I don't think it can possibly live up to the hype. Few things in life actually do. But it has moved the genre forward. The next step is a dynamic open seamless world. In 5 years when I'm playing that game I will have GW2 to thank. GW2 finally broke the mold of repetitive quest hub tedium. That's no small thing. Games have been stuck in that rut since EQ. For this reason GW2 cemented their place in MMO lore.
New game hyped and ready to release causing excitement on the boards.
Game releases and it's hailed as the greatest thing since sliced bread
It's fun for somewhere between a few weeks and a couple of months
Game starts getting stale and I loose the urge to log in
I start reading the boards waiting on the next hyped game to release
blah...
I really hope this game breaks the cycle. When I first got into MMOs, I played Asheron's Call for 4 years and loved it. I played City of Heroes for 2.5 years and it was great. Since then, I've played nothing longer than six months (World of Warcraft). Nothing seems fresh enough or good enough to hold my attention long these days. I'm not sure if it's me that's changed or the quality of the games.
I've purposefully avoided GW2 beta tests and videos because I want the game to be as fresh as possible when I log in. I don't even know much about the mechanics of the game. Ah well, here's hoping....
Avoiding the beta tests is a good idea. I finally gave in and played about 20 hours of the last beta weekend.
I hope GW2 turns out to be what you are looking for, sadly for me it was simply more of the same...
I hate when games hold your hand and lead you around, GW2 brings it to a new extreme with flashing and sparkling objectives , pop ups, voice over help, nagging,etc...
The game feels heavily instanced and heavily teleport based travel. They aren't trying to build a virtual world instead catering to the "I can only play for 20 minutes crowd". Also they sunk a ton of money into yet another Single Player Instance waste of time quest line which offers nothing to help build a vitrual world or support the core MMO game.
Organized grouping for PvE evolved into zerg based combat as you rush headlong into combat along with a couple dozen other players you don't know and can't easily communicate with.
Rewards are spread like an AoE to everyone that is in the large encounter area, you can get extra rewards for your own participation but overall it seems like another game designed around half trying and half paying attention.
Combat / Skill mechanics are liberally spread to all players and all clases. Everyone can Heal, Everyone can DPS, Everyone can tank, well kinda.... So it all feels very homogenized and bland, everyone can do everything so there is no coolness to trying to fill a role or playing that heavey group based support character class. Nothing to make you feel special or unique.
Combat is fun but feels more like an arcade game than an MMO. The Incapacitate mechanic is overused and seems to turn most Dynamic quests into a free for all of people running around dying over and over getting healed up by any passer by to continue zerging like a crazed group of lemmings.
There is no appreciable penalties in the game for losing. Easy rez spots to limit travel time, a laughable repair cost. Basically if you log on and roll your face on the keyboard long enough you win. No XP loss, No Item loss, Nothing to make you feel bad that you lost.
The PvP is fun but it comes at no risk just lots of reward. No Guild ownership of anything that you would be scared to lose, no building your own "anything". Losing is really just almost winning, it doesn't hurt to lose so the game encourages mindless bind rushing. It has expanded the lame BG mechanics that have diseased MMOs over the last few years and expanded it to cover Open World PvP.
GW2 is a fine MMO when compared to the other crap that keep getting released but it doesn't stand up to the core elements of the genre that were founded back with EQ1, DAOC, Shadowbane,etc...
Sadly it looks like we have a couple more years of the childish easy mode, play by yourself MMOs before the market finally implodes and technology steps up enough that skilled Indies can release some new different quaility games for us to play.
Originally posted by ZigZags To the OP....your one redeeming quality of this game will be it is f2p. In my expert opinion thats the biggest draw for continued log ins by people months down the road even after they're board with features we have all seen already. GW2 is going to have a very similar release and post release as RIFT however due to the f2p it will fare a little better. You can see the desperation of MMO players by how aggressively they hype GW2. Its really only just an OK game. I've played it and many other games, I've successfully predicted the outcome of almost every MMO i've cared enough about to critique and GW2 is a hype machine at best.
Didn't Rift only sell like 100,000 copies of their game at release? GW2 already has over a million prepurchases. I don't think saying "it is going to be the same as Rift" is something that can be supported in any way shape or form based on the disparity there. Obviously the number of people interested in GW2 already far outpaces anything that Rift managed.
Edit: forget it, the numbers for Rift were over a million as well. I don't know where I imagined I heard 100,000. Consider me schooled, by myself.
