the New Year with Mass Effect 2 – the second installment in the trilogy will be of amazingly high quality,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, co-founder, BioWare and Group General Manager of the RPG/MMO Group of EA. “BioWare’s fans worldwide have been eagerly awaiting this epic sequel, and we couldn’t be more excited to reward them for pre-ordering by delivering some awesome bonus content!”

In North America, pre-order bonuses* include special-ops armor and weaponry that are designed to boost Commander Shepard’s skills and abilities. At GameStop, Terminus Gear is available with pre-orders, which includes the powerful Terminus Assault Armor and the M-490 Blackstorm Heavy Weapon:

· The Terminus Armor is designed for use in extreme planetary conditions, increasing run speed and personal shields, and augmenting weapons with an additional magazine of reserve ammo.

· The M-490 Blackstorm Heavy Weapon generates a high-powered localized gravity well, accelerating particles to near-infinite mass, and ultimately expanding the selection of heavy weapons available to players when they gear up for combat missions in Mass Effect 2.

Players that pre-order Mass Effect 2 at other retail outlets in North America will receive the potent Inferno Armor, which is used by officers to monitor battlefield conditions by recognizing elevated heart rates, and regulates sub-systems with extreme efficiency to allow for greater response times – together these abilities translate in-game into a negotiation bonus for Commander Shepard and an increase in run speed and augmented damage from combat powers.

*Restrictions apply. See actual pre-order offers for details.

Dragon Age Origins Update: BioWare Gets (Even More) Social!

Sure, you're probably thinking "Whaaaaaaaat, ANOTHER social networking site?" But hell, how many are for what could be one of the best console or PC RPGs you'll play this year? Think about that for a hot minute after you read this press release, hit the DA:O website, check out the Sacred Ashes video if you haven't seen it yet and click on over to the main page to creat an account and play around with the character editor... (*whew!*)

BioWare Launches Character Creator and Social Network for Dragon Age: Origins

Dragon Age: Origins Character Creator and BioWare Social Network Now Available with Tools to Create a Player Character and Share Online Before the Game Launches

EDMONTON, Alberta - Oct 13, 2009 - Leading video game developer BioWare™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. today announced the release of the Dragon Age™: Origins Character Creator and BioWare Social Network in North America and Europe.

The BioWare Social Network will provide a destination for players of Dragon Age: Origins on any platform to upload screenshots, game data and story information to share with other community members as they progress through the dark and epic journey. The free* to download Character Creator allows players to create and customize a player character on the PC and then upload their character data and avatar online to the BioWare Social Network before Dragon Age: Origins launches.

The Dragon Age: Origins Character Creator will provide players of Dragon Age: Origins with the tools to create a character with a nearly endless amount of options. The Dragon Age: Origins Character Creator and BioWare Social Network gives gamers a chance to kick start their adventure by creating a character and unique avatar online to reflect their in-game personality and share it with the Dragon Age: Origins community. The Dragon Age: Origins Character Creator also allows players to save their handmade character to use when the PC game launches in November. This stand alone application is now available free of charge exclusively on the PC at: www.dragonage.com

“We want to fully immerse players into the world of Dragon Age: Origins and the Character Creator and BioWare Social Network allows us to do just that,” said Fernando Melo, Producer, BioWare. “This is a great way for fans to connect, create and share their character creations now and in game experiences when the game launches. The creation and connection possibilities are nearly endless.”

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. Players can get more information on Dragon Age: Origins or sign up for the BioWare Social Network at: www.dragonage.com.

*Internet connection required.

Dragon Age: Origins Double Update: Premium DLC On Day One!

Yowza - Yeah, yeah, I JUST ran a post on the game, but I just now checked my VPO email and this popped out at me. Man, this whole Dragon Age: Origins deal is getting pretty damn awesome by the day, huh? BioWare just plain rocks when it needs to (which is always in my book). Check out the official press release for the juicy, happy details... and go PRE-ORDER the game if you haven't, grrrrr...

