Guild Wars is suffering from its own violation of everyone's expectations. When the game came out it was pushed heavily as an alternative MMORPG, especially with the no monthly fee angle tacked on. People came to expect an MMO, but it's not really an MMO, it's a standard, level-based single player game (even ancient old Baldur's Gate has a more seamless world than Guild Wars) with an online component and some really fancy 3-D chat rooms.
Now people expect what you get with WoW: content updates that add new dungeons and quests and monsters and features.... but they won't get that because Guild Wars isn't an MMO. Instead, they have to sit around between game releases while the old game gets stale and withers and the new game is still being built (although, the fact that they haven't proven in over 2 years that the game is even actually being built doesn't help matters).
I think they shot themselves in the foot from a marketing standpoint four years ago when they set up expectations the game could never have met.
GW2. Was it a mistake to announce?
Ctb
betterjonjon
GW is by far my favorite game( ive spent 300+ dollars on it even without a monthly fee) and what anet has done throughout the years has been really well done. IMHO they needed to get away from GW1 and go to GW2 since it was starting to become stagnant even before GW:EN. I think they have screwed up by not releasing almost ANYTHING since they told us about GW2, but thats just my opinion.
Targren
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Originally Posted by Winterclaw
They had to announce it eventually. If a year had passed without an expansion or any reason the fans would have gotten angry. However Anet failed to stay on the good side of the fans by failing to provide any major and substantial updates, nor did they finish their last campaign, Utopia in order to give us something to do. They still haven't even finished GWEN.
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Something like this this. I'm more inclined to think the bigger mistake was moving all of their eggs into the GW2 basket and abandoning GW, without taking into account that GW1 was going to be the primary way of keeping player interest. The creation of the "live team" skeleton crew is a band-aid.
Maybe they expected to be done sooner, or maybe it was a PHB decision (I don't work there, I don't know) but from the outside looking in, it looks like someone was playing with the gun and lost a few toes.
Ghost Omel
I must agree reliance on GW2 is very bold move. One misstep and its road downhill from there on. But it is also slightly good (if one were to look at this optimisticly) all resources, all work force and time are invested into the new product. Very big chance it being a huge money maker and an awesome game.
Braxton619
Yes, it's wonderful GW2 is coming out. I'm saving right now for it!
lilDeath
They had to make the announcement... it was inevitable and people were already asking about the next intended release which was less than 6 months away.
They made a strategic decision to not pursue the 6-month release cycle route anymore, by releasing the next game it would only get worse with what they wanted to do, but instead they want to make an even grander, more dynamic game, which the design of GW1 could not cater for.
I admire that from them. It is still a business and GW1 would not have kept them competitive and on the right path over the longterm. And obviously people will rip them for that.
I see GW1 as a stepping stone for them of things to come, they know where and what mistakes they made and (hopefully) will not make the same mistakes when GW2 rolls out.
They made a strategic decision to not pursue the 6-month release cycle route anymore, by releasing the next game it would only get worse with what they wanted to do, but instead they want to make an even grander, more dynamic game, which the design of GW1 could not cater for.
I admire that from them. It is still a business and GW1 would not have kept them competitive and on the right path over the longterm. And obviously people will rip them for that.
I see GW1 as a stepping stone for them of things to come, they know where and what mistakes they made and (hopefully) will not make the same mistakes when GW2 rolls out.
Karate Jesus
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Originally Posted by slowerpoke
"oh hey, we decided while in the middle of the 4th campaign to scrap it, turn it into an expansion and drop all work on gw1 so we could er..work on a sequel! stay tuned folks, beta comes 2008"
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Honestly, if they just had content updates quarterly (like they promised) and monthly skill updates, I think the forums would be a friendlier place. But for some reason, Anet wants to destroy their entire fanbase by letting GW1 rot while saying, "Look! Look! Shiny GW2 is on its way!".
Seraphim Angel
The original Guild Wars took 4-5 years to make. GW2 was announced in 2007 so...2011-2012 if you want a solid game. Any time sooner and it will feel like that game was "rushed". I dont think it was too early to announce. Everyone knew there would be a GW2 it was just a matter of when it will come out. The developers want to give it 110% not anything less becasue I belive they take pride in what they do and want to make it the best MMO ever made. When they feel like its ready to be released then it will be 
Karate Jesus
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Originally Posted by Seraphim Angel
The original Guild Wars took 4-5 years to make. GW2 was announced in 2007 so...2011-2012 if you want a solid game. Any time sooner and it will feel like that game was "rushed". I dont think it was too early to announce. Everyone knew there would be a GW2 it was just a matter of when it will come out. The developers want to give it 110% not anything less becasue I belive they take pride in what they do and want to make it the best MMO ever made. When they feel like its ready to be released then it will be
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daraaksii
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Originally Posted by Seraphim Angel
The original Guild Wars took 4-5 years to make. GW2 was announced in 2007 so...2011-2012 if you want a solid game. Any time sooner and it will feel like that game was "rushed". I dont think it was too early to announce. Everyone knew there would be a GW2 it was just a matter of when it will come out. The developers want to give it 110% not anything less becasue I belive they take pride in what they do and want to make it the best MMO ever made. When they feel like its ready to be released then it will be
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They started developing gw2 way before 2007.
