Guild Wars 2

Agent Noun.7350:

The average troll is probably going to get tired of finding new ways to authenticate an account every time they get banned.

You can generate an authenticator as fast as you can copy and paste a line of text. The entire setup process could easily be automated.

Requiring authentication to unlock certain features is simply an attempt to reduce the number of hacked accounts. Remember, people actually fall for the in-game phishing mail that requires you to manually enter that long URL. If people managed to fall for that however, they’re going to fall for getting their authenticator phished (enter your code 3 times to allow the attacker to remove it).

Agent Noun.7350:

All of this is likely why they’re requiring SMS or other authentication for accounts from now on. The average troll is probably going to get tired of finding new ways to authenticate an account every time they get banned.

That’s not good enough. For the f2p accounts they need to require SMS ONLY. No authenticator option at all. That might be the only way to curb some of the trolls since we lose the barrier to entry from b2p.

Healix.5819:

Agent Noun.7350:

The average troll is probably going to get tired of finding new ways to authenticate an account every time they get banned.

You can generate an authenticator as fast as you can copy and paste a line of text. The entire setup process could easily be automated.

Requiring authentication to unlock certain features is simply an attempt to reduce the number of hacked accounts. Remember, people actually fall for the in-game phishing mail that requires you to manually enter that long URL. If people managed to fall for that however, they’re going to fall for getting their authenticator phished (enter your code 3 times to allow the attacker to remove it).

I mean, you’re definitely right. I’m just talking about your average trolling middle school kid. Eventually, jumping through the hoops of authenticating in different ways every time they want a new smurf account is going to get old.

It’s definitely not a solution to every issue, but it is a step in the correct direction. I hope that ArenaNet has continued to consider the safeguards they’re going to have to put in place for it. They definitely were thinking about it in 2014, when that_shaman datamined the free trial info, so I’m sure they’re going to at least try to maintain the integrity of the game experience.

xarallei.4279:

Agent Noun.7350:

All of this is likely why they’re requiring SMS or other authentication for accounts from now on. The average troll is probably going to get tired of finding new ways to authenticate an account every time they get banned.

That’s not good enough. For the f2p accounts they need to require SMS ONLY. No authenticator option at all. That might be the only way to curb some of the trolls since we lose the barrier to entry from b2p.

^

The good part about requiring SMS for any new account is the ability to tie a phone number to any account one person has. Most people aren’t going to be have more than one or two phone numbers. If someone is banned on an account tied to phone A, when they try to get a new account then having to use phone A again tells the system who they are and they can be refused if needed.

bloodletting wolf.2837:

Behellagh.1468:

ScribeTheMad.7614:

Free accounts (without careful restrictions) means both spies everywhere, as well as trying to stuff the opponents servers with dead weight accounts to limit the number of actual players that can get into WvW maps.
Some people will do anything to get an edge.

Somebody is taking WvW WAY to seriously.

You must not play WvW or you would know that these are valid concerns. Just because it isn’t the main mode that you play doesn’t mean it would not be a problem.

I play, on Jade Quary, almost daily now. I just don’t live there. I do a half an hour and I’m out to do other things.

Except it’s not SMS but 2FA you have to sign up for. So someone who set up Google Authenticator or WinAuth can easily manage multiple accounts on a single system.

What Scribe the Mad said and said well.

If you make a game free to play (even compared to 5 euro to join basegame cost), the level of easyness for a troll/jerk to join the game becomes 10x easier. That alone is reason enough to not make it free.

And as a economical analyser: just no. The base game costed 5 years of hard work, and contrary to what some people say it’s content for a basegame is massive (try map completion for one). If it’s boring or not is another mater, but it’s there, massive content. And just throw it away like those 5 years of hard work don’t mean anything. It is as wrong as you could be. Most people joining ‘free now’ will NEVER buy gems, except with gold (wich is another issue, bringing total free to play masses to gw2, if they come, will super inflate gold to gem rate, at such a rate it won’t even be fun anymore and some people might leave the game).

Just bad. Let them buy HoT to get game, or 5 euro per game but NOT free to play.

It would also mess up login rewards. People could creates 10 000 login accounts for massive laurels.

And and wvw hacking, trolling, spying! Worse then ever. Thanks Scribe the mad.

Free is just bad. Make it as cheap as you want, but not free. Even gw1 was never free and was a much less complex game. It survived. Why not let gw2 survive ‘while costing’ money? Say you ask 5 euro per ‘old expansion/core game’ (2+ years old), then even the F2p mass has no reason not to get game 10 euro isn’t hard to come by for so much hours of entertainment.

Phoebe Ascension.8437:

If you make a game free to play (even compared to 5 euro to join basegame cost), the level of easyness for a troll/jerk to join the game becomes 10x easier. That alone is reason enough to not make it free.

