Tag Archives: dragon age

BioWare at PAX East

Hello, BioWare fans!

We are pleased to announce that BioWare is returning to PAX East March 22-24 in Boston with another awesome BioWare Base. This year, our Base will be open daily from 10am until 7pm upstairs in Room 206 near the Wyvern Theater. Members of the Mass Effect, Dragon Age, HR, and Community teams will be present at the BioWare base to meet and talk with our fans. We are also very pleased to announce that actor Raphael Sbarge, the voice of Kaidan Alenko in the Mass Effect series, will be joining us on Saturday and Sunday.

Each day, we’ll discuss topics like our games, working at BioWare, and the voice acting process—and we’ll be answering your questions.  We will also have signings with staff and guests (make sure you bring games or other items you’d like signed), an art portfolio review for aspiring artists, a free photo booth, a costume contest Saturday evening, giveaways, and much more.

A BioWare panel will also take place on Saturday March 23 from 2:00 till 3:00, on the PAX East Main Stage. If you can’t make it to Boston for PAX East, we’ll record it so you won’t miss it. The panel’s title is The Mass Effect Trilogy – A Retrospective:

In 2004, BioWare set out not only to create a new science fiction universe, but also a new way for their fans to experience interactive storytelling across an entire trilogy of games. Nine years and three games later, the Mass Effect trilogy has ended. Relive some of the most memorable public and private moments in the creation of the trilogy with development team members including Casey Hudson – Executive Producer and Project Director, Preston Watamaniuk – Lead Designer, Parrish Ley – Lead Cinematics Director, John Dombrow – Writer, and Dusty Everman – Level Designer. The panel will be moderated by SpikeTV’s Geoff Keighley.

We’ll reveal the daily schedules of BioWare Base activity as we get closer to PAX East, so check back for details or check your PAX East guide. We look forward to seeing you at the BioWare Base at PAX East!

Thedosian Holidays

The majority of Thedas, from Tevinter to Ferelden, celebrates five major holidays, each tied to the transition of a season or, in the case of First Day, the beginning of a new year.

First Day: The traditional start of the year, this holiday involves visits to neighbors and family (in remote areas, this was once an annual check to ensure everyone was alive), as well as a town gathering to commemorate the year past, accompanied by drinking and merriment.

Wintersend: Once called “Urthalis” and dedicated to Urthemiel, the Old God of Beauty, this holiday has now become a celebration of the Maker. It stands for the end of winter in many lands and coincides with tourneys and contests at the Proving Grounds in Minrathous. In southern lands, this holiday has become a day of gathering for trade, theater, and, in some areas, the arrangement of marriages. It is celebrated at the beginning of Pluitanis.

Summerday: Once called “Andoralis” and dedicated to Andoral, the Old God of Unity, this holiday is universally celebrated as the beginning of summer, a time for joy and, commonly, marriage. Boys and girls ready to come of age don white tunics and gowns. They then join a grand procession that crosses the settlement to the local Chantry, where they are taught the responsibilities of adulthood. Summerday is a particularly holy occasion in Orlais. It is celebrated at the beginning of Molioris.

Funalis: This holiday was once dedicated to the Old God of Silence, Dumat. However, since Dumat’s rise during the First Blight, Thedosians turn a blind eye to any old ties between the day and the dragon. The holiday is now known across Thedas as All Soul’s Day and spent in somber remembrance of the dead. In some northern lands, the people dress as spirits and walk the streets in parade after midnight. The Chantry uses the holiday to remember the death of Andraste, with public fires that mark her immolation and plays that depict her death. It is celebrated at the beginning of Matrinalis.

Satinalia: Once dedicated to the Old Goddess of Freedom, Zazikel—but now attributed more to the second moon, Satina—this holiday is accompanied by wild celebration, the wearing of masks, and naming the town fool as ruler for a day. In Antiva, Satinalia lasts for a week or more, while a week of fasting follows. In more pious areas, large feasts and the giving of gifts mark the holiday. Satinalia is celebrated at the beginning of Umbralis.

- Excerpted from Dragon Age: The World of Thedas – Volume 1, due out April 16, 2013 on Dark Horse.

BioWare Holiday Images

Around this time every year, we start thinking about the holidays and imagining how our characters might celebrate it. Would the Mass Effect team put up lights and streamers around the Normandy CIC? Would the Dragon Age team hang up their stockings around a campfire?

This year we wanted to try something a little bit different. Instead of us answering those questions, we want to know what you think. Have you got a holiday image in your head for either Mass Effect or Dragon Age? Draw, paint, or Shop it and send it to us! We’ll feature the best ones on our Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest pages.

