arenanet-blog
Latest
Guild Wars 2 info keeps on comin'
If you're a Guild Wars 2 fan, you're used to the jarring transitions between droughts and floods of information. This week, happily, it's flood time. It's been a busy week for ArenaNet, but the team gives no signs of slowing down. After a successful press beta weekend and opening up a signup form for upcoming beta tests, ArenaNet has kept up the flow of information -- and excitement -- by gracing GuildCast with the presence of a few of its devs, clarifying some points on world vs. world in a new blog post, and setting up a Reddit Ask Me Anything session for 11:00 a.m. EST on Friday the 24th. The blog post clarifies some of the more prominent questions the community has been voicing about WvW over the last few days, while the Reddit AMA is a good chance to get in those nit-picky questions that you're still dying to get clarified (no, "can I have a beta key" should not be one of 'em). The most important information out of all of this? Mike Ferguson put a stop to a debate that might otherwise have been endless: WvW is "wuv-wuh." You're welcome.
A closer look at Guild Wars 2 world vs. world PvP
Guild Wars 2's competitive 5-player PvP has been getting a lot of love lately. To even the score, ArenaNet has put up a blog post dedicated to the second PvP type in Guild Wars 2: world vs. world, in which three servers compete in a two-week battle for glory. Each WvW arena is made up of four huge maps. Each map is capable of holding more than 100 players from each of three factions (servers), which means that upwards of 1,200 concurrent players will be able to get in on the large-scale action. The beauty of having three teams duking it out is that things tend to balance themselves out naturally. If one team goes beast-mode and starts making life miserable for everybody, the other two teams can naturally gang up to fight against the first. Although lore justification might be a little tricky, in a world with as much magitech the Guild Wars universe already plays host to, it's not too hard to imagine that people from alternate versions of the same world get spat into yet another mutually accessible copy of the world, where their first inclination is (naturally) to start beating the crud out of each other.
ArenaNet unveils the Jotun race of Guild Wars 2
Guild Wars 1 players are familiar with the Jotun race, mostly as "the giant creatures that won't stop KDing me," but they're going to have a continuing and more involved presence in Guild Wars 2, according to the ArenaNet blog. Ree Soesbee took a close look at this race in the newest ArenaNet blog post, "The Savage Pride of the Jotun." In the post, she explains how the Jotun have essentially devolved over the years thanks to infighting: "Over the centuries of their existence, the Jotun have fallen far from their state of grace, losing command of technology and magic they once utilized, and remembering their place as kings of the land only in legend and story." The post delves more deeply into the past and present effects of this change, then switches gears for a behind-the-scenes look at the race's creation. The full post is a good read for anyone interested in the game from a lore or development perspective.
Flameseeker Chronicles: High achievers
Well, ArenaNet certainly didn't let 2011 go out on a quiet note. The team had a few last tricks up its sleeve before closing down shop until the new year. We chatted with Eric Flannum about the Guild Wars 2 Mesmer, and the newest ArenaNet blog post contained some exciting talk of combat, achievements, and some tweaking to the Thief class. I loved hearing about the updates to the Thief and to combat because the fact that the developers are talking about fine-tuning says good things to me about the development process. However, it was the talk of achievements that really caught my attention because it's such a sweeping, game-wide system. Follow along after the jump and let's take a closer look!
Flameseeker Chronicles: The news doors haven't shut... yet
More news! More updates! Be still my heart! No, seriously. It does my fangirl heart such good to see all of these cool updates and details about Guild Wars 2 over the past few weeks. Between the animation updates, the skill updates, and the earnings call, there's plenty to discuss. I was so excited to see the updated cutscenes, although I couldn't stop giggling at the male character shifting from foot to foot -- I kept waiting for him to ask the Priestess of Dwayna where the bathroom was. That's not a reflection on ArenaNet's design team so much as a testament to my years as the mother of a boy. It's all about the bathroom humor around here. The new skill acquisition system was great in my book, and the news from the earnings call... well, why don't you follow along after the cut and we'll delve into all of that more deeply.
