Curse

Fred Kiwi · Mar 09, 2006, 06:50 PM // 18:50

No! I just realised that in a few years they are going to shut down the server! no more guild wars! noooOOOOooo!

SisterMercy · Mar 09, 2006, 11:34 PM // 23:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lawnmower

... I have come to find that many people seriously have something against Guild Wars.
I mean, not the typical flaming, but more something like being called a little kid who play a "discount WoW" as I have been told GW is...

The one vulnerability I see GW as having is that it is simply more accessible to kids than a pay-per-month game. Which means that in-game behavior could deteriorate someday. Even between Beta and now, there's been a significant change in the average player. If GW becomes overrun by kids and/or perceived as overrun by kids, they'll lose the mature player market. So far, there's still lots of us hanging around just because of the love of the game.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lawnmower

... What concerns me is the rate at GWs lifespan... The day ArenaNet decides that they won't do more expansions and will be unable to make a profit, they will close down the servers...

Don't expect that to happen for a long time. Anet has a sound business plan, and has been building an excellent reputation for game development, support and innovation, whatever the response to GW may be. It's only been a little over a year and they are a noteworthy presence in the marketplace. GW is probably the beginning of several game projects, whether GW-related or not. And even if we assume that the expansion approach levels off in the next couple of years, it will still be worth it for them to keep the servers up and the game supported from a service and reputation standpoint while their other projects come out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lawnmower

... My experience or knowledge from past MMOGs has always been that the more expansion packs you add, the more consumer you kill...

That depends. By releasing Factions and other "expansion packs" as standalones, they actually make the game more accessible to new players in some ways. You don't have to buy both the base game and the expansion which most intrigues you, in order to get the content that's enticing you to play. Instead, you can get the more interesting of the 2 (or 3 or 4 later), and expand afterward, if you feel you want to do so.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lawnmower

... He dismissed it for the fact that there where no uber items, elves/orcs and that you couldnt jump...

Everyone wants the Supersuperuber stuff, hm?

Uber is a perception. Even in Diablo, I've never found Uber stuff to be any more effective than good stuff in my hands. It's how you play. Too bad more people haven't figured that out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lawnmower

... other games he said would "100% kill Guild Wars" . I think he mentioned online modes in games like a new Neverwinter Nights and Hellgate Lodon...

Don't bet on it. Those games are primarily focused on single-player market and are simply throwing online mode in as a value-added feature. You won't see the care taken to balance, upgrade and innovate that you're seeing in GW.

(But hopefully Anet will implement better trade and party-finding functionality before their competitors beat them to it, or players might not realize this as clearly.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lawnmower

... I think it's weird that GW has not developed many of it's own niche things like Leroy Jenkins did in WoW...

That's up to the GW community. And you're right, it's sad that there hasn't been more fan development. Hopefully in year 2. Part of that is lost from eliminating modding and such, though.

Hm: How's this for an expansion or plugin idea, Anet? The ability to create your own guild hall map and guild combat arena, and share with others who have the same expansion pack? Or a plugin to create character skins or armor skins (using existing meshes), again shareable with others who have the plugin? Of course, the latter might require a certain approval method, so we don't end up with x-rated characters running around. It might also kill the dye market, but would sure address the desires of many to have unique-looking armor, faces, hair, etc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lawnmower

... Because allot of people I talk to about the game, who have owned it and just gave up, never made it past pre searing or found it very hard, or didn't liked the way the combat system worked or had bad experiences with the community in towns...

Pre-searing is sometimes not a good way to introduce the game from a pacing standpoint. I wonder if they'd be better to have a downloadable single-map PvE sample and single-arena vs. henchies PvP sample with a UAS (or partial sampling of skills) feature as game demos?

Just a few thoughts spawned by your post.

Lawnmower · Mar 09, 2006, 11:42 PM // 23:42

Thanks for it sister. I agree with allot that you say, and I certainly feel more "calm" right now.
What you said about fan community made me think, then how do people get that going?
If you look at a site like warcraftmovies.com you have a site with an incredible amount of activity, but it's sister site, guildwarsmovies.com is pretty much dead.

Sure, GW might be limited in some areas, but there are still some funny emotes, culturel references and beautiful sightseings I think. Though somehoe I feel it's wrong to "diss" a community, when im not one spot better myself. I simply just don't know how to edit or make that sort of stuff. I just think that GW could reach out to a much bigger aray of people if GW fans were/seemed more passionate about the game. Maybe that's a wrong assumption though.

