Dragon Age: Veilguard - A Conversation with Creative Director John Epler

[@hassamlatif1169]

Why is most of this video just the gameplay reveal bioware has already released instead of actual interview footage though

[@Evan056]

On the style forefront, I get what's being said about the city, but what about the style choices for character faces and enemy designs, especially those present in previous games? I have been thrown completely off by how demon's seem to have been redesigned as electrically powered skeleton waifs instead of their more physical manifestations, same for some screenshots I've seen of the Darkspawn and Ogres, which are looking much more comical/bright/smooth/etc... Kind of the same for character faces all seeming heavily stylized instead of natural. I just want to hear from people making the game as to why that's the direction they pursued; in universe and in a practical sense.

[@MidnightTea7]

In practical sense - because stylized game will age better than natural/realistic ones. Also - each game had its own style. It can be explained as the world being colored by subjective perspective of each game's protagonist.

[@DizietSma69]

removing those purples twigs would solve all aesthetic problems, no idea whose idea that was 😭

[@MidnightTea7]

@@DizietSma69 Nervous system and/or bloodstream. If you look under the hood/boney cage the glow is encased in, you can evenm see the brain the veins/nerves connect to. It's likely relevant, given that it resembles glowing lyrium veins, and Titans will likely be a relevant part of the story in DAVe.

[@Evan056]

@@MidnightTea7 I think the stylized/realistic aging argument is less relevant given general quality of fidelity now vs. the much more rapid development of the tech over the 2000s. I can't say anything I see in this game enemy-wise looks objectively better than Inquisition; nothing shown so far looks imposing at all (not speaking on the big bads at the end of the trailer). Just because something can be different doesn't mean it should be. I think Origins peaked with its monster design; I remember being annoyed at how 2 changed the Hurlocks too, so this is an old complaint of mine. lol

[@heyitsevie]

I heard somewhere that these changes are due to the magic seeping into the world so demons specifically looking like how they would in the Fade

[@afroman5160]

Looks good and wish I could play it now lol. Glad they have black hairstyles. Inquisition was severely lacking in that department. I'm excited too see what happens next after this opening. I don't get the hate towards this game. Even though I can understand not liking some of the demon designs.

[@verbena305]

love this game. don't give a damn about the neon lights on the demon or them missing their legs. same for the style, DA games have never been ultra photorealistic anyway. thanks for the interview

[@Affirmbuttress]

Love how this game looks* let’s all wait and see. I’m cautiously hyped but I’ll need to see more to say “I love this unreleased game”

[@verbena305]

@@Affirmbuttress that's your take, i respect it. as someone who's been a fan for more than a decade, i've already made my peace with how bioware and EA do things, and i've consciously decided to enjoy the good things amidst the (maybe?) bad things they'll release with the new game. i'm 31yo, and i think i am allowed to make my decisions on whether i want to buy a game on day 1 even if the majority of the critics and people say it's 'bad' (which should also be taken with a grain of salt, since it's been a trend to shitpost on bioware, and while some of the criticism is surely deserved, many latch on such miniscule details it's borderline ridiculous, simply bc bioware has become their punching bag). not gonna lie, the intense hatred many people unleash on this game is making me want to leave supportive comments on every video about the game i can find. real people made this game, not just 'a big evil corporation'. i doubt the game will be another andromeda, and i highly doubt the game will be another anthem. i would hate for the (many) good people at bioware to lose their job because half the 'fandom' + some dudebros (who have twisted memories of how da:o played and felt and looked) decided to pour undeserved, undiluted hate (not valid criticism) on it and the people who are genuinely or cautiously excited for it. That is why i decided i love this game, just like i loved wonky da:o, unpolished and unfinished da2, and confusing da:i :)

[@Shadrok]

I can't understand why they suddegnly changed designes of certain enemies (Darkspawn and Demons) I can see lore reasons why it might've happened. Like for Darkspawn they are the mutated version from these fountatins that were mentioned in Tewinter Nights. And demon appearance might differ from person to person due to the way they see their fears. BUT. We've had quite established appearance for these enemy types at least for two games, why change them now to these neon-glowing skeletons and glowing rotting undead

[@DandySlayer13]

The Darkspawn got a huge facelift from DAO to DA2 and changed a little for DAI as well. Now Demons stayed pretty much the same for the previous 3 games so this is the first time we've seen them change at all in DA's history. But in all honesty I mean... lets wait for the game to come out?

[@Shadrok]

@@DandySlayer13 I'm not hating on it don't get me wrong. I am a diehard fan of DA and I'm really looking forward to the release of Veil guard. But the design choices do confuse me

[@jamskinner]

@Shadrok Less work and lower ram requirements. Changing color is simple. Faceless human enemies don’t require any unique effort either.

