Curse

distilledwill · Jan 18, 2008, 01:43 AM // 01:43

oh man, that looks pretty awful.

I love the game now, not sure that trailer would have dragged me in...

Nevin · Jan 18, 2008, 01:50 AM // 01:50

Fiery Gladius.

Shayne Hawke · Jan 18, 2008, 01:51 AM // 01:51

First one looked a lot like WoW... I'm amazed that could have even been called Guild Wars.

Second video was kinda funny to watch. I don't think HA guilds these days are that disorganized.

In the third video, where is the elementalist standing in that last scene? It looked like it was Ascalon City, but I've never seen an area like that before.

DarkNecrid · Jan 18, 2008, 01:56 AM // 01:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shayne Hawke

First one looked a lot like WoW... I'm amazed that could have even been called Guild Wars.

Second video was kinda funny to watch. I don't think HA guilds these days are that disorganized.

In the third video, where is the elementalist standing in that last scene? It looked like it was Ascalon City, but I've never seen an area like that before.

could be Khylo?

not sure

MoriaOrc · Jan 18, 2008, 02:42 AM // 02:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by agrios

Fun to see the the Colossal Scimitar was in the game since the very start of it..

I think I caught a glimpse of the Crenelated Sword a few seconds before the Colossal, too.

Croco Clouds · Jan 18, 2008, 02:52 AM // 02:52

Alpha and Beta look like different games for sure

Buzzer · Jan 18, 2008, 04:04 AM // 04:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shayne Hawke

First one looked a lot like WoW... I'm amazed that could have even been called Guild Wars.

Because WoW was out in 2003 wasn't it...

DarkNecrid · Jan 18, 2008, 04:17 AM // 04:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buzzer

Because WoW was out in 2003 wasn't it...

....no but Anet's founders did come from Blizzard, and left when WoW was in developement.

Lykan · Jan 18, 2008, 04:18 AM // 04:18

Cant believe the first is supposed to be the same game, did they scrap it and start over or something?

fenix · Jan 18, 2008, 04:25 AM // 04:25

Oh hi, my name is World of Guild Wars. hurr hurr hurr.

Worst game trailer ever. If I'd seen it, I would have stayed well away from GW. I'm glad that it was changed, it looked horrible in Alpha.

Meat Axe · Jan 18, 2008, 04:47 AM // 04:47

I always assumed that WoW came out much before GW, which would have explained the terrible graphics. I never really thought about the fact that one of my friends from high school was talking about it while it was in development back in 2004. Now that I know that they were in development at the same time, my respect for GW and Anet has increased even more.

Lord Sojar · Jan 18, 2008, 05:41 AM // 05:41

I <3 Beta.

DarkNecrid · Jan 18, 2008, 05:59 AM // 05:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meat Axe

I always assumed that WoW came out much before GW, which would have explained the terrible graphics. I never really thought about the fact that one of my friends from high school was talking about it while it was in development back in 2004. Now that I know that they were in development at the same time, my respect for GW and Anet has increased even more.

They weren't in developement in the same time, WoW started before Guild Wars since the developers didn't leave for a bit into the Wow developement.

And terrible graphics does not make a terrible game, thats just silly. WoW chose to take less intensive graphics so TONS of people could play it, it has less requirements than GW, and more than 10 mil play it.

GW inherently chose better graphics.

Meat Axe · Jan 18, 2008, 07:58 AM // 07:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkNecrid

They weren't in developement in the same time, WoW started before Guild Wars since the developers didn't leave for a bit into the Wow developement.

And terrible graphics does not make a terrible game, thats just silly. WoW chose to take less intensive graphics so TONS of people could play it, it has less requirements than GW, and more than 10 mil play it.

GW inherently chose better graphics.

You're preaching to the choir about terrible graphics not necessarily meaning a lesser game. I still play games from the early 90s, like the Ultima series and Starcontrol, and some of the classic old platformers (Commander Keen, Duke Nukem, etc). All of these games have something going for them, and it clearly isn't the graphics. When a game has nothing else going for it, however, the graphics do play a very major factor, and in my opinion, WoW doesn't have a lot going for it. But I don't want to start that argument all over again. Different people have different opinions, and I respect that.

