Posts Tagged ‘Guild Wars 2’

Guild Wars 2: 24/7 PvP

23 March 2012 | 1 Comment » | Mike

With Guild Wars 2 beta on the horizon, I can’t wait to get my hands on this game, specifically on the World vs World vs World PvP system. This is the first triple-A MMO game that I can remember in a loooong time that actually allows players to PvP exclusively from level one, all the way up to the cap, and is exactly what I plan to do.

No more boring quests; no killing rats; no deliveries, no linear story to follow and no random pointless NPCs to please. I won’t have any of it. The moment the first round of WvsWvsW beings, I will be exclusively battling it out against other players to help my server gain glory and power. With any luck, hopefully, I won’t have to touch the PvE part of the game ever. We’ll maybe not never, I don’t mind raids and high level dungeons so much, so I’ll probably dabble in those once I hit the cap.

My one worry about WvsW is the speed at which players level up. We all know PvE has lots of mechanics to gain XP with, but with GW2′s PvP, I’m really not quite sure. There needs to be a balance so that both level up at about the same speed, however that’s easier said than done. Some PvP players might decide to stay off the front-lines and instead help gather resources and craft, while others might exclusively fight.  EXP distribution will be a large factor as to what players decide to spend their time doing and if there’s a large imbalance, it might end up crippling the first few rounds of WvsW until they get it right.

With that said, I have full confidence in ArenaNet and will be pre-ordering my copy on day one. See you on the battlefield.

Guild Wars 2 Microtransactions Explained: RMT Included

20 March 2012 | No Comments » | Mike


Today ArenaNet revealed more details about Guild Wars 2‘s microtransaction item-store, revealing that it will allow players to participate in real-money-trading (RMT).

The basic system works on three currencies: gold, gems, and karma. The karma currency is not trade-able, and is only used for unique in-game rewards. However, the gold and gems currencies can be traded freely; with gems being purchasable with real money, and are the only accepted currency in the item-store.  This works similar to EVE Online‘s PLEX system, but goes a bit further.

With EVE‘s system, PLEX can only be used for one thing: to add game-time to your account. Players can purchase extra PLEX, and sell it in-game to players, who can then purchase it with in-game credits. This gives players a way to play EVE Online free, if they’re good at making money in-game.

Guild Wars 2 system is similar, but instead of one purchasable item, it gives players an entire item-store to buy things with.  This also creates a dynamic between the two currencies, as gold will always fluctuate in value, while gems will not. The reason being, that the price of items in the item-store are a lot more consistent than items sold in-game by other players.

This system then creates a sub-market that will actually allow players to make, potentially, huge profits by constantly trading gold for gems. When the value of gold is high, trade it all for gems. As the value drops, trade your gems back to gold, and depending on the fluctuation, you’ll get more gold back then what you started with.

The good news is that the item-store will only sell cosmetic items and items to speed up certain in-game processes; most likely EXP boosts and things of that nature. ArenaNet made the following statement about selling items that give players any sort of advantage,

But it’s never OK for players to buy a game and not be able to enjoy what they paid for without additional purchases, and it’s never OK for players who spend money to have an unfair advantage over players who spend time

The reasoning behind this move is to prevent gold farmers from ruining the game as they’ve done with other MMORPGs. By allowing the players themselves to buy and sell gold, it destroys the RMT blackmarket.

As far as I’m concerned, ArenaNet can do no wrong. The system sounds great, and I’m even more excited for GW2; if that’s even possible.

Guild Wars 2 Beta Invites are Being Sent Out!

17 March 2012 | 1 Comment » | Mike

The time has finally come as ArenaNet has begun sending out its closed beta invites for Guild Wars 2.

If you didn’t get one yet, there’s still hope, as invites will be continued to be sent out over the next few days.

As with any closed beta, ArenaNet does have an active non-disclosure agreement (NDA), so there won’t be a flurry of videos and new info as there was with the press weekend last month.

I just hope WvsWvsW will be available when the beta begins.

Guild Wars 2 Collector’s Edition + Pre-Order Date Revealed

13 March 2012 | 1 Comment » | Mike

ArenaNet revealed today that pre-orders of their highly anticipated MMORPG, Guild Wars 2, will begin on April 10th.  There will be three editions available to players, with all three granting players access to all GW2 beta events, a three day head-start, and a Hero’s Band in-game item.

The three versions are listed below with their included perks.

Digital Edition

  • Guild Wars 2 game

Digital Deluxe

  • Guild Wars 2 game
  • Summon Mistfire Wolf Elite Skill
  • Rytlock Miniature
  • Golem Banker
  • Chalice of Glory
  • Tome of Influence

Collectors Edition – $149.99

  • Guild Wars 2 game
  • Summon Mistfire Wolf Elite Skill
  • Rytlock Miniature
  • Golem Banker
  • Chalice of Glory
  • Tome of Influence
  • 10-inch figurine of Rytlock
  • 112 page Making of Guild Wars 2 book
  • Custom art frame
  • Art portfolio and five art prints
  • Best of Guild Wars 2 soundtrack CD

For those that enjoy the physical presence of the standard game, Amazon is currently accepting pre-orders for what is a physical version of the Digital Edition. You can find additional information and a full list of retailers, including those carrying the Collector’s Edition, here.

