Guild Wars 2

Making an announcement as they did, isn’t hype. Its an announcement. If they were hyping it up, they would be touting it across different media sites and keep saying how great its gonna be. There would be a more PR blitz. At the moment, there isn’t.

Arena.net as a whole doesn’t do hype very well, and really doesn’t try very hard.

Their problem stems from being way too vague with initial announcements, and fans running with it, hyping it up themselves to ridiculous levels with all sorts of grand theories about what it could possibly be that said fans are inevitably disappointed when the details that come later don’t match the narrative they pretty much conjured whole cloth from their imaginations.

Honestly, I think the best approach would be to say, “This is what we want and are planning to do. No, there is no time table to this, stop asking. It will be done when it’s done, and we’ll update it as we are more comfortable with saying so.”

chemiclord.3978:

, stop asking. It will be done when it’s done, and we’ll update it as we are more comfortable with saying so."

Problem is, By the time that happens, it will be to late. :/

I for one am looking forward to the PAX presentation with some of the same anticipation I used to feel for Christmas, birthdays, and anniversaries. If it turns out not to be a game-changer, oh well, at least I got that giddy feeling of happy expectation for a few weeks. To quote a line from Agent Carter, “That’s not nothin’!”

A question, though: I’ve seen a few references to the panel being live streamed. Do I need to get some sort of virtual ticket in advance in order to view that? How does one see a PAX live stream? (The only convention live streams I’ve done were a couple of Blizzcons several years back, and those definitely needed a pre-bought ticket for 40 bucks or so).

ZudetGambeous.9573:

lordkrall.7241:

People really should keep in mind that ArenaNet have said a grand total of nothing about this as far as I am aware.

The only reason this thread exists is due to the fact that someone saw that they had a scheduled appearance on the PAX homepage. ArenaNet themselves have however not even mentioned it.

They reserved the largest room for the longest amount of time of anyone at the conference… if that isn’t hype then what is?

Needing a lot of space for those coffee tables.
Really, i have seen Anet hype many times already. This isn’kitten You really shouldn’t expect any meaningful reveal to happen.

Astralporing.1957:

ZudetGambeous.9573:

lordkrall.7241:

People really should keep in mind that ArenaNet have said a grand total of nothing about this as far as I am aware.

The only reason this thread exists is due to the fact that someone saw that they had a scheduled appearance on the PAX homepage. ArenaNet themselves have however not even mentioned it.

They reserved the largest room for the longest amount of time of anyone at the conference… if that isn’t hype then what is?

Needing a lot of space for those coffee tables.
Really, i have seen Anet hype many times already. This isn’kitten You really shouldn’t expect any meaningful reveal to happen.

They need all that space to show nothing is off the table.

I bet even the speakers will be on the table.

In fact, if Colin isn’t laying on a table, I’ll be sad

Serophous.9085:

Astralporing.1957:

ZudetGambeous.9573:

lordkrall.7241:

People really should keep in mind that ArenaNet have said a grand total of nothing about this as far as I am aware.

The only reason this thread exists is due to the fact that someone saw that they had a scheduled appearance on the PAX homepage. ArenaNet themselves have however not even mentioned it.

They reserved the largest room for the longest amount of time of anyone at the conference… if that isn’t hype then what is?

Needing a lot of space for those coffee tables.
Really, i have seen Anet hype many times already. This isn’kitten You really shouldn’t expect any meaningful reveal to happen.

They need all that space to show nothing is off the table.

I bet even the speakers will be on the table.

In fact, if Colin isn’t laying on a table, I’ll be sad

LOL. This post made me laugh. Thank you for that.
Lisa-Grinning.

Serophous.9085:

Astralporing.1957:

ZudetGambeous.9573:

lordkrall.7241:

People really should keep in mind that ArenaNet have said a grand total of nothing about this as far as I am aware.

The only reason this thread exists is due to the fact that someone saw that they had a scheduled appearance on the PAX homepage. ArenaNet themselves have however not even mentioned it.

They reserved the largest room for the longest amount of time of anyone at the conference… if that isn’t hype then what is?

Needing a lot of space for those coffee tables.
Really, i have seen Anet hype many times already. This isn’kitten You really shouldn’t expect any meaningful reveal to happen.

They need all that space to show nothing is off the table.

I bet even the speakers will be on the table.

