Poll: Are you a Bioware Fan? What Type, and Why?

[Bryan Jue]

Hmm, regarding the combat, I kind of figured that I'd try to play it the way the game tries to make you play it. I'm varying my styles to use them in situations I think they should be used in. I can't really comment on your strategy because I've actually tried to allocate my skill points in a few different styles instead of concentrating on the starting one. If that's the case though, it's pretty unfortunate. One thing though... do you know what difficulty you played JE at? I only ask because I know that when I played ME2 at Veteran (i.e. medium), I really didn't have to make use of the wide variety of Shepard (and squad) powers to beat the game. But on Hardcore and Insanity, you really need to be familiar with the different abilities and tailor your people to specific enemies/situations in order to survive. I would imagine the same is true for Jade Empire at higher difficulties. I haven't tried increasing the difficulty though, and probably won't.

I haven't beaten the game yet so I guess I have no comment about the ending.

I am also playing on PC, and I got it for $5 one sale. Even if it's good but not great, I'd say that's a steal. And yes, it takes some tweaking to run it on post-XP machines (Vista, in my case), but after that it runs like a charm.

I seem to have missed this all weekend. Oops. <.<

Anyway, I played to almost the end at the difficulty one level above default. Admittedly, I also mostly used the staff, because abusing reach is easy. When I ran low on focus, I'd use that lightning area combo attack and get some focus back. I got frustrated right near the end with the four elephants that have reach at least as long as the staff because I hadn't figure out how to get through their guard and I didn't feel like using Jade Golem cheese. (They're immune to support styles, too, IIRC.) Later, when I came back to finish the game, (that's seriously almost right before the end boss...) I turned the difficulty down to normal just to reach the end.

Also, yeah, it is totally a steal at $5.

(Then again, in Mass Effect, I find that the big requirement for surviving the upper difficulty levels is largely not being stupid and reckless... and this is speaking as someone who was soured on shooters by UT until Portal came out.)

Ah, I actually decided to go with the sword, and so far it's been okay. Good point about the staff having reach though.. like Garrus, heh. I think I'm right at the part where you can first get the lightning spell you spoke of. I hope I have enough money.

In ME1 I agree about not being reckless; in ME2 I feel that fact is less so, mostly because there is a bit more strategy involved, with using the right tool for the job. That's a bit of a tangent though.

I stopped playing multiplayer FPS games after a while because everyone online just started being better, while I wasn't. So I turned to single player games or local co-op with my brother. You mentioned Portal.. ohhh boy, Portal 2 in 6 days!

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

That being said, are you a fan of Bioware?

My Bioware story...

I like D&D, particularly the old Planescape setting. So when Planescape: Torment came out, I picked it up and loved it. I heard that Balder's Gate 2 was by the same people, so I played that too, and had a great deal of fun. Never paid much attention to the company though.

Many years later, my spouse got me Dragon Age: Origins for Christmas, entirely out of the blue (I hadn't heard much about it, concentrating as I do on JRPGs). I said "oh neat, a D&D game" and played it.

And it was awesome. I played it through, twice, and bought every single piece of DLC - and was happy to have done so.

Following news on Dragon Age, I learned it was by the same people as Mass Effect, an X-box game I'd never played. However, Mass Effect 2 was being released for the PS3, so I bought it when it came out. And loved it too.

Loved it so much, in fact, that I bought Mass Effect 1 for PC shortly thereafter.

I still didn't pay much attention to the company... until March Mayhem. At which point I saw that Bioware was also responsible for Balder's Gate 2 (and the engine for Planescape: Torment) that I'd played years before without paying attention to who made it.

So I'm a new fan by way of classic fan.

... not that anyone cares. I just felt like sharing.

 

[The Gnome King]

I'm curious about the fanbase for a few companies lately, so if this remains civil I hope I can make a few more threads like this based on other companies like Bethesda and Square Enix and the like.

There's a lot of reasons to hate a company. Just as many reasons to remain neutral towards it and like it (sometimes that's not always the case). Bioware has been getting a huge PR hit lately and though I have my qualms with Bioware, I don't think I'm really in the hate category. Not until they truly become like EA (my feelings for EA are explained well with the "Extra Credits: Open Letter to EA" episode).

That being said, are you a fan of Bioware? Do you just like the games? Do you hate even reading the word "Bioware"?
There's legitimate reasons for whatever your feelings are, but how do you feel about Bioware?

I became a Bioware fan through their older roleplaying games; then played Dragon Age Origins and DA 2; and Mass Effect 2.