StormDragonZ
I don't understand how hard it is to say:
"Hey, we got some bad news. Our current plan of action to create new and exciting campaigns at a regular interval will, unfortunately, be lengthened so that we can present with you all something you'll enjoy. We apologize for the change of pace, but we'll keep you updated every so often when we can with what we currently have available. Our current projected extra time for the next part in the exciting series of Guild Wars can be expected between <insert time range>.Till then, enjoy Guild Wars to the most and again, we apologize for the inconvenience and we hope you enjoy what we currently have to offer as of right now."
They could have just said this and I would have been fine with that. Instead, they decided to tell us some filler about a totally new game completely different to what the original was. If they couldn't handle making so many campaigns at a certain timely fashion, then just tell the people the complete truth. We're not all under the age of twelve, ANet.
"Hey, we got some bad news. Our current plan of action to create new and exciting campaigns at a regular interval will, unfortunately, be lengthened so that we can present with you all something you'll enjoy. We apologize for the change of pace, but we'll keep you updated every so often when we can with what we currently have available. Our current projected extra time for the next part in the exciting series of Guild Wars can be expected between <insert time range>.Till then, enjoy Guild Wars to the most and again, we apologize for the inconvenience and we hope you enjoy what we currently have to offer as of right now."
They could have just said this and I would have been fine with that. Instead, they decided to tell us some filler about a totally new game completely different to what the original was. If they couldn't handle making so many campaigns at a certain timely fashion, then just tell the people the complete truth. We're not all under the age of twelve, ANet.
Arduin
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Originally Posted by StormDragonZ
They could have just said this and I would have been fine with that. Instead, they decided to tell us some filler about a totally new game completely different to what the original was. If they couldn't handle making so many campaigns at a certain timely fashion, then just tell the people the complete truth. We're not all under the age of twelve, ANet.
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No, I don't have a source, but maybe Regina pops in.
Skyy High
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Originally Posted by StormDragonZ
I don't understand how hard it is to say:
"Hey, we got some bad news. Our current plan of action to create new and exciting campaigns at a regular interval will, unfortunately, be lengthened so that we can present with you all something you'll enjoy. We apologize for the change of pace, but we'll keep you updated every so often when we can with what we currently have available. Our current projected extra time for the next part in the exciting series of Guild Wars can be expected between <insert time range>.Till then, enjoy Guild Wars to the most and again, we apologize for the inconvenience and we hope you enjoy what we currently have to offer as of right now." |
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slowerpoke
apart from some lore over 2 years ago we've had zero information 
Ghost Omel
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Originally Posted by slowerpoke
apart from some lore over 2 years ago we've had zero information
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slowerpoke
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Originally Posted by Ghost Omel
How much information was released about SC2 before they showed the trailer? oir maybe D3
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Arkantos
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Originally Posted by Ghost Omel
How much information was released about SC2 before they showed the trailer? oir maybe D3
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GW2 was announced in 2007. It's 2009, and all we have is some lore and basic game information.
Ghost Omel
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Originally Posted by Arkantos
D3 was announced last June, along with a cinematic trailer and a gameplay video, along with a fair amount of information.
GW2 was announced in 2007. It's 2009, and all we have is some lore and basic game information. |
Both titles came out what 98... right so 7-9 years to..develop.. asuming they started then and there.. Both titles were anounced in playbale version il give them that...
We know why they announced GW2 early.. that doesnt mean they have to be stringing constand videos and shots.. we got Concept art.... it will come in due time.. i give them 11 years to develop the game.. after that... id start calling Vaporware...
Nomme Moon
The reason why announcing the game was a bad idea was because they're completely teasing their fanbase over and over.
"Hey guys, beta coming late 2008. Oh, just kidding."
"Hey guys, look for tons of GW2 content including a website redesign, contests and more in 2008! Just kidding! Fooled you again."
"We're only going to release major updates every few months now because we're all busy. On what you ask? Oh, GW2. You want to see progress? No. Go watch paint dry instead."
