What's in the Box?

[modeps]

http://evavhost.com/i/news/dragonage1.jpg

Today I came home to a strange looking box. It was wrapped in a paper bag style wrap, as well as a cellophane cover. The return address was someone I knew, so I decided to avoid calling the CDC and dive in to find just what the depths held.

Click the headline for a bit of an unboxing.

[modeps]

Upon opening the box, I was greeted with the smell of the farm. I had spent some time with horses as a lad with some friends who often traveled to upstate New York in order to tend to a farmhouse and land. There was a small oval container within, nestled within hay.

http://evavhost.com/i/other/dragonage1.jpg

I removed the small box and noticed two other items down below. One was a letter, sealed with an old fashioned wax impression. The other was a crudly wrapped rectangle, also sealed with wax. Opening up the oval container revealed a small vial filled with red liquid and yet another note, sealed with wax.

http://evavhost.com/i/other/dragonage2.jpg


http://evavhost.com/i/other/dragonage3.jpg

Breaking the wax seal first on the smaller note, I read the following:

Each Grey Warden must drink
of that which would destroy us.

Some master the blood
of the darkspawn, some perish.

Will you test your strength
against corruption itself?

The letter was next:

You are a Grey Warden,
and the only one who can save this world.

Your order has stood, time and again,
against the endless hordes of the blight
and theArchdemon that leads them.
If there is to be victory, it will have to be wrested
from the squabbling lords whose petty ambitions
have shattered the land.
We must stand united, whatever the cost.

Friends and lovers may fall.
Noble people may die so that others might live.

Hard decisions, yet you must make them,
and you must bear the weight of the consequences.

Yet it's not important how you will be remembered.

What's important is that there is
a world left to remember at all.

http://evavhost.com/i/other/dragonage4.jpg

The final package was clear at this point... Dragon Age: Origins. Looks like I've got some work to do.

[WpnX]

Sometimes, grandma sends me cookies in a box. But to take pictures and post them on the internet would be showing off and therefore mean. :p

[Demo_Boy]

so whats in the bottle, maple syrup>?

[WpnX]

so whats in the bottle, maple syrup>?

An energy drink. Really.

[modeps]

so whats in the bottle, maple syrup>?

It appears to be some sort of energy drink.

[Coldeath]

if only they sent me a copy of the game like that !!!!!! I had to just settle for a copy from best buy in a blue bag

(note to self wright game review's for boxes)
(second note to self learn to spell)

[Johan]

So you got a box full of shit with a great game tossed in? Awesome! :D

[modeps]

Sometimes, grandma sends me cookies in a box. But to take pictures and post them on the internet would be showing off and therefore mean. :p

Clearly that's not my intention, just wanted to share something cool with you all.

[Johan]

...just wanted to share something cool with you all.

Well, when you get around to doing that, let us know. ;)

:I'm a regular ray of sunshine!:

[pwnophobia]

Clearly that's not my intention, just wanted to share something cool with you all.

I enjoyed your box of awesome and would of done the same thing. I love these type of review copies, they just scream awesome.

[Meusli]

That's cool, was the game free?

[CSargeP]

Where do you get the diablo style flasks anyway? I've always wanted a few of those.

Great start to a great review.

[Sensei-X]

Very nice, it reminds me of this from a while back

http://kotaku.com/5332425/why-did-nintendo-send-me-a-rock-in-the-mail

[Anenome]

My review copy came with an actual dragon egg that promptly hatched. Thing's pretty cute, snorts out flames when it sneezes and snaps at flies for fun. I think you got screwed ;P

[Pumped'Up]

No doubt, a box full of shit...including the worst version of the game.

[modeps]

My review copy came with an actual dragon egg that promptly hatched. Thing's pretty cute, snorts out flames when it sneezes and snaps at flies for fun. I think you got screwed ;P

Oh you think he's cute now... but just you wait. He'll grow up and get bigger, then mom'll flush him down the toilet when he eats your cat. Then he'll keep growing in the sewers of your town and the next thing you know... they're making movies about the error of your way.

[Johan]

No doubt, a box full of shit...including the worst version of the game.

At least you're objective. That's important.

[see colon]

It appears to be some sort of energy drink.
An Apple Cinnamon Mana Potion, if I see correctly.

Link (http://www.manapotions.com/)

I like those quite a bit, and everyone I've ever dealt with a Mana has been cool. Good company, solid product. I'll stop now, I'm sounding like a shill.

[CSargeP]

I might get a few just for the bottles. And then refill them with kooliad...

[brandonjclark]

I dig this shit so hard.

If I was sent a copy mistakenly missing the game my fantasy would've taken over and I'd be on the 10 o'clock news right now.


[in handcuffs, with a bruised face and holding half-drank cinnamon energy drink]

"No!!!!! You don't get it! I'm a Grey Warden and the only one who can save you!"