In fact, if Colin isn’t laying on a table, I’ll be sad

I’ll take a photo from there, with the whole conference team sitting on chairs on top of the table, and make it my computer’s wallpaper.

Serophous.9085:

Astralporing.1957:

ZudetGambeous.9573:

lordkrall.7241:

People really should keep in mind that ArenaNet have said a grand total of nothing about this as far as I am aware.

The only reason this thread exists is due to the fact that someone saw that they had a scheduled appearance on the PAX homepage. ArenaNet themselves have however not even mentioned it.

They reserved the largest room for the longest amount of time of anyone at the conference… if that isn’t hype then what is?

Needing a lot of space for those coffee tables.
Really, i have seen Anet hype many times already. This isn’kitten You really shouldn’t expect any meaningful reveal to happen.

They need all that space to show nothing is off the table.

I bet even the speakers will be on the table.

In fact, if Colin isn’t laying on a table, I’ll be sad

I guess it looks like this there :

Lets try to hit the brakes.

I remember their “great” show at the gamescom last year.
What did they give us back then?
A complete messy explanation about the game for new players.
Twitch

Just because they present something at a convention does not mean it’s something new.
Looking back at the PAX description:

hear how we’re setting up a new framework for how an MMO can grow its universe

Could also mean that they will just explain Livin Story.

crouze.3078:

Lets try to hit the brakes.

I remember their “great” show at the gamescom last year.
What did they give us back then?
A complete messy explanation about the game for new players.
Twitch

Just because they present something at a convention does not mean it’s something new.
Looking back at the PAX description:

hear how we’re setting up a new framework for how an MMO can grow its universe

Could also mean that they will just explain Livin Story.

I agree. This came to mind:

Pretty much what Crouze said. Don’t know why people are twisting in the wind over something that hasn’t even been said yet. Strange days.

Ardenwolfe.8590:

Pretty much what Crouze said. Don’t know why people are twisting in the wind over something that hasn’t even been said yet. Strange days.

Don’t know why you think it’s strange. I can’t remember a time when it was any other way.

I just hope whatever is said has some substance like adding more depth to all aspects of the game. If its a presentation on metrics then I don’t even know what to say.

nGumball.1283:

Tom Gore.4035:

Analysts can throw off their speculation just as we can. No one is going to call them for not being right.

Some analysts have predictions as their job and therefore they usually based their speculation upon different indicators. ‘’none is going to call them out for not being right’’ is totally inaccurate because many will and these sources will lose credibility.

People invest money based upon simliar sources.
It is more than ‘’omg, I am a fanboi and I want an expansion’’ or the opposite.

Obviously they cannot toss these analyzations out without any thought, but the fact is it’s just a guess. The main difference to your average “fanboi” guess is that it comes from a business point of view, which I would agree is probably a better way of predicting things than a gameplay point of view. We are talking about a business that needs to make profit, after all.

So while it might amount to more than the “fanboi” guess, it’s still a guess and the analyst is in no way liable to it if you go and invest money on it.

Now being constantly wrong in your analysis might cost you a job, but being wrong only now and then will not. Nobody has a crystal ball and if anything, an analyst being constantly right would draw a lot of suspicion from the antitrust committees (whether or not he would have inside information or not).

crouze.3078:

Lets try to hit the brakes.

I remember their “great” show at the gamescom last year.
What did they give us back then?
A complete messy explanation about the game for new players.
Twitch

Just because they present something at a convention does not mean it’s something new.
Looking back at the PAX description:

hear how we’re setting up a new framework for how an MMO can grow its universe

Could also mean that they will just explain Livin Story.

Yep excellent example.

Gamescon 2014
No theatre booked, No presentation, No O’brien, not even Colin. Just a twitch stream from their booth. I guess this to a degree implies if they have nothing to say and nothing to present they dont book the main theatre for an hour and 1/2 and they dont send the O’brien/Colin duo either

As for the Pax Description you also have
“exclusive sneak peek at what’s next in Guild Wars 2 " which implies there will be at the very lease a couple of seconds about whats coming not just what has transpired so far.

More importantly though you got
be among the first to hear how we’re setting up a new framework for how an MMO can grow its universe. The Living World was just the beginning.

If they were going to just explain the living story the majority of people attending will not be among the first to hear, the living story framework isnt new its been there for 2 years now. More telling is if all they’re going to do is talk about the living world why would they state: The Living World was just the beginning. that alone implies the core of the presentation will be an evolution of what we got from the living world or at the very least outside its realm.

nGumball.1283:

Tom Gore.4035:

Analysts can throw off their speculation just as we can. No one is going to call them for not being right.

