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Guild Wars World Preview Event Details
Beginning this weekend is another chance for prospective players to check out Guild Wars, the upcoming free MMOG by ArenaNet and NCSoft. If you're interested you can download the client in preparation for this Friday's event kickoff. Gamerfeed has some details on what to expect in the preview, while Gamespy has details from the first preview and an update since then. Finally, reader Detritus wrote in to tell us about two Stratics guides to prepare you for the event, one on Player vs. Player strategy and the other on Player vs. Environment elements of the game.
As an alpha tester, let me tell you that this is not your standard MMORPG. This game uses instanced worlds for all leveling. You go to an NPC and get a mission for your group, then you get teleported to that instanced place. This is not a normal MMORPG in the sense that you will be in the same world as others. When you are not in a mission, you will be in some instanced town area where other people not in missions will be as well but theres a small cap on each zone...its essentially a 3D chat room while you wait to get missions.
Its a lot more like a 3D battle.net than an MMORPG, so that is why there is no monthly fee.
Fortunately Guild Wars doesn't suffer from most of these cliches. They stated a long time ago that they wanted to be more inventive in their races, etc.. which is why the only playable race is humans.
If you would have played during the E3 event, you would have faced the Charr invasion, which.. I'm pretty sure Tolkien never wrote about.
I do agree though, in most games creativity with races is extremely lacking.. but it's the easy, comfortable way of doing things.
As others have said, it doesn't really fit into the mold of traditional MMORPGs. If I understand it right, the towns are what you'd expect. Filled with people and shop owners. But then, to fight mosters and level, you make a party and go into an instance together. In essence, you're joining a Diablo II game. The big town is really just like the bNet chat area.
Still, I like it. Just wanted to make sure that was clear.
You have to read the stuff where you put "..." too.
>> Games that try to create their own races ***generally*** don't do well.
>>>> Games that create their own races ***and*** do well, generally end up with ***players that don't play the 'unique' races*** for X reasons.
>>>>>> Games that create their own races, do well, ***and have a number of player using them*** are generally ***niche games***.
I've been following it ever since E3 when it blew me away at such an early state. I've been following it closely for months since and it's evolved to even better game play. The PvP battles are fierce and the PvE is fun for once. No more sitting in front of my spell book meditating for 20 minutes while I fight for 5. I suggest everyone download the free 65k client and give it a try this weekend. Don't just buy into the, it's another diablo comments. Download it and give it a run, you'll find it's much more than you expect.
Of course, I'm sure you already knew this before posting. I can't imagine anyone posting their opinion on something they know nothing about...