What if, Anet made the PvP portion of GW free?

Lawnmower

Lawnmower

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Mar 2006

W/R

I don't know if GW is dying. and im not trying to beat on a dead horse, but the fact of the matter is, that "if", and I mean "IF" GWs PvP needs some more people, some more competition... Some more "ummffpp", then maybe making the PvP free to play and download for everyone would be idea.

The way I think it is, that if people download the game and play the pvp for free they will see some people who own the campaigns and see their sweet gear and stuff, and then maybe they would decide to buy the campaigns themselves?

Chris Blackstar

Banned

Join Date: Apr 2005

United States

That would cause more damage then good, you would be inviting trouble, besides this forum only speaks for >10% of the total community, and only >1% of the players think GW is dieing.

zwei2stein

zwei2stein

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Jun 2006

Europe

The German Order [GER]

N/

Anet could also make unlocking speed of free edition slower ... and make money on unlock packs.

Ghost Omel

Ghost Omel

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2007

----//---//---//-----//----

W/

i agree they alwasy have an option of utube or magazine to find out about the game making PvP free to all poeple will be a very bad choise why shouold some 1 who bought the compaing share the game with some 1 who didnt is like giving money away for free.
there are trials for poeple who are interested in the game for certain ammou8nt of time go to main GW web and you will see
another 1 reason not to make it free

InfernalSuffering

InfernalSuffering

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Inadequately Equipped [GeAr]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Blackstar
That would cause more damage then good, you would be inviting trouble, besides this forum only speaks for >10% of the total community, and only >1% of the players think GW is dieing.
Only 1% of the players think GW is dying (its more than that but according to you....) because the rest have already left.

I basically play only play pvp. I have spent $150 in order to have that right and now you want to give it away for free?

Go back to Ascalon City.

gasmaskman

gasmaskman

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2006

None, I don't play anymore.

Mo/W

Well if I get a refund then I'll /sign

Malice Black

Site Legend

Join Date: Oct 2005

Ermm no. This is up there with the rest of your bad ideas. PvP doesn't need a big injection of newbs, it needs the exp people to stop quiting.

MrFuzzles

MrFuzzles

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2007

Norway

D/

Maybe observing matches, but not actually participating in them.

Some (or a lot) of people play this game primarily for pvp. It's not some little thing on the side they do in their pasttime between farming. Making it free would upset a lot of existing customers.

And I don't agree that GW is dying at all. It's just past the peak after it's release, that's all. I'll chime in and say that GW is dying when there are no matches to observe, no people in LA, and no opposing teams in RA during peak hours.

I'm under the impression that the only people who will say GW is dying are those who are tired of it and on the verge of quitting. Just because you don't find it as entertaining any more, doesn't mean it *is* less entertaining.

Melody Cross

Melody Cross

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Dec 2006

Alliance of Anguish [aOa]

Mo/

This would not happen because Anet is a business. There are lots of free games out there, but they are not up to the standard of GW or WoW or Counterstrike.

Anet lets people try it for a little while, but if they want to keep playing, they have to buy the game. Anet already made it cheaper and easier to just play PvP, and I tend to believe that it is part of the reason why some players have left. If something is too easy, there is no feeling of accomplishment. No reward for effort. That is--very truly I think--one reason why WoW is such a success. Time invested in the game for the rewards you have makes it harder for a player to just turn around and walk away. They may take a break or cut back, but not as many people just up and leave.

Many of the people I know who bought the skill packs have stopped playing by now. I never bought them, got all my skills through trainers and Balth Priests, and still enjoy most aspects of the game.

So I don't think giving the game away would help. People would feel even less attachment to it when they got it, and they would treat it like they do their other free toys: poorly. And it would sour veterans.

PS: Experienced PvP players will come back when the balance issues are solved.

GGs

Effendi Westland

Effendi Westland

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

Isle of the dead

[DVDF][LDS]

P/W

Quote:
Originally Posted by Malice Black
Ermm no. This is up there with the rest of your bad ideas. PvP doesn't need a big injection of newbs, it needs the exp people to stop quiting.
Exp people quit pvp on a monthly basis. What keeps it going is the new people starting to play it regulary.

But I don't agree with this suggestion, tho GW2 is probably going to have full pvp unlocks when you start a pvp char, so Anet is on this issue.

