A trip in the time machine: GW in 2003!

Fril Estelin

Fril Estelin

So Serious...

Join Date: Jan 2007

London

Nerfs Are [WHAK]

E/

I just discovered the E3 2003 GW video when browsing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJn9G...eature=related

I am amazed at how different the game looks compared to the current GW. A lot (euphemism FTW) of progress has been made and it's strange to think of GW2 now as an evolution of the same scale compared to the current game.

Further browsing showed videos of 2004 like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oudUy-lHYFM

And the beta event in 2005:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5u8Tu5Qjk4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RrB86eBYAw

I'm pretty sure this will bring back memories from some of you! GWG also has some good old stuff like this and that. If you have "oldies" (I don't mean req7/8 or old school skins ), please share!

Unholy Tank V

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Nov 2007

Mo/

lol yeah looks kinda like WoW back then

razuel

Academy Page

Join Date: Sep 2006

I got it when it first came out-- those were the days. It's so foreign to me now, I took a couple years off and now it's like learning a new game.

Meat Axe

Meat Axe

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2007

Brisbane, Australia

R/

Yeah, I've always been amazed at how much the graphics changed between the original testing stages and the release of the game. I guess graphics are probably one of the last things you add to a game during development, since it's better to have everything actually working before you make it look pretty.

And I'm amazed at that guru thread with the extra ranger skills. I can't believe there actually used to be a beast mastery line of weapons, and they were taken out. I guess having two weapons (a whip and a pet) is a bit unbalanced...

EDIT: Alright, I just read a bit further in the thread about the whips, and it seems to be fake. Still it would have been cool.

agrios

agrios

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2006

South America

Naked Stalkers of America[Nude]

W/

Fun to see the the Colossal Scimitar was in the game since the very start of it..

Neo Nugget

Neo Nugget

Site Contributor

Join Date: Jan 2006

R/

I have earned the right to call myself...a guild member......
_________
That is interesting how much the graphics have changed :P, i just bought the game June 05, never heard about it before then :P

Age

Age

Hall Hero

Join Date: Jul 2005

California Canada/BC

STG Administrator

Mo/

I like the last one and that is what happened on the last BWE night.I was stuck inside while playing Monk in the halls we got an error-11 I do miss the older UI sometimes like the second one.

I like the last one for the Paladin Build.

Bryant Again

Bryant Again

Hall Hero

Join Date: Feb 2006

Lol, man that looks so fun! The alpha, that is.

Whoa. Just realized that there was an instance where a warrior looked like he held up his shield to block a blow. Shame we don't see that today. It was at about 40 seconds.

mr_groovy

mr_groovy

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jun 2006

Netherlands

No Inherent Effect [NiE]

Ok guys we can clearly see the difference between gw alpha & beta.
Do you guys reckon the same difference will be seen between gw2 alpha & beta?

Bryant Again

Bryant Again

Hall Hero

Join Date: Feb 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by mr_groovy
Ok guys we can clearly see the difference between gw alpha & beta.
Do you guys reckon the same difference will be seen between gw2 alpha & beta?
Since GW1 is already starting to look a little dated, I'd say yes.

At least, I sure to god hope so.

Miss Puddles

Miss Puddles

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2005

California

Shiverpeaks Search And Rescue [Lost]

Me/

omg that warrior's bar in the last video XD the good old days...

take_me

take_me

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Mar 2006

Europe

Country Roads [HOME]

Good old days
I miss the times when not every little fact was posted on guildwiki, when you actually had stuff to explore, when you did mission or quests without looking it up on wiki, simply following a red path on a picture, or when I played my Warrior/Necro and only used Necro skills^^

Molock

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Sep 2006

Qu??bec

Legacy of Angels [Halo]

E/

Wow.. I wish GW had turned out to be what they were advertising in that Alpha version video... Seems to me that in the beggining guilds were gonna have a more important part in the story and that the game in general was more "free reign". More like WoW than the current GW.

AceeBlueEagle

AceeBlueEagle

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Dec 2005

ASH -Ashes of Humanity

R/

Haha nice. The biggest thing I noticed was bowstrings and the lack thereof now. I noticed it awhile back and now look at all my bows and giggle when arrows come flying out. It's magic!

And I too miss the mystery of finding out stuff in game. Don't get me wrong, I still love this game a full three years later.

I Phoenix I

I Phoenix I

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2007

The Elite Lords of Chaos [LoC]

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fril Estelin
So did this guy invent the Paladin? Or was that around in beta already?

