Curse

moriz · Aug 04, 2009, 02:40 AM // 02:40

obviously, characters on the test servers have everything unlocked. including all the achievements/skills/equipment/outposts.

Black Metal · Aug 04, 2009, 02:45 AM // 02:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by moriz

obviously, characters on the test servers have everything unlocked. including all the achievements/skills/equipment/outposts.

I'll also remind people that on the test server, Anet staff were showing off max titles on tracks that hadn't even been put live yet (I posted screenies at the time, half the people said they were PSed)

edit: they also had mini pandas, kanaxais

Lishy · Aug 04, 2009, 03:33 AM // 03:33

You can also use Bamph! - Staff [email protected]

Anyways, this maintenance looks like a good sign of progress. Keep up the good work, Anet!

Targren · Aug 04, 2009, 02:21 PM // 14:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kain Fz

Anyways, this maintenance looks like a good sign of progress. Keep up the good work, Anet!

I dunno. It could just be something simple like OS patches being applied...

imnotyourmother · Aug 04, 2009, 05:17 PM // 17:17

Well I think that Anet was not comfortable with the format of GW as it is nurfed and nurfed and messed up cause of the updates.

so they want to start fresh. so GW2 is born..a whole new game.

Just watch...and see. it will be good and I will by another 6 accounts

refer · Aug 04, 2009, 05:28 PM // 17:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrisworld

I'm guessing that server is not hooked up to the internet and their game client isn't going to be the same as ours, I look forward to see what anet does about this, maybe they will implement it into the current client somehow. Might actually even be able to talk to some random NPC and take you to some random outpost with explorable areas or something.

Can only wait now at this point.

I say they just try stuff on the new servers. Kick everybody out, but if their test environment isn't working, don't use it.

Targren · Aug 04, 2009, 05:38 PM // 17:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by imnotyourmother

so they want to start fresh. so GW2 is born..WoW Mk II, with a smaller player-base

Fixed that for you.

Ariena Najea · Aug 04, 2009, 05:51 PM // 17:51

I think it is a positive thing that the July update didn't really do much.

In the past, they have rushed updates, which have caused problems, killed skills, and simply made more work for themselves. I would much rather have a quality update every couple of months than a rushed update every month.

I'm predicting a full skills update this month, and possibly one or two minor changes. I'm doubtful the XTH will return yet, and I bet they aren't ready to start teasing us about the quarterly update yet.

Remember that the GW Live team is tiny, doesn't have enough people to function well, and that the developers spend a lot of their own time working on the game on the side. Anyone who pays attention to Martin and Regina should remember their comments that Linsey worked (I think 80?) hours a week for an extended period of time. Clearly, the problem isn't that they don't care, but rather they currently lack the resources to put forth quality updates on a monthly timetable. They're working to remedy this with the Live Krewe, so hopefully once they have that ironed out there will be less grunt work for them to concern themselves with. Less time spent testing means more time doing.

refer · Aug 04, 2009, 05:55 PM // 17:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ariena Najea

I think it is a positive thing that the July update didn't really do much.

In the past, they have rushed updates, which have caused problems, killed skills, and simply made more work for themselves. I would much rather have a quality update every couple of months than a rushed update every month.

I'm predicting a full skills update this month, and possibly one or two minor changes. I'm doubtful the XTH will return yet, and I bet they aren't ready to start teasing us about the quarterly update yet.

Remember that the GW Live team is tiny, doesn't have enough people to function well, and that the developers spend a lot of their own time working on the game on the side. Anyone who pays attention to Martin and Regina should remember their comments that Linsey worked (I think 80?) hours a week for an extended period of time. Clearly, the problem isn't that they don't care, but rather they currently lack the resources to put forth quality updates on a monthly timetable. They're working to remedy this with the Live Krewe, so hopefully once they have that ironed out there will be less grunt work for them to concern themselves with. Less time spent testing means more time doing.

I still think they should let some players work on the game. Not everybody, but there are those who really have good ideas and know what needs to be changed, more than the current team.

snaek · Aug 04, 2009, 06:01 PM // 18:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariena najea

In the past, they have rushed updates, which have caused problems, killed skills, and simply made more work for themselves. I would much rather have a quality update every couple of months than a rushed update every month.

i don't know bout you, but to me these 3-4 month updates and supposed "delayed updates due to quality assurance and testing" seem to have been of pretty bad quality.

IrishX · Aug 04, 2009, 06:03 PM // 18:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrisworld

I think they are having problems with the 'test server' because they simply don't know how on earth they are going to implement it. GW uses one single server to serve it's players and sub servers (i guess) to run instances and stuff...So implementing a test server would most likely involve... Another GW game client that connects to it's own server, within that game client are the updates that are on test and you copy your characters over from the live server to the test with a command. Thats how SOE does it with eq2 so thats all i can see being done, unless anet has a better idea.

