http://kotaku.com/gaming/feature/feature-guild-wars-2-gw-expansion-unveiled-244666.php
This game will be epic.
Guild Wars 2
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No love for guild wars around here.
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I have love for Guild Wars!
Guild Wars 2 does sound great, however, I'm a bit worried about the prospect of a much higher level cap, or even boundless one. Part of what I love about Guild Wars is that I am actually able to max out my different characters and then do different other things with them… but I'm afraid that in Guild Wars 2 I'll only be able to concentrate on one character... and that so bums me out.
I also happen to be excited for EotN... but I wonder what they're going to do between that and Guild Wars 2.... hopefully it's not just weekend events for two years, that would be a drag.
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Okay, time for me to resurrect this piece of ancient history with new information.
If you want regular updates on this game, check out the official site.
First off, we have the trailers:
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""><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src=""" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></object><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="
"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></object>Next, some gameplay videos from the demo at GamesCom 2010:
! (Note: The first two of these don't have sound due to the noise of the convention floor and/or people using headphones.)
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! (Some of the stuff in this one happens from a different perspective in the first vid.) <object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-fj7U0kYFM&fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-fj7U0kYFM&fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></object>
! <object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value=""><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></object>Professions revealed thus far are the elementalist, warrior, ranger, and necromancer. There will be 5 more professions in the game, probably including the mesmer profession. Expect another reveal sometime around September or October.
The game's playable races are the humans, asura, charr, norn, and sylvari. More races may be introduced in future expansions, but only these five will be playable at the initial release.
(The links lead to in-depth articles about each profession or race on the Guild Wars 2 official site.)
By the way, like the original Guild Wars, there will be absolutely no monthly fee for Guild Wars 2. You buy the game, and you can play as much as you want.
If you're curious about some of the features, here's an all-inclusive FAQ:
! Will there be a subscription fee?
No. This has been confirmed several times. You will only need to buy the box to play.
! Will there be micro-transactions or things to buy which don't come with the box, like character slots?
Yes, micro-transactions will exist. These will be similar to those offered by Guild Wars 1.
! Isn't ArenaNet going to ruin the game by making their game more like all the other MMORPGs?
ArenaNet has said they are not trying to make another World of Warcraft clone. Their core ideals of accessibility, playing how you want to play, and the ability to play with your friends have been prominently mentioned in the press for the game.
! When is Guild Wars 2 going to be released?
No official date has been announced for the release of Guild Wars 2, only that it will be released "when it is ready". However, according to NCsoft conference call from Q3 2009, the beta is expected to start in 2010 and the final game is expected to be released in 2011.
! Can I get into the alpha test?
The alpha test is by invitation only.
! So can I beta test instead?
Yes. Just like with the original Guild Wars, the betas for Guild Wars 2 will be open to the public. ArenaNet has stated that beta testing will begin sometime closer to the game's release.
! How do I sign up for the beta test?
You can't yet. If you want to stay informed, the best ways are you keep updated with the Guild Wars 2 site and/or sign up for the Guild Wars 2 newsletter.
! Will there be a demo anywhere?
Yes, the first demos will be playable at Gamescom later this month and at Penny Arcade Expo in September.
! What languages will be supported?
At release only English, German, and other as-yet unspecified European languages will be supported. Support for Asian languages will be added later.
! Can I keep on playing the original Guild Wars?
Yes. The servers for the original Guild Wars will remain online even after the release of Guild Wars 2. Regular updates will continue and so will festivals.
! Can I transfer a Guild Wars character into Guild Wars 2?
No, but you will be able to reserve names. Guild Wars: Eye of the North also allows you to transfer some of your achievements into Guild Wars 2.
! What are the specs for running Guild Wars 2?
Guild Wars 2 will have higher requirements than the original Guild Wars, but no requirements have been set in stone yet. They plan to keep the requirements low enough that owners of most mainstream PCs will be able to play the game.
! Will I need Windows Vista/7 and/or DirectX 10 to play?
No, you won't need them, but DirectX 10 will be supported.
! Will I be able to play it on a Mac or Linux PC?
They are developing Guild Wars 2 for Windows PCs, so it is unlikely that these will be officially supported.
! What about consoles?
A small team is exploring the possibilty of a console version, but there are no definite plans for one at this time.
! Will my character be able to do more than just run and attack?
Yes! The first trailer clearly shows characters jumping, and it has also been stated that players will be able to swim and climb trees too.
! Will map travel stay in the game?
Yes, map travel will be a part of Guild Wars 2, but you will have to pay a set amount of gold to use it. Asura gates (large teleportation devices) will also be available free of charge as part of the map travel network.
