Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Alas, and so we go]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/02/02/flameseeker-chronicles-alas-and-so-we-go/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/02/02/flameseeker-chronicles-alas-and-so-we-go/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/02/02/flameseeker-chronicles-alas-and-so-we-go/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Change is inevitable. But it SUCKS.
Everyone heard the earth-shattering roar that shook Tyria this past weekend, right? No, it wasn't another Elder Dragon awakening; I'm talking about the fan response to ArenaNet's presentation at PAX South in which CEO Mike O'Brien and Lead Developer Colin Johanson revealed what Heart of Thorns means for Guild Wars 2. Yes, Virginia: It's an expansion pack.

The irony is a little too much, to be honest. Heart of Thorns is the most exciting thing to happen to GW2 since launch, but I won't be able to cover it in this column. I'm going to get all maudlin if I dwell on that, so let's cap things off by talking about the game. And since I want to end my last FSC on a happy note, I'm going to talk about all of the things I'm tremendously excited for in HoT. Once more past the cut, dear friends!

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Alas, and so we go

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Alas, and so we go originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Feb 2015 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetauf-wiedersehenbuy-to-playfantasyfarewellfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesgoodbyeguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2heart-of-thornsncsoftopinionso longMon, 02 Feb 2015 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 is replacing its trait unlock system]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/27/guild-wars-2-is-replacing-its-trait-unlock-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/27/guild-wars-2-is-replacing-its-trait-unlock-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/27/guild-wars-2-is-replacing-its-trait-unlock-system/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Make it ever so much easier to not be bad.
Do you like the current unlocking system for traits in Guild Wars 2? If you don't, you're in good company; very few people actually like it. The good news, at least, is that it doesn't appear that it's going to be a problem in the near future. Game director Colin Johanson spoke out recently on the game's forums stating that the pending release of Heart of Thorns gave the team more freedom for discussing future plans and core gameplay changes.

With the inclusions of specializations and account-wide masteries, the existing trait system is going to be replaced by a simpler system to ensure that progress and advancement is where the development team wants it for all Guild Wars 2 characters. More updates on how the system will work are promised as the release draws closer, but if you don't like the existing system, you can at least take heart that it's going to be gone before too much longer.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 is replacing its trait unlock system originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Jan 2015 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advancementanetarenanetbuy-to-playclassclassesexpansionexpansionsfantasygame-mechanicsguild-wars-2gw2heart-of-thornsncsoftnewsnews-itemssystemsystemstraittraitsTue, 27 Jan 2015 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX South 2015: O'Brien and Johanson on Guild Wars 2's Heart of Thorns]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/25/pax-south-2015-o-brien-and-johanson-on-guild-wars-2-s-heart-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/25/pax-south-2015-o-brien-and-johanson-on-guild-wars-2-s-heart-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/25/pax-south-2015-o-brien-and-johanson-on-guild-wars-2-s-heart-of/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns
ArenaNet's Mike O'Brien and Colin Johanson (and Commander Shepard) took to the PAX South 2015 stage yesterday morning to announce Heart of Thorns, the first-ever expansion for Guild Wars 2. If you're not up to speed, check out our post covering the announcement and the official site to get the broad strokes on the expansion's new zone, new profession, new progression system, and more.

News of the expansion raised many a question from our readers (and our staff!). Massively's Larry Everett and I sat down with O'Brien and Johanson to try to get those questions answered and dive a little deeper into the changes coming to Guild Wars 2's living world.

And no, there isn't a release date.

Continue reading PAX South 2015: O'Brien and Johanson on Guild Wars 2's Heart of Thorns

MassivelyPAX South 2015: O'Brien and Johanson on Guild Wars 2's Heart of Thorns originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Jan 2015 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playcolin-johansonconconventioneventevent-coverageeventsexpofantasyfeaturedguild-hallsguild-wars-2gvggw2heart-of-thornsinterviewinterviewsmassively-event-coveragemike-obrienncsoftpaxpax-2015pax-southpax-south-2015penny-arcade-expoSun, 25 Jan 2015 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX South 2015: The Guild Wars 2 Heart of Thorns experience]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/24/pax-south-2015-the-guild-wars-2-heart-of-thorns-experience/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/24/pax-south-2015-the-guild-wars-2-heart-of-thorns-experience/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/24/pax-south-2015-the-guild-wars-2-heart-of-thorns-experience/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Charr v Dragon
As MMO players surely know by now, Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns is the first expansion ever for the ArenaNet MMORPG. In fact, most everyone suspected the announcement thanks to the leaked trademark information. But that didn't stop fans from being excited about it, nor did that bit of information satisfy their hunger.

The emcee for the reveal event was none other than voice actor Jennifer Hale, whose voice players might recognize as Queen Jennah's. President and CEO of ArenaNet Mike O'Brien and game director Colin Johanson teased the PAX South crowd of over 1,500 fans waiting in the main theater. But the anticipation for the new expansion started well before anyone even came to the stage.

Continue reading PAX South 2015: The Guild Wars 2 Heart of Thorns experience

MassivelyPAX South 2015: The Guild Wars 2 Heart of Thorns experience originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Jan 2015 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playclassescolin-johansonconconventioneventevent-coverageeventsexpansionexpofantasyfeaturedguild-wars-2gw2heart-of-thornsjennifer-halemassively-event-coveragemike-obrienncsoftpaxpax-2015pax-southpax-south-2015penny-arcade-exporevenantrytlock-brimstoneSat, 24 Jan 2015 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX South 2015: Guild Wars 2's Heart of Thorns is an expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/24/guild-wars-2s-heart-of-thorns-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/24/guild-wars-2s-heart-of-thorns-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/24/guild-wars-2s-heart-of-thorns-expansion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

GW2
ArenaNet has just announced that Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns is indeed an expansion.

Speaking from a packed main theater at PAX South 2015, ANet President Mike O'Brien formally confirmed the rumored expansion, saying it will take players "deep into the heart of the Maguuma jungle" and will avoid traditional expansion powercreep and gear treadmills by not raising the level cap. The expansion will introduce new group challenges, new profession specializations, and an account-based "masteries" system for character progression through the new territories.