[police repeatedely pound on suspect]

[Anenome]

Oh you think he's cute now... but just you wait. He'll grow up and get bigger, then mom'll flush him down the toilet when he eats your cat. Then he'll keep growing in the sewers of your town and the next thing you know... they're making movies about the error of your way.

No worries, I've seen the movie 'It,' I just need to put up a few posters around town offering about 5200 experience and a couple palty gold pieces, maybe a +1 knife painted green and eventually that sucker'll go down like a clown.

[HALO 32]

Aw, I want darkspawn tainted blood!

Warning-may cause death or horrible nightmares!

[Johan]

I can't believe noone posted this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhwbxEfy7fg) yet.

[Vandenh]

No doubt, a box full of shit...including the worst version of the game.

The PS3 version is unplayable.... at least the 360 version moves when something is happening.

[Whimbrel]

So, is this how they are sending out late review copies or is this just from some friend with time on his/her hands and eyes on your prize?

[Anenome]

I can't believe noone posted this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhwbxEfy7fg) yet.
Yep, I knew that's what you were going for :P I still vastly prefer this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_YlkEUOonI&feature=PlayList&p=0516A45938BF35B7&index=0) :)

[Anenome]

The PS3 version is unplayable.... at least the 360 version moves when something is happening.
- Wow, that's quite an indictment. Hope you can take the heat. Tea&cakes will try to have you for breakfast.
What makes it unplayable? This couldn't possibly have anything to do with Sony making the PS3 difficult to dev on resulting in an inferior port, right. lul.

[lost]

That's easily the coolest review pack I've seen. The most interesting one I've ever had was for Wolfenstein and that was only because it came with a laser-jet printed guide to the early stages of the game.

[Vandenh]

- Wow, that's quite an indictment. Hope you can take the heat. Tea&cakes will try to have you for breakfast.
What makes it unplayable? This couldn't possibly have anything to do with Sony making the PS3 difficult to dev on resulting in an inferior port, right. lul.

Single digit framerates.

360 version is also weak sauce but at least it has a good framerate. Pc version is really the only one that works as advertised IMHO.

[pwnophobia]

So, is this how they are sending out late review copies or is this just from some friend with time on his/her hands and eyes on your prize?

These are "special" review copies that get sent to some reviewers, there was another linked in this thread from Kotaku where he had to chisel through some rock to get to the game.

modeps just happened to get his late.

[solinari6]

So is this how they are getting such good reviews for this game? Shower the reviewers with free crap to make them feel important?

[modeps]

So is this how they are getting such good reviews for this game? Shower the reviewers with free crap to make them feel important?

Oh totally, I mean, I'm certainly going to up my score at LEAST a half a point because they gave me an energy drink with some creative packaging.



(can you hear my eyes rolling from there?)

[Debutante]

I would stay away from that energy drink, it could be infused with dragon. And if my wild assumptions and lack of sleep have taught me anything, it's that if you consume such a beverage you'll undergo a dark conversion and transform into that sweet Reign of Fire mod of Matthew McConaughey. At which point you will shave your head and grow a shitty beard, then "defeat" a dragon with your "sick" tribal tattoos and ability to jump into it's mouth and get killed by it.

More to the point, I'm thinking of picking this up for PC after November's gaming sweeps is over and my bank account can recover. Hopefully my PC is up to the task.

[ElfShotTheFood]

Dragon blood gives you magical healing powers. Hasn't anyone here played Spellforce 2? ;)

[solinari6]

Oh totally, I mean, I'm certainly going to up my score at LEAST a half a point because they gave me an energy drink with some creative packaging.
(can you hear my eyes rolling from there?)
Sorry, in my view, reviewers should have to PAY for their copy just like everyone else. It's the only way to make sure they are giving it a FAIR review. I used to review porn, and it was the same way. It's hard to judge something you got for free the same way you'd judge something you spent $50 on.

Getting free crap on top of that just makes the review even more suspect.

[Johan]

Sorry, in my view, reviewers should have to PAY for their copy just like everyone else. It's the only way to make sure they are giving it a FAIR review.

This is why I trust Consumers Union (Consumer Reports publisher); they buy everything they review. Even if you think you're unbiased and unmoved by a free version, there's the real potential for bias all the same, and it appears tainted despite the denials.

[modeps]

Sorry, in my view, reviewers should have to PAY for their copy just like everyone else. It's the only way to make sure they are giving it a FAIR review. I used to review porn, and it was the same way. It's hard to judge something you got for free the same way you'd judge something you spent $50 on.

Getting free crap on top of that just makes the review even more suspect.

Funny response: I didn't realize porn needed to be reviewed.

