I don't see the point. Although I suppose Anthem being labelled as "full of toxic masculinity" by a certain news site bodes sorta well for at least some parts.
Which Fade were you in? Oh, I get it, you mean the bit where we go with Solas in our dream encounter. Yes, that was just a reflection of an earlier memory of Haven before it got nuked. I'm not entirely convinced we were responsible for that, whatever Solas maintained. In fact I think the location was his choice. I did find it funny when we end up in Nightmare's realm and ask Solas for his knowledge of the place, his response is basically "why would I ever want to come to a place like this?", which was actually quite revealing because clearly he is able to choose where he goes when he is in the Fade. It is apparent again when he goes to the place in the Fade where his friend Wisdom used to be.
Sadly it's a realm literally colored by perception, and we know how most of known Tamriel perceives the Fade You (or enough people) want it to be evil? So it's evil
Which Fade were you in? Oh, I get it, you mean the bit where we go with Solas in our dream encounter. Yes, that was just a reflection of an earlier memory of Haven before it got nuked. I'm not entirely convinced we were responsible for that, whatever Solas maintained. In fact I think the location was his choice. I did find it funny when we end up in Nightmare's realm and ask Solas for his knowledge of the place, his response is basically "why would I ever want to come to a place like this?", which was actually quite revealing because clearly he is able to choose where he goes when he is in the Fade. It is apparent again when he goes to the place in the Fade where his friend Wisdom used to be.
uh no I meant here lies the abyss.
Patreon (for my writing, posting chapters of my novel)
Sadly it's a realm literally colored by perception, and we know how most of known Tamriel perceives the Fade You (or enough people) want it to be evil? So it's evil
Playing a lil' ESO lately...?
Yes, this 5 Year Anniversary event is basically all I have time for gaming-wise lately and it's clearly affecting my mind
Last Edit: May 3, 2019 19:43:16 GMT by midnight tea
“The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.”
Patrick Weekes @patrickweekes "I am eternally grateful that Dragon Age: Inquisition let me roleplay as the hot mess I am..." Awwwwww! t.co/sCXMOzjNmh
E. R. Trevelyan @dametrevelyan It's terribly unfair to Blackwall; even if the author didn't appreciate the romance, I think she could have expressed her opinion in a more courteous and measured way.
Patrick Weekes @patrickweekes I hear that. That said, it doesn't offend me (nor would it likely bother Blackwall's writer), because we've all heard a lot worse, and said worse to each other, so we're all relaxed about snark in articles (ie, not directed at us specifically).
E. R. Trevelyan @dametrevelyan Yes, of course, and I understand. I also guess writers may have more distance from their creation. But I speak as a fan of the character, the paragraph made me suffer -no anger, just pain-. But It's ok
Patrick Weekes @patrickweekes Ah, it's not so much distance as... well, people say "familiarity breeds contempt," right? And that's how we get. We all trash-talk each other's followers, because we stare at those same conversations from the time they're words in a toolset until the game ships. That makes it sound like I don't care about them, or dislike them, and that's not true. It's more that they're family. And I can embrace Blackwall's deep character arc and also casually toss out, "Plus he killed a wagonload of kids," in conversation. Sorry, not explaining well.
“The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.”
John Epler @eplerjc One of those weeks where, day-by-day, it felt like not a lot happened, but I look at the beginning of the week and then the end, and it's just... wow, how was that only 5 days?
Patrick Weekes @patrickweekes You directed a great deal of narrative, dude.
Brianne Battye @bbattye I think this week was three weeks long. But, like, in a good way. But also...
John Epler @eplerjc One of those weeks where, day-by-day, it felt like not a lot happened, but I look at the beginning of the week and then the end, and it's just... wow, how was that only 5 days?
Patrick Weekes @patrickweekes You directed a great deal of narrative, dude.
Brianne Battye @bbattye I think this week was three weeks long. But, like, in a good way. But also...
Patrick Weekes @patrickweekes It me
Sounds like the crunch has already started for DA4, to me. That's not good.
When I die, I want Bioware to carry my casket, so they can let me down, one last time.
John Epler @eplerjc One of those weeks where, day-by-day, it felt like not a lot happened, but I look at the beginning of the week and then the end, and it's just... wow, how was that only 5 days?
Patrick Weekes @patrickweekes You directed a great deal of narrative, dude.
Brianne Battye @bbattye I think this week was three weeks long. But, like, in a good way. But also...
Patrick Weekes @patrickweekes It me
Sounds like the crunch has already started for DA4, to me. That's not good.
I don’t have the same impression, to be honest. Plus, if you’re right, it’d mean that the release is not that far away, which is unlikely.
John Epler @eplerjc I look at the beginning of the week and then the end, and it's just... wow, how was that only 5 days? Brianne Battye @bbattye I think this week was three weeks long. But, like, in a good way. But also...