The days of playing 1 MMO for years at a time are over. Just accept it and enjoy yourself.
I'm not saying that's a good thing, just being real.
I disagree. WoW still does that to a lot of people. I have faith in some of the new Genre of MMOs like the 1st person Shooter style Zombie MMOs coming out.....based on the popularity DayZ has...which essentially is an old engine and unrefined version of what is to come.
Dragnon - Guildmaster - Albion Central Bank in Albion Online
New game hyped and ready to release causing excitement on the boards.
Game releases and it's hailed as the greatest thing since sliced bread
It's fun for somewhere between a few weeks and a couple of months
Game starts getting stale and I loose the urge to log in
I start reading the boards waiting on the next hyped game to release
blah...
I really hope this game breaks the cycle. When I first got into MMOs, I played Asheron's Call for 4 years and loved it. I played City of Heroes for 2.5 years and it was great. Since then, I've played nothing longer than six months (World of Warcraft). Nothing seems fresh enough or good enough to hold my attention long these days. I'm not sure if it's me that's changed or the quality of the games.
I've purposefully avoided GW2 beta tests and videos because I want the game to be as fresh as possible when I log in. I don't even know much about the mechanics of the game. Ah well, here's hoping....
easy solution, go outside
I'm not really sure what you're getting at with the go outside comment. I spend plenty of time outside -- as a father of 4 (3 of which still live at home), a husband, and a person with a job who works 60+ hours per week, I'm engaged in a number of activities offline. In fact, my play time is limited to about an hour or two a night 3 or 4 nights a week. But again, what does going outside have to do with hoping this game can hold my attention for more than a couple months?
BTW, this is the first time I've been back inside today after posting the OP this morning. Strangely enough, I still feel the same as I did this morning. Go figure...
As for some of the other comments, thank you for the feedback. The overwhelming message I'm seeing is that this is a F2P game, and I'm not out much if I don't like it. That's true, but money is rarely the issue with me. I'm just looking for a game that has that online "home" feeling I got early on in my MMO playing days. It's been a long long time since I've had the urge to pull an all nighter leveling my toon or looking for that cool item. I remember going to the dungeons with the tuskers in AC and farming keys all night, then using them on the chest deep in the dungeon to see what random rare loot I could find. That's what I'm looking for -- the feeling of time slipping away while I'm totally engrossed in a fun and living fantasy world. I don't want to feel like I'm grinding. I don't want to surf the web while playing the game (looking at you TSW). I want a fun, long lasting gaming experience.
Another poster probably hit it on the head when he said it would come down to grouping and clans. The games I've played since COH have been so short lived, I've not had the time or the desire to get heavily involved in grouping or guilds.
Anywho, I'll know in 2 weeks whether or not this will be the same ol' same ol' or not.
The thing that appeals to me about GW2 is the lack of a subscription fee. Usually with most MMOs, I feel compelled to log on in order to get my money's worth. With GW2 I can leave the game for a few months, if I ever get bored and come back to check out new stuff.
With that being said, I have played all of the BWEs and some of the stress tests and I have to say that the game has so much to do that it seems overwhelming at times. I mean, I already spent more time on this game than any other single player $60 game (except for Skyrim) and I've yet to even scratch the surface.
During this 1 hour test, I was able to finish 2 jump puzzles in Lion's Arch. I basically spent an hour just jumping around, falling and dying and had a blast. When the game goes live, I can see myself spending lots of time on just running around trying to find all of the secret stuff, which should greatly add to the longevity of the game.
Obviously that stuff may not appeal to every one, especially those more interested in character advancement but it works for me.
The problem most new MMOs have is the inevitable comparision to the big dog on the block, WoW. Unforunately for a lot of people WoW is the yardstick they judge MMOs on. I get it to some extent but the game has been out for 8 years. It's really an uphill battle for new game developers because people expect all new MMOs to have the features it took Blizzard 8 years to develop/create.
From what I've played of GW2 I've loved so I am going to force myself to have extreme patience with ANet.
The problem most new MMOs have is the inevitable comparision to the big dog on the block, WoW. Unforunately for a lot of people WoW is the yardstick they judge MMOs on. I get it to some extent but the game has been out for 8 years. It's really an uphill battle for new game developers because people expect all new MMOs to have the features it took Blizzard 8 years to develop/create.
From what I've played of GW2 I've loved so I am going to force myself to have extreme patience with ANet.
They also probably expect 8 years worth of content as well, which makes it even more of an uphill battle.
