Countdown-timer at Green Ronin...? What's it all about?

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Which is what I think BioWare's main purpose of this deal is. To attract PnP rpg players. A smart marketing move, in my eyes. I'm doubtful if the revenues from the pnp rpg will make a lot of difference to the bottom line of BioWare.

Ideally, this should work to bring CRPG fans into the RPG fold and vice versa. Whether this is realistic is another matter - how big is the RPG audience compared to the video game audience? Who will gain more?

 

[Uzzy]

Given that Bioware's strengths lie in world, character and story, I am certain that the Dragon Age world will be well worth playing in, be it in the CRPG or the pnp RPG.

Another interesting point comes from Chris Pramas's blog, which states that he wants the game to be a good introductory game for people trying out pnp RPG's for the first time. So I'm hoping for a relatively simple system.

Finally, as others have said, I can only hope that this is the start of Bioware allowing more licensed RPG's based on their IP, such as Mass Effect and Jade Empire. While a Dragon Age RPG is very cool, something based on Mass Effect or Jade Empire would be equally as cool.

 

[ShinHakkaider]

This is going to be one of those cases, I think, where it's going to be far cooler after the fact than before it. I'm looking forward to it.

Yeah, I think this pretty much nails it.
My only exposure to Dragon Age was seeing a few mentions of it on X-Play and they seem to be excited about it.
It wasnt on my radar before that but it's being made by the folks who gave us
Knights of the Old Republic and it's sequel so it actually might not suck.

I'm also a fan of Green Ronin since they put out quality product that I actually WANT to buy.

They also have a page on the Dragon Age Site here.

 

[PatrickLawinger]

I was going to disagree with you here. I don't think tabletop Dragon Age will have any effect whatsoever on WotC. When you brought a D&D video game into it though, I see your point. Whatever D&D game comes out this generation, it's going to be compared to Dragon Age. Unless Bioware or Blizzard or maybe Bethseda are the ones making the D&D game, it's probably not going to stack up. The D&D brand no doubt gained alot from having some of the best crpgs on the market for a decade or so. Now they have to compete with the guys that made those games, and I don't think it'll be pretty.

Let's face it, the big name companies do not need a name like "Dungeons and Dragons" to help sell a CRPG. The cost of using the name simply isn't worth it to them. It is better for them, particularly in the long run, to create their own IP rather than license someone else's.
I don't know if anything is being developed as a DnD 4e computer game right now. I honestly suspect there is, but I would expect some sort of intro hype about it. The DragonAge site has been up for a while and the game won't even be out until the last half of this year. Basically, if something is being developed I am positively not buying it until after I see and hear a lot of feedback on it. The companies I would trust to do a good job on it would already have a PR site up for it.

The latest DnD offerings are NWN2 expansions and "Dungeons and Dragons Tactics" for the PSP. Let's face it, the former doesn't compare well with other available CRPGs and the latter is a travesty in terms of both design and implementation.

Personally, I don't think the DnD name is anywhere near as valuable in the computer gaming space as Hasbro/WotC thinks it is. This tells me that the companies willing to license that IP are not going to have a strong background making CRPGs.

That's my 2 cents (I typed up 4 cents worth but deleted most of it )
Patrick

 

[Mournblade94]

I am an avid 360 gamer. I knew nothing of Dragon Age, and now I do. I will definitely be buying Dragon Age. If I like the console game, I will want RPG support. (like I want for Mass effect and oblivion). If I really like the world I will want to continue the game in Table top.

Just because bioware has green ronin doing dragon age does not mean that it will not do a D&D game (I think, I make nototiously bad calls when it comes to figuring out businessthink and legalese).

That said, though they ruled the market for a while, the 360 and ps3 developers are putting out good RPG's. I did not think I would like a game better than Baldur's Gate until I played Oblivion (I did not even like morrowind more, though it is a great game).

D&D seems to be good for the Japanese rpg's at this point. like lost odysey (sp.), with its strong Anime influence.

 

[Mournblade94]

While a Dragon Age RPG is very cool, something based on Mass Effect or Jade Empire would be equally as cool.

Or just exponentially MORE cooler!

 

[AllisterH]

Let's face it, the big name companies do not need a name like "Dungeons and Dragons" to help sell a CRPG. The cost of using the name simply isn't worth it to them. It is better for them, particularly in the long run, to create their own IP rather than license someone else's.
I don't know if anything is being developed as a DnD 4e computer game right now. I honestly suspect there is, but I would expect some sort of intro hype about it. The DragonAge site has been up for a while and the game won't even be out until the last half of this year. Basically, if something is being developed I am positively not buying it until after I see and hear a lot of feedback on it. The companies I would trust to do a good job on it would already have a PR site up for it.

The latest DnD offerings are NWN2 expansions and "Dungeons and Dragons Tactics" for the PSP. Let's face it, the former doesn't compare well with other available CRPGs and the latter is a travesty in terms of both design and implementation.

Personally, I don't think the DnD name is anywhere near as valuable in the computer gaming space as Hasbro/WotC thinks it is. This tells me that the companies willing to license that IP are not going to have a strong background making CRPGs.

That's my 2 cents (I typed up 4 cents worth but deleted most of it )
Patrick

I agree but disagree

Bioware BECAME a big name in the industry VIA Dungeons and Dragons (and also Star Wars).

(Note: Bioware came out with Mass Effect so would you say that SW is no longer a valuable property?..)

As much as we s at the branding frenzy WOTC is currently in, everyone is doing it.

What WOTC should be doing is be looking for the NEXT Bioware. There are ompanies out there that would love t duplicate the success of Bioware usingt heir own method...

 

[Uzzy]

Or just exponentially MORE cooler!

Only cause we've already played Mass Effect and Jade Empire. Knowing Bioware's pedigree though, I am confident that Dragon Age will be just as awesome as those two games.

 

[Nikosandros]

Green Ronin and Mearls have a history. Why shouldn't we consider that?

They do? What happened?

 

[CCamfield]

Given that Bioware's strengths lie in world, character and story, I am certain that the Dragon Age world will be well worth playing in, be it in the CRPG or the pnp RPG.

Another interesting point comes from Chris Pramas's blog, which states that he wants the game to be a good introductory game for people trying out pnp RPG's for the first time. So I'm hoping for a relatively simple system.

I hope that this will be a success. Even though they might only sell to a small % of Dragon Age computer game players, the potential for Green Ronin to have a success with this could well be greater than if they were just making a fantasy game to try to compete with the existing pool of RPG players.

It's a little bit like Nintendo with the Wii - going outside of traditional demographics to try to have a success.