It sure sounds like crunch to me. And crunch, in Bioware, can start when the game is still 12-18 months from release, if you take Anthem, Andromeda and probably ME3 into consideration.
When I die, I want Bioware to carry my casket, so they can let me down, one last time.
John Epler @eplerjc I look at the beginning of the week and then the end, and it's just... wow, how was that only 5 days? Brianne Battye @bbattye I think this week was three weeks long. But, like, in a good way. But also...
It sure sounds like crunch to me. And crunch, in Bioware, can start when the game is still 12-18 months from release, if you take Anthem, Andromeda and probably ME3 into consideration.
I know Bioware and gaming industry have issues with crunch, but we should not get crazy and interpret every time they admit feeling tired (and I'd like to point out that devs chatting above feel tired but positive/accomplished) as crunch. It's just silly. People will have periods where they'll do a lot and feel tired in any type of work or profession, duh. And creative process can be tiring even at best of times.
Last Edit: May 4, 2019 14:44:25 GMT by midnight tea
“The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.”
John Epler @eplerjc I look at the beginning of the week and then the end, and it's just... wow, how was that only 5 days? Brianne Battye @bbattye I think this week was three weeks long. But, like, in a good way. But also...
It sure sounds like crunch to me. And crunch, in Bioware, can start when the game is still 12-18 months from release, if you take Anthem, Andromeda and probably ME3 into consideration.
I know Bioware and gaming industry have issues with crunch, but we should not get crazy and interpret every time they admit feeling tired (and I'd like to point out that devs chatting above feel tired but positive/accomplished) as crunch. It's just silly. People will have periods where they'll do a lot and feel tired in any type of work or profession, duh. And creative process can be tiring even at best of times.
Allow me to be at the very least skeptical, provided the recent history of the company and multiple recent examples in the triple A gaming industry. It very much sounds to me like a silent admission to crunch.
When I die, I want Bioware to carry my casket, so they can let me down, one last time.
I know Bioware and gaming industry have issues with crunch, but we should not get crazy and interpret every time they admit feeling tired (and I'd like to point out that devs chatting above feel tired but positive/accomplished) as crunch. It's just silly. People will have periods where they'll do a lot and feel tired in any type of work or profession, duh. And creative process can be tiring even at best of times.
Allow me to be at the very least skeptical, provided the recent history of the company and multiple recent examples in the triple A gaming industry. It very much sounds to me like a silent admission to crunch.
They literally state that they are tired, but happy with how much they did this week (maybe except for Patrick Weekes, who is probably more tired because he has cold/flu). If there's "silent admission" to this it's that they think their effort for project they're working on was worth it. Don't try to make a positive a negative and let them be pleased with fruits of their labor. For a lot of creative folks this is a pretty rare state of mind, whether they've been crunching or not.
Last Edit: May 4, 2019 15:54:10 GMT by midnight tea
“The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.”
It wasn't bad, but the one in DAO was much better. Turning into a golem, a mouse, burning man, and a spirit was great. What would top that is in the next DA game, the player shapeshifts into a cat, a demon, cooling woman, and a bird. Oh yeah. Spend more time in the fade than in DAO.
Elizabeth Nancy Shepard - Earthborn/soldier/ruthless Humanity #1 I'm Commander Shepard, and this is my favorite playthrough in ME If you see a soldier or veteran, shake their hand and thank them for their service
Allow me to be at the very least skeptical, provided the recent history of the company and multiple recent examples in the triple A gaming industry. It very much sounds to me like a silent admission to crunch.
They literally state that they are tired, but happy with how much they did this week (maybe except for Patrick Weekes, who is probably more tired because he has cold/flu). If there's "silent admission" to this it's that they think their effort for project they're working on was worth it. Don't try to make a positive a negative and let them be pleased with fruits of their labor. For a lot of creative folks this is a pretty rare state of mind, whether they've been crunching or not.
I'm not saying they shouldn't be happy with what they accomplished. I just don't think it is a sustainable model. If we are, indeed, in crunch and the game is still 12-18 months away from release, how long do you think they will be able to sustain crunch, before more stress casualties happen? This is what I am worried about, their well being.
When I die, I want Bioware to carry my casket, so they can let me down, one last time.
BioWare @bioware #FreeComicBookDay? Absolutely. To celebrate, we’re giving away a set of Mass Effect comics and a set of Dragon Age comics from @darkhorsecomics. RT to enter. #FCBD
Patrick Weekes @patrickweekes "I am eternally grateful that Dragon Age: Inquisition let me roleplay as the hot mess I am..." Awwwwww! t.co/sCXMOzjNmh
E. R. Trevelyan @dametrevelyan It's terribly unfair to Blackwall; even if the author didn't appreciate the romance, I think she could have expressed her opinion in a more courteous and measured way.
