Dragon Age 2 - News Roundup #7 [Updated]

Yep, another Dragon Age 2 roundup. This one might get people riled up one way or another so if your blood pressure is high, head past and read about Drakensang or Reckoning.

Jedi_Learner sends in this one from VividGamer that claims Dragon Age 2 contains SecuROM, which hasn't been disclosed. I haven't had time to dig into our archive and check what EA had to say about DRM, so I'm taking this at face value for the moment.

Update: Derek French has responded to this on the Bluesnews forums and these reports of SecuROM are incorrect. The game uses Sony Release Control as explained in this post:

Sorry, but there is some confusion on this. We use Sony Release Control which shares some functionality with other Sony products (SecuROM), but we do not use SecuROM for the DRM. Once the Sony Release Control check is passed, Release Control self-destructs, removing the Release Control wrapper and it is never used again. Game updates will not use Release Control because obviously the release date is passed. Additionally, installing the game and then any future game patch will also remove the Sony Release Control check and it will never run on your computer. 

Jason notes the IGN music interview with Inon Zur has an interesting comment I'd missed. Gamersmint noticed Inon Zur says he was pushed and it was "kind of a rush job". Interesting comments:

Zur: Sure thing. I’m actually really anxious for the game right now, so I can pop it in and start playing. I’m really looking forward to see it. I know there are a few bugs that still need to be fixed. Unlike other titles from Bioware, this [score] was kind of a rush job. EA really wanted to capitalize on the success of Origins, so the game was really being pushed hard to be released now. So I’d like to know if there are bugs, or if there’s anything we could patch or fix.

A general interview with David Gaider at Tor.

Laidlaw defends the reactions to DA2 at Eurogamer:

Eurogamer: I've seen scores as low as a 6/10 - what do you think when you read those?

Mike Laidlaw: Well it's hard to know exactly what's going on with scores that are really, really negative. One possible culprit could just be a change backlash, i.e. this isn't Origins and I wanted Origins 2. There may be some degree of what I would honestly say is emotional investment in the Origins story, or in the way Origins was presented which is leading to a stronger than average reaction of disappointment. That's understandable, and if anything that really is a compliment to the work on Origins. I'm not sure it's an entirely fair assessment to say all games must be like the previous game. I think we would have seen just as much negativity if we just, as I used to joke, stapled two Archdemons together and called it a super blight. It boils down to a game that challenges a fair amount of convention: it doesn't tell the usual fantasy story or present the usual fantasy combat, and in doing so it does run the risk of someone going, "Wow, this is just too different and I cannot handle it."

Should You Buy the DLC? at IGN:

If you pre-ordered Dragon Age II before January 11, 2011, you were automatically upgraded to the "Signature Edition" and will receive both the Black Emporium and Exiled Prince for free. For those who didn't, you may be wondering if it's worth your cash. In short, not really, but let's explore what you'll get for $7.

It seems EA forum bans might limit your access to your games. It's worth pointing out the original poster is being a bit disingenuous (check out his original account - I'd say the homophobic comments are the real problem) about the cause but it does seem EA can block your game access. Here's the thread and part of Stanley Woo's response:

2. EA Community bans come down from a different department and are the result of someone hitting the REPORT POST button. These bans can affect access to your game and/or DLC.

Reviews...

• VideoGamesSuck - 0/10. Don't take it too seriously. Thanks, Melvil.
• PSX Extreme - 8.6/10
• Worthplaying - 6.5/10
• Eurogamer - 8/10