Guild Wars 2 developer explains updated cinematic conversations
Guild Wars 2 fans are starting their morning with an interesting update and some entertainment, thanks to ArenaNet's motion capture and cinematic guru Chuck Jackman. Chuck is the mind behind the newest ArenaNet blog entry, all about the recent improvements to Guild Wars 2's cinematic conversations. The cinematic conversations in Guild Wars 2 are the brief cutscenes that take place between player characters and NPCs at significant points in the story line. Until now, players trying the demo have only seen the placeholder versions of these cinematics, which consisted of a lot of seemingly-random emotes and what Chuck describes as "some very basic lip-synch that resembled more of a duck's bill than a human's mouth." The team has been hard at work on improvements, though, and today's blog entry unveiled two videos of the new cinematics. It's a fairly lengthy read, with plenty of explanation of everything from emotes to facial animations to voice work. If your eyes glaze over at even a hint of tech-speak, fear not. While we have our doubts about Chuck's claims of blotting out the sun and tearing code from the minds of ancient gods, it's definitely an entertaining and informative read for any gaming fan. Check out the full entry at the ArenaNet blog.
New Guild Wars 2 demo build brings changes to UI, character creation, and more
ArenaNet has had an exciting week -- the developer is in attendance at G-Star in Korea to show off the demo of Guild Wars 2. As with any game in development, GW2 is in a constant state of change as the team continues testing and improving. G-Star attendees were treated to the very latest build, and some of the ArenaNet developers put together some information about that build for those unable to attend the convention. Eric Flannum, joined by Character Artist Team Lead Aaron Coberly and UI Artist Vicki Ebberts, ran down the changes in the newest ArenaNet blog entry. Character customization and creation got some improvements, and Aaron provides a detailed video to show them off. Vicki talked over the new "big beefy UI" as a response to feedback the team has received, and Eric wrapped up with some exciting details about changes to skill acquisition. Weapon skills will continue to be unlocked by using the weapon, but healing, utility, and elite skills will now be unlocked with skill points. "Skill points can be acquired by undertaking what we call a skill challenge. There are 200 skill challenges in the game, and they range from defeating tough opponents, to answering riddles, to drinking a particularly potent drink." There are many more details -- and the promise of more to come tomorrow -- at the ArenaNet blog, so head there for the full blog entry!
More pets, more combos, more burning: ArenaNet brings big changes to Guild Wars 2
If you're anything like us here at the Massively offices, you've been feeling a bit starved for Guild Wars 2 news. ArenaNet's been extremely quiet for weeks now, and just as fans were beginning to despair of hearing anything, the information gates swing wide. The ArenaNet blog has a shiny new update courtesy of designer Jon Peters this morning, and it's a doozy. It brings all sorts of new details on pet improvements, the Engineer's big upgrade, and the ever-fascinating cross-profession combos. Follow along after the break for all the news!
Overshadowed by the Charr and undervalued by all: New Guild Wars 2 blog investigates the Grawl
The Charr bully them, the Asura look down on them, and the humans see them as general-purpose bad guys who are to be farmed endlessly for their necklaces. The Grawl are the Rodney Dangerfield race of Guild Wars, but things might be looking up a tiny bit in Guild Wars 2. At the very least, ArenaNet is giving the race some love. The latest ArenaNet blog post, Planet of the Grawl, gives fans an in-depth look at the history, society, and religion of the Grawl. The creatures haven't had much of a chance to evolve, so while fans of the current game will find them pretty familiar, we'll know them better. Jeff Grubb is the mind behind these new details, and he describes the Grawl as a "deeply religous, shamanistic people," with religious squabbles being the source of a fair amount of their problems. He goes on to explain how the spiritual side of Grawl society works, how they interact with the rest of Tyria, and more -- even noting some of their early design iterations. Take a look at the ArenaNet blog for the full scoop on the Grawl!
Designer Jon Peters outlines Guild Wars 2 PvP
If you've been waiting for all the details on Guild Wars 2 PvP, today is a big day for you. The PvP side of the game will be unveiled and playable at Gamescom starting today. For those of you playing along at home (or possibly waiting for the doors to open at Gamescom), ArenaNet has a little something to distract you from the fact that you're not enjoying the hands-on right now: a brand-new blog entry from Jon Peters with a full PvP overview. Jon outlines the different types of PvP in GW2, from casual hot join matches to high-stakes tournaments, and offers some tips for better playing. He quite literally covers PvP play from beginning to end, talking about gear, skills, and levels when you start as well as finishing moves to send your opponent off to the great beyond. It's a typically extensive and informative entry, so head to the Guild Wars 2 site to see for yourself! For even more PvP details, check out Jonathan Sharp's new ArenaNet blog post as well.
