Bioware’s Dragon Age: Origins to get a massive expansion pack next year
Bioware’s Dragon Age: Origins is said by many to be the best RPG of 2009. Those wanting more of the game may be in for a treat as some newly leaked information seems to indicate that a massive expansion pack is on the horizon.
According to Eurogamer.cz, some new information released for a New Zealand retailer indicates that a full retail expansion pack titled Awakening for Dragon Age: Origins may be on the horizon. Bioware has been bullish regarding DLC support for the game by releasing an expansion pack upon the game’s launch.
However, unlike any other expansion pack, Awakening is said to be as long as 15 hours with a whole new origin story and character. If this is indeed true, then fans of the game will have something to look forward to right before summer time. Hopefully Bioware is also tying up some loose ends via the expansion pack as well.
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January 1st, 2010
I don’t have the game but if if the trophy are not that insane to get like most PS3 games are. I might buy it.
January 1st, 2010
Sounds great, in the meantime we can look forward to Return to Ostagar for 360 and PC on Jan. 5th… and later that month for PS3.
http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/29/dragon-agereturn-to-ostagar-dlc-on-360-pc-jan-5-ps3-later/
January 1st, 2010
We PS3 are going to be playing MAG this whole month and Heavy Rain next month and after that God of War III and so on.
My PSN ID: Ivan-
January 1st, 2010
What happened to Afrika and EyePet Ivan… these were on your PS3 list less than a month ago…
January 1st, 2010
is this game worth getting? if so, what platform?
January 1st, 2010
Harry,
I haven’t played this game yet but I have heard it is okay. The only thing that I have heard negatively about the game is that the graphics are not too good. If you do buy the game, you need to get the Xbox360 version. Like most mult-platform games, the Xbox360 is the better overall performing game again. I was thinking about getting this game as well since it is on sale for thirty nine dollars. I’m just loving the fact that I can get great deals on the latest releases on Xbox360 games. If the Xbox360 games continue to have the better prices, I will be getting all of the multi-platforming games on the Xbox360.
January 1st, 2010
Harry,
I played through the 360 version with no problem, but the platform to get it on is PC if you can. The problems on both 360 and PS3 are said to cancel each other out, but if you prefer framerate over picture quality, go for 360, if vice versa go for PS3… here is the most detailed I can find on the subject (1st two pages):
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/xbox-360-vs-ps3-face-off-round-23?page=1
January 1st, 2010
CarlB,
You’re correct. The Pc version is the best version but I didn’t mention this because I thought Harry preferred console gaming over Pc gaming. My die hard Ps3 friends returned the game because they couldn’t stand the framerate issues on the Ps3. One brought the Pc version and the other got the Xbox360 version. Both were happier with these versions over the Ps3 version. It will depend on what is more important to each gamer.
January 1st, 2010
the frame rate issues on the PS3 are there but you wont even notice it.
January 1st, 2010
Is DA: Origins as good as Oblivion?
January 1st, 2010
It’s different because of the party perspective, but yes, I would say it is as good as Oblivion, but shorter.
January 1st, 2010
@Ivan
Actually MAG doesn’t come out until the end of the month.
January 1st, 2010
LMAO @ Twiligight, he turned a question from harry in to a 360 rant
January 1st, 2010
During some of the bigger battles, when there is a lot going on.. I noticed a few big drops in the frame rate. Nothing that hampered the game play though.
I loved the game, but graphics certainly weren’t one of the games stronger points.
Also – I have to agree, I liked Dragon Age more than Oblivion. Mainly due to the battle system. Oblivion was great, but it’s more of a hack and slash.
January 2nd, 2010
For a game like this, gameplay is far more important than graphics.
I would probably go the PC version.
January 2nd, 2010
MAG 26th Public beta starts January 4th i can’t wait to play it again is gonna be fucking awesome pure sick.
I also want MAFIA II Bioshock 2 for my PS3 and many more.
January 2nd, 2010
@CarlB,
“The problems on both 360 and PS3 are said to cancel each other out..”
Just to make sure everyone is clear, actually they don’t cancel each other out at all. The 360 version is far more inferior from a technical perspective than the PS3 and PC version. I would agree with Jim on his Eurogamer assessment, PS3 is the closest to the PC version while the 360 is probably 3rd place from a tech point of view, while the framerate bump does help a little bit.