This game has shown tremendous ability to keep players hooked IMO. Especially with new content coming out eventually, and it hasent even launched. It strays from the typical WoW stream of gaming and puts more of its own speciality in it. I think GW2 will be good for a long time .
I saw it with Aion and Warhammer. The boards get overhyped and everyone loves the game. And then months later it sucks. I saw that with SW:TOR, Aion, Warhammer Online and Age of Conan.
Then there's post release and people say that the bugs have been fixed on Age of Conan.
New game hyped and ready to release causing excitement on the boards.
blah...
1. New console is released and millions of people rush out to buy the best and latest, plus 300 games (again).
2. New smartphone is released and Jobs gets a tombstone of solid gold.
3. etc.
Welcome to a consumer spending based society, already in progress.
YOU might even be a (dum dum da!) victim of marketing, oh no! Better hide under the bed and never spend any money, ever.
Really. They might get you. Doom.
Self-pity imprisons us in the walls of our own self-absorption. The whole world shrinks down to the size of our problem, and the more we dwell on it, the smaller we are and the larger the problem seems to grow.
Yesterday there was 1 hour stress test and I thought I would not bother with it.
Then I suddenly wanted to try out my ranger a bit more.. and bam. 1 hour later the server went down and I had this big silly grin on my face for the rest of the evening.
That has not happened to me in ages, since WoW actually. Does this mean Gw2 will break the mould?
Well no... but I can gather some facts from this:
1) Starter areas for ALL races is a good thing, also they do not feel like starter areas at all, they feel like the real deal.
2) you can play for little time and still accomplish stuff/have fun in the game.
That's it. it is enough for me.
"If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day, if you teach him how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime"
The most interesting part of this thread is that a premise of the OP is that this game was hyped.
I haven't really seen ANet doing any hype at all. They have put out videos and interviews explaining the game and what is different about it, but as anyone who has played in the BWEs can tell you, everything they have said is pretty much exactly what they did. No hype, just information.
The only actual hype I've seen has been fan-generated. And, technically, that shouldn't be called hype, it should be called excitement. Hype is the term you use when marketing people are behind it. Just how I see it, anyway.
Comments
Avoiding the beta tests is a good idea. I finally gave in and played about 20 hours of the last beta weekend.
I hope GW2 turns out to be what you are looking for, sadly for me it was simply more of the same...
GW2 is a fine MMO when compared to the other crap that keep getting released but it doesn't stand up to the core elements of the genre that were founded back with EQ1, DAOC, Shadowbane,etc...
Sadly it looks like we have a couple more years of the childish easy mode, play by yourself MMOs before the market finally implodes and technology steps up enough that skilled Indies can release some new different quaility games for us to play.
Didn't Rift only sell like 100,000 copies of their game at release? GW2 already has over a million prepurchases. I don't think saying "it is going to be the same as Rift" is something that can be supported in any way shape or form based on the disparity there. Obviously the number of people interested in GW2 already far outpaces anything that Rift managed.
Edit: forget it, the numbers for Rift were over a million as well. I don't know where I imagined I heard 100,000. Consider me schooled, by myself.
I disagree. WoW still does that to a lot of people. I have faith in some of the new Genre of MMOs like the 1st person Shooter style Zombie MMOs coming out.....based on the popularity DayZ has...which essentially is an old engine and unrefined version of what is to come.
Dragnon - Guildmaster - Albion Central Bank in Albion Online
www.albioncentralbank.enjin.com
I'm not really sure what you're getting at with the go outside comment. I spend plenty of time outside -- as a father of 4 (3 of which still live at home), a husband, and a person with a job who works 60+ hours per week, I'm engaged in a number of activities offline. In fact, my play time is limited to about an hour or two a night 3 or 4 nights a week. But again, what does going outside have to do with hoping this game can hold my attention for more than a couple months?
BTW, this is the first time I've been back inside today after posting the OP this morning. Strangely enough, I still feel the same as I did this morning. Go figure...
As for some of the other comments, thank you for the feedback. The overwhelming message I'm seeing is that this is a F2P game, and I'm not out much if I don't like it. That's true, but money is rarely the issue with me. I'm just looking for a game that has that online "home" feeling I got early on in my MMO playing days. It's been a long long time since I've had the urge to pull an all nighter leveling my toon or looking for that cool item. I remember going to the dungeons with the tuskers in AC and farming keys all night, then using them on the chest deep in the dungeon to see what random rare loot I could find. That's what I'm looking for -- the feeling of time slipping away while I'm totally engrossed in a fun and living fantasy world. I don't want to feel like I'm grinding. I don't want to surf the web while playing the game (looking at you TSW). I want a fun, long lasting gaming experience.