Some analysts have predictions as their job and therefore they usually based their speculation upon different indicators. ‘’none is going to call them out for not being right’’ is totally inaccurate because many will and these sources will lose credibility.

People invest money based upon simliar sources.
It is more than ‘’omg, I am a fanboi and I want an expansion’’ or the opposite.

Well precluding some insider information which I imagine isnt that likely considering that technically thats pretty illegal. They’d probably have the same things we have. This community seems to be pretty good at uncovering everything there is to know

The only difference they probably dont have any bias unlike us.

So when they hear the NCSoft CFO say not once but twice that there is an expansion in the works they dont discount that as a mistake.

When they hear that Living story team is 20 people and arenanet is 350+ people they dont let the fact we only got living story so far to mean somehow Anet arent capable of doing anything else or in parallel.

As for the timing and why they got it wrong before… well they have no way of knowing how long it will take to develop an expansion so release is probably purely an educated guess. Educated as it may be they have an issue where no body really toyed with a model of LS updates every 2 weeks + expansion before.

Well all this provided they’re right. Tom Gore is right in that none of this really guarantees that they’re not wrong.

Or it might be a convention about new minis & weapon skins added to the gemstore. Wouldn’t surprise me.

This whole thing is a symptom of two things: Anet’s silence on the direction of the game and players frothing at the mouth for some beefier content other than the LS drip feed.

I highly doubt that the CEO and Director would stand there for 90 minutes without having anything substantial to say. Just imagine for a minute if they came into this with nothing major to announce, how nasty do you think the response would be and do you really think they would expose themselves to that willingly?

Also as far as hype they have posted several screenshot that have nothing to do with the current story line and certainly nothing that will happen in the conclusion tomorrow. There isn’t a doubt that Rytlock has changed and whatever this represents, a new profession or ascension it is something likely too big to roll out in an LS. Besides quoting something like “The Living World was just the beginning” means something else is coming so what else can it be other than an expansion? I truly believe the " New framework" they are referencing is going to refer to expansion tied in with LS and feature patches going forward.

If it turns out to be anything less than an expansion or an expansion’s worth of content I would love to see people just stone faces stand up and walk out of the room without saying a word.

No throwing trash or boos but complete silence and then the entire crowd dissipates right in the middle of the conference.

If it is an expansion (or its equivalent) then I hope the crowd throws money and flowers at them.

Prophet.6257:

If it turns out to be anything less than an expansion or an expansion’s worth of content I would love to see people just stone faces stand up and walk out of the room without saying a word.

No throwing trash or boos but complete silence and then the entire crowd dissipates right in the middle of the conference.

If it is an expansion (or its equivalent) then I hope the crowd throws money and flowers at them.

I’d love to see that. Maybe add a few people shaking their heads on their way out.

I imagine an entire thread of things like this. I’ll start one myself asking people to post their favorite disappointment gif if so.

Vlad Morbius.1759:

I highly doubt that the CEO and Director would stand there for 90 minutes without having anything substantial to say.

I could see that, actually. They just stand on the stage for 90 minutes looking vaguely uncomfortable with nothing to say. It would make Andy Kaufman proud.

Palador.2170:

Vlad Morbius.1759:

I highly doubt that the CEO and Director would stand there for 90 minutes without having anything substantial to say.

I could see that, actually. They just stand on the stage for 90 minutes looking vaguely uncomfortable with nothing to say. It would make Andy Kaufman proud.

90 minutes of the Colin smile.

Vlad Morbius.1759:

I highly doubt that the CEO and Director would stand there for 90 minutes without having anything substantial to say.

There are special courses on that. You wouldn’t believe how many times i have seen someone important spend an hour or two talking, without actually saying anything meaningful. And that’s not even going into politics, which is all about this.

Palador.2170:

Vlad Morbius.1759:

I highly doubt that the CEO and Director would stand there for 90 minutes without having anything substantial to say.

I could see that, actually. They just stand on the stage for 90 minutes looking vaguely uncomfortable with nothing to say. It would make Andy Kaufman proud.

Well, it could turn into Yahtzee’s depiction of microsoft at the E3 about the xbox one…

“It’s for your own good!”