Serious response: I disagree. I find myself being more objective when I don't have to spend my own money on a game. Being completely volunteer here, we don't have a budget to buy many games aside from some donations/ads here and there. If I purchase a game, and its shitty, I may be more critical than necessary, on the opposite side of things, if it's good... I may be overly into it. That's not to say I won't review a game I don't buy myself, but I sure don't want to buy some throwaway piece of crap.

Fact of the matter is, most review outlets get their games for free from the publisher. Additionally, there's no way you're getting a game before it hits the market AND paying for it (release date reviews become an impossibility).

This is why I trust Consumers Union (Consumer Reports publisher); they buy everything they review. Even if you think you're unbiased and unmoved by a free version, there's the real potential for bias all the same, and it appears tainted despite the denials.

Considering that game reviews are opinion pieces, there's chance for bias no matter how you get the title. Perhaps my Need for Speed: SHIFT review would have a higher score if I was way into Sim racers, or I wouldn't have shit all over Sam & Max Season 1 if I had been playing adventure games since they died in the 90's.

Opinions are opinions. We're not getting funded by publishers, they're giving us a copy of a game to write about.

[Pitpig]

That was nice of Bioware. How was the drink, anyway? Can you sense darkspawn, or did you just get a 30-minute caffeine and sugar buzz?

I'm enjoying the 360 version now. I hadn't planned on getting this, but I eventually preordered. Voicing everyone is great for immersion, and the combat seems carefully crafted and runs smoothly.

What's with all the crybaby bitches on EvAv now? Need a perma-hide option for some. Come on, reviewers should purchase their own review copies? If after 5 seconds of considering that, you couldn't understand why this is not possible, logout and go play with your Duplos, or maybe wait for the Consumer Report review. For fuck's sake.

[solinari6]

If I purchase a game, and its shitty, I may be more critical than necessary, on the opposite side of things, if it's good... I may be overly into it.
I disagree ... if you purchase a shitty game and are overly critical of it, that's GREAT! because that's probably the same response the rest of us (who have to PAY to play it) will have!

[ElfShotTheFood]

S I used to review porn

I'd hate to see your work area.

[modeps]

That was nice of Bioware. How was the drink, anyway? Can you sense darkspawn, or did you just get a 30-minute caffeine and sugar buzz?

I haven't tried it yet, but according to the note, if I even play the game, I'm going to have to drink of it.

[Johan]

Considering that game reviews are opinion pieces, there's chance for bias no matter how you get the title. Perhaps my Need for Speed: SHIFT review would have a higher score if I was way into Sim racers, or I wouldn't have shit all over Sam & Max Season 1 if I had been playing adventure games since they died in the 90's.

Opinions are opinions. We're not getting funded by publishers, they're giving us a copy of a game to write about.

It doesn't bother me that you guys get freebies, for several reasons. We're a hobbyist/enthusiast site, not CNN. Since this isn't a full-time-paying-gig for you guys, the least you can get is some perks. Also, I don't care much about objectivity when we're talking about a $60 game. I do care about objectivity when we're talking about a $1,000 camera, or refrigerator, or the like. That's what I like about Consumers Union.

Enjoy your swag. :)

[modeps]

It doesn't bother me that you guys get freebies, for several reasons. We're a hobbyist/enthusiast site, not CNN. Since this isn't a full-time-paying-gig for you guys, the least you can get is some perks. Also, I don't care much about objectivity when we're talking about a $60 game. I do care about objectivity when we're talking about a $1,000 camera, or refrigerator, or the like. That's what I like about Consumers Union.

Enjoy your swag. :)

Goddamn you Johan and your targeted yet obtuse responses to threads.

[Anenome]

All you need to know is that the review process is already biased in one way or another. Take it as it comes. No one makes a purchase decision solely because one reviewer liked it. Such reviews are guidance and little more. Only time we feel cheated by a review is when we play the game later and realize it's absolute crap :P But that doesn't happen much anymore these days.

[Spaniard33]

Haha probably the coolest way to receive a gift that I've seen. well done sir...

[Anenome]

Even if a reviewer paid for it, their view of it is only relevant to you if you guys made the same amount of money in a year. Because only then is the cost even for both of you. Some people can toss $50 without a care, and for others that's their spending money for the month. So, it's never going to be even no matter what. All we should expect is for reviewers to be completely open and honest about what they've received. Only when influence is peddled behind closed doors can deception creep in. Hell, if a reviewer tells me he's received $500 to review this game and he gives it a great score, I won't be surprised. But if he gave it bad a score still, I'd know it was really bad! :P

[Pumped'Up]

The PS3 version is unplayable.... at least the 360 version moves when something is happening.

Played for about 5 hrs now on the PS3 version - pretty damn solid. There is the occasional hiccup, but it's nothing to be concerned about. In comparison to viewing the inferior texture qualities in the 360 version...FULL TIME...