IlikeGW

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Aug 2005

I think this game would have died with a WoW art direction, smartest change they ever made. Everyone who wants to play WoW is playing it anyway.

xReLx

xReLx

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Aug 2007

Mo/

Oh lawd. I miss the old graphics.

Operative 14

Operative 14

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2006

Arizona, USA

[OOP] Order of the Phoenix I

That first one is Guild Wars??

Quite an impressive change between the alpha and the actual release. I'm really, really glad they went the way they did.

Age

Age

Hall Hero

Join Date: Jul 2005

California Canada/BC

STG Administrator

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by I Phoenix I
So did this guy invent the Paladin? Or was that around in beta already?
Anet made up that build as The Paladin and it was in beta just think of 8 of those in HoH.

Harmless

Harmless

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Dec 2005

Uber Elite Rit Force of Justice Headquarters

What's a Guild? [LoL]

Rt/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbkIu...eature=related

End of beta event Gwen attack.

distilledwill

distilledwill

Forge Runner

Join Date: Sep 2006

Blighty

The Legion of the Blue Blade

R/Mo

oh man, that looks pretty awful.

I love the game now, not sure that trailer would have dragged me in...

Nevin

Nevin

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jul 2005

Fiery Gladius.

Shayne Hawke

Shayne Hawke

Departed from Tyria

Join Date: May 2007

Clan Dethryche [dth]

R/

First one looked a lot like WoW... I'm amazed that could have even been called Guild Wars.

Second video was kinda funny to watch. I don't think HA guilds these days are that disorganized.

In the third video, where is the elementalist standing in that last scene? It looked like it was Ascalon City, but I've never seen an area like that before.

DarkNecrid

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jul 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shayne Hawke
First one looked a lot like WoW... I'm amazed that could have even been called Guild Wars.

Second video was kinda funny to watch. I don't think HA guilds these days are that disorganized.

In the third video, where is the elementalist standing in that last scene? It looked like it was Ascalon City, but I've never seen an area like that before.
could be Khylo?

not sure

MoriaOrc

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Feb 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by agrios
Fun to see the the Colossal Scimitar was in the game since the very start of it..
I think I caught a glimpse of the Crenelated Sword a few seconds before the Colossal, too.

Croco Clouds

Croco Clouds

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Mar 2007

Montreal, QC, Canada

Divine Illumination [LaZy]

E/A

Alpha and Beta look like different games for sure

Buzzer

Buzzer

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2005

Australia

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shayne Hawke
First one looked a lot like WoW... I'm amazed that could have even been called Guild Wars.
Because WoW was out in 2003 wasn't it...

DarkNecrid

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jul 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Buzzer
Because WoW was out in 2003 wasn't it...
....no but Anet's founders did come from Blizzard, and left when WoW was in developement.

Lykan

Lykan

Forge Runner

Join Date: May 2005

StP

R/

Cant believe the first is supposed to be the same game, did they scrap it and start over or something?

fenix

fenix

Major-General Awesome

Join Date: Aug 2005

Aussie Trolling Crew HQ - Event Organiser and IRC Tiger

Ex Talionis [Law], Trinity of the Ascended [ToA] ????????????????&#

W/

Oh hi, my name is World of Guild Wars. hurr hurr hurr.

Worst game trailer ever. If I'd seen it, I would have stayed well away from GW. I'm glad that it was changed, it looked horrible in Alpha.

Meat Axe

Meat Axe

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2007

Brisbane, Australia

R/

I always assumed that WoW came out much before GW, which would have explained the terrible graphics. I never really thought about the fact that one of my friends from high school was talking about it while it was in development back in 2004. Now that I know that they were in development at the same time, my respect for GW and Anet has increased even more.

Lord Sojar

Lord Sojar

The Fallen One

Join Date: Dec 2005

Oblivion

Irrelevant

Mo/Me

I <3 Beta.

DarkNecrid

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jul 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Meat Axe
I always assumed that WoW came out much before GW, which would have explained the terrible graphics. I never really thought about the fact that one of my friends from high school was talking about it while it was in development back in 2004. Now that I know that they were in development at the same time, my respect for GW and Anet has increased even more.
They weren't in developement in the same time, WoW started before Guild Wars since the developers didn't leave for a bit into the Wow developement.


And terrible graphics does not make a terrible game, thats just silly. WoW chose to take less intensive graphics so TONS of people could play it, it has less requirements than GW, and more than 10 mil play it.

GW inherently chose better graphics.

Meat Axe

Meat Axe

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2007

Brisbane, Australia

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkNecrid
They weren't in developement in the same time, WoW started before Guild Wars since the developers didn't leave for a bit into the Wow developement.