! Will there be NPCs like henchmen or heroes?
No, there won't be any henchmen or heroes. The companion system mentioned in a few early interviews has been scrapped.
! What is the level cap?
The level cap is 80.
! Won't that make it difficult for me to play with my friends?
A "sidekick" system will be introduced to buff (or de-buff) you and your friends so that you're all at about the same power level.
! Am I going to have to grind a whole lot to get to level 80?
Actually, no. Unlike most RPGs (including the original Guild Wars), each level-up in Guild Wars 2 will require the same amount of time to complete. In other words, someone at level 70 can get to level 71 just as easily as someone at level 10 can get to level 11.
! Will there still be secondary professions?
No. ArenaNet had originally intended to include secondary professions, but decided against it due to the extremely unique characteristics of each profession, and the additional skill variety afforded by race.
! Will professions have racial restrictions?
No. All five races can play all eight professions, and no race is "better" with one profession than another race. So despite appearances, an asura warrior can be just as badass as a norn warrior.
! Will I still be limited to 8 skills on my skill bar?
You now have 10 skills on your skill bar. The first 5 change depending on what profession you are and what weapon you're wielding, and as such can change in the middle of combat if you swap weapon sets. The last 5 skills can be any combination the player wishes, though one must be a healing skill and another must be an elite skill.
! Will all five races start in different places?
Yes. Each race starts in a different area and has a slightly different storyline. However, friends playing different races can easily meet up after a brief tutorial by using an asura gate to travel to a racial capital city.
! Will there be player housing?
Yes. Each character will have a personal home instance in their racial capital city that will change depending on the choices the player has made in the storyline and during their biography.
! What about quests?
Quests won't exist in Guild Wars 2, at least not in the traditional sense. They have been replaced by a system of 'dynamic events.' Basically, instead of being told that the trolls are killing innocent people and then stopping the newly-spawned trolls, you'll see the trolls actually doing that. There is also the personal storyline which involves a customized, instance-based storyline.
! Will I be able to solo?
Yes. The game is being designed so that it can be played by any size group.
! Will I be able to go to Cantha and Elona?
Tyria will be the only continent accessible at the game's release, though access to Cantha and Elona is expected to be provided through eventual expansions.
! Will there be a night/day cycle?
Yes, though it won't be in real-time. Some events and monsters only appear at certain times of day.
! I heard we will be able to explore underwater. How is that going to work?
There will be extensive underwater areas which are intended to be a fun place to explore - which means that breathing isn't going to be a problem. A consumable item will allow breathing underwater for a long period of time. There will be new friendly races introduced and there will be events in these areas.
! What PvP modes will be available?
! Two major PvP modes have been announced. "World Versus World" will involve gigantic battles between as many people of as many different levels and types of experience as you can imagine (Think "Marineford.") while normal PvP will be structured similarly to the original Guild Wars. Here are some more in-depth articles about Guild Wars 2 from the developers themselves.From the official site:
Skills
Weapons, Professions, and Races
Traits
Healing and Death
Dynamic Events
Personal StorylineFrom the ArenaNet blog:
Activities
Progression and Leveling
Personality
Voice Acting and Dialogue
Fashion
Languages of TyriaConcept Art Presentation from Daniel Dociu at GDC 2010:
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! <object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value=""><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></object>
! <object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value=""><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></object>
! <object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value=""><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></object>
! <object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value=""><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></object>Anyway, just thought I'd post all this in case anyone else was interested in it. I'd gotten a few questions about my sig, so I thought I'd help them out.
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World of Warcraft will suffer no competition, no doubt this will be good and polished game and it will be moderatly succesful with dedicated fanbase but I doubt it can challenge or even affect WoW's domination on MMORPGS
Well Old Republic might give WoW run for its money though.
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I have all Guild Wars games except Nightfall since Guild Wars 2 is coming i need to return to the game and buy Nightfall.
I will get this game.
Ranger/Elementalist is the one i like the most in this series.
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World of Warcraft will suffer no competition, no doubt this will be good and polished game and it will be moderatly succesful with dedicated fanbase but I doubt it can challenge or even affect WoW's domination on MMORPGS
Well Old Republic might give WoW run for its money though.
The original Guild Wars did better than World of Warcraft for a few weeks during its initial release, though at this point I'd say that Warcraft won't be dethroned so easily.
ArenaNet isn't making Guild Wars 2 to dethrone World of Warcraft or anything like that. They're making a game that people will play and have fun with, and that's what I think is the most important part of game design. However, I must say that I personally think that the features of Guild Wars 2 seem brilliant and any player of WoW should at least give it a shot if they feel like trying something new. Unfortunately, a lot of people are so dedicated to one thing they fail to see how another product might be good too.