Jim Sterling – “In summary, technologically speaking the PC original is the winner here. While the PS3 version is closer to it in many ways, it can’t make up for the frame-rate and the cut-down visuals, and the lack of utilisation of the Blu-ray storage space is peculiar. For Xbox 360 owners, the visual downgrade is a touch more impactful, but the game is less prone to the PS3 code’s frame-rate drops. ”
Both the PS3 and 360 have random variable framerate issues (read my review of Dragon Age: Origins), however the PS3 is more prevalent but since both are so bad (15 to 25fps) its moot.
Sometimes the 360 version suffers with a mage and couple darkspawns, while the PS3 might suffer randomly with only darkspawns/no mage while at other times both perform fine during those situations.
Note, most sites including us, don’t do reviews for each console versions but review the game in general. We do normally get both builds of the game so we can do some comparisons though.
However, Gamespot does have a dedicated official review of both PS3 (9.0) and Xbox 360 (8.5) versions. They actually do full review pass troughs for both versions of the game instead of sampling the build, so I would trust their assessment of the end-to-end impact of any technical issues (avg occurrences/main battle occurrences etc…).
January 2nd, 2010
twilight said: “If you do buy the game, you need to get the Xbox360 version. Like most mult-platform games, the Xbox360 is the better overall performing game again.”
It seems the reviewers don’t share that sentiment ??
Particularly when more and more games are coded from the ps3 first nowdays, this is a different story.
What is clear though, is the PC version is the best to get and the 360/ps3 variants each have their pro’s and cons.
January 2nd, 2010
I don’t know spidey, I hear more stories of multiplats looking better on 360 than PS3 (even though they are getting closer these days), Dragon Age looks to be one of those exceptions. For example, IGN had to do 2 different reviews of Bayonetta (Xbox 360 version got 9.5, PS3 version got 8.2) because of a similar situation. Gamespot gave Fallout 3 9 on the 360 and 8.5 on the PS3 also.
January 2nd, 2010
Spidey,
It is great that many developers are starting with the Ps3 as the lead platform. As a Ps3 fan, I am very pleased about this. However, this does not take away the fact that many multi-platform Ps3 games in the past and some currently(Bayonetta) have come up short in comparison to the Xbox360 games. The Ps3 is a beast of a system. There is no excuse why multi-platform games on the Ps3 system should not be better or at least equal to the Xbox360 version of the same game.
January 2nd, 2010
PS3 RuLeZ and i don’t bother with multi-plaform and if i do PS3 is my beast to play them on. Sony makes the best games so i don’t need third party crap.
January 2nd, 2010
I will just clarify,
In the past and even the recently I will agree with yas. My point was the pendulum is coming back to sit somewhere in the middle now (as it should do) now that more games are being ported from ps3 first and developers have gotten their heads around ps3 architecture.
January 2nd, 2010
They soooooo need an “edit” feature in these forums ….. lol
January 2nd, 2010
@Mike,
“The 360 version is far more inferior from a technical perspective than the PS3 and PC version.”
Just a few notes… the quote you used from Jim Sterling is actually Richard Leadbetter in his regular face off feature found here at Eurogamer:
http://www.eurogamer.net/archive.php?platform=digitalfoundry&type=face-off
Jim Sterling’s Dragon Age Review can be found here at Destructoid:
http://www.destructoid.com/review-dragon-age-origins-153764.phtml
In which the only thing he says about the 360 and PS3 version is:
“This game probably should not have been released on the PS3 or Xbox 360.”
The last sentence of the Face-Off feature you quoted found at Eurogamer here:
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/xbox-360-vs-ps3-face-off-round-23?page=2
concludes: “the console conversions are about equal; their technical differences essentially cancel each other out.”
As for Kevin VanOrd’s GameSpot review that you mention, even he states the 360 “version maintains a smoother frame rate than on the PlayStation 3, where things might get jittery when swiveling the camera around… visual hiccups, like corpses that disappear and reappear, are a bit more common on the PS3″ while still recognizing the PS3 version for picture quality, which he seems to prefer over framerate, as evidenced by his scores.