Yanman.be

Yanman.be

Banned

Join Date: Dec 2005

Belgium

[ROSE]

A/

/sign for a free observer client. this will be a great ad imo. will cost bandwidth, or use a seperate server.

Div

Div

I like yumy food!

Join Date: Jan 2006

Where I can eat yumy food

Dead Alley [dR]

Mo/R

Quote:
Originally Posted by Effendi Westland
Exp people quit pvp on a monthly basis. What keeps it going is the new people starting to play it regulary.

But I don't agree with this suggestion, tho GW2 is probably going to have full pvp unlocks when you start a pvp char, so Anet is on this issue.
Unfortunately for the community, the new people starting to play it are horrible at the game. Even the small handful that are good and make their way to the top can't hope to compete as well as the people from the top guilds before.

Take GvG for example. How many truly new guilds (not talking reforms or anything) actually make the top 100? Even the top 1000. Most are near complete reforms of old guilds (Te -> rawr), some are smurfs (iQ -> MoJ), while others, like mine, consist mostly of old PvPers who have played together for a long time.

With the current obstacles going into higher level PvP, of course it's going to be hard for a new player to get good. Even if he's skilled individually, it's hard for him to get into a good guild/group to prove it.

acidic

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Sep 2005

I Want My Refund If They Did That

Pae

Pae

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2005

No way... that'd cause even more slowdowns. ANet could put of a few videos of the more intense PvP battles to get people more interested/involved, though.

zwei2stein

zwei2stein

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Jun 2006

Europe

The German Order [GER]

N/

what about ... GW: Bare Minimum edition.

features:

* Only Core skills unlockable and useable
* Only Core classes. (upgrades, runes, insignia ...)
* Access to Temple of Bathazar, Zaishen PvE-ish PvP and Random Arena only.
* Cannot be member of guild and cannot trade.
* No heroes.
* Only two Character slots.
* Can freely use observer mode.
* Free as beer.
( * PvE limited to Presearing ascalon? )

Best of both words ... gives decent free access, core skills can keep anyone having quick look at pvp entertained for while and eventually make him buy the reall thing to take part in ha/gvg he would see in observer.

But it wont be full fledged free pvp, and would be pretty useless for existing hardcore player (useless as mule, no guild membership or access to serious stuff.)

Anet could give out theese access keys at various promos, or just to anyone bothering to fill out few details at their website.

Effendi Westland

Effendi Westland

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

Isle of the dead

[DVDF][LDS]

P/W

Quote:
Originally Posted by holymasamune
Unfortunately for the community, the new people starting to play it are horrible at the game. Even the small handful that are good and make their way to the top can't hope to compete as well as the people from the top guilds before.

Take GvG for example. How many truly new guilds (not talking reforms or anything) actually make the top 100? Even the top 1000. Most are near complete reforms of old guilds (Te -> rawr), some are smurfs (iQ -> MoJ), while others, like mine, consist mostly of old PvPers who have played together for a long time.

With the current obstacles going into higher level PvP, of course it's going to be hard for a new player to get good. Even if he's skilled individually, it's hard for him to get into a good guild/group to prove it.
Yes, but what if say all the best players... the whole top 300 would suddenly quit GW, would that mean that pvp is dead? I think not, the player-skill-level will drop, that is fur sure, but it will also make GvG more attractive to lesser skilled people as they now have more chance of success. the top 300-1000 will certainly not mind having a higher rating, or a chance at championship points (which yes will mean alot less then).

Take the other side, what if all the rank 1000+ guilds would stop. It will have no impact on the higher ranking guilds, their fights would become harder as they will only face each other, which they would probably like. For a group of new players who would like to take on GvG it would be almost an impossible task however, losing fight after fight after fight will be very demoralising, and I doubt many would even try to join the action. This results in a deadlock. Eventually higher ranks would grow tired and the GvG community would simply dry up it's player pool (as a whole, not just looking at the higher ranks, who again would probably love fighting skilled players all the time).

My point is: For a vibrant GvG community it doesn't matter how many experienced GvG players quit the game, as long as there are as many new GvG players joining the scene, regardless of their player skill level.

