Curse

Buster · Feb 14, 2009, 03:11 AM // 03:11

You know Guild Wars is an award winning game. It's won a ton of awards, it has a diehard player base and sold over 5 million copies. Though NCSoft brilliant strategy is to push back Guild Wars 2 off the map so that Aion and other newbie games can take center stage ? I'm sorry but this is mind boggling at best and very disturbing.

Regina Buenaobra · Feb 14, 2009, 03:17 AM // 03:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by snaek

ur rite, it doesnt...
but must they always look at everything from a business perspective?

edit: lol i type too slow -___-'

The information that forms the basis of this thread was from a quarterly report and investors meeting.

I sympathize and understand your position as a fan. I have been waiting for information about an MMORPG that announced production in 2006 (World of Darkness, if anyone was curious). The last information I read was in 2007, basically giving me information that I already know: MMORPGs take between 3 - 6 years to develop. That's it. Nothing more. So yeah. I know how you feel.

As much as we love playing games, this is still a business. We try to balance the interests of the fans (wanting more info) and the business (keeping the product out of the spotlight for competitive reasons, etc.), but sometimes those interests can have tension. This is an example of it.

Regina Buenaobra · Feb 14, 2009, 03:23 AM // 03:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buster

You know Guild Wars is an award winning game. It's won a ton of awards, it has a diehard player base and sold over 5 million copies. Though NCSoft brilliant strategy is to push back Guild Wars 2 off the map so that Aion and other newbie games can take center stage ? I'm sorry but this is mind boggling at best and very disturbing.

Pushed back? GW2 has never had an announced release date. There's nothing to push back.

Actually, NCsoft does not determine when we release a game (they have a big say in it, don't get me wrong). They are, after all, dependent on us developing it. If they want to schedule GW2 to launch tomorrow, they could, but we still wouldn't be finished developing it.

Improvavel · Feb 14, 2009, 03:29 AM // 03:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regina Buenaobra

Pushed back? GW2 has never had an announced release date. There's nothing to push back.

Take your time and if it is good old fans will be back. And I need some time to play D3 too.

Gun Pierson · Feb 14, 2009, 03:31 AM // 03:31

You're so priviliged Regina, I hope you realise that and I'm sure you do. Must be something to see the game come together.

(slightly jealous, but in a good way)

As on the release date, don't know could be true. Still I wanne hear Anet say it. The fact that it might lay on the shelves in 2011 is not surprising to me. 5 years is the average time to develop such a game, which we heard a million times before, but it's true. There are exceptions.

Yawgmoth · Feb 14, 2009, 03:33 AM // 03:33

At least we know GW2 will be announced in 2010-2011, they may announce a 2013 release date then xD :S

Nomme Moon · Feb 14, 2009, 03:34 AM // 03:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regina Buenaobra

The information that forms the basis of this thread was from a quarterly report and investors meeting.

I sympathize and understand your position as a fan. I have been waiting for information about an MMORPG that announced production in 2006 (World of Darkness, if anyone was curious). The last information I read was in 2007, basically giving me information that I already know: MMORPGs take between 3 - 6 years to develop. That's it. Nothing more. So yeah. I know how you feel.

As much as we love playing games, this is still a business. We try to balance the interests of the fans (wanting more info) and the business (keeping the product out of the spotlight for competitive reasons, etc.), but sometimes those interests can have tension. This is an example of it.

While that's understandable, you also have to understand that as a business you have to keep potential customers in the know, especially when it's a game like an MMO (being this particular genre is so competitive). It's bad business to show too much, but it's also bad business to not show anything at all.

However, I personally actually appreciate the fact you're telling us that you've tried and explained the situation. For the past 2 years, we didn't even have an explanation for the absence of information.

R.Shayne · Feb 14, 2009, 03:41 AM // 03:41

If they knew that the game was going to be pushed back until 2011 then why didn't they just tell us, instead of leaving us in the dark, oh wait this is A.Net we are talking about. Don't give me the competitive blanked statement, doesn't work when just telling your loyal fanbase the game is being pushed back so we can do more with it.

Anyone remember this statement

Quote:

Originally Posted by ANET

We want players to feel connected to what we are developing even though it may be months away from release, so during development we will be more open about our process and what we are working on.

