Bioware team has changed over the course of the development, butchering direction.

[Clown Reemus]

For anyone who hopes that this will be a good game, you may hope.

For anyone who doesn't know - this is not a game by the same team that had done the previous Dragon Age entires. Bioware has lost a lot of key developers and the current game director decided to shift the focus from the continuation of the previous game, Inquisition, to a stand-alone experience that only loosely connects to the overarching plot of the Wolf. In other words, the newly assembled (or stitched together) Bioware couldn't execute the vision that the team had in mind when finishing Inquisition and beginning work on the sequel.

I'm not saying to boycott this game - this goes without saying since it's EA - but exercise healthy caution when being optimistic about it. Most of the talent, if not all, has dissolved from within Bioware. This game has the potential to turn out to be a weak attempt at salvaging the IP at the hands of EA. If so, you were warned, so mentally prepare for the worst.

[dlux]

Originally posted by Clown Reemus:

Bioware has lost a lot of key developers

The rats left the sinking ship. Bioware has been bleeding talent for years and now it is all gone.

[Clown Reemus]

Originally posted by criffyzou:

10 years is a long time, and the hardest part is probably letting go of expectations so you can actually enjoy the game we get. That's where I'm at now, maybe the game won't solve all the mysteries I'm interested into, maybe I will never get closure for characters or plotlines, but I know going back to Thedas will be fun anyway.

For me it's less about expectations and more about integrity. This is a game built upon a cemetery of great concepts made by the previous team. At best, it will be okay gameplay-wise. At worst, it will become a humiliation to actual Bioware that has built its reputation upon great, impactful RPG games. We might see Bioware close down if this game also just flops.

Originally posted by dlux:

Originally posted by Clown Reemus:

Bioware has lost a lot of key developers

The rats left the sinking ship. Bioware has been bleeding talent for years and now it is all gone.

People with talent probably went to work for people who care about the creative process, not just doing 8-5 shifts according to the KPIs.

[Ffabbia]

Or alternatively we could just wait for it to be released and then judge the finished product, and not simply assume that all of the new developers are clueless, incompetent chancers with no interest in the franchise, and only in it to make a fast buck.

If the game absolutely sucks then so be it - but until that happens I'm all for keeping an open mind.

[Clown Reemus]

Originally posted by Ffabbia:

Or alternatively we could just wait for it to be released and then judge the finished product, and not simply assume that all of the new developers are clueless, incompetent chancers with no interest in the franchise, and only in it to make a fast buck.

If the game absolutely sucks then so be it - but until that happens I'm all for keeping an open mind.

Like was said in the opening remark, you have the right to be hopeful. But I, personally, cannot exhibit authentic enthusiasm, because this development is following the same pattern as other failed developments. At this point it's statistics, but none would be happier than I if this game defied them.

[Ffabbia]

Anthem was a complete failure in all respects. Andromeda was a partial failure in that it's a flawed game that was heavily criticised - many of the criticisms were valid, others were nothing more than the rote repetition of memes and hyperbole, however the game still made $21,774,075.12 gross earnings and still has a surprising number of fans - I am not one of them, I found the game to have a few decent ideas, but was ultimately tedious to play.

Both games suffered from a very, very troubled development with constant changes of focus and direction, and, above all, lack of proper oversight by someone with a clear directive vision.

`Veilguard seemed that way too - at least to begin with. An abandoned first draft, a rework that apparently would have made it a horde mode multiplayer-only live service game, and then the total scrapping of the above and transformation into a linear, narrative-driven single player title - thank God!

The difference is that the game finally has a clear steer with John Epler at the helm, who's been working on Dragon Age games for 15 years. It was him that got the team to finally start pulling together in a cohesive direction, with a clear end goal.

It could still suck of course, but there's also far more room for optimism.

[Schnitzel Brother]

Originally posted by Clown Reemus:

this is not a game by the same team that had done the previous Dragon Age entires.

Brianne Battye - 2012-Present (Wrote for Inquisition, Cullen, a bunch of books.)
Trick Weekes - 2005-Present ( Lead Writer of Trespasser, and now Veilguard. Also Wrote Solas, and a bunch of other ME companions like Garrus and Mordin Solus)
Sheryl Chee - 2005-Present (Writer since Origins, wrote for every game.)
Sylvia Feketekuty - 2010-Present (Writer for Inquisition, The Tevinter Nights Short stories and Veilguard)
Karin Weekes - 2006-Present ( Lead Editor for every game since origins )

Lukas Kristjanson - (1996- 2023) and Mary Kirby (2006-2023) who were both laid off, but whose writing is still present within Veilguard and who both still proudly tout on twitter that they're proud of their work on it.

John Epler - 2007-Present. Current Creative director, prior narrative director on Dragon Age and going back all the way to Origins where he was a cinematic director.

And Mark Darrah is also currently returned to be a consultant on Veilguard.

Sorry, you've no idea what you're talking about. Indistinguishable from the culture war tourists...You've no idea who is on or off the team and you probably don't even give a ♥♥♥♥ if they are or not.

Originally posted by dlux:

Originally posted by Clown Reemus:

Bioware has lost a lot of key developers

The rats left the sinking ship. Bioware has been bleeding talent for years and now it is all gone.

Just like this person. Just another culture war front, and on to the next when the bones are dry.

[CR45H_0V3R1D3]

Current day Bioware is just a bodysuit for whatever this,
this is.

