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Guild Wars 2: Preview Interview

StraddenStradden Managing EditorMember CommonPosts: 6,696

MMORPG.com's Carolyn Koh was at this year's Penny Arcade Expo. While there, she spoke with Mike O'Brien and Daniel Dociu about their upcoming MMORPG, Guild Wars 2.

The first thing Mike O'Brien, ArenaNet Studio Head and Co-founder said to me was, "Guild Wars 2 - Still Free!" when we spoke about Guild Wars 2 at PAX 2009. At this point in game development, there were not a lot of details they could speak of, but instead of giving out signed posters of Guild Wars art this year, they were giving out a beautiful hard-cover art-book of the art of Guild Wars 2. One book per attendee.

ArenaNet is justifiably proud of their game art team and their accomplishments, having won many awards over the years from prestigious juried competitions such as Into the Pixel, Ballistic, Expose and Spectrum Fantastic Art.

Read the Preview Interview

Cheers,
Jon Wood
Managing Editor
MMORPG.com

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Comments

  • AbrahmmAbrahmm Member Posts: 2,448

    This game sounds awesome. This tidbit caught my eye:

     

    "The main difference in Guild Wars 2 is that it will all be a single, persistent world."

     

    This gives me the hint that they are attempting to make single server ala Guild Wars, but add persistence to it? If this is so, this sounds amazing and I can't wait to see it.

     

    Can't wait for this one.

    Tried: LotR, CoH, AoC, WAR, Jumpgate Classic
    Played: SWG, Guild Wars, WoW
    Playing: Eve Online, Counter-strike
    Loved: Star Wars Galaxies
    Waiting for: Earthrise, Guild Wars 2, anything sandbox.

  • KeladorKelador Member UncommonPosts: 132
    Originally posted by Abrahmm


    This game sounds awesome. This tidbit caught my eye:
     
    "The main difference in Guild Wars 2 is that it will all be a single, persistent world."
     
    This gives me the hint that they are attempting to make single server ala Guild Wars, but add persistence to it? If this is so, this sounds amazing and I can't wait to see it.
     
    Can't wait for this one.

     

    That just means its like your standard MMO (wow/ etc) where the world is open and not made up of private instances like Guild wars is now. Im sure it will have more than one server or might just have shards. Only game i know that has one server is eve online.

  • AbrahmmAbrahmm Member Posts: 2,448
    Originally posted by Kelador

    Originally posted by Abrahmm


    This game sounds awesome. This tidbit caught my eye:
     
    "The main difference in Guild Wars 2 is that it will all be a single, persistent world."
     
    This gives me the hint that they are attempting to make single server ala Guild Wars, but add persistence to it? If this is so, this sounds amazing and I can't wait to see it.
     
    Can't wait for this one.

     

    That just means its like your standard MMO (wow/ etc) where the world is open and not made up of private instances like Guild wars is now. Im sure it will have more than one server or might just have shards. Only game i know that has one server is eve online.

     

    Well, it was the "single" part that gave me this impression. Having a single "shard" in Guild Wars one was a great feature, and they said they are keeping everything that is great about it. I really hope they try and keep only having one shard, and I hope they can pull it off.

    Tried: LotR, CoH, AoC, WAR, Jumpgate Classic
    Played: SWG, Guild Wars, WoW
    Playing: Eve Online, Counter-strike
    Loved: Star Wars Galaxies
    Waiting for: Earthrise, Guild Wars 2, anything sandbox.

  • toordtoord Member Posts: 139
    Originally posted by Kelador

    That just means its like your standard MMO (wow/ etc) where the world is open and not made up of private instances like Guild wars is now.

     

    Right. To me this is a deal breaker. The only reason I tried GW was because of instanced content. Since that's gone in GW2, I won't even bother with that game.

     

    Peace.

  • Mariner-80Mariner-80 Member Posts: 347


    Originally posted by toord
    Originally posted by Kelador
    That just means its like your standard MMO (wow/ etc) where the world is open and not made up of private instances like Guild wars is now.
     
    Right. To me this is a deal breaker. The only reason I tried GW was because of instanced content. Since that's gone in GW2, I won't even bother with that game.
     
    Peace.

    As long as the game is as solo-friendly as the original GW (i.e., with lots of "grouping-optional content"), I think the addition of persistence is just fine and enhances the game. The deal-breaker for me is if they restrict the instanced portions of GW2 to player groups only. THAT will be a deal-breaker for me. From what I have read about GW2, however, they are *not* planning to do this.

    I am greatly looking forward to GW2, although I am really going to miss the AI/Hero component of the original game. :(

  • NakedFuryNakedFury Member UncommonPosts: 411

    This article is amazing. I can't wait for the game to come.

     

    I like how they plan to have separate starting areas depending on the race and the single persistent world is a nice addition.


    image

  • Loke666Loke666 Member EpicPosts: 21,441
    Originally posted by Kelador

    Originally posted by Abrahmm

    "The main difference in Guild Wars 2 is that it will all be a single, persistent world."

     

    That just means its like your standard MMO (wow/ etc) where the world is open and not made up of private instances like Guild wars is now. Im sure it will have more than one server or might just have shards. Only game i know that has one server is eve online.

