Guild Wars 2

Hi

I was think about how nice it would be to do crafting and trade post shopping on my mobile phone instead of playing the sad run of the mil mobile games when you sit in a waiting room or when you are out and away from your computer.

What do you all think is it something you will find beneficial as well?

Anet already stated that they dont have any plans regarding this.
Not because its not high enough on the priority list but because its not on it.

That is very backward thinking from them.
If they maybe said it poses a security risk then I would still say " Yeah maybe".
But just plain “no” because its not on the list is a bit on the “not listening to your client” side.

This would take to much dev time away from a net’s real priority: cash shop cosmetics!!!!!!!!!

What if they added the gem store on the mobile application, then it could enhance the “cash shop cosmetic” and even drive profits up?

There where plans for a mobile app before GW2 launched. But after the API come out, ANet just stopped and left it to other people to make phone apps.

I was hoping for an official GW2 app that had guild chat, who in the guild is online, who on your friends list is online. Access to gem store and TP. But it will not happen now.

It wouldn’t enhance the game at all though. It would simply enable a new level of TP market play, adding to already sketchy level of manipulation and flipping. The TP was intended to supplement crafting and collection (pre-collection skin collectors) activities; But if any system enables a pure profit motive, people will try to use it as such, often at the cost of players who play more then farm; and don’t generate enough spare gold on their own.

I’d argue the TP’s huge high minimum investment to participate is largely due to the abnormal scarcity in intermediate levels crafting. High level crafting, the expectation is always an expensive one. But when the mid levels are out valuing the high level mats on an order of nearly 3:1 or higher, we obviously have source issue that needs to be addressed. Its ironic given Ascended Mats being so successful in draining the excess supply, only send it into a drought not long after.

Interesting point Starlinvf, however I can still see a mobile app do wonders for the game even if you excluded the trading post. It would seem there is a bigger issue at play when it comes to flipping rather than should or should there not be a mobile app.

But yes I hear you.

Still think more people should demand for such functionality. I believe they Anet work like any other company on a supply and demand basis?

Goundski.9701:

What if they added the gem store on the mobile application, then it could enhance the “cash shop cosmetic” and even drive profits up?

Although how much would people use it if it were solely the gem shop? It is not like I often feel a compelling need to buy transmutation charges when I am not already playing the game.

Valderius Rex.4108:

This would take to much dev time away from a net’s real priority: cash shop cosmetics!!!!!!!!!

They have some really awful managers if they are assigning programmers to do art.

Menadena.7482:

Goundski.9701:

What if they added the gem store on the mobile application, then it could enhance the “cash shop cosmetic” and even drive profits up?

Although how much would people use it if it were solely the gem shop? It is not like I often feel a compelling need to buy transmutation charges when I am not already playing the game.

I was thinking, Gem store, crafting, chat, guild chat and upgrades. Trading Post if you can look beyond the flipping concern raised earlier.

Since there is a way to authenticate in the api now I can think of all good (and time-saving) features you could do on a phone, assuming the required calls are permitted. For example …

Scan my wardrobe for what skins I need. Look them up in the TP. Tell me which skins exist and how much they will cost me to add. Extra points for UI design (selecting sort parameters and the like) and thumbnails of what they look like. I would use that even if I was at my computer as I could see it being a huge timesaver for collecting skins.

They don’t want players playing the game without playing the game.

CureForLiving.5360:

They don’t want players playing the game without playing the game.

The example I listed would not do that though. It would either be a tool while already playing or allowing you to plan your purchases while not. It would not include the TP however it would encourage people to spend more gold on it by pointing out things they had missed.

Goundski.9701:

That is very backward thinking from them.
If they maybe said it poses a security risk then I would still say " Yeah maybe".
But just plain “no” because its not on the list is a bit on the “not listening to your client” side.

It’s more of a talent/money issue I suppose.

They used to have a dev specifically for mobile development but he/she left before release, IIRC.

Goundski.9701:

Hi

I was think about how nice it would be to do crafting and trade post shopping on my mobile phone instead of playing the sad run of the mil mobile games when you sit in a waiting room or when you are out and away from your computer.

What do you all think is it something you will find beneficial as well?

