About the new Quarterly Updates - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

blackamethyst

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2006

[ale]

26 May 2009 at 13:05 - 1

Question: Why no word yet on the next big update?

So, by my understanding, we as the GW community can expect quarterly updates to the game from now on (at least until GW2). Didn't we get an idea of what was in the April update far in advance of the actual update itself? So what's with the silence on ANet's end? It's already been a month since the last update, and no word about what's going to be in the next one. I've been looking around on guru and the wiki and I haven't seen any official announcements of anything.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not at all dissatisfied with the April update (thank you ANet for the stylist, omg), but I was so pleasantly surprised by it (tbh I expected very little) that now I'm excited to see what they'll do next.

I'd like to know what other players feel about this. I just find it odd that nothing's been announced yet for the next big update.

-----------

July 7th Edit:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regina Buenaobra

I think there is a misunderstanding about what "quarterly" actually means.

If you break the year up into four parts (quarters) this is what you have:

First Quarter of the year: January - March
Second Quarter of the year: April - June
Third Quarter of the year: July - September
Fourth Quarter of the year: October - December

Content updates every 3 - 4 months is not necessarily the same thing as quarterly.

The April content update actually arrived within the Second Quarter of the year. If we said we would do "quarterly" content updates, then we just missed the First Quarter.

Okay, so some time has passed. According to what Regina's said, we can expect a new big update within the next three months. I'll say again what I said before: Why haven't we heard anything about what's going to be in this new update? Are they going to "miss" this one too? I hate to sound cynical about the whole thing, but I'm beginning to lose faith in this game. Skill balances are coming later and later and there are still a lot of unresolved issues in the game.

And yes, I realize they're working on GW2. I'm excited about that, but it won't be released for another few years. I really hope they don't let GW1 just slowly die off.

Anyway, correct me if I'm wrong, but aside from the promise of "PvP Love" I haven't seen any indication of what they could be working on.

evenfall

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

26 May 2009 at 13:10 - 2

From Linsey's Journal, 19th May 2009

Quote:

Live Team is busily working on "what next?" and that isn't an easy task. There is so much we want to do for Guild Wars, prioritizing what we can do, what will be best for the game and best for it's player base, is a pretty difficult undertaking.

So a likely answer is that it isn't finalized yet so they can't give an official statement.

ZenRgy

Zookeeper

Join Date: Jul 2005

Australian Discussion Posse HQ - Glorious leader

҉ ̵̡̢̢̛̛̛̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟&#

N/E

26 May 2009 at 13:16 - 3

Prestige weapons and armour in the GW store.

Chico

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2007

26 May 2009 at 13:24 - 4

Working on "what's next"?
I hope it doesn't take too long to decide what to do. Implementation-wise that's all wasted time. They should know by now what they are doing for the next update.

jiggles

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Sep 2007

N/

26 May 2009 at 13:39 - 5

More pve updates. Who cares.

Eragon Zarroc

Atra estern?? ono thelduin

Join Date: Jan 2008

Madness Incarnate

[Duo]

W/P

26 May 2009 at 13:40 - 6

it will be a minimum of three months, more than likely even more, before the next large content update comes out. have patience and enjoy what was given to us a month ago, lol.

Coolpb

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Aug 2008

Bergen Hot Springs

We Farm Your [ECTOs]

A/

26 May 2009 at 13:43 - 7

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenRgy

Prestige weapons and armour in the GW store.

None of us want to see GW brought to this level, but as microtransactions go it'd be the next step.

Scary

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2007

Uhmmmm??

Limburgse Jagers [LJ]

N/

26 May 2009 at 13:55 - 8

Quote:

Originally Posted by jiggles

More pve updates. Who cares.

I care,

I love PvE... No im not much of a teamplayer with other peeps.
But when my children are gone to bed and my wife is relaxing infront of the
TV. I find it very relaxing after a day of work wondering with my hero's across
the GW world...

And I embrace every content update or loot update or armor update with open arms.

