Does Guild Wars have a future?

Hi; let me be clear; I really like guild wars as a game; I have enjoyed playing it a lot; and am looking forward to the next chapters. I am concerned however that the game has no long-term future.

As a guild leader I spent time creating a cooperative, friendly guild; active in both pve and pvp (gvg). We have 25 members. However; as people complete the game - for the second or third time - and once they have the 60k armor, they invariably get bored and stop playing. We are now lucky to have eight members on at one time to do gvg at all. Although the summer update (looking more like autumn now) may bring some back, it will not bring them all back; and fewer and fewer will return with subsequent chapters.

On this basis; I cannot see how the game will be financially viable for arenanet/ncsoft in the long-term. They simply wont make enough money as there will not be enough people to pay for the new chapters. The only way it can survive is by introducing a monthly fee and more frequent if smaller updates. But as the game was marketed so heavily as having no subscriptions, I cant see them doing that. I hope it will suceed; but i cant see it.

NCSoft is backing them so it isnt just Anet

people will go and come back as they are not being forced to play by monthly fees

Yes The Thing is the people have already bought the game after they finish and get bored Anet doesen't lose anything. Plus Most people will come back for new chapters and such thus giveing anet more money enableing them to make more chapters witch means makeing more money going on to makeing more chapters and so on So if its guild wars being able to survive of course it will. Plus you've forgoten that there will be new players comeing in to.

Cat Tabby makes a series of good points. Argon manages to miss them all. Cat said that less and less people will come back, reducing the income generated, and I dont see why an expansion would rope in new players who have to start at the beginning anyway. GW has now fallen off the top ten in most outlets, WoW has remained in the top ten since its release. I anticipate a resurge of interest around the next chapter that will rapidly fall off, though I hope this is not the case as I love the game.

Tbh, the reason why people get bored is "simple" <- Guild Wars.

Its quests are pretty much all the same.

Weapons? ..... nothing much to say about that, since there arent enough of them.

Armors? Same deal, the end (15k armors) look nice, but provide no bonus at all, hence making it only a eye-candy nothing more.

Items? Again same deal.

Guilds? Okay, a guild is nice you have your own cape, and can get your own hall to unlock certain aspects of the game.......however the halls are nothing more but a meeting point. (& there arent enough icons and styles to choose from, so your "unique" cape is not unique at all.)

Creatures/monters etc? Only monster i was in awe off was the Worms, the rest of them didnt impress me at all.

Now lets speculate this, since those points are the common problem of this game.

A new chapter would add:

New items.
New Weapons.
New Quests.
New Armors.
New Creatures/Monsters.
New Skills.

However, if they make it like chpt 1 , in other words, only expand chpt 1 and call it chpt 2..... Heh Good Bye GW. They really have to improvise, since they now already know people are getting bored of this game in a rapid state. I really wonder what could save this game, perhaps you guys/galls got any ideas. But in all honesty, i have little hope for this game.

Actually, if you think about it, Anet doesn't want you to play the game. They're not earning anything if you play, in fact, they're paying for servers to support you. If you don't pay, that's less bandwidth they ahve to pay for. You've already paid everything they're ever going to earn from you (unless the big chapter things start happening...).

i have seen this coming. Guild Wars doesnt have much to do once you get so far. I dont even have the interest to try a second build in Pve.

first off you have no idea (nor do i) what will happen between now and release of CHAPTER 2 that would cause people to dust off the game for some more play.

CHAPTER 2

also it is a one shot on the money

if someone buys chapter 2 and puts it away after 3 months feeling they got their moneys worth of fun from it they will probably get chapter 3

i have long gotten my moneys worth already so i will get chapter 2 without hesitation

the reason it is not called an EXPANSION but CHAPTER 2 is that it will have its own *story arch* as it is called along with new material of at least the full original games content instead of just expanding

it will be integrated but a full new game

if they fix a lot of problems like the economy an auction house (or way to trade) and spend all that time on new content instead of the game engine plus the art library they already have you can see the possibilities

as for having to buy chapter 1 as well as chapter 2 consider different promotions like chapter 1 at half price with the purchase of chapter 2

or buy chapter 2 get chapter 1 for 10 dollars

preorder both and get chapter 1 free

lots of marketing possibilities

In the UK charts (and most European charts that I have seen), Guild Wars is still ahead of WoW. By far the best-selling PC game currently (and probably the biggest competition to Guild Wars) is Battlefield 2.

