Curse

Gigashadow · Jan 27, 2009, 01:42 AM // 01:42

To take a wild guess at when news will come out, you can work backwards from your guesstimate for when it will be released. This my extremely wild speculation:

My guess is they trying really hard for an end of 2009 date (ncsoft conf call guy claimed "hoping for a release around [holiday 2009]" and "looking at a bunch of release dates") but it might slip to 1Q 2010; they know the game has to be overwhelmingly superior to the competition the day it releases; you don't get a second chance in this genre, so if they feel it doesn't blow people away they will delay it until it does.

Prior to release they will have a big public beta for stress/scalability testing and "get the word out" purposes (everyone loves free mmo betas so there'll be huge signups). Like the final phase of most "omg freeeeee mmo beta to test!!", this will probably be at most 1 month long, and likely less if the game seems to be doing well on stress testing. It'll be there just long enough for them to feel comfortable the game doesn't fall over with a ridiculously large number of players, and long enough for huge buzz to go out about the game. This phase is not about players testing content/skills. They'll already be pretty decided on those by this point.

Prior to that there'll be a much longer closed beta with a decent number of people in it; probably 2-3 worlds' worth, because they need to get get real playtesting on their "mists" (server vs server battleground stuff they talked about), as well as general feedback from the randomly invited playerbase (both direct and indirect, from measuring what the players are doing in game, and what they like and dislike). People previously in the alpha are almost certainly ultra-trusted high end players, but can't really speak for what your random casual player likes or dislikes. I think this phase will be at least 4 months; people need to level up and try all their pve content too. However, they know people in this phase will leak screenshots and info like crazy, so I think they'll release all the info themselves once the game enters this phase.

Before the above closed beta starts, they'll ramp up interest with some screenshots and new info, to get people interested in signing up. The GW2 novels they talked about will probably be announced at that point. Maybe all the screenshots and new info will appear the same day they announce closed beta signups, who knows.

My guess is if they think they can make their end of 2009 date, first real new info comes out around June, and you won't see anything until then. The earlier they say anything, the earlier their buzz fizzles out, especially if they have to delay the game.

shoyon456 · Jan 27, 2009, 04:12 AM // 04:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by draxynnic

I don't remember seeing one of these in EOTN. Most of the concept art released with the announcement was for EOTN or at least applicable to both, but there are some exceptions.

The Sylvari were intended to be present in Utopia. Although the original concept for them was much darker and tree-like, at some point they revamp'd their appearance. However, the appearance was revamp'd long before Utopia was trashed. It is not GW2 concept art, at best it is Utopia art, which is not applicable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by draxynnic

It may not be intended as such, but that is a complement - it shows a general acknowledgment that ANet is one of Blizzard's stronger competitors in the MMO community.

Haha? Do you even think? Blizzard has several long-term successful series (SC and Diablo to name the commons), and millions more PAYING MONTHLY for WoW than GW even has active AND inactive players.

Blizzard is a giant among companies, and the reason that Anet has probably stated that GW2 is not meant to be a WoW competitor is because they know that challenging Blizzard to a pissing contest will assuredly equal anet getting eaten.

draxynnic · Jan 27, 2009, 04:38 AM // 04:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by shoyon456

The Sylvari were intended to be present in Utopia. Although the original concept for them was much darker and tree-like, at some point they revamp'd their appearance. However, the appearance was revamp'd long before Utopia was trashed. It is not GW2 concept art, at best it is Utopia art, which is not applicable.

You mean the Sidhe?

As for the shown artwork having been made for Utopia, as opposed to simply being the development of a concept that may have been originally intended for Utopia as the Asura were... Cite your source.

Quote:

Haha? Do you even think? Blizzard has several long-term successful series (SC and Diablo to name the commons), and millions more PAYING MONTHLY for WoW than GW even has active AND inactive players.

Blizzard is a giant among companies, and the reason that Anet has probably stated that GW2 is not meant to be a WoW competitor is because they know that challenging Blizzard to a pissing contest will assuredly equal anet getting eaten.

Yes, I do think. I think that Blizzard fanboys regularly choosing GW to compare against implicitly shows that they see it as one of the main sources of competition.

I do not think that this means they aren't small compared to WoW. That is patently obvious. However, they are big enough to be noticed.