So I care

refer

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2009

US

26 May 2009 at 13:59 - 9

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenRgy

Prestige weapons and armour in the GW store.

As bad as I think this would be, I would use it... PvP armors made easy perhaps? Would be funny if they added a "I didn't buy this armor" title in game to show that you didn't get it the quick way.

blackamethyst

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2006

[ale]

26 May 2009 at 14:34 - 10

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenRgy

Prestige weapons and armour in the GW store.

I'd really hate to see armors and such put in the in-game store. Acquisition of armor is an integral part of gameplay, and I'd hate to see that removed. Elite/prestige armors are kind of a symbol of a player's proficiency at the game (or at farming, anyway). Everyone who has FoW or any other elite set has had to work for it in one way or another, and I think being able to simply buy it is kind of a cop out.

As for the prestige weapons, work for them or don't get them. I don't think they should be added to the store.

instanceskiller

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2008

Myst

A/

26 May 2009 at 14:40 - 11

I would just settle for a massive skill balance update and primary attribute balance *cough, spawning power, cough* and maybe some NEW armor wouldn't hurt....and rehashed ones like most of the eotn ones...

TheodenKing

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2008

DoA

Dark Order of Retarded Knights (doRk)

N/Me

26 May 2009 at 14:52 - 12

You might consider giving the Live team time to analyze the effects of the recent massive update and subsequent skill updates before whining that they aren't ready to tell you about the next big thing.

Oh, and if they do decide to let people buy prestige armor with real cash... that'll probably be the thing that gets me to walk away from GW and find some other game.

MithranArkanere

Underworld Spelunker

Join Date: Nov 2006

wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigo

Heraldos de la Llama Oscura [HLO]

E/

26 May 2009 at 14:53 - 13

They already know 'what's next'. We have told almost everything we wanted.

They are just probably deciding which of all those things would be more flashy and bring more attention, and which ones could they charge us for.

fog_of_redoubt

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

26 May 2009 at 15:14 - 14

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheodenKing

You might consider giving the Live team time to analyze the effects of the recent massive update and subsequent skill updates before whining that they aren't ready to tell you about the next big thing.

Analyze the effects of the recent massive update???

You mean count how much money they made on makeovers and storage tabs?

Then they can determine how much they can charge for a few minor changes in the next release?

fog_of_redoubt

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

26 May 2009 at 15:17 - 15

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackamethyst

Question: Why no word yet on the next big update?

So, by my understanding, we as the GW community can expect quarterly updates to the game from now on (at least until GW2). Didn't we get an idea of what was in the April update far in advance of the actual update itself? So what's with the silence on ANet's end?

ANet has a history of "announcing" new strategies, only to fail at follow through and delivery.

I don't expect more massive content delivery.

aapo

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2006

26 May 2009 at 15:17 - 16

Quote:

Originally Posted by jiggles

More pve updates. Who cares.

- Many.

aapo

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2006

26 May 2009 at 15:23 - 17

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackamethyst

I'd really hate to see armors and such put in the in-game store. Acquisition of armor is an integral part of gameplay, and I'd hate to see that removed. Elite/prestige armors are kind of a symbol of a player's proficiency at the game (or at farming, anyway). Everyone who has FoW or any other elite set has had to work for it in one way or another, and I think being able to simply buy it is kind of a cop out.

- So what do you suggest for update then? So far nearly everything they've made for the game outside new gameplay areas has made gaming easier. More experience/faction/gold, better skills, less grind... and it's a good thing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheodenKing

Oh, and if they do decide to let people buy prestige armor with real cash... that'll probably be the thing that gets me to walk away from GW and find some other game.

- Are you people married to this game? You sound like you have to "take a break" as if gaming wasn't that "break" from daily responsibilities. Now you sound like you're divorcing your loved one after long streak of hardships?

Killed u man

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2006

26 May 2009 at 15:30 - 18

Quote:

Originally Posted by fog_of_redoubt

ANet has a history of "announcing" new strategies, only to fail at follow through and delivery.