[@jamskinner]

@DandySlayer13 Why do we need to wait? We can see the issues right now. Just like andromeda. People said the same thing about its problems. How will companies learn if we financially reward them regardless of what they do?

[@napstablook3935]

cant wait to play it!

[@Effaly_]

Wait, wait, wait. No savegame transfer but please tell me we can import the Dragon Age Keep World State! And thanks for the interview, Danny! ❤

[@heyitsevie]

They said no Dragon Age Keep, but we'll be choosing the necessary past choices at the start of the game in CC via tarot cards

[@kalaelizabeth]

Good interview thank you!

[@thedannypena]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ANGRYWOLVERINE2060-ft2nc]

Epler is still there ? He and Mike Gamble are old timers now I bet. Your team did a good job helping to uh reset things for the game in the eyes of the fans by releasing this. Congrats. Been a fan since DAO. Belonged to the Bioware Social Network.I find myself missing the comradery often displayed there .lol Those were the days. I have one question. Why not use Unreal on this ? Why use Frostbite 3 with all the problems it has caused the company in the past with game development ? I wish you the best. Hope BioWare can recover the old Bioware magic. Take care.

[@makeshiftriot3245]

So just in case we have forgotten: “BioWare magic” was a sarcastic term coined by employees to describe a hostile workplace. I would like to remind everyone that 6-8 years ago, most if not all, of the original team left because of their experience there including the original lead writer.

[@sofajockeyUK]

John Epler made it so we could 'ride the bull'.

[@mrspaceman2764]

Just getting into DA:I DLC, maybe the best game series ever. Played through all Dragon age before this drops and god damn, these games are just amazing. Graphics aside, so many game mechanics, so much world building and narrative happening with player agency. ME comes close. When it comes to the feel of world and reactions to player choice and world state, there really isn't anything like it. Xenoblade 3 comes close in that specific regard. If something happens and there's a character that might give a shit, you can talk to them and they'll have something to say. I can't really describe how much this level of detail elevates the games story and characters. DA:I has take this to new levels, I really hope Veilguard continues this Bioware tradition.

[@bradpickhinke6244]

Jesus. Just release the game already. It’s been 10 years. If it sucks, it’s gonna suck and not because you didn’t have enough time. 🙄 I was patient for the first 6 to 7 years, but I’m over it.

[@deceptionswrath3710]

Well... Now it all makes sense...

[@BarbeAmaury]

The type of guy that thought he had the skill to a write a sequel to one of the most liked RPG franchise of video game history. He had one job, iterate on the success of the first two opuses but deciced he had to innovate (by that I mean copy God of War gameplay and Adibou general tone). And there we are, Veilguard is the farthest from a dragon age game that any game of the franchise ever been (and Inquisition set the bar very low) and most don't have any faith in Bioware anymore.

[@HeavenCEY]

I hope after getting 200k dislikes feedback they come to their senses and rework the cartoon character design. I'm begging you, BW. You still have time. Listen to the people. We've waited 10 years not for Fable, not for a fairy tale. We've been waiting for Dragon Age.

[@RCP07hood]

I really like the interview! Excited to finally play this game!

[@JackCaine-wr6zg]

cannot help but wonder how you got the protagonist Rook.

[@BonusEggs4Sale]

Love this Rook's voice

[@hamakakun]

Yes, there are very impactful choices, sliding down or not?, open menu with 1 skill choice. The direction the game is going, I can sense a lot of cutting corners to make the development more bearable? maybe. No world state transfer, no tactician mode, companion system gutted, etc. Trying to cater to modern audience, you lost the identity what makes DA great in the 1st place. Was hopeful looking at DAI direction, but this is not for me. BG3 is more Dragon Age than this. Waiting for Mass Effect next and decide if I should move on entirely.

[@jamskinner]

Camera angle is too low in some fights. Also if this fails ME is probably dead to unless EA farms it out to another developer.

[@benzyza666]

pretty sure the director never finished any dragon age games disgusting

[@blublu6841]

This game will fail. DA died years ago.

[@thedannypena]

Disagree

[@mrsgamer9218]

I think at this point they should let go of dragon age. Hell, give it to Larian or something. Instead they would be better off making a new IP. This wouldve looked amazing if the whole 'dragon age' wasnt there.

[@joshua7426]

Seeing DA:I was a major success, not seeing where it died years ago at

[@mrsgamer9218]

@@joshua7426 da:i was an ok game, but it had a lot of problems. Being an 'open' world for starters. The world was too big and there wasnt much to do in it aside from collecting the same stuff all over again. The side quests were....there? And almost the entire final fight with Cory was deleted. Trespasser made up for A lot. But the main game was bland. (In hushed whispers was sublime writing!!!! Shoutout for that one )

[@sofajockeyUK]

I'm feeling this is a GOTY contender. Lest we forget, Inquisition was GOTY 2014.