Bioware bans people from forums... and their DLC

[FlashNeko]

So, some people have expressed displeasure about the state of Dragon Age 2 on the Bioware forums. This is nothing new, as every game has its naysayers but there's a bit of a twist to it this time around.

Be it either Bioware themselves or orders coming down from EA, anyone who says anything negative about Dragon Age 2 is banned from the forums... and since you can only access the forums if you're signed up to their social network, this means a blanket ban from everything. This includes DLC you've purchased from them for other games in the past, (like Mass Effect 2), since you need access to their social network to activate them.

Also, those looking into buying the PC version of DA2, beware. You know how EA and Bioware swore up and down that it wouldn't have the SecuROM DRM?

Turns out they lied.

 

[Darkster]

Yeah, EA is screwed. Lawsuits are valid in the case of the SecuROM. Displeased costumers also means lost costumers.

On a personal note, banning members for expressing displeasure is pathetic.

 

[KingRanger]

Yeah there are a lot of people giving valid criticisms of Dragon Age 2, and I don't mean just IT SUCKS and what not. People are giving real reasons as to why DA2 isn't all it's hyped to be. Instead of listening as bioware claims they always do with their fans, people are getting banned from the bioware social forums.

Check this out http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/03/11/ea-forum-bans-can-lock-you-out-of-games/#more-53640

Myself I have been playing the game a little. I am very glad I didn't buy it for 60 bucks. I will buy it, but only when it hits 40 or less used. The complaints about copy pasted areas are spot on. Also get to like the city of Kirkwall, because you will spend the VAST majority of the game in it.

 

[Loghorn]

Now that's just being cowardly. Banning people, removing features bought, etc., just because they can't handle the truth. It's the same way that Square-Enix tried to not have people/gaming magazines/game reviewers review Final Fantasy XIV online before the game came out, because Square knew that the game was garbage to begin with.

If companies/publishers/developers don't want criticisms on their games, then they need to learn to make their games right. Plain & simple.

 

[GekiShinken]

Another reason why I didn't buy Dragon Age II. When I first saw the videos leaked of the combat I just thought "not my cup of tea". Then I saw that all the art changed and thought "eh still not my cup of tea". I played the demo and thought "yeah they really changed the game..."


I really wonder what was going through Biowares head (or if EA forced it) with Dragon Age II. They took a beloved game and basically turned it on its head in the sequel...

 

[KingRanger]

Another reason why I didn't buy Dragon Age II. When I first saw the videos leaked of the combat I just thought "not my cup of tea". Then I saw that all the art changed and thought "eh still not my cup of tea". I played the demo and thought "yeah they really changed the game..."


I really wonder what was going through Biowares head (or if EA forced it) with Dragon Age II. They took a beloved game and basically turned it on its head in the sequel...

I Don't mind the new art. Though.. Some of the changes to how elves look are pretty nasty. The combat is what really bugged me. It's just button mashing now. I could even get past that. What REALLY bugs me is how little there is to see. It just seems like they rushed the game so much.

 

[Algo Fonix]

I'm wondering why the PC version of the game costs 60 dollars.

 

[Braver]

I'm wondering why the PC version of the game costs 60 dollars.

EA.

Bioware is just being weird with its direction of games now. First and foremost is the decision to make direct sequels to games accessible to new players. I'm fine with grabbing new fans, but with both Mass Effect and Dragon Age, both stories suffer from simplification and become muddled messes. This is worsened by the fact the franchises are toted around that decisions from prior games affect the next installment. If that is a gameplay feature, then you need to target the current fans and rely on them to get newcomers to buy all the games. Example, I rounded up two friends to get both MEs.

Another thing that bugged me was a line from an interview, trying to appeal to Call of Duty fans. Trying to do that for Dragon Age, the "spiritual successor" to Baldur's Gate is like trying to get Lord of the Rings to appeal to Jersey Shore fans, you just don't.

The graphics issue was a good idea on paper, not practice. They wanted more PC users, especially those without powerhouse rigs, to be able to play it. Fine, understandable. Yet... they took that same formula for the console variants which performance wise, 360s are alike as are PS3s.

It's a shame, I wanted to enter into the Dragon Age franchise, but with DA2, that killed a lot of the desire to do so. If anything, I'm waiting for it to land in the bargain bin for $20.

 

[KingRanger]

EA.

Bioware is just being weird with its direction of games now. First and foremost is the decision to make direct sequels to games accessible to new players. I'm fine with grabbing new fans, but with both Mass Effect and Dragon Age, both stories suffer from simplification and become muddled messes. This is worsened by the fact the franchises are toted around that decisions from prior games affect the next installment. If that is a gameplay feature, then you need to target the current fans and rely on them to get newcomers to buy all the games. Example, I rounded up two friends to get both MEs.

Another thing that bugged me was a line from an interview, trying to appeal to Call of Duty fans. Trying to do that for Dragon Age, the "spiritual successor" to Baldur's Gate is like trying to get Lord of the Rings to appeal to Jersey Shore fans, you just don't.

The graphics issue was a good idea on paper, not practice. They wanted more PC users, especially those without powerhouse rigs, to be able to play it. Fine, understandable. Yet... they took that same formula for the console variants which performance wise, 360s are alike as are PS3s.

It's a shame, I wanted to enter into the Dragon Age franchise, but with DA2, that killed a lot of the desire to do so. If anything, I'm waiting for it to land in the bargain bin for $20.

Let me first say I agree with everything you said here. I also want to say I loved DAO. And IMO, DA2 is a step backwards in terms of story, game play, and everything else. It sounded good, but when I finally got to play I was very disappointed

I wonder if the huge cost of making ToR had anything to do with the poor shape DA2 is in. It's like they had to cut costs, so they copy pasted areas, and made the game pretty tiny.

In the end DA2 disappoints me. I might get it when it hits 20 or less, and that is the FIRST time I have ever said that about a bioware game.

 

[Braver]

Let me first say I agree with everything you said here. I also want to say I loved DAO. And IMO, DA2 is a step backwards in terms of story, game play, and everything else. It sounded good, but when I finally got to play I was very disappointed

I wonder if the huge cost of making ToR had anything to do with the poor shape DA2 is in. It's like they had to cut costs, so they copy pasted areas, and made the game pretty tiny.

In the end DA2 disappoints me. I might get it when it hits 20 or less, and that is the FIRST time I have ever said that about a bioware game.

To the best of my knowledge, I don't believe ToR impeded on DA2, then again, all I know is ME1's main writer is involved in ToR