Game Director Colin Johanson told cheering fans that new legendary weapons and precursors are inbound, as are epic quests that help players acquire their precursors. The expansion will include one new class, the Revenant, which is a heavy armor class that channels the spirits of the mists and famous characters from Guild Wars lore. Each existing class will receive new mechanics and weapons that "fundamentally" change how they play; for example, Rangers can become druids and Necromancers will be able to use greatswords. WvW will also finally get some love, and there will be a new GvG game mode called Stronghold, which of course means... guild halls!

The official site is live now, and the brand-new trailer is now below the cut. Massively's Larry Everett and Mike Foster are live at the event; we'll have more from San Antonio later this afternoon. Fans can follow the festivities on Twitch.

Continue reading PAX South 2015: Guild Wars 2's Heart of Thorns is an expansion

MassivelyPAX South 2015: Guild Wars 2's Heart of Thorns is an expansion originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Jan 2015 11:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playcolin-johansonconconventioneventevent-coverageeventsexpofantasyguild-hallsguild-wars-2gvggw2heart-of-thornsmassively-event-coveragemike-obrienncsoftpaxpax-2015pax-southpax-south-2015penny-arcade-expoSat, 24 Jan 2015 11:35:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX South 2015: Jennifer Hale will host Guild Wars 2 panel, herald 75% off sale]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/22/pax-south-2015-jennifer-hale-will-host-guild-wars-2-panel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/22/pax-south-2015-jennifer-hale-will-host-guild-wars-2-panel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/22/pax-south-2015-jennifer-hale-will-host-guild-wars-2-panel/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

GW2
So you already knew about Guild Wars 2's big event at PAX South this Saturday, the Point of No Return panel, which has players crossing their fingers for an expansion announcement. If you can't go in person, you can watch the whole shebang on Twitch for the low, low price of nothing. And that deal just got even sweeter, as ArenaNet has just declared this morning that gaming icon and voice actress Jennifer Hale, known to GW2 fans as the voice of Queen Jennah and to everyone else as the voice of approximately eight million other characters, will be hosting the livestream.

Meanwhile, the studio has vowed to slash the price of the buy-to-play MMO to $9.99 on Saturday and Sunday in honor of the hoopla, marking the biggest sale for the game it's held to date. Characters in-game will be showered with sales on boosters and a free double-experience bonus that lasts all weekend.

Massively GW2 expert Anatoli Ingram speculated about the possible expansion and analyzed the final season 2 episode in his most recent columns.

Continue reading PAX South 2015: Jennifer Hale will host Guild Wars 2 panel, herald 75% off sale

MassivelyPAX South 2015: Jennifer Hale will host Guild Wars 2 panel, herald 75% off sale originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Jan 2015 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playconconventiondouble-expdouble-experiencedouble-experience-weekendeventevent-coverageeventsexpofantasyguild-wars-2gw2jennifer-halemassively-event-coveragencsoftpanelpaxpax-2015pax-southpax-south-2015penny-arcade-expopoint-of-no-returnqueen-jennahThu, 22 Jan 2015 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 player redesigns ANet's UI]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/21/guild-wars-2-player-redesigns-anets-ui/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/21/guild-wars-2-player-redesigns-anets-ui/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/21/guild-wars-2-player-redesigns-anets-ui/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

A Guild Wars 2 player who goes by the name of Amax on the official forums has redesigned the game's UI to correct "some flaws in the game's user experience."

Changes include the character panel, the guild tab, the LFG panel, the story journal, and the addition of a lore journal. You can peruse a 28-page PDF complete with design notes and logic or check out a JPG screenshot showing off the concept just past the break.

Continue reading Guild Wars 2 player redesigns ANet's UI

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 player redesigns ANet's UI originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Jan 2015 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playfantasyguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-uigw2ncsoftuiWed, 21 Jan 2015 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Rooting through Guild Wars 2's Point of no Return]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/flameseeker-chronicles-rooting-through-guild-wars-2s-point-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/flameseeker-chronicles-rooting-through-guild-wars-2s-point-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/flameseeker-chronicles-rooting-through-guild-wars-2s-point-of/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

You have been visited by the SPOILER FLOWER. You are safe from spoilers. Now run.
How about that Guild Wars 2 season finale, huh? Although it's not the major event last year's was, it threw a huge chunk of fuel on the ol' rumor bonfires. Despite the buzz surrounding GW2 lately, I know a lot of players expected ArenaNet to underplay the last chapter of season two.

Instead, we got a massive reveal and a surprise look at what ArenaNet plans to show off at PAX South on January 24th, and it's more full of exciting possibilities than I could have predicted. This article will necessarily contain spoilers, more spoilers, and even more spoilers, so make sure you're up to speed before reading further. Or don't, and suffer the consequences (I love saying that).

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Rooting through Guild Wars 2's Point of no Return

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Rooting through Guild Wars 2's Point of no Return originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Jan 2015 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2heart-of-thornsliving-worldloremordremothncsoftopinionpoint-of-no-returnspoilerssylvariTue, 20 Jan 2015 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The usual suspects dominate December's Raptr rankings]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/17/the-usual-suspects-dominate-decembers-raptr-rankings/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/17/the-usual-suspects-dominate-decembers-raptr-rankings/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/17/the-usual-suspects-dominate-decembers-raptr-rankings/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Do you quote Raptr data when having unscientific discussions about MMO playerbase numbers? If so, rejoice, because here are some more numbers based on a sample size of dubious value!

As you might expect, League of Legends, Dota 2, and World of Warcraft continue to dominate Raptr users' attention spans, while ArcheAge, Final Fantasy XIV, and Guild Wars 2 all dropped from their position in November's rankings.

Click past the cut to see the full list.

