Guild Wars 2 Release Date Announced
New submitter Woldry writes "After five years in development, Guild Wars 2 has been given a launch date: August 28, 2012. ArenaNet's aim is to provide 'a living, breathing online world that challenges convention, that's designed for fun instead of grind.' There's a beta weekend planned for July 20-22 for those who have pre-purchased the game (and for those who have gotten legitimate beta keys in advance)."
Rock, Paper, Shotgun has a good write-up of some hands-on time during one of the earlier beta weekends, saying, 'Time after time, Guild Wars 2 impressed me with just how carefully no, how smartly everything has been thought out. Those things that annoy us in other games are simply banished here.'
Ha, what's new? My state government already makes me buy car insurance, the state and federal government make me pay taxes so they can spend my money on whatever crap they like (incl wars that I don't support), and everywhere I turn there is some fine or fee for something. I'll just add this one to the pile.
What political party do you join when you don't like Bible-thumpers *or* hippies?
Car insurance is not directly analogous. You can choose not to drive. In fact, large numbers of people go about their lives without getting behind the wheel of a car. If you don't want car insurance you simply commute using another option. Granted that this is easier for some people than others (geographic location, career choice, etc.), but people can still choose to live a life where a license to drive is not required. The same goes for all of the other state required insurance. For example, don't want to have to buy medical malpractice insurance - don't become a doctor. Don't want to post construction bonds - don't become a contractor. According to the ACA, if you exist and are in the U.S. you need to purchase health insurance. Suddenly, you don't have any choice (unless you want to pay a fine). That is very different from the car insurance mandate.
I'm not arguing on the merits of the law or the decision. I'm just pointing out why, in my opinion, the use of the car insurance analogy seems rather weak to me.