Quoting Aesir Rising, reply 5
Quoting Gir92, reply 3
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The simultanious release on PC/console was NOT the only reason for the delay. Many BioWare devs have stated that the game was simply not done yet and they needed more time to make it a great title.
I don't usually spout unsupported rumour. The announcement was made by EA during their investor teleconference, and reported by numerous independent sources (not 'Bioware devs' lol), including Gaming Target's Feb 4 news blurb:
EA did not give a reason for the delay, but they did say the new release date will give the game "a better launch window."
To me, that sounds like a reason was given. Better launch window does not mean "finish the game". It means, they think they can maximize their exposure and sales during the new holiday season time frame when the other platforms are slated for launch.
Other sources reported even earlier that it was specifically to coincide with the launch window of other non-PC platforms. Check Gamasutra's report from Feb 3 (and notice that the further back we go in time the more clear a response we get from EA):
At the same time, BioWare's Dragon Age: Origins on PC is moved into the second half of 2009, to coincide more closely with the console release during that same period.
IGN reports EA's own response in an article published Feb 9:
EA, which owns BioWare, said that the delay allows it to create one concentrated marketing push for the game, rather than having a staggered release spread over a year.
However, these past few days, their tune changes and we see evasive and non-committal responses to direct questions, such as those posed on Feb 12 with MTV Multiplayer:
MTV Multiplayer: Before EA’s decision was made to release all versions of “Dragon Age” closer together, was BioWare on track to release in early 2009, as previously announced?
BioWare: The PC version of “Dragon Age: Origins” is shaping up quite well, but the recent decision was made to ensure we deliver the quality kind of launch you’d expect from our games.
It was a yes/no question. And notice that the answer doesn't lead to either conclusion. I call the responses lies. Someone more biased, or at least more forgiving, than I might call it PR damage control. Same difference. Also, please note that they didn't say "quality kind of game", they say, "quality kind of launch". lol. I don't give a rat's ass about a quality launch. I don't do marketing, branding or PR for Bioware or EA. I just wanted to play the game. But the potential exposure bang per marketing dollar spent when launching for all platforms simultaneously is greater - so the PC game launch got sacrificed.
They did try to cover up a bit and say that development would continue during the interim in other interviews. Duh. But let's be honest: if they said anything other than that, the message would be "Yes, in fact the game is done for PC, and we're going to delay it. And sit on our asses while we ignore the PC gaming market in favor of consoles, both in terms of actual gameplay and in terms of development life cycle." I don't think that would have gone over too well either.
My suggestion is that you don't drink the kool-aid from the 'many Bioware devs' you referrred to. They're biased. They saw the response from fans on their own forums about EA's announcement. They're now (two weeks too late) trying to do damage control.
[edited to fix typos/grammar. Removed superfluous paragraphs. Remove (most) unsupported opinion.]
