I look at it like this.  Would I want a completely open world MMO.  You betcha!  However I understand that a game will not be 100% ideal for any one person and I can live with a few negatives as long the majority of the game is suited for me.

Each area does have portals / loading screens. Not just the personal story. Even between areas in WvW there is a loading screen. However:

1) The areas are VERY large. ~20-25mins to run from one end to the other.

2) Load times appear to be quick (obviously this will vary from person to person).

The loading screens aren't there for cosmetic reasons either, it's primarily due to technical limitations. Yes, WoW managed to get seamless zoning, but they sacrificed a lot to achieve that. GW2 has a lot more particles, large events, etc. going on in each area, so they have to zone them off to keep latency in check.

Having an issue with loading sceens is one thing, but I wouldn't worry about the time for each until the game releases; the betas I've been a part of have much longer load screens than the finished product.  Otherwise, it didn't bother me in GW and WoW, it won't bother me in GW2.  If people don't play the game because of this, it's their prerogative of course, but I think it's another grasp at straws as far as GW2 having any real "problems".

Originally posted by HorrorScope

Originally posted by Maephisto

Some of the "zoning in & out" from what looked like DE's looked a little annoying.  The load screens for fast travel is understandable and I doubt will be too much of a hastle.  I havent heard anything from the press in terms of this being obstructive to game play.

 

In my opinion the press never talk about things like this. They also look past tons of bugs in many games. I don't trust them.

That said, doesn't mean it's bad in GW2. Just sayin the press... well you know.

From hearing about it, I'd like to see less teleports (not complete elimination), mostly from getting to one major area to another. And substitute it with a mount about 3x your characters travel speed. Keeps everyone in world, you still get around well enough.

 

 

I agree with you completely.  That is one of the things I worry about the most is the lack of criticism from the press.  The game looks great, and from what I've seen in videos, everything looks fine.  There has to be something we arent hearing about though.

Originally posted by Maephisto

Originally posted by HorrorScope

Originally posted by Maephisto

Some of the "zoning in & out" from what looked like DE's looked a little annoying.  The load screens for fast travel is understandable and I doubt will be too much of a hastle.  I havent heard anything from the press in terms of this being obstructive to game play.

 

In my opinion the press never talk about things like this. They also look past tons of bugs in many games. I don't trust them.

That said, doesn't mean it's bad in GW2. Just sayin the press... well you know.

From hearing about it, I'd like to see less teleports (not complete elimination), mostly from getting to one major area to another. And substitute it with a mount about 3x your characters travel speed. Keeps everyone in world, you still get around well enough.

 

 

I agree with you completely.  That is one of the things I worry about the most is the lack of criticism from the press.  The game looks great, and from what I've seen in videos, everything looks fine.  There has to be something we arent hearing about though.

Try Total biscuit. I've seen some of his videos flat-out attack certain features he doesn't like, or point out flaws. Although he remains mostly positive.

I'll agree the press is TOO positive sometimes, which is why I'm looking forward to hopefullt getting a beta key. then I can see for myself.

Originally posted by Maephisto

Originally posted by HorrorScope

Originally posted by Maephisto

Some of the "zoning in & out" from what looked like DE's looked a little annoying.  The load screens for fast travel is understandable and I doubt will be too much of a hastle.  I havent heard anything from the press in terms of this being obstructive to game play.

 

In my opinion the press never talk about things like this. They also look past tons of bugs in many games. I don't trust them.

That said, doesn't mean it's bad in GW2. Just sayin the press... well you know.

From hearing about it, I'd like to see less teleports (not complete elimination), mostly from getting to one major area to another. And substitute it with a mount about 3x your characters travel speed. Keeps everyone in world, you still get around well enough.

 

 

I agree with you completely.  That is one of the things I worry about the most is the lack of criticism from the press.  The game looks great, and from what I've seen in videos, everything looks fine.  There has to be something we arent hearing about though.

There is, just go to the cash shop threads.  The press is not allowed to talk about them yet, and for good reason.  The informal firestorm on the specialty forums is one thing, but having the mainstream press sites pick up on it would be much worse for Anet.

Originally posted by Eir_S

 I think it's another grasp at straws as far as GW2 having any real "problems".

