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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars 2's Legacy of the Foefire]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/24/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-2s-legacy-of-the-foefire/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/24/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-2s-legacy-of-the-foefire/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/24/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-2s-legacy-of-the-foefire/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2
This Guild Wars 2 beta was possibly more exciting for me than any of the previous ones. It was bigger in pretty much every sense -- more areas, more races, more PvP, more people. It was still rife with its fair share of technical issues, but those issues did not seem to really define the norm. And most importantly, it was the last one, which left each experience flavored with the subtle taste of anticipation.

What did you get up to? I'd hope some of you who aren't quite as comfortable with structured PvP took this last opportunity to get in and give it a go while the scene is (theoretically) as open and easy to join as possible. If you did, you probably ran into the Legacy of the Foefire map. If you didn't, here's a bit about what you missed.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars 2's Legacy of the Foefire

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars 2's Legacy of the Foefire originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Jul 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbetabeta-weekendbeta-weekend-eventbwe3fantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesfoefiregoemms-labguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-betaguild-wars-2-previewgwgw1gw2gw2-betajumping-puzzlelegacy-of-the-foefiremad-goemmmapncsoftnew-mapopinionpvpspvpTue, 24 Jul 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turning over a new leaf in Guild Wars 2's Sylvari starting experience]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/23/turning-over-a-new-leaf-in-guild-wars-2s-sylvari-starting-exper/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/23/turning-over-a-new-leaf-in-guild-wars-2s-sylvari-starting-exper/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/23/turning-over-a-new-leaf-in-guild-wars-2s-sylvari-starting-exper/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Guild Wars 2 -- The Grove
The Sylvari have been my race of choice ever since they were announced as a playable race in Guild Wars 2. It's not often that you see races outside of the generic Orc-Elf-Dwarf-Human spectrum, so the sylvan-esque race really appealed to me as something different. So of course, when time rolled around to stake claims on the impressions piece of the newly introduced Sylvari starting experience during the final beta weekend, you better believe I pounced on it.

So here we are: Guild Wars 2's final beta weekend is over, and it's just a matter of time before launch is upon us. But you'll be happy to know that I spent my entire weekend prancing around Tyria in the leafy soles of a Sylvari's boots. It was a journey full of mystery, surprises (both pleasant and otherwise), and a whole lot of oversized foliage. Follow along past the cut, where I shall make like a tree and get the hell on with it already.

Continue reading Turning over a new leaf in Guild Wars 2's Sylvari starting experience

MassivelyTurning over a new leaf in Guild Wars 2's Sylvari starting experience originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbetabeta-testbeta-testingbeta-weekend-eventbeta-weekend-event-3bwe-3Caledoncaledon-forestfantasyfeaturedguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-betaguild-wars-2-previewgw2hands-onncsoftomg-gay-sylvaripreviewpreviewssylvaritestingtrailertrailersvideovideosMon, 23 Jul 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Excelsior! The cheerful insanity of the Guild Wars 2 Asura]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/23/excelsior-the-cheerful-insanity-of-the-guild-wars-2-asura/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/23/excelsior-the-cheerful-insanity-of-the-guild-wars-2-asura/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/23/excelsior-the-cheerful-insanity-of-the-guild-wars-2-asura/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Guild Wars 2 Asura
It would have been easy for ArenaNet to make Guild Wars 2's Asura race just another batch of quirky MMO "shorties," playing into the standard fantasy trope. You know how it goes -- what the little guy lacks in brawn he makes up for in quick wit and charm. Throw in some floppy ears, a mischievous grin, and some mechanical gizmos, and you've got yourself a gnome by another name.

So did ArenaNet rise to the challenge of porting and updating the Asura? We got a good look at the race and its starting zone in the game's final beta weekend event in the hopes of figuring that out. Follow on for our first impressions!

Continue reading Excelsior! The cheerful insanity of the Guild Wars 2 Asura

MassivelyExcelsior! The cheerful insanity of the Guild Wars 2 Asura originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>absent-minded-professoranetarenanetasuraasuranbetabeta-testbeta-testingbeta-weekendbeta-weekend-eventbwecharacter-creationexcelsiorfantasyfeaturedfirst-impressionsgnomegnomesguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-betaguild-wars-2-previewgwgw2hands-onimpressionsmad-scientistmad-scientist-tropencsoftpreviewpreviewsshortiestechnobabbletestingtrailertrailersvideovideosMon, 23 Jul 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Life in the legions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/flameseeker-chronicles-life-in-the-legions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/flameseeker-chronicles-life-in-the-legions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/flameseeker-chronicles-life-in-the-legions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/flameseeker-chronicles-life-in-the-legions/
Last week, Leif Chapelle, a content designer, took some time to update the ArenaNet blog with a bit of a behind-the-scenes look at personal story in Guild Wars 2. He sketched out the structure of how players' biography choices affect their storyline: "To experience every potential storyline being told from level one to 10, you'd need to play the game 30 times (five races times three initial storylines times two internal branches in each storyline)... We have 80 levels of progression for your character, and every 10 levels or so, you'll begin a new chapter in your story."

