MMORPG.com's Carolyn Koh was at this year's Penny Arcade Expo. While there, she spoke with Mike O'Brien and Daniel Dociu about their upcoming MMORPG, Guild Wars 2.

The first thing Mike O'Brien, ArenaNet Studio Head and Co-founder said to me was, "Guild Wars 2 - Still Free!" when we spoke about Guild Wars 2 at PAX 2009. At this point in game development, there were not a lot of details they could speak of, but instead of giving out signed posters of Guild Wars art this year, they were giving out a beautiful hard-cover art-book of the art of Guild Wars 2. One book per attendee.

ArenaNet is justifiably proud of their game art team and their accomplishments, having won many awards over the years from prestigious juried competitions such as Into the Pixel, Ballistic, Expose and Spectrum Fantastic Art.

Read the Preview Interview

This game sounds awesome. This tidbit caught my eye:

"The main difference in Guild Wars 2 is that it will all be a single, persistent world."

This gives me the hint that they are attempting to make single server ala Guild Wars, but add persistence to it? If this is so, this sounds amazing and I can't wait to see it.

Can't wait for this one.

Originally posted by Abrahmm

This game sounds awesome. This tidbit caught my eye:

 

"The main difference in Guild Wars 2 is that it will all be a single, persistent world."

 

This gives me the hint that they are attempting to make single server ala Guild Wars, but add persistence to it? If this is so, this sounds amazing and I can't wait to see it.

 

Can't wait for this one.

That just means its like your standard MMO (wow/ etc) where the world is open and not made up of private instances like Guild wars is now. Im sure it will have more than one server or might just have shards. Only game i know that has one server is eve online.

Originally posted by Kelador

Originally posted by Abrahmm

This game sounds awesome. This tidbit caught my eye:

 

"The main difference in Guild Wars 2 is that it will all be a single, persistent world."

 

This gives me the hint that they are attempting to make single server ala Guild Wars, but add persistence to it? If this is so, this sounds amazing and I can't wait to see it.

 

Can't wait for this one.

 

That just means its like your standard MMO (wow/ etc) where the world is open and not made up of private instances like Guild wars is now. Im sure it will have more than one server or might just have shards. Only game i know that has one server is eve online.

Well, it was the "single" part that gave me this impression. Having a single "shard" in Guild Wars one was a great feature, and they said they are keeping everything that is great about it. I really hope they try and keep only having one shard, and I hope they can pull it off.

Originally posted by Kelador

That just means its like your standard MMO (wow/ etc) where the world is open and not made up of private instances like Guild wars is now.

Right. To me this is a deal breaker. The only reason I tried GW was because of instanced content. Since that's gone in GW2, I won't even bother with that game.

Peace.

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Originally posted by toord

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Originally posted by Kelador
That just means its like your standard MMO (wow/ etc) where the world is open and not made up of private instances like Guild wars is now.

---

 
Right. To me this is a deal breaker. The only reason I tried GW was because of instanced content. Since that's gone in GW2, I won't even bother with that game.
 
Peace.

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As long as the game is as solo-friendly as the original GW (i.e., with lots of "grouping-optional content"), I think the addition of persistence is just fine and enhances the game. The deal-breaker for me is if they restrict the instanced portions of GW2 to player groups only. THAT will be a deal-breaker for me. From what I have read about GW2, however, they are *not* planning to do this.

I am greatly looking forward to GW2, although I am really going to miss the AI/Hero component of the original game. :(

This article is amazing. I can't wait for the game to come.

I like how they plan to have separate starting areas depending on the race and the single persistent world is a nice addition.

Originally posted by Kelador

Originally posted by Abrahmm

"The main difference in Guild Wars 2 is that it will all be a single, persistent world."

 

That just means its like your standard MMO (wow/ etc) where the world is open and not made up of private instances like Guild wars is now. Im sure it will have more than one server or might just have shards. Only game i know that has one server is eve online.

I means actually a lot more. The game will have servers, which will compete against eachothers in PvP like the regions did in the first game. But the persistant thing means that there will be things that your character does that changes the gameworld.

Mobs will not just spawn like in other games, they will spawn from logical points and walk to where they are supposed to be. An Ogre will spawn from a hut in the ogre village and so on.

And I am glad that Jeff Grub still is the boss for the lore, I always liked his Forgotten realms books better than Salvatores and I loved the characters in Nightfall he made.

This is the number one game I am waiting for and I have been waiting a long time. I can't see how P2P games can compete with this. All other games stating that they are free actually cost more to play if you want to be good than a P2P game, and and not as good. Here is a great game without monthly fees and with graphics, programing, art and story that most P2P games can only dream about :D

If this game becomes the next big game I think that the P2P bussines model will get problems. Why pay $15 bucks for month when you get a game at least as good without the monthly fees?