Seeing Andromeda was like watching your sweet grandmother mindlessly shamble at you while rainbow worms ooze from the cracks in its skin as you grip your axe wondering whether to brain it in or whether there was still some hint of humanity left worth saving.

Lets be real, the original Bioware would never had developed Veilguard. The infection of the EA acquisition was ground zero for the beginning of the end. RIP Bioware.

Press F for respects

[Schnitzel Brother]

Originally posted by CR45H_0V3R1D3:

Current day Bioware is just a bodysuit for whatever this,
this is.

Seeing Andromeda was like watching your sweet grandmother mindlessly shamble at you while rainbow worms ooze from the cracks in its skin as you grip your axe wondering whether to brain it in or whether there was still some hint of humanity left worth saving.

Lets be real, the original Bioware would never had developed Veilguard. The infection of the EA acquisition was ground zero for the beginning of the end. RIP Bioware.

Press F for respects

Lol, another culture war tourist. No idea what they're saying, just vomitting ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ and moving on.

[xabungle]

all I can hope for is...please don't suck

[Mišmil]

Dev teams change all the time, it is a revolving door as far as i understand it - usually the people that stay are lead writers and studio heads, like in Bethesda Emil and Todd are still there, as for Bioware, the guys who made it moved on and are now doing their own thing.

Naughty Dog also chased out their lead writer for that (in my opinion) hack Druckmann and they didn't have someone to reign him in (sometimes with creatives, the wrangler is more important than the writer kek) so now they are stuck with him while Amy Hennig, the writer of Uncharted is doing her own thing.

Sometimes, the "old guard" remaining isn't for the best - i couldn't STAND Borderlands 3 writing, it was insufferable, endless quips and millenial "humor", it was written by the same old group i think, now B4 is coming out and i just think - will we have to suffer through another horrid story? And the gameplay was great, but the writing was SO BAD most fans either try to mute the characters (lel) or get fatigued.

The lead writer for Veilguard is some dude called Trick Weekes (a pimp name if i ever heard one) and i dont know a lot about him - he did write a bunch of Dragon Age books so at least he can write so there's that.. This dude is old, old guard - since 2005 at Bioware apparently.

[Ffabbia]

Originally posted by Schnitzel Brother:

Originally posted by Ffabbia:

this is not a game by the same team that had done the previous Dragon Age entires.

Brianne Battye - 2012-Present (Wrote for Inquisition, Cullen, a bunch of books.)
Trick Weekes - 2005-Present ( Lead Writer of Trespasser, and now Veilguard. Also Wrote Solas, and a bunch of other ME companions like Garrus and Mordin Solus)
Sheryl Chee - 2005-Present (Writer since Origins, wrote for every game.)
Sylvia Feketekuty - 2010-Present (Writer for Inquisition, The Tevinter Nights Short stories and Veilguard)
Karin Weekes - 2006-Present ( Lead Editor for every game since origins )

Lukas Kristjanson - (1996- 2023) and Mary Kirby (2006-2023) who were both laid off, but whose writing is still present within Veilguard and who both still proudly tout on twitter that they're proud of their work on it.

John Epler - 2007-Present. Current Creative director, prior narrative director on Dragon Age and going back all the way to Origins where he was a cinematic director.

And Mark Darrah is also currently returned to be a consultant on Veilguard.

Sorry, you've no idea what you're talking about. Indistinguishable from the culture war tourists...You've no idea who is on or off the team and you probably don't even give a ♥♥♥♥ if they are or not.

Originally posted by dlux:

The rats left the sinking ship. Bioware has been bleeding talent for years and now it is all gone.

Just like this person. Just another culture war front, and on to the next when the bones are dry.

You literally just made up a quote and then attacked me over something I didn't even say. There's straw men, and then there's this.

[kinna]

Originally posted by ArcaneSyntax:

Originally posted by Ffabbia:

You literally just made up a quote and then attacked me over something I didn't even say. There's straw men, and then there's this.

I mean, you did say that. They didn't make anything up, if anything you're the one making stuff up

There seems to be some problem with the quotes. I believe Schnitzel Brother should have quoted the OP, but somehow Ffabbia ended up in the quote.

[Ffabbia]

Originally posted by ArcaneSyntax:

Originally posted by Ffabbia:

You literally just made up a quote and then attacked me over something I didn't even say. There's straw men, and then there's this.

I mean, you did say that. They didn't make anything up, if anything you're the one making stuff up

OK fine, let's explore this. I have nothing better to do except work.

You can start by pointing out what I allegedly 'made up' Explain which parts of my previous posts were non-factual.

After you've done that you can point out the precise thread where I allegedly wrote:

"this is not a game by the same team that had done the previous Dragon Age entires."

[Schnitzel Brother]

Originally posted by Ffabbia:

Originally posted by ArcaneSyntax:

I mean, you did say that. They didn't make anything up, if anything you're the one making stuff up

OK fine, let's explore this. I have nothing better to do except work.

You can start by pointing out what I allegedly 'made up' Explain which parts of my previous posts were non-factual.

After you've done that you can point out the precise thread where I allegedly wrote:

"this is not a game by the same team that had done the previous Dragon Age entires."

I was quoting OP. No need to get your weiner in the sausage press, I'll edit it now.

[Mightylink]

They changed a lot during Andromeda too... 3 game directors.