I went to the European server and it was barren everywhere I cant imagine how many people there actually play. And, it seems like korean wins in tombs is droping off, not because America is getting better but probably they are bored too. Sure this game is hella fun for a couple months, and without making an entirely new game you are probably right that they will decline in sales of a new chapter. Yes, weapon finding sucks and I feel badly for any newer player to the game who has no famr spots and no good drops to make any money to even afford armor for their second character. The economy sucks lets face it, and the gap between using pve for pvp is growing, and now we need to make pvp onlys if you want to do tombs, and pray you are lucky enough to find someone smart enough (and willing to teach how) to win the thing!

What they absolutely need now is:

a proper trade system
bring back better drops for the love of jesus
A NEW CLASS

as far as the storyline...

we need to return to ascalon and fight some new threat in hopes to rebuild our true home. After being played as pawns by everything that crossed our paths lets focus on being real heros.

When did you do this (time of day) and did you take into account time zones?

Even though I spend the majority of my time in PvE... I honestly think the best thing ANet can do to ensure the long term success of the game is improve the PvP. I hope they roll out their PvP balances pretty soon here. I think it would say a lot to the community just to see ANet take some action.

I stuck around for a couple days and as i am a total nerd I was on at all times. I even went into the non english speaking districts. To clarify tho I spent most of my time in drakknors or lions arch- usually the busiest towns in america, and there was never many people there. I did also go to some missions and not many around. Change location and see for yourself. One tip: bring money for black dye

just as a small side note

i did not get my first rune, gold drop or much of anything before the so called death of farming spots.

after the nerf i got a major vigor (first rune period) and a couple minors and a average gold drop and 2 purples all on the same run

i get at least a couplr runes/hour and as many gold/purple drops.

i have made more gold since the nerf than all the time before the nerf.

long live the nerf

and Gaile said there were plans to improve the drops

Right now, a quarter past 2 in the morning, an ordinary thursday in an ordinary working week, there's, I'd say, 200 players in Lions Arch 1 and 2 English, and perhaps 50 each in the french and german districts. I don't know how many you tend to have on in the US at times like these, but I don't consider 300 players at 2 o clock a thursday morning "barren".

We Have Meeeeeeelions!!

All I can tell you is that when I get on at night (EDT), there are TONS of people online playing GW, doing a wide variety of things. They sold 650,000 copies in the first two months. That's not Lineage 2 numbers, but it's a lot of players and tons of cash to sink in to the franchise. GW is a hit.

I don't think Anet and NCSoft have anything to worry about here. Build it, and they will come...

Is that official? If that figure is accurate, then GW has already paid for development and turned a couple of million $ in profit.

I'm buying another copy tomorrow since we have a little cash to spare this month. It helps me with the extra storage and character slots and it also puts more pennies in Anets coffers
I just hope the rare drops increase so i can fill this new space

the future of guildwars

Haha, someone is annoyed with pvp i sense, lol.

Note that they have to constantly pay developers to update the game and they must maintain servers. Sure they made a huge profit, but I don't think many copies will continue to be sold, and they must set aside most of it for future maintainence of the game since there are no fees.

What is so hard to understand about THE GAME IS STILL A PUPPY!

It's a baby!



GIVE IT TIME.

I still wonder how many people who have claimed to have finished the game (and that doesn't mean rushing to ascension) actually played out every zone, every mission, searched out every nook and cranny of the game and did "every quest" and above all else EVERY COLLECTORS MISSION hehe??? I've been playing going on 3 months now and still haven't seen 1/2 of the games zones/missions/content. Haven't even ascended yet, though am at Amnoon Oasis finally. I've done every quest I could find along the way. I really wonder how many really did all of everything that claims to have finished or beaten the game. Personally I don't see it as a being beaten type of game, it's a never ending quest for "loot" even after the story ends. And there's always phat loot to be found and I doubt ANYONE has found EVERY PIECE of PHAT loot. Everyday I find something "new", a new sword or a new bow or a new casters gear item. I haven't seen the same unique drop twice yet, talking about blues, and purples and gold drops here. Whites are just npc vendor trash and most of the blues also, but, I get an occassional neat blue drop that I can salvage something out of to sell.

I haven't found boredom in the game at all yet, and I still have soooooo much more to see and do in the PVE game. I've played a lot of PVP also, almost rank 3 in that and have oodles of faction points saved up since I've spent all I need to for my PVP character that I play with. And I get my most fun each day when I play in the PVP arena (random group arena) kicking the dog out of rangers. Heh, I don't even care if there is a monk, I go for those rangers first. lol I love smoking them and hearing them cry "how can you do that, you're cheating" lol my buiid is the perfect ranger killing build. So, it will be awhile before I get bored of killing rangers.