Iarumas Regnar · Jan 27, 2009, 04:52 AM // 04:52

GW2 has a lot to live up to. This game will seize WoW players under one condition: WoW players get tired of WoW or realize their immense waste of life in spending so much time to get somewhere in the game. Like the above post, Anet has set itself up for a very successful release in that depending on when a WoW expansion comes out, it could gain a huge playermass. Also, the more PR and info. they give out about GW2, the more of an idea people have of the game sooner then they would like, then people start to formulate expectations and opinions. What happens when it doesn't fit expectations or various opinions? That wouldn't be good for profits.

sportacus · Jan 27, 2009, 06:01 AM // 06:01

as far as I'm concerned, Factions was Guild Wars 2, Nightfall was GW3. Considering they released GW2 before they announced it, I'm frankly quite impressed.

RedNova88 · Jan 27, 2009, 11:38 AM // 11:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by shoyon456

Haha? Do you even think? Blizzard has several long-term successful series (SC and Diablo to name the commons), and millions more PAYING MONTHLY for WoW than GW even has active AND inactive players.

Blizzard is a giant among companies, and the reason that Anet has probably stated that GW2 is not meant to be a WoW competitor is because they know that challenging Blizzard to a pissing contest will assuredly equal anet getting eaten.

The thing about that is Guild Wars is largely different from WoW. This is likely why a good number of people own an account to both games. Guild Wars is not your traditional RPG, and just because it's an online game doesn't mean it's automatically fighting with WoW for dominance. If they both fought for dominance you are probably right, Blizzard and WoW probably would win... However, Anet was forged by some ex Blizzard employees, some of which worked on WoW in it's fledgling state so you've got to understand that Anet knows what they could be dealing with.

My guess? NO idea frankly, I'm just trying to stay optimistic and praying the game wasn't secretly scrapped and they're just holding out on telling us. I've always been kind of cautious about Arenanet because they don't charge a monthly fee, and sometimes I wonder how they keep their boat floating, let alone develop a whole new game while managing the original.

Gun Pierson · Jan 27, 2009, 11:48 AM // 11:48

I think Anet is well aware of Blizzard's position and prowes. At the same time I think Blizzard can't ignore the succes of GW. I'm a fan of both companies even though I didn't step on the WoW bandwagon. They both make good games. If Diablo3 and GW2 arive at somewhat the same time, I will still buy and play both. No competition between those titles for me at least.

didis · Jan 27, 2009, 03:23 PM // 15:23

http://www.ncsoft.net/global/downloa...NCsoft_ENG.pdf

One of the last pages it shows 2009...hopefully september 2009

Star Gazer · Jan 27, 2009, 04:55 PM // 16:55

when hiliary clinton becomes president.

owait

mrvrod · Jan 27, 2009, 05:08 PM // 17:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by hallomik;4438149Here is the evidence that GW2 is real.
[LIST

[*]A team of former GW1 developers is known to be actively working on it. This is confirmed by reading various Anet employee webpages in the official gw wiki.[*]GW2 is routinely referred to by ArenaNet, although often to say that they can’t officially reveal anything yet.[*]A partnership was recently announced for a technology that will accelerate 3D drawing. [*]GW1 is actively supported and we routinely hear about how GW2 developers are occasionally pulled from that project to help add a GW1 feature.[*]The recent PAX video showing the Q&A with former GW1 developers included numerous references to GW2, although they were primarily to indicate that they were not yet allowed to discuss the new project.[/LIST]

Can I then put you down for an advanced purchace of my new urine powered motorbike?

I am a former bicycle developer, and am actively working on the pissbike. This can be confirmed by reading my webpage (currently under construction).
My pissbike is routinely referred to by me and my best friend, although often to say that we can’t officially reveal anything yet.
A partnership was recently announced with my best friend that will accelerate pissbike testing (two bladders are better than one).
I actively support bike riding and will occasionally pull myself away from my pissbike project to go ride a regular bike.
I will happily provide you with a Q&A video in which I indicate that my friend and I are not yet allowed to discuss the new project.

Pricing for my revolutionary pissbike starts at only $150,000 U.S.

/endSarcasm

Honestly, as much as I wish there was something out there about GW2, there isn't. Your evidence lacks any real weight, there is simply no information avaliable.

BenjZee · Jan 27, 2009, 05:18 PM // 17:18

April 1st will mark an anniversary aswell as finish off the tonics in which i think we'll get a sylvari

heres hoping..
also april fools will mean no one will kow if its real

slowerpoke · Jan 27, 2009, 05:26 PM // 17:26

the only thing anet have confirmed about gw2 is that 'they wont talk about it'

Nereyda Shoaal · Jan 27, 2009, 05:28 PM // 17:28

First public beta August 2009
Full version April 2010

+/- 2 months

Gigashadow · Jan 27, 2009, 08:00 PM // 20:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrvrod

Can I then put you down for an advanced purchace of my new urine powered motorbike?