Unfair to Blackwall? Unfair? Are they serious?
I think that article was too kind by half. One flirty reply and The Moody Beard stalks you like a mofo. And when you reject him, he stalks someone else! And that's not even getting into the murder, lying and identity theft aspects of his character.
Inquisitor: Is that innuendo? Sera: No, it's at the front!
John Epler @eplerjc I look at the beginning of the week and then the end, and it's just... wow, how was that only 5 days? Brianne Battye @bbattye I think this week was three weeks long. But, like, in a good way. But also...
It sure sounds like crunch to me. And crunch, in Bioware, can start when the game is still 12-18 months from release, if you take Anthem, Andromeda and probably ME3 into consideration.
I know Bioware and gaming industry have issues with crunch, but we should not get crazy and interpret every time they admit feeling tired (and I'd like to point out that devs chatting above feel tired but positive/accomplished) as crunch. It's just silly. People will have periods where they'll do a lot and feel tired in any type of work or profession, duh. And creative process can be tiring even at best of times.
Not sure what the issue is....last week was 3 wks long and, no, I don't work for Bioware.
E. R. Trevelyan @dametrevelyan It's terribly unfair to Blackwall; even if the author didn't appreciate the romance, I think she could have expressed her opinion in a more courteous and measured way.
Unfair to Blackwall? Unfair? Are they serious?
I think that article was too kind by half. One flirty reply and The Moody Beard stalks you like a mofo. And when you reject him, he stalks someone else! And that's not even getting into the murder, lying and identity theft aspects of his character.
He even stalks that person if you are in a relationship with them (I know this is probably a glitch but it wasn’t fixed so I’d part of my game forever).
They literally state that they are tired, but happy with how much they did this week (maybe except for Patrick Weekes, who is probably more tired because he has cold/flu). If there's "silent admission" to this it's that they think their effort for project they're working on was worth it. Don't try to make a positive a negative and let them be pleased with fruits of their labor. For a lot of creative folks this is a pretty rare state of mind, whether they've been crunching or not.
I'm not saying they shouldn't be happy with what they accomplished. I just don't think it is a sustainable model. If we are, indeed, in crunch and the game is still 12-18 months away from release, how long do you think they will be able to sustain crunch, before more stress casualties happen? This is what I am worried about, their well being.
Be worried about their well-being, but assuming that every time they're tired means they're part of something unhealthy/negative is not helping their well-being either - that's just piling stress on top of stress.
At this point there's a lot of assumptions here, and not a lot of facts. All we know is that devs responsible for the narrative feel tired and that this week has been long for them but - and you've quoted that! - in a good way.
At this point that's all there is that we know about whatever happened this week in DA story team. We have no idea whether they're crunching or how the DA team works or what changes have been happening in BW to address the crunch. But one of the main issues with Andromeda or Anthem was that many felt that their effort wasn't amounting to much or they had no clear goals to work towards. What the devs above are discussing seems to suggest the opposite - they're tired, but satisfied with what they did. That is a good indicator.
Last Edit: May 4, 2019 17:06:50 GMT by midnight tea
“The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.”
assuming that every time they're tired means they're part of something unhealthy/negative is not helping their well-being either - that's just piling stress on top of stress.
I am in no direct communication with any of the devs. I am simply pointing out that, regardless of their accomplishments and how proud of them they should be, it sounds like they are back in crunch. That I am worried for the devs well being, as well as how sustainable this model is, is not something new, I've reiterated that multiple times in other posts.
At this point there's a lot of assumptions here, and not a lot of facts. All we know is that devs responsible for the narrative feel tired and that this week has been long for them but - and you've quoted that! - in a good way.
I am not denying the fact that they feel good about what they've accomplished, or that they are saying that. The fact that they are commenting that this week felt longer than usual and that a lot of work was done, though, tends to show that more work was put in, in said specific timeframe. Usually, any working person would tell you, is because people worked overtime. We know about crunch, we know about Industry crunch and we know about Bioware crunch. You can choose to ignore the possibility of the crunch, I mean there's no way they could have put more work in this past week, to make them feel this tired, right? After all, if release is so far away, surely they can afford the time to put in normal amounts of work and complete said work in a reasonable timeframe, right? So what the rush? And what's the big deal, if they feel tired and accomplished, right? It's not like this could lead to burning out, in the long run, right? Best to think that everything is fine and it will all work out in the end. You know, like Bioware Magic.
one of the main issues with Andromeda or Anthem was that many felt that their effort wasn't amounting to much or they had no clear goals to work towards
To quote directly from the Schreier article on Anthem
”Everyone actually thought, ‘We have something here, and we think it’s pretty good.’”