All things considered, every other major review site (including those that do dedicated playthroughs to compare each game in the review) gave the game the same score on each version (even when they have given differing scores in the past), and it seems the only reason for the 1 point difference on Metacritic (360- 86, PS3- 87) is the sole major differing review, which is Kevin VanOrd’s. Initially, the difference was greater on Metacritic, but has since been balanced out by more reviews.
IGN also gave the same score in their review, but added:
“there are a number of framerate hitches, more so on the PS3 than the 360. It doesn’t break gameplay, but with a game that runs for sixty to eighty hours, that starts to add up over time.”
IGN Insider’s feature Head 2 Head, which also does in depth comparisons, gives the best ratings to the PC, but the console versions differ in Presentation where they state:
“the PS3 version of the game features a pause before just about every selection for a conversation, as well as at the end of dialogue. What’s more, the hitches that randomly happen hold for a longer period of time. As for the loading issues, the 360 version loads a hair faster than the PS3 version, which is particularly strange since you’re forced to install the PS3 build on every system you play on. While these frame rate issues and hitches don’t cripple the gameplay, over the course of a sixty or eighty hour game, you’re going to find an extra hour tacked on based on the PS3 version alone.
Overall
1) PC
2) 360
3) PS3″
http://insider.ign.com/articles/104/1043131p3.html
January 2nd, 2010
@Mike,
“The 360 version is far more inferior from a technical perspective than the PS3 and PC version.â€
Just a few notes… the quote you used from Jim Sterling is actually Richard Leadbetter in his regular face off feature found here at Eurogamer:
eurogamer.net/archive.php?platform=digitalfoundry&type=face-off
Jim Sterling’s Dragon Age Review can be found here at Destructoid:
destructoid.com/review-dragon-age-origins-153764.phtml
In which the only thing he says about the 360 and PS3 version is:
“This game probably should not have been released on the PS3 or Xbox 360.â€
The last sentence of the Face-Off feature you quoted found at Eurogamer here:
eurogamer.net/articles/xbox-360-vs-ps3-face-off-round-23?page=2
concludes: “the console conversions are about equal; their technical differences essentially cancel each other out.â€
As for Kevin VanOrd’s GameSpot review that you mention, even he states the 360 “version maintains a smoother frame rate than on the PlayStation 3, where things might get jittery when swiveling the camera around… visual hiccups, like corpses that disappear and reappear, are a bit more common on the PS3″ while still recognizing the PS3 version for picture quality, which he seems to prefer over framerate, as evidenced by his scores.
All things considered, every other major review site (including those that do dedicated playthroughs to compare each game in the review) gave the game the same score on each version (even when they have given differing scores in the past), and it seems the only reason for the 1 point difference on Metacritic (360- 86, PS3- 87) is the sole major differing review, which is Kevin VanOrd’s. Initially, the difference was greater on Metacritic, but has since been balanced out by more reviews.
IGN also gave the same score in their review, but added:
“there are a number of framerate hitches, more so on the PS3 than the 360. It doesn’t break gameplay, but with a game that runs for sixty to eighty hours, that starts to add up over time.â€
IGN Insider’s feature Head 2 Head, which also does in depth comparisons, gives the best ratings to the PC, but the console versions differ in Presentation where they state:
“the PS3 version of the game features a pause before just about every selection for a conversation, as well as at the end of dialogue. What’s more, the hitches that randomly happen hold for a longer period of time. As for the loading issues, the 360 version loads a hair faster than the PS3 version, which is particularly strange since you’re forced to install the PS3 build on every system you play on. While these frame rate issues and hitches don’t cripple the gameplay, over the course of a sixty or eighty hour game, you’re going to find an extra hour tacked on based on the PS3 version alone.
Overall
1) PC
2) 360
3) PS3″
insider.ign.com/articles/104/1043131p3.html
January 2nd, 2010
CarlB is on a fail mission to post biased article for Xbox community LMFAO. PS3 is still the best plus has the most exclusives and the greatest.
UNCHARTED 3
inFAMOUS 2
Killzone 3
Resistance 3
January 3rd, 2010
Ivan_PSP likes the hour’s worth of extra pauses on PS3… it is how “teh superior extreme powerful processor” in his PS3 proves itself… lol… none of the games you listed will be out this year Ivan, and maybe only half by the end of next year… how come EyePet and Afrika aren’t on your list anymore???…lol.
