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BioWare embracing episodic content for all future projects
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Jan 18th 2007 at 10:25PM }
BioWare looks to start swinging episodes like it was 1993 again (LL Cool J? "Back Seat"? Too obscure?). The Mass Effect developer recently pledged to support all of its confirmed upcoming titles with post-release episodic content, including Dragon Age and Jade Empire: Special Edition. BioWare even claimed that its "other" (read: announced) titles would be treated to digitally distributed content, suggesting the studio's total adoption of a longevity model built on episodic releases. The strategy will span both "console and PC" platforms, confirmed CEO Ray Muzyka."Consoles," eh? Could BioWare be expanding its console development beyond Xbox 360? After all, a DS title is in the works.
GFW mag peeps Bioware's latest RPG, Dragon Age
by Christopher Grant { Nov 3rd 2006 at 2:25PM }
1UP reports that their soon to be relaunched sister publication, the elegantly titled Games for Windows the Official Magazine (née Computer Gaming World), will have the scoop on Dragon Age, the latest RPG from Canadian developer Bioware. 1UP says it uses an evolved form of Baldur's Gate's"tactical real-time combat" and a "modified" version of Mass Effect's branching conversation system to bring us a new, "much darker" outing than earlier titles like Jade Empire.So, why is this a fetching cover model for the newly relaunched mag (and the newly reinvigorated Games for Window marketing campaign leading up to the Vista launch)? Because Bioware has been all over the console scene lately, with initial releases of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Jade Empire hitting the Xbox first, and Mass Effect slated to be a 360 exclusive. Dragon Age will mark the developer's first PC debut title since 2002's Neverwinter Nights ... but how long until they exploit Microsoft's XNA cross-platform tools and release a 360 port?
[Thanks, EvanB]
Dragon Age to get kissy with it
by Alan Rose { Jun 16th 2006 at 4:35PM }
Sorcerer's Place recently posted a summary of the latest activity on BioWare's Dragon Age forum, and a considerable amount of the discussion was focused on potential romantic encounters in the game. Lead Writer David Gaider explains:"In terms of the animations themselves, I actually wanted a kiss in KotOR, but we just couldn't fit in the animation...We got the kissing animation in Jade Empire, and we'll have it for DA, but I doubt we'll get much more in the way of animations for that."
But it's not all physical, folks. Gaider continues: "I'm hoping that the romances will feel much more organic this time around...a series of dialogues and choices that builds the relationship between you and your NPC. But instead of building towards getting married and having babies, you're building towards a close friendship. We're also talking about being able to switch between that kind of friendship path and a romantic path for those characters which you can romance."
So if that special lady in your life gives you crap about spending hours in front of the computer after Dragon Age arrives, just tell her you're learning all about building meaningful and lasting relationships. She just might leave you alone.
One other note from the forums -- Dragon Age won't necessarily ship in 2007, despite what you may have read in GameSpot or PC Gamer. However, Mass Effect should be in stores this holiday season.
[via RPGDot]