GodofAcid

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2006

Massachusetts, USA

E/

Let's look past people wanting refunds and all that for a sec.. if they gave away PvP, they'd essentially be giving away half their game for free. That doesn't make much business sense, considering alot of people have bought all 3 games solely for the PvP aspect. So I guess I consider your suggestion little more than a pipe dream, because it just isn't going to happen. It makes no fiscal sense.

Ensign

Ensign

Just Plain Fluffy

Join Date: Dec 2004

Berkeley, CA

Idiot Savants

Ever since they made the 'core skills' distinction it has seemed obvious that a free, core-only PvP edition would be a great marketing tool for the game. As long as it's sufficiently locked down that the goldhausen wouldn't want to make a bunch of free accounts as mules, core-only free accounts would seem to be a good way to get people to try the game and generate sales from those who enjoyed it.

Why isn't there one? I wouldn't know, but it's entirely consistent with their marketing failures elsewhere.

Atlas Ravens

Atlas Ravens

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Feb 2007

Raven Clan [RAVN]

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Malice Black
Ermm no. PvP doesn't need a big injection of newbs, it needs the exp people to stop quiting.
^^What he said.

Age

Age

Hall Hero

Join Date: Jul 2005

California Canada/BC

STG Administrator

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by holymasamune
Unfortunately for the community, the new people starting to play it are horrible at the game. Even the small handful that are good and make their way to the top can't hope to compete as well as the people from the top guilds before.

Take GvG for example. How many truly new guilds (not talking reforms or anything) actually make the top 100? Even the top 1000. Most are near complete reforms of old guilds (Te -> rawr), some are smurfs (iQ -> MoJ), while others, like mine, consist mostly of old PvPers who have played together for a long time.

With the current obstacles going into higher level PvP, of course it's going to be hard for a new player to get good. Even if he's skilled individually, it's hard for him to get into a good guild/group to prove it.
what is that about Te->rawr is this Treachouse Empire you are talking about?

hyro yamaguchi

hyro yamaguchi

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2005

The Netherlands

Mo/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ensign
Ever since they made the 'core skills' distinction it has seemed obvious that a free, core-only PvP edition would be a great marketing tool for the game. As long as it's sufficiently locked down that the goldhausen wouldn't want to make a bunch of free accounts as mules, core-only free accounts would seem to be a good way to get people to try the game and generate sales from those who enjoyed it.

Why isn't there one? I wouldn't know, but it's entirely consistent with their marketing failures elsewhere.
The answer to this lies in runescape.

basically what is being proposed here: large portion of the game free. What you get is 99% of the players playing the free game all the time because it's big enough to be played without the extra stuff.

Now Runescape is a browser based game with very low graphics, no large staff to pay, no marketing campaigns, and the paid version has monthly fees.

Guildwars however has...better graphics, large staff of people, marketing campaigns and just one time pay. And: since it's pvp a constantly shifting metagame, which therefore keeps being interesting.

So what you get is a tiny portion of the new people actually buying the game, but huge pressure on the servers => loads of money spend on paying more.


The idea is nice though, and I'd certainly like it, it'd create an even bigger online community, but I just don't see Anet doing this.

Solas

Solas

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Oct 2006

Ireland

Currently LF Active HA Guild, Glad 2, Comm.3, R2

E/

/disagree

think about it if they gave away free pvp accounts you'd have more noobs in ra whining about WoW.

since it was free acount the can cuss, swear and jsut deteriarate the gaming atmosphere for the peopel who bought it, and if they did get banned whats stopping them gettign another free pvp account?

the ascalon idea
- more people would be pre-napping
- more cussing,swearing so forth
- and immature kids


all in all i really not a fan of this

all we need are more "PvP"-er jerks that go to a pve town and moan about how pve is easy, when more then likly they bought there rank in the first place.

hyro yamaguchi

hyro yamaguchi

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2005

The Netherlands

Mo/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by Talach_Ninneed
all we need are more "PvP"-er jerks that go to a pve town and moan about how pve is easy, when more then likly they bought there rank in the first place.
Uh...yeah. No one could have gotten their rank in an honest way right?

Seriously, people who whine about how easy pve is compared to pvp are (in most scenarios) right. Sure they're sad people who should shut up, but it really feels like a player who 0wns at PvE farming, tried PvP, failed and is now crying how it is impossible that people could be any good at PvP.

Taurucis

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2006

The edge of reason

I don't play any more.