[Source: Raptr press release]

Continue reading The usual suspects dominate December's Raptr rankings

MassivelyThe usual suspects dominate December's Raptr rankings originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Jan 2015 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaactivisionanetarche-agearcheagearenanetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbuy-to-playconsoleconsolesdatafantasyffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivfunny-mathfuzzy-mathguessworkguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftpvpraptrsandboxsandparksquaresquare-enixtriontrion-worldswarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowxl-gamesxlgamesSat, 17 Jan 2015 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 to nerf might, buff confusion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/16/guild-wars-2-to-nerf-might-buff-confusion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/16/guild-wars-2-to-nerf-might-buff-confusion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/16/guild-wars-2-to-nerf-might-buff-confusion/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

gw2
There will be a few small but significant balance changes coming to Guild Wars 2 with its January 27th patch as outlined in a new dev diary today.

The devs declared that the might boon is "exceptionally strong" and will see a nerf with the patch, bringing down the amount of power and condition damage that might stacks emitted. On the flip side, confusion will hit for 33% more, but in PvE combat only.

Other patch balance changes include nerfing a few items and tweaking professions due to the might nerf. "The profession-specific updates this time around will be a bit more focused on the general usability of certain skills, with targeted reductions on outlier skills," the team said.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 to nerf might, buff confusion originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Jan 2015 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbalancebuy-to-playfantasyguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftnerfpatchpatch-previewpreviewFri, 16 Jan 2015 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[There's a Guild Wars 2 Heart of Thorns teaser in today's update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/theres-a-guild-wars-2-heart-of-thorns-teaser-in-todays-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/theres-a-guild-wars-2-heart-of-thorns-teaser-in-todays-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/theres-a-guild-wars-2-heart-of-thorns-teaser-in-todays-update/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Guess what awaits you at the end of Guild Wars 2's Point of No Return living story arc? Yes, it's a brief teaser for Heart of Thorns along with a reveal date. If you're attending PAX South you can see the reveal in-person at 11:30 a.m. EDT. If you can't make that, you can catch it on Twitch.

We've embedded the Point of No Return cutscene just past the break, but don't click on it if you're concerned about spoilers!

[Thanks Pete!]

Continue reading There's a Guild Wars 2 Heart of Thorns teaser in today's update

MassivelyThere's a Guild Wars 2 Heart of Thorns teaser in today's update originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Jan 2015 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playfantasyguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-videogw2heart-of-thornsncsoftvideoTue, 13 Jan 2015 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2's Point of No Return launches today amidst 'Heart of Thorns' expansion rumors]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/guild-wars-2s-point-of-no-return-heart-of-thorns/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/guild-wars-2s-point-of-no-return-heart-of-thorns/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/guild-wars-2s-point-of-no-return-heart-of-thorns/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Last week we showed you the preview vid for Guild Wars 2's latest living story update. Today ArenaNet is publishing the full patch, as Point of the No Return has officially gone live. The firm says that "in addition to bringing the Season 2 storyline to its epic conclusion, Point of No Return delivers new gameplay and access to new treasures." Completing the story will get you the Carapace armor set headgear while fighting the Mordrem Vinewrath gives you a chance to loot the Carapace chest, according to the latest GW2 press release.

In other Guild Wars 2 news, thanks to a recent ArenaNet trademark filing, clever Redditors have uncovered what they suspect is the name of the game's rumored expansion: Heart of Thorns. Think they're right? We've included the logo below.

[Source: ArenaNet press release]

Continue reading Guild Wars 2's Point of No Return launches today amidst 'Heart of Thorns' expansion rumors

MassivelyGuild Wars 2's Point of No Return launches today amidst 'Heart of Thorns' expansion rumors originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Jan 2015 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playexpansionfantasygrindguild-wars-2gw2heart-of-thornsliving-storymmo-storyncsoftpoint-of-no-returnrumorrumorsstoryTue, 13 Jan 2015 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Here's a PvP event schedule for Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/12/heres-a-pvp-event-schedule-for-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/12/heres-a-pvp-event-schedule-for-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/12/heres-a-pvp-event-schedule-for-guild-wars-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

ArenaNet has given us a heads-up relative to Guild Wars 2's near-future PvP events. Global events go down every Sunday, whereas North America gets a weekly 2v2 shindig each Tuesday. If neither of those days work for you, hit up the full announcement post because there's basically something PvP-related happening in GW2 all week long.

MassivelyHere's a PvP event schedule for Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Jan 2015 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playeventsfantasyguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-eventsgw2ncsoftpvpMon, 12 Jan 2015 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Korean investment firm forecasts Guild Wars 2 expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/12/daewoo-predicts-guild-wars-2-expansion-in-financial-forecast/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/12/daewoo-predicts-guild-wars-2-expansion-in-financial-forecast/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/12/daewoo-predicts-guild-wars-2-expansion-in-financial-forecast/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It has to be true, it's on a chart.
This year's biggest trend thus far in the MMO space is to talk about the Guild Wars 2 expansion as if it's already here. But it's not! It hasn't even been announced yet. Gamers are speculating on whether or not it even exists. This didn't stop Daewoo Securities from predicting that NCsoft's income will see a nice boost in Q3 thanks to the sales of the presumed Guild Wars 2 expansion.

Daewoo Securities is not an official NCsoft source, of course, but it sure does throw another bit of kindling on the fire. ArenaNet will be at PAX South very soon to discuss the future of Guild Wars 2, and while the word "expansion" hasn't been used, the expectation that it's going to be the big announcement has been echoed by our own Guild Wars 2 columnist. Whether or not it'll be out by Q3 2015 is another story altogether.