And as a economical analyser: just no. The base game costed 5 years of hard work, and contrary to what some people say it’s content for a basegame is massive (try map completion for one). If it’s boring or not is another mater, but it’s there, massive content. And just throw it away like those 5 years of hard work don’t mean anything. It is as wrong as you could be. Most people joining ‘free now’ will NEVER buy gems, except with gold (wich is another issue, bringing total free to play masses to gw2, if they come, will super inflate gold to gem rate, at such a rate it won’t even be fun anymore and some people might leave the game).

Just bad. Let them buy HoT to get game, or 5 euro per game but NOT free to play.

It would also mess up login rewards. People could creates 10 000 login accounts for massive laurels.

And and wvw hacking, trolling, spying! Worse then ever. Thanks Scribe the mad.

Free is just bad. Make it as cheap as you want, but not free. Even gw1 was never free and was a much less complex game. It survived. Why not let gw2 survive ‘while costing’ money? Say you ask 5 euro per ‘old expansion/core game’ (2+ years old), then even the F2p mass has no reason not to get game 10 euro isn’t hard to come by for so much hours of entertainment.

//sign

Phoebe Ascension.8437:

And as a economical analyser: just no. The base game costed 5 years of hard work, and contrary to what some people say it’s content for a basegame is massive (try map completion for one).

There’s the flip side to that as well. In a Buy to Play model, ArenaNet doesn’t need to rely as much on the cash store since they have at least the money players used to buy the game. When going full free to play, ArenaNet will have to rely even more on the cash store, which means they will likely invest even more in the Gem Store and even less in the game itself.

So don’t expect to see new armor sets reliably any time soon. ArenaNet will focus all artists on making outfits for the Gem Store. The same regarding weapon skins. It will become even worse than it already is, and that’s with HoT being released with only 3 new legendaries.

Test.8734:

Phoebe Ascension.8437:

And as a economical analyser: just no. The base game costed 5 years of hard work, and contrary to what some people say it’s content for a basegame is massive (try map completion for one).

There’s the flip side to that as well. In a Buy to Play model, ArenaNet doesn’t need to rely as much on the cash store since they have at least the money players used to buy the game. When going full free to play, ArenaNet will have to rely even more on the cash store, which means they will likely invest even more in the Gem Store and even less in the game itself.

So don’t expect to see new armor sets reliably any time soon. ArenaNet will focus all artists on making outfits for the Gem Store. The same regarding weapon skins. It will become even worse than it already is, and that’s with HoT being released with only 3 new legendaries.

They wouldn’t be going full free to play though, people would still have to buy the HoT expansion for full access to the game, besides, the core game sales have probably slowed to a point where it may not offer much profit anymore, which is why they might want to get people hooked on the free core game, so they will end up buying HoT. (this is all assuming the core game is actually going f2p)

We don’t know if there are restrictions yet.

Let’s hope so, because I don’t want the toxic communities from some other F2P games.

Agent Noun.7350:

Healix.5819:

Agent Noun.7350:

The average troll is probably going to get tired of finding new ways to authenticate an account every time they get banned.

You can generate an authenticator as fast as you can copy and paste a line of text. The entire setup process could easily be automated.

Requiring authentication to unlock certain features is simply an attempt to reduce the number of hacked accounts. Remember, people actually fall for the in-game phishing mail that requires you to manually enter that long URL. If people managed to fall for that however, they’re going to fall for getting their authenticator phished (enter your code 3 times to allow the attacker to remove it).

I mean, you’re definitely right. I’m just talking about your average trolling middle school kid. Eventually, jumping through the hoops of authenticating in different ways every time they want a new smurf account is going to get old.

Setting up a new key in Winauth is 50 times less work then setting up a new
email address for a new account .. so i don’t see that this really stop
people in any way if setting up a new email each time is not already enough.

Beldin.5498:

Setting up a new key in Winauth is 50 times less work then setting up a new
email address for a new account

Using email aliases, setting up a new email account is as simple as typing in a new username. Temporary email providers are also an option if you want throwaway accounts.

Let’s ponder a bit about ArenaNet’s strategy how they handled this whole leak in the time since it has happened. They have done nothing to negate or to confirm it. Literally nothing.

imho: They won’t risk to encounter a giant chorus of “boohs” in which the announcement of GW2 becoming f2p would logically result. The majority of the GW2 community neither likes the subscription based mmorpgs nor the f2p based mmorpgs and ArenaNet knows that. In the meanwhile they should know their consumers and fans pretty well.

The only logical result of this thought is that we won’t see an announcement for a real f2p base game this evening. The risk to destroy their reputation, disappointing the fan base shortly before an important release is simply too high. If you want to do something controversial, then you do it when your risk is calculable small.

Connor Obrian.8420:

The only logical result of this thought is that we won’t see an announcement for a real f2p base game this evening. The risk to destroy their reputation, disappointing the fan base shortly before an important release is simply too high. If you want to do something controversial, then you do it when your risk is calculable small.

I think ArenaNet is assuming most people will actually enjoy the change to free to play (despite how there’s no clearer sign that a MMORPG is failing than it changing its business model to free to play).

