Guild Wars 2

As I read through all the Sept Patch stuff, all the criticism on various game sites like Dulfy, Reddit, Guru, PC mag, etc. . . I can’t keep myself from wondering why all the changes for New Player Experience (NPE). I’m confused and I’m wondering if I missed something, somewhere.

I know that a common theme for the changes was to simplify things and to bring this MMO for in-line with the Eastern (China and such) counterpart. But, it seems so odd to focus so much dev time and resources on something that seems so irrelevant unless they are expecting a bunch of people to rush to the game.

I am familiar with all the theories floating around about the possibility of an expansion to justify this expected influx. I do not think that is the case tho. I really don’t think they will ever develop one because it forfeits their direction for a living world through the LS. It also moves players away from existing content, which again is something I think they do not want or intend in any such way. Also with all of their talk about moving towards releasing expansion like content through LS, also indicates that is something they have no desire to do.

I really would not be surprised at all, if in five years, we still have the same Tyria, the same dungeons, the same WvW maps, etc. . . However, I do expect that the way that Tyria functions will be different as they add their QoL updates. Oh yeah, but there will be plenty of gem store additions. Of that I’m positive.

So are they expecting a large influx of players, and why? After two whole years with little permanent changes, do they expect people to flock to this game? They did open up the game to China and beyond and that in itself brought new players, but that was months ago. I’m sure that some of those have moved on too. Are there other markets they hope release the game to?

Do they think the LS in itself is enough of a draw for new players. The LS, while an awesome concept, has yet to really satisfy players. Lots of temporary content in LS 1, but LS 2 seems to be headed in the right direction. After 4 updates tho, the content still seems minimal.

Maybe I expect too much.

Maybe they expect more players to come from GW1? After 5 years of GW1, tho I guess most of them already have. At least in that game we had more content added, more maps, more stuff to do rather than these fundamental game changes that are mostly done through gates, locked away, or just simply nerfed. Don’t get me wrong, they did those things too in GW1, but that was more towards the end of that 5 year span. Maybe that’s my other problem, I need to stop comparing this to GW1.

TL;DR: So are they expecting a huge influx of players to justify this NPE (after a 2 year launch), and if so – from where??

China, where these changes were originally for.

The speculation is that we got the changes not because they’re better for us (though in some minute ways they are), but because this way it’s easier for them to unify the code base between east and west, so it’s cheaper/easier to maintain both versions.

Then it’s too bad they can’t convince KhongZhong that the original was better.

Trial mode perhaps.

not new influx…but better retention rate of new players they get (less people quitting game during early levels).

I believe there’ll be more free trials coming up.

I honestly think we are going to see either a free trial or the game going F2P. Either a permanent trial or a week trial with max level being 10.

Relshdan.6854:

not new influx…but better retention rate of new players they get (less people quitting game during early levels).

Well until they want to try a new profession and/or species at least…

The trial thing makes sense. I remember something about that from a data mine by that_shaman. Then if they do get a bunch of new players, retaining would be useful. Still, seems a huge waste of time and resources to focus on the retaining a possible future new player base rather than not alienating the existing veteran player base. They should reinstate the old system and call it Hard Mode since it was “so confusing”. Still, don’t know how I made it through my first character.

Honestly tho, if I was a new player with an open mind and no previous experience, I’d think I’d hate this new leveling system. Maybe because I’m not Chineese??? 0_o

Of course not to be all conspiracy like. I have to wonder how much of this came down the pipeline from the higher ups like NCSoft. If I remember correctly, didn’t some Korean MMO produce buy a large chunk of their stock or something like that. Maybe they’re steering this train wreck.

New players ??!

All i can think of is since launch players have disliked/hated alot new changes, and things that werent changed and fixed that should have been.

In other words, i keep reading about players , that have played GW2, will NOT recommend it to potentional new players.
Neither will i.

Anet may find other means to attract new players, but if a majority of current players will not recommend your game, something is very wrong.

dagrdagaz.4913:

New players ??!

All i can think of is since launch players have disliked/hated alot new changes, and things that werent changed and fixed that should have been.

In other words, i keep reading about players , that have played GW2, will NOT recommend it to potentional new players.
Neither will i.

Anet may find other means to attract new players, but if a majority of current players will not recommend your game, something is very wrong.

A few people on forum do not a majority make.

Not even ALL people on forum.

Relshdan.6854:

not new influx…but better retention rate of new players they get (less people quitting game during early levels).

Yup they are “flushing/reseting” the player base.

MikaHR.1978:

dagrdagaz.4913:

New players ??!

All i can think of is since launch players have disliked/hated alot new changes, and things that werent changed and fixed that should have been.

In other words, i keep reading about players , that have played GW2, will NOT recommend it to potentional new players.
Neither will i.

Anet may find other means to attract new players, but if a majority of current players will not recommend your game, something is very wrong.

A few people on forum do not a majority make.

Not even ALL people on forum.

All the people, on every forum, and in game map chats, does a majority make. Your sticking your head in the sand when you make such ridiculous claims.

ANet needs to heed their players and they have done some moves where they did that: you’ll notice it’s the stuff not many people have a gripe about. Just about everyone has major issues with this update though, and most of the ones that didn’t have a problem yet didn’t try all the new things released or experience all that was taken away from us, like freedom which is a keystone of any RPG.

Kamui.4038:

MikaHR.1978:

dagrdagaz.4913:

New players ??!

All i can think of is since launch players have disliked/hated alot new changes, and things that werent changed and fixed that should have been.

In other words, i keep reading about players , that have played GW2, will NOT recommend it to potentional new players.
Neither will i.

Anet may find other means to attract new players, but if a majority of current players will not recommend your game, something is very wrong.

A few people on forum do not a majority make.

Not even ALL people on forum.

All the people, on every forum, and in game map chats, does a majority make. Your sticking your head in the sand when you make such ridiculous claims.

ANet needs to heed their players and they have done some moves where they did that: you’ll notice it’s the stuff not many people have a gripe about. Just about everyone has major issues with this update though, and most of the ones that didn’t have a problem yet didn’t try all the new things released or experience all that was taken away from us, like freedom which is a keystone of any RPG.

Yeeeeah, no