BioWare’s Dragon Age: Origins to Feature Premium Downloadable Content at Launch

New Content to Provide Gamers With Hours of Additional Gameplay, a New Party Member, Exclusive Armor, Mysterious Abilities, a New Base and More

EDMONTON, Alberta - Oct 08, 2009 Leading video game developer BioWare™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. 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.

Dragon Age: Origins Update #6: Broodmother

In this week's Dragon Age: Origins update, we take a look at one particularly nasty game bug (what?)... one that's supposed to be in the game (calm down, now), and a BIG one at that (You may want to start screaming right about... now). Ewwww. I could say something silly like "Brood to the Mother" or worse (although that's pretty damn terrible), but I'm only trying to lighten the mood a bit. Man, is that one ugly mass of monster. She looks like she ate Jabba the Hutt, his entourage and about half of the Death Star with a side dish of cold Cthulhu cutlets. Color me rattled - thanks BioWare. Get the Raid and hobnail boots ready, folks - here's this week's intro text and screenshots (and a nicely bloody trailer, which is HERE - not for the kiddies):

Broodmother

No one knows how the Darkspawn truly live in their tainted warrens beneath the earth, although a few Grey Wardens have, on occasion, delved deep into the old Dwarven tunnels in an effort to find the heart of the Darkspawn corruption and scour it clean. Those who ever returned, did so with ashen faces and spoke only of a creature called a “Broodmother” that haunted their dreams for the rest of their short existence. What the Broodmother truly is, only the Grey Wardens know for certain.

Dragon Age: Origins hits stores on November 3rd for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. Back with another update soon!

Dragon Age: Origins Update #5: The City of Denerim

This week, lets take a little trip to one of Dragon Age: Origins huge cities, the capital of Ferelden, also known as Denerim. It's a nice place to visit, but you all know how the rest of that old saying goes, especially if the real world is beckoning you away from more play time with BioWare's upcoming epic Action/RPG. Well, grab that passport anyway, this is only a short hop today!

By the by, I missed an update regarding the game's soundtrack, so I'll just quickly report that the very talented Inon Zur is doing the music for the game. A well-respected composer of film, TV and game scores, he's done some great work in games such as Shadow Ops: Red Mercury, Lineage II, Fallout 3, both Crysis titles and many others. Meanwhile, back at the travel agency, your cart is ready - shall we get on with the tour?

Denerim

“Denerim, the capital of Ferelden, began originally as an outpost of the ancient Tevinter Imperium. Its mages rose up a dark tower from the side of a mountain, a symbol of the Imperium’s power. As the Imperium faded, the tower passed to the hands of the teyrns that ruled the region for a millennium. Today that tower still stands as Fort Drakon, immediately recognizable to any ship that approaches the rocky coast.

The city that has sprung up around it has almost been carved out of the side of the mountain it rests on, and during the Dragon Age, its population has grown beyond the city’s ability to cope. The cramped districts, joined to each other by a network of bridges, are built one almost on top of the other. The narrow streets of the Lower Docks have an almost labyrinthine quality, and the walled-off Elven Alienage is so overpopulated that several purges have been required to keep order.

To the rest of the world, Denerim is most famous as the birthplace of Andraste. In typical Fereldan fashion, however, the monument erected to the prophet in the Palace District is unassuming—a great rock adorned with a simple message of peace. Worshippers come from far and wide to touch the Birth Rock and issue a quiet and respectful prayer. This is how things are done in Denerim, and the locals would have it no other way.”

-- From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by Brother Genitivi

Dragon Age: Origins will be in stores on November 3, 2009 - back with another update next week!

New Mass Effect 2 Character Revealed

Meet Subject Zero... don't ogle her tattooed glory too long or she's the last thing you'll see... and no, you probably won't die with a smile on your face, either. Mass Effect 2's latest character reveal is this deadly lady who has “been around, ran with gangs, wiped out some gangs.” Yikes.