Moldur.6275:

As the thread where I first published the “OCT31ST LIVE CONTENTS” discovery, feel free to specify a legit date to which that text is referring to that has not already happened in the game. (No they would not have a “hint” about the halloween festival in this ep8 trailer as someone mentioned above, as that would “hint” to already discovered content, even if that text was forgotten left-over from the echoes of the past release which would be a sad). I think you understand that my point is that even if this is not the possible expansion date, it is a date in the future that anet thinks has such a significant value that it is hinted in the last trailer of the season.
Also the translation of KRALKATORRIK on another box doesn’t really lower the odds of large content related to the topic.

There are a dozen boxes in the Durmand Priory Basement – where those crates in the trailer are – which have a multitude of seemingly arbitrary dates. Some are also November, iirc.

I don’t think those link to releases, but the lore contents of the boxes (when they were boxed up, etc.). Though the fact they use standard months rather than the given lore months makes the lore nerd in me cry.

I believe we will get information about what is going to come in the near future however I don’t believe it will be an expansion. The way they put sounds like they are preparing a new model of how to introduce content rather than release a traditional expansion.

I don’t know how to feel about it. Personally, I think it is good to go back to the basics sometimes and Anet seems to be all into trying out different concepts and revamping them over and over again.

Ardenwolfe.8590:

I see a lot of people in this thread are about to be disappointed . . . badly.

And they’ll be disappointed when they don’t get any gems from the highly disappointed folks.

Galen Grey.4709:

nGumball.1283:

Tom Gore.4035:

Analysts can throw off their speculation just as we can. No one is going to call them for not being right.

Some analysts have predictions as their job and therefore they usually based their speculation upon different indicators. ‘’none is going to call them out for not being right’’ is totally inaccurate because many will and these sources will lose credibility.

People invest money based upon simliar sources.
It is more than ‘’omg, I am a fanboi and I want an expansion’’ or the opposite.

Well precluding some insider information which I imagine isnt that likely considering that technically thats pretty illegal. They’d probably have the same things we have. This community seems to be pretty good at uncovering everything there is to know

The only difference they probably dont have any bias unlike us.

So when they hear the NCSoft CFO say not once but twice that there is an expansion in the works they dont discount that as a mistake.

When they hear that Living story team is 20 people and arenanet is 350+ people they dont let the fact we only got living story so far to mean somehow Anet arent capable of doing anything else or in parallel.

As for the timing and why they got it wrong before… well they have no way of knowing how long it will take to develop an expansion so release is probably purely an educated guess. Educated as it may be they have an issue where no body really toyed with a model of LS updates every 2 weeks + expansion before.

Well all this provided they’re right. Tom Gore is right in that none of this really guarantees that they’re not wrong.

I wrote something out, but Galen Grey said it better so I’ll just replace what I said with: ^THIS^

Whatever they’re showing, it is new and supposedly innovating. The question is: will we want it and will it work?

Konig Des Todes.2086:

Ardenwolfe.8590:

I see a lot of people in this thread are about to be disappointed . . . badly.

And they’ll be disappointed when they don’t get any gems from the highly disappointed folks.

Galen Grey.4709:

nGumball.1283:

Tom Gore.4035:

Analysts can throw off their speculation just as we can. No one is going to call them for not being right.

Some analysts have predictions as their job and therefore they usually based their speculation upon different indicators. ‘’none is going to call them out for not being right’’ is totally inaccurate because many will and these sources will lose credibility.

People invest money based upon simliar sources.
It is more than ‘’omg, I am a fanboi and I want an expansion’’ or the opposite.

Well precluding some insider information which I imagine isnt that likely considering that technically thats pretty illegal. They’d probably have the same things we have. This community seems to be pretty good at uncovering everything there is to know

The only difference they probably dont have any bias unlike us.

So when they hear the NCSoft CFO say not once but twice that there is an expansion in the works they dont discount that as a mistake.

When they hear that Living story team is 20 people and arenanet is 350+ people they dont let the fact we only got living story so far to mean somehow Anet arent capable of doing anything else or in parallel.

As for the timing and why they got it wrong before… well they have no way of knowing how long it will take to develop an expansion so release is probably purely an educated guess. Educated as it may be they have an issue where no body really toyed with a model of LS updates every 2 weeks + expansion before.

Well all this provided they’re right. Tom Gore is right in that none of this really guarantees that they’re not wrong.

