Dragon Age browser RPG revealed, Jade Empire sequel in limbo

By Tor Thorsen, GameSpotPosted Oct 15, 2009 3:01 pm PT

New EA studio making flash-based spin-off to upcoming role-player; BioWare devs express desire to revisit 2005's Asian mythology game.

With the launch of Dragon Age: Origins less than a month away, BioWare and Electronic Arts are pioneering new ways to synergize the title. Following the announcements of a comic book miniseries, prequel novel, and day-one downloadable content, the developer and publisher announced a new browser-based Adobe Flash game based on the Dragon Age IP, Dragon Age Journeys.

The Dragon Age series is journeying to a browser near you.

The news came via a post on BioWare's official blog by Ethan Levy, a producer at EA's new internal browser game studio, EA 2D. According to Levy, the shop's mission is "to create blockbusters for the browser; some will be original games created by our teams and some will be games within other EA franchises, such as Dragon Age Journeys."

Begun last November in secret, Dragon Age Journeys is a three-chapter, single-player, tactical RPG, which can be played in any Flash-enabled Web browser. Though its graphics are two-dimensional, it will feature character classes, talent trees, sound effects, music, and a user interface directly based on those of Dragon Age: Origins. The first chapter, The Deep Roads, will focus on the dwarven stronghold of Orzammar and surrounding areas "where dwarves face a persistent threat from the Darkspawn hordes," according to Levy.

The browser games' HUD will be based on the full-sized console versions.

In less tangible BioWare news, word of a Jade Empire sequel surfaced for the first time in nearly four years. In November 2005, studio cofounder and overall EA RPG chief Ray Muzyka said flat out that "BioWare definitely plans to continue the Jade Empire franchise" before hinting it would be on the Xbox 360. "We've also said in the past that we're working on not just one, but two Xbox 360 titles. Enough said." (Since then, the company has released one 360 title, Mass Effect, with two more--Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect 2--officially announced for the console.)

Unfortunately, BioWare's enthusiasm for the project appears to have cooled since Muzkya's comments. Speaking with Strategyinformer.com, Dragon Age lead designer Mike Laidlaw cast doubt on whether a follow-up was in active development.

Jade Empire fans may be waiting for a long time for a sequel.

"We will certainly announce it if it's going to be coming out," said Laidlaw. "At this point, Jade Empire is a staff favorite, and a lot of us love it, so we'd love to revisit it at some point. But right now, we are very focused on Dragon Age and Mass Effect 2."

According to its official Web site, BioWare currently has one unidentified "new next gen game" in development. However, the resume of a former designer at the studio indicated the mystery title is an all-new intellectual property, not an existing series. Currently, the original Jade Empire (released in 2005) is available for download via Xbox Live's Games on Demand program for $15 (MSP 1,200).

106 Comments

  • shrap393

    Posted Nov 13, 2009 9:43 am PT

    Jade Empire... this game really sucked. I really tried to like, thought maybe something was wrong with me cause I've never had problems playing a BioWare game and I've played em since Baldurs Gate, but ya, this one was garbage. Why waste more resources on this series? Please dont bother with this crap series and if so, please assign it to your interns so your senior members can contiue work on the real games like KotOR, Dragon Age and whatever else you have coming down the pike.
    Jade Empire2? What a waste. Did BioWare really make it or was it something they backed from some third world devs?

  • frazzle00

    Posted Oct 21, 2009 12:53 am PT

    @alibabba13

    The strangers I generally meet whilst online gaming tend to be young, obnoxious or both. I am not saying this is always the case, but it happens way too often for my liking. So yes, when it comes to MMOs, I stay away .

  • OfficerDonNZ

    Posted Oct 20, 2009 8:55 pm PT

    The picture of Furious Ming mediating is from one of the early trailers for Jade Empire. Yeah I know, uesless info. Let's hope one of these days we see a JE2 .

  • filmboy85

    Posted Oct 20, 2009 3:31 pm PT

    Jade Empire is good, but constantly clicking the left mouse button (PC version) is something I'd expect more from Diablo, rather than BioWare, who generally have great combat in their games (KotOR, Baldur's Gate/many of the Infinity Engine Games, Mass Effect, etc.). Can't wait for Dragon's Age and ME2. Both are gonna be awesome.

  • alibabba13

    Posted Oct 20, 2009 2:37 am PT

    @Frazzle yes your absolutely right the only people that play MMO's are annoying kids and you should definately stay away.