I think the game has a good longggggg time of longevity over the years. New Chapters/Expansions will keep the PVE game alive and as long as there is a ranger to kill will keep me entertained.

well i dont know what the problem is, i have played through the game, and it was a rush, true it only took a month for the game to get "boring" as in done everything exept underworld, but i thought about the expansion, it will be a totally new world, right? like "go to the forbidden continent and slay the wicked xenomorphers" it will probably be so big that i cant refuse it, after all original guildwars was a biatch to make, the code, the serverprograms, the world , but now that the developers have proved themselves, dont u think they will get money to go harder at the expansions, to make sure they dont flop?? any gameinvestor sees the gold a few years ahead if this game is maintained right, try to buy a stock in the coorporation that owns gw rights, i bet u the stock is expensive as HELL.

o and the ageia physics card is right around the corner, that will make theyr serverrunningcosts to drop, then they only need to pay for broadband access, and if the company that owns gw is anything like the companyes i know, they own the broadband.

alot of people are losing interest because they want to take their PvE characters to PvP but cant. since all the damn NERFING perfect weapons and shields (bows etc) are difficult to find. ive talked to people that were lvl 20 in the first two weeks of this game, and they have masses of great items. they "got rid of farming" but not for us PvE people.

Yes and no. Due to the weekly updates and expansion packs, yes. However, every game is doomed to fall sometime or another. As one game grows older, newer and fresher games with better graphics and new things will come out, and many will move to those games. You'd be a fool to deny this. The only thing that I can see to make this game a competitor among the newest and flashiest games in the future, would be to overhaul everything. It would take alot of work and money. Look for a guildwars 2 haha.

HOW THE HELL DID YOU LET THEM GET THAT MANY SPIRITS!?\

Just curious.

I'm buying CHapter too. I've still got loads to do in the game and my guild just got top 1000 (w00t) and I gotta get some more stuff for my guy. I will still be hard at work until Chapter 2 arrives.

Someone needs to email that pic to A-Net and the Devs, if anything is a clear example of a problematic skill that picture says it all.

TRUE, and the cow team needs to be kicked. (in the HEAD!)

[QUOTE=TheCrusader]HOW THE HELL DID YOU LET THEM GET THAT MANY SPIRITS!?[\QUOTE]

this was in the map where you kill the team you are facing and the door opens up, my team killed 2 teams and we were waiting for yellow and turqoise to finish their neverending fight so the door will open for us, we eventually won that match ^^

Well, different people play different amounts of hours per day maybe, that explains the different amount of days needed to complete the game? Also playing with friends instead of just henchies or PUGs tends to help finish missions/quests faster. I have played for about 6-7 weeks, and I have completed the game with one character, and ascended another one. I have done *every* quest (and quests untill ascension - twice), including all quests in FoW, and a reverse walk from Droknar's to Beacons (not a run, I mean really exploring the areas). I have done almost all bonuses except the ones for the last couple missions, and have captured almost all elites for my main character's both classes.

The only thing in PvE left to finish exploring for me is the remaining part of UW, so far I haven't had much chances to go there since Europe seems to have started gaining favor more often only in the last 2 days. I think that qualifies as "completed the game"

Another thing about exploring ... I LOVE exploring new areas, but the problem is that eventually some sorts of critters start getting really repetitive and annoying, especially since they respawn when you change area. As much as I love the desert areas, and would like to just walk around and enjoy scenery, I can't because I can't stand being attacked by yet another million of devourer-like creatures!

P.S. I love the game and will be getting the update PvE gets boring fast, but PvP and especially GvGs are fun, and hopefully we'll get more challenging areas that require a good team like UW/FoW to give people some real challenge instead of endless devourers

I can't see the game making it. If the next expansion is the same, as in wandering arround a map to try and find a decent weapon or aromor or just explor - it's dead. IMO.
I'm not looking for learning skills and finding the enemy getting stronger to counter them.
"Whats the point in that"? All thats left in this game is wandering arround beating up on monsters. The final straw was when guild meber asked " what should we do now"?. This game needs a purpose and some rewards for accomplishment. 1 point "wow" and at L20 its useless. I left the game and never finished. When the expansion comes and is the same then I defenetly will no buy it. I'll wait another year and get the new Diablo instead. IMO They had a great idea and blew it by trying to make it skill based.
I don't play a game to learn, I play to let out the daily frustation and get some satisfaction by beating up an evil monster that isn't as strong as I am.
bye all

hope you find a game you like.