Most recently what pisses me off the most is the fact that Regina has said they playtest the game regularly every wednesday, proving that the game IS FAR ENOUGH IN DEVELOPMENT to be played like that. That means it's far enough to cough up a freaking screenshot or two every few months. The fanbase isn't asking for much.
"Hey guys, beta coming late 2008. Oh, just kidding."
"Hey guys, look for tons of GW2 content including a website redesign, contests and more in 2008! Just kidding! Fooled you again."
"We're only going to release major updates every few months now because we're all busy. On what you ask? Oh, GW2. You want to see progress? No. Go watch paint dry instead."
Most recently what pisses me off the most is the fact that Regina has said they playtest the game regularly every wednesday, proving that the game IS FAR ENOUGH IN DEVELOPMENT to be played like that. That means it's far enough to cough up a freaking screenshot or two every few months. The fanbase isn't asking for much.
slowerpoke
lawlconcept art, that doesn't count. for all you know that was commissioned for gw1 and relabeled. concept art merely provides inspiration for the game designers and does not reflect the end product.
we want class information, gameplay footage, monthly screenshots, battle reports with devs providing commentary. things that will build up interest in the new title and keep us occupied until the game is actually released.
ANets 'community relations' fails big time, they hardly even confirm attending an event months away let alone admit they'll show anything gw2 related. they only usually appear in forums as deliveryboys for the latest copypaste schpeel.
solid dates? ETAs? pff lets tell them nothing. string them along with silence. they seem to do everything on the cheap, operate at the barebones, which includes maintaining and promoting their own game and providing marketing and fan interaction.
we want class information, gameplay footage, monthly screenshots, battle reports with devs providing commentary. things that will build up interest in the new title and keep us occupied until the game is actually released.
ANets 'community relations' fails big time, they hardly even confirm attending an event months away let alone admit they'll show anything gw2 related. they only usually appear in forums as deliveryboys for the latest copypaste schpeel.
solid dates? ETAs? pff lets tell them nothing. string them along with silence. they seem to do everything on the cheap, operate at the barebones, which includes maintaining and promoting their own game and providing marketing and fan interaction.
DarkWasp
A lot of you forum members may be freaking out and threatening to lose all interest. (Which is understandable)
But I find that mentioning GW2 while playing other games or on other forums usually yields a good bunch of results. The game is still pretty hyped up. I wouldn't go as far as to say they announced it at a bad time. When betas start rolling, this place is going to packed. Even with a portion of the players who said they'd never come back.
(If they don't release info at PAX, i'm still gonna crash a dolyak through the office and threaten to email screenshots to the public.)
But I find that mentioning GW2 while playing other games or on other forums usually yields a good bunch of results. The game is still pretty hyped up. I wouldn't go as far as to say they announced it at a bad time. When betas start rolling, this place is going to packed. Even with a portion of the players who said they'd never come back.
(If they don't release info at PAX, i'm still gonna crash a dolyak through the office and threaten to email screenshots to the public.)
Kuroshi
It built suspense, the only con I see to it was the fact that most people will cut down on buying extras knowing it will all be for not once 2 comes out.
The Great Al
given the mechanics introduced in GW:EN, they had no choice.
if they really wanted to keep interest up in GW1, I think that every few months they should release what a specific monument in eotn will equate to in GW2. people would start coming back to the game to obtain max titles for stuff they want in gw2.
if they really wanted to keep interest up in GW1, I think that every few months they should release what a specific monument in eotn will equate to in GW2. people would start coming back to the game to obtain max titles for stuff they want in gw2.
Nodakim
If we dont get any new information this year,I doubt anyone would think it is coming.
3 years and absolutely nothing?
Come on...
3 years and absolutely nothing?
Come on...
dusanyu
Best Move A-net could have made was ship utopia as planned than start working on GW2 a full campain would have given people more things to do while they worked on GW 2. when when it came time for another campaign than announce Guild Wars 2 (perhaps at that time with a little bet of a teaser vid or something)
Gigashadow
I predict that once GW2 screenshots appear, even if that's all that appears, people will go crazy, and not really in a good way either. This is a pattern that occurred for Age of Conan, Warhammer, Aion, etc. In each case everyone on the fansites got hyped on screenshots, and collectively convinced themselves that their game was the "Best game evar", with every poster trying to outdo the next one for community approval on how h4rdc0r3ly they were going to "pWn WoW noobs". Any criticism of the game resulted in a huge piling on effect of "if you don't like it go back to WoW!".
Even though I'm really looking forward to GW2, I think these forums will become pretty unreadable.
Even though I'm really looking forward to GW2, I think these forums will become pretty unreadable.
fenix
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Originally Posted by Gigashadow
Even though I'm really looking forward to GW2, I think these forums will become pretty unreadable.