But that's neither here nor there. I could make a huge case explaining how I think Guild Wars 2 will be superior to World of Warcraft in many ways, but I don't think I will unless someone asks me to. And even then, I won't expect anyone to be convinced.
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I hope there won't the assassin profession.
I hate that profession with a passion.
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I hope there won't the assassin profession.
I hate that profession with a passion.
Assassin is not a profession, that's been confirmed. There is a title called Assassin, which players can earn and display after they've killed a certain amount of enemies, but it won't be a profession.
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Can't wait for this. I got Guild Wars back when it was first released, and it was a time and a half. I never DID get any of the other expansions and stuff after that(though I remember playing the trials they let people do), but I'm totally up for buying Guild Wars 2.
I'll end up becoming a total nerd and stay inside and play this for at least a week. I'm bummed about the "There will be no dedicated healing class" though, since a Monk was my first character.
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Assassin is not a profession, that's been confirmed. There is a title called Assassin, which players can earn and display after they've killed a certain amount of enemies, but it won't be a profession.
That nice the Assassin was a prefession that people always killed me with but when i tried to use it i always got owned.
I prefer my Ranger/Elementalist
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Just updated my post with a bigger and better FAQ. I'm going to try and add some more information, too, like articles and whatnot.
EDIT:
I'll end up becoming a total nerd and stay inside and play this for at least a week. I'm bummed about the "There will be no dedicated healing class" though, since a Monk was my first character.
Perhaps I should word that a bit better. If you want to focus on support, then that's definitely still an option. ArenaNet is just trying to break up the traditional format of heal/dps/tank. Their philosophy is that you shouldn't have to spend thirty minutes standing around waiting for a healer to finally show up. They call that "preparing to have fun" instead of actually "having fun."
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I played the first Guild Wars in mostly pvp for two years. To this day there is no other RPG with such a good pvp mode. However what I hear about the pve part of Guild Wars 2 makes it sound like its going the way of standart solutions in mmos. Meaning I will probably not be playing it a lot. Anyway, I'll buy it. It may not be thousends of gaming hours this time but it should be good for at least a few hundret.
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I played the first Guild Wars in mostly pvp for two years. To this day there is no other RPG with such a good pvp mode. However what I hear about the pve part of Guild Wars 2 makes it sound like its going the way of standart solutions in mmos. Meaning I will probably not be playing it a lot. Anyway, I'll buy it. It may not be thousends of gaming hours this time but it should be good for at least a few hundret.
Guild Wars 2 will probably have a really good PvP mode too; at least, the structured PvP mode sounds like it will be as good as the PvP in Guild Wars 1.
However, I have to disagree about the PvE being "standard solutions in MMOs." All dialogue will be spoken, even the ambient dialogue between random merchants in Divinity's Reach. And the dynamic event system really speaks volumes about how different Guild Wars 2 will be from other games, in my opinion. Because as soon as you walk out of Rata Sum, you could get sucked into some random event that will end up setting off a chain reaction and unleashing a bunch of demons into the world. Plus, you can use anything in your environment as a weapon. If you see a rock nearby, you can pick it up and throw it.
I don't know, I think it's way different from other MMOs, but I haven't really played too many MMOs either. I'm not much of a PC gamer, I suppose. I only wanted to state my opinion on the matter because I came to the opposite conclusion after hearing about the PvE in Guild Wars 2. It's what has gotten me so excited for the game.
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Never really got into playing the PvP in Guild Wars, to be honest. I was a lot more into PvE, just going around and doing shit. Always seemed funner to me. Like… Even back in pre-searing, I would go around with a Ranger and just chill out and level and do all the shit you could before going to the present time-line.
The storyline and all the PvE aspects of Guild Wars is what kept me playing as long as I did, since whenever I picked it back up and started playing again, I could play for a long time just going through the world and doing shit. Hopefully it'll still be like that, so I'll look at it more sometime. Thanks for posting up all the info/links.
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ArenaNet has released a new video that showcases Guild Wars 2 and the new direction they're heading with MMOs. I've added it to the trailers section. You can also watch it on the top page of the
.Plus, anyone heading to Gamescom or Penny Arcade Expo can get a hands-on demo of Guild Wars 2. The article detailing that is here.
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I play GW too,it's awsome.And it's more popular then WoW.
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I play GW too,it's awsome.And it's more popular then WoW.
Since when? I must missed the memo.
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I'm also waiting for this game!! It's going to be absolutely amazing! I just pray I'll be able to make some time to play it once it comes out.
