Guild Wars 2

This is a discussion on GW2 in general.

During development of GW2 and up until now, GW2 was something a bit different than conventional MMOs. Developers stated that new content added in the game would be different than the usual hunt for more powerful gear.

The design manifesto:
”So if you love MMORPGs, you should check out Guild Wars 2. But if you hate traditional MMORPGs, then you shouldreally check out Guild Wars 2. Because, like Guild Wars before it, GW2 doesn’t fall into the traps of traditional MMORPGs. It doesn’t suck your life away and force you onto a grinding treadmill; it doesn’t make you spend hours preparing to have fun rather than just having fun; and of course, it doesn’t have a monthly fee.”

(link: http://www.arena.net/blog/guild-wars-2-design-manifesto)

It looked promising. Up until now I didn’t doubt the fact that GW2 would be something different than the usual MMOs out there.
Some of us might be frustrated on the fact that they’re now breaking a brand promise, but the thing that will really have a consequence for GW2 in the future is the lack of original thinking and a unique brand position.

Let’s think ahead one year. A new high budget MMO is released – it has better graphics, a new fantastic world to explore, new items and new dungeons with new boss-fights. Now GW2 will struggle, having no unique position in the market or loyal target market. The graphics and the world is a bit outdated – people have been there done that. GW2 players are now leaving for the new MMO. Now some of you might be thinking, but that’s just how things work in the world of MMOs. It doesn’t have to be like that.

This new dungeon, Fractals of the Mist, and the Ascended armor seem to be anything but imaginative and original. What happened to the game that would defy conventions and think out of the box?

If GW2 try to stay different, then there’ll be a place for them in this future.
If they build a strong unique brand, then people will be standing in line to play their next MMO.

Sure a company can optimize everything, while delivering a threshold level of competitiveness, but if they don’t deliver a meaningful and DISTINCTIVE experience to a target market, then they’ll soon be surpassed.

It’s not about doing things right, but about doing the right things.

It all depends on how they handle Ascended gear personally. If they treat it as the highest tier, and use it’s unique upgrade slot type instead of piling on more stats, alongside a rune slot, then it’s fine, and a decent way to add new upgrades.

If they start making a tier above ascended, or make ascended gear stronger than other ascended gear of the same level, then we have a problem.

also, imminent megathread merge.

The way GW2 was marketed was very powerful and compelling. If Arenanet doesn’t deliver on the vision they sold to people, then they’ll have to improvise. I can’t imagine what that would look like, though.