I don't expect more massive content delivery.

Don't confuse massive contect with the ILLUSION of massive content.

Last update, WHAT did we get? (Counting the skill update in)

-> Bad skill update, people were "expecting" atleast 50+ skills to get changed/revamped/fixed. There were 24 skill changes, most of them ineffective/over effective.

-> Zaishen Challenge, which does NOT count as new contect. It's a reward for REPLAYING old content. Anyone in their right mind figures this.

-> Changing look/name of character, this is once again NOT NEW CONTENT. It's something that should have been available for a long time, and all they did was allow you to "recreate" your initial character with it's current titles/armor/etc...

-> Zaishen Manegerie, clearly some un-used Factions models lying around. Gives us the ability to organize our pets, but in reality, does NOT offer anything new once again. The Dire Pets on pvp characters is the only "big" thing I can figure for this.

Yeah, any update is better than none, I agree, but does the Dev Team honestly believe they did a good job?

99% of the last update was un-used material recycled...

fog_of_redoubt

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

26 May 2009 at 15:35 - 19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killed u man

Don't confuse massive contect with the ILLUSION of massive content.

Last update, WHAT did we get? (Counting the skill update in)

-> Bad skill update, people were "expecting" atleast 50+ skills to get changed/revamped/fixed. There were 24 skill changes, most of them ineffective/over effective.

-> Zaishen Challenge, which does NOT count as new contect. It's a reward for REPLAYING old content. Anyone in their right mind figures this.

-> Changing look/name of character, this is once again NOT NEW CONTENT. It's something that should have been available for a long time, and all they did was figure out how to CHARGE you to allow you to "recreate" your initial character with it's current titles/armor/etc...

-> Zaishen Manegerie, clearly some un-used Factions models lying around. Gives us the ability to organize our pets, but in reality, does NOT offer anything new once again. The Dire Pets on pvp characters is the only "big" thing I can figure for this.

Yeah, any update is better than none, I agree, but does the Dev Team honestly believe they did a good job?

99% of the last update was un-used material recycled...

Fixed your post for you.

aapo

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2006

26 May 2009 at 15:40 - 20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killed u man

Don't confuse massive contect with the ILLUSION of massive content.

- Yeah. Why those hamburgers at McDonalds advertisements look so much more yummy than the actual product you get?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killed u man

-> Bad skill update, people were "expecting" atleast 50+ skills to get changed/revamped/fixed. There were 24 skill changes, most of them ineffective/over effective.

- I expected at least 500 skill changes, so there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killed u man

-> Zaishen Challenge, which does NOT count as new contect. It's a reward for REPLAYING old content. Anyone in their right mind figures this.

- Uh-huh! What else could it possibly be? Replaying non-existant content? Not playing content? Press this button and fireworks set off while credits roll. Is that what you want? Put yourself to ANET employee position for once, I wonder if you can.

fog_of_redoubt

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

26 May 2009 at 15:52 - 21

Quote:

Originally Posted by aapo

Put yourself to ANET employee position for once, I wonder if you can.

I thought Killed you man did a pretty good job of taking a realistic look at the content update.

His point about Zaishen Challenge... Do you see the Zaishen Challenge as being new content?

alluring athena

Academy Page

Join Date: Apr 2009

26 May 2009 at 16:48 - 22

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackamethyst

Question: Why no word yet on the next big update?

So, by my understanding, we as the GW community can expect quarterly updates to the game from now on (at least until GW2).

I didn't hear anything about "quarterly" updates

Can you provide a link where this has been mentioned?

fog_of_redoubt

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

26 May 2009 at 16:50 - 23

Quote:

Originally Posted by alluring athena

I didn't hear anything about "quarterly" updates

Can you provide a link where this has been mentioned?

Do your own research, it is well known.

alluring athena

Academy Page

Join Date: Apr 2009

26 May 2009 at 17:02 - 24

Quote:

Originally Posted by fog_of_redoubt

Do your own research, it is well known.

