Curse

-Makai- · Nov 12, 2010, 02:19 AM // 02:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ninja Ninja

I was only referring to how they did the original content which included VO cutsences, this game keeps going downhill in quality and I know people are so desperate for new content that whatever anet makes they will still be thankful but its not wrong to promote/encourage a better game

Did you play through Factions? Wouldn't exactly call that "quality" work.

Maybe Anet should have some kind of VO contest; it would be nice for those of us who can barely hold a pencil.

Regina Buenaobra · Nov 12, 2010, 02:23 AM // 02:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Verene

Where do you get the idea that they aren't? Considering what they have to work with, they're doing a pretty damn good job. New content that contains different spawns, new areas (Lion's Arch Keep is a small area, but it's still a new explorable, and the Canthan content is supposedly going to have a new explorable as well), new weapon skins...while working on skill updates, new festival quests (even if they weren't hugely in-depth), and bug fixes and the like...

That is not a small amount of work for a team three times the size of the one that is working on GW1. For the size of the current live team, that is a massive workload, and while it's a bit disappointing that things like skill updates keep getting delayed/not released and there's no real news on them, on the other hand, with the amount that's on their plate? There are only so many hours in the day and so much that can be worked on at one time.

Not to mention that the live team members can't all necessarily work on the same things at once. The designers aren't going to be programming, the programmer isn't going to be designing. They're two completely different processes and while one may know the basics of the other, they won't necessarily have the knowledge and skill required to go "Okay, today I'll program AI instead of designing that quest or rigging this model", or vice versa.

In short, most people have very, very little idea how much work goes into this sort of thing, and how insane it is that the team is so small. Waiting sucks, but to say that they aren't taking it seriously and don't care because new stuff takes a while is downright insulting.

Thank you for your posts, Verene. Sounds like your boyfriend has provided you with a lot of insight into the realities of game development.

Lanier · Nov 12, 2010, 02:41 AM // 02:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regina Buenaobra

Thank you for your posts, Verene. Sounds like your boyfriend has provided you with a lot of insight into the realities of game development.

So... the solution is to increase the size of the GW1 team. Seriously... 4 people is rediculous. I know this is in no part your fault but it really would be nice if your superiors would devote a few more people to GW1s team.

Karate Jesus · Nov 12, 2010, 02:45 AM // 02:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regina Buenaobra

Thank you for your posts, Verene. Sounds like your boyfriend has provided you with a lot of insight into the realities of game development.

#5. Well played.

NerfHerder · Nov 12, 2010, 02:48 AM // 02:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inde

NCSoft is who is funding ArenaNet. They have from the start.

I'm not sure of the exact involvement, financially or otherwise, but I blame NCSoft for GW1 lack of resources more so than ANet. I truely believe ANet is doing the best they can with what they have. Its NCSoft that has the resources and deep pockets. It would behoove NCSoft to give Anet more resources to continue GW1 player satisfaction. Because, its the players like us that will ensure a positive gaming experience and continuous revenue for GW2. Will they do it? hard to say. Maybe ANet asked for more resources, and NCSoft said, "sell more costumes." Or they simply wont give ANet any more funding, so they are forced to sell costumes in order to start providing more content. Either way, I doubt selling costumes is a get rich quick scheme by Anet.

Ninja Ninja · Nov 12, 2010, 02:52 AM // 02:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Verene

Where do you get the idea that they aren't? Considering what they have to work with, they're doing a pretty damn good job. New content that contains different spawns, new areas (Lion's Arch Keep is a small area, but it's still a new explorable, and the Canthan content is supposedly going to have a new explorable as well), new weapon skins...while working on skill updates, new festival quests (even if they weren't hugely in-depth), and bug fixes and the like...

That is not a small amount of work for a team three times the size of the one that is working on GW1. For the size of the current live team, that is a massive workload, and while it's a bit disappointing that things like skill updates keep getting delayed/not released and there's no real news on them, on the other hand, with the amount that's on their plate? There are only so many hours in the day and so much that can be worked on at one time.

