Some perspective:
*Like someone said, GW is prepping for its Chinese release. I don't see Anet stopping major updates until GW2 is *supposedly* released in 2009 or 2010. Maybe scaling back the updates, but not stopping outright.
*Anet's profit model: release a steady stream of campaigns/skill packs/new crap that people buy to keep the servers humming and the company afloat.
Now let's go through the article piece by piece and point out its weaknesses and dubious claims:
Quote:
NCSOFT HAS ANNOUNCED the development and release dates for regular annual expansion of Guild Wars universe...
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No one has announced crap. Anet has an exclusive deal with PCGamer regarding the next major update. Why would Anet or NCSoft go blabbing before the publication's release? A real journalist would say, "Sources tell us that..."
If a journalist interviewed a general off the record they wouldn't write, "THE PENTAGON SAYS..." That implies an
official policy statement.
Quote:
and not too surprisingly, that this expansion will be the last throw of the dice before its successor appears on the market.
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Not too surprisingly to whom? Cool insiders who have a website to throw around dubious crap?
Quote:
and stands to be released in Q3 of 2007
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We have a press release saying that a major update is planned for GW during this time period. Either his "source" is correct, or he's using the press release to support his viewpoint - sources be damned.
Quote:
The price of the add-on is not known at the time of annoucement, but it will be less than already present campaigns. In order to play the game, gamers must own at least one of the already released GW campaigns, like Nightfall, Factions or Prophecies.
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Totally possible, but it flies in the face of everything Anet has done thus far. Personally, I wouldn't confuse customers by offering a mix of expansions and stand-alone chapters...
Quote:
is 100% oriented towards games with characters of maximum level.
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This is contingent on the above point. If C4 is stand-alone, and not an expansion, Anet would make content for all levels.
Quote:
his is a full sequel and will be released in 2009-10 timeframe, with a public beta being released sometime next year
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"Soldiers may be coming home from Iraq in 2008-2010..."
"Hillary Clinton or John McCain may win in 2008..."
Listen, I don't expect this guy to be a Super Journalist, but what's the point of throwing around vague statements? Furthermore, if this release date is to be believed, that leaves 2 - 2.5 years without a single GW campaign. Seems like quite a gap.
Theo could be 100% correct on all points. But this article is sophomoric at best...
I remain unconvinved.