Can't say I've played a single Bioware game that I don't like. I really like the company and the products they produce; old and new.

 

[Chewster]

I pay attention to the games individually, in a similar way that I tend to like individual films from directors and not necessarily their whole cannon.

Besides, being a fan of a corporation is silly. They don't care about me, so why should I about them?

 

[Easton Dark]

I've only ever played Mass Effect 1 and 2 + Origins.

I've only ever liked Mass Effect 1 and 2.

Why am I a fan?

TALITALITALITALITALITALITALITALITALI

 

[Hader]

I'm a Bioware fan because they made games I liked.

Now there are types of Bioware fans? Oh dear...

 

[Red Right Hand]

Yeah, they're alright.

Too many god-damned fanboys though.

 

[Drummah]

I am 100% tits deep into ME2 fandom, and I'm hooked.

Mostly because I want to bang Joker.

I mean, because the game is Amazing even though I NEVER really sought out rpgs.
New Fan.

(I can't remember the last time I clocked 80+ hours on a game. Intense.)

 

[DaOysterboy]

I've always loved Bioware, and particularly the BG series. Their new stuff is good (friend bought me both Mass Effect games and they were both really good) but the EA model of bad DRM and paying an extra $60 in $10 increments for "the rest of the content" really turns me off from the company. I'm a classic fan. I'll play their new stuff if it's given as a gift, but I refuse to buy their games tiny chunks at a time. On that note, I would buy something like the Dragon Age: Origins - Ultimate Edition, but only once I'm sure they stopped trying to nickel and dime their fanbase and I could get the DLC packs with the game in one complete package.

 

[Frotality]

they made my favorite game EVER, baldurs gate throne of bhaal.

then EA bought them, and it all went downhill. granted, its a few recent failures to a history of greatness, but i know a fall from grace when i see one. if they dont go the way of every other developer EA fucked over to death, they'll be milking the mass effect series for GoW clones for the rest of their lives.

 

[Yureina]

I have enjoyed Bioware's games since the first Baldur's Gate. I didn't play Jade Empire or Neverwinter Nights, but I have played everything else. Aside from Dragon Age: Origins, I have yet to be disappointed by them. In fact, thanks to Mass Effect 1/2, my love for this company has remained on the rise.

Though I do wish they would flee from EA. >_>

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

I only liked NWN basically. The rest I can't stand.

 

[Mikeyfell]

I was a Bioware fan without even realizing it.

I loved KOTOR with out ever knowing who made it
I loved Mass Effect
I loved Dragon Age
Then I found out that Bioware made all 3 of those games
Mass Effect 2 is one of the best games I've ever played.
Dragon Age 2.......Dragon Age 2, what can I say. Did not live up to Origins but it's still very good.

 

[Vault101]

love Bioware though Ive only played ME and DA:O

I do want to try KOTOR at some point

Im not bothered about the changes to DA2 and i think ill like it

 

[NKRevan]

BioWare is one of my favorite companies. That said, they're obviously not above making mistakes. But if you're trying to be a writer in the Gaming Industry, in other words, if you care about storytelling in games, your choices for companies get very limited.

BioWare have certainly made their fair share of mistakes, but so far, they are still heads and tails above most other studios out there in my book. Hope this won't change in the future.

Incidentally, I am rather worried about ME3, seeing as it is obviously rushed out the same way DA2 was. Hoping once TOR releases they can go back to taking their time with games.

 

[The Madman]

I love em, even if I sometimes feel like they're treating me like shit. It's an abusive relationship and I'm too foolish to leave it in the vague hopes things will one day 'get better' and everything will be like it once was in the good ol' days.

*sigh*

 

[BoredDragon]

I haven't played KOTOR, but I have played DA and ME. I didn't really like Dragon Age that much, but I did like Mass Effect a lot. I guess I'm not a fan really.

My fandom belongs to Valve

 

[Kaymish]

well i judge all games companies by the same yardstick and only one yard stick do they make good games and make intelligent decisions about them?

bioware makes good games that i really like and they dont tend to make dumbarse decisions like mega restrictive DRM so while im not a fan i do like their games so im not a hater either

 

[Ian Caronia]

That being said, are you a fan of Bioware?

My Bioware story...
*snip*
I still didn't pay much attention to the company... until March Mayhem. At which point I saw that Bioware was also responsible for Balder's Gate 2 (and the engine for Planescape: Torment) that I'd played years before without paying attention to who made it.

So I'm a new fan by way of classic fan.

... not that anyone cares. I just felt like sharing.

Don't sell yourself short. That's what this thread is for, after all. Besides, I found it interesting.