Guild Wars 2

I get the feeling a Public Test Server/World with more public feedback is what the game needs to progress post-launch in a smoother manner. Right now there is a lot of worry and outrage, and a lack of adequate response from ArenaNet.

If ANet had a PTR to put out the class changes they held back, then people would at least know what is being worked on. You would also get different feedback than whatever ANet is getting from its private testers.

You would also have had the Ascended items tried out and ANet would have had the feedback and community response before the changes were near the live game. As in, ArenaNet would have known how strongly people feel about it much sooner than a few days before it goes live.

There’s also a lot of datamined stuff like treasure hunts and fun little event items that could be tested.

Most of all, it would greatly help with the communication issues that ArenaNet is having right now between their development team and their customers. The best way for the public to understand a thing is to see it for themselves.

Not only this.. They need at least a staff member able to talk straight with the community! without use kind and dual-layered words.
This is a game experience, we dont need PR work to be satisfied, but facts and real words!

yes to both. This idea that “most players wanted” without any way to see the numbers and figures they got this from… then when seeing the thread AGAINST the newest change shows overwhelming negative support for said change.

Something is not right. Arena Net either got their hands forces by a higher power, or have no CLUE what their true fan base are.

We need transparency and communication. We are CUSTOMERS not tools.

I want to give a big “YES” to all of what you guys have said. A public test server would give the Anet a much better idea of what the majority of players think about the game , and what they want to see in the future. I really like that Ostra drives the point home about us being customers …. not tools . I know , in my own experience in the first GW , i feel many times Anet looked at the players as more tools for their amusement then actual customers . Once Again , i agree with all of you .

/signed

Definitely would love to see a beta test world for patches before they hit live. With the bugs hitting so hard recently (due to new content) this might be a GREAT idea to really “simulate” that “Live server” feel.

After this weekend’s events, I wholeheartedly agree.

I was just about to make a post on this idea. ANet has some brilliant ideas for events but it seems like they are highly unstable once you get large numbers involved. Also little things get overlooked which aren’t game-breaking but highly annoying, like the amount of barks generated by Blingg when many people are standing in front of the fractal portal. This kind of stuff could be ironed out on a PTR.

Absolutely agree.. the new content needs to be tested, the changes to the classes need to be tested LOOONG before launch because if this content has taught you anything Anet, being vague about how things work prior to release, and not squashing bugs on launch day that should have been gone before the new stuff is released is exactly what a PTR is for.

A test server would be a good idea.

Who knows, ANET might even be able to get away with charging gems to access it since knowledge of upcoming changes and a chance to practice in an environment with them already live will give test server players a small advantage.

Something has to be done about the poor quality of ANet’s post launch performance. I could see this helping a LOT.