Guild Wars Launches

NCSoft's newest edition to their ever expanding stable of games, Guild Wars, has launched in North America and Europe. From what I saw while in-game things seem to be working well from a technical standpoint. Commentary from the player base is already available from the fine souls at f13.net and Grimwell.com. More specific commentary comes from AFKGamer, who has commentary about the title a few days ahead of time, and on day one of play.

Comments

You must stick to the path!

[snuf23]

One of the guildies dared comment on how FUCKED the player pathing is in this game. i.e. you will follow the assigned path, no jumping, no falling, no straying from the designated path in any way (hail, counter-intuitive!), and ListAddition01 called him an IGN noob.

This is one of the things I really didn't like when trying the beta weekends. No ability to slide down a hill or jump off a ledge. Feels like you have these invisible walls blocking in your movement.
I especially didn't like that some of the maps make you take a long winding path around because of this. Even though it looks like you could just down a 2 foot drop to where you need to go.
I realize this sounds like a small thing, but it just seemed like a stupid game mechanic.

Re:You must stick to the path!

[Nutcase]

Its as annoying as hell, but as a game developer, I can see why they would do that.

Because they aren't good enough to make an engine that doesn't allow people to fall through the geometry (or their map makers can't effectively limit the range of movement naturally)?

Because they are lazy and would rather put a huge artificial barrier in the players way than implement a better system?

I can't think of a single reason that doesn't come back to them taking the easy way out. Not exactly a good message to send when you want people to be impressed by the quality of your game.

Re:You must stick to the path!

[UberFlop]

Think before you speak, son.

They didn't take the "easy way out." Making a game of this calibre is not easy, let me tell you, so I fail to see why this small "feature" is indicative of laziness or inferiority when everything else in the game screams quality and effort. As it is, you obviously know little about how games (engines, in particular) actually function.

It's their game, and they've decided this is the way they want people to traverse through their world. They decided to set the pace of the game. So far, I haven't heard that many complaints from it, and the ones I have were relatively minor compared to your arrogant diatribe.

As a game programmer myself, you saying that they're not talented or that they're lazy makes me incredibly angry. You're picking out the one subjective flaw in the game and obnxiously and insultingly overreacting to it, ignoring the great work the game actually is composed of.

Re:For anyone who is sick and tired of MMORPGs...

[MaineCoon]

Of course its not like any other MMORPG. It's like Diablo 2 with a single realm and an in-game matchmaking lobby/trading center.

Four people in an instanced zone is hardly 'massive'.

Re:Pretty sweet game

[falcon5768]

hrmmm it might be just me but as a long time MMORPGer the idea that its like Diablo II upsets me greatly.

Its the same reason im not thrilled with WoW, it just seems people like these games more FOR the fact they are dumbed down for the masses than anything else. There is just not challenge in any of it.

Re:Pretty sweet game

[Xner]

Diablo 2 was heaps of fun, even if it was a simple game. Or perhaps BECAUSE it was a simple game.

You might not be a casual gamer, but plenty of people are, and they want their quick multiplayer action RPG kicks.