BioWare's Spiritual Successor to Baldur's Gate Weaves an Epic Tale
That Begins in One of Six Different Ways
EDMONTON, Alberta, Feb 12, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Leading video game developer BioWare(TM), a division of Electronic Arts
Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) announced today the highly anticipated details of all
six Origin Stories featured in the upcoming dark, heroic fantasy Dragon
Age(TM): Origins. Each Origin Story starts the player off with a
unique series of locations, characters and events that establish their
motivations and lay the groundwork for the adventure to come.
With each Origin Story boasting several hours of unique game play, as
well as challenging strategic combat and exploration, these 6 distinct
preludes make Dragon Age: Origins the first BioWare game to offer
not only multiple endings, but also multiple beginnings. Players will
start their adventure in one of the following roles:
Dalish Elf
As one of the last "true elves", you were content to spend your
life wandering with your clan...until a chance encounter with a relic of
your people's past threatens to tear you away from everything you've
known.
City Elf
You have always lived under the heavy thumb of your human overlords, but
when a local lord claiming his "privilege" with the bride shatters your
wedding day, the simmering racial tensions explode in a rain of
vengeance.
Dwarf Commoner
Born casteless in a land where rank is everything, bound as the lackey
and thug of a local crime lord, you have spent your life
invisible...until chance thrusts you into the spotlight, where you can
finally prove whether you will be defined by your actions or your birth.
Dwarf Noble
The favored child of the dwarven king, you proudly take up your first
military command...only to learn that the deadly intrigues of dwarven
politics pose an even greater danger than that faced on the battlefield.
Mage
Gifted with a power considered a dangerous curse by most, you have spent
most of your life secluded in the remote tower of the Circle of Magi to
be trained and watched closely by the dreaded templars. Now your final
test is upon you -- succeed and prove your strength, fail and you will
perish.
Human Noble
Born to wealth and power second only to royalty, you find your training
in both diplomacy and war put to the test when your father's castle is
betrayed from within on the very night your elder brother is to lead the
family's forces to war.
The player's choice of Origin Story lays the foundation for a profound
journey based on the character's past experiences, establishing how they
perceive the world and how the world perceives them. The choices you
made during an Origin Story will influence the way the game unfolds,
including different story elements, dialogue options and even plot
branches, providing a wealth of replayability.
Dragon Age: Origins offers an immersive, beautiful and often
threatening world in which the player will live out a fantasy of epic
proportions. With six unique paths to choose from, the choice of Origin
Story will be the first of many important decisions players will face in Dragon
Age: Origins.
For more information, visit www.dragonage.com.
About BioWare
BioWare develops computer, console, handheld and online video games
focused on rich stories and memorable characters. Since 1995, BioWare
has created some of the world's best-selling titles including the
award-winning Baldur's Gate(TM) and Neverwinter Nights(TM) series, Star Wars(R):
Knights of the Old Republic(TM) and Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood
for the Nintendo DS(TM). Original BioWare-created intellectual properties
include Jade Empire(TM) and the 2007 Game of the Year, Mass Effect. With
studios in Edmonton, Canada, and Austin, Texas, BioWare is hard at work
on the epic fantasy RPG, Dragon Age(TM): Origins, and a story-driven MMO,
Star Wars(R): The Old Republic(TM) as well as several unannounced projects.
In 2008, BioWare was acquired by the world's leading electronic
entertainment publisher, Electronic Arts. For more information on
BioWare, visit www.bioware.com.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is
the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded
in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive
software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, cellular
handsets and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under
four brand names: EA SPORTS(TM), EA(TM), EA SPORTS Freestyle(TM) and POGO(TM). In
fiscal 2008, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.67 billion and had 27
titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online
game site is www.ea.com.
More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can
be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.
*BioWare, Mass Effect, Dragon Age and Jade Empire are trademarks or
registered trademarks owned by EA International (Studio and Publishing)
Ltd. in the U.S. and/or other countries. EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG
and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc.
in the U.S. and/or other countries. Xbox and Xbox 360 are trademarks of
the Microsoft group of companies. Nintendo DS is a trademark of
Nintendo. All other trademarks are the property of their respective
owners.
SOURCE: Electronic Arts Inc.
EA Games Label PR
Tammy Schachter, 650-628-7223
tschachter@ea.com
Heather Rabatich, 780-430-0164 ext. 1457
heather@bioware.com
Erik Einsiedel, 780-430-0164 ext. 1146
erik@bioware.com
Copyright Business Wire 2009