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Yeah, I'm looking at you Riverside. Cut it out.
Nodakim
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Originally Posted by fenix
I don't know about the forums becoming unreadable, but it will sure be nice to not have to see retarded OMFG ANET WHY R GW2 NOT ANNOUNCED YET U R DUM threads, or LOL GW2 IS VAPORWARE threads every single freaking day.
Yeah, I'm looking at you Riverside. Cut it out. |
My pleasure. :P
But seriosuly,there isnt much other stuff to talk about.
But I guess not talking is better then this.
Avarre
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Originally Posted by fenix
I don't know about the forums becoming unreadable, but it will sure be nice to not have to see retarded OMFG ANET WHY R GW2 NOT ANNOUNCED YET U R DUM threads, or LOL GW2 IS VAPORWARE threads every single freaking day.
Yeah, I'm looking at you Riverside. Cut it out. |
YunSooJin
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Originally Posted by Avarre
You want the Tender Wolf Norn Snuggle threads?
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SerenitySilverstar
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Originally Posted by fenix
I don't know about the forums becoming unreadable, but it will sure be nice to not have to see retarded OMFG ANET WHY R GW2 NOT ANNOUNCED YET U R DUM threads, or LOL GW2 IS VAPORWARE threads every single freaking day.
Yeah, I'm looking at you Riverside. Cut it out. |
Really there is NOTHING in this thread that hasn't been said before. It'll happen when it happens.
Shayne Hawke
If they didn't announce it before and continued to treat us as they do now, it would be a resounding "What the RED ENGINE GO, ANet?" from the entire community. However, they've also killed the game by moving almost everyone over to working on GW2, relatively abandoning their first game in the process. It just isn't fair to have them all say, "Hey, we're gonna go work on a sequel now, come back in a few years," and leave the current game with a team that is insufficient for maintaining good play.
Perhaps what they should have done was continue to come out with future campaigns, such as Utopia and others, until they were able to establish two teams: one that could put out GW2 in a reasonable time (four, five, or however many years), and one that could keep GW freshly (and properly) updated.
Perhaps what they should have done was continue to come out with future campaigns, such as Utopia and others, until they were able to establish two teams: one that could put out GW2 in a reasonable time (four, five, or however many years), and one that could keep GW freshly (and properly) updated.
Cacheelma
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Originally Posted by Ghost Omel
i give them 11 years to develop the game.. after that... id start calling Vaporware...
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lmao how optimistic of you.
Coraline Jones
Of course announcing Guild Wars 2 was a mistake. The timing of the announce couldn't have been worse. At the time, Eye of the North hadn't been even released yet in stores. Somehow ArenaNet's marketing department decided that the best way to sell an expansion pack was to tell fans that their game was effectively a dead-end.
I cannot imagine why any company would decide that releasing a ton of concept pictures and lore for an upcoming game, then close all information about the game for the next two years. Most games that I've seen in development never formally announce anything. At best, they'll say that they are working on a sequel, but there will be no information provided intentionally. It's only when they have stuff to show that a press release is given.
Take a look at Half Life 2: Episode 3. Like Guild Wars 2, it also has had practically NO information for two years despite that anybody that played Episode 2 could tell that a sequel had to be in production. They didn't decide to hype Episode 3 two years ago, trying to sell a game that clearly wasn't ready for the public for possibly another year or two to come.
As an aside, since 3D Realms went bankrupt, the developers of Duke Nukem Forever began releasing real screenshots and demo videos of the game to the public... This means that we now have more information about Duke Nukem Forever than Guild Wars 2.
I cannot imagine why any company would decide that releasing a ton of concept pictures and lore for an upcoming game, then close all information about the game for the next two years. Most games that I've seen in development never formally announce anything. At best, they'll say that they are working on a sequel, but there will be no information provided intentionally. It's only when they have stuff to show that a press release is given.
Take a look at Half Life 2: Episode 3. Like Guild Wars 2, it also has had practically NO information for two years despite that anybody that played Episode 2 could tell that a sequel had to be in production. They didn't decide to hype Episode 3 two years ago, trying to sell a game that clearly wasn't ready for the public for possibly another year or two to come.
As an aside, since 3D Realms went bankrupt, the developers of Duke Nukem Forever began releasing real screenshots and demo videos of the game to the public... This means that we now have more information about Duke Nukem Forever than Guild Wars 2.
Gennadios
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Originally Posted by Coraline Jones
Of course announcing Guild Wars 2 was a mistake. The timing of the announce couldn't have been worse. At the time, Eye of the North hadn't been even released yet in stores. Somehow ArenaNet's marketing department decided that the best way to sell an expansion pack was to tell fans that their game was effectively a dead-end.