January 3rd, 2010
@CarlB
Overall
1) PC
2) 360
3) PS3″
Reading your post I didn’t see an overwhelming reason why you placed them in that order. Going by your own post and the game reviews you pointed out (for and against each console version) your final overall should be:
1. PC
2. 360 & PS3
January 3rd, 2010
CarlB:
Idiot i never said they were coming out ever i hope they are in development. Every game that’s exclusives to PS3 or any good is in my list you diluted Xbot.
January 3rd, 2010
“Reading your post I didn’t see an overwhelming reason why you placed them in that order.”
I didn’t. If you see, the entire last paragraph and that ranking is within parenthesis. IGN ranked them in that order in their Head to Head feature, largely due to the framerate issues, load times, and pauses before and after conversations in game in the PS3 version, which they say can add up to about an hour in a full playthrough.
The ranking in IGN’s Head to Head feature is:
“Overall
1) PC
2) 360
3) PS3″
insider.ign.com/articles/104/1043131p3.html
January 3rd, 2010
@CarlB,
Not sure why I thought Jim wrote that, thanks for the catch. but anyway I agree with DF from a technical perspective that the PS3 version is by far closer to the PC version. The graphical difference is a bit more impactful to the Xbox 360 version, while the framerate differences are a bit more grey. This is also my assessment of the games.
As I mentioned both games suffer significantly from framerate issues, by no means is there a winner here for the consoles. Xbox 360 versions suffer from random hitchs as well as the PS3 version, but is more variable on the latter console. After playing both versions the differences in the framerate hitches are not that distinguishable unless you are looking for it.
For example, who knows why the PS3 version suffers whenever a mage casts magic with a few darkspawns on the screen, and at other times seems fine with a handful of darkspawns with no mages? The 360 version fares a bit better, but not by much – as there are still variable random drops during battle.
Let me put it this way – with both versions barely chugging along at 15 to 25fps, arguing which console version has a better framerate is like arguing which car is better a Geo Prizm or a Ford Pinto (sorry if anyone owns one).
However, after extensive playthroughs of both versions I felt that the fact that some technical aspects of the PS3 stands up to the PC version gives it the edge.
DF Faceoff – PS3 “Texture filtering is superior, the lighting model looks a bit more accurate, and the depth-of-field effect is more accomplished too (even compared to the PC version).”
While nothing in the 360 version even came close to the PC version from a technical perspective.
(Trying to be helpful here) So, to answer the question of which console version is technically superior – my final verdict from a Blorge perspective is if you’re trying to decide which version to get on the consoles, I would recommend the PS3 version over the 360 version.
However, if you only own one platform, it really doesn’t matter that much because from an enjoyment perspective all console versions are about equal because its the in-depth story that really is the heart of the game – enjoy it on all platforms.
January 3rd, 2010
I love this damn website so damn hooked to it. And PS3 is must have also i will try this game soon.
January 3rd, 2010
Glad I saved myself that extra hour of framerate hitch, conversation pauses, and load times that IGN said was on the PS3 version by playing the 360 version.
January 3rd, 2010
Carl, give in to the dark side and smash your ps3 already, we all know you’re just itching to….
January 3rd, 2010
I can’t, it’s my blu-ray player… and I know there will be at least two more exclusives that will come out this year for it that I will probably want to play (The Last Rebellion and God of War III). Besides, I don’t “hate” it, I just point out that it’s not as “superior” as everybody here blissfully pretends it to be, while having fun getting plats for it’s exclusive games before Ivan and Roca.
January 3rd, 2010
@CarlB,
“Glad I saved myself that extra hour of framerate hitch, conversation pauses, and load times that IGN said was on the PS3 version by playing the 360 version.”
lol, its not as quite dramatic as you make it out to be- the pauses before and after dialogs are milliseconds and I didn’t even noticed it until I tried switching between my 360 and PS3. Even that’s not consistient. Also, the load time is a “hair” faster on 360 probably due to the ultra compressed graphics.
Although, the graphical and technical difference such as depth-of-field is quite noticible in comparision.
Come on now, I suspect deep down you realize all of this and just being a bit stubborn..
@SW,
lol… is there some thing behind it? Noticed the anti-PS3 tone consistently. Tons of grips about it, and not a single bad word for the 360.
