Dragon Age: Origins Forum Round-up
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On camera control:
You can zoom in and out whenever you wish. I, myself, tend to stay zoomed out when I'm exploring-- unless I want to zoom in to check out what's directly ahead or because I want to stare at the pretty horizon. Which I do.
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You can zoom in or out on a "J-axis", meaning that as you zoom out the camera "swings" out to give you a more overhead view. But as you zoom in, the camera levels so you are looking more over the shoulder.
You are also free at any point to rotate the camera around an axis centered on your chosen character.
Does that make sense?
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It's an exciting time for us in the DA team. After years of being silent about what we are developing we can actually talk to you guys about how the game works!
I've followed the thread so far and you guys have a pretty good idea of how the camera works. Also David did a very good job explaining the basics of how it operates.
I'd like to share a few more details on it
First of all, the camera supports limited panning on the farthest zoom level (it can pan away from the party about a screen ahead). So you guys are right, the camera doesn't need to always be centered on a character when using the tactical view. In fact, the goal of the camera at this zoom level is to be as static as possible so that as a player you can give instructions to your party members easily without the camera moving around. This means that while switching party members (if they are on screen) the camera will remain on the spot. This is especially useful when giving instructions to party members while the game is paused. While in this mode, the camera uses a lazy behavior to follow the party around, so that means that when the party is going away from the screen the camera will catch up with them. However, it's possible to go a bit ahead in the terrain and ask your characters to move there (ala Baldur's Gate) and the camera will remain on the spot waiting for the characters to arrive at their destination.
I'll post a bit more info on the camera soon. I'd like to explain how it works also for exploration on the closest zoom level.
On Morrigan's skimpy clothing:
Well, once again: this is not representative of what all female mages look like, nor is it representative of how all female characters in the game are depicted... quite the opposite, in fact.
Unless what you're arguing is that no one should look like this, ever? If so, then so be it... but for Morrigan it happens to fit her character in particular. That's really all I can say. When you see more characters you'll get a better idea of the overall balance, I suppose.
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Let me put it this way: I'm not a big fan of objectification in general, yet I actually don't mind that Morrigan is portrayed this way. It fits for her. Considering that Morrigan is more empowered than most female characters I've written (as well as other particulars about her I can't get into) I am quite comfortable with her being representative of Dragon Age's tone, aside from any other "merits" she might possess as a cover girl.
In other words, I get the idea behind the objection, but I think if you are extrapolating things beyond that you are taking it a little far.
On the Chantry and influences:
Quote: Posted 07/15/08 19:50 (GMT) by aries1001I suppose so. There are, without question, going to be posts by people who -- with complete conviction -- are absolutely certain that we have ripped off Tolkien. Or Lord of the Rings. Or the Wheel of Time. Or the Elder Scrolls. Or... well, I'm sure the list goes on.
Bioware may have been inspired by the Elder Scrolls series, the Baldur's Gate series, Torment, and other (great) rpgs... Inspiration means taking an idea and putting your own (weird?) twist on it.
I suppose very little is completely "new" any more, especially when you're working inside a genre where other giants have already gone. I feel confident, however, that DA has a whole lot of things which are very much our own.Quote: As for the teachings of the Chantry do we a confirmation on who or what the Chantry is? A group of religius leaders? Something similar to the Cardinals in the Roman Catholic Church?The Chantry is a religious institution -- they spread the Chant, which is composed of Canticles such as the Canticle of Threnodies from the opening quote in the cutscene.Quote: On a completely different, yet releated note, this plot? sound like the plot for Mass Effect. Sorry, Bioware but it does. The ancient evil threathens the lands once again.I suppose that, at a glance, it does seem that way. Though that's simplifying matters a bit when you consider the story as a whole. It can't really be helped, I suppose.Quote: I hope there are varius twists, turns and surprises and betrayls we, the fans, gamers, and players, haven't even thought of yet...For sure, though I imagine that some of you have thought of them. But that's only because there's very little you don't think of.