I wrote something out, but Galen Grey said it better so I’ll just replace what I said with: ^THIS^

Whatever they’re showing, it is new and supposedly innovating. The question is: will we want it and will it work?

Its probably a free expansion.

And those people that asked for a paid expansion for the last year and a half will be disappointed anyways because they didnt get what they wanted.

Lets say they confirmed that they’re currently working on an expansion and nothing else.
I’m not into the whole lore or living story stuff, but, what are the odds of us going to Cantha?
If I had to guess from the last trailer, we might be getting Elona (Crystal Desert → Desolation → Vabbi) before Cantha.
Then again, there’s that Jade Sea block too, so who knows, maybe the Dragon will awake and fly away to Cantha.

Maybe they’ll give us an API and framework to make our own worlds…. that would certainly be a new framework to expand. I’ll make Shion’s land of Cantha

Nick.6972:

Lets say they confirmed that they’re currently working on an expansion and nothing else.
I’m not into the whole lore or living story stuff, but, what are the odds of us going to Cantha?
If I had to guess from the last trailer, we might be getting Elona (Crystal Desert -> Desolation -> Vabbi) before Cantha.
Then again, there’s that Jade Sea block too, so who knows, maybe the Dragon will awake and fly away to Cantha.

Cantha is pretty much 0% chance. They had to remove the Cantha district in DR before china would negotiate allowing them to release there. Chances that they allow the entire Asian continent to be added to their game is <0%. Chances that anet spends a crap ton of money developing an expansion that can’t launch in China is also 0%. They already had to modify a bunch of content to remove skulls and death references since those were forbidden in china as well.

If we do see an expansion, I bet it will be for the jungle if it launches this year, or for Elona if it launches next year.

Wanze.8410:

Its probably a free expansion.

And those people that asked for a paid expansion for the last year and a half will be disappointed anyways because they didnt get what they wanted.

Just chiming in, I would actually be disappointed if it were not a paid expansion. I know a lot of people jumped on the Guild Wars 2 bandwagon because of the lack of subscription fee, but I really don’t see how ArenaNet can create meaningful, complete, well-written, polished, and worthwhile content without charging a fee for their major content updates. Coming from Guild Wars 1 to Guild Wars 2 I was expecting, and more than happy, to pay additional costs down the line for expansion packs. If anything, these Living Story updates prove that an intervention of some sort is needed. I do not believe the quality of these content updates is going to go up until we are ‘forced’ to pay for these updates.

DarkOcean.8746:

Wanze.8410:

Its probably a free expansion.

And those people that asked for a paid expansion for the last year and a half will be disappointed anyways because they didnt get what they wanted.

Just chiming in, I would actually be disappointed if it were not a paid expansion. I know a lot of people jumped on the Guild Wars 2 bandwagon because of the lack of subscription fee, but I really don’t see how ArenaNet can create meaningful, complete, well-written, polished, and worthwhile content without charging a fee for their major content updates. Coming from Guild Wars 1 to Guild Wars 2 I was expecting, and more than happy, to pay additional costs down the line for expansion packs. If anything, these Living Story updates prove that an intervention of some sort is needed. I do not believe the quality of these content updates is going to go up until we are ‘forced’ to pay for these updates.

That particular monetization model does not directly equate to quality or quantity in the manner you are suggesting. It’s the same sort of correlation drawn between subscription fees and content/development quality. You can throw all the money you want at some projects and it still won’t churn out the quality/quantity you expect. Not only that, I get the feeling that there isn’t a whole lot of understanding behind how GW2’s current budget is allotted with regard to development. I keep hearing the refrain that all the money coming from the gem store is going back into the gem store, and nothing else. Not quite sure that’s true. GW1 experimented with their no subscription model and found success. Anet now has to prove that their new monetization model is capable of delivering what they want it to (content or otherwise) in order to stay afloat.

Edit: Just wanted to clarify that a free expansion wouldn’t really be free. If the cost isn’t upfront, it’s paid for through another project or form of monetization.

nightwulf.1986:

DarkOcean.8746:

Wanze.8410:

Its probably a free expansion.

And those people that asked for a paid expansion for the last year and a half will be disappointed anyways because they didnt get what they wanted.

