princesspurpleblob

This is my personal train of thought. Writing story for the game, and yet you don't want combat/gameplay to be in a way, especially in game settings like DA series. So you are saying we can skip killing Archdemon? We are playing someone's "role" here. What kind of hero skips killing Archdemon? There's this great thing that does just that it's called a film! Yes, the whole "interactive" thing is interesting, but only when story is breath-takinly interesting like PS:T + when the story is more personal -- PS:T worked because it's mostly about "yourself -- finding your memory/identity back" not saving the whole world.

Also, since some other people put it better than I did, I'm going to borrow their comments:

"idunno but i think a rpg stops being a rpg when it doesn't have combat, i think they call those adventure games. Shes free to go work for whoever made Blade Runner. Oh wait."

"That is as retarded a comment from a "video game" writer as I have ever heard one. Gameplay and narrative have a symbiotic relationship; you cannot develop one in isolation from the other; and if you are not emotionally invested in playing the game it is more difficult to discern whether your writing actually meshes well with the gameplay elements."

Yes, the interview was few years back, but only reason I'm bringing this up is because it is happening for real -- ME3. So Bioware is allowing you to skip combat/story - so without combat or dialogue, why do you play game? Like DA series, the "role" of Shepard is a "hero". What do heros do? Smack enemies in face and save Earth/universe. As I said before, you don't have a pleasant conversation over a cup of tea with your enemy and achieve world peace. In M3, you play role of Shepard. How can Shepard "skip" combat? The same goes for story -- I'm a real sucker for story. I love good story, and personally I judge RPG on story more than a combat -- but that doesn't mean I want combat completely excluded. I just make adjustment -- I play on easiest difficulty. The combat itself is a way of telling story as well -- espeically in setting like DA or ME unverise where "combat" is important to character you play. In saying that, I'm not just critisizing Helpler -- but also Bioware. It just happened to be Helpler who came up with those comments and when I've read it, I thought it was one of the most retarded thing I've ever heard.

And in terms of her writing -- I don't know which NPCs she wrote in both DA1&2, but I don't think writing was strong in both games. DA1 was extremely cliched story -- although I did like companions quite a lot (even non-joinable characters like Ser Gilmore and Cullen). DA2 story was utter disaster in my opinion and even companions weren't that great. I'd say yes to BG2 companions anyway, I'd say maybe to DA1 companions and I'd say no to DA2 companions.

That's your opinion. Personally, I don't see why she stays in gaming industry and whines. Too scared to write a book?

And it has something to do it as well. I work in chemistry field, because I like chemistry. When she's working forgames like DA series, she would have expected that combat is an integral part of the game. I mean, the game screams out "I'm the hero of Fereldan/Kirkwall/whatever", and you can't expect that to always happen over a pleasant talk with enemies, having a cup of tea together. If she doesn't like gaming, especially combat, why is she working with game like that?

There have been times though, especially when replaying, roleplaying, games, that I wouldn't mind the option of a skip combat button.

Why play game if you want to skip combat? There are books, movies for that reason. The combat isn't crucial part of RPG, but it is part of roleplaying-GAME. It has always been, and it always will be. Combat is part of conflict solution. Do you think good & evil can always solve their problems with talk and hugs?

Also, I never said what people did to her is justified, but I can't help but feel she's partly responsible of it. If you say things like "least favourite part of game is playing game", you are opening yourself for the attack. Why not think before talk? I don't know. To me, it sounds like she wanted attention adly.

I don't know... Bioware didn't really react well either. I think Helpler is a moron for staying in gaming industry. If she doesn't like it, why is she working there? If she simply enjoys writing story, a book will be a much better alternative. Why stay in gaming industry and b*tch? And her response was marvellous - "I just figure they're jealous that I get to have both a vagina AND a games industry job, and they can't get either." Her response on twitter was also hilarious, as well as Flynn's response - "Go f*ck yourself". Very mature and well-handled Bioware!

This is it. I'm not buying ME3 or any other games. I lost faith in Bioware. Completely.

I am serious! Both Dark Alliances were fun to play and weren't an eyesore, unlike regular BG.

Seriously... wtf? How dare you to compare complete trash like dark alliance with BG series??? Even the fact it was named "BG: DA" boils my blood. Please, go play DA2 and leave BG series alone.