Goundski.9701:

That is very backward thinking from them.
If they maybe said it poses a security risk then I would still say " Yeah maybe".
But just plain “no” because its not on the list is a bit on the “not listening to your client” side.

They didn’t say just plain “no.” It’s a bad idea for a couple of reasons:

• Creating mobile apps requires a specific sort of expertise that they lack, particularly in UI design (among other fields).
• They’d have to develop and maintain it for at least 3 additional platforms, so it would take away resources from other features or bug fixing.
• There are security issues.
• I’m not sure they want people playing the TP without playing the game — part of the point of an MMO is the multiplayer and a TP mobile app would lack that.

tl;dr it probably wouldn’t be good for the game, even if I personally would make good use of a mobile app.

Menadena.7482:

Since there is a way to authenticate in the api now I can think of all good (and time-saving) features you could do on a phone, assuming the required calls are permitted. For example …

Scan my wardrobe for what skins I need. Look them up in the TP. Tell me which skins exist and how much they will cost me to add. Extra points for UI design (selecting sort parameters and the like) and thumbnails of what they look like. I would use that even if I was at my computer as I could see it being a huge timesaver for collecting skins.

For some of this, stuff is in the works through the new API endpoints and keys. You can already check and calculate your bags, bank and material storage via apps and soon you will be able to use it to create links to your build, along with skins used etc. The new account and character api should also give info about account unlocks. The guild api will get a big overhaul with HoT and i think one programmer said that guild chat outside of the game is something he would really like to make happen but it wont be ready with HoT as there are some technical difficulties.

Wanze.8410:

Menadena.7482:

Since there is a way to authenticate in the api now I can think of all good (and time-saving) features you could do on a phone, assuming the required calls are permitted. For example …

Scan my wardrobe for what skins I need. Look them up in the TP. Tell me which skins exist and how much they will cost me to add. Extra points for UI design (selecting sort parameters and the like) and thumbnails of what they look like. I would use that even if I was at my computer as I could see it being a huge timesaver for collecting skins.

For some of this, stuff is in the works through the new API endpoints and keys. You can already check and calculate your bags, bank and material storage via apps and soon you will be able to use it to create links to your build, along with skins used etc. The new account and character api should also give info about account unlocks. The guild api will get a big overhaul with HoT and i think one programmer said that guild chat outside of the game is something he would really like to make happen but it wont be ready with HoT as there are some technical difficulties.

Yes, I thought most of it would be in the character api, thanks. So I was not spacing out on it.

The reason I thought of it recently was that I have been doing this exact same thing recently and it is a royal pain: going to my wardrobe, getting some skin names, see if I can find them in the TP for a reasonable cost, repeat. I am 800+ skins so getting the 1,000 skin achievement is a nice goal with the side-effect of getting me able to bling out new characters once they get armor that will not change every few hours.

Programmer here.
The current API only has return values, meaning it can get info sent to it by the game. In order to allow for first or third parties to push data into the game (chat/TP/crafting) requires EXTENSIVE pipeline to exist, much less be secure. It’s doable, but it’d require a ton of man power and testing before it could go live, and would nearly double the traffic on their servers. There are ways to offload it, like secondary mobile-only servers, but that incurs higher cost of development. The most likely feature would be something along the lines of a chat system, but that depends entirely on how the original was implemented- and again increases data usage.

It’s a nice feature, but there’s a lot of work and cost for little monetary gain.

Nachyochez.9758:

Programmer here.
The current API only has return values, meaning it can get info sent to it by the game. In order to allow for first or third parties to push data into the game (chat/TP/crafting) requires EXTENSIVE pipeline to exist, much less be secure. It’s doable, but it’d require a ton of man power and testing before it could go live, and would nearly double the traffic on their servers. There are ways to offload it, like secondary mobile-only servers, but that incurs higher cost of development. The most likely feature would be something along the lines of a chat system, but that depends entirely on how the original was implemented- and again increases data usage.

It’s a nice feature, but there’s a lot of work and cost for little monetary gain.