Well that was entirely unhelpful.
It's so well known that you couldn't come up with a link that references it instead of a smartass comment?

aapo

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2006

26 May 2009 at 17:04 - 25

Quote:

Originally Posted by fog_of_redoubt

His point about Zaishen Challenge... Do you see the Zaishen Challenge as being new content?

- Technically those NPCs and quest structure is new content, but as he sees it, it indeed is nothing we wouldn't have seen before. Tone of his post was as if he was disappointed about the fact. There's nothing surprising about it though. Guild Wars was released 4 years ago. It has seen numerous patches, chapters, expansions. Now the game is in maintenance phase, meaning the strategy is just to keep the players there. Of course it won't work forever, but maintaining critical mass for different aspects of the game is just the problem zaishen quest system tries to tackle and so far it's been doing quite well at that.

TideSwayer

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2005

We Farm Your [?????????s]

26 May 2009 at 17:05 - 26

ANet still hasn't decided on what to do for the next update? That sucks. Considering that the last big update came out at the end of April, and it's now the end of May, that basically means one lost month here.

Ugh, lol.

fog_of_redoubt

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

26 May 2009 at 17:10 - 27

Quote:

Originally Posted by alluring athena

Well that was entirely unhelpful.
It's so well known that you couldn't come up with a link that references it instead of a smartass comment?

No, I am not going to look something up for you. No one is obligated to prove something to you.

Have a nice day

refer

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2009

US

26 May 2009 at 17:20 - 28

Quote:

Originally Posted by alluring athena

Well that was entirely unhelpful.
It's so well known that you couldn't come up with a link that references it instead of a smartass comment?

I've heard about it too. It's not like this this is a rumor.

Oddly enough I can't find the link either but this is similar:

http://www.guildwars.com/gameplay/de...ttractions.php

They just will be doing more "big" updates and less "small" ones.

slowerpoke

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2007

Cuba

26 May 2009 at 17:25 - 29

Considering the update arrived April, its more liek 'thirdly' than quarterly

I don't recall reading anywhere it would be a regular (every X months) occurrence, unless your just assuming. links or it didn't happen.

Anon-e-mouse

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2006

@ Home

League Of Friends [LOF]

R/Mo

26 May 2009 at 17:27 - 30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coolpb

None of us want to see GW brought to this level, but as microtransactions go it'd be the next step.

The amounts involved were/are NOT "microtransactions". Micro usually indicates small, tiny, miniscule. $15 is not a small, tiny, or miniscule amount, and therefore does not qualify for the "microtransaction" tag.

alluring athena

Academy Page

Join Date: Apr 2009

26 May 2009 at 18:14 - 31

Quote:

Originally Posted by refer

I've heard about it too. It's not like this this is a rumor.

Oddly enough I can't find the link either but this is similar:

http://www.guildwars.com/gameplay/de...ttractions.php

They just will be doing more "big" updates and less "small" ones.

TYVM for providing a link to an official posting by Anet

----cut
Content Updates

Content updates will be done separately from the monthly maintenance and occur every three to four months. By spacing out our content releases, we gain the time to tackle larger and more difficult projects that, previously, would've been impossible. Some features that once seemed unattainable are now being explored as upcoming projects. We are even expanding the Live Team to offer more of the best quality support and content that we can for Guild Wars. With this new system, we release our new content in fewer yet more substantial updates. 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.
----paste

Sounds like they would like to provide the community with content updates quarterly or thirdly, or possibly longer, but there is no rigid timetable they have committed to. Unless someone can provide a link that proves otherwise.

snaek

Forge Runner

Join Date: Mar 2006

N/

26 May 2009 at 18:26 - 32

wait? what? they're still trying to figure out what to work on?

at first what i thought was a new time model that allowed for better time management, looks like its really an excuse to take it easy for 1 month, and then try to cram 3 months of work into 2 month's time. which of course will most likely result in another delay in skill balance.

i wouldn't mind if they spent that 3 months entirely on giving us a decent skill balance for once. of course i'm a minority, so that will never happen. pve ftw?

rohara

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2006

Rt/

26 May 2009 at 18:32 - 33

auction house upgrade, only $19.99! max any title of your choosing, just $29.99! free content! some new tonics and summoning stones.

