Dragon Age 2 - Demo impressions

[Kozmos]

Pokemon are redeemed solely by the fact I can do something insane and if I yell "KOOOFFFIIIINGG!" while doing it, it somehow turns to okay.

 

[Maniacal]

EA sneaks SecuROM onto DA2 disc install ಠ_ಠ

Electronic Arts has landed itself in hot water with PC gamers after failing to disclose the digital rights management snuck onto Dragon Age II. The disc-based version of the game contains notorious SecuROM DRM -- a controversial bit of software that invites itself onto your PC and is regarded by gamers as glorified malware.

The worst part is that Electronic Arts does not inform gamers about the DRM anywhere -- there's no warning on the game's packaging or website, and it's suspiciously absent from the EULA. Consumer rights advocate "Reclaim Your Game" has been emailing subscribers to warn them of EA's shenanigans, which violates a court order demanding it disclose all instances of SecuROM in its games.

Add in the general hatred PC gamers have had for the sequel, and the possibility of one gamer being banned from BioWare's forums and subsequently unable to boot up his copy of the game, and you've got a bad PR recipe.

Our review of Dragon Age II is still coming. In the meantime ... what the Hell, EA?

Wow, has EA learned NOTHING? Violating a court order? Really? Not to mention Bioware specifically stated SecuROM was NOT going to be on the final built, only in the review copies.

Spoiler :

"We appreciate your patience and feedback on this. DRM is always a topic of much debate, even internally. It requires a delicate balance between providing some level of IP protection while minimizing the inconvenience or intrusion to a player’s experience. These decisions are not made lightly - and a lot of time and effort was dedicated to ensuring that the system for DA2 is skewed to the player side of the experience. It is as follows:

Dragon Age 2 Physical & Digital PC/Mac DRM are as follows:

* No disc check, you do not need the disc in drive to play.

* No limit on the total number of PCs you can install the game on.

* There is a limit to the number of unique/different PCs that can play the game within a time window (if online) [5 PCs in 24hrs].

* After each new install there is a 1-time online check needed the next time you play, requiring a log in to your EA account to verify game ownership. If you are a member of these forums, you already have an EA account – just use the same email/password.

* You can play offline thereafter - the game will NOT require any subsequent login checks. If online, a game ownership check happens each time you play.

Steam versions use Steam DRM, no other DRM is added, which means:

* No disc check, it is used for digital game versions purchased from Steam only.

* No limit to the total number of PCs you can install the game on.

* There is a limit to the number of unique/different PCs that can play the game at any one time (if online) [1 PC].

* Each install requires logging into your Steam account to verify game ownership.

* You can play offline thereafter. If online, a game ownership check happens each time you play.

* Steam pre-loads use Steam release control – you will not be able to play until the release day/time has passed for that region.

Dragon Age 2 Release Control (non-Steam versions)

* Does not use securom.

* It does not install anything to the PC.

* Sole purpose is to check with a server to validate whether the game release date has passed or not.

* It completely removes itself after the game release date has passed.

* You will not be able to play until that date has passed.

* Dates & times are set to the retail street date per country.

Common questions:

Does this apply to consoles?

* No. This is applies to PC/Mac only.

What about Mac/Cider, does it use Securom?

* Dragon Age: Origins for Mac/Cider used Securom. Dragon Age 2 for Mac/Cider will NOT use Securom and instead it will use the same non-Steam system listed above.

A PC review mentions Securom, what gives?

* All EA preview & review game builds sent to press use Securom which is where the assumption came from. The Dragon Age 2 actual retail & download version of the game that you will play will not use Securom, it uses one of the systems above.

If you have other questions please feel free to post here – as always, a reminder that this thread is NOT for the general discussion of DRM, the pros and cons of other DRM systems or any talk about circumventing DRM (which is against the rules of conduct and will be disciplined as such). Thanks. "

RT ORDER to disclose it! Dick move EA, dick move.

 

[Kozmos]

I highly doubt that EA would intentionally open themselves up to litigation. I will attribute this to stupidity and not malice until definitive proof.

 

[Akka]

I highly doubt that EA would intentionally open themselves up to litigation. I will attribute this to stupidity and not malice until definitive proof.

I don't see why both would be mutually exclusive. Malice + stupidity does really sound like EA.

 

[Disgustipated]

I have a dumb question. What is is secuROM? and why is it so bad? What games use secuROM?

 

[Maniacal]

I have a dumb question. What is is secuROM? and why is it so bad? What games use secuROM?

SecuROM

 

[Double A]

Yeah, this makes me glad I haven't installed DA2 yet. In fact, I might even return it.