To someone who has rolled a seemingly endless string of alts in virtually every game I've played and is extraordinarily trigger-happy when it comes to remaking characters, this shows a great deal of promise. I'm sure it's quite an angstilicious idea for people who want to savor ALL THE STORY, but I hope that such types might admit (however grudgingly) that too much story is a better option than too little.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Life in the legions

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Life in the legions originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetash-legionblood-legioncharrfantasyfeaturedflame-legionflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-betaguild-wars-2-previewguild-wars-nightfallgwgw1gw2iron-legionleif-chappellemike-zMike-Zadorojnyncsoftopinionpersonal-storyTue, 27 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 beta questions: Answered!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/guild-wars-2-beta-questions-answered/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/guild-wars-2-beta-questions-answered/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/guild-wars-2-beta-questions-answered/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2: Party On, dude!
The second Guild Wars 2 press beta weekend has come and gone, and Massively was there every step of the way. Stay tuned throughout the day today for even more guides, impressions, videos, and Q&As to get you ready for the highly anticipated sequel to Guild Wars.

Last week we asked for your Guild Wars 2 questions as we prepared to head into the beta weekend, and boy did you rise to the occasion! After sorting through all the questions, we made a list of the most interesting and frequently repeated ones to investigate. Have a question you don't see answered here? Tonight I'll be doing a live question-and-answer session on Massively's own livestream! Tune in at 7:00 p.m. EDT and ask away!

Continue reading Guild Wars 2 beta questions: Answered!

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 beta questions: Answered! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenaneteventsfantasyfeaturedguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-betaguild-wars-2-previewgw2iron-legionncsoftpreviewpreviewsq-and-aqaquestions-and-answersrespecMon, 26 Mar 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2: For glory!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/guild-wars-2-for-glory/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/guild-wars-2-for-glory/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/guild-wars-2-for-glory/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

GW2
The second Guild Wars 2 press beta weekend has come and gone, and Massively was there every step of the way. Stay tuned throughout the day today for even more guides, impressions, videos, and Q&As to get you ready for the highly anticipated sequel to Guild Wars.

A lot of my weekend was devoted to glory, both the in-game resource that you earn for competing in PvP and that distinction that you wallow in after doing something cool. The game allows for a lot of something-cools to be done, but the ones I'm presently interested in are hot-joinable PvP and the beta's one accessible dungeon.

Continue reading Guild Wars 2: For glory!

MassivelyGuild Wars 2: For glory! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbattle-of-khylobetacatacombs-of-ascalondungeonfantasyfeaturedforest-of-niflhelguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-betaguild-wars-2-previewgw2gw2-beta-weekendncsoftpreviewpreviewspvptrailertrailersvideovideosMon, 26 Mar 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A look at Guild Wars 2's world vs. world PvP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/a-look-at-guild-wars-2s-world-vs-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/a-look-at-guild-wars-2s-world-vs-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/a-look-at-guild-wars-2s-world-vs-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Guild Wars 2
The second Guild Wars 2 press beta weekend has come and gone, and Massively was there every step of the way. Stay tuned throughout the day today for even more guides, impressions, videos, and Q&As to get you ready for the highly anticipated sequel to Guild Wars.

The most recent Guild Wars 2 beta weekend has wound to a close (much to my dismay), but thankfully my time in Tyria has not been wasted. Oh, heavens no. I spent the majority of the weekend running around the war-torn borderlands and getting the everloving daylights stomped out of me in the game's world vs. world combat.

When I wasn't busy acquainting my face with the ground, however, I had plenty of time to meander about the battlefield of The Mists, storming keeps, cutting off supply caravans, and defending encampments, and now I finally get to share my impressions with all of you fine readers. So what did I think about GW2's WvW system (my total lack of PvP ability aside)? Rev up your siege engines and gird your proverbial loins, then follow past the cut to find out!

Continue reading A look at Guild Wars 2's world vs. world PvP

MassivelyA look at Guild Wars 2's world vs. world PvP originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbetafantasyfeaturedguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-betaguild-wars-2-previewgw2hands-onncsoftplayer-vs-playerpreviewpreviewspvpworld-vs-worldwvwwvwvwMon, 26 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Breaking down Guild Wars 2's character creator]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/breaking-down-guild-wars-2s-character-creator/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/breaking-down-guild-wars-2s-character-creator/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/breaking-down-guild-wars-2s-character-creator/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

GW2
The second Guild Wars 2 press beta weekend has come and gone, and Massively was there every step of the way. Stay tuned throughout the day today for even more guides, impressions, videos, and Q&As to get you ready for the highly anticipated sequel to Guild Wars.

