Dragon Age: Origins.

[Rath Darkblade]

I'd like to point out ... it was much better - tech support that is for Bioware - before EA purchased Bioware.

Great. Just my luck to have to deal with Bioware tech support, now that it's been bought out by friggin' EA.

In case you haven't realised by now, I hate EA. Hate hate hate. EA sucks like a Hoover. It is the Darth Vader of the computer game community.

*grabs his pyro flamethrower (from TF2) and flames EA to to a well-done crisp*

[DeadPoolX]

What's interesting is that when EA was founded in 1982 by Trip Hawkins (who felt software should be treated as an art form and referred to developers as "software artists"), the company's philosophy was much different:

A novel approach to giving credit to its developers was one of EA's trademarks in its early days. This characterization was even further reinforced with EA's packaging of most of their games in the "album cover" pioneered by EA because Hawkins thought that a record album style would both save costs and convey an artistic feeling. EA routinely referred to their developers as "artists" and gave them photo credits in their games and numerous full-page magazine ads. EA also shared lavish profits with their developers, which added to their industry appeal. Because of this novel treatment, EA was able to easily attract the best developers. The square "album cover" boxes (such as the covers for 1983's M.U.L.E. and Pinball Construction Set) were a popular packaging concept by Electronic Arts, which wanted to represent their developers as "rock stars".

That's a big difference from the EA of today, isn't it?

Anyway... give DA:O a chance, Rath. It's a good game and once you get over your seething rage, you might really enjoy it.

I don't think "BioWare tech support" exists nowadays. I could be wrong, but it seems as if everything is now run through EA itself. That's too bad, since BioWare was very responsive and attentive to their customers.

Oh and for the future, you might want to try posting your problem on the BioWare (or whatever company) message board itself. I know your first response is to come here, but since your problem wasn't rare, you might have been able to get help sooner.

Just a thought.

[Rath Darkblade]

Anyway... give DA:O a chance, Rath. It's a good game and once you get over your seething rage, you might really enjoy it.

Heh... sigh. I'm kind of over my 'seething rage'. I was just annoyed that the game decided not to work as it should. But I'm pleasantly surprised at EA's prompt and helpful response to my problem. It's not resolved yet, but I hope it soon will be.

I don't think "BioWare tech support" exists nowadays. I could be wrong, but it seems as if everything is now run through EA itself. That's too bad, since BioWare was very responsive and attentive to their customers.

Hmm. I don't know if EA customer support is as bad as it's made out to be - I'm finding it to be quite sufficient. They sent me emails the day after I requested some help, which is quite good. I've been exchanging emails with them on a daily basis, which must be some sort of record in tech support.

Oh and for the future, you might want to try posting your problem on the BioWare (or whatever company) message board itself. I know your first response is to come here, but since your problem wasn't rare, you might have been able to get help sooner.

Just a thought.

OK, will do.

[Rath Darkblade]

Yay! *is happy* <------- See?

I have finally activated my game (well, an EA person did it for me) and I now found out how to unlock the additional DLCs. I'm downloading them now.

So... yay!

[Rath Darkblade]

Yay! *is happy* <------- See?

I have finally activated my game (well, an EA person did it for me) and I now found out how to unlock the additional DLCs. I'm downloading them now.

So... yay!

Sigh... I don't know if I'm doing something wrong, or what...?

I downloaded all the DLCs for Dragon Age (Origins and Awakening) and installed them. I also downloaded Leliana's Song, etc. etc. etc. Despite this, they're still not showing up when I start the game. The game is still asking me to redeem or buy them. WTF?

Also, some other quests don't seem to show up. For instance: in the Party Camp, when I talk to Levi, he tells me about some Warden tower somewhere that needs to be rescued. When I say "I'll do it" and it says "Download additional content", I click on that, but it tells me that the EA Servers are no longer available. Same thing happens when I try to save that guy who gets stabbed in the forest (one of King Cailan's men).

So... am I doing something wrong, or... what? I'm very confused...