Not to mention that the live team members can't all necessarily work on the same things at once. The designers aren't going to be programming, the programmer isn't going to be designing. They're two completely different processes and while one may know the basics of the other, they won't necessarily have the knowledge and skill required to go "Okay, today I'll program AI instead of designing that quest or rigging this model", or vice versa.

In short, most people have very, very little idea how much work goes into this sort of thing, and how insane it is that the team is so small. Waiting sucks, but to say that they aren't taking it seriously and don't care because new stuff takes a while is downright insulting.

What exactly is so complicated about adding more people on gw1 to rap it up before gw2, if its still the same old live team working then where is all this costume money going?

The point I was making is quality and experience of this content, I would even be satisfied with a quick cutscene with no voice acting just showing how your party got from point A to point B.

I'm not saying the live team isn't taking the game seriously but anet as a whole, I think the workload for the live team is a lame excuse because the obvious solution is too increase the live team to reflect the workload, I'm not one of the people who are able to forget how long overdue this dervish update is or how it took over a year for a SF nerf.

I don't see this content as much of a favor from anet as you do because there's so many company's willing to do better, when its so close to the gw2 transition keeping the population attention is critical and leaving a halloween cliffhanger thinking that will keep people around for a year isn't going to work.

In conclusion I don't want to go into gw2 on blind faith on anets competency when the history of gw1 tells me not to, I may actually want to see there capable of running a game in gw1.

Verene · Nov 12, 2010, 03:08 AM // 03:08

I'm pretty sure that just hiring new people isn't something that can be done with the snap of a finger. Anet is likely heavily limited by NCSoft, who owns them, as to how many people they can hire; I doubt they have so few people on the GW1 live team by choice. I've also a feeling that sales from costumes and the in-game store probably go more towards server upkeep and that sort of thing than anything else.

I don't necessarily agree that cutscenes automatically make things of a better quality. And trust me, I know how overdue the Dervish update is. Dervish is my main

The SF nerf also took forever, yeah, and it's still way too OP. I'm not saying they're perfect and they've gotten everything right. I'm just saying that things will take a while. Personally, I want the Dervish update, but if they have a choice between that and new content for everyone, I've a feeling they'll prioritize the latter a bit more.

Not many companies do free content updates anymore, btw. Paid DLC has become extremely prevalent now, and most companies would probably charge a few bucks for something comparable to the WiK update. Five or ten years ago, that wouldn't have been the case, but now, that's simply the way the winds in the industry have gone.

DraconicDak · Nov 12, 2010, 03:15 AM // 03:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ninja Ninja

What exactly is so complicated about adding more people on gw1 to rap it up before gw2, if its still the same old live team working then where is all this costume money going?

The point I was making is quality and experience of this content, I would even be satisfied with a quick cutscene with no voice acting just showing how your party got from point A to point B.

I'm not saying the live team isn't taking the game seriously but anet as a whole, I think the workload for the live team is a lame excuse because the obvious solution is too increase the live team to reflect the workload, I'm not one of the people who are able to forget how long overdue this dervish update is or how it took over a year for a SF nerf.

I don't see this content as much of a favor from anet as you do because there's so many company's willing to do better, when its so close to the gw2 transition keeping the population attention is critical and leaving a halloween cliffhanger thinking that will keep people around for a year isn't going to work.

In conclusion I don't want to go into gw2 on blind faith on anets competency when the history of gw1 tells me not to, I may actually want to see there capable of running a game in gw1.

Goodness, do you even realize how much work goes into a process like this? Simply hiring new people is time-intensive, as staff have to be called away from their work to meet with prospective teammates and orient them with the studio and the existing team, and to show them the ropes, teach them what's expected of them... you don't just grab someone off the street and tell them to help make a game!