This game went from "meh" to me to "HOLY COW! WANT TO PLAY NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" in as little as 3 days. The faster we get to play this, the better for my sanity.

no new information ¬¬

Originally posted by tmr819

 

I am greatly looking forward to GW2, although I am really going to miss the AI/Hero component of the original game. :(

You are supposed to be able to make a hero or pet and design like your character. There is supposed to be a balancing system for it, you don't have to have a pet or hero and you should be as good with or without them. And I am sure you will get one or more npcs with you for certain quests.

So while you only get one hero or a pet you can design those by yourself (that is at least what Jeff said in a forum even if it was 2 years ago).

I am sure that the game will offer at least as many fun NPCs as the first game, and in many missions there you get specific npc with you for a limited time also. So I wouldn't worry too much about the lack of the old hero system.

I am not sure if henchmens are in or if they use the same scaling as Biowares old "Neverwinter nights" did instead. The interview do make it sounds like it is the second thing but it is hard to be sure without asking Mike it directly.

Originally posted by Loke666

If this game becomes the next big game I think that the P2P bussines model will get problems. Why pay $15 bucks for month when you get a game at least as good without the monthly fees?

I too think this, what i read about gw2 so far is awsome and it seems to be able to offer the same if not more features then any p2p games out there.

if gw2 is going to be what i think its going to be no company can realy  justify a monthly fee anymore

Originally posted by toord

Originally posted by Kelador

That just means its like your standard MMO (wow/ etc) where the world is open and not made up of private instances like Guild wars is now.

 

Right. To me this is a deal breaker. The only reason I tried GW was because of instanced content. Since that's gone in GW2, I won't even bother with that game.

 

Peace.

The article did NOT say it is gone. It said quite the opposite.

Originally posted by toord

Originally posted by Kelador

That just means its like your standard MMO (wow/ etc) where the world is open and not made up of private instances like Guild wars is now.

 

Right. To me this is a deal breaker. The only reason I tried GW was because of instanced content. Since that's gone in GW2, I won't even bother with that game.

 

Peace.

You shouldn't even visit this site for that saying.

Peace!

I love this game i will love it as i did with Guildwars 1 And Really this deserves a facepalm he Spelled   "Zhaitan" Wrong he spelled Zytan.

Great read! it is going to be an awesome game.

Carolyn, are you sure Drogus is the name of the Ice Dragon?  Jeff Grubb is clearly heard calling the Ice Dragon "Jormag" in a video interview during GamesCon with mmorpgitalia.  Link is here, about 1:11 in.  In fact, four of the five elder dragons names are known, and none of those four are Drogus.  So, perhaps Drogus is the last dragon, the Sea Dragon?

That, and getting Zhaitan wrong, kinda detracts from the article.

Originally posted by Kelador

That just means its like your standard MMO (wow/ etc) where the world is open and not made up of private instances like Guild wars is now. Im sure it will have more than one server or might just have shards. Only game i know that has one server is eve online.

From the GW2  FAQ:

Servers/Worlds

Are there going to be different servers?

Yes, however you will be able to move characters between different shards/worlds quickly, easily, and without restriction, possibly similar to switching districts in Guild Wars outposts.

-and-

"World PvP" will involve large, ongoing battles in the Mists between players from up to three different shards, with persistence.

http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Guild_Wars_2/FAQ

I don't understand how they plan to accomplish the full mmorpg experience without having a p2p model. To be honest, this sounds too good to be true. P2P models are necessary in mmorpgs in order to continually have people working to fix all the bugs and do all the continuous balancing required in mmorpg worlds. I'm very curious to see what will turn out for the open world gameplay in GW2.

Originally posted by Moiax

Originally posted by Kelador

That just means its like your standard MMO (wow/ etc) where the world is open and not made up of private instances like Guild wars is now. Im sure it will have more than one server or might just have shards. Only game i know that has one server is eve online.

 

From the GW2  FAQ:

Servers/Worlds

Are there going to be different servers?

Yes, however you will be able to move characters between different shards/worlds quickly, easily, and without restriction, possibly similar to switching districts in Guild Wars outposts.

-and-

"World PvP" will involve large, ongoing battles in the Mists between players from up to three different shards, with persistence.

 

http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Guild_Wars_2/FAQ

 

sounds like Champions Online to me

there are "instances" of each zone but no "realm" and you can switch "instances" on the fly. So everyone is on the same "server" just different instances.