 

[Maniacal]

More than likely nothing bad will happen if you install it, the main issue is that SecuROM has sucked horribly in the past and EA/Bioware lied about it not being included.

 

[Maniacal]

UPDATE: Bioware says there still is no SecuROM in DA2 and that while the DRM is made by the SecuROM people it is different and the fiels left behind after it removes itself are temporary files and harmless.

 

[Double A]

Because we can totally trust them, since they didn't say that until after they were accused of having SecuROM on the game.

I'm just not feeling very good about BioWare right now.

 

[Maniacal]

Actually no its what they said pre-release too.

 

[Double A]

That still doesn't make me feel any better.

 

[Adam7Eight]

I'm just not feeling very good about BioWare right now.

That's because they "sold their souls to the EA devil."

 

[Double A]

Maybe...

 

[GoodSarmatian]

So, anyone bougth it yet ? What'S the verdict ?
I just read a review in a german gaming mag and they were complaining about camera and characters (the varric being the only really interesting one) and story and gave it 87/100.
Good RPG, but weaker than Origins.

 

[Maniacal]

They complained about the story and characters and still gave it an 67? review scores

From what I've read a lot of people still like it despite any flaws, and most of those stem from a shorter development time/rushing (ie reused areas), and it being a slightly different game than Origins and no big improvements. There still seems to be mixed reactions but so far it seems to have confirmed my suspicion it wasn't going to be better or worse than Origins (which is a good game but lacked in many areas).

Still waiting for my damn copy to arrive.

 

[Double A]

It's cause reviewers treat the scale as A, B, C, D, F and not numerical.

They think roughly 80 is average, where it should be 50. They basically ignore half the scale.

 

[Eat_Up_Martha]

Good RPG, but weaker than Origins.

I'm not done yet, but that's where I'd put it at, tentatively.
The combat is fast and pretty and fun and the restructuring of the skills tree didn't bother me at all. I've seen some reviewers complain about the reduced choice in character creation, but the fact that your main character actually has a personality, worthwhile storyline, and good voice acting more than compensates for that.

What really irks me about DA2 are three main things: the main plot, the simplified non-combat skills and inventories, and the lack of detail in Kirkwall and the surrounding areas.

I'm not done the main plot, or maybe I am, I've barely been able to recognize a central plot thus far. Throughout the game so far it's just been kind of nebulous 'gain power and money' deal with no real driving force behind it. The side quests are still quite interesting and I love the depth of moral ambiguity that the designers have managed to convey.

In DA2, there doesn't seem to be any non-combat related skills whatsoever. Maybe there's some, but I can't think of any off the top of my head. I really liked the dialogue options that were opened up by diplomacy (or whatever it was called) in the original. There's also no longer any crafting skills or survival, but I don't miss them all that much. What I do miss, however, is the extensive equipment, items, and gifts system that the original had. Now the only character who can be fully equipped is Hawke. For most of the others, you can really only swap out weapons and knickknacks like rings, amulets, and belts. I hear some people like a minimal inventory system like ME2 had, but I've always enjoyed highly customizable characters.

Most of the game is spent inside Kirkwall. Given how much time is spent in this city, you would think that Bioware would have went all-out in detailing the place. This is, however, not the case. To their credit, the developers seem to have spent a lot of time considering the history of the place and have produced fairly extensive codex entries about each region. However, when actually playing the game, the city is essentially lifeless. There is almost no variety in building structure within a neighbourhood and the streets are almost empty. There is very little to interact with beyond vendors and the minimal street-level NPC interactions hardly capture one's attention.

Also, the dungeons are probably one of the worst features of the game. They are so recycled it's horrible, it completely annihilates any sense of immersion to be exploring a new cave or warehouse or something that you have been through several times before on a different quest. The worst part here is that some rooms are locked off from the main dungeon because it is unused in the quest you're in, but still appear on the minimap!

I'm going to refrain from going into much depth on characters, not having finished the game. So far though, I'm not really impressed with them either. I would have to say that Varric is the most interesting party member. Isabella is a one-dimensional cliche and stands out as the worst.

But all that aside, the game is actually still really fun. Even though it doesn't stand up to the original, I think it's still worth the money. I'd give it (so far) a score around 85.

 

[Disgustipated]

ugh, judging from what you wrote there, I'm not buying the game. The way you describe the inventory system sounds horrible. And I'm not a big fan of games where you spend all your time in one city (BG2 kind of had this problem, but you had spellhold/Brynnlaw and other areas too, so you weren't in Athkatla all the time thankfully).

 

[Mad Man]

Whats up with the Qunari having horns and pointy ears, aren't they supposed to look like large anti-social mexicans that talk like Spock?