I'm just going to hit the spacebar.......

Originally posted by gainesvilleg

Originally posted by Maephisto

Originally posted by HorrorScope

Originally posted by Maephisto

 

In my opinion the press never talk about things like this. They also look past tons of bugs in many games. I don't trust them.

That said, doesn't mean it's bad in GW2. Just sayin the press... well you know.

From hearing about it, I'd like to see less teleports (not complete elimination), mostly from getting to one major area to another. And substitute it with a mount about 3x your characters travel speed. Keeps everyone in world, you still get around well enough.

 There is, just go to the cash shop threads.  The press is not allowed to talk about them yet, and for good reason.  The informal firestorm on the specialty forums is one thing, but having the mainstream press sites pick up on it would be much worse for Anet.

I will worry about the cash shop when It has been finalized and available for all to see.  Those 20 page threads arent worth reading at this point.

I'm going to hit the space bar with my forehead if this becomes another thread about the cash shop.  People need to keep their whining about it to those other threads.

Originally posted by Eir_S

I'm going to hit the space bar with my forehead if this becomes another thread about the cash shop.  People need to keep their whining about it to those other threads.

Well, if you are referring to my post that is exactly what I recommended.  To go see the cash shop threads if you want to see some complaints that the press are not talking about.

Originally posted by DarkPony

- Conversation breaks: pulling you out the world around you and into a conversation setting, playing out a predetermined exchange of lines (without choice it looks like). This is a lesser interuption in my eyes but it will mean a lot of skipping for many people.

I think this is cool. It's a stylistic choice, and I like it. I see now that what Bioware did in SWTOR was a big waste of resources to have talking heads telling you what to do. I think this was a good time saving compromise to have a painterly feel to it. This feel spreads out all across the UI. Check out the crafting screen interface, were everything looks like a weird artistic scroll painted on top of the game. I find it really cool.

As TB said, it's completely optional. Doing the "personal story" is not optional in many other games. You can go to PvP, WvW or just explore without talking to anyone if that's yo thing.

Though I wonder if it's also the case for Dungeons? Since you need to unlock the story version, maybe you can only enter a dungeon if you did the personal story?

Originally posted by terrant

Try Total biscuit. I've seen some of his videos flat-out attack certain features he doesn't like, or point out flaws. Although he remains mostly positive.

I'll agree the press is TOO positive sometimes, which is why I'm looking forward to hopefullt getting a beta key. then I can see for myself.

Agreed, I listent more to what he have to say than the regular press put together.

There are 2 guys I usually watch for game reviews, TB and Angry Joe because those guys aren't afraid to critisize stuff that annoys them. Too bad Joe havn't made a GW2 review yet... 

pretty sure you can do a story mode dungeon without going through your personal story

Originally posted by Eir_S

Having an issue with loading sceens is one thing, but I wouldn't worry about the time for each until the game releases; the betas I've been a part of have much longer load screens than the finished product.  Otherwise, it didn't bother me in GW and WoW, it won't bother me in GW2.  If people don't play the game because of this, it's their prerogative of course, but I think it's another grasp at straws as far as GW2 having any real "problems".

And "I think that's another grasp at dismissing a legit concern". Whether it isn't that bad in the live game as the vid showed is anyone's guess, but we can only go by with the information at our disposal right?

What I saw in that vid didn't look so very appealing in the "open" and "seamless" experience department. But like others pointed out: the fact that it was mainly focussing on personal story makes it somewhat of a skewed example.

Still, like yet others pointed out: the press is awfully silent about this. Perhaps it has been part of an undisclosed sub-sub clause in the embargo?

p.s. Not sure how WOW is now but after playing tons of other games since I last played it, I can only commend them on the seamlessness of their game world (in vanilla that was at least), it seems that GW2 (nor Swtor and nor a ton of other games) can live up to that standard.

Originally posted by Eir_S

Having an issue with loading sceens is one thing, but I wouldn't worry about the time for each until the game releases; the betas I've been a part of have much longer load screens than the finished product.  Otherwise, it didn't bother me in GW and WoW, it won't bother me in GW2.  If people don't play the game because of this, it's their prerogative of course, but I think it's another grasp at straws as far as GW2 having any real "problems".

