"Information regarding update 1.6 for consoles will be announced at a later date."

Actually, update 1.6 was relased on X-Box 360 already - on Friday, I believe. As of now, it has released on both X-Box 360 and PC. It is only regarding the PS3 version that information needs to be released.

"Though speculation initially linked the Dawnguard DLC to Snow Elves, the race that came before the Nords in the land of Skyrim, the trailer reveals it is a lot less (not at all) about them and a lot more (entirely) about vampires. Not the sickly blood-drinkers of the main game, but a new fraternity of vampiric badasses."

Sorry, but this doesn't follow. We expected, from DLC01 files included in Patch 1.5 and Beta Patch 1.6, that both vampires and snow elves would be present in the DLC. Bethesda's trailer confirms the presence of vampires. But that does not imply that the snow elves' role is "not at all." Trailers do not show everything in a product, and Bethesda is likely saving some information for release at E3, since they have been saying for weeks now that Dawnguard information will come at E3. Since they have confirmed aspects of the patch files (vampires, crossbows), it seems like a sounder inference that snow elves will play some role as well. Just not a central one.

"But the overall feel that as a warrior I don't have to gamely amble forward to begin my attack is something that creates a consistency between classes. If I have someone nearby who can launch fire from their hands and explode enemies, I don't feel that just because I'm wearing plate-mail I should have to trudge forward to begin combat. " Seriously disappointing to read that from someone in the industry. It is like he doesn't understand the concept of suspension of disbelief. As to he question of how the reaction would have been different if DA2 was the first game of a new series? I wouldn't have cared. I probably wouldn't have given it a second look - might not have even bought it. I bought and played, and even enjoyed this game for the sake of its excellent predecessor. But all in all, though there are some nice ideas, it is a much inferior game to DAO. Nine steps forward, ten steps back.