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Guild Wars 2 restricts gem store purchase options [Updated]
An attempt to streamline Guild Wars 2's gem currency exchange may be causing more consternation than celebration among the game's playerbase. ArenaNet simplified the exchange in a recent build, giving players preset options to buy gems with gold or sell gems for gold. However, as the lowest gem bundle price point is 400, it's irked players who wish to buy smaller increments for some of the cheaper options in the store and feel as though they're overbuying gems in these situations. Forum Communications Team Lead Gaile Gray gave an explanation for the change and said that the team is evaluating feedback: "The goal was to make the gem store more like other shopping experiences, and if you think about it, there is more of that feel to it now. You may be surprised to know this (I know I was) but very few people bought gems at smaller denominations than the first one offered in the new system. That's not to say they never did, nor that there wouldn't be the desire to do so. But overall, the current options were selected based on player purchases in the past. The team is going to listen to your feedback and, if and when it's practical and desirable, they can look towards adjusting the new system to better meet your needs." [Update: Gaile Gray has reassured players that ArenaNet will reverse course on GemGate. "In light of your feedback, we will update the Currency Exchange so that you can decide how you want to use it," she wrote on the official forums. "We will keep the new streamlined system and also offer a new 'Custom' button on the panel that you can use to exchange any increment of gems or gold. We anticipate rolling this out soon. Stay tuned!"]
Gaile Gray returns to the community team for Guild Wars 2
If you played Guild Wars when it launched, you remember Gaile Gray. Heck, odds are you remember her if you've been at all active in the community for Guild Wars or Guild Wars 2 over the past decade; she's worn many community-facing hats over the years. She's donning a new one now, or perhaps more accurately re-donning an old favorite, as game support lead Michael Henniger recently took to the forums announcing that Gray has moved from customer support to the community team. Community interactions were a large part of Gray's role when the original Guild Wars launched, and long-time fans in the thread are happy to see her making the move. If you had a sudden sweep of nostalgia, you're not alone.
Potential smoking gun found for Guild Wars security issues
It started as a surprise. Guild Wars players reported suddenly finding themselves hacked, their accounts cleaned out, no indication of what could have caused the problem. NCsoft and ArenaNet offered suggestions, security safeguards, new measures being taken, hints that the problem lay in a popular third-party website with an undisclosed name. But with the recent rash of problems that Aion players have been having regarding security, new facts have begun coming to light, and they paint a picture that isn't pretty. Specifically, some players seem to be finding that it doesn't take any skill to wind up hacking someone's account accidentally. And all it takes is a few log-in attempts to find yourself with access to someone's account name, password, and billing information for all of a player's NCsoft games.
Guild Wars account security issues continue
If you play Guild Wars, you're undoubtedly a little paranoid about your account these days. Back in mid-October, posts on forums and wiki pages began popping up, all with a similar theme: "I've been hacked." These incidents quickly gained attention in the Guild Wars community because of the very similar methods used and rapid succession of the incidents. Before long ArenaNet staff had stepped in to assure players they were aware, concerned, and working on it, and were able to release a bit of information. Support Liaison Gaile Gray revealed that "one of the trading sites associated with Guild Wars may have experienced a security breach and its account database (including user names and passwords) may be in the hands of hackers." The statement predictably invited extensive speculation, but at least told players that ArenaNet was making progress in their search. For the time being, ArenaNet continues to work on the problem and players continue to get their accounts looted. (As of this writing the most recent reported incident was Sunday.) The issue continues to be widespread, with one alliance reporting at least eleven members hacked. It probably goes without saying, but while ANet sorts things out players can lower their risk a bit by changing their passwords and taking another look at the account security suggestions, if they haven't already. Best of luck to ArenaNet in solving the problem soon!