Email your submissions to community@bioware.com and be sure to include the following:

  • Your name
  • Your website (if you’d like us to credit it)
  • Your permission to post your creation (example: “I give BioWare permission to post my submission on their social media pages)

We’ll start posting submissions on Monday, December 17th. We can’t wait to see what you come up with, but in the meantime, here’s a little inspiration:

Image credit: DeviantArtist Weissidian

Movember Update: Mass Effect vs. Dragon Age

As the month of November draws to a close, so too does the heated Movember competition between our Mass Effect and Dragon Age teams. Rumors have been flying regarding hurt feelings, fractured relationships, and even a turf war, so we felt it was time to put those rumors to rest and check in with the teams for an update.

From Chris Pangrass, Mass Effect team captain

“Unfortunately, prostate cancer is prevalent in our family. Thankfully, through awareness and strides in research, my father can count himself as someone who has beaten it.  I am more than pleased to be a very small cog in the giant global machine that has taken over November to help raise funds and awareness for men’s health.  Personally, I get freaked out each morning when I look in the mirror for the first time and realize that I still have señor creepy growing under my nose.  I’m also saddened by many associates telling me ‘it actually looks pretty good on you.’ After participating in Movember for the last 5 years, I have come to understand that while I will be happy to shave on December 1st, a little part of me will miss the Mo and the stares that it receives.”

From Ben Gelinas, leading in donations for both team Dragon Age, and BioWare overall

“I’ve personally raised more than $3,700 over four years on the strength of a simple, yet effective tactic: blackmail. My full-grown moustache is an abomination­—the Anderfels of facial hair. It is patchy, wiry, and vaguely resembles wild rice up close. I can’t tell you how many horrified stares I’ve endured from people in the service industry. Here at work, many refuse to look me in the eye. I leverage this by threatening to keep the national tragedy on my face for another month if I don’t raise enough. In past years, I’ve grown the moustache because cancer research and awareness is important. This year, someone very dear to me was actually diagnosed with prostate cancer. He’s undergone extensive, aggressive radiation treatment. It isn’t good. Cancer isn’t good. And if looking creepy for a month helps in some small way to stop it, I’m happy to look as creepy as possible.”

Aaryn Flynn, BioWare GM for Edmonton & Montreal, debuting his "N7" mo!

 

Join us at Edmonton Comic & Entertainment Expo this weekend!

BioWare is thrilled to be participating in the first-ever Edmonton Comic & Entertainment Expo this Saturday & Sunday. We have a bunch of activities planned at the booth as well as four interactive panel discussions! The BioWare Booth will be located in spaces #903 & #1003, which is right across from the art gallery on the show floor. Members of the Mass Effect and Dragon Age teams will be on-hand to answer questions, sign autographs and trade gameplay tips. Be sure to bring your games, books and art if you’d like to get them signed!

We’re also pleased to announce that Mark Meer, voice of Commander Shepard, will be with us Saturday and Sunday from 2pm – 4pm! He’ll also be participating in the voice acting panel on Saturday afternoon. Another reason to visit the BioWare Booth is for the daily prize drawings. Say the secret phrase or cosplay as a BioWare character to get an additional entry!

Schedule of activities:

Saturday, October 20th:

  • 10 am – Exhibit hall opens
  • 10:30am – Prize drawing
  • 12pm – Panel (Room 301 / 302)

o   Dragon Age: A Look Ahead

  • 1pm – Dragon Age signings

o   Mike Laidlaw (Creative Director), Mark Darrah (Executive Producer), David Gaider (Lead Writer & Author of several Dragon Age novels) & Jon Perry (Cinematic Designer).

  • 2pm – Special guest signings

o   Meet Mark Meer, Caroline Livingstone (Voice Over Producer), David Gaider (Lead Writer & Author of several Dragon Age novels) and Mac Walters (Lead Writer of Mass Effect)

  • 3pm – Panel (Room 301 / 302)

o   Voice Acting in Video Games

  • 4:30pm – Prize drawing
  • 5pm – Cosplayer meet-up!
  • 5:30pm – Cosplay-only prize drawing
  • 6pm – Exhibit hall closes

Sunday:

  • 10 am – Exhibit Hall opens
  • 10:30 am – Prize drawing
  • 11am – Panel in room 301 / 302

o   Getting a Video Game Job

  • 12pm – Portfolio reviews

o   Bring your art or resume and have a char with several BioWare hiring managers!

  • 1:30 pm – Prize drawing
  • 2pm – Mass Effect Signings

o   Mark Meer and the Mass Effect team:  Mike Gamble (Producer), Patrick Weekes (Writer), Thomas Perlinksi (Level Designer), Leo Lucien-Bay (Cinematic Designer), Nathan Matichuk (QA Analyst), Scott Mitchell (Lead Animator) and Ryan Warden (Localization Project Manager).

  • 4pm – Panel in room 301 / 302

o   The Mass Effect Universe

  • 4:30 pm – Final prize drawing
  • 5pm – Exhibit hall closes

Huge thanks to our partners, Dark Horse, Nvidia and Razer, for providing us with some amazing prizes.

Check out the programming listings for more information on the four BioWare panels. We can’t wait to see you at the Edmonton Comic & Entertainment Expo!