For some reason I am thinking about "I,Robot" when Will Smith starts sneezing because he is allergic to BullSh**. It has been a month and what have we learn knew about the storage update? Nothing has changed more ANET business as usual.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nomme Moon

However, I personally actually appreciate the fact you're telling us that you've tried and explained the situation.

You do realize that what she is doing is Damage Control because someone actually paid attention to the NCSoft quarterly report and now it is on ever GW Fansite? If it had not been found they would still be a big blackhole concerning GW2 information.

TwinRaven · Feb 14, 2009, 03:45 AM // 03:45

Perhaps instead of advertising EotN as a transition to GW2, they should have gone ahead with other plans and gave us a regular old expansion...A transition to a game that is YEARS away is misleading. Giving the initial information about GW2 afterwards with all the hoopla gave some of us the false impression that GW2 was already somewhat developed and maybe a year or two out...no, no one actually said that...but why the Hell would someone release a transition to a sequal THAT far in advance?

Maybe to make a quick buck to fund the new project and escape the model originally announced when GW came out: the addition of expansions (later became chapters)...with GW2 in "development" fans won't expect anymore beyond EotN, thus freeing up resources for a sequal that may be 6 years in the future...by strining along fans, you save resources for the bigger, better deal.

In the mean time...a lot of us are thinking that we aren't hearing anything other than "we are working on it" thinking no one would possibly do that to its fans and that someone, somewhere is furiously trying to meet a deadline...one which, apparently hasn't been set yet. Esentially we were told EotN was the transition so nothing else was required of the company other than the hope of GW2...by keeping tight lipped about the fact that there isn't even a proposed release date for sometime in the next 2-6 years...maybe...there is no responsibility to do anything else but maintain silence and put out the sequal whenever while profiting on other titles and keeping servers open for EotN players who go on thinking it means something...Well...some of us thought it did...now I just feel stupid for falling for it...thanks for the kick in the nuts...did my ex-wife send you?

Professor K · Feb 14, 2009, 03:57 AM // 03:57

I bought Eye of the North for more areas, story, and skills. The GW2 stuff was a bonus, not my main selling point.

Shewmake · Feb 14, 2009, 04:13 AM // 04:13

I've ceased playing GW until GW2, because there's nothing *grand* that's new. The monthly tonics are cool; the HoM changes are cool, but that's not enough to keep my interest. I'm not just speaking for myself; I'm sure there are many others that feel similarly. I can wait for GW2, but I can't keep playing GW until then. I will definitely return to GW when GW2 comes out, because I have faith that it'll blow me away.

TwinRaven · Feb 14, 2009, 04:21 AM // 04:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Professor K

I bought Eye of the North for more areas, story, and skills. The GW2 stuff was a bonus, not my main selling point.

I'm not usually snobby like this....but how long have you played? Jan of '09 join date in furums...game might still be new to you...don't let my join date fool you...I've been around since before beta as a fan...played in BWE...preordered and played the hell out of prophecies before it was called Prophecies...I might have a slightly different perspective than someone who just bought the game.

If I hadn't been playing for so long, I wouldn't be pissed at all...I'd probably have more to do and less emotional investment in the future of the game. They announced GW2 in close conjunction with EotN in March of 2007, giant PC Gamer promotion and all that...now, no date even set for sometime after 2011...if then...is a bit of a letdown for a long-time fan running low on things left to do...

Buster · Feb 14, 2009, 04:23 AM // 04:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regina Buenaobra

Pushed back? GW2 has never had an announced release date. There's nothing to push back.

Actually, NCsoft does not determine when we release a game (they have a big say in it, don't get me wrong). They are, after all, dependent on us developing it. If they want to schedule GW2 to launch tomorrow, they could, but we still wouldn't be finished developing it.

True no release date has been announced but it clearly shows that GW2 seems to have been moved aside in a sense for Aion and all these other games NcSoft has plans for acccording to that report posted in this thread. So where does that leave us NA/EU GW players for the next 1.5/2 years until GW2 ?

Shewmake · Feb 14, 2009, 04:30 AM // 04:30

Well...if you play other games besides GW...you won't stress out about GW2's release. It'll arrive quicker that way, because you won't be focusing on GW. It's worked for me so far. :P

hallomik · Feb 14, 2009, 04:31 AM // 04:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regina Buenaobra

Pushed back? GW2 has never had an announced release date. There's nothing to push back.

