Guild Wars Final Beta This Friday 39
This Friday you can get in on the Final Beta test for the hack and slash MMOG, Guild Wars. Commentary is available on Grimwell Online. From the article: " The main claim to fame of GuildWars is being the only MMORPG without a monthly fee. It will be interesting to see how that business model works out. Is it really the monthly fee that stops a MMORPG from greatness, or is it the nerdy gameplay?" Update: 01/05 22:26 GMT by H : I spoke with a representative of GuildWars; the above information is false. The beta program will be continuing as currently implemented. As well, GuildWars has not yet stated a final release date other than early 2005; that is still true, and in the meantime, development continues on the game -- and support will be continuing for the beta program.
Re:Hmm.... (Score:1)
There will be no monthly fee, but the game will have an initial cost. The business mmodel that is sought after by the publisher and developper is to make lots of expansions and of course charge for them. So you indeed get what you pay for : something.
It might work out as far as revenue goes, because I am part of the batch that refuses to pay a monthly fee for ANY game. I've played 2 GW betas and while it looked nice, I didnt enjoy combat. I will see if i can find some fun one la
Re:Hmm.... (Score:1)
Anyway, I don't really know how it stacks up to Wow (I haven't played it) but gameplay is pretty much Diablo in real 3d and it is very pretty if you have the machine to run it at full spec. There is PVP that is fairly addictive as well as a pretty good mode for teaming up and advancing throughout the areas. I'm not sure about the long term addiction, but I'm pretty happy right now with it (played in all but one of the previews)
can I me
not the only non-monthly fee MMORG (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:not the only non-monthly fee MMORG (Score:5, Informative)
Redundant gameplay is why (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Redundant gameplay is why (Score:1)
Re:Redundant gameplay is why (Score:1)
One of the tag lines used in the adverts is that they award skill of play, not time spent playing (kinda like an online FPS in that respect)
Re:Redundant gameplay is why (Score:1)
I imagine that this game is really going to appeal to people like me who only have a couple hours a week they can/want to devote to a game. People who would otherwise love to get into an online rpg, but couldn't afford to
Re:Redundant gameplay is why (Score:1)
Re:Redundant gameplay is why (Score:1)
As for me, I prefer strategy & tactics over twitch skills, so this game has me interested.
MMORPG? (Score:4, Interesting)
In a game like WoW or CoH, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of people in the same zone as you. In Guild Wars, you're either running around solo or you're joining one of the raids that has a cap of 6 (I think) members per group. Is 6 Massive? If so, StarCraft has that beat with 8.
RPG? Maybe, I played in the open beta and all the new characters started with the best weapons and armor and some high level. You weren't really given a chance to role play, so I can't judge it there.
All in all, it felt like Diablo. But Diablo with less fun.
Re:MMORPG? (Score:1)
Re:MMORPG? (Score:4, Insightful)
That's Massive in that "There's so much room you won't find other people" but not Massive in that "There are thousands of other people playing along with you"
And, as I said, the game's more like Diablo but without all the fun bits.. But if you like it, that's your opinion. And it's wrong.
Re:MMORPG? (Score:2)
Re:MMORPG? (Score:1)
Some missions cap the party at 6 characters, some at 8. I don't recall, but I think the Arena pvp areas where for parties of 4, while the Halls of the Dead, Guild battle, and another pvp area where for parties of 8
Re:MMORPG? (Score:3, Insightful)
"A small group of people playing at the same time online slightly role playing game"
Re:MMORPG? (Score:1)
Re:MMORPG? (Score:2)
What's that you say?
Re:MMORPG? (Score:1)
Is Guild Wars an MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game)?
Guild Wars has some similarities to existing MMORPGs, but it also has some key differences.
Like existing MMOs, Guild Wars is played entirely online in a secure hosted environment. Thousands of players inhabit the same virtual world. Players can meet new friends in gathering places like towns and outposts where they form parties and go questing with them. Unlike many MMOs, when players form a par
Re:MMORPG? (Score:1)
now-a-days anything that is online only is talked about in conjunction with the term MMORPG reguardless of the reality of what it is. Read the above post for the exact wording driectly from the Guildwars.com FAQ
Re:MMORPG? (Score:1)
I've heard people say that these public areas are just a graphical version of Battle.net. I disagree, for the simple fact that these areas are also used for, in addition to the trade and chat mentioned above
Re:MMORPG? (Score:2)
Or you're in a PvP arena, which can at least go up to 12-- I think they mentioned larger? I'm not sure.
Sure, still not massive; the only "massive" areas are the starting areas, which you could argue are only glorified matchmaking lobbies. You never get the situation where you're killing zombies in a field, and some guy runs along and says, "hey, wanna kill zombies together
Re:MMORPG? (Score:2)
Thanks, friendly stranger!
Re:MMORPG? (Score:2)
Notice you were playing during a beta. They forced people to start at level 15 so they could test higher level areas. True, they're trying to introduce people to the game, but their main purpose was to stress test their servers and see if the game scaled to tens of thousands of users.
In the (semi-)closed bet
Re:MMORPG? (Score:2)
I didn't get a chance to actually roleplay, so I didn't judge it there, other than saying it reminded me a lot of Diablo.
Umm more free online gaming (Score:1)
Who says this is the final beta? (Score:1)
I'd say it's a bit of both (Score:2)
Rob
Guild Wars - The Next Gen Online RPG (Score:2, Insightful)
1. ArenaNet (a very talented team, some ex-Blizzard guys that worked on WoW for a while, Starcraft, Warcraft, Diablo
2. No grind, skill matters (if you
Re:Guild Wars - The Next Gen Online RPG (Score:1)
I thought WoW was going to be the big one for me
GW sounds like a much needed change in design of these games to take the focus off of the time-sink aspect.
Re:Guild Wars - The Next Gen Online RPG (Score:2)
Re:Guild Wars - The Next Gen Online RPG (Score:1)
This game is unique.
1. There is some leveling, but it comes cheap and easily. I actually wish they'd just drop the levelling out but I guess they want you to have some attachment to your character.
2. There are battles as previously mentioned that have large numbers. Several teams of 8 fight agai
Re:Guild Wars - The Next Gen Online RPG (Score:1)
HAHAHAHAHAHAH!
This game looks like ass. I've played free korean MMOs in Beta that look a lot better.