My Six Month MMO Game Plan – TERA, D3, GW2

1 March 2012 | 1 Comment » | Mike

There’s a lot of MMO games coming out in the next six months, some launching, others going into beta, and many that I’m exited to try out. So I decided to put a little release list together to see what I can fit into my schedule over the next six or so months.

Up first is TERA, launching on April 28th. Luckily there’s nothing else being released around it, so I’ll have some dedicated time to really get into it. However after the first two closed beta weekends, I’m not sure it’ll hold me for long, as it’s very grindy. This could be another SWTOR incident where I play for a few weeks and bale.

Up next we have The Secret World, launching on June 19th, and Diablo 3, probably also launching in late June. Now despite all the good things I’ve seen and heard about The Secret World, I have zero desire to play it, so I’ll be skipping it and instead go with Diablo 3. I absolutely loved D2, so I’m hoping for a similar experience, but since I haven’t yet been invited to the beta, I guess I’ll have to wait and see.

Then of course we have Guild Wars 2, our most anticipated game of 2012,  currently with no release date, but I’m guessing it might late July or August. So if D3 falls short, I’ll have GW2 shoulder to lean on.  Even if D3 doesn’t, I’ll still be switching to GW2 as the World vs World PvP system sounds amazing.

In terms of games in beta, we have Firefall, ArcheAge, Dominus and Planetside 2. Sony has confirmed Planetside 2 will be very late 2012 or possibly early 2013, so I’m safe there and I’m pretty sure ArcheAge and Dominus will also have late 2012 releases, if not 2013, so that gives me plenty of time to squeeze in the betas where I can. That just leaves Firefall, which is already in limited release and should be widening soon, hopefully within the next month or so as April 28th for the TERA release is still a long way off. I need something to play during the next two months that’s more then just a closed beta.

What are you guys looking forward to next?

Is it time for PvP and PvE to separate?

28 February 2012 | 12 Comments » | Mike

It seems no matter what the game is, both PvP and PvE players always have something to complain about when it comes to the side of the game they aren’t interested in.

PvPers like to complain about how grindy the PvE is, why PvP zones are empty and how come PvP isn’t really available until the endgame. Even with a game like Warhammer Online, that offers more PvP elements, it’s still not  enough to quench the thirst of most PvP players as they are still forced to participate in PvE to progress.

On the other hand PvEers complain at the mere fact that the game even offers any PvP at all. Even on PvE servers, there is still a PvP element to it, whether it be arena matches, duels or a dedicated zone for PvP, many PvE players want nothing to do with it. However if there are achievements or unique rewards for participating, some PvE players will reluctantly step forward.

So is it possible for a developer to create a game to satisfy both player types, with each one wanting opposite things? The short answer is no, they can’t. That is unless they create two separate games.

Enter Guild Wars 2. There must of been a light-bulb moment at the ArenaNet offices, as this is exactly what they did with Guild Wars 2. ArenaNet basically created two separate games and bridged them together to allow players to use the same character in both parts of the game.

PvP and PvE players never have to touch the other side of the game and can progress all the way to the level cap in their element of choice.

This makes one wonder if we’ve finally hit that “ah-ha” moment where we’ve now realized creating a integrated PvP and PvE game will never work; that the players are just too different. It’s like taking a FPS and strategy game and combining them. It might seem like a good idea, but in the end it fails. FPSers want fast constant action, while strategy gamers want more build up and slower paced action. Combining the two makes no one happy and I think developers need to start realizing that combining PvP and PvE is not the solution. You just get more complaining.

Guild Wars 2 Gets One Million Beta Signups in 48 hrs

24 February 2012 | 3 Comments » | Mike

In just over 48 hrs, ArenaNet received 1 million beta signup to its closed beta testing phase. It is quite the milestone, but does that really mean anything anymore?

Over the last few years, just about every triple A title has hit the million beta signup mark including: Age of Conan, SWTOR, Warhammer Online, Aion, RIFT, and others, I’m sure. So does the fact that GW2 hit 1 million really mean anything?

I’d like to think that it still does; that players are excited for what GW2 is bringing to the genre, and that the era of theme-park MMO’s is fading away; but then again, SWTOR easily had a million beta signups as well.  While there’s no doubt players are excited for Guild Wars 2, this whole beta signup bragging thing is a bit meaningless these days.

While hitting 1 millions signups might no longer be as big of a deal as it was years ago, not hitting it would have been. Then again, it’s GW2, of course they were going to hit the million mark.

Guild Wars 2 Closed Beta Signups Open for 48 hrs!

22 February 2012 | 3 Comments » | Mike

After the Guild Wars 2 press beta event this past weekend (I’m sure you’ve read and watched your fill of GW2 goodness), and now it seems players will get a chance to partake in the next round of testing.

ArenaNet has opened closed beta signups for the next 48 hrs, so if you want a chance at getting into the next beta tests: hurry up and signup on ArenaNet’s site. There’s no guarantee you will be selected, but it’s better than nothing.

Last week, ArenaNet announced that large scale testing would begin in March; and considering February is winding down, it seems they’re getting ready by starting the invite process. Good luck to everyone!