Make sure you guys have 3-4 GB of free space open on your HDD's

In the past there were play alpha testers, but some people made suggestions that made their prefered style of play stronger, and it did not help game balance much, so it was stopped. If Anet actually does restart adding players to the alpha servers, they need to choose better people than last time, and replace people who quit or are not helpful.

cthulhu reborn · Aug 04, 2009, 06:24 PM // 18:24

Guild Wars is a great game and I've played it for over 4 years but I also know that Anet and making deadlines are entities of two very different universes.

Elephantaliste · Aug 04, 2009, 07:22 PM // 19:22

that's true for lots of softwware companies...

<sarcasm>
August Update was planned for the 4th.
</sarcasm>

Gun Pierson · Aug 04, 2009, 07:25 PM // 19:25

Don't want to be a party pooper, but there's no ETA yet and August already started. No communication about it either.

The April update had a long aftermatch for the Live team. In what condition is the Live team after that adventure? Regina said something in the lines of Linsey not being able to keep up this schedule, which is only human.

There's always a small chance they'll surprise us ofcourse, but I wouldn't count on it.

Ariena Najea · Aug 04, 2009, 07:43 PM // 19:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by refer

I still think they should let some players work on the game. Not everybody, but there are those who really have good ideas and know what needs to be changed, more than the current team.

This is the point of the Live Krewe they are working on. By having a large team of players helping out the Live Team (probably with testing foremost, possibly something related to the balance forums), the Live Team can focus more on the things they have degrees to do, and leave the easy-but-time-consuming work to the volunteers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by snaek

i don't know bout you, but to me these 3-4 month updates and supposed "delayed updates due to quality assurance and testing" seem to have been of pretty bad quality.

Most of the updates in the last year have been good, it's just that when something seems to be "missing" from the update, everyone cries bloody murder and says the update as a whole is terrible. See also: Shadow Form for the past year, and MB Builds the past few months. The right changes aren't always made, and there are usually some bad changes, but the updates are still typically good as a whole. The non-monthly ones seem to be better is all I'm saying.

Also, the quarterly updates have a lot of potential. The April update was terrific, and I'm hoping that the quarterly (although these will probably turn into 2-3 times a year rather than actually being quarterly, which is fine) updates will have at least one major change. There are a lot of larger problems that need fixing, from Minion and Pet controls (pets in general...), PvP formats (Hero Battles to the PvE Arenas), etc, that require more time than a standard skills and bugs update. If any of these types of issues are fixed, even if only one at a time and twice a year, that is fine by me. I'm happy to have continued support for a game I haven't payed money for in years.

reaper with no name · Aug 04, 2009, 10:15 PM // 22:15

Well, to be fair, let's not forget the Rit and Para buffs. Those were very good. It's possible Anet is getting it's act together.

Jecht Scye · Aug 04, 2009, 10:26 PM // 22:26

There is still plenty of the month left guys. The update isn't late until it's September 1st.

Martin Alvito · Aug 04, 2009, 11:48 PM // 23:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ariena Najea

I think it is a positive thing that the July update didn't really do much.

So things like the utterly wretched state of every PvP meta (except maybe HA), SF making PvE just as degenerate as a PvP meta, overpowered PvE-only skills, Rit spirits and Imbagons don't bother you?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ariena Najea

Remember that the GW Live team is tiny, doesn't have enough people to function well, and that the developers spend a lot of their own time working on the game on the side. Anyone who pays attention to Martin and Regina should remember their comments that Linsey worked (I think 80?) hours a week for an extended period of time.

THIS IS THE DEVELOPER'S FAULT. No one is saying that Linsey or the community reps should be held responsible. But any story that "they don't have enough resources" misses the point. The developer chooses the level of resources with which they maintain the game. NCSoft has very little debt and plenty of revenue. They turn a tidy profit every quarter. They could afford to pay for a sizable, competent team to maintain Guild Wars without breaking the bank.

Guild Wars is the only property that ArenaNet has. You would think that keeping the existing player base coming back occasionally would be a priority, because it's not as though they have a ton of cross-promotion opportunities. If they want to sell the sequel to existing players, demonstrating that they will quit taking care of the sequel once the revenue stream starts to dry up is not the way to do it.

Giga_Gaia · Aug 05, 2009, 12:26 AM // 00:26

Hey Ariena, where did you get information on the Live Krewe? I seem to have recalled hearing that somewhere. Do you have a source I can take a look at?

Also, I don't think there will be a quarterly update this month. Perhaps a skill update on the level of June, but most likely no quarterly update. Which is fine as long as SOMETHING happens this month...

snaek · Aug 05, 2009, 12:34 AM // 00:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by giga gaia

Also, I don't think there will be a quarterly update this month. Perhaps a skill update on the level of June, but most likely no quarterly update. Which is fine as long as SOMETHING happens this month...

skill balances are all i really care about anyways. since the new format change, we have missed 2 skill balance changes. this is not good. the quarterly updates should be additional on top of the standard skill monthly balances imo, not take priority over it.