Break into the gaming industry as an ArenaNet intern
I can do that! Budding game artists and programmers rejoice! If you have been looking for a way to break into the industry, ArenaNet is offering just that opportunity -- it is now considering applications to its 2012 Internship Program. The Class of 2012 will offer the following disciplines: Character Art, Environment Art, Technical Art/VFX, Animation, and Programming. ArenaNet feels that "artists learn more in the first few months of a game industry job than in their entire time at art school." The focus is on "an immersive work-based educational program where intern artists work alongside professionals" to develop and hone their skills. If accepted to the program, interns will have to relocate to the Bellevue, WA area at their own expense, but they will be paid an hourly stipend for their work as well as have the opportunity to participate in an internal educational program. The deadline for entry into the 2012 class is September 21st, 2011. If you think you have what it takes, check out the official announcement for full details and links to each discipline's respective applications.
New Guild Wars 2 blog entry talks Sylvari personality
On this final day of Guild Wars 2 Sylvari Week, designer Ree Soesbee steps in for a thorough look at who the Sylvari are: their desires, personalities, and even their darker side. Ree presents a long list of new details about the Sylvari in her post. She covers the various cycles during which Sylvari are born and how that affects who they are; some frequently asked questions about Sylvari biology; the dreaded Nightmare Court; and much more. The blog entry is also punctuated with some storytelling that serves to expand our view of the tougher, more aggressive side of the race as well as give some insight into an important figure in Sylvari culture. Check out everything she has to say at the ArenaNet blog.
Flameseeker Chronicles: Lion's Arch unveiled
What a week this has been for Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 fans! ArenaNet has been doling out interviews right and left, we're expecting another class reveal soon, and the icing on the cake was a gorgeous flythrough video of Lion's Arch in Guild Wars 2. There were some great blog entries from Matthew Medina and Ree Soesbee to go with the video, and while I loved reading those and was delighted to see the new map, there was a lot to be gleaned from the video. I loved the ambient sound, the NPCs, and the overall feel of the city, but there was much more beyond that. Follow along after the jump to see what else we can see from the video.
Guild Wars 2 content designer goes behind the scenes of city creation
Yesterday's flyover of Lion's Arch was a big hit with those anticipating Guild Wars 2, made even better with a follow-up blog post from content designer Matthew Medina. Matthew jumped in to expand on what we saw in the video by giving an extensive look at the design process. It's an interesting combination of virtual architecture, NPC-watching, and attention to details both large and small that works to create such a detailed location. As Matthew puts it, "[W]e're infusing Lion's Arch with all the little touches that we hope will make your downtime between personal story steps and dynamic events as entertaining and immersive as possible!" The blog post, which includes a new map of Lion's Arch, walks readers through the entire process, beginning with the foundation of a city and ending with final touches such as NPC chatter and visual details.
New Guild Wars 2 blog post and video tours Lion's Arch
Lion's Arch is a familiar name to Guild Wars fans and a place that they've been anxious to see in Guild Wars 2. It's been common knowledge for a long time that while Lion's Arch survived and is a bustling city in the Tyria of Guild Wars 2, time has taken a heavy toll. The awakening of the dragon Zhaitan and the rise of Orr caused massive flooding throughout the human lands of Kryta. When the waters receded, Lion's Arch was rebuilt. This rebuilt version has been a mystery until now. Lore and Continuity Designer Ree Soesbee has penned a new ArenaNet blog post detailing the fall and resurrection of Lion's Arch and giving a few new details on how things are run in Guild Wars 2. Even better, the post includes a two-minute tour of Lion's Arch. Check out the video in HD after the jump, then head to the ArenaNet blog to read all about it!
