I recently read that instead of just choosing character, race etc. and get told what your backstory is, you get to play it. Now i know that it sounds a bit Fable-esque but from what ive seen on gamespot it looks alot more indepth and gritty than 'Here is a good choice, here is a bad one, how do you want to act' kind of thing.
[link]http://comic-con.gamespot.com/story/6213878/dragon-age-origins-updated-impressions-living-your-origin-story[/link]
[link]http://comic-con.gamespot.com/story/6213878/dragon-age-origins-updated-impressions-living-your-origin-story[/link]