Just chiming in, I would actually be disappointed if it were not a paid expansion. I know a lot of people jumped on the Guild Wars 2 bandwagon because of the lack of subscription fee, but I really don’t see how ArenaNet can create meaningful, complete, well-written, polished, and worthwhile content without charging a fee for their major content updates. Coming from Guild Wars 1 to Guild Wars 2 I was expecting, and more than happy, to pay additional costs down the line for expansion packs. If anything, these Living Story updates prove that an intervention of some sort is needed. I do not believe the quality of these content updates is going to go up until we are ‘forced’ to pay for these updates.

That particular monetization model does not directly equate to quality or quantity in the manner you are suggesting. It’s the same sort of correlation drawn between subscription fees and content/development quality. You can throw all the money you want at some projects and it still won’t churn out the quality/quantity you expect. Not only that, I get the feeling that there isn’t a whole lot of understanding behind how GW2’s current budget is allotted with regard to development. I keep hearing the refrain that all the money coming from the gem store is going back into the gem store, and nothing else. Not quite sure that’s true. GW1 experimented with their no subscription model and found success. Anet now has to prove that their new monetization model is capable of delivering what they want it to (content or otherwise) in order to stay afloat.

Edit: Just wanted to clarify that a free expansion wouldn’t really be free. If the cost isn’t upfront, it’s paid for through another project or form of monetization.

I would honestly just feel they would be a lot more accountable if an expansion were monetized for a specific price. Right now we cannot complain a whole lot since everything we have gotten (or could have gotten) has been free content with the exception of the base game. Right now, I feel like their excuse is: “Oh, well you’re getting this content for free. So it can be low quality.”

crouze.3078:

Lets try to hit the brakes.

I remember their “great” show at the gamescom last year.
What did they give us back then?
A complete messy explanation about the game for new players.
Twitch

Just because they present something at a convention does not mean it’s something new.
Looking back at the PAX description:

hear how we’re setting up a new framework for how an MMO can grow its universe

Could also mean that they will just explain Livin Story.

B please, they also said that “The Living World was just the beginning”. Don’t mislead a thread like that by quoting “hear how we’re setting up a new framework for how an MMO can grow its universe” completely out of context and in an attempt to trash talk, without even adding the concluding sentence. And btw maybe you missed the NEW word? Just a hint from my side that it might be not old.

Get ready to start the year with a huge anti-climax

ANet is planning to announce that they have created a new level of upper management to lead the company to new triumphs.

To wild applause, in walks Trahearne.

Looking into the camera to reach all Guild Wars 2 players he says, “A moment please, Commanders. I’d like to speak to you. I need to convince the players that the path I’ve chosen is the right one. Your support could make the difference. I’ve assembled all the key personnel and they’re standing by. I’d like you to join us for the discussion: you have an important role to play in the game.”

Player’s response: “I need a moment to collect my thoughts.”

Astral Projections.7320:

ANet is planning to announce that they have created a new level of upper management to lead the company to new triumphs.

To wild applause, in walks Trahearne.

Looking into the camera to reach all Guild Wars 2 players he says, “A moment please, Commanders. I’d like to speak to you. I need to convince the players that the path I’ve chosen is the right one. Your support could make the difference. I’ve assembled all the key personnel and they’re standing by. I’d like you to join us for the discussion: you have an important role to play in the game.”

Player’s response: “This won’t end well”

Fixed that for ya : )

ANET announces the development of GW3 where they use a new random number generator to randomize everything. Players will not have the onerous chore of picking class, race or profession as the game will do it for you. Every day you log in will be a new gaming experience with the generator deciding whether you go into PvE, PvP, or replacing the failed experiment that was WvWvW the new 8 bit jump puzzles.

As added features everyone will get a mount, which of course will be randomly generated if they reach all the achievements which include things such as killing 10 million boss enemies or petting 50 million different animals during regular game play. No need for race changes, class changes, sex changes, makeover kits, as the random number generator gives you all of that and more.

There will be no leveling required as everyone will start at maximum level (incidentally the max is currently capped at level 1).

Astral Projections.7320:

Serophous.9085:

Astralporing.1957:

ZudetGambeous.9573:

lordkrall.7241:

People really should keep in mind that ArenaNet have said a grand total of nothing about this as far as I am aware.

The only reason this thread exists is due to the fact that someone saw that they had a scheduled appearance on the PAX homepage. ArenaNet themselves have however not even mentioned it.

They reserved the largest room for the longest amount of time of anyone at the conference… if that isn’t hype then what is?

Needing a lot of space for those coffee tables.
Really, i have seen Anet hype many times already. This isn’kitten You really shouldn’t expect any meaningful reveal to happen.

