Dragon Age producer Fernando Melo has told gamasutra that having clear platform differentiation "paid off" for Dragon Age. DA:O was originally created as a PC game and then brought over to the console market for XBox 360 and PS3, but it was not done as a direct port, instead having many components specifically tailored to the individual systems. For example, the battle system managed to be intuitive for both PC and console versions, as more controls are easily accessible via keyboard to PC gamers (top left pic), whereas in the console versions the shoulder buttons were used in conjunction with the front-facing buttons to provide easy access to multiple menus without being overwhelming (top right pic). The general vision of differentiated versions has turned out to be a great move on BioWare's part, garnering best game awards for both PC and console versions. As a mainly console-based gamer myself, I hope that other developers follow suit in providing solid, version-appropriate games going forward.
In related news, Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening is out tomorrow!
In related news, Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening is out tomorrow!
That shot on the left looks so foreign to me, the one on the right, however, evokes warm and fuzzy feelings. Just sayin'.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on that. I generally prefer simplified controls and drilling down into on-screen menus rather than assigning every action to a shortcut or having a zillion icons perma-displayed. Having part of the screen obstructed does not bother me (unless Alistair is in his skivvies and I am missing it).
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