Anyway, GW and WoW clearly were in development at the same time, even if one started before the other. The fact that WoW started its development before GW, and the fact that GW had updated its graphics for its beta in the same year that WoW was released could lead to some interesting discussion (if the inevitable flame war could be prevented, but if it could, it wouldn't be inevitable). GW is a piece of art. It's beautiful. WoW, on the other hand, is designed to be a money-maker, and thus obviously had to sacrifice some elements.

It's interesting to see how games are developed over time. To see which ideas make it into the game, and which are deemed impossible without a major overhaul, or deemed not suitable for the type of game the developers are trying to make. It'd be interesting to see more of this sort of thing.

artay · Jan 18, 2008, 09:21 AM // 09:21

That HoH video was funny(keep using that deathly swarm ><) A beastmaster whip woulda been sweet

Fril Estelin · Jan 18, 2008, 09:48 AM // 09:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harmless

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbkIu...eature=related

End of beta event Gwen attack.

The Isle of the dead GH was the same

. And very nice meteors and we can see a blue dialog window appearing when they die

. Nice old times.

According to this article, Anet actually opened the unofficial RPG stars forum in 2002! (where Gaile was already patroling

) I could find the lore about Kyhlo mentioned on this site, that must have been the first GW site ever. Oh and read this and this (I guess the "not implemented" attribute was water magic?) for another big time slap in the face!

More of GW retro 2003 in Anet's archive:
http://www.guildwars.com/community/p...003photo02.php
(there's a very different character selection screen here)

And there was a Community day 2004 which says a lot about Anet's early commitment to the community! (we can see the first shot of Gaile here!

)

It must have felt good to be part of the few early GW players!

Curse You · Jan 18, 2008, 10:03 AM // 10:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meat Axe

I always assumed that WoW came out much before GW, which would have explained the terrible graphics. I never really thought about the fact that one of my friends from high school was talking about it while it was in development back in 2004. Now that I know that they were in development at the same time, my respect for GW and Anet has increased even more.

World of Warcraft was released in November 2004, whereas Guild Wars was released in April 2005. That's only a gap of 4 months.

Rhedd · Jan 18, 2008, 01:45 PM // 13:45

I think it's odd that everyone always says that Alpha GW looks like WoW.

If I would've worked on WoW, I'd be seriously insulted.

Yes, WoW's graphics are cartoon-like in style, but that's a matter of STYLE, not quality. WoW might not be to your taste, especially if you're an American and have grown up being told over and over that only kids like cartoons, but the art is good, whether it appeals to you or not.

Warcraft's art is like sushi; It's not to everyone's taste, but to those who like it, it's fantastic.

Alpha GW, on the other hand, is just kind of bad.

I can only assume they had an almost complete turnover in art team somewhere along the line. Either that, or the artists deserve some serious respect for maturing so much, talent-wise, in that amount of time. (No, graphics are not one of the last things to be added to a game. Nobody creates an entire game full of stuff that looks like Alpha GW, with the full intention of replacing it later. Somebody had a new, and much appreciated, change in artistic vision, there.)

GW now has some of the most beautiful graphics of any game, regardless of what fancy new technical tricks they use or don't.

Warcraft doesn't look half bad, either. Low polycounts, but lots of style.

These days, as we march closer and closer to every game being photorealistic, it's style and artistic talent that makes a game stand out from the crowd. Heck, even real life looks just like real life. How boring! ^_^

beanerman_99 · Jan 18, 2008, 02:13 PM // 14:13

Fril- Nice finds! its always fun to look back and see what things were like and to realize how far this game has progressed over the years. Good times!

Mordakai · Jan 18, 2008, 03:01 PM // 15:01

Wow, don't even recognize the game from that first footage!

And, note to Anet PR: Don't ever use the words "World of Guild Wars" again.