W/E

Then everyone who bought PvP along with the game has gotten screwed over ONCE AGAIN by Anet.

Lawnmower

Lawnmower

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Mar 2006

W/R

I don't understand where you guys are coming from.


I mean, pvp by itself is stale. everyone looks alike, few armors and stuff to choose from. skills and modes could be limited down too. Perhaps only make it TA and RA or something?


The way I see it = If a person downloads the free version, and likes it enough to keep playing it, they will not have a problem buying a campaign. The original is only like 15-20 bucks at EB games these days.
And if they dont like the game, then they wont play it anymore, and therefore not stress the servers anymore.


Its also a tactical suggestion because EOTN which is a PvE expansion, will be loaded with cool PvE stuff like armor and weapons - stuff that the "free players" would get to see from a distance when a camapign player would walk into town.

The free version could also have adds or other limititations. core skills was a neat idea too. Or maybe only a max 4 skill bar.

_______________________


This game needs blood. GWs PvP has not taken off like it could. you dont see tons and tons of GvG and cool pvp movies on youtube and stuff, unlike the crappy world of warcraft.


I think it would make sense to release a SMALL portion away for free. as a unlimited trial. jesus christ. so the pvp is half the game? yeah right. Please go and compare the number of areas/cutscenes/dialouge/objects/enemies/tilesets/sounds/music that are between the pvp part of GW and that of the campaign part.

Also it gives promotion and renewed interest.



look... people are getting scared to buy GW. THey are waiting for GW2 instead(or at least considering it). Look at this guy on gamespot; http://www.gamespot.com/pages/forums...ic_id=25857266

greenreaper3

greenreaper3

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Nov 2006

ign: Cytherea of Athens

We Made Mallyx Tap [Out]

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by InfernalSuffering
Go back to Ascalon City.
lol.. funny

Kip Been

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Aug 2007

Dreams of Decadence

N/

all free MMOs, whether free version or free trial, have an extremely high population of immature morons. I don't think it would be a good idea because of that fact.

If the free version wasn't so inclined to do more damage to the game, than good, then I would support. There is no chance of that however.

Solas

Solas

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Oct 2006

Ireland

Currently LF Active HA Guild, Glad 2, Comm.3, R2

E/

Quote:
Originally Posted by hyro yamaguchi
Uh...yeah. No one could have gotten their rank in an honest way right?

Seriously, people who whine about how easy pve is compared to pvp are (in most scenarios) right. Sure they're sad people who should shut up, but it really feels like a player who 0wns at PvE farming, tried PvP, failed and is now crying how it is impossible that people could be any good at PvP.
its just liek going kurzick and goign to a luxon ab area and whiing about luxons,

pvp aint impossible nor pve, jsut requires time.

on the comtrary i do not farm, ifind it repetitive and boring. jsut playing the gmae is better

of coarse i pve and i know most titles can pretty much be bought. but honestly how often do you see pve'rs going to HA and going "this is n00bf3st l0l3|25" not sayign it doesnt happen.

also i never said EVERYONE buy em, tons of people put alot of work in the fame title track(along se it as being diffacult but the emphisis in the those types that go into pve zones jsut to moan and rage, can you seee em on a team, " no n00bz attack this"

imp that puts a nice ibt of pve'rs off pvp.

and you are right i dont pvp much, got r4 and r3 in luxon and kurzick, majority done in ab.

barly havent enough fame/glads to mention

Kool Pajamas

Kool Pajamas

Forge Runner

Join Date: Aug 2005

Maryland

Mage Elites [MAGE]

Maybe they could have a promotion. Core pvp only pack for $5. All core skills unlocked, maybe a few runes. Let people get a feel for the pvp part of the game. They wouldn't all flood HA. They'd have to go through the RA->TA->HA thing before they can get to HA.

Or maybe the pvp pack for factions should open FA, JQ and AB up. Or does it already? FA, JQ and AB, like RA are a beginners/casual pvp area. Good for letting people get their feet wet. Those areas are the best reason for getting Factions.

Wish Swiftdeath

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Feb 2007

Mo/W

give them access to TA, i'd like to max out my glad title :P

Kain666

Kain666

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Aug 2007

Bran - Romania

TIGG

Mo/A

Theres enough that we don't pay a monthly fee to play the game...make it free at all would be stupid i think.