 I'm sorry "problems" are not the same thing as what people view as bad "design decisions" that's what they're pointing out, there's a huge difference. You guys and this "GW2 has no problems" is what is starting to look like grasping at straws. It's said toward every complaint. A problem is a bug, which I'm sure GW2 has, this thread is not about a problem it's pointing out a dislike. This is what most complaint threads for any game consist of, do you defend those games with statements like this? Or do you instead point out the issues you have with those games (before you answer I've seen what you post in Tera threads as an example).

Complaining about loading screens for fast travel seems petty. You only see fast travel loading screens so much because the game allows you unrestricted use of fast travel. Every game with any form of fast travel has a load screen. Would you really prefer something like flight paths, which can waste 10+ minutes of your time depending on where you are headed in the world?

If you don't like loading screens and feel it breaks your immersion, don't use fast travel. Pretty simple. (There will still be some loading screens, if you can't stand any loading screens, ever, then maybe you might want to skip the game. Once again, seems petty, if the rest of the game is good, but to each their own).

We've always known that personal story elements are instanced. Once again, if it bothers you, there is nothing to force you to do the Personal Story.

The reason TB was getting prompts to join instanced content was because he was in a group with people doing Personal Story content. When ever a group member entered a Personal Story instance, other members of the party were given the option to join with them, no matter where they were in proximity.

This is awesome for people who like the Personal Story content and enjoy helping other people and being sociable. However, if you are a lone wolf, or just don't care to enter other people's Personal Story instances, either don't group with people doing Personal Stories, or just pass on the pop up invitation!

(Oh, btw, love the assumption that any transition where the loading bar didn't run the full course to 100% must have been edited. It's possible it was, but anyone who has ever played any game, MMO or not, with loading screens knows that often the estimation bar doesn't fill all the way. As soon as the environment has loaded, you lose the loading screen, no matter where on the progress bar you might have been at that instance).

Originally posted by fiontar

Complaining about loading screens for fast travel seems petty. You only see fast travel loading screens so much because the game allows you unrestricted use of fast travel. Every game with any form of fast travel has a load screen. Would you really prefer something like flight paths, which can waste 10+ minutes of your time depending on where you are headed in the world?

Yeah, I couldn't think of a video game (well ever) that had the technology to elminate loading screens when fast travelling.

WoW has it too when changing continents, or when using hearth stone, or when getting summoned, or when going to a pvp lounge, or dungeon, or raid and so on and so forth. 

Originally posted by Kalfer

 

As TB said, it's completely optional. Doing the "personal story" is not optional in many other games. You can go to PvP, WvW or just explore without talking to anyone if that's yo thing.

 

This is nothing new, WAR TOR and I'm sure others allowed you the option of leveling how you want.

take it from someone who played the game, the loadings are not shortcutted, they skip from 5 % to 100% sometimes

Originally posted by Distopia

Originally posted by Eir_S

Having an issue with loading sceens is one thing, but I wouldn't worry about the time for each until the game releases; the betas I've been a part of have much longer load screens than the finished product.  Otherwise, it didn't bother me in GW and WoW, it won't bother me in GW2.  If people don't play the game because of this, it's their prerogative of course, but I think it's another grasp at straws as far as GW2 having any real "problems".

 I'm sorry "problems" are not the same thing as what people view as bad "design decisions" that's what they're pointing out, there's a huge difference. You guys and this "GW2 has no problems" is what is starting to look like grasping at straws. It's said toward every complaint. A problem is a bug, which I'm sure GW2 has, this thread is not about a problem it's pointing out a dislike. This is what most complaint threads for any game consist of, do you defend those games with statements like this? Or do you instead point out the issues you have with those games (before you answer I've seen what you post in Tera threads as an example).

I wasn't referring to DarkPony's post, I was referring to people who are already on the anti-GW2 bandwagon and will list "load screens" as another excuse not to play a game they probably weren't going to play anyway.  I state right in my post that having an issue with load screens is fine, they're not my favorite feature either, simply that we haven't seen how long they last.  My wording was a bit off, but I don't think bringing the subject up is a bad thing and I'm just as interested as anyone to see what the finished product will be like.