GW2. Was it a mistake to announce?

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.

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.

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.

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.

Yes, it's wonderful GW2 is coming out. I'm saving right now for it!

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.

That's pretty much what I imagine whenever they talk about GW2 or content for GW1 (which btw, will not be quarterly like they promised).

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!".

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

Just because they announced GW2 in 2007, doesn't mean that's when they started it......actually, iirc they said they'd already been working on it when they announced it.

They said that betas will be in 2008.

They started developing gw2 way before 2007.

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.

Erm, they did tell us that? The one campaing each month wasn't working as intended, and some new features they wanted to implement weren't compatible with GW's engine. Thus, GW2.

No, I don't have a source, but maybe Regina pops in.

Yeah, okay, you would rather have zero information about some mysterious "next part in the exciting series of Guild Wars" rather than what little we've been given so far? Even if you do feel that way (I call BS), just based on how rabid people have been around here for new information, there is no possible way that that would have been acceptable for the community. Instead of "I wish we knew more about GW2," we'd have "WTF ARE THEY DOING!?"

THEY TOLD US THE COMPLETE TRUTH. How the hell does giving us less information constitute "telling us the truth" and "treating us like adults"?

apart from some lore over 2 years ago we've had zero information

How much information was released about SC2 before they showed the trailer? oir maybe D3

Oh, you mean those two games which have had regular screenshots, gameplay movies and information since they were announced?

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.

What i mean to say... how much time did it take for them to release ANY info for the 2 games

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...

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.

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.