     

    I means actually a lot more. The game will have servers, which will compete against eachothers in PvP like the regions did in the first game. But the persistant thing means that there will be things that your character does that changes the gameworld.

    Mobs will not just spawn like in other games, they will spawn from logical points and walk to where they are supposed to be. An Ogre will spawn from a hut in the ogre village and so on.

    And I am glad that Jeff Grub still is the boss for the lore, I always liked his Forgotten realms books better than Salvatores and I loved the characters in Nightfall he made.

    This is the number one game I am waiting for and I have been waiting a long time. I can't see how P2P games can compete with this. All other games stating that they are free actually cost more to play if you want to be good than a P2P game, and and not as good. Here is a great game without monthly fees and with graphics, programing, art and story that most P2P games can only dream about :D

    If this game becomes the next big game I think that the P2P bussines model will get problems. Why pay $15 bucks for month when you get a game at least as good without the monthly fees?

  • LtJohnnyRicoLtJohnnyRico Member Posts: 214

    This game went from "meh" to me to "HOLY COW! WANT TO PLAY NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" in as little as 3 days. The faster we get to play this, the better for my sanity.

  • KenaoshiKenaoshi Member UncommonPosts: 1,022

    no new information ¬¬

    now: GW2 (11 80s).
    Dark Souls 2.
    future: Mount&Blade 2 BannerLord.
    "Bro, do your even fractal?"
    Recommends: Guild Wars 2, Dark Souls, Mount&Blade: Warband, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning.

  • Loke666Loke666 Member EpicPosts: 21,441
    Originally posted by tmr819


     
    I am greatly looking forward to GW2, although I am really going to miss the AI/Hero component of the original game. :(

    You are supposed to be able to make a hero or pet and design like your character. There is supposed to be a balancing system for it, you don't have to have a pet or hero and you should be as good with or without them. And I am sure you will get one or more npcs with you for certain quests.

    So while you only get one hero or a pet you can design those by yourself (that is at least what Jeff said in a forum even if it was 2 years ago).

    I am sure that the game will offer at least as many fun NPCs as the first game, and in many missions there you get specific npc with you for a limited time also. So I wouldn't worry too much about the lack of the old hero system.

    I am not sure if henchmens are in or if they use the same scaling as Biowares old "Neverwinter nights" did instead. The interview do make it sounds like it is the second thing but it is hard to be sure without asking Mike it directly.

  • LeucrottaLeucrotta Member Posts: 679
    Originally posted by Loke666



    If this game becomes the next big game I think that the P2P bussines model will get problems. Why pay $15 bucks for month when you get a game at least as good without the monthly fees?

     

    I too think this, what i read about gw2 so far is awsome and it seems to be able to offer the same if not more features then any p2p games out there.

     

    if gw2 is going to be what i think its going to be no company can realy  justify a monthly fee anymore

  • LydonLydon Member UncommonPosts: 2,938
    Originally posted by toord

    Originally posted by Kelador

    That just means its like your standard MMO (wow/ etc) where the world is open and not made up of private instances like Guild wars is now.

     

    Right. To me this is a deal breaker. The only reason I tried GW was because of instanced content. Since that's gone in GW2, I won't even bother with that game.

     

    Peace.

    The article did NOT say it is gone. It said quite the opposite.

  • kakarotragekakarotrage Member Posts: 280
    Originally posted by toord

    Originally posted by Kelador

    That just means its like your standard MMO (wow/ etc) where the world is open and not made up of private instances like Guild wars is now.

     

    Right. To me this is a deal breaker. The only reason I tried GW was because of instanced content. Since that's gone in GW2, I won't even bother with that game.

     

    Peace.



     

    You shouldn't even visit this site for that saying.

    Peace!

    World of Warcraft is a proof that MMORPG quality should affect schedule/budget and not the other way around.

  • mercesamercesa Member Posts: 23

    I love this game i will love it as i did with Guildwars 1 And Really this deserves a facepalm he Spelled   "Zhaitan" Wrong he spelled Zytan.

  • ThomasN7ThomasN7 87.18.7.148Member CommonPosts: 6,690

    Great read! it is going to be an awesome game.

    30
  • JoiryJoiry Member Posts: 10

    Carolyn, are you sure Drogus is the name of the Ice Dragon?  Jeff Grubb is clearly heard calling the Ice Dragon "Jormag" in a video interview during GamesCon with mmorpgitalia.  Link is here, about 1:11 in.  In fact, four of the five elder dragons names are known, and none of those four are Drogus.  So, perhaps Drogus is the last dragon, the Sea Dragon?

    That, and getting Zhaitan wrong, kinda detracts from the article.

  • MoiaxMoiax Member Posts: 22
    Originally posted by Kelador

    That just means its like your standard MMO (wow/ etc) where the world is open and not made up of private instances like Guild wars is now. Im sure it will have more than one server or might just have shards. Only game i know that has one server is eve online.

     

    From the GW2  FAQ:

    Servers/Worlds

    Are there going to be different servers?