[AndreaDraco]

There seems to be some kind of problem with every in-game DLC. What about the DLC listed under "Other Campaigns" in the Main Menu? Can you play, for example, Leliana's Song or Witch Hunt? If you can't play them either, I really don't have an idea of what might be wrong, otherwise I'll suggest trying, just for the sake of it, to star a new character and see if the in-game DLCs work, because sometimes they are known to get corrupted.

Anyway, as DPX said a few posts ago, I'd suggest trying to ask on BioWare Social Site. Someone there will surely be able to help you!

[Rath Darkblade]

Hmmm. No campaigns show up on "Other Campaigns", other than Awakenings...

[AndreaDraco]

Then the game doesn't recognize your DLCs at all.

If you own the Ultimate Edition, I'd suggest you take a look at this thread: Ultimate Edition and DLC unauthorized.

And this thread, Redeemed DLC Unofficial Troubleshooting, is the best place to find advice and solutions.

Let us know if you find a fix!

[Rath Darkblade]

Sigh... I cannot log in from the game. Ever. Whenever I press the Log In button in the game, it tells me that the EA Servers are not available.

[AndreaDraco]

Try this thread.

Here another possible solution (last post of the page).

Try also searching on the social site for 'servers' in the PC Technical section. It may help.

Otherwise, if nothing works you can use the Troubleshooting thread I already linked you (this one) and refer to point 3.3.1-4.2

[Rath Darkblade]

Ah! It turned out to be something so absurdly simple, that I can't think why I didn't think of it before. I had my suspicions last night, but tonight I thought I'd try it out, and what do you know - it worked!

All I had to do was add DA:O to my firewall as a trusted application, and now I can go into the game and log in and out from within, as often as I like. And now I have access to all the DLCs.

Thanks for all your help and patience with this one! Now I feel dumb for not having thought of it before. Sorry! *blush*

[AndreaDraco]

Don't worry!

I'm just glad that you're finally able to fully enjoy the game!

Keep us posted with your opinions as you play through Origins!

[Rath Darkblade]

Hmm. So I started playing as a human noble, and I now have in my party Alistair, Leliana, Wynne, Sten, Dog, Zevran, and Morrigan.

My character has seduced Leliana and they both love each other very much. (Aww. :p) Anyway, I was wondering if it'd hurt anything if my character fell in love with anyone else (Zevran? Morrigan?) My opinion is that Leliana would be devastated. So probably best not to do it. Right?

Anyway, I've also done the Circle of Magi quest, the Dalish quest, and saved the arl of Redcliffe. I've also done numerous other little quests. Oh, and I killed Flemeth. (But next time I probably won't try).

I've also upgraded my characters' weapons w/ runestones. Although my character is only level 14, I was lucky enough to find two Grandmaster runestones. Yay

So, the question is... what's next? Anything else I should do?

[AndreaDraco]

Anyway, I was wondering if it'd hurt anything if my character fell in love with anyone else (Zevran? Morrigan?) My opinion is that Leliana would be devastated. So probably best not to do it. Right?

If you character starts a romance with another companion, eventually you will be confronted by both the party members and forced to choose. Of course, the rejected companion will suffer a huge approval loss.

Anyway, I've also done the Circle of Magi quest, the Dalish quest, and saved the arl of Redcliffe. I've also done numerous other little quests. Oh, and I killed Flemeth. (But next time I probably won't try).

Why?

So, the question is... what's next? Anything else I should do?

I'd recommend to do Orzammar first and then the Sacred Ashes quest. But you could also choose to do Sacred Ashes first, finishing the entire Arl Eamon affaire, and then go to Orzammar. Keep in mind that the Orzammar line of quests is extremely long, though.

And obviously do as many side-quests as you can and try to do each companion's personal quest.

[Tawmis]

I'd recommend to do Orzammar first and then the Sacred Ashes quest. But you could also choose to do Sacred Ashes first, finishing the entire Arl Eamon affaire, and then go to Orzammar. Keep in mind that the Orzammar line of quests is extremely long, though.

See, I always recommend doing Orzammar last - because of how long it is. Everyone who I recommend the game to - the last thing I say, after my long praise - "Oh, and if you get the game - just remember - do Orzammar last!" (Well I usually call it the Deep Roads...)