^ Yeah, also he's had that picture of Dorian on his Facebook page forever, and has been over the moon over the Dorian charity art book. He definitely hasn't let Thedas go completely. A big pay bump and more creative control would be extremely tempting.
I don't want anyone burnt out on Dragon Age to be working on Dragon Age.
You know what helps with burnout? EA pulling up to your house with a dumptruck full of cash. Not saying this is the case, but I'm just saying. It got Casey Hudson back.
ugh. Don't get me started on my distrust of what to me is a total stranger to the franchise taking the helmsman spot. yes, I know he was there at the start and he ran Mass Effect, and I liked the Original Trilogy (well, ME2, ME3) and I LIKED THE ENDING. But mass Effect and Dragon Age aren't just different in worlds, the mechanics of dialogue and relationships are super different and I don't want the binary renagade/paragon system coming anywhere close to Dragon Age. Nor the 2-4 options of "I'll be nice to you" Ryder, although I don't think he had a hand in that.
And if it takes a crap ton of money to get Gaider on board, than he is even more burnt out than I suspect and should definitely not return. I'd pay to play a demo and give my feedback, that's where I am.
Vegan, polyamorous, pre-med. Zevran, Fenris, Cullen, and Thane.
I'm leery of any man who had said he'd left becuase, paraphrasing, "He dreaded going into the office to work on Dragon Age when there were all these bright eyed bushy tailed skilled creative people who would happily thrive in his position."
I don't want anyone burnt out on Dragon Age to be working on Dragon Age.
^ Yeah, also he's had that picture of Dorian on his Facebook page forever, and has been over the moon over the Dorian charity art book. He definitely hasn't let Thedas go completely. A big pay bump and more creative control would be extremely tempting.
A burnout is not necessarily something that will last forever (Casey Hudson did come back, hasn't he?). And if Gaider still misses the DA world, but not the corporate machine... well, there's a way he could still be part of it, but without long years of commitment to EA or Bioware.
He can always be their guest writer. Like Alexis Kennedy. I mean, it's DA team who decided to start the trend, haven't they?
“The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.”
well, there's a way he could still be part of it, but without long years of commitment to EA or Bioware.
He can always be their guest writer. Like Alexis Kennedy.
I certainly wouldn't mind him writing Dorian (and Maevaris!) without the full responsibility of being a primary writer on the game.
[edit] I suppose I'm just worried, particularly regarding Dorian, that anyone who attempts to write him will use his snark as a crutch and not capture any of the character's depth. =/
Last Edit: Feb 9, 2018 23:53:28 GMT by Nightscrawl
Mountains. Cold. "Let's bring Dorian!" It's good to be Champion!
Even if he doesn't return to the franchise's game development, I could still see him potentially writing more novels or comics for it. Or something similar.
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Mass Effect Andromeda, Anthem, Mass Effect Legendary Edition PSN: InquisitorBunny Prime Posts: 430 Prime Likes: 1114 Posts: 2,655 Likes: 10,100
A portrait of the artist at work. Today, Beamdog bids farewell to our Creative Director, David Gaider.
Dave came to Beamdog during interesting times. Since then, he has been teacher, mentor, and friend to many on the team. We’ve seen Dave conjure new worlds we’d love to play in, and spin stories in places already close to our hearts. Someday we will share the fruits of his labour!
Most lasting, Dave has built a creative team that will shape the stories Beamdog tells in the years to come. He has freely shared his incredible wealth of storytelling and narrative design experience with the developers, designers, and artists around him. We’ve all learned a lot from Dave and we hope he picked up a trick or two from us as well.
As fans of Dragon Age, KoTOR, Baldur’s Gate, and many of the other incredible worlds Dave has helped create, we’re excited to find out what’s next (come on, give us a clue Dave!) be it a new game, novel, or whatever else it is you choose to create.
We’ll certainly miss your lunchtime stories. Best of luck Dave!
David Gaider @davidgaider Thanks! Also: this portrait is so appropriate. 😉
- Yeah, that was a rather brief tenure at Beamdog. It'll be interesting to see where he lands next...
Wonder if he's taking Mike's Creative Director slot, now that it's open. I think that's the job title he had at Beamdog.