And terrible graphics does not make a terrible game, thats just silly. WoW chose to take less intensive graphics so TONS of people could play it, it has less requirements than GW, and more than 10 mil play it.

GW inherently chose better graphics.
You're preaching to the choir about terrible graphics not necessarily meaning a lesser game. I still play games from the early 90s, like the Ultima series and Starcontrol, and some of the classic old platformers (Commander Keen, Duke Nukem, etc). All of these games have something going for them, and it clearly isn't the graphics. When a game has nothing else going for it, however, the graphics do play a very major factor, and in my opinion, WoW doesn't have a lot going for it. But I don't want to start that argument all over again. Different people have different opinions, and I respect that.

Anyway, GW and WoW clearly were in development at the same time, even if one started before the other. The fact that WoW started its development before GW, and the fact that GW had updated its graphics for its beta in the same year that WoW was released could lead to some interesting discussion (if the inevitable flame war could be prevented, but if it could, it wouldn't be inevitable). GW is a piece of art. It's beautiful. WoW, on the other hand, is designed to be a money-maker, and thus obviously had to sacrifice some elements.

It's interesting to see how games are developed over time. To see which ideas make it into the game, and which are deemed impossible without a major overhaul, or deemed not suitable for the type of game the developers are trying to make. It'd be interesting to see more of this sort of thing.

artay

artay

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Feb 2006

Australia

The Agony Scene

E/

That HoH video was funny(keep using that deathly swarm ><) A beastmaster whip woulda been sweet

Fril Estelin

Fril Estelin

So Serious...

Join Date: Jan 2007

London

Nerfs Are [WHAK]

E/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Harmless
The Isle of the dead GH was the same . And very nice meteors and we can see a blue dialog window appearing when they die . Nice old times.

According to this article, Anet actually opened the unofficial RPG stars forum in 2002! (where Gaile was already patroling ) I could find the lore about Kyhlo mentioned on this site, that must have been the first GW site ever. Oh and read this and this (I guess the "not implemented" attribute was water magic?) for another big time slap in the face!

More of GW retro 2003 in Anet's archive:
http://www.guildwars.com/community/p...003photo02.php
(there's a very different character selection screen here)

And there was a Community day 2004 which says a lot about Anet's early commitment to the community! (we can see the first shot of Gaile here! )

It must have felt good to be part of the few early GW players!

Curse You

Curse You

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2006

South Pole

The Magus Order

N/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by Meat Axe
I always assumed that WoW came out much before GW, which would have explained the terrible graphics. I never really thought about the fact that one of my friends from high school was talking about it while it was in development back in 2004. Now that I know that they were in development at the same time, my respect for GW and Anet has increased even more.
World of Warcraft was released in November 2004, whereas Guild Wars was released in April 2005. That's only a gap of 4 months.

Rhedd

Rhedd

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2005

You ever have to clean up after a Moa bird?

True Solunastra [SLA] Profession: Moa Wrangler

I think it's odd that everyone always says that Alpha GW looks like WoW.

If I would've worked on WoW, I'd be seriously insulted.

Yes, WoW's graphics are cartoon-like in style, but that's a matter of STYLE, not quality. WoW might not be to your taste, especially if you're an American and have grown up being told over and over that only kids like cartoons, but the art is good, whether it appeals to you or not.

Warcraft's art is like sushi; It's not to everyone's taste, but to those who like it, it's fantastic.

Alpha GW, on the other hand, is just kind of bad.

I can only assume they had an almost complete turnover in art team somewhere along the line. Either that, or the artists deserve some serious respect for maturing so much, talent-wise, in that amount of time. (No, graphics are not one of the last things to be added to a game. Nobody creates an entire game full of stuff that looks like Alpha GW, with the full intention of replacing it later. Somebody had a new, and much appreciated, change in artistic vision, there.)

GW now has some of the most beautiful graphics of any game, regardless of what fancy new technical tricks they use or don't.

Warcraft doesn't look half bad, either. Low polycounts, but lots of style.

These days, as we march closer and closer to every game being photorealistic, it's style and artistic talent that makes a game stand out from the crowd. Heck, even real life looks just like real life. How boring! ^_^

beanerman_99

beanerman_99

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2005

In the clouds

[Sage]

E/

Fril- Nice finds! its always fun to look back and see what things were like and to realize how far this game has progressed over the years. Good times!

Mordakai

Mordakai

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Kyhlo

W/

Wow, don't even recognize the game from that first footage!

And, note to Anet PR: Don't ever use the words "World of Guild Wars" again.