Another poster probably hit it on the head when he said it would come down to grouping and clans. The games I've played since COH have been so short lived, I've not had the time or the desire to get heavily involved in grouping or guilds.
Anywho, I'll know in 2 weeks whether or not this will be the same ol' same ol' or not.
What's the problem then? That's a way better value than nearly every single player game on the market.
The thing that appeals to me about GW2 is the lack of a subscription fee. Usually with most MMOs, I feel compelled to log on in order to get my money's worth. With GW2 I can leave the game for a few months, if I ever get bored and come back to check out new stuff.
With that being said, I have played all of the BWEs and some of the stress tests and I have to say that the game has so much to do that it seems overwhelming at times. I mean, I already spent more time on this game than any other single player $60 game (except for Skyrim) and I've yet to even scratch the surface.
During this 1 hour test, I was able to finish 2 jump puzzles in Lion's Arch. I basically spent an hour just jumping around, falling and dying and had a blast. When the game goes live, I can see myself spending lots of time on just running around trying to find all of the secret stuff, which should greatly add to the longevity of the game.
Obviously that stuff may not appeal to every one, especially those more interested in character advancement but it works for me.
The problem most new MMOs have is the inevitable comparision to the big dog on the block, WoW. Unforunately for a lot of people WoW is the yardstick they judge MMOs on. I get it to some extent but the game has been out for 8 years. It's really an uphill battle for new game developers because people expect all new MMOs to have the features it took Blizzard 8 years to develop/create.
From what I've played of GW2 I've loved so I am going to force myself to have extreme patience with ANet.
They also probably expect 8 years worth of content as well, which makes it even more of an uphill battle.
I saw it with Aion and Warhammer. The boards get overhyped and everyone loves the game. And then months later it sucks. I saw that with SW:TOR, Aion, Warhammer Online and Age of Conan.
Then there's post release and people say that the bugs have been fixed on Age of Conan.
lol yup. luckily my friend bought me the game. so i dont spend any money
No one will ever know how many "active player" guild wars 2 have. Just like no one knows how many diablo 3 player is currently playing.
So there will be no "I told you so" thread.
GW2 is an excellent MMORPG for gamers.
If you on the other hand think MMORPGs are a way of living and defining yourself, your milleage may vary.
Currently playing: GW2
Going cardboard starter kit: Ticket to ride, Pandemic, Carcassonne, Dominion, 7 Wonders
1. New console is released and millions of people rush out to buy the best and latest, plus 300 games (again).
2. New smartphone is released and Jobs gets a tombstone of solid gold.
3. etc.
Welcome to a consumer spending based society, already in progress.
YOU might even be a (dum dum da!) victim of marketing, oh no! Better hide under the bed and never spend any money, ever.
Really. They might get you. Doom.
Self-pity imprisons us in the walls of our own self-absorption. The whole world shrinks down to the size of our problem, and the more we dwell on it, the smaller we are and the larger the problem seems to grow.
I'll tell you this.
Yesterday there was 1 hour stress test and I thought I would not bother with it.
Then I suddenly wanted to try out my ranger a bit more.. and bam. 1 hour later the server went down and I had this big silly grin on my face for the rest of the evening.
That has not happened to me in ages, since WoW actually. Does this mean Gw2 will break the mould?
Well no... but I can gather some facts from this:
1) Starter areas for ALL races is a good thing, also they do not feel like starter areas at all, they feel like the real deal.
2) you can play for little time and still accomplish stuff/have fun in the game.
That's it. it is enough for me.
"If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day, if you teach him how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime"
The above.
I'll also add: yes, it is a good thing.
***** Before hitting that reply button, please READ the WHOLE thread you're about to post in *****
The most interesting part of this thread is that a premise of the OP is that this game was hyped.
I haven't really seen ANet doing any hype at all. They have put out videos and interviews explaining the game and what is different about it, but as anyone who has played in the BWEs can tell you, everything they have said is pretty much exactly what they did. No hype, just information.
The only actual hype I've seen has been fan-generated. And, technically, that shouldn't be called hype, it should be called excitement. Hype is the term you use when marketing people are behind it. Just how I see it, anyway.