Snow Bunny

Alcoholic From Yale

Join Date: Jul 2007

Strong Foreign Policy [sFp]

26 May 2009 at 18:55 - 34

They could just do a proper skill balance and that would be nice.

Operative 14

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2006

Arizona, USA

[OOP] Order of the Phoenix I

26 May 2009 at 19:00 - 35

It seems like at this point they've probably looked through all the options and are figuring out exactly what they can do by August, and what they can't. Once they have that done, they'll hint at what they're working on so they don't have to deal with the "You promised us 'X', where is it??" mentality. Personally I'd prefer to wait a bit and know exactly what they're up to then having them come out with several ideas early and retracting them later.

Though a month does seem to be near the borderline for when they need to have finalized things. Maybe they're so busy working on something so massive that it'll knock our socks off when it comes out, and it's detracting from the time they have to give us status updates.

Shadowspawn X

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2005

Fellowship of Champions

R/E

26 May 2009 at 19:08 - 36

Quote:

Originally Posted by snaek

at first what i thought was a new time model that allowed for better time management, looks like its really an excuse to take it easy for 1 month, and then try to cram 3 months of work into 2 month's time. which of course will most likely result in another delay in skill balance.

Nothing is quarterly or thirdly. Unless I'm missing something the title rebalance update was in November and then we had the April update thats five months. So my guess is they are just taking as much time as the job at hand takes.

englitdaudelin

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2006

East Coast

Soldier's Union [SU]

N/Me

26 May 2009 at 19:13 - 37

Isn't there a variant on this thread .... the "have they outdone themselves/aka what's next?" thread?

Anyway, Linsey has pointed out the large scale of work needed for new explorable areas, so I doubt we'll get those. Wave bye-bye to the other realms of the gods.

Expect some things more like Titan quests, MOX, and Nicholas the Traveller: reasons to go to certain areas.

Nicholas and the Z-Quests have rezzed, to a notable extent, pugging in odd places, and redistributed players around the map. I think they were nice moves, and I think they are the models for coming PvE content: quests and missions in already-existing maps, with monsters, bosses, and mobs carrying new skills, or new combinations of old skills, with new rewards. EotN's
and MOX's style of storyline. Maybe transitional material introduccing some of GW2's places and ideas.

People have said it in other threads too: end-of-area chests in sorrows and tombs. Alterations to the skillsets used in mobs. AI tweaks. I'm certainly forgetting a lot, but I look forward to it.

I hope hope hope that a nearby SKILL balance addresses other things, like spawning power, perma, paragon bars other than the imbagooon.

alluring athena

Academy Page

Join Date: Apr 2009

26 May 2009 at 19:18 - 38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadowspawn X

Nothing is quarterly or thirdly. Unless I'm missing something the title rebalance update was in November and then we had the April update thats five months. So my guess is they are just taking as much time as the job at hand takes.

/agree

I find it interesting that so many are totally convinced that Anet will come out with new content every quarter like its a certainty.

Lishy

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2008

26 May 2009 at 19:27 - 39

I don't care how long it takes them.
Guild Wars is one of my favorite games I have a passion for. I'll be patient and understand if it means them taking their time to make it as good as possible.

dilan155

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2007

living room

N/

26 May 2009 at 19:37 - 40

they would loose quite a bit of whats left of the player base, if they go up to that level in micro transaction, however they might try somethings that wont affect player play but will gain them money, besides the moment they put something on sale there killing the economy from what it is now, which is pretty bad atm anyway. and they cant put useless armor because no one would buy them. i doubt they would devote enough time into designing new armor and weapons, maybe re skins like EOTN.