MassivelyKorean investment firm forecasts Guild Wars 2 expansion originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Jan 2015 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playexpansionexpansionsfantasyfinancial-forecastfinancial-predictionsforecastguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftpredictionsrumorrumorsspeculatingspeculationMon, 12 Jan 2015 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Is 2015 the Guild Wars 2 expansion year?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/flameseeker-chronicles-is-2015-the-guild-wars-2-expansion-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/flameseeker-chronicles-is-2015-the-guild-wars-2-expansion-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/flameseeker-chronicles-is-2015-the-guild-wars-2-expansion-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

This scarf was lovingly hand-knitted by a charr. I love this scarf, it is my favorite scarf.
Way back in the ancient era of 2013, I wrote an article about why I thought Guild Wars 2 could use one of those fancy expansion doodlehoppers MMORPGs tend to get after they've been running for a while. You might not be surprised to learn that my opinions have changed only slightly since then, and mostly in the direction of, "Yes, GW2 really does need an expansion pack."

If GW2 fans have sounded a little like hungry baby birds repeatedly peeping, "Expansion!" for the past couple of months, it's not without reason: The most recent NCsoft financial report conference call reportedly contained hints at expansion plans, and ArenaNet seems to have something mysterious in the works for PAX South this year. But are there any real reasons to think that we might be getting an expansion announcement in 2015 when we've gotten our hopes up to no avail before?

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Is 2015 the Guild Wars 2 expansion year?

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Is 2015 the Guild Wars 2 expansion year? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2living-worldncsoftopinionpoint-of-no-returnspeculationwild-mass-guessingTue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2's Season 2 finale is past the point of no return]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/guild-wars-2s-season-2-finale-past-the-point-of-no-return/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/guild-wars-2s-season-2-finale-past-the-point-of-no-return/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/guild-wars-2s-season-2-finale-past-the-point-of-no-return/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 is gearing up for the finale of its Living World Season 2 story arc. "With Glint's egg still missing, Tyria's heroes must rally their allies and prepare the pact fleet as they begin to launch an assault against Mordremoth," ArenaNet says in its latest press blurb.

Players will ultimately face "a decisive moment" during the finale, which is probably why ANet dubbed the update "Point of No Return." Be sure and catch the teaser clip just beyond the break.

Continue reading Guild Wars 2's Season 2 finale is past the point of no return

MassivelyGuild Wars 2's Season 2 finale is past the point of no return originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Jan 2015 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playfantasyguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-season-2guild-wars-2-videogw2living-worldncsoftpoint-of-no-returnteaservideoTue, 06 Jan 2015 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 hosts a Wintersday twitter contest this week]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/guild-wars-2-hosts-a-wintersday-twitter-contest-this-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/guild-wars-2-hosts-a-wintersday-twitter-contest-this-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/guild-wars-2-hosts-a-wintersday-twitter-contest-this-week/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If you still have this up in your house, congratulations! You're now officially lazy as hell.
The holiday season is over. It's over. We're done. But you could still win some stuff from Guild Wars 2 if you're willing to slap some stencils up on your window. The team behind the game is hosting a Twitter-based contest this week, starting today and running until January 9th, with one lucky winner each day receiving a Griffon Mail Carrier.

How can you win? Put some Guild Wars 2-themed stencils up on your window of choice, take a picture, and tweet it to the main Twitter account for the game this week with the hashtags #GW2 and #Wintersday. For those not feeling terribly creative, there are pre-made stencils available to fulfill the requirements. Sure, maybe you're happy to have the holiday decorations taken down, but if you want that mail carrier, you'll get to it. There's still time to enter the other Wintersday contests as well, although those are a little more elaborate; you can read the full details on the contests page.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 hosts a Wintersday twitter contest this week originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Jan 2015 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playchristmas-2014contestcontestsculturedecorationfantasyguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftnewsnews-itemstwitterwinter-holiday-2014Mon, 05 Jan 2015 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 looks to the future at PAX South]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/31/guild-wars-2-looks-to-the-future-at-pax-south/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/31/guild-wars-2-looks-to-the-future-at-pax-south/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/31/guild-wars-2-looks-to-the-future-at-pax-south/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Growing upward? Outward? Toward Vabbi? Please be toward Vabbi.
If you're a Guild Wars 2 fan and live in the right region to head to PAX South, you're in for a treat. Director Colin Johanson and ArenaNet president Mike O'Brien will be taking on a panel for the game on January 24th, one ominously titled Beyond the Point of No Return. And what will they be discussing? Waypoints, possibly! Sure, the actual panel description doesn't include any mention of waypoints, but it also doesn't specifically rule out talking about waypoints.

Actually, the panel will discuss the framework for the next phase of updates for the game, teasing that "the Living World was just the beginning." There's also the promise of a sneak peek at what comes next, which could mean expansions, new areas, new standalone titles... almost anything. Short version: If you're a fan, you will want to be at that panel next month.

[Thanks to Dystopiq for the tip!]

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 looks to the future at PAX South originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Dec 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"Here's my Guild Wars 2 Necromancer haunting the countryside of Divinity's Reach, bleeding and poisoning souls to fuel his demonic rituals and Necromancing zealotry," Russel announced, as if that was the sort of thing that you can say in polite society.

Actually, as a fellow Necro, I have to say that I agree with looking the part. You got to have a skulls motif; there's no way around it. Way to commit to the role!

Want to be featured in a future edition of One Shots? Send your favorite MMO screenshots to oneshots@massively.com, and don't forget to include your name, the name of the game, and a description of the scene. Large, colorful, UI-free shots that tell a story and really show off the game make for the best images. Look ma, we brought back One Shots!

MassivelyOne Shots: Grim Raider originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Dec 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbring-back-one-shotsbuy-to-playfantasygalleriesgalleryguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftone-shotspics-or-it-didnt-happenreader-screenshotsreader-submissionsscreenshotscreenshotsuser-submissionsSat, 27 Dec 2014 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: A prince among men]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/26/one-shots-a-prince-among-men/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/26/one-shots-a-prince-among-men/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/26/one-shots-a-prince-among-men/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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Trust me, we're getting somewhere with putting out all of these neglected screenshot submissions from earlier this year! Today's attractive One Shot comes from reader Skorry, who can't help but look amazing anywhere he goes.