    Yes, however you will be able to move characters between different shards/worlds quickly, easily, and without restriction, possibly similar to switching districts in Guild Wars outposts.

    -and-

    "World PvP" will involve large, ongoing battles in the Mists between players from up to three different shards, with persistence.

     

    http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Guild_Wars_2/FAQ

     

  • learislearis Member UncommonPosts: 13

    I don't understand how they plan to accomplish the full mmorpg experience without having a p2p model. To be honest, this sounds too good to be true. P2P models are necessary in mmorpgs in order to continually have people working to fix all the bugs and do all the continuous balancing required in mmorpg worlds. I'm very curious to see what will turn out for the open world gameplay in GW2.

  • nekollxnekollx Member Posts: 570
    Originally posted by Moiax

    Originally posted by Kelador

    That just means its like your standard MMO (wow/ etc) where the world is open and not made up of private instances like Guild wars is now. Im sure it will have more than one server or might just have shards. Only game i know that has one server is eve online.

     

    From the GW2  FAQ:

    Servers/Worlds

    Are there going to be different servers?

    Yes, however you will be able to move characters between different shards/worlds quickly, easily, and without restriction, possibly similar to switching districts in Guild Wars outposts.

    -and-

    "World PvP" will involve large, ongoing battles in the Mists between players from up to three different shards, with persistence.

     

    http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Guild_Wars_2/FAQ

     

    sounds like Champions Online to me

    there are "instances" of each zone but no "realm" and you can switch "instances" on the fly. So everyone is on the same "server" just different instances.

  • nekollxnekollx Member Posts: 570
    Originally posted by learis


    I don't understand how they plan to accomplish the full mmorpg experience without having a p2p model. To be honest, this sounds too good to be true. P2P models are necessary in mmorpgs in order to continually have people working to fix all the bugs and do all the continuous balancing required in mmorpg worlds. I'm very curious to see what will turn out for the open world gameplay in GW2.

     

    ever play Guild Wars 1?

    it was FTP with a store. I image it will be the same but more "store" though i get the impression you wotn buy "uber gear" i could see buying optional companions, character slots, renames, and other cosmetics.

  • CarolynKohCarolynKoh Staff WriterMember Posts: 202
    Originally posted by Joiry


    Carolyn, are you sure Drogus is the name of the Ice Dragon?  Jeff Grubb is clearly heard calling the Ice Dragon "Jormag" in a video interview during GamesCon with mmorpgitalia.  Link is here, about 1:11 in.  In fact, four of the five elder dragons names are known, and none of those four are Drogus.  So, perhaps Drogus is the last dragon, the Sea Dragon?
    That, and getting Zhaitan wrong, kinda detracts from the article.

     

    One of the challenges of interviewing on the convention floor is how easy it is to mis-speak / mis-hear / miss on the taking of notes and mythological Names are the toughest.  I do what fact checks I can from official sites / information and will say this.  "Sorry - My bad."

     

    Notice: The views expressed in this post are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of MMORPG.com or its management.

  • OzmodanOzmodan Member EpicPosts: 9,726
    Originally posted by Abrahmm


    This game sounds awesome. This tidbit caught my eye:
     
    "The main difference in Guild Wars 2 is that it will all be a single, persistent world."
     
    This gives me the hint that they are attempting to make single server ala Guild Wars, but add persistence to it? If this is so, this sounds amazing and I can't wait to see it.
     
    Can't wait for this one.

    The post amused me.  Who cares if it is a persistent world, everything is instanced except the lobby therefore making the word persistent meaningless.

  • EricDanieEricDanie Member UncommonPosts: 2,238

     Hearing the word "raids" and "end-game" in the same phrase makes me doubt a bit in how GW2 can keep the "mold breaking" aspect and take it to the next level, but it's still too soon to know anything solid about the game besides the things they've been repeating since they announced GW2 development.

  • ClobClob Member Posts: 130
    Originally posted by learis


    I don't understand how they plan to accomplish the full mmorpg experience without having a p2p model. To be honest, this sounds too good to be true. P2P models are necessary in mmorpgs in order to continually have people working to fix all the bugs and do all the continuous balancing required in mmorpg worlds. I'm very curious to see what will turn out for the open world gameplay in GW2.



     

    This quote sounds exactly like something that was said very early in GW's quite often.  I believe they proved themselves far above expectations that this was untrue for that.  ANet is not only able to create a wonderful game, they are also able to maintain the game very well.  While GW was the focus of development they always performed regular maintainance, patches, skill balancing, etc. while still staying on schedule with their new campaigns.  Something was broke, they fixed it... and, without interruption to gameplay.  I remember all this while I've been paying another company monthly for nearly 1 1/2 years...  In this p2p game where I'm "suppose to be" seeing better, quicker and more frequent updates and patches, it is the exact opposite.  It takes months for them to accomplish anything.  Now, I realize not all companies handle things this poorly, it has proven to me that ANet's business model works wonderfully with them at the wheel.

  • djFEVAdjFEVA Member Posts: 48

    I'm intrigued with their PvP arena, where gear will become obsolete. Instead, the kills will go to a skilled player.

    The circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant. It's what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are.

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