Dragon Age 2 - Limited Character Creation and More

A fan storm is brewing with Dragon Age 2 over character development but we need to go back a step, first.  Here's the official announcement - the key part is we'll be playing a specific human-only character named Hawke:

ACTION AND FANTASY COLLIDE IN BIOWARE’S DRAGON AGE 2

Rise to Power and Change the World Forever in the Sequel to 2009’s RPG of the Year

Guildford, UK (July 8, 2010) – Leading video game developer BioWare^TM, a studio of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), confirmed today that Dragon Age^TM 2 is in development at BioWare’s Edmonton-based studio. Dragon Age 2 is the sequel to the triple-platinum-selling Dragon Age: Origins which was named “RPG of the Year” in 2009 by Game Informer, G4, IGN, and SpikeTV. With Dragon Age 2, the world’s preeminent RPG developer is revolutionizing the genre again, infusing the universe with more action, a new, more responsive combat system and a dynamic story that is already among the most multifaceted in gaming. Dragon Age 2 traces the rise to power of Hawke, a survivor of the Blight and a hero who will transform the face of the Dragon Age universe forever. The new game is scheduled for release in March of 2011 on the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation 3 computer and entertainment system, and PC.

“Last year’s launch of Dragon Age: Origins was one of the most successful in BioWare’s 15-year history and one of the most successful new IP launches in the 28 year history of EA,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, Senior Vice President of Electronic Arts and co-founder and Group General Manager of BioWare. “Dragon Age 2 will simultaneously deliver an epic story and set a new bar for intense action in the genre. We're very excited to deliver this next bold evolution in the Dragon Age franchise to our fans."

“With Dragon Age 2 we are creating an exciting new entry point into the Dragon Age universe while ensuring that fans of the original game retain a sense of satisfaction and familiarity in the world,” said Dragon Age 2 Executive Producer Mark Darrah. “We are amplifying the things that made Dragon Age: Origins such a huge success while introducing a more dynamic combat system, improving the graphics, and telling the most important story in our world.”

Dragon Age 2 thrusts players into the role of Hawke, a penniless refugee who rises to power to become the single most important character in the world of Dragon Age. Known to be a survivor of the Blight and the Champion of Kirkwall, the legend around Hawke’s rise to power is shrouded in myth and rumor. Featuring an all-new story spanning 10 years, players will help tell that tale by making tough moral choices, gathering the deadliest of allies, amassing fame and fortune, and sealing their place in history. The way you play will write the story of how the world is changed forever.

The Hawke revelation has lead to a long thread on the BioForums, with short responses from a couple of devs.

From Chris Priestly:

While there are multiple races in the game, like elves, dwarves, etc, in Dragon Age 2 you play a human character.

From Victor Wachter:

DA:O is far from pointless, as you'll learn when you play DA2.

I've talked with Design quite a bit about Hawke, the DA2 lead character. There were a lot of directions that they could have gone, but ultimately, I think they made the right choice to tell the best story in this installment. Between now and launch, you'll learn more about Hawke and the story, which will shed a little more light on why Hawke was the hero that the world (i.e. this story) needed.

Note that having a specific character also means no Origin stories.  1Up's RPG blog discusses this Mass Effect-isation of Dragon Age:

Putting everyone in Hawke's shoes -- whether male or female -- will indeed streamline the storytelling a bit, but it will also lose some of that personalization. In a way, it feels like a reboot, despite the fact that it will continue the story. For a developer that has lately put a great deal of emphasis on character continuity, it's a bit of an odd turn to throw out all of the groundwork they laid with the original and take the Mass Effect route.

But then, if promises of "dynamic new combat mechanics that put you right in the heart of battle" are anything to go by, BioWare (and EA) are keen to duplicate the massive success of Mass Effect II, and that means creating a medieval Shepard and dropping him (or her) into an action RPG.

Ironically, Rob Bartel told MCV that Dragon Age is their best-selling title, which obviously means it must have sold better than ME:

Rob Bartel, the principal designer at BioWare, has told MCV that last year’s PC and console release Dragon Age was the most successful game the studio has ever produced – trumping high-profile sci-fi release Mass Effect in the process.

The boast also places Dragon Age above the likes of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire and Baldur’s gate.
“Dragon Age was an extremely successful title for us – last November it was the single most globally successful title we’ve put out to date,” he confirmed at EA’s recent European showcase.