I am a former bicycle developer, and am actively working on the pissbike. This can be confirmed by reading my webpage (currently under construction).
My pissbike is routinely referred to by me and my best friend, although often to say that we can’t officially reveal anything yet.
A partnership was recently announced with my best friend that will accelerate pissbike testing (two bladders are better than one).
I actively support bike riding and will occasionally pull myself away from my pissbike project to go ride a regular bike.
I will happily provide you with a Q&A video in which I indicate that my friend and I are not yet allowed to discuss the new project.

Pricing for my revolutionary pissbike starts at only $150,000 U.S.

/endSarcasm

Honestly, as much as I wish there was something out there about GW2, there isn't. Your evidence lacks any real weight, there is simply no information avaliable.

Did you and your established company of 100 employees already release V1 of said bicycle, that people have been using for 4 years now? No? Analogy fails.

Gigashadow · Jan 27, 2009, 08:07 PM // 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by didis

http://www.ncsoft.net/global/downloa...NCsoft_ENG.pdf

One of the last pages it shows 2009...hopefully september 2009

That is interesting, but if you look at page 5, you can see that they are using estimates for their 2007 sales numbers in it. This means that spreadsheet is quite old, so their GW2 predictions are wildly out of date.

Apollo Smile · Jan 27, 2009, 08:08 PM // 20:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedNova88

The thing about that is Guild Wars is largely different from WoW. This is likely why a good number of people own an account to both games. Guild Wars is not your traditional RPG, and just because it's an online game doesn't mean it's automatically fighting with WoW for dominance. If they both fought for dominance you are probably right, Blizzard and WoW probably would win... However, Anet was forged by some ex Blizzard employees, some of which worked on WoW in it's fledgling state so you've got to understand that Anet knows what they could be dealing with.

My guess? NO idea frankly, I'm just trying to stay optimistic and praying the game wasn't secretly scrapped and they're just holding out on telling us. I've always been kind of cautious about Arenanet because they don't charge a monthly fee, and sometimes I wonder how they keep their boat floating, let alone develop a whole new game while managing the original.

I'm one of those people who has an active account in both World of Warcraft and Guild Wars, so the WoW vs GW arguments are always amusing. The games are polar opposites.

mrvrod · Jan 27, 2009, 08:14 PM // 20:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gigashadow

Did you and your established company of 100 employees already release V1 of said bicycle, that people have been using for 4 years now? No? Analogy fails.

I was trying to humorously show that the 'evidence' really wasn't. So maybe my humor fails, but my last statement I believe still rings true.

Apollo Smile · Jan 27, 2009, 08:24 PM // 20:24

Hey guys, Nintendo just announced a new Legend of Zelda game! But its not actually coming out since they haven't shown us screens, or won't go into much detail about it yet.

MrTickle · Jan 27, 2009, 11:24 PM // 23:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrvrod

Can I then put you down for an advanced purchace of my new urine powered motorbike?

I am a former bicycle developer, and am actively working on the pissbike. This can be confirmed by reading my webpage (currently under construction).
My pissbike is routinely referred to by me and my best friend, although often to say that we can’t officially reveal anything yet.
A partnership was recently announced with my best friend that will accelerate pissbike testing (two bladders are better than one).
I actively support bike riding and will occasionally pull myself away from my pissbike project to go ride a regular bike.
I will happily provide you with a Q&A video in which I indicate that my friend and I are not yet allowed to discuss the new project.

Pricing for my revolutionary pissbike starts at only $150,000 U.S.

/endSarcasm

Honestly, as much as I wish there was something out there about GW2, there isn't. Your evidence lacks any real weight, there is simply no information avaliable.

Are you taking the piss?

AnnaCloud9 · Jan 27, 2009, 11:56 PM // 23:56

My guess is that GW2 has been absorbed into an NCWest promotional kick-off platform from which this new entity will start. Perhaps because NCWest does not want GW2 to be affiliated with NCSoft? So, perhaps put the project on hold until NCWest is actualized? And then, NCWest will be the proud owners of Guild Wars2, with no strings attached.

And yes GW2 does exist in my opinion. In its fragile state the company itself doesn't know any more than we do: That GW2 will be released. By saying more, whether through PR or articles or concept art, the company risks false advertisement.

Announce the launch of the new NCWest, and use GW2 as its vessel. Any way, just a business look at things.

Or maybe GW2 morphed into Aion?