"I took a break from adventuring to admire the artwork inside the Central Plaza in Divinity's Reach with my elementalist, Mirka Wallace," Skorry writes. "I swung my camera around and, through the oddities of Guild Wars 2's third-person view, found I had randomly struck a fantastic view of him standing in front of the Royal Palace. Massive screenshotting ensued. In my opinion, this was the best of the lot, just a pretty noble boy posing regal in the symbol of Krytan majesty."

Want to be featured in a future edition of One Shots? Send your favorite MMO screenshots to oneshots@massively.com, and don't forget to include your name, the name of the game, and a description of the scene. Large, colorful, UI-free shots that tell a story and really show off the game make for the best images. Look ma, we brought back One Shots!

MassivelyOne Shots: A prince among men originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Dec 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbring-back-one-shotsbuy-to-playfantasygalleriesgalleryguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftone-shotspics-or-it-didnt-happenreader-screenshotsreader-submissionsscreenshotscreenshotsuser-submissionsFri, 26 Dec 2014 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Mandy the Christmas Whale]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/25/one-shots-mandy-the-christmas-whale/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/25/one-shots-mandy-the-christmas-whale/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/25/one-shots-mandy-the-christmas-whale/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

guild wars 2
Last year in our household we started up a new tradition, the legend of Mandy the Christmas Whale. Mandy, I told my children, was a green-and-red whale with lights on her tail that would swim through the first snow of the year to deliver cookies to the bedsides of good little boys and girls. Sometimes she even brought a snowsuit (an actual suit of snow) when it came to houses in warmer climes.

Maybe reader James' Guild Wars 2 picture here isn't of Mandy, but one never knows what she might look like in disguise during the other days of the year. Have you been good enough to deserve cookies lately?

Want to be featured in a future edition of One Shots? Send your favorite MMO screenshots to oneshots@massively.com, and don't forget to include your name, the name of the game, and a description of the scene. Large, colorful, UI-free shots that tell a story and really show off the game make for the best images. Look ma, we brought back One Shots!

MassivelyOne Shots: Mandy the Christmas Whale originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Dec 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbring-back-one-shotsbuy-to-playchristmasfantasygalleriesgalleryguild-wars-2gw2mandymandy-the-christmas-whalencsoftone-shotspics-or-it-didnt-happenreader-screenshotsreader-submissionsscreenshotscreenshotsuser-submissionswhaleThu, 25 Dec 2014 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Crafting up a storm in Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/23/flameseeker-chronicles-crafting-up-a-storm-in-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/23/flameseeker-chronicles-crafting-up-a-storm-in-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/23/flameseeker-chronicles-crafting-up-a-storm-in-guild-wars-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Happy Batursday! Oh, wrong holiday. Wow, I'm sorry. This is why nobody invites me to the nice parties.
Merry Wintersday! Guild Wars 2's non-denominational twinkly winter celebration is in full swing. Despite earlier reports from ArenaNet that we'd get pure repeats of both Halloween and Wintersday, this year has added some new quests and a thematically appropriate relocation to Divinity's Reach. I was wrong last week about the sad Dickensian atmosphere of ruined Lion's Arch decorated with snowflakes, but there are still plenty of unfortunate children, so it all evens out.

As your resident Scrooge, I'm going to skirt around the topic of candy canes and jumping puzzles to talk about a game feature that's much closer to my heart: crafting. However, I come to lob snowballs at GW2's crafting system, not to praise it.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Crafting up a storm in Guild Wars 2

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Crafting up a storm in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Dec 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fancy yourself a not-half-bad PvP player? Are you keen on the notion of winning enough money to avoid work or school for a year so that you can concentrate on MMO gaming? Then step right up to Guild Wars 2's World Tournament Series Championship at PAX East next spring, where the winners will dip into a $50,000 prize pool.

The tournament will take place on March 7th, 2015, at the gaming convention in Boston. Players from several countries are welcome to face off against each other, although teams will have to compete and win in earlier qualifiers to make it to the championship. You'll have to be at least 18 and from the US, Canada, Mexico, or the EU to participate. A cool perk of making it to the championship is that ArenaNet will foot the bill for teams' airfare, hotel, and a per diem.

MassivelyWin part of a $50,000 pool at Guild Wars 2's PAX East tournament originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Dec 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playchampionshipfantasyguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftpaxpax-eastpax-east-2015pvptournamentWorld-Tournament-Series-ChampionshipFri, 19 Dec 2014 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 kicks off Wintersday events]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/16/guild-wars-2-kicks-off-wintersday-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/16/guild-wars-2-kicks-off-wintersday-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/16/guild-wars-2-kicks-off-wintersday-events/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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The event avalanche of Guild Wars 2's Wintersday has gotten up to full speed and is currently roaring down upon the game's population.

Today's update activates the previous years' Wintersday content as well as a few new additions. There's the Wondrous Workshop to explore, jumping puzzles, bell choir minigames, the Snowball Mayhem battle royale, and a quest to track down Grawnk to get a Wintersday tree for home instances.

The patch also activates a couple of PvP events, new Wintersday-themed cash shop cosmetics, the daily login rewards, and the latest overhaul of the daily achievement system.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 kicks off Wintersday events originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Dec 2014 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementachievement-systemachievementsanetarenanetbuy-to-playchristmaschristmas-2014eventfantasyguild-wars-2gw2holidayin-game-eventlogin-rewardsncsoftpatchpvpupdatewinter-2014winter-holidaywinter-holidayswinter-holidays-2014wintersdaywvwTue, 16 Dec 2014 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 celebrates the holidays with a player murder spree]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/15/guild-wars-2-celebrates-the-holidays-with-a-player-murder-spree/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/15/guild-wars-2-celebrates-the-holidays-with-a-player-murder-spree/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/15/guild-wars-2-celebrates-the-holidays-with-a-player-murder-spree/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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Don't get too comfy and cozy with that hot cocoa and crackling fire; Guild Wars 2 is calling all fighters to arms for epic PvP conflict over the next month. Today, the team posted details for the game's two upcoming PvP events, both starting tomorrow and ending on January 13th.

