Guild Wars 2

the “top tier” players, as well as everyone else, that ArenaNet is under no obligation to ensure that you will make money as a professional gamer.

A post has come and gone and I cannot find it now, but someone posted Tuesday something to the effect of “how am i supposed to earn money as a professional gamer if Anet can’t get their kitten together with this meta,” and this sentiment, quite frankly, frays my mittens.

First of all, your decision to be a professional gamer, to have hopes of paying your bills by playing games, perhaps even make money and earn a little bit of fame, is entirely dependent upon your acumen as a gamer, and has nothing to do with ArenaNet. If this is your chosen career path, it is thus YOUR responsibility to obtain “gainful employment” (so to speak) and, likewise, YOUR responsibility to earn an income. ArenaNet is neither affiliated with nor responsible for your life choices.

So, when ArenaNet makes changes to the game, effecting balance alterations, profession modifications, or content additions for example, it is – having chosen the career of professional gamer – your kitten JOB to adapt and overcome the new challenges put before you, and this job is the one YOU chose. While ArenaNet is certainly concerned with providing an equitable environment which does not actively refuse participation, ArenaNet is not concerned with providing you with a means of earning an income.

Nor ought they be. If you are dissatisfied with your JOB, do what every other wage earning person has to do, and find another one.

con’t . . .

. . . con’t

Secondly, concerning your precious “meta,” it is high time for those of you who mistakenly believe that the game’s “meta” revolves around the builds you play and is dependent upon you playing the “meta builds” such that you may be competitive within the game to, perhaps, rethink your professional life choices and consider getting an education before attempting to advance your careers.

“Meta,” a prefix, such as in meta fiction, meta narrative, meta material, or meta physics, specifically connotes the correlation which goes beyond the context of the subject of analysis and the analyst, which is to say that "meta"_-whatever_ is a cognitive abstraction which (often corrosively) illustrates the disconnect between the actual “functioning” and the potential “functionality” of the subject of analysis.

As such, within the specificity of competitive online games, the “meta-game” is, by and large, the intangible portion of the game which combines you as a player with the world of the game, i.e. its “functionality.” This translates in to the breaks in the game which interrupt your ability to stay within the game world’s environment. Bugs such as being temporarily rooted after using Rocket Boots, of Stun Breaks being finicky around knockbacks and other sorts of CC, and other such disconnects are indicators of the “meta-game” because they (often painfully or frustratingly) reveal the necessity of “suspension of disbelief,” a cognitive activity we all undertake when viewing, reading, listening to, or interacting with, fictional media.

The mechanical system of gameplay and profession builds (dodging, blocking, jumping, evading, as well as bunkers, condis, roamers, etc, etc.) is nothing more than the syntax specified by the determining medium that ArenaNet has hand crafted in order to provide us with this game to play. In other words, what you mistakenly call the “meta” is really just the “MACROCOSM” of interaction within the medium, which is to say the interactions between the professions – i.e. “game balance.” Your chosen profession is the particular microcosm within which you form your perspective of the game, and is entirely independent of the “meta-game.”

This, furthermore, illustrates why the “top tier players” – while certainly having a more developed context of their place within the macrocosm – ARE NO BETTER EQUIPPED TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK THAN ANYONE ELSE WHO PLAYS THAT PROFESSION because each and everyone of us who plays this game and plays a particular profession is being provided with the same context at all times as everyone else who plays the game from which to form our perspectives. Pragmatically speaking, however, I hasten to acknowledge that top tier players have – simply through higher levels of exposure – more referent context from which to base their opinions upon and, perhaps, a better understanding of the syntax of the game systems.

This means that top tier players offer a perspective upon the game that no one else can, and are often able to actively engage with the actual “meta-game” because, like a professional chess player who can predict the development of the board, they are able to see not only the direct impact of balance changes but also the permutations of future game play based upon these changes. The role of top tier players is, whether you like it or not, solely to find breaks in the actual “meta-game” that might prevent another player from being able to “follow the syntax” and stay immersed within the medium.