Writing the Charr: It's just plain fun to write for the bad guys
Charr week kicked off yesterday with a look at the race's starting area in Guild Wars 2. Today ArenaNet delves much more deeply into the Charr race as writer Scott McGough delivers a treat for story and lore fanatics: a look at writing for the Charr. This is an especially interesting read for longtime fans of Guild Wars because we've watched the Charr evolve over the years and learned more about their hierarchy, their values, their strengths, and their failings. The Charr began (in the eyes of the humans) as a formidable but lesser group of creatures to be removed from the human lands of Old Ascalon. Over time, we've learned much more about this fierce, intelligent, and strictly organized race -- even becoming allies with some of its members. Follow along after the jump and let's take a look at the history of the Charr and how it's written into Guild Wars 2.
It's a rat, it's a bat, it's Guild Wars 2's Skritt!
Don't call them Bat-Men, Skaven or Reepicheep; you'll address them as "Skritt" and do it with respect if you know what's good for you. In a new ArenaNet blog post, Ree Soesbee reveals the latest Guild Wars 2 monster to plague the land: the "horribly, wickedly tricksy" Skritt. Skritt are a humanoid blend of rats and bats that live in massive colonies under the surface of Tyria, emerging to mooch and presumably harvest spoons from their victims. One interesting fact about this race is that Skritt share intelligence in an unknown way, and the more of them that congregate the smarter they become. It's this tenacity and hive-mind that have made them mortal enemies of the Asura, who are adamant that all Skritt be wiped out. So what prompted the creation of Guild Wars 2's Skritt? "We hadn't explored the idea of a hive-mind in our world before, but we didn't want to just repeat the old standard-an insectoid race. We went through many ideas, and eventually settled on the concept of a rattus rattus based horde. A major consideration in their creation was that this race had to challenge the asura on their own terms, but not be just another super-intelligent species."
ArenaNet delves into the lore of the Guild Wars 2 Hylek race
ArenaNet is moving back from gameplay details to lore information with its newest blog post, all about the story behind the Hylek race. These frog people are familiar to current Guild Wars players but not in much depth beyond "Why won't they stop hopping around and let me hit them?!" The Hylek are a returning race in Guild Wars 2, so Eric Flannum has taken some time to delve into their story -- who they are, how the various tribes differ, where they live, and much more. The lore overview is interspersed with various quotes from Hylek leaders and even an Asura researcher who mentions the death of a colleague (no relation) from a poisoned Hylek spear wound. The Hylek aren't a race to be taken lightly, but some of the tribes are friendlier than others, so take the time to get to know them. For the time being, check out Go Forth and Multiply on the ArenaNet blog!
Guild Wars 2 developer talks combat attributes and iteration
Game development isn't just about flashy class reveals and unveiling new screenshots -- the fine-tuning behind the scenes is just as important, if not more so. Developer Isaiah "Izzy" Cartwright addressed this process in Guild Wars 2 development today in the newest ArenaNet blog post about attributes and iteration. Balancing these two aspects of combat, even with Guild Wars 1 combat to build upon, is a long process of trial and error as well as planning. For example, a popular weapon choice for a Warrior character was a bow and sword combination -- a weapon set that the player could switch back and forth between as necessitated by combat. Unfortunately, the attribute system as originally created made this a hindrance, forcing the player to divide his attributes between strength and agility, creating a mediocre setup at best. This is one of several examples Izzy gave in the blog post. ArenaNet will reveal more information at PAX later this week, but this serves as a detailed preview for those eager to know more. You can read the full story at the ArenaNet blog.
New Guild Wars 2 video gives info on PAX East demo, more glimpses of the Thief
Now that the cat is out of the bag regarding the Guild Wars 2 Thief, ArenaNet is opening the information doors starting with a new video and blog post today. The video is brief -- 34 seconds total -- but packed with information. There are glimpses of at least two races of Thief characters as well as booth information for those who are eager to try the class for themselves at PAX East. The teaser video is accompanied by a short blog post telling fans all about the great information planned for next week: "We've already told you that the guardian profession and norn race will be playable, but next week we're going to get into detail about three other major features in the new demo – crafting, our revamped attribute system, and our new profession, the thief!" Check out the new information on ArenaNet's blog, and keep your eye on Massively all next week for the latest Guild Wars 2 news.
