One of my most anticipated titles this year is Guild Wars 2. For those uninitiated, Guild Wars is a MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game) with a difference. Once significant difference is the lack of a monthly fee, what’s great for fans is that developers ArenaNet are diametrically opposed to the idea. Differences don’t stop there, they also have a completely different approach to how a MMORPG should work.
Guild Wars 1 was released in 2005 and has sold more than 6 million copies. The revenue from the first has funded development of its sequel due later this year. Guild Wars 2 has been in development since 2007 and is looking every bit like the wait has been worth it.
ArenaNet have been providing fans with updates on the progress as well as early previews of what will be included in the game. There’s a stack of videos and information about the different professions or characters you can play in the game. So far details of the Elementalist, Warrior and Ranger have been released, with more information coming in strategic staged releases in the lead up to the games completion.
So what is so special about Guild Wars 2 ? What sets it apart from the competition ? Well when you read the documentation on the Guild Wars 2 website, you get an insight into the thinking that went into the development of the game. Gone are the days of waiting through pages of text over a characters head, why can’t that character actually tell you the relevant information in the story line ? And how bought dynamic effects, like shooting an arrow through fire actually makes the arrow catch on fire doing increased damage to your enemies. I mean this game is shaping up to be all kinds of awesome.
My only request is they get it out ASAP. I’ve been playing the original with a few mates over the past 6 months, it’s a great way to get prepared for the next chapter – Guild Wars 2.
Can’t wait, sadly have to.
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