If this happens I will literally squee. And spam bunny gifs, but I assume that's what you all have come to expect from me at this point...
"He is the most foul, cruel, and bad-tempered rodent you ever set eyes on... He has got huge, sharp -- eh -- he can leap about -- look at the bones!"
I'm cool with that. Does he want to be a sail in the wind though? he seems a stay in one place kinda guy, until recently of course.
Depends, I guess? Mike Laidlaw seem to have been 'stay in one place' kind of guy, and now he appears to be enjoying not having a super-involving job. Maybe it's that time in life when Gaider still wants to be active on the field, but doesn't want to be tied to a project, or company, for years?
We did have our lurking BW dev mention something about the prospect of spending long time on one game being a considerable deterrent, even if people are otherwise happy, passionate and content with the company they're working with.
Last Edit: Feb 10, 2018 0:50:49 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.”
and now he appears to be enjoying not having a super-involving job
What did Mike go on to do? I don't follow the devs closely like you all.
I can't say I've been monitoring his post-Bioware career, but last time I heard he seems to be interested with some sort of consulting position for those interested with his experience as a top dev on major gaming franchise. So whatever awaits him farther in the future, he sees to be aiming at something of lower profile for now.
Last Edit: Feb 10, 2018 1:12:10 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.”
What did Mike go on to do? I don't follow the devs closely like you all.
I can't say I've been monitoring his post-Bioware career, but last time I heard he seems to be interested with some sort of consulting position for those interested with his experience as a top dev on major gaming franchise. So whatever awaits him farther in the future, he sees to be aiming at something of lower profile for now.
AFAIK, he's still on hiatus, but regularly streams on Twitch. Right now he's vacationing in Iceland...
I can't say I've been monitoring his post-Bioware career, but last time I heard he seems to be interested with some sort of consulting position for those interested with his experience as a top dev on major gaming franchise. So whatever awaits him farther in the future, he sees to be aiming at something of lower profile for now.
AFAIK, he's still on hiatus, but regularly streams on Twitch. Right now he's vacationing in Iceland...
Well... looks like he was prepared to quit. Good for him.
Even if he doesn't return to the franchise's game development, I could still see him potentially writing more novels or comics for it. Or something similar.
As much as I love Obsidian, it would interesting to see David Gaider make contributions there. InExile or even Telltale would be good too, I guess it depends on if it would be worth it to him to make the move. If Gaider did come back to Bioware, even as a freelancer, I hope he resurrects his planned Tevinter novel with the Fenris cameo. Or he could finally write some original, creator owned stuff. Whatever David does, I just hope he's happy.
White_Mage @badhealer @patrickweekes Question about DA: Inquisition, what would have happened if a Warden invoked the Right of Conscription on the Inquisitor before he/she could pass his/her judgement on the wardens?
Patrick Weekes @patrickweekes Given that the Wardens had just tried to summon a giant demon army and were on everyone’s shit list, probably not much.
particularly tragic Fenris cameo if you sold him back to Danarius
It would never be worth it.
Didn't Gaider say somewhere that without the proper magical maintenance, Fenris' tattoos will eventually kill him? Another classic Bioware dilemma: Save Fenris' life at the cost of his memories, or let him die as himself. You just know that probably would have been his Companion Quest if he had been in Inquisition.
Maybe it could still happen if Gaider completes that Tevinter novel ...
Didn't Gaider say somewhere that without the proper magical maintenance, Fenris' tattoos will eventually kill him? Another classic Bioware dilemma: Save Fenris' life at the cost of his memories, or let him die as himself. You just know that probably would have been his Companion Quest if he had been in Inquisition.
Maybe it could still happen if Gaider completes that Tevinter novel ...
iirc the lyrium marking maintenance thing was speculation or a what-if sort of question, but yes that scenario does bring the feels.
Two years was probably enough to help Beamdog get whatever they're up to off the ground but maybe the nostalgia of working at a small studio didn't line up with the reality of working at a small studio? It'll be intereting to see where he goes. Maybe he'll become one of those high profile freelance writers like Avellone or Kennedy.
Last Edit: Feb 10, 2018 10:04:17 GMT by Fredward: what was with that typo?