Updated intel from BioWare notes this:

With an attitude to match, Subject Zero is a formidable biotic – as powerful as she is intriguing. Her detailed tattoos mark her favorite kills – “the good ones”. Mystery and fascination surround this uncontrollable rebel, which will undoubtedly leave fans wanting more.

Most definitely. Of course, I'd not invite Zero and Rubi Malone to the same party, as things would get a bit bloody in TWO completely different time periods. Check your weapons at the door, girls!

Mass Effect 2 is coming in early 2010.

Dragon Age: Origins Update: Meet Zevran!

In this latest Dragon Age: Origins character reveal, we meet up with one of the game's more interesting personalities and yes, he can be part of your party, i hear. Check out the bio on this guy and check to see if you still have your wallet afterward...

Zevran

The Antivan Crows are the most infamous guild of thieves and assassins in all of Thedas, even counting members of royal houses among their numbers. The organization’s fearsome reputation is often as effective as the exotic poisons they have developed - letting them all but rule their homeland through terror. Zevran, born to an elven prostitute in the capital of Antiva, was sold to the guild at a young age.

Although he resisted the Crows’ brutal training methods at first, he eventually accepted his lot, then began to excel. Zevran rose through the ranks to become one of the Crows’ most promising assassins, specializing in both seduction and stealth. Brash and ambitious, he has accepted his most dangerous commission yet: A target in far-off Ferelden, one that may bring him unimaginable rewards.

Dragon Age: Origins for the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC is set to hit retail on November 3, 2009. We'll have another update next week.

Dragon Age Origins: Meet Leliana

In this week's Dragon Age: Origins update, we'll take a look at one of the game's female characters, Leliana, a bard from the land of Orlais who also happens to be a selectable party member and from what I can tell a "romance" option in the game. As I can see some of you less lucky guys getting royally slugged by your real-life significant others over choosing this lovely virtual redhead as your potential partner, you may want to keep the fawning to a minimum.


Leliana

In Orlais, bards travel throughout the courts of the land, trading entertainment for the hospitality of the aristocracy while simultaneously playing a more sinister trade: Often, they are secretly spies or assassins. Leliana, however, speaks little of her history as a bard, having left her life in Orlais behind long ago.

She came to the village of Lothering seeking refuge in the Chantry, where she has assumed a life of quiet contemplation and prayer to the Maker, asking Him to forgive a life of deeds that her fellow sisters can only guess at.

Although it is the last path that Leliana would ever choose for herself, she believes that the time will soon come to take up that old life once again. A higher calling awaits her, and with it, a road to true redemption. The Maker has told her this, and she believes.


Remember: the game is set to hit retail on November 3, 2009. More Dragon Age: Origins updates to come - stay tuned!

Dragon Age: Origins Voice Cast Revealed

BioWare is set to give genre fans a real treat in terms of killer voice acting in its upcoming RPG, Dragon Age: Origins. The game will feature the vocal talents of Tim Curry ("The Rocky Horror Picture Show", Broadway’s "Spamalot"), Kate Mulgrew ("Star Trek: Voyager"), Tim Russ (“Star Trek: Voyager,” “Samantha Who?”), Claudia Black (“Stargate SG-1,” “Pitch Black”) and Steve Valentine (“Estate of Panic,” “Crossing Jordan”).

Do I hear a press release (perhaps voiced by Tim Curry, pictured left)? Ah, here we go... put your ear to the monitor and listen to this:

Tim Curry will play the villainous Arl Rendon Howe. Howe is the calculating villain, cultured and charming, with an insatiable lust for power who never hesitates to harm anyone who gets in his way. Kate Mulgrew will lend her vocal flair to Flemeth, a powerful witch who maintains her immortality through the darkest of means, and who plays a pivotal role in the player’s survival. Both roles provide the actors with the opportunity to bring their considerable talents to bear in their portrayal of these characters.

