C3- Expansion or Stand-Alone?

I've been playing- and enjoying- Factions. After a year of Prophecies, I find the added elements and different feel to be lots of fun (mainly PvE), and a welcome change of pace. It also has increased my appreciation of the original campaign.

Factions was positioned as a standalone game. And since you can play it by itself, it undeniably is. We can argue all day about whether it has the same amount of content as GW:P- that's not what I am here to talk about.

My question is- should C3 be an expansion or another standalone? I am assuming it will be like factions, but what would a GW expansion actually look like? I would not mind seeing a release that just contained content- I don't need new skills, professions, continents, etc. in every chapter. I wonder if Anet will at some point do a release that is an expansion on the original prophecies campaign- I'd love to get the Char out of Ascalon, or explore more of the lost city of the gods.

I suspect that Anet will continue to position their new releases as new standalone games- they can charge more that way, and I suppose it lowers the barrier of entry (you don't need to buy the original game to play).

It should be an expansion. If chapter 3 only has the amount of content as Faction, then it should be priced at around $30. Not to mention we will lose 2 slots again, whereas Prophecies had 4 slots and more content, yet the price is the same. I know Anet wants our money, but is the "stand alone" price worth the content of Faction. I rather not pay full price for a game that I can complete in 10 hours.

Since they have very little official information out, I would wager that they will follow the same path as they did with factions. They charged full price for a game that had 3/4 of the content of prophecies. Now I'm not saying the storyline was smaller, but the size of the continent was very, very small in comparison(I see Cantha as little bigger than Kryta and about 1/3 of maguuma)

it took my guild team only 15 hours to do tyria (with no running)



I, and many like me feel like in tyria the game only started at the desert, as anything before the lvl 20 content was very dull due to the lack of build customisation, so we got at best, the four desert missions, three shiverpeaks, and three ring of fire , aka 10 missions, and this is being generous as the desert missions are still more suited to 16-19

in cantha we have 11 missions, and Far FAR more land space filled with lvl 20+ mobs, we can explore the world and still be challanged by mobs

i feel like i got two or three times the content from factions, and many people i know agree with me


If you feel cheated of content that is one thing, just remember not everyone agrees with your Pov

I think it will probably stay a stand alone. (even though ppl again will complain about the skills not being all new when they dont get the fact that its a stand alone, so not everyone has prophecies to get those skills.)

If Guild Wars last long, they might make expansions once they have a whole world made. Because it seems that every new chap. will have a new continent (and how many continents will this "world" have, lol.)

Content wise I think it held pretty well compared to prophecies (ppl just want want want, they dont understand "the game making process". There's a lot to explore, collect, etc.

Has anyone ever noticed that the majority of the ppl who complain about factions said that they finished the game in like 10 hours. They dont go through and appreciatie the game. They ruin they game for themselves. (I classify them under "bad people" with all the spammers )

I agree with you on that.

As for chapter 3, I would imagine it would be an expansion like Factions. Being able to travel between worlds is something a lot of people really like about GW and I don't think they would want to change that.

I love the comment about "losing" two slots as well. You're one of the "half empty" people aren't you?

C3 will probably be as different from C2 as C2 differs from C1. And more people will find things to complain about. I would imagine it would still be a stand-alone so they don't alienate anyone and continue with the business model they currently seem to have.

It SHOULD be an expansion, yes, but why would Anet sell it for $30 when they can get away with selling it for $50?

Think about it.

The answer is clear as day right there.

Expansion or stand alone, it does not matter. If its the seize of Factions it should be priced around 30$. Sure, it may sell well with a higher price but for how long? Players don't keep paying 50$ forever if the content is so tiny.

prob. stand alone w/ a $50 price tag [$30 for game, $20 for 2 more slots-- they prob won't introduce 2 more professions, tho]

Expansions are things like sorrow's furnace, we should be getting an expansion in a few months, if anet sticks to their word. so it will probably be severely delayed!

Stand Alone, in numerious interviews, they have stated that each is a stand alone game that does not require any other version to be able to play.

whats more it was probably after you'd completed it originally

unless it was your first go, in which case i apologise

the answer is clear.

wait until it gets to 30 dollars before buying it or ...........if you pay a higher price dont bitch about it.

you are a wise consumer so vote with your wallet not your mouth as talk is cheap

I'll start caring about C3 when they fix C2. Or at least live up to the promises they've made (rejoin after drop, armor and sundering updates, party forming).

Consider this: notice how empty most of the outposts are in Factions? Think how fun it will be waiting for an hour to get a full group to complete a mission necessary to advance in the game, when these henches are completely useless.

hmm. yes I also did noticed the emptyness of the majority of factions towns.

Chapter 3 should follow Chapter 2's business model, market and sell it as a Standalone.

ANET does need to make a living.

chapter 2 is the model for future expansions

http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/guild-wars-.../680914p1.html
all new professions (and core classes) will be given the opportunity to level up from scratch -- stand alone will be supported

the FAQ since before release back in 04 said each chapter is stand alone and optional.

There were making a living, just that now they are eying Porsches and yachts...

And the internet is serious buisness, too.

Think about it.