So, I would kindly like to remind EVERYONE that EVERY SINGLE PERSON who plays this game is equally as qualified to offer advice, make suggestions, agree or disagree with anything done to the game’s syntax through patches, or what-have-you as the next person, noob and elitist kitten alike. The only person responsible for your enjoyment of the game is yourself, and the only person whom you have to blame for stagnation and suffrage is yourself. Thusly, and finally, that means it is your responsibility, especially as a “professional” gamer, to become familiar with the syntax of whatever professions you want so that you can better perceive (read) the medium of Guild Wars 2.

- nak

TLDR; In other words, learn to kitten play.

P.S. and go to school, eff eff ess.

Bravo…kitten bravo!!!

this is a very nice post.

Just 1 thing in this regard. IF arena-net sells the game as an e-sport AAA pvp game, they are bonded to this promise, and therefore should bring players what they offered via hype.

To sum up, us the customers, have been betrayed by a very poor developed pvp, so we legitimately demand for a satisfaction in our needs.

Harrywinky.8632:

this is a very nice post.

Just 1 thing in this regard. IF arena-net sells the game as an e-sport AAA pvp game, they are bonded to this promise, and therefore should bring players what they offered via hype.

To sum up, us the customers, have been betrayed by a very poor developed pvp, so we legitimately demand for a satisfaction in our needs.

The demands revolve mostly around having the meta altered to suit your playstyle.

Harrywinky.8632:

To sum up, us the customers, have been betrayed by a very poor developed pvp, so we legitimately demand for a satisfaction in our needs.

Bull kitten. The customers have not been betrayed in any way. The egos of the people who play this game might have been slighted because of the shortcomings of PVP, shortcomings which ArenaNet has always been aware of and transparent about, but in what way has any betrayal happened?

This is a video game, Othello, put your strawberry embroidered hankie away, log in, and put up or shut up. The game is what it is, and what you make of it is, largely, irrelevant.

Lue.6538:

Harrywinky.8632:

this is a very nice post.

Just 1 thing in this regard. IF arena-net sells the game as an e-sport AAA pvp game, they are bonded to this promise, and therefore should bring players what they offered via hype.

To sum up, us the customers, have been betrayed by a very poor developed pvp, so we legitimately demand for a satisfaction in our needs.

The demands revolve mostly around having the meta altered to suit your playstyle.

no no, its about developing a rich pvp in game modes, trait synergies, balance, rewards, and all those thing that should´ve been there in reléase.

when a large mass of the population states their disconform with the pvp mode, its because there are wider reasons than "shifting / suiting " The meta to their likes. You can speak to lots of people in the mists and they´ll tell you the same thing, we lack tons of content for a rich pvp.

Therefore, hype unadecuatly provided, demands unsatisfied for the vast majority of customers. They (if they deserve to be a good venture) ought to work hard in order to solve all these issues and provide a healthy pvp experience (which nowadays, it isnt, e.g. solo q vs premade, etc etc etc.) Regardless you want to blame customers for not having fun in it.

;)

nakoda.4213:

Harrywinky.8632:

To sum up, us the customers, have been betrayed by a very poor developed pvp, so we legitimately demand for a satisfaction in our needs.

Bull kitten. The customers have not been betrayed in any way. The egos of the people who play this game might have been slighted because of the shortcomings of PVP, shortcomings which ArenaNet has always been aware of and transparent about, but in what way has any betrayal happened?

This is a video game, Othello, put your strawberry embroidered hankie away, log in, and put up or shut up. The game is what it is, and what you make of it is, largely, irrelevant.

Not for arenanet. Actually arenanet should care a lot about what are the feelings of their customers, and their level of satisfaction, because this is one of the variables that determines a future purchase on their company, and ear-to-ear feedback.
So what customers feel about the game, is indeed, quite relevant.

And right now, feelings in the big majority of population, are neggative. Tho this is not only me, this is what you can see every day, fórums and in game.