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Fact is, GW had a very substantial spike in sales and player interest around the time EotN came out precisely because it was billed as a bridge to GW2. Ergo, announcement was not a mistake.
No, I don't have the source, there was a sales chart that floated around on Guru in a very similar thread a while back, I'm sure at least a few people can recall. <=Disregard that
EDIT:
That big spike around the Sep. 07 season would NOT have occured w/o a GW2 announcement.
Konig Des Todes
Not going to bother looking through the whole thread, so I shall just say my say on this topic.
They had to announce Guild Wars 2 eventually. But announcing it wasn't their mistake, their mistake was simply when they announced it.
They announced it alongside Eye of the North. That, they shouldn't have done. Instead, what they should have done was waited until about a half a year after EN - at the earliest.
They could have said for the year after EN something like "we have a big project in production, so this year's product will be small" The product being the Bonus Mission Pack, of course. And then after that was released - say half a year later, then announce GW2 which would be already about 2 years in the making, thus giving a lot less time until release and announcement, and people wouldn't be acting the way that they are now, but instead acting how they were 2 years ago.
Which would also mean a smaller gap between GW2 announcement and the first GW2 concept art - which would also mean higher spirits for GW2 due to the smaller gap.
Personally, I'd rather have those TW threads than "Vaporware" posts.
The threads I can avoid, the posts, however, get into threads I like. And thus I cannot avoid them as easily.
They had to announce Guild Wars 2 eventually. But announcing it wasn't their mistake, their mistake was simply when they announced it.
They announced it alongside Eye of the North. That, they shouldn't have done. Instead, what they should have done was waited until about a half a year after EN - at the earliest.
They could have said for the year after EN something like "we have a big project in production, so this year's product will be small" The product being the Bonus Mission Pack, of course. And then after that was released - say half a year later, then announce GW2 which would be already about 2 years in the making, thus giving a lot less time until release and announcement, and people wouldn't be acting the way that they are now, but instead acting how they were 2 years ago.
Which would also mean a smaller gap between GW2 announcement and the first GW2 concept art - which would also mean higher spirits for GW2 due to the smaller gap.
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Originally Posted by Avarre
You want the Tender Wolf Norn Snuggle threads?
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The threads I can avoid, the posts, however, get into threads I like. And thus I cannot avoid them as easily.
Arkantos
Quote:
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ANet was releasing a campaign every year. After releasing EotN, people would have started to ask about a new campaign/expansion. What would ANet have said? "We're working on something, we'll tell you soon". 6 months after release, ANet would have announced that there would be no more campaigns/expansions, and that they were working on GW2. People would have went apeshit. Almost 2 years later, the amount of whining and ANet bashing would have been worse than it is now.
Honestly, they had to announce it then.
arcanemacabre
Yeah, I agree with Ark - announcing when they did was probably the best idea. However, they could have maybe toned down how much they announced. They could have taken all the info they had to release and stretch it out over the course of the next year or two instead of releasing it all at once and then leaving us with nothing for two years.
shoyon456
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Originally Posted by arcanemacabre
Yeah, I agree with Ark - announcing when they did was probably the best idea. However, they could have maybe toned down how much they announced. They could have taken all the info they had to release and stretch it out over the course of the next year or two instead of releasing it all at once and then leaving us with nothing for two years.
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Instead, they should have told the current GW1 players what exactly would matter to them about GW2- level cap, HoM rewards, small other tidbits significant to continuing GW1 players. Instead there are quotes floating around such as "The GW2 level cap may be increased, or there may be no cap at all" -What the RED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GO? Indecisive much?
Other important stuff would be race abilities/classes, but that is obviously still being withheld somewhat understandably.
Arkantos
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Originally Posted by shoyon456
If you call any of the lore or "maybes" we have about GW2 real and legitamate INFO, then I have some timeshare to sell you. What we know about GW2 is some half-assed lore (seriously, they HAD to bring in the dragons to make typical MMO #4215, and after we already killed a GOD). And that it will more resemble other typical mmo's like WoW. They should have given more info the repudiate that claim, and since they haven't I assume it will more resemble WoW and I will not have any desire to play it.
Instead, they should have told the current GW1 players what exactly would matter to them about GW2- level cap, HoM rewards, small other tidbits significant to continuing GW1 players. Instead there are quotes floating around such as "The GW2 level cap may be increased, or there may be no cap at all" -What the RED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GO? Indecisive much? Other important stuff would be race abilities/classes, but that is obviously still being withheld somewhat understandably. |