HoT available in CE?
Nope:
https://help.guildwars2.com/entries/94582027-Heart-of-Thorns-Pre-Purchase-FAQ
Is there a physical collector’s edition planned for Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns?
There are no plans for a physical collector’s edition for Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns. Heart of Thorns will be offered in Standard, Deluxe, and Ultimate Editions (all of which are available for pre-purchase and include digital in-game bonuses only).
The Burninator
That certainly is a bummer … I dislike digital downloads with a passion because of the Epic failure of transferring information. I have never experienced a reasonable facsimile from any electronic digital download, there are always flaws. A master disk is a much better way to keep and store information when upgrading your personal computer as well …
A giant step backwards, in my opinion. I guess giving credit to the artists concept art is highly over-rated, and after ten years we should just allow ourselves to become complacent with the “regal” offerings.
(edited by jia li ng.8415)
That certainly is a bummer … I dislike digital downloads with a passion because of the Epic failure of transferring information. I have never experienced a reasonable facsimile from any electronic digital download, there are always flaws. A master disk is a much better way to keep and store information when upgrading your personal computer as well …
A giant step backwards, in my opinion. I guess giving credit to the artists concept art is highly over-rated, and after ten years we should just allow ourselves to become complacent with the “regal” offerings.
Before you start rage quitting, you might like to know that you can still get a physical retail version of GW2 Heart of Thorns. ANet has also listed that certain retailers will even offer the pre-purchase incentive with physical copies of the game.
*"Can I pre-purchase through my favorite retailer?
Yes. Starting on June 23, 2015, you’ll be able to pre-purchase boxed and digital editions of Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns from our official retail partners. You may also be able to pre-order through retailers, but there is no official pre-order program and pre-purchasing is the only way to receive the benefits of our pre-purchase program, including access to all of the Beta Weekend Events."*
Source:
https://help.guildwars2.com/entries/94582027-Heart-of-Thorns-Pre-Purchase-FAQ
The only thing they have said is they don’t have plans to release a physical collectors edition. But that doesn’t mean to say you cannot get a physical copy of the game, with the pre-purchase incentive included.
How is digital any different? I have digital version of most games and have no problems.
I’d get used to it, the long term future is digital as more and more companies realise the costs of boxed games are becoming less worth it
How is digital any different? I have digital version of most games and have no problems.
I’d get used to it, the long term future is digital as more and more companies realise the costs of boxed games are becoming less worth it
I prefer physcial goodies over digital at the moment.
In my opinion digital goodies still don`t give the same satisfaction as physical ones and ANet doesn`t have a good track record of providing long lasting and desirable digital extras.
Digital
Look at the digital stuff we got at the core games release:
two one-time consumeable items.
one acount consumeable for each new character
A mini and a cool but underpowered elite.
As of this time we get:
Reused assets (a lazy rylock finisher, a new mini and decorations)
A sparkly glider skin.
Optional 4000Gems aka 50$ “gift”, of a courency they govern themselves and give you as a “discount” (their words, “The first ever Gem discount.”, which they proudly announced)
(I know I am a bit harsh here)
I am bringing it up because none of these scream: “i need this and look at it often”
To compare it:
Warhammer Online had a fireplace and a cape.
The fireplace offered buffs nearby allies, so it was taken out often in groups.
The cape was visually very appealing and on par with high level equipment.
Then for GW we had special summons to aid you in battle (fire imp)
Special weapon skins (unfortunatly not transmutation possible)
Unique dances, so everytime I danced (which happened quite often while idle) I got a cool show
Physical
It depends on the quality.
I like a good figurine, I got some standing around my place, even if it is a pain to dust off sometimes.
Then there is a map. I always love a good map. I am a sucker for these. More so for high quality ones.
there is the novelty factor if someone comes in and sees a cool thing at home.
Sometimes even an extra T-Shirt is fine.
Also there is the point of them being able to bundle a bunch of digital stuff in as well.
Td:lr
I get that digital is cheaper and it is “easier”. (doesn`t take up too much space, etc.)
However I think it gets less personal that way.
If I really like something I want to be able touch it in some way.
It is the same reason why modern sportscars have a machine in it, that makes them roar louder, because modern engines are quiet enough.
The same that companies produce Keyboards that still have the clicking sound.
Razer even has it in as a feature.
(edited by Jaken.6801)
Honestly .. I don’t think I’ll rage quit a game after playing for over ten years because marketing got cheap on production. Though after such a overwhelming response from players so excited to hear of an expansion such as “Heart of Thorns” coming soon one would have thought loyal and devoted players would have been given an option of buying a Collector Edition box set ..
The idea of just giving a T-shirt and maybe a color plate of Rytlock in all his Revenant glory would be asking to much, I mean after-all NCsoft (the apparent ruler of Anet) could see it as to much effort to produce a collectable and that the faithful players could purchase and obviously we don’t deserve to receive anything tangible.
… and the truth about digital to those less inclined is .. the quality is ALWAYS diminished, small case in point, a solid state digital amplifier vs. the lowly analog tube amplifier, just ask any musician about the quality of sound in comparison, whoa, wait, there is no comparison, digital kittens .. analog ROCKS!!!
The same holds true with digital downloads, it’s sketchy at best .. and what’s really nice is if you happen to have hit minor glitch you get to purchase it all over again, now that’s a bonus I know I would look forward to. On the other hand having a CD to download you can place it in your new up-graded computer at anytime in the future and still have the same quality load each and every time, no matter how many new computers you buy in the future.
(edited by jia li ng.8415)
You can’t avoid digital download, though. All the builds that come after the CD is printed come to you, y’know, digitally. My husband’s been setting up a junk machine so I can play while away from home for a month. I told him I had the current build on my Passport and he should just copy that folder over. He pshawed and let the game update from where I’d left it on that computer in April 2014. It took a really long time (I can’t say how long because I wasn’t watching him do it).
I have my disk(s) from game launch. I wouldn’t dream of using them to install the game now, it would be meaningless.
Also, I think they’re doing a lot of background loading in the various builds we’ve been receiving, so if you’re caught up on builds (and you have to be if you’re playing the game right now, you don’t get to stay in the May version, for instance) then launch will involve one more build on the scale you’ve already experienced and you’ll be playing fairly quickly.
I would have loved a physical CE with tangible goodies. Though then I’d be fretting about getting hold of it in time to play the moment HoT launches. But ANet digital loads have always seemed smooth to me, as compared to the incredibly slow process of other MMO’s. I can have a huge patch like we got on the 23rd loaded in a few minutes — TESO makes me sit through close to an hour for the big stuff, as did WoW when I was bothering with it. And I live an hour’s drive from ZeniMax!