If this happened to be my company i´d be non-stop working to add new game modes, real reward system, balance, and stuff like this. But it happens to be only 1 mini-team working in pvp, then you can´t say they care much.

I got your point about “pro gaming” cause it is very much full of sense. Although not everything you´ve talked about is 100% correct

i have this unpainted car in my yard that I will sell you for 150k.

i have this unpainted car with aluminum siding and a refurbished engine in it that I will sell you for 150k.

I have a mint condition Delorean with a modified V12 Enzo block that I will sell you for 150K.

“Hrmm, ya, but I don’t like gull-wing doors.”

The only thing that ArenaNet promised anyone was a game to play. And they delivered on that promise.

P.S. The vocal minority of the forum users are not the “majority” of the player base.

nakoda.4213:

i have this unpainted car in my yard that I will sell you for 150k.

i have this unpainted car with aluminum siding and a refurbished engine in it that I will sell you for 150k.

I have a mint condition Delorean with a modified V12 Enzo block that I will sell you for 150K.

“Hrmm, ya, but I don’t like gull-wing doors.”

The only thing that ArenaNet promised anyone was a game to play. And they delivered on that promise.

If you really want to think that, go ahead your thoughts are personal, but that doesn´t mean it is the reality. (And there must be a reason why so many people feels cheated by their promises).

There´s been a lot of talk about e-sports (since the development and after) by arenanet, but i´m not here to demonstrate it to you. You might want to check by yourself.

Have a good night ^^

your definition of the word “promise” is bugged. I recommend the Oxford English Dictionary for a hot-fix.

Harrywinky.8632:

no no, its about developing a rich pvp in game modes, trait synergies, balance, rewards, and all those thing that should´ve been there in reléase.

And out of all these things you listed, the one thing I’d be able to agree upon would be lackluster rewards, granted the game only offers you 1 game mode, but that game mode is also perfectly fine for competitive play, traits could always be worked upon and this holds true for any game where option X locks you out of option Y which is the case with traits, overall however, I’d say the traits are fine.
Balance could not have been present for launch as the game was on the whole, untested, aside from that the vast majority of the complainers regarding balance are simply experiencing someone better than them beating them to a bloody pulp.

Harrywinky.8632:

when a large mass of the population states their disconform with the pvp mode, its because there are wider reasons than "shifting / suiting " The meta to their likes. You can speak to lots of people in the mists and they´ll tell you the same thing, we lack tons of content for a rich pvp.

This is pure speculation, the “large mass” that you talk about is infact an unknown variable, as far as you and I know, it might be less than .1% of the players who are actually being vocal about it.
And you can talk to an equal amount of people who simply loves the PvP the way it is, but they’d like some better rewards or more achievementpoints, regardless; until you present a survey where you question a significant amount of players in the mists, you’re just speculating.

Harrywinky.8632:

Therefore, hype unadecuatly provided, demands unsatisfied for the vast majority of customers. They (if they deserve to be a good venture) ought to work hard in order to solve all these issues and provide a healthy pvp experience (which nowadays, it isnt, e.g. solo q vs premade, etc etc etc.) Regardless you want to blame customers for not having fun in it.
;)

Again, the vast majority as you put it, is pure speculation on your part and holds no value.

As for your “healthy pvp experience”, that would be simply put: If you enjoy playing it and you can do so without throwing hissy fits, then you’re having a “healthy” pvp experience. I can do that right now even while solo queuing.

This is awesome! Thanks nakoda…

Lue.6538:

Harrywinky.8632:

this is a very nice post.

Just 1 thing in this regard. IF arena-net sells the game as an e-sport AAA pvp game, they are bonded to this promise, and therefore should bring players what they offered via hype.

To sum up, us the customers, have been betrayed by a very poor developed pvp, so we legitimately demand for a satisfaction in our needs.