Actually, NCsoft does not determine when we release a game (they have a big say in it, don't get me wrong). They are, after all, dependent on us developing it. If they want to schedule GW2 to launch tomorrow, they could, but we still wouldn't be finished developing it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by "Chris" on NCSoft conference call

Basically, when we started Guild Wars 2, it was going to be a typical sequal of a well-established franchise, and during development we decided that there was a much bigger opportunity for Guild Wars 2, and we're going to make sure we come out with a product to the market that is, you know, much bigger than what Guild Wars (2) could have been. So, we're revamping a lot of technology and a lot of systems and putting a whole lot more content into the game, so that when it does come out it will be in line with our corporate goal which is to provide a rich and expansive world to the users. I think everyone will be pleased with the quality and quantity that goes into Guild Wars 2.

Regina - you seem to be hanging on a slim technicality of announced release date. It seems very clear from the Q4 conference call I quote above that Anet/NCSoft have agreed to take more time developing the game than originally planned.

Shewmake · Feb 14, 2009, 04:35 AM // 04:35

I just don't understand the chaos. If you're tired of waiting for GW2 because you've finished all that you want to accomplish in GW, then quit Guild Wars altogether until then (unless, of course, new <b>content<b/> is released). If you're distracted, then the wait won't be as tedious.

I fail at correctly using bold.

Buster · Feb 14, 2009, 04:43 AM // 04:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shewmake

Well...if you play other games besides GW...you won't stress out about GW2's release. It'll arrive quicker that way, because you won't be focusing on GW. It's worked for me so far. :P

Yeah so true but you know as a gamer that they will have a hard time keeping their fanbase together when Diablo 3, SW:TOR (from Bioware)and the new mmo from Blizzard which many fans are eagerly awaiting to find out about. Sorry but the whole hush hush deal just to give Aion and other NcSoft games more face time is just bad news for GW2 I'm afraid. It seems like NcSoft has become more of a competitor to Arenanet rather than a publisher/supporter of Arenanet games.

Winterclaw · Feb 14, 2009, 04:58 AM // 04:58

What faer said.

So far, all we know about GW2 is a few vague ideas someone tossed out there and a synopsis of the world then. That's it. That could have been turned out in a few hours. Until we start seeing progress (like some real info, concept art, screenshots) that game is vapor. IMO the fact that we haven't seen anything lends to the notion of GW2's vapor status.

Cacheelma · Feb 14, 2009, 05:01 AM // 05:01

The only thing the picture tells us is that GW2 isn't coming out in 2009.

"To be announced" in 2010-2011 means "may be" in my book, at most.

Faer · Feb 14, 2009, 05:32 AM // 05:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winterclaw

What faer said.

Which was deleted, but it's what I always say in these threads, so it should be fairly familiar to everyone by now.

But yes:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faer

Duke Nukem Forever.

But wait, let me elaborate. We have been told constantly, time and time again, since 2007 (it's 2009 now, in case anybody missed that), that Guild Wars 2 development was well under way. Good! It's good that you guys are hard at work developing your game. Nobody can truly fault you for that, though they can gripe about how you essentially dropped your current project into a stagnant pool of filth to go work on your mystery project.

Which is, actually, the problem. GW2 is a mystery. A complete and total mystery, outside of some Q&A and a shaky plot that could have been written up in five to ten minutes in some college dorm room. Where is the actual info? Where are the teasers? Where is the development? More importantly, where is the beta that we were told by an ArenaNet employee that we would be seeing late last year?

The beta is nowhere. The info is nowhere. The teasers are nowhere. And, given these facts, as far as the community is concerned, the development is nowhere.

Protip: don't sketch rough ideas on paper, say "HEY THIS SEEMS AWESOME", drop everything you are doing for it, and tell your customers that you are "well under way" in the development process, giving false dates and false hope to try and drive the community to keep buying and playing your products. And don't send your employees to try and calm the raging masses with lies about what you have and have not told us. These forums hold information from practically the day your game was released onward. We know what you said, we know when you said it, and we can find it with a few minutes of forum searching. So please, don't tell us you never said it.

In short: please put up or shut up. NCSoft is saying your product is maybe being announced in 2010/2011. Given the fact that you aren't telling us anything, we're just going to have to listen to them, and hope we're not being set up for disappointment again.