The original Dead Rising took place in a shopping mall, explained Inafune, and because Japan doesn’t have American-style malls, the team had to go on a trip to research them.
We’ve more or less known BioWare would be releasing Dragon Age 2 some time early next year — Electronic Arts practically announced as much a few months ago, and Awakening teased a new Dragon Age title for February 1, 2011. But today, EA has officially confirmed the existence of Dragon Age 2, and Game Informer has the first few details on the title as well.
The confirmation came nestled in a press release concerning EA taking over control of Warhammer Online in Europe (via VG247), which lists “Dragon Age 2, the highly anticipated sequel to 2009’s ‘RPG of the Year’ Dragon Age: Origins,” as one of the titles that BioWare currently has in development. Furthermore, Game Informer’s website is teasing an upcoming cover story for Dragon Age 2, with the tease revealing the new game will feature a “new hero, a different part of the world, and a ton of surprising improvements.”
That’s about all Game Informer is revealing right now, but the promise of a “new hero” already seems to suggests players won’t transfer their character from Dragon Age: Origins into Dragon Age 2, the way players could transfer their version of Commander Shepard from Mass Effect into Mass Effect 2. Still, that’s not entirely certain yet, so we’ll see what BioWare has to say when more details are revealed.
One of Ubisoft’s smaller but more delightful announcements at E3 last month was Rayman Origins, a return of their original mascot in a gorgeous new 2D episodic platformer. And now we know a little bit more about the game thanks to an FAQ Ubisoft released just prior to the holiday weekend kicking off.
According to the FAQ, the first episode of Rayman Origins will be released over Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network this Christmas, with the rest of the episodes (how many in total hasn’t been announced) naturally following in 2011. Interestingly, although the game was only listed for the 360 and PS3 when it was revealed at E3, the FAQ also states that versions for the Wii, 3DS, PC, and iPad are all “to be considered.”
Rayman Origins is being created on Ubisoft’s UBIart Framework, a collection of tools designed to make it easier for small teams to make games. Rayman Origins itself is being made by a team of only five people, including original Rayman creator Michel Ancel. The FAQ also reveals the UBIart Framework will go open-source in 2011.
GN writes, "A podcast dedicated to Dragon Age: Origins has featured an interview with the Baldur’s Gate 2: Redux mod team, focused on recreating the original Baldur’s Gate 2 experience using the Dragon Age engine. The modding group has had great success so far in recreating parts of the Irenicus Dungeon, screenshots of which can be found on the team’s site. The Dragon Age Podcast group’s interview reveals all the secrets behind the modding effort, including how others can get involved and some very ambitious release dates.
An excerpt from the podcast and screenshots from the mod can be found below…"
Website PCGH shows how gaming looks like with 32x Anti-Aliasing on Geforce GTX 480 right before the official launch. Included are Assassin’s Creed 2, Dragon Age: Origins and Dirt 2.
ZeroTolerance writes: Returning to the world of Dragon Age was like slipping on your favorite comfy t-shirt. The game had grown on me back in the fall when it was released, and after surviving the onslaught of early 2010 releases getting back to the game was definitely a nice reunion. Awakening is a full-blown expansion for BioWare’s epic fantasy RPG that introduces new characters, a new storyline and of course a myriad of quests to perform throughout a brand new area. There are a few surprises in store for players of the original game and you can even import your hero from the original game, regardless of what choices you made at its conclusion.
IncGamers caught up with BioWare producer, Fernando Melo to discuss the expansion pack due for release later this month.
In the interview Melo explains why the PS3 will be digitally distributed in Europe, ideas of where the franchise will go and how BioWare is looking at overhauling the console’s button mapping. You can also see some sword fighting and a little bit of archery too!
IncGamers’ Tim McDonald sits down with Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening and reports back on what’s new and how it fares.
From the preview: "From what I’ve seen, Vigil Keep is the single biggest difference between Awakening and vanilla Dragon Age, and it really is a huge one. Once you fend off the Darkspawn in the initial attack you’re granted control of it and, indeed, the title of Arl, essentially making you the ruler of Amaranthine. In a fashion inspired by the class keeps from Baldur’s Gate II, all the problems of both Vigil Keep and the region on the whole become yours."
resumeplay writes: "Canadian developer BioWare has long been known for its ability to weave deeply designed and thoroughly exciting personalities into the plots and universes it creates for its acclaimed RPGs. The new Awakening expansion project, which will be released to store shelves and be made available as downloadable content (DLC) on March 16, seems set to continue this trend."