The fun and casualties begin with the WvW Sneak Attack event, which will change some of the established rules for this setting to make it harder to see who is attacking what and give a bonus to experience and rewards earned. Then the team is testing out a PvP ladder season, with prizes such as mini llamas and glorious hero's armor pieces to those who kick and claw their way up the rankings.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 celebrates the holidays with a player murder spree originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Dec 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playfantasyguild-wars-2gw2ladderladder-seasonncsoftpvpworld-vs-worldwvwMon, 15 Dec 2014 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 is revamping dailies... again]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/10/guild-wars-2-is-revamping-dailies-again/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/10/guild-wars-2-is-revamping-dailies-again/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/10/guild-wars-2-is-revamping-dailies-again/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

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ArenaNet has just announced that it's revamping Guild Wars 2's daily achievements... again. "We want to give players the opportunity to try things they may not normally experience and feel like the rewards they earn for doing so mean something," says the studio. "Rather than [give] a generic reward for all achievements, each one will give players something that is thematically tied to the content they're playing." Completing dailies will allow players to earn everything from achievement points to fractal relics and badges of honor, depending on the daily's difficulty and type (PvE, PvP, WvW).

The studio is also rolling out a new achievement track that replaces the old monthlies system and rewards players just for logging in. "One way to think of this is like a holiday calendar that gives you a new present from ArenaNet each day," the devs write. "There are 28 individual rewards on the track, each one building toward an epic chest containing a permanent 1% increase to account gold find and your choice of either ascended crafting materials, materials necessary for crafting your legendary weapon (including mystic clovers), an additional sum of laurels, or tomes of knowledge."

Yesterday, the studio revealed that the ongoing season two plotline will be on hiatus through the holidays, being replaced by Wintersday. Season two resumes on January 13th.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 is revamping dailies... again originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Dec 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playdailiesdaily-achievementsdev-blogdev-blogsdev-diariesdev-diarydev-postdev-postsdeveloper-blogdeveloper-blogsdeveloper-diariesdeveloper-diarydeveloper-postdeveloper-postsfantasyguild-wars-2gw2login-rewardsmonthly-achievementsncsoftWed, 10 Dec 2014 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 season 2 to continue on January 13th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/09/guild-wars-2-season-2-to-continue-on-january-13th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/09/guild-wars-2-season-2-to-continue-on-january-13th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/09/guild-wars-2-season-2-to-continue-on-january-13th/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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The living world episodes for Guild Wars 2 are taking a month off for the holiday season, as ArenaNet announced today that Season 2 will reconvene on January 13th for "moments that will forever change the course of Tyria."

That doesn't mean that Guild Wars 2 will go silent during this time, however. Wintersday is scheduled to return on December 16th, although this time it will take place in Divinity's Reach. ArenaNet is also hosting a test of its ladder season from December 16th through January 13th, allowing players to compete for various rewards, and a WvW Sneak Attack event during this same period. Finally, there will be the game's "first-ever" ESL monthly championship on December 10th.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 season 2 to continue on January 13th originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Dec 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Little glowing friends. Shiny, happy people. Plant joke.
They say that those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. I don't know who "they" are, but I don't think that particular truism was ever meant to cover a literal repeat of history. Guild Wars 2's latest living world content release has players doing exactly that: planting memory seeds, taking an uncomfortably invasive peek into Caithe's past, and trying to figure out exactly what might have led her to abscond with Glint's egg in the previous chapter.

This stroll down memory lane technically takes place over 20 years in GW2's history, but it's new information to us, and so the statute of limitations on spoilers hasn't expired. You'll probably want to play the content before reading any further, unless you think my writing is improved by a lack of context (if that's the case, don't tell me).

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Planting the seeds of memory in Guild Wars 2

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Planting the seeds of memory in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Dec 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yeah, so, the dragon egg is still kind of hot, so I was wondering if I could crash here. Just for, like, a couple of days? I have the money I borrowed from you last time and even some extra, man, what do you say?
Oh, that darn Caithe, running off with that MacGuffin dragon egg at the end of the last Guild Wars 2 story update! Someone should go after her. And while someone's going after her, someone should probably collect more armor set pieces and explore more of the Silverwastes. If you haven't guessed by now, that someone is going to be you. The latest update to the game, Seeds of Truth, is live today, and you'll need to... well, you read all of that up above, yes?

Aside from salad-based antics, the update features some major PvP changes, including reworked matchmaking and the test season for organized league play. So if you're there more for the mechanics than the story, that may be more of your speed. If you're there for the story, though, get ready to start retracing Caithe's memories, figure out what happened, and dealing with the fallout of that stolen egg.

[Source: ArenaNet press release]

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 launches Seeds of Truth today originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Dec 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playfantasyguild-wars-2gw2lorencsoftnewsnews-itemspatchpatchespvppvp-mechanicssaladsstoryupdateupdatesTue, 02 Dec 2014 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2's Leah Hoyer discusses the importance of story]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/26/guild-wars-2s-leah-hoyer-discusses-the-importance-of-story/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/26/guild-wars-2s-leah-hoyer-discusses-the-importance-of-story/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/26/guild-wars-2s-leah-hoyer-discusses-the-importance-of-story/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Story: let's me and you fight.
It's fair to say that Guild Wars 2 sells its story pretty highly, as living world progress and story updates are a major part of its content strategy. Head of narrative Leah Hoyer stated in a recent interview that this is one of the core things that games as a whole need to embrace: Story is important in getting players invested. Hoyer went on to say that while story lacks the central importance in games that it has in media like television, it's still an important element of player investment.