  • Shadow_Fire41

    Posted Oct 18, 2009 8:41 pm PT

    they better make a sequel.

    i also don't remember the main guy meditating either Un_Ordinateur, nice observation.

  • Un_Ordinateur

    Posted Oct 18, 2009 5:26 pm PT

    I really do hope that Jade Empire is going to get a sequel; The first one in my opinion was great (Not as good as KotOR, but still awesome) and is a steal for $15 via steam or Xbox live. I would love to be my wolverine-clawed, dual sword-wielding, fire launching spirit monk just one more time (I mean, hey, how many games let you transform into a giant flaming horse and set your opponents on fire?).

    Edit: That picture looks pretty high-res to be from the original... Even though it does look like two rivers. Anyone recall your character meditating there? I certainly don't...

  • zeniftan

    Posted Oct 18, 2009 1:10 pm PT

    @ ZIROPC360:
    They keep saying Star Wars: TOR is going to be KOTOR: 3, 4, 5, 6 , 7, 8 and so on. And based on Biowares history, I kind of believe them. Kind of...

    That being said, I choose to be a naysayer and wait until 2 months after Star Wars: TOR's release to find out if it's really worth it.

    I've never played MMORPG's before outside of Star Wars: Galaxies. And everybody know's about THAT games track record.
    So I'm STILL going to be wary, but I'm very interested too... :-)

  • westernomelette

    Posted Oct 17, 2009 5:56 pm PT

    Ok the browser game does sound sweet, but.... is it free?

    And while I did play and beat Jade empire I wasn't that impressed with it, I don't think it should have a sequel as much as I'd like to see another KOTOR (not MMO) game.

  • Marder-I

    Posted Oct 17, 2009 10:42 am PT

    The Browser game loks interesting, I may have to get this!!

    Cheers

    Tom

  • Blazius2

    Posted Oct 17, 2009 8:23 am PT

    I've never played kotor, but a sequel to Jade empire is what i'd like most to see.

  • Snipes_2

    Posted Oct 16, 2009 6:36 pm PT

    @ frazzle00

    I couldn't have said it better.

  • frazzle00

    Posted Oct 16, 2009 6:08 pm PT

    I think Rottenwood is right. MMOs are the more profitable option and it is easy to see Bioware eventually shifting their focus in that direction (especially now given they are part of the EA family ). I was horrified to learn that they think that an MMO like Old Republic will be a suitable substitute for KOTOR 3. Despite all the claims that it will have "more" story than a traditional RPG, I can't help but fear it'll just degenerate into a dungeon crawling w**kfest populated by characters controlled by annoying kids.

  • Doxxie

    Posted Oct 16, 2009 4:28 pm PT

    KOTOR 3 and SWBF 3
    titles that haven't been released
    and there really isn't any logical explanation
    unless they are making them now
    and making them awesome
    patience is a virtue
    but if we dont see/hear about these titles soon
    it's a serious error in judgement

  • jokers_anarchy

    Posted Oct 16, 2009 3:17 pm PT

    jade empire would be cool but what i really want is a knights of the old republic 3.

  • Senor_Kami

    Posted Oct 16, 2009 1:03 pm PT

    I only want Jade Empire 2 if their goal is to mix RPG with Fighter/Action to the same degree and quality level that Mass Effect and ME2 mix RPG with 3PS.

  • Rottenwood

    Posted Oct 16, 2009 12:50 pm PT

    @GrumblingElite

    Well, the transition certainly won't happen overnight. There are millions of gamers who cannot or will not sign for an MMORPG, and as you said, there is still a small fortune to be made in making retreads of StarCraft and Diablo. But even as we mention those two titles, what else is Blizzard working on? A new I.P. for an MMORPG.

    StarCraft 2 and Diablo 3 will be profitable, but they won't come close to the fortune Blizzard has made from WOW. The day of the single game purchase is fading. Even StarCraft 2 is adopting an MMORPG model of sorts by being sold in installments.

  • Hailfire704

    Posted Oct 16, 2009 12:47 pm PT

    I hope there's a sequel for Jade Empire in the works, it's easily my favorite game

  • GrumblingElite

    Posted Oct 16, 2009 12:33 pm PT

    @Rottenwood : I disagree. Just look at Blizzard. The kings of the MMO market are still making Diablo 3 and Starcraft 2. Why? Because 1) They like making good games, 2) (and this is the big point) They're going to make *tons* of money off of each of those games. I seriously doubt EA will ever say no to ginormous piles of money.

  • dakan45

    Posted Oct 16, 2009 12:13 pm PT

    I hope jade empire gets a sequel...

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