It does feel as though it's dieing already...and why ?? Since it's turning into any other grind-based RPG but with less items...

Take any district and all that's spammed in the ALL CHAT is:

- Runner to [Destination] for Gold

It wasn't like this at the beginning or ( at least not in pretty much dead EU English servers ) People actually wanted to "play" the game.....what a strange concept...



For the PvE side -- they should completely shift the focus to teamwork and group play -- instead of this recent need for grinding

Just as Faction is for the PvP ppl -- fixed rewards ( per person ) like Gold / Items / Something should be given to all members for the completion of a Quest. For example, who'd like 1000gp each for completing 1 quest in FoW ( with the reward increasing - with the number of successive quests completed )

Remove the need to do Smite runs or farm griffins -- just reward for actually playing the game and completing quests, etc....I thought this game claimed to be rewarding on player skill not on hours spent killing the same monster spawn...

The crafters need a revamp too -- there's simply no incentive to sell-back to the trader.

Finally change the spawns....don't just spawn a group of Jade Armour / Stone Summit Axe Wielders / Devourers -- make slightly bigger but less numerous battles ( including 1 of each class, for example ) -- make every battle tough but more rewarding

Hopefully this will draw back some real players - players that want to be rewarded for using teamwork, solving problems and completing quests.

You only have to look on these boards to see all the farm / runner build posts -- this is how sad it's becoming...

All the blind grind-monkeys who'll happily kill the same creature 20 times and think that lvl 60 is better than lvl 20 ( even though difficulty is proportional ) -- can go back to World of Grindcraft or countless other, samey MMORPG's -- where you have to grind, simply to get the best gear to compete


As for the PvP -- Cheap "tactics" -- like in that picture about could be prevented so easily by two things:

- Simply make the caster "maintain" the spirits / minions -- lower the max health by a percentage per minion / spirit raised ( like how the DP works ). Raising 10+ minions / spirits should incur quite a nasty health cap.

- Renew the spirit rather than duplicate it

- Remove that crappy lava map too (:


I hope they do get everything ironed out and back on track -- it'd be bad for Guild Wars to be remembered as the good idea that didn't quite work...


[EDIT] Diablo II comparisons are the exact reason as to why this game needs an overhaul...
The game consists of nothing but botters and the trade system revolves around a few, rare, powerful items -- a bit like the system we've got now...

Okay...I have wanted to stay out of this conversation, just because I don't really like where it is going. But, I just thought I would give my opinion on this topic. Like it has already been said, this game is still very new. There is still a lot (and I mean a lot) of room for additions/changes to the game. I don't know if any of you ever played Everquest. I for one was a big fan of the game. I started playing it soon after if first came out. I will have to admit though, the game really sucked when it first came out, but I stuck with it. (Through about 6 different expansions over 3-4 years). If you were to play the game back then to what was or maybe still is now, you would not believe it was the same game.

Now, I know that Guildwars and Everquest are different games by different companies all together, but the system still works the same. Sure, there are things that really get me with this game. (The few choices of weapons, armor, etc and of not to forget the lack of farming areas) is something that I hope they change. But, these things can not happen over night. This game has not been out very long at all. So, in closing I just have to say.....JUST GIVE IT TIME!!!

Yes it has a future, any game that is free forever has a future

look at diablo 2

I wonder how long before the thread closing, er i mean sig fairy visits this thread.

I am visiting this thread.. and I see no reason to close it. Although.. I did feel a powerful urge to delete your post, Phades, for being off topic.

But, to address the original topic.. in my personal opinion, for 400+ hours of play time, that $50 was worth it. Even if I did feel that Guild Wars got nowhere after the last mission, what I got out of it was more than enough to warrant spending the money to buy it. Sure, we still complain and ask for changes/improvements, but for many of us, it's because we know how much incredible potential GW pvp has, and we cling to that dream like a dear, old, long lost friend.

Changes are still happening, and ANet is still listening, and as long as that continues, then yes, I think Guild Wars definitely has a future.

Here's some links that might do some furtunetelling.

http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?op...474&Item id=2
http://terranova.blogs.com/terra_nov...8th_2005_.html
http://www.grimwell.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=26408&

I like the comment about the "trimmed support" in the first link