Guild Wars 2

Yup it’s true, some event strings are really fun and having a nice reward at the end would be a nice cherry on top

That said they are still a reward in themselves but I’d never turn a rare away!

@Genophix I’m not trying to make people feel down for still enjoying the game. I did and for quite awhile! I’m sorry if what you’ve read has made you less happy about what you’re enjoying – it really wasn’t my intention. The problems others and I have explained here are apparent once the lid is off and you see the MMO side of it and how that part is severely lacking.

I don’t want to go back to the topic of why Arena.NET can’t sustain their game without a satisfied core playerbase. Their business plan of catering only to new players, not even only casuals or only hardcore veterans, is so short-sighted and downright stupid that I still can’t believe they don’t see it. I think we’ve exhausted this subject and, honestly, without a developer letting us know what he thinks, it all feels pointless.

I’ll share something personal; recently I quit playing League of Legends because I literally felt burned out. That’s a game that I’d been supporting since open beta. It’s absolutely not a developer’s fault: it was a blast and I enjoyed it all throughout high school with friends. As someone who, to this day, maintains a LoL blog, do you know what I find deserves the most respect in Riot? The fact that the developers are always willing to take to the forums and respond to criticism. No, you have not seen criticism, Arena.NET – I’m talking about red posts being literally flagged for spam because of backlash. And these people held on and they talked, and they explained, and they made surveys, never putting the opinion of the community above its own ideas or vice versa, rather it all worked in tandem. They launched a PBE server explicitly because of player demand and not one tiny patch note was left without a follow-up as to why that was implemented.

If you’re gonna take an example from anyone, take it from the developers of Riot Games. And regardless of whether or not you appreciate League of Legends as a game, you can’t deny the passion of these people for their product. LoL was small when it released – Guild Wars 2 was huge. But LoL grew and continues to grow, while GW2 is choking on its deathbed not a year in.

Insignya.8625:

@Genophix I’m not trying to make people feel down for still enjoying the game. I did and for quite awhile! I’m sorry if what you’ve read has made you less happy about what you’re enjoying – it really wasn’t my intention. The problems others and I have explained here are apparent once the lid is off and you see the MMO side of it and how that part is severely lacking.

I don’t want to go back to the topic of why Arena.NET can’t sustain their game without a satisfied core playerbase. Their business plan of catering only to new players, not even only casuals or only hardcore veterans, is so short-sighted and downright stupid that I still can’t believe they don’t see it. I think we’ve exhausted this subject and, honestly, without a developer letting us know what he thinks, it all feels pointless.

I’ll share something personal; recently I quit playing League of Legends because I literally felt burned out. That’s a game that I’d been supporting since open beta. It’s absolutely not a developer’s fault: it was a blast and I enjoyed it all throughout high school with friends. As someone who, to this day, maintains a LoL blog, do you know what I find deserves the most respect in Riot? The fact that the developers are always willing to take to the forums and respond to criticism. No, you have not seen criticism, Arena.NET – I’m talking about red posts being literally flagged for spam because of backlash. And these people held on and they talked, and they explained, and they made surveys, never putting the opinion of the community above its own ideas or vice versa, rather it all worked in tandem. They launched a PBE server explicitly because of player demand and not one tiny patch note was left without a follow-up as to why that was implemented.

If you’re gonna take an example from anyone, take it from the developers of Riot Games. And regardless of whether or not you appreciate League of Legends as a game, you can’t deny the passion of these people for their product. LoL was small when it released – Guild Wars 2 was huge. But LoL grew and continues to grow, while GW2 is choking on its deathbed not a year in.

A good read. Let’s hope a dev will respond, as you said.

Aeonblade.8709:

A good read. Let’s hope a dev will respond, as you said.

I wouldn’t hold my breath!

You guys remember when Rox and Braham’s weapon skins were on sale? It’s like a different team had made that choice, it was so unexpected and awesome to see these available straight-up. This is the sort of stuff you should have in the gem store! And yet some people are in favor of gambling their money away… man I just don’t get it.

Insignya.8625:

You guys remember when Rox and Braham’s weapon skins were on sale? It’s like a different team had made that choice, it was so unexpected and awesome to see these available straight-up. This is the sort of stuff you should have in the gem store!

I agree, this is what I’ve said in a couple of recent posts, the inconsistency of reward systems for different events is baffling. They clearly aren’t working to a clear consistent overall design philosophy across the game, except use gambling boxes whereever possible.

morrolan.9608:

Insignya.8625:

You guys remember when Rox and Braham’s weapon skins were on sale? It’s like a different team had made that choice, it was so unexpected and awesome to see these available straight-up. This is the sort of stuff you should have in the gem store!

I agree, this is what I’ve said in a couple of recent posts, the inconsistency of reward systems for different events is baffling. They clearly aren’t working to a clear consistent overall design philosophy across the game, except use gambling boxes whereever possible.

Maybe they’re experimenting to find a sweet spot between profitability and customer satisfaction — and trying different options until they find what works best.

IndigoSundown.5419:

Maybe they’re experimenting to find a sweet spot between profitability and customer satisfaction — and trying different options until they find what works best.

You mean what they said they would start doing in the months after release?

gasp

No, no, no….clearly it is something sinister. Like NC Soft demanding RNG chest or the founders leaving or Arena Net just not knowing what they’re doing.

@IndigoSundown, I’ll agree that for awhile they seemed to be looking for a best course of action with the gem store. For the past few months, however, they seem to have settled on these RNG chests which is really troubling.

I may have shifted the topic entirely into the field of gambling exploitation. This game has other, fundamental issues that are a detriment to its future. I’ve summarized some in previous comments but I’ll try to make another one that’s more coherent to describe the most aching concerns right now.

I had to dig for a while to find my thread. For anyone currently reading this, I’m ending my venture in the GW2 forums on a footnote.

Silence and overconfidence murders studios. Mark my words- people will start crossing you out as a good developer down the next-gen line.

I know I’m beneath you, Arena.NET – I’m just some guy wasting his time here, foolishly believing he can get an ounce of feedback from your team. What does the mighty NCsoft care about a few kitten-people who think RNG should not be abused? And yet we’ll be right, eventually, because I’ve committed to following many developers over the years, and none had the audacity to be so ignorant. At some point everyone faces up to the community. But not you.

I won’t be posting here or in the GW2 forums in general. I have little care for anyone willing to quote me and explain that I’m a drama queen, that I have no life, that Arena.NET shouldn’t listen to whiners like me. Because you fail to differentiate between whining and contributory criticism – and sooner or later the former will bury these forums because you never bothered to comprehend the latter.