January 3rd, 2010
“its not as quite dramatic as you make it out to be”… actually IGN noted it, I just quoted it… but I agree, it would be kind of hard to notice about a minute out of every hour if you didn’t pay close attention, but it still adds up to about an hour after a full 50-60 hour game. Come on now, do you really think IGN is lying…
“not a single bad word for the 360″
that would be where I mentioned, “if you prefer framerate over picture quality, go for 360, if vice versa go for PS3… ” as in the 360 picture quality is less than the PS3′s, though framerate is better and pop-in is less frequent on the 360… lol.
Seriously though Mike, I respect your preference (though I’m not surprised by it), but I agree with IGN on this one… the 360 has a slight edge on PS3 where it matters most (smoother gameplay), but PC takes the cake.
Anyway, have you tried Borderlands yet?
January 3rd, 2010
As far as other “bad words” for the 360, I’ve already mentioned the hard drive and memory card prices are ridiculous. About 4 years is how long my launch model lasted, and I have yet to see if my Slim will last as long… other than that… I don’t care to play Halo?
As for “tons of gripes” about PS3, I’ve had plenty good to say about it’s games, I usually just end up responding to the ridiculousness of Ivan and Roca, which, if you haven’t noticed, are the local Playstation PRbots who hype it as “perfect”, “superior”, and “ultimate” all the while denigrating 360 to “pure garbage” and similar nonsense.
January 3rd, 2010
“Carl, give in to the dark side and smash your ps3 already, we all know you’re just itching to….”
aaahh…this is nothing new.
Mike: “lol, its not as quite dramatic as you make it out to be- the pauses before and after dialogs are milliseconds and I didn’t even noticed it”
just like I havent notice anything game-braking while playing DA:O
Mike: “Also, the load time is a “hair†faster on 360 probably due to the ultra compressed graphics.
Although, the graphical and technical difference such as depth-of-field is quite noticible in comparision”
good point, just as expected though
CarlB: “About 4 years is how long my launch model”
the 360 just turned 4 years old (in Nov 2009) and you told us you witched 360s early in 2009. lmaoo
CarlB: “As far as other “bad words†for the 360, I’ve already mentioned the hard drive and memory card prices are ridiculous.”
January 3rd, 2010
CarlB:
Hates PS3 loves Xbox 360 duh. CarlB can’t admit that Xbox 360 is pure worthless junk.
January 3rd, 2010
I am with Carl on this one. I’ve had my PS3 for a little over a week and have experienced 3 freezes, incredibly slow wireless download speeds (ended up having to change the settings on my router for this) and the odd occasion of a game not loading (black screen and nothing else). Also, the interface isn’t near as user friendly as the NXE.
I am having fun with inFamous at the moment, I think I have nearly finished it, and will then start on MGS4. If anyone here has not played inFamous yet, do yourself a favour and grab a copy, it’s an excellent game.
January 3rd, 2010
Really Harry, I have found it the opposite. The only issue I have had is the momentary hdmi sound loss. My wireless has been awesome on it ??
January 3rd, 2010
Spidey,
The wireless issue ended up being a compatibility issue with Linksys modems and the PS3 wireless adapter. I ended up having to change my download speed from ‘Auto’ to ’12000′ on the modem to fix it. Strange thing is that I have 3 laptops here which worked perfectly without having to do this. God bless Google.
I was also having issues playing Blu-Rays. The screen would continually flicker. Again, Google rescued me with that one too.
Anyway, looks like I have it working better than it was.
January 3rd, 2010
@Harry – See for me its the other way around, my 360 has crashed far more than my PS3 (I probably play the 360 a little more tho). Of course my PS3 freezes too sometimes, in fact I turned it on the other day and the damn thing froze before the XMB loaded…..
With the interface, I’d say I prefer the XMB of the 360 dash. The ‘old’ (blades) 360 dash I thought was actually nice, the new one of just horrible imo.
@spidey – I get momentary drop outs with sound too. I thought I was my TV tbh as Samsung had some issues with dropping sound and HDMI… Already have the latest FW for my TV tho
January 3rd, 2010
SW,
I guess it just boils down to opinion. I just find the XMB lacking in colour. I am a colours guy.