The demands revolve mostly around having the meta altered to suit your playstyle.

not exactly. there are more demands not bound to balance to form a proper esporttitle.

look at the actual tab-thread. the demand is old very old. even after beta the ppl complained about that. but just at this time u got at least a response.

I agree that people who played op builds in the past believe they have a god given right to stay playing op builds (e.g. bunker/hybrid ele or shatter mesmer). You have 10 months at the top of the food chain. Give someone else a chance :P

Approximately 5% of active players read the forums. Of that 1% post. Of that how much do you all think play “top tier” pvp. You are all outnumbered. We vote with our dollars, and the non tpvp base has way more votes.

Kudos, OP.

I enjoyed reading your fantastic elaboration on the “meta-game”

The request I read two days ago on these very forums from a top player, who should be an example of professionalism, was to make a special forum available only to the top 2% of PvP players who would provide feedback regarding balance. His opinion was that currently PvE players skew the feedback given their obvious lack of knowledge about the game and hence have no right to do this, which is write their opinions.

How simple-minded and unsophisticated level of understanding of everyone’s place (especially theirs) this and some other ‘top’ players are showing is just beyond me.

In my view, they don’t deserve to be ‘the top’, and reading similar posts I highly doubt they understand half what they think they do.

Also this,

nakoda.4213:

P.S. and go to school, eff eff ess.

And this.

Is there a way to save a webpage so that when I’m old I can sit down and read this marvelous OP?

file – save as

:P

syntax, people!

Lue.6538:

Harrywinky.8632:

no no, its about developing a rich pvp in game modes, trait synergies, balance, rewards, and all those thing that should´ve been there in reléase.

And out of all these things you listed, the one thing I’d be able to agree upon would be lackluster rewards, granted the game only offers you 1 game mode, but that game mode is also perfectly fine for competitive play, traits could always be worked upon and this holds true for any game where option X locks you out of option Y which is the case with traits, overall however, I’d say the traits are fine.
Balance could not have been present for launch as the game was on the whole, untested, aside from that the vast majority of the complainers regarding balance are simply experiencing someone better than them beating them to a bloody pulp.

Harrywinky.8632:

when a large mass of the population states their disconform with the pvp mode, its because there are wider reasons than "shifting / suiting " The meta to their likes. You can speak to lots of people in the mists and they´ll tell you the same thing, we lack tons of content for a rich pvp.

This is pure speculation, the “large mass” that you talk about is infact an unknown variable, as far as you and I know, it might be less than .1% of the players who are actually being vocal about it.
And you can talk to an equal amount of people who simply loves the PvP the way it is, but they’d like some better rewards or more achievementpoints, regardless; until you present a survey where you question a significant amount of players in the mists, you’re just speculating.

Harrywinky.8632:

Therefore, hype unadecuatly provided, demands unsatisfied for the vast majority of customers. They (if they deserve to be a good venture) ought to work hard in order to solve all these issues and provide a healthy pvp experience (which nowadays, it isnt, e.g. solo q vs premade, etc etc etc.) Regardless you want to blame customers for not having fun in it.
;)

Again, the vast majority as you put it, is pure speculation on your part and holds no value.

As for your “healthy pvp experience”, that would be simply put: If you enjoy playing it and you can do so without throwing hissy fits, then you’re having a “healthy” pvp experience. I can do that right now even while solo queuing.

If you are somewhat masochist and you like to get stomped hundred times every day 500-5 by premade teams vs pugs, then i can tell you, you´re not a good example of what a healthy pvp experience is for a player.

The majority is out there when you go to the mists, ask people that plays pvp for more than a month, and they´ll tell you all these things need to be adressed.
You dont need any survey to realize what´s most people thinking and demanding about pvp right now.

Harrywinky.8632:

The majority is out there when you go to the mists, ask people that plays pvp for more than a month, and they´ll tell you all these things need to be adressed.
You dont need any survey to realize what´s most people thinking and demanding about pvp right now.

actually, you do.

talking to people in the mists IS TAKING A SURVEY

you can’t read minds or guess intentions.