“Dragon Age: Origins has the largest cast of characters of any game BioWare has ever made,” said Mark Darrah, Executive Producer, BioWare. “By working with an incredibly talented cast of actors we are able to bring reality and depth to the characters, their back stories, motivations, and dreams that our talented writers have created for them.”

Dragon Age: Origins is set to hit retail on November 17, 2009 - stay tuned for more updates as the game gets closer to its release date (you DID pre order a copy, right?).

Say... You didn't really put your ear to that monitor, did you?

EA & BioWare Reveal Mass Effect: Pinnacle Station Content Pack

EA and BioWare continue to generate Mass Interest in the upcoming Mass Effect 2 by adding more download content to the original game (which in turn, gives folks like me yet another fine reason to hop back into the boots of Commander Shepard for a few more hours). Mass Effect: Pinnacle Station, the latest add-on for the original game is now available as a downloadable pack for the Xbox 360 for 400 Microsoft points via the Xbox LIVE Marketplace. The PC version of the content pack will set you back $5 and can be purchased through EA's online store. By the way, the 1.02 patch for Mass Effect is required for the installation of Pinnacle Station and is available over at BioWare's web site. First things first and all that...

So what's in the pack? Glad you asked - let's go to the press release:

"Picking up where the first game ended, players will enter Pinnacle Station, a top-secret Alliance training facility. Featuring 13 scenarios ranging from fast-paced combat simulations to high-stakes winner-takes-all wagers, players will push their combat skills to the limit.

In Pinnacle Station, players will encounter aggressive simulated enemies and unlock a mysterious new location. In the station players will acquire rare weapons and special armor available exclusively in the Pinnacle Station Game Add-On. With each successful mission, players are rewarded with Xbox 360 Achievement points.

“At BioWare, we’re committed to providing ongoing support for all our franchises. With Mass Effect: Pinnacle Station, you’ll execute challenging new combat missions that will allow you to reenter the Mass Effect galaxy with a bang!” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, Group General Manager and Senior Vice President, Electronic Arts, and co-founder and CEO, BioWare. “Regardless of whether you choose to start Mass Effect 2 as a standalone adventure, or import your Mass Effect saved games, we know that you will enjoy Episode 2 for all of its intense action, dramatic plot twists and memorable characters.”

Fancy a few choice screenshots, anyone? OK:

Remember, Mass Effect 2 is scheduled for release on Xbox 360 and PC in early 2010. If you're a 140-worder, you can follow the game's Twitter page for all the latest quick updates. We'll have more info on any other upcoming Mass Effect content and Mass Effect 2 as it comes in.

Dragon Age: Origins Update #2: The City of Haven

In this week's Dragon Age: Origins reveal, we'll take a trip to what looks like a fairly normal village similar to what you'd find in any typically grand role-playing game. However, as you'll read (and as life in a BioWare RPG often teaches us), sometimes what looks perfectly normal is often far more sinister once one lets one's guard down. With that, welcome, dear readers to:

The City of Haven

Some years ago, a lone traveler paid a visit to a tavern in Denerim, and after imbibing a great quantity of ale related a tale of his travels to the tavern-keeper. The traveler claimed to have stumbled upon a strange village high in the Frostback Mountains. The village was peaceful, he said, and the villagers polite, if a little aloof. They fed him and watered his horse, and then urged him to be on his way. When he lingered too long, suddenly their mood changed. Their faces grew cold and knives appeared, and the traveler was told that what was to happen next “was done in Andraste’s name and for the good of all.” He fled in a panic and could not afterwards retrace his path. The traveler took a room at the tavern and yet never slept there. He disappeared that night and was not heard from again.

Dragon Age: Origins is scheduled to hit stores on November 3, 2009. Thanks again to BioWare for the story, lovely screenshots and concept art.