SisterMercy · Mar 09, 2006, 11:48 PM // 23:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuixotesGhost

Yeah the biggest problem I've had with trying to sell GW to WoW players has to do with numbers.

"Oh Only 8 Skills? In WoW I have five gazillion on my bar."

"Oh only level 20? In WoW I can grind all the way to 60."

"Oh only 8v8? We have these things called Battlegrounds where you can do 20v20."

I've played both and still think GW is the superior game, but this is the logic most WoW players (and most Blizzard Gamers, now that I think of it) hide behind to somehow "prove" that they have the better game.

Just let them know: 8 skills means having to win by strategy, not by volume or button-mashing, which presents the superior challenge. And topping at level 20 means less grind and more enjoying the content at your peak. Those insights have made a difference to a lot of ex-Diablo and ex-WoW players I know.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cherno

My only concern about continuing expansions is that they will be too aggressive with them. I think I read something along the line of every six months. I would prefer once a year with a new challenge area added at the midway point...

6 months might be too soon, and 1 year will seem too long to a lot of players. However, if they aim for 6 months, actual release dates will probably be closer to 9 months or so (as happens in the game dev marketplace), which is just right.

Diablo™ · Mar 10, 2006, 12:01 AM // 00:01

It's too soon to really confirm anything, especially the future of Guild Wars or the destiny of Anet. What can be said is that despite our cult followings of Guild Wars, and it's millions of fans worldwide. WoW is still more popular than Guild Wars.... It cant be said whether one is better than the other, because simply when you boil down to it, GW and WoW are two different online games.

I for one appreciate GW for their devotion to not forcing players to pay a substantial amount of commitment to the game. Guild Wars is the kind of game you can play during your lunch break, in World of Warcrat you cannot.

Pillz_veritas · Mar 10, 2006, 12:06 AM // 00:06

Sigh. This thread made me sad

Lawnmower · Mar 10, 2006, 12:24 AM // 00:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pillz_veritas

Sigh. This thread made me sad

Sorry

Diablo™ · Mar 10, 2006, 12:38 AM // 00:38

Do not worry about the day Guild Wars ends, as all good things in life has an end.

Remember, it's a lot easier for us to say good bye to our level 20s, than those hardcore WoW players to say good bye to their lvl 60s. Those guys are gonna have to go into therapy to recover...

For now we rejoice and have fun.

Harmony · Mar 10, 2006, 12:45 AM // 00:45

Why worry about something that isn't bound to happen for a long time to come?! Seems rather silly if you ask me. Sit back, enjoy the game, etc. I guess I just prefer to be a 'glass half full' person than needlessly borrowing trouble.

MinaDrakul · Mar 10, 2006, 12:46 AM // 00:46

I think we all need to sing "Don't Worry, Be Happy" and roast marshmallows over char alters.

Seriously, the game isn't going down anytime soon, so why worry? Enjoy the game and when and if that day comes that GW ends, remeber the good times and find something new.

Diablo™ · Mar 10, 2006, 01:45 AM // 01:45

Exactly, we should just chill, see what comes our way.. afterall, why worry about the end when it's just begun?

Cheers.

Mandy Memory · Mar 10, 2006, 03:55 AM // 03:55

You know the WoW project was started by Anet people before they left Blizzard...

Leon_Ux-ixen · Mar 10, 2006, 02:55 PM // 14:55

I understand your concern but it is unfound. Anet has made alot more money on thier first game then Blizzard or Everquest. To be truthfull Diablo is slowly down I have played Battlenet for some time and noticed it's not as full as before not to metion the rumors of a Diablo 3 comeing out has weaken the fans. That rumor has been around for 3 or 4 years and yet Blizzard has said nothing so the players are getting bored, far as WoW I don't like it one bit so I refuse to even try it. FF 11 can't even began to touch this game it is unquie in every way. From it's battle system, lore, just look at the detail in the weapons! The detail in the classes themselves thier in so much detail and depth it's nuts! O.o This game will not die in the next 10 or even 20 years belive that.

Big_Iron · Mar 10, 2006, 03:06 PM // 15:06

Anet and NCSoft have created an excellent model that's being copied by the likes of giants like SOE. They're going to be here for a long time. And they've made a great product. I've tried other MMOs, including WoW. None can hold a candle to GW. They've created a beautiful, emersive game that i'm totally addicted to. I've been playing since June 2005 and haven't gotten bored with it at all. That's saying a lot because I'm as A.D.D. as they come.