Maybe this is where the GW2 players can show their talents. I know there are many programmers out there that could come up with some form of app/addon that could possibly be shown to the Anet Dev’s, maybe open a thread in here solely for third-party apps that could possibly be applied to the game in some form. The Dev’s could then test each app and make a decision whether to try it or not.

cagiepoo.8162:

Nachyochez.9758:

Programmer here.
The current API only has return values, meaning it can get info sent to it by the game. In order to allow for first or third parties to push data into the game (chat/TP/crafting) requires EXTENSIVE pipeline to exist, much less be secure. It’s doable, but it’d require a ton of man power and testing before it could go live, and would nearly double the traffic on their servers. There are ways to offload it, like secondary mobile-only servers, but that incurs higher cost of development. The most likely feature would be something along the lines of a chat system, but that depends entirely on how the original was implemented- and again increases data usage.

It’s a nice feature, but there’s a lot of work and cost for little monetary gain.

Maybe this is where the GW2 players can show their talents. I know there are many programmers out there that could come up with some form of app/addon that could possibly be shown to the Anet Dev’s, maybe open a thread in here solely for third-party apps that could possibly be applied to the game in some form. The Dev’s could then test each app and make a decision whether to try it or not.

Most of the chat about it goes on at the API subforum or other discussion boards.

A list of API apps is on the wiki:
http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/API:List_of_applications

cagiepoo.8162:

Nachyochez.9758:

Programmer here.
The current API only has return values, meaning it can get info sent to it by the game. In order to allow for first or third parties to push data into the game (chat/TP/crafting) requires EXTENSIVE pipeline to exist, much less be secure. It’s doable, but it’d require a ton of man power and testing before it could go live, and would nearly double the traffic on their servers. There are ways to offload it, like secondary mobile-only servers, but that incurs higher cost of development. The most likely feature would be something along the lines of a chat system, but that depends entirely on how the original was implemented- and again increases data usage.

It’s a nice feature, but there’s a lot of work and cost for little monetary gain.

Maybe this is where the GW2 players can show their talents. I know there are many programmers out there that could come up with some form of app/addon that could possibly be shown to the Anet Dev’s, maybe open a thread in here solely for third-party apps that could possibly be applied to the game in some form. The Dev’s could then test each app and make a decision whether to try it or not.

TECHNICALLY it’s possible a makeshift chat client could be fabricated; With the use of a screen reader and IRC “server” box for a guild, the data could be transmitted without interacting directly with GW2 servers. The caveat is that this is STRICTLY against the UA of the game, so a dev would need to approve a showcase of the program BEFORE any real ground work could be done. For something like the TP or Crafting you’re probably dealing with something more akin to ‘botting’, which again creates issues. Still, technically doable – were anyone willing to risk their account!

Nachyochez.9758:

Programmer here.
The current API only has return values, meaning it can get info sent to it by the game. In order to allow for first or third parties to push data into the game (chat/TP/crafting) requires EXTENSIVE pipeline to exist, much less be secure. It’s doable, but it’d require a ton of man power and testing before it could go live, and would nearly double the traffic on their servers. There are ways to offload it, like secondary mobile-only servers, but that incurs higher cost of development. The most likely feature would be something along the lines of a chat system, but that depends entirely on how the original was implemented- and again increases data usage.

It’s a nice feature, but there’s a lot of work and cost for little monetary gain.

What if they only allow login from one device at a time? Then the load should stay the same.

Goundski.9701:

What if they only allow login from one device at a time? Then the load should stay the same.

Being able to access chat while on the go increases the load in and of itself just because more players will be using the service more of the time. Now, admittedly, the chat itself is VERY little data consumption, but the number of ports and requests needed would be drastically increased, and these increases come at the times the servers are usually at their lowest usage (when people are at work/school and can’t play), making even basic maintenance more difficult.

Some additional info about their plans and problems with implementing guild chat from outside of the game from Lawton Campbell in the API CDI thread)

quenoz.3859:

quenoz.3859:

i would be really excited about a possibility to have guild chat outside of the game too, maybe somewhat like twitch allows to connect to their irc: http://help.twitch.tv/customer/en/portal/articles/1302780-twitch-irc

Out-of-game guild chat is definitely something I want to have, but we haven’t really settled on a protocol for it yet. XMPP, IRC and “something custom with HTTP+SSE” have all been tossed around as potentials but it’s not immediately clear which is most advantageous to implement. As far as interoperability with existing clients, IRC’s probably the winner (though it’s a horrible mess of a protocol).

There are some further comments down in that thread about it.