There's also the fact that hiring more people costs more money, no less in an industry where all work takes many dozens of man-hours to create. Bug and balance solutions, and new content, have to start as concepts, have to be discussed, designed, built and/or programmed, tested, rebuilt/recoded, tested again, repeat nearly ad infinitum until the final product is as good as possible. And if the team cares enough to delay it a bit to give you a better product, you really not ought to be complaining.

All those people have to be paid, by the way. And the servers suck down money for upkeep as well. That is where the money from the costume packs is going, especially since the new content updates are free.

The video game industry is not easy, simple, or cheap. Please understand that everything you're getting at no charge takes tremendous amounts of time, effort, and dedication from the people you're disrespecting with your complaints.

Ninja Ninja · Nov 12, 2010, 03:18 AM // 03:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Verene

I don't necessarily agree that cutscenes automatically make things of a better quality.

I'm using it as a key example because to me this is what makes the new content feel the most distant to me after experiencing cut scene content.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Verene

Not many companies do free content updates anymore, btw. Paid DLC has become extremely prevalent now, and most companies would probably charge a few bucks for something comparable to the WiK update. Five or ten years ago, that wouldn't have been the case, but now, that's simply the way the winds in the industry have gone.

I really wouldn't mind it if it was as good as the bonus mission pack.

Lanier · Nov 12, 2010, 04:36 AM // 04:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Verene

I'm pretty sure that just hiring new people isn't something that can be done with the snap of a finger. Anet is likely heavily limited by NCSoft, who owns them, as to how many people they can hire; I doubt they have so few people on the GW1 live team by choice.

The issue here isnt that they arnt hiring more people. The issue is the rediculous distribution of people between GW1 and GW2. There are ~100 working on GW2 and only 4 on GW1. Just think how great it would be if they moved 4, just 4, people over to the GW1 team. GW2's development would still be going strong at 96% of its original team while GW1's team would suddenly be doubled and would (should) be able to give us double the updates. The current ratio is just... rediculous.

dancing gnome · Nov 12, 2010, 05:38 AM // 05:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lihinel

Don't get confused, it doesn't mean the Cantha Chapter will happen soon, only the return of Thackeray/the Wedding.
Its already mid November, so itll likely be in order of:

1. Thackerays return + Wedding Costume Set

2. Winterday + New Winterday Costume Set

3. GW:Beyond Cantha Chapter + Costume Set

...

I hope you are right. I felt crushed when I read that the next costumes are going to be wedding costumes. I was really hoping for them to bring out some really awesome asian themed costumes for Cantha: Wind of Change. I have always loved canthan aesthetic designs more than the rest of GW and I was really hoping for some awesome costumes from this. How cool would it be to look like Yuri the Hand (http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Yuri_the_Hand)? What about Headmastr Quin (http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Headmaster_Quin)? I would rather they release Cantha: Winds of Change in February than get it in November/December with some crappy wedding dress or tuxedo.

It seems baffling to me they would talk about wanting to make festival hats more usable beyond the single trivial event they are given out only to disappear hours later but then design a costume set which is going to emphasise this point more than most. A wedding dress and tuxedo is hardly going to fit in anywhere in Tyria, it's a stretch for the wedding, never mind general play.

I'd rather they create more costumes along the lines of the shining blade uniform. That's something I love and still use. I have every costume pack and I only use the grenth one and the shining blade one because all the others look completely out of place and ridiculous after the event is over.

I understand the desire to create costumes which push artistic boundaries and have a more novel appearance (Dwayna's Regalia, Raiment of the Lich, Lunatic Court's Finery for female) but I want to be able to wear my costumes beyond the simple novel experience of getting them because they are new. I want them to design more costumes which fit into the world a bit better, which look a bit more practical or usable. It's great that people are getting these artsy novel costumes but I wouldn't mind betting that a herritage armour costume pack for the 6th year anniversary would be the most popular pack they could create. Usable and fitting for all professions, fits in with the world and gives options to classes with weird armour rules (paragons in mini skirts, dervishes in dresses, assassins with tooth pick arms and legs and no armour options beyond lots of stupid looking knives).

