I’m a pretty big supporter of the Guild Wars franchise. I played GW1 a lot and spent probably even more time on GW2 over this past year. Hell, the amount of money I spent on gems is probably close to a grand. I don’t take it back and I know the money will go to support future players, rock on to that.
Recently I was playing and stopped to look at the new SAB achievements. Something just clicked and I’m now confused, demoralized and fear playing GW2 because I feel manipulated.
I played this game because it was a breathe of fresh air. It was fun to explore the world and finish my storyline, try dungeons for the first time and get a taste of what there was. Yet now that I’ve gotten my share of the gameplay, my whole perspective changed without me recognizing it until too late. My focus on GW2 became a constant, almost robotic, effort to keep my AP high and get the top gear so I could prance around with cool armor etc.
Yet is that really why I enjoy this game? So I can waste all of my time on something that’s actually 100% irrelevant and does nothing but promote my ego? Sure I understand the sense of pride and enjoyment from “winning”, yet it feels so stereotypical and even deceptive when the primary focus is achievements and not gameplay.
Now keep in mind that I’m not an MMO player. Guild Wars has been the only MMO franchise I’ve ever played. So I’m not aware of how end-gaming works. Yet I can certainly tell you that it doesn’t feel right at all.
When I play console games, like say Resident Evil or Mass Effect, there’s an end to the content and yet I can easily find myself wasting a ridiculous amount of hours to continue playing. Why is that? Because the gameplay is that darn entertaining.
That same feeling doesn’t exist in this game and I feel hurt. If this is how a truly phenomenal MMO is supposed to be, then I’ve got to quit. It’s turning me into a machine where I lose all dignity and drop loads of cash to create the illusion that I’m having fun, when in reality, all the items I’ve gotten have done nothing but make me feel worthless. Everyone has what I have, they all think like I do, where we all feel like we’re the best… just ego-stroking nonsense.
This isn’t a video game. It’s a community of sheep, all playing the same cash crop of lies where worth is determined by gear and achievements. That in itself just spits on any foundation this game may have had since it’s very inception.
I honestly just don’t feel right playing this anymore. If I can even call it “playing”.