With the freezing/rebooting, I was prompted when I turned it back on as to whether I want to send Sony an auto message detailing the reason for the lock up (similar to Windows and the ‘Send Report’ button for when a program crashes). I found it a nice touch.
January 3rd, 2010
@CarlB,
“but I agree, it would be kind of hard to notice about a minute out of every hour if you didn’t pay close attention..”
Yea, exactly thats why I gave the nod to the PS3 version over the 360 version. I sat down and looked at both versions and played them in length and unless you closely look for it the framerate difference is difficult to tell as both are randomly bad.
However, the graphical difference has an immediate impact which is a bit more noticeable.
I’m sure Kevin assessed the game with similar thoughts, thats why Gamespot gave the PS3 version a higher score. And Digital Foundry states the PS3 version is closer tech-wise to the PC version.
If the framerate difference was significantly noticeable like it was for the Orange Box, I would give the 360 version the nod as it is really impacting the game. However, as you agree its not noticeable unless looked at closely.
As a gamer I would want to recommend the version that can showcase and play well. In this case its quite simple:
hardly noticeable framerate differences
vs
Significantly noticeable graphical/tech differences
and…
360 version – no tech qualities that are on par with the PC version
PS3 version – has some features such as depth-of-field that can even stand up to the PC version.
Also, the fact that PR sent the PS3 version to me without asking, is usually a good indicator as to what the company feels to be the better version that will show well. I had to go out of my way to request the 360 version separately.
January 3rd, 2010
PS3 kicks serious ass.
January 3rd, 2010
as opposed to non serious arse?
January 3rd, 2010
harry whats ur psn?
January 4th, 2010
Liquid, create a blorge.net user and i’ll send it to you. I don’t have any online games (besides MGS4) but you can send dirty messages like what oldie has been doing.
January 4th, 2010
@Mike,
I’m sure if the version was as superior as you make it out to be Digital Foundry wouldn’t have concluded their face off by stating: “the console conversions are about equal; their technical differences essentially cancel each other outâ€; and IGN would not have given 360 the nod over PS3 in their head to head, let alone every other major review site besides GameSpot giving it the exact same score.
Here’s what we can agree on: the PS3′s picture quality is better than the 360′s. The 360′s framerate is smoother than PS3′s. The PC version is far superior overall than both of the others. From there it’s a matter of preference, and I think we’ve made each of ours clear.
@Harry,
Good to know I’m not the only one that experienced those freezes on PS3… you can also look forward to patches and updates having to download AND install separately instead of doing both in the same period as on 360. And from the looks of Bayonetta, 360′s still the place to go for multiplats. Infamous is my favorite game on PS3 so far, tons better than MGS4. Also, God of War Collection and UC1&2 follow in right after Infamous (in that order).
“the 360 just turned 4 years old (in Nov 2009) and you told us you witched 360s early in 2009. lmaoo”
I got mine at launch, and sold my still functioning 360 to GameStop in late August. So sorry, but that is over 3 and a half years and under 4 years, so I said “about”… as in not specific. So good of you to care enough to remember though.
January 4th, 2010
Carlb,
I’ve already gone through that. And don’t get me started on Home.
January 4th, 2010
Congrats, you are now one of the 10 million + registered users who don’t use it, welcome to “the club”
January 4th, 2010
I’m currently playing the shit outer Sodium on PlayStation Home and kicking ass bowling.
January 4th, 2010
Yeah, home is nothing to crow a about ….. seriously boring, pretty quickly. It has started to come across as a money pit at the moment for sony as they charge ridiculous fees for the littlest things (which I refuse to pay for) I mean really ….. $1 just for one change of shirt
January 4th, 2010
Sure
January 4th, 2010
@Harry, that sucks about your probs.
@SW – thats funny, the tv I am using that did that, is a Samsung as well ….. there you go. Had no probs with the phillips and LG tv’s I have used.
January 4th, 2010
Sony and Samsung OLED or just regular HDTV. Are the best not just because that’s what i ride with but because they have proven to have quality just saying. LG is good for prices and Philips i have no idea.
January 7th, 2010
Looks like Panasonic and LG are right there with them in quality and for about 1-2 g’s less:
http://reviews.cnet.com/best-high-definition-tvs/?tag=leftColumnArea1.0