I too am pretty optimistic towards Guild Wars 2. I didn't play MMOs at the time of the WoW alpha, so I've not seen any game 'triumph', and I'd like to see something knock it off it's high horse.
I too am pretty optimistic towards Guild Wars 2. I didn't play MMOs at the time of the WoW alpha, so I've not seen any game 'triumph', and I'd like to see something knock it off it's high horse.
I was in the Warcraft Alpha. They invited a few EQ guilds to test it. The most striking things about Warcraft at that time were; speed and response.
It's nearly impossible to really express how big a revolution that was in WoW. The speed at which combat took place and the responsiveness of... walking forward kinda blew your mind. 8+ years on no one really thinks about this and since memory is totally faulty, we can't really recall what it "felt" like to simply walk in EQ vs. WoW.
Warcraft's most groundbreaking innovations were subtle but you kinda can't imagine games playing differently before it.
Though I doubt GW2 will ever strike the way Warcraft did, I do think a number of their ideas are enormously forward thinking. Most likely it'll be an important design milestone in some areas as MMOs keep going forward.
Losing the trinity system, stat increases, adding dynamic events and turning them into giant raid bosses in the actual world where everyone can see them is to me a big step outside the traditional mmo.
However if you want to deeply discuss it there is a thread on it already: http://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/...ndard-for-MMOs
That is the very first thing I look for in games, which is why I can't play aion :PI was in the Warcraft Alpha. They invited a few EQ guilds to test it. The most striking things about Warcraft at that time were; speed and response.
Pokemon FC: 4425-2708-3610
I received a day one ORAS demo code. I am a chosen one.
Really DEs as fail/pass quest chains is new. Lack of a role Trinity is not new, as is non-gear derived progression and open world raid bosses. Some of those things are more "traditional MMO" than unconventional. That's kinda the way MMOs used to be.. again, before Blizzard remade the genre almost wholly.
On paper Guild Wars 2 looks amazing and could be the next big thing, but can't ever be sure until release.
Just saying. Asheron's Call, Everquest, Shadowbane, Dark Age of Camelot, Ultima Online, Meridian 59... those were the biggest MMOs of the 1st era. The 2nd era begins at the launch of Warcraft- where Blizz essentially removed the RPG of MMO. Good or bad, I leave up to you.
But I was in open world raids of 100s of players in EQ to take out bosses, DAOC crossroads had realm v. realm PVP, was no Trinity exploring like a BA in AC and Shadowbane had a dynamic world that changed from server to server in 2003.
Just everyone forgot how MMOs used to be. :P
I hope it's just enough of a WoW "copy" that it's easy to use and navigate, and doesn't become the shitfest that Final Fantasy became...
Sometimes trying to do something "100% new" just means you're taking all the shitty rejected ideas from others...
I think Shadowbane (or maybe M59?) had a fast travel system too! :P
Hehe, Zito. Get the sad panda.
Yup, this exactly what I am saying. I think GW2 has just the right mix. It's not enough today to just thrown in some "revolutionary" approach to have a successful MMO.
Back in the day, Blizz made the perfect mixture of things that worked in other games and added whole new layer of depth. We can see similar approach from Anet, they've stepped back and looked at the big picture. They've reached back to the roots, changed perspective and added some crucial and innovative components to create fantastic game.
Again, GW2 is not a WoW killer, but it will not only have strong impact on the MMO market, but will create a new approach and redefine next MMOs to come.
im not that hyped for it, i guess ill give it ago, but Im not blown away by the preview stuff tbh :S
I'm too looking forward to GW2, the only thing I'm a bit worried about is the lack of subscription fees for them to fund further development of the game after release. After all they can only get a more or less fixed amount of money from the initial sale of the game. I really want them to succeed so we can have something different in the MMO genre.
Would not be to worried about this. The first Guild Wars series sold amazingly well. It's one of the best selling games of it's kind actually.
Anet have also long had a DLC store for the GW franchise that sells vanity items. Which is pretty big in the GW community- looking cute. Or cool/badass if you are a guy. :s
Basically, it is a business model that was successful for them in the past and they have a different structure and motivation to play their game entirely.
Sub fees = chained to your PC timesink nonsense.
GW2 = ;]
Frostfell.
Wow lost 2 million subscribers yet is making higher profit thanks to it's cash shop.
Edit, lets do math.
2 million players = 30 million a month
Higher profit thanks to cash shop over 10 million (yeah right) players = $3 a month each player
$3 a month x 12 months = $36 each player per year
$36 x 3 million players (a guess of GW2's playerbase) = $108 million a year
That's not a small amount of money.
Last edited by Mif; 2012-01-04 at 06:23 PM.
Well that's good to know, I'm not into buying vanity stuff myself so let's hope other people are then
As long they have funds to develop the game I'm fine with whatever business model they chose as long as you can't buy advantages in game for cash.
Another MMO to wait for then, sigh, hope the wait is going to be worth it.