They need all that space to show nothing is off the table.

I bet even the speakers will be on the table.

In fact, if Colin isn’t laying on a table, I’ll be sad

I’ll take a photo from there, with the whole conference team sitting on chairs on top of the table, and make it my computer’s wallpaper.

Wait, let’s add rose petals under him. Those too.

If it happens, new desktop bg

Whatever they reveal, im sure it will come in a huge box that, once opened, will reveal some teasers and another box, which will reveal some more teasers that, once played backwards, will basically tell the same message as the first teasers, plus another box.

That box will definately include a green and blue weapon.

Wanze.8410:

Whatever they reveal, im sure it will come in a huge box that, once opened, will reveal some teasers and another box, which will reveal some more teasers that, once played backwards, will basically tell the same message as the first teasers, plus another box.

That box will definately include a green and blue weapon.

The items will need to have no vendor price and sale on the TP for 1c each.

(My arm ached after opening a bunch of those (expletive deleted) Wintersday gifts. I had to take Tylenol after that incident.) >.>

DarkOcean.8746:

Wanze.8410:

Its probably a free expansion.

And those people that asked for a paid expansion for the last year and a half will be disappointed anyways because they didnt get what they wanted.

Just chiming in, I would actually be disappointed if it were not a paid expansion. I know a lot of people jumped on the Guild Wars 2 bandwagon because of the lack of subscription fee, but I really don’t see how ArenaNet can create meaningful, complete, well-written, polished, and worthwhile content without charging a fee for their major content updates. Coming from Guild Wars 1 to Guild Wars 2 I was expecting, and more than happy, to pay additional costs down the line for expansion packs. If anything, these Living Story updates prove that an intervention of some sort is needed. I do not believe the quality of these content updates is going to go up until we are ‘forced’ to pay for these updates.

GW2 in its two years has made more money than most of its competitors which have been producing content for their other major titles for over a decade. GW2’s pay-once-and-done methodology was genius in that players needed to buy the game before they really delved into it, causing a lower price point to work since many who purchased the title would be expected to churn and thus allow for the game to still be funded well.

It’s like saying that a AAA console game studio doesn’t have enough money to make another game despite having one of the best sales records in recent history.

ANet has made hundred of millions from just the vanilla game sales. Now contemplate average gem store earnings per week and it’s likely somewhere near the billion mark – if not higher – in total earnings in a mere two years. Now compare that with its huge investment base, assistance from a HUGE company in gaming (NCSoft), and limited staff size for what its profits likely are. Even if every staff member took a 100k/year salary, which is beyond belief and totally obscene, the game would still be well over a $300m profit. I’m gonna go out and say that was probably lower than the actual development cost of the entire game.

They also know well that a free expansion and major changes will bring back a lot of retired veterans, generating more hype and advertisement for free if they stay for a while, and should a percentage of those players also stay permanently, further raise gem sales to the point where a paid boxed expansion may in fact be cost-prohibitive. It seems silly to gamble on something when the gains are marginal at best and the likely outcome of doing so would lose money, not even considering the negative criticism of the studio and game that would come along with a paid expansion for a game released on the premise that the initial starting fee would be the only thing necessary to enjoy all of the game’s features. That’s a PR nightmare and would probably further affect the bottom line or push many fair-weather players to not purchase the mandatory expansion, causing further player loss, lower advertising possibilities, possible fewer gem store purchases, etc.

From current trends, I’d argue releasing a paid expansion would almost guarantee more severe sustained losses than just releasing the content for free.

Wanze.8410:

Its probably a free expansion.

And those people that asked for a paid expansion for the last year and a half will be disappointed anyways because they didnt get what they wanted.

To a lot of people, price and delivery mode of new content aren’t nearly as important as quality and quantity.

hmmmm… That hype train, whilst it has no brakes, does it have tables on board?

Eric.6109:

hmmmm… That hype train, whilst it has no brakes, does it have tables on board?

They don’t feel they have progressed enough to reveal details about that yet.

When its ready™.

darkace.8925:

Wanze.8410:

Its probably a free expansion.

And those people that asked for a paid expansion for the last year and a half will be disappointed anyways because they didnt get what they wanted.

To a lot of people, price and delivery mode of new content aren’t nearly as important as quality and quantity.

It has to be free, though, otherwise ANet runs a risk of losing substantial profits.