BioWare showed off the Dragon Age: Origins toolset at the Penny Arcade Expo yesterday, and for those of us not at the show, the Canadian developer sent along these screenshots. More details about the toolset shipping with the game can be found here.

Developer BioWare today released a number of details on the Dragon Age Toolset that will provide the public with "developer-grade tools" to create custom content for the fantasy-based PC RPG.

Originally announced back in 2004, Dragon Age: Origins is slated to hit PC early next year, followed by eventual console editions.

• Create Original Adventures - Using the rich set of Dragon Age assets and locations as starting blocks, users can modify these stunning areas by adding new quests, characters and scripting to craft their own adventures, fate-defining conversations and cut-scenes.
• Powerful Script Editor - Users can fully customize combat and creature AI, allowing them to create detailed action sequences full of heart-pounding party-based tactical combat.
• Content Creators Community - BioWare plans to have a dedicated community area online where content creators can share content easily and get content updates for the toolset.
• On-Going Toolset Content Updates - BioWare plans to release additional assets and features for the toolset in the future, allowing for expanded creation of new areas.

If you're looking to get a feel for the writing in BioWare's old-school RPG Dragon Age: Origins, you're in luck: the below trailer is 99% cutscene.

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Dragon Age: Origins is scheduled for a PC release in 2009, before making its way to consoles later on. Check out Shackvideo for more Dragon Age footage.

BioWare's upcoming RPG Dragon Age: Origins will arrive on unspecified consoles following its PC release, director Dan Tudge has confirmed.

"Yes. Dragon Age: Origins will be coming to consoles in the near future, yes," Tudge told Eurogamer. The site claims he hinted at a late 2009 release for the console release, with a representative stating that "plans for consoles haven't been finalized yet."

BioWare had previously stated that the Dragon Age franchise would eventually make its way to consoles, but had not specified if that referred to Dragon Age: Origins or a console-specific entry.

Billed as BioWare's "spiritual successor" to its hardcore PC RPG series Baldur's Gate, Dragon Age: Origins is currently slated to arrive on PC between January and March of 2009. It was originally announced back in 2004.

According to Tudge, the game's title "really represents three real key elements," including "the origins stories," "the return to BioWare's roots" and "the origins of the franchise, of the series."

If earlier cinematic glimpses at BioWare's new RPG Dragon: Origins didn't do it for you, maybe this video will - as it offers three minutes of gameplay footage. Shackvideo users can use the HD Stream.

Dragon Age: Origins will debut on PC some time next year, before making its way to console systems.

BioWare's upcoming Dragon Age RPG franchise will eventually extend its reach to consoles following its PC debut next year, the developer has revealed.

No details were offered on the console editions, leaving it unclear if the console games will be simple ports or entirely new entries in the myhtology-rich series.

Billed as the "spiritual successor" to BioWare's work on the Baldurs Gate games, the first Dragon Age title, Dragon Age: Origins, arrives on PC next year.

Moving on from BioWare's Dragon Age: Origin hype fiasco, Electronic Arts today announced a few more details on the fantasy role playing game.

Noting that Dragon Age is the "spiritual successor" to Baldur's Gate, EA promises that the game will feature "stunning visuals, emotionally-driven narrative, heart-pounding combat, powerful magic abilities and credible digital actors". Additionally, gamers can look forward to dark and mature gameplay. The publisher also revealed that the PC-exclusive game will be shipping early 2009.

Click through for a bullet list of game features, some of which will be demonstrated during E3 this week. ... Read more

Dragon Age, developer BioWare's long-awaited return to the realm of hardcore RPGs, will be unveiled this Wednesday, July 9, according to a new teaser site.

The game's classes and rules are said to resemble those of a Dungeons & Dragons effort, such as BioWare's Baldur's Gate series, with the title sporting a real-time conversation system similar to that of the studio's recent sci-fi RPG Mass Effect.

Little else is known of the game, which was announced for the PC way back in 2004 and is currently slated for release between January and March of 2009.

Thanks to Green Lantern and Kentor for the heads up.

Also at Computer & Video Games is this Dragon Age preview, taking a look at the new PC RPG from BioWare. Includes screenshots and concept art.

Though its been development for years now, BioWare has been less than forthcoming when it comes to information regarding its PC RPG Dragon Age. However, the first issue of Games for Windows: The Official Magazine features a preview of the game and 1UP has some details, as well as the first screenshot. Some of the things mentioned by 1UP

- The story is dark-much darker than the usual BioWare fare-and influenced by "realistic" modern fantasy like George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones.
- The game uses an evolved "tactical real-time combat" style of Baldur's Gate, only in 3D-you queue up orders for multiple party members, pause the game when you need to think, and your party members will be able to execute coordinated attacks.
- Even though Dragon Age isn't a D&D game, per se, BioWare is sticking close to those roots with the class and rules systems.
- The game uses a "modified" version of the Mass Effect conversation system we're all so keen on.
- Depending on the type of character you choose, the game offers multiple different "origin stories"-meaning the first few hours of the game will be totally different depending on which character archetype you choose.

BioWare has launched the Dragon Age FAQ, answering questions about this all new PC RPG the company is working on. A forum to discuss the game has been launched as well.

More details about BioWare's new RPG have become available. There are two articles, let's skim them together.

GS: "... bla bla bla ... tantalizing blend of the exploration and combat of Baldurs Gate ... meh meh ... separate multiplayer and single-player campaigns ... uhuh uhuh ... participate in massive battles ... yadda yadda... based on an all-new engine".

IGN: " ... bla bla bla ... linguistics PhD students developing entirely new languages for Dragon Age ... uhuh ... able to hire henchmen ... uhuh ... characters with a lot of personality, like Minsc ... more ... tens of thousands of units battling it out (pic on page 2) ". And the last one ... "when it's done"

Yep. Winner!. (Update: A 3rd article has appeared at Homelan.)

BioWare sent along an email announcing their E3 lineup. As expected the previously announced Jade Empire will be on display, but BioWare is also showing two new titles. One of them is the PC RPG Dragon Age, based on a "brand new BioWare fantasy world" as well as the externally-developed The Witcher which is powered by the Aurora engine (used in Neverwinter Nights). Expect to hear more about both games in a few days.