JADE EMPIRE.

[Tawmis]

Discussing MASS EFFECT, made me think of another BIOWARE game called JADE EMPIRE.

I just started playing this game on the XBOX (regular XBOX, not the 360). I bought it when it came out - but some reason or another I never got around to it. I think maybe I got my XBOX360 and shuffled my regular XBOX away.

Well last week or so I was cleaning my office and decided to hook up my XBOX to the big tv I have in the office (my XBOX360 is in the living room with the Plasma Widescreen). And figured, I have never finished (or go very far at all - first fight scene!) in JADE EMPIRE - so I threw that bad boy in and started playing it...

And let me tell you - BIOWARE is the new "SIERRA" - because every game they dish out is always SO friggin' amazing - full of the best stories - best NPCs - best interaction - best interface... Bioware, continues to amaze me over and over.

From NEVERWINTER NIGHTS to KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC to JADE EMPIRE to MASS EFFECT - these games continue to prove why BIOWARE is so amazing!

I am not done with JADE EMPIRE because I am trying to do every single quest with the OPEN PALM (think: LIGHT SIDE of the FORCE from KOTOR). Then going to replay it with the CLOSED FIST (which, of course is the "Dark Side" of the game).

I am really enjoying JADE EMPIRE - and if you get a chance - I highly recommend it! It's also available for the PC with all these other cool tweaks and powers and monsters that are not in the XBOX version....

[Maiandra]

I completely agree, Tawmis. Jade Empire is a great game. There were tons of characters to talk to, the story was good, there was a solid dose of humour, and I really loved the settings. It was a refreshing change to have a game that was scenic and often outside.

I'm sure you'll enjoy the rest of it!

[DeadPoolX]

I haven't played Jade Empire yet (even though I originally got it as a birthday gift from my brother), I've already come up with a few names for a future character. I've told these to Maia and at best, she rolls her eyes at me.

[JasefWisener]

I played through the game and loved it. Well, up to a certain point (somewhere around when you can't explore wherever you want anymore).

Awesome game, though.

[Tawmis]

Just beat this game... AMAZING game... but no surprise how well it's done... It is after all, a BIOWARE game...

HIGHLY recommended. Of course I just realized AFTER I beat the game that I have the Limited Edition XBOX version that had an additional character on the bonus DISK that I just now imported and may have to replay the game with him!

[DeadPoolX]

While I fully admit I haven't played Mass Effect yet (and I plan to now that my CPU isn't overheating), my favorite BioWare game is, as of this moment, Knights of the Old Republic.

One thing I hate about fantasy-based RPGs is that I have to LEARN all about the world and the items. There are weapons with obscure titles and abilities that aren't immediately intuitive.

I liked KotOR because I am such a Star Wars geek. I instinctively recognize an E-11 Blaster Rifle or a suit of Mandalorian Armor. I can understand the Force, but magic is completely foreign to me. Probably because the Force has limitations, whereas magic can be anything and do anything.

Once again, I haven't played Mass Effect so maybe the sci-fi setting would appeal more to me. From what I can tell, however, the weapons aren't realistic, but at least have some roots in reality. A sniper rifle, for instance, does the same thing as a real-world sniper rifle.

[AndreaDraco]

I must agree that KotOR is absolutely awesome. The story is great and writing very, very good: the supporting characters are all very detailed and their backstory interesting to discover and compelling to complete.

What intrigues me the most about Jade Empire is the setting, which something I'm completely foreign from. Thus, I like the idea of explore something I know very, very little about. And, of course, while waiting for Mass Effect and Dragon Age (at the moment I don't know if my PC can handle them, maybe ME, but surely not DA), I'd like another BioWare story...

(And, Tawmis, I'm starting to think that yes: BW can be the new Sierra Now they only have to hire Jane Jansen for their next game! )

[Tawmis]

I think Jane would make a wonderful addition to Bioware - but they have teams of writers these days on these games. So even if Jane was on the Bioware team, her name would be buried amongst the team of writers that do these games. The days of single writers and games, seem to be a thing of that past, because these games have become so big and so epic.

[Collector]

The days of single writers and games, seem to be a thing of that past, because these games have become so big and so epic.

Reminds me of the old saying of "Too many cooks..." Don't forget, Tolstoy wrote War and Peace all by his lonesome. Not that a collaborative effort can't be good, but I think that it is usually best if there is a single guiding force in such creative ventures. Then again, it may be the difference between a game where the emphasis is on the narrative and one where a little bit of story is thrown in to keep players from getting burned out after only an hour or two of game play.

[DeadPoolX]

The days of single writers and games, seem to be a thing of that past, because these games have become so big and so epic.

Reminds me of the old saying of "Too many cooks..." Don't forget, Tolstoy wrote War and Peace all by his lonesome. Not that a collaborative effort can't be good, but I think that it is usually best if there is a single guiding force in such creative ventures. Then again, it may be the difference between a game where the emphasis is on the narrative and one where a little bit of story is thrown in to keep players from getting burned out after only an hour or two of game play.

With regards to BioWare, they specialize in RPGs. Games those large and multi-branched often require more than one writer. In contrast, the older Sierra games were far more linear, offered far fewer choices and the games themselves were much smaller. The latter -- if nothing else -- made it possible for small design teams, including one or maybe two writers, to handle an entire game.