Kwith · Nov 12, 2010, 06:12 AM // 06:12

Quote:

They have been acting independent of the Mad King in an attempt to free him, but their plans may be attracting the attention of someone else who would like to return to Tyria...

Despite what Dark Savior said a couple pages back, Menzies is the one god we haven't seen or heard of very much. Yes he is mentioned in the FoW, and he assisted Abbadon, but thats about all we have heard. My guess is that Menzies is the one who is looking to return. Since Balthazar lived in Orr as a physical being, its plausable that Menzies did too.

I somehow doubt the Lich is going to make a return, and I really hope Shiro stays dead. Rurik, Togo, I have my doubts on.

I would put money on Menzies at this point.

Nekodesu · Nov 12, 2010, 11:21 AM // 11:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stolen Souls

D'oh. More costumes to buy. And my habit of buying stuff just because it's new will surely make me do it. D:

Can't wait for the Cantha stuff. I've always loved Cantha, and am so glad they're revisiting it.

LMAO! Me too 7_7 I like to buy things that looks pretty and the costumes usually do, so I bought the set for halloween and I don't even use it. Oh well, pretty anyways 8D

AND! I'm excited for the new Cantha stuff aswell, it's gonna be fun. It's nice that the game is doing all of this to kinda, prepare us for GW2/see what happens before GW2 : D

And MENZIES? I have never heard about him lol O.O Do you even hear about him in the game?

Neriandal Freit · Nov 12, 2010, 01:58 PM // 13:58

Not meaning to hijack this for very long, but two things..

What have I missed out on with this wedding talk and Winds of Change? Where can I get more info on either of this?

BenjZee · Nov 12, 2010, 02:02 PM // 14:02

^In all fairness this is all the info we've actually had.
they first mentioned "the Crisis in Cantha" here http://www.arena.net/blog/oppressors...l-of-monuments.
Then the following article with the survery had a little bit on it too.
http://www.arena.net/blog/what-does-...survey-results.

Then we all basically knew that Gwen and Thackerey were getting married, its just a matter of when. In the article linked in the OP they blatently made it seem if we there was a wedding and who was involved.

Neriandal Freit · Nov 12, 2010, 02:23 PM // 14:23

I see.. I see. Those are two really good articles on the expected content for the Cantha extension coming. I'll have to look up who/what a Thackerey is. Been many moons since I've had the pleasure of flames and blades

BrettM · Nov 12, 2010, 03:10 PM // 15:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nekodesu

And MENZIES? I have never heard about him lol O.O Do you even hear about him in the game?

Yes. In the Realm of Torment (Nightfall) you face some of his forces, you fight his armies in the Fissure of Woe, and you must defeat his Darknesses at the end of Tomb of the Primeval Kings.

Spookii · Nov 12, 2010, 03:25 PM // 15:25

New Wintersday costumes?

We already have one set. I like the idea of costumes but if they are just going to continuously release new costumes for events that already have costumes...I'm not sure that I like where this is going. One thing I've always loved about this game: there is no huge cash shop.

Aljasha · Nov 12, 2010, 03:29 PM // 15:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yawgmoth

I'd guess that the single greatest need for the GW community was an Auction House (or any other automated trading system, Xunlai Marketplace or something), since even before day 1. Yes, Anet really listens to the community... although given how many players actually buy all the costumes crap for their glorified 3d chat I've lost my hopes in this community completely.

It's said about 2 years ago that an auction house is technically not possible. They listened and answered how they could.

Aleta · Nov 12, 2010, 03:35 PM // 15:35

I'd like to say Thank you to Anet and that includes all the years of enjoyment I've gotten from GW

I am as impatient as the next person but I also value quality over quantity any day of the week

The article was exciting as I love costumes

and I'm very much looking forward to the Cantha series coming up and Wintersday all of it lol!

Weddings! Can't wiat to see what they come up with. ahem Aion has some really really awesome costumes

Anyway I guess I can't find anything to complain about lol.

Keep up the good work like that dress with the bustle yup I even knew what it was when I saw it