Having a little (belated) fun at EA/Bioware’s expense (and I’m not the only one). John Carmack (Doom, etc) recently remarked that games are about “creating value for people.” Carmack and id Software spent 6 years on Rage and slapped a $60 price tag on the cover. Bethesda likewise charged top dollar for the latest Elder Scrolls but director Todd Howard has a point–some games are only worth $30 or even $19.
With Dragon Age 2 (which cost Bioware a veteran lead designer) EA simply over-’valued’ their property–just check the quality of Skyrim (or even DA1) against what’s on offer in DA2 and it becomes clear that what once would have passed as a $30 expansion pack is now perceived to have more value for people, just not gamers in this case but the people at EA. However, with strong sales, and similar tactics elsewhere in the industry (I’m looking at you Bungie), the only thing on offer for less than $60 is this for $2.50…man this industry is getting ravenous…
And now for some doublespeak!
Bioware Pre-Launch Hype:
“I think one of the key things we’re working on in Dragon Age II is the technology. I can confirm that we’re doing a lot of work on the Dragon Age engine, and doing a lot of stuff to pump it — to make it visually super hot” - BioWare’s Greg Zeschuk
On the lack of a Dragon Age 2 toolkit:
“Obviously in this community there’s going to be some concern that we wouldn’t release a toolset, so let me clear the air a little: The tools we’re using to make Dragon Age 2 are very, very close to the tools you guys have used to make your mods for DA:O” – Mike Laidlaw, Lead Designer, Dragon Age 1 & 2
Artwork From: Andy Comics, 1948
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