Still, she argues, it's harder to tell a good story in a game than it is in a television show, simply because the latter is focused only on story while the former cannot be. This doesn't mean that it's less important, nor does Hoyer feel that it justifies using lore and background as an excuse for not telling a story; a good story requires immediacy. While she believes that lore is highly important, it should help support storytelling rather than replace it. There's a lot of interesting thoughts in the full interview, so whether you like Guild Wars 2's take on story or not, it's well worth a look.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2's Leah Hoyer discusses the importance of story originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Nov 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbackgroundbackstorybuy-to-playfantasygame-narrativegame-storyguild-wars-2gw2interviewinterviewsleah-hoyerlorenarrativencsoftnewsnews-itemsstoryWed, 26 Nov 2014 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Navigating Guild Wars 2's Tangled Paths release]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/25/flameseeker-chronicles-navigating-guild-wars-2s-tangled-paths/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/25/flameseeker-chronicles-navigating-guild-wars-2s-tangled-paths/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/25/flameseeker-chronicles-navigating-guild-wars-2s-tangled-paths/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

What a nice day for a war.
I was late playing Guild Wars 2's latest update, Tangled Paths, because I was on an airplane when it went live. That might be a better excuse than "the dog ate my homework," but I don't have one for "a dog ate my character," which is exactly what happened as soon as I got home and logged in.

Read on for the reason I actually welcome our vicious new dog overlords, as well as why Caithe and I need to have a long talk. You'll also find an exclusive photograph of Bellevue, Washington, taken from the roof of ArenaNet's studio, which is exciting primarily because I got the Seattle skyline in the very same shot without it coming out blurry, even on my awful camera phone. I'm proud of that and nobody can take it from me. As usual, spoiler warnings apply!

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Navigating Guild Wars 2's Tangled Paths release

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Navigating Guild Wars 2's Tangled Paths release originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Nov 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are you up to speed on Guild Wars 2's episodic living world content releases? If not, you might want to stop reading because there could be spoilers ahead. Last time around, players watched as Caithe made off with a fabled dragon egg that could be the key to defeating Mordremoth. In the newest episode, you'll have to catch Caithe, but first you can catch a preview of the release by clicking past the cut.

[Source: ArenaNet press release]

Continue reading Guild Wars 2 teases next week's Seeds of Truth release with a new trailer

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 teases next week's Seeds of Truth release with a new trailer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Nov 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playcaithefantasyguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-videogw2ncsoftvideoTue, 25 Nov 2014 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 streamlines PvP queuing, adds map voting]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/21/guild-wars-2-streamlines-pvp-queuing-adds-map-voting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/21/guild-wars-2-streamlines-pvp-queuing-adds-map-voting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/21/guild-wars-2-streamlines-pvp-queuing-adds-map-voting/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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How can Guild Wars 2's PvP experience be improved? By streamlining the flow, baby!

A new dev diary posted today talks about how ArenaNet is working to improve match flow, starting with the elimination of PvP rosters and simply allowing players to queue solo or with a party. Other significant changes include replacing AFK players before matches begin, group voting on favorite maps, and using the dishonor system to ding those who leave or go AFK during matches.

To get into PvP matches, players will now be required to go to the Heart of the Mists, which is being outfitted with additional core services so that it can be a fun social hub between games.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 streamlines PvP queuing, adds map voting originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Nov 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playdev-diaryfantasyguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftpvpFri, 21 Nov 2014 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2's revamped sPvP rewards skillful play, not just wins]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/20/guild-wars-2s-revamped-spvp-rewards-skillful-play-not-just-win/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/20/guild-wars-2s-revamped-spvp-rewards-skillful-play-not-just-win/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/20/guild-wars-2s-revamped-spvp-rewards-skillful-play-not-just-win/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

GW2
ArenaNet's Justin O'Dell is on dev blog duty today for Guild Wars 2, and his post is all about planned updates to the game's sPvP matchmaking and ladder ranking systems.

"We decided to move to a score-based search method that takes into consideration several metrics that we believe are important for a match to be fun," he explains. "We chose a score-based system over other methods because we found that it's a good compromise between the often competing goals of match quality and short queue times." The system will do its best to match players by skill level, rank, party size, and so forth.

Points awarded through the ladder ranking system are determined by final score and odds of victory in an attempt to ensure that playing well in spite of a loss is encouraged and that luck isn't the driving force in ranking.

"Imagine a world where everyone took the saying 'It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game' seriously," O'Dell says. "Wouldn't that be great?"

MassivelyGuild Wars 2's revamped sPvP rewards skillful play, not just wins originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Nov 2014 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playdev-blogdev-blogsdev-diariesdev-diarydev-postdev-postsdeveloper-blogdeveloper-blogsdeveloper-diariesdeveloper-diarydeveloper-postdeveloper-postsfantasyguild-wars-2gw2justin-odellncsoftpvpspvpThu, 20 Nov 2014 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 plans a big PvP patch for December 2nd]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/19/guild-wars-2-plans-a-big-pvp-patch-for-december-2nd/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/19/guild-wars-2-plans-a-big-pvp-patch-for-december-2nd/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/19/guild-wars-2-plans-a-big-pvp-patch-for-december-2nd/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Aw, right in the face.
On December 5th, the first World Tournament Series for Guild Wars 2 will conclude with a showdown between the four best teams across the United States, Europe, and China. Right before that, on December 2nd, the Guild Wars 2 team will be deploying several large-scale updates to the game's PvP. So if you've been watching the tournament with rapt interest, you'll have a number of shiny new systems to test out; if you haven't, you can still reap the benefits of an improved PvP system in the game.

Matchmaking is one of the biggest game mechanics seeing alterations. Players will be sorted by Glicko2 ratings for matchmaking purposes and subjected to a dishonor system that punishes behavior like leaving mid-match. The net result is a full ladder system for the game that will serve as a foundation for large-scale league play, with a test season planned for mid-December to make sure all of the parts work properly. There are more adjustments to be revealed over the next two weeks, but for now, dedicated PvP fans can rest easy knowing that more boosts are coming.