Although I’m not sure what to think of their marketing strategy, considering how they just did the most underwhelming release date announcement I have EVER seen. And one day before a major announcement at a big convention, even.

ArenaNet announcement, anyone know when it might be, so we can hopefully clear up the rumors and speculations?

TJgalon.5012:

ArenaNet announcement, anyone know when it might be, so we can hopefully clear up the rumors and speculations?

starts at 19:30 cet

so 3 more hours to go, if my math is right, thankyou.

Just over 1.5 hours from now, actually. It is now approaching 9 am Pacific and the PAX announcement is at 10:30 am Pacific. You can go to the PAX Twitch schedule at http://www.twitch.tv/team/pax to get the Twitch links and times.

Scroll down to the third list, the Hydra Theater, that is where GW2 is.

God. Time to avoid the forums before everything detonates. I’ll come back after the flames simmer down or get extinguished.

why, I rather people be complaining about facts then rumors and speculation of rumors and leaks, lol.

Mike Obrian talking now. He surely talks like he’s gonna make the game free. pretty sure of it.

And my gut feeling was correct….

Free to play so bad, even with limitations.

Trolls, jerks, spammers, spies, cheapskates, gem>inflation causers…

Influx of this Mike Obrian/Anet. No way to filter it out. Bad decision.

5 years of work thrown in trashban.

Mike O’Brien on stage now.

Mike O’Brien just confirmed free core GW2 starting today.

And F2P original game confirmed starting today in very soon.

Edit: Jinx

Nooooo why kitten

No talk about restrictions yet, but hopefully soon

Where are the ones saying it would be limited?

He’s about to talk about what restrictions they’ll have for free accounts, thankfully.

Still looks like the full core game is free, though.

Agent Noun.7350:

He’s about to talk about what restrictions they’ll have for free accounts, thankfully.

Still looks like the full core game is free, though.

Yeah but if you can’t buy or trade items, use map chat, make alts, play ranked pvp or the main WvW maps etc. then it’s still basically a trial, it wouldn’t be practical to keep playing that account.

Free account restrictions

Fewer character and bag slots
No map wide chat
Whisper once per 30 seconds
No mailing stuff
Level 60 before WvW
… more

There are restrictions.

The restrictions he mentioned are:

- No map chat.
- Can only start a new whisper conversation every 30 seconds.
- Can only trade certain items on the Trading Post.
- Can’t mail items or gold to other players.
- Can’t enter WvW until level 60.

There’ll be more, apparently, but that’s a good start. It gives you the entire game, but with a few restrictions to prevent abuse.

urfrid.5971:

There are restrictions.

Ridiculous ones yes

BR’s incoming, prepare for the HUE’s, gib moni, and i report u

I stopped watching the moment he asked the vets to welcome the ‘new’ players and the applause was . . . telling.

Mike asks everyone to welcome F2P gamers to the game … and silent pause followed by luke warm applause.

Those restrictions look alright I have seen worse.

Actually, I was really hoping that wasn’t true, but after hearing him talk about it, I see the tactic. They want to bring in new players, and really, it’s true, if they like the game they’ll buy. If they don’t, they’re not going to keep playing. So, it’s just a way of getting more people interested.

Yunielesca.2850:

urfrid.5971:

There are restrictions.

Ridiculous ones yes

https://help.guildwars2.com/entries/95982157

The restrictions are fine

gw2 rip, ppl already saying they’re gonna stop helping new players bcuz f2pers come and go like random ppl u see on the street. see what u’ve done to our community anet.

UNO.4906:

gw2 rip, ppl already saying they’re gonna stop helping new players bcuz f2pers come and go like random ppl u see on the street. see what u’ve done to our community anet.

If players are choosing to not help other players it isnt Anet who has done something to the community in this instance.

UNO.4906:

gw2 rip, ppl already saying they’re gonna stop helping new players bcuz f2pers come and go like random ppl u see on the street. see what u’ve done to our community anet.

Ya gated comunitly mind set is a scary thing. I hope GW2 comunitly is not too overly sheltered by the b2p wall they are use to.

Not really Anet doing more of a the chose of the players of how they will react. A player still not a nice person even when there a strong feeling of us and them or when there is a weak feeling of us and them just less interaction for them to be mean.

UNO.4906:

gw2 rip, ppl already saying they’re gonna stop helping new players bcuz f2pers come and go like random ppl u see on the street. see what u’ve done to our community anet.

You wouldn’t help a random person on the street?

DragonflyDusk.6582:

UNO.4906:

gw2 rip, ppl already saying they’re gonna stop helping new players bcuz f2pers come and go like random ppl u see on the street. see what u’ve done to our community anet.

You wouldn’t help a random person on the street?

Most ppl do not even acknowledges that the person on the street exists. It would be nice to see GW2 vets act different.

Devildoc.6721:

BR’s incoming, prepare for the HUE’s, gib moni, and i report u

No, don’t remind me about that… I feel ashamed to be from the same place like those… :/