Developer Priorities?

As a pretty much permanent inmate of the Sardelac Sanitarium, it'd be nice to get a bit of medication now and then.

If you accidentally stumble upon this post, Gaile Gray, I hope you'll gather some gameplay-related gossip for us?

I'm sure the programmers, game designers, etc at ANet are all FAR too busy working on the game to ever read whiney forums like these - but I'd really like it if they post some feedback about the various issues that seem to be hot topics of discussion, and also give us an insight about what topics THEIR arguments about the direction of the game currently involve. Maybe just a fortnightly "Top 10 big issues we're currently thinking about" sort of thing, with comments on why some things didn't make it in... "it's working as intended because...." "our vision for the game lies in a different direction...." "We'd like that too, but it's not practical at this time..." "UAS is for lam3rz"

And maybe if I'm lucky, just once in a while, "Great idea Rieselle! We're gonna put it in right away! We'll even name the next update after you! All hail Rieselle! Recipients of nerfs, blame Rieselle, not us!"

goodness....

I'd say the "random crashes" that they always report are the top priority along with any bugs that stop people from being able to actually play the game..

in City of Heroes they have an interview with the 'Statesman' where the top questions are put forward for an official response.

Something like this, weekly, would be nice for Guildwars!

Obviously they cant answer all the questions directly, but they give insight into the thoughts that they are currently having.

Maybe if they gave us a clue as to their intentions the community might just hold on a few more weeks before leaving in a mood feeling like they have been ignored.

They should name this weekly 'Inverview with the DEVS' Rieselle's Question Time!

So do you have your top ten questions ready?



The Snowman.

I did say "big issues".... I guess "crashing bugs" and "skill bugs" can be classified as big issues... but personally I'm more interested in game design or game fun related things. (I'm a games programmer / wannabe games designer, but most of all an action & rpg games player

One key point is I'd like to get comments on specific things, on why the devs think something would or wouldn't work, what ideas they have, and where each issue lies in the overall picture with regards to priority.

The "fansite fridays" usually have vague comments like "we'll definitely be looking into the issue of grind" etc.

Oh, in my original idea, I'm more interested in the top 10 things THE DEVS are thinking about, not my own top 10. But if I had to make a list....

Hmmm....in order of importance to me personally, from most to least: (I haven't gotten into GvG yet, so I cant comment on issues like game and skill balance, skill bugs, etc.)

How do the devs feel about improving the combat graphics? Where does it lie in their priorities? Have they played Devil May Cry 3? :P

Unlocking stuff in PVP - their thoughts? Priority?

Are they going to add new skills before the expansion pack?

What are they planning with regards to improving Guilds / Social aspects / RP etc? Priority?

UAS vs. Skill unlocking in PVE ... their thoughts? Their goals?

How much of the features of the game are "this is our final, balanced set" versus "We'll be adding more stuff with more choices soon.". Re: Runes, Armour types, Weapon mods, etc.

Necro Death Magic in pvp - not enough corpses! Agree? Disagree?

"Group with 2 Monks looking for 1 more!" - are primary healers over-essential in the game? Any plans/ideas to change that? Or "working as intended" ?

When can we see more character appearance options? Faces, hairstyles, colors, etc.

Why does dye have so little effect on so many armours? Are they going to change that? How about being able to dye the "secondary areas" which are currently not dyeable?

Well, that's 10, I think. I'll leave it at that for now.