[Source: ArenaNet press release]

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 plans a big PvP patch for December 2nd originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Nov 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playfantasyguild-wars-2gw2gw2-world-tournament-seriesmatchmakingncsoftnewsnews-itemspvppvp-formatspvp-matchmakingpvp-tournamenttournamentworld-tournament-seriesWed, 19 Nov 2014 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2's Tangled Paths update goes live today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/18/guild-wars-2s-tangled-paths-update-goes-live-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/18/guild-wars-2s-tangled-paths-update-goes-live-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/18/guild-wars-2s-tangled-paths-update-goes-live-today/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

GW2
Episode six of Guild Wars 2's second season of living world content, Tangled Paths, arrives on production servers today. The continuing storyline sends players on an epic dragon egg hunt through "newly discovered underground caverns" in the Silverwastes. Players who've been piecing together the carapace armor set this season can look forward to a pair of gloves this go-round.

Massively's GW2 expert, Anatoli Ingram, has been chronicling the seasonal plotline in his Flameseeker Chronicles column. Enjoy the fresh screenshots and slightly less fresh episode six video below.

Continue reading Guild Wars 2's Tangled Paths update goes live today

MassivelyGuild Wars 2's Tangled Paths update goes live today originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Nov 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playfantasygalleriesgalleryguild-wars-2gw2living-storyliving-worldncsoftscreenshotscreenshotstrailertrailersvideovideosTue, 18 Nov 2014 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Learning from Tyria's past in Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/flameseeker-chronicles-learning-from-tyrias-past-in-guild-wars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/flameseeker-chronicles-learning-from-tyrias-past-in-guild-wars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/flameseeker-chronicles-learning-from-tyrias-past-in-guild-wars/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Below the cut is one of the worst jokes I've ever made. Sorry, Trahearne.
The latest Guild Wars 2 living world release, Echoes of the Past, seems to be a big hit. It's nice to see fans so unreservedly happy with an update since the past few months have been a little rocky for GW2, but ArenaNet has hit it out of the park this time.

If you haven't gotten a chance to play it yet, I strongly recommend checking it out before reading further, if possible. There are spoilers below the cut, and hardly anybody likes spoilers. Except me: the guy who flips to the end of the book sometimes. I'm a monster.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Learning from Tyria's past in Guild Wars 2

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Learning from Tyria's past in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Nov 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playdurmand-prioryechoes-of-the-pastelder-dragonsfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2leah-hoyerliving-worldloremordremothncsoftopinionTue, 11 Nov 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 previews the Tangled Path for November 18th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/guild-wars-2-previews-the-tangled-path-for-november-18th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/guild-wars-2-previews-the-tangled-path-for-november-18th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/guild-wars-2-previews-the-tangled-path-for-november-18th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

I'm thinking... omelette. Anyone else thinking that? Maybe with onions?
A dragon egg exists in Tyria. Yes, we know, dragons are overdone, but the existence of one of their eggs in Tyria is extremely rare, as evidenced in no small part by the fact that the main enemies of the setting are the six elder dragons. So everyone wants that egg... including Mordremoth, the main antagonist of Guild Wars 2's second season of Living World content. And that means that everyone who can try to get that egg will try to get that egg.

Yes, the next Living Story update is one big egg hunt, but it's one with pretty high stakes. The trailer just past the cut is short, but it should get players excited for when the update goes live on November 18th. And who wouldn't want a dragon egg of his very own? We recommend naming it Lord Snugglescale; that'll keep it on your side for sure.

[Source: ArenaNet press release]

Continue reading Guild Wars 2 previews the Tangled Path for November 18th

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 previews the Tangled Path for November 18th originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Nov 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbackstorybuy-to-playdragondragonsenvironmentfantasyguild-wars-2gw2living-worldliving-world-season-2lorencsoftnewsnews-itemsseason-2settingstoretrailertrailersvideovideosTue, 11 Nov 2014 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How do you diverge from conventional MMO wisdom?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/06/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-diverge-from-conventional-mmo-wisdom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/06/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-diverge-from-conventional-mmo-wisdom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/06/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-diverge-from-conventional-mmo-wisdom/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I was reading some forum reviews of ArcheAge recently, and had I not played it extensively myself, I would have come away with the impression that it's a grindy gankfest with crappy combat and a hacker infestation so vast that it's actually unplayable. Needless to say, I disagree with all of those assertions.

Similarly, most if not all of my MMO-playing friends and co-workers swear by Guild Wars 2's combat. It's so fluid and actiony, they say, to which I usually smile, nod, and think, if it really was all that, I probably would've played the game for more than a week! I'm likely in the minority on that one, though, which leads into today's Daily Grind.

How do you diverge from what passes as conventional MMO wisdom?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How do you diverge from conventional MMO wisdom? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaanetarche-agearcheagearenanetbuy-to-playdaily-grindfantasyguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftopinionpvpsandboxsandparktdgthe-daily-grindtriontrion-worldsxl-gamesxlgamesThu, 06 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2's Echoes of the Past goes live today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/04/guild-wars-2s-echoes-of-the-past-goes-live-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/04/guild-wars-2s-echoes-of-the-past-goes-live-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/04/guild-wars-2s-echoes-of-the-past-goes-live-today/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's release day for Guild Wars 2's Echoes of the Past update. The patch picks up "from a cliff-hanger ending that had the world of Tyria fighting the rise of the Elder Dragon Mordremoth," says ArenaNet.

If the living world isn't your cup of tea, take heart because the update also features gameplay tweaks including the new Silverwastes locale. ANet says that "mysterious ruins in the area will provide key battleground locations in the ongoing war against Mordremoth's expanding armies. Players will fight to hold strategic locations, call in pact allies for aid and take a stand against the growing threat." The update also boasts new Bandit Crests, which can be vendored in exchange for recipes, materials, and armor pieces.

Massively's Anatoli Ingram spoke to ArenaNet last month about the lore unfolding in these next chapters. Enjoy the new screenshots in the gallery below.

[Source: ArenaNet press release]

MassivelyGuild Wars 2's Echoes of the Past goes live today originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Nov 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playechoes-of-the-pastfantasygalleriesgallerygrindguild-wars-2gw2living-worldncsoftscreenshotscreenshotsTue, 04 Nov 2014 09:00:00 EST