In just the few minutes that it takes to traverse the 10 screens of Guild Wars 2's character creation process, I'm left with one overriding thought: This game looks ridiculously good. Ludicrously so, even. And I didn't even enter the game world yet!

I always love a good, in-depth character creation system, as there's a joy in spending a good amount of time making exactly the sort of character you want to play. Unfortunately, most MMOs have stripped this process down to the bare basics, which is why I'm pleased to announce that it's actually a mini-journey in and of itself in Guild Wars 2.

The point of this process isn't just to make a character but help you grow attached to this person and get to know him or her through it. What are this character's motivations? What branch of his or her profession is the most appealing? How did you become a hero? What obstacles do you have to overcome?

Instead of playing the game itself, I took some time over this beta testing weekend to dissect every step of the character creation system and bring my findings back to those of you who want to start building your character in your mind.

Continue reading Breaking down Guild Wars 2's character creator

MassivelyBreaking down Guild Wars 2's character creator originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbackstorycharactercharacter-creationcharacter-creatorcharacter-customizationcharacterscharrclassclassescustomizationfantasyfeaturedguideguidesguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-betaguild-wars-2-guideguild-wars-2-previewgw2hands-onhumanncsoftnornpreviewraceracesstoryMon, 26 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Making the 'jump' from Guild Wars to Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/making-the-jump-from-guild-wars-to-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/making-the-jump-from-guild-wars-to-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/making-the-jump-from-guild-wars-to-guild-wars-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Black Citadel Forest, Guild Wars 2
The second Guild Wars 2 press beta weekend has come and gone, and Massively was there every step of the way. Stay tuned throughout the day today for even more guides, impressions, videos, and Q&As to get you ready for the highly anticipated sequel to Guild Wars.

Guild Wars 2 is on the way (when it's ready), and classic Guild Wars players probably understand that soon they'll be competing with a younger sibling -- a smarter, more attractive one who's sure to get more of mom's attention. And while we're sure that some of the more stalwart Guild Wars 2 fans are also Guild Wars players, not all veterans of the first edition are dedicated to licking up every drop of sequel info squeezed out of blogs, conventions, and betas. Those veterans might just be wondering, what exactly can Guild Wars 2 offer them, other than Hall of Monuments tie-ins? What's changed? What's the same? What will they love, what will they hate, and what could possibly make them jump ship to the new hotness?

The first and most important thing you must know is that yes, you can jump in Guild Wars 2! Seriously, though, jumping is more than just a thing you do with your spacebar when you're bored; it's a symbol of boundlessness. Guild Wars 2 itself is trying to jump a lot higher than its elder brother, and probably the essential difference between the games is that feeling that the walls have come down and gravity is letting loose. That alone should urge classic players to take a peek, but if that's not enough for you, fire up your Jeremy Soule soundtracks (yes, he's onboard for an encore!) and read on...

Continue reading Making the 'jump' from Guild Wars to Guild Wars 2

MassivelyMaking the 'jump' from Guild Wars to Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetauction-hallbetacash-shopcharacter-creationclosed-betaclosed-beta-3comparisondeathdeath-penaltydungeonsdynamic-contenteconomyendgameeye-of-the-northfantasyfeaturedgeargemsgroupgroupingguideguidesguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-betaguild-wars-2-guideguild-wars-2-previewguildsgvggwgw2hall-of-monumentshands-onhominterfacejumpjumpingloremap-travelncsoftpreviewpreviewspropheciespvpquestsrenown-heartrmtsidekickingskill-pointtrading-posttyriauiuser-interfaceworld-vs-worldworld-vs-world-vs-worldwvwwvwvwMon, 26 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[An outsider's look inside Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/an-outsiders-look-inside-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/an-outsiders-look-inside-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/an-outsiders-look-inside-guild-wars-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 - Engineer concept art
The second Guild Wars 2 press beta weekend has come and gone, and Massively was there every step of the way. Stay tuned throughout the day today for even more guides, impressions, videos, and Q&As to get you ready for the highly anticipated sequel to Guild Wars.

My Guild Wars 2 beta weekend started off with a whimper instead of a bang. As I fired up the client and got a load of that sexy 2/dragon logo prior to character creation, one of the video cards in my gaming tower decided to give up the ghost. I didn't know this at the time, and as I slogged through the game's opening sequence, I wondered why it was running like pure Charr poo even with the settings dialed down.

I could barely move around the starter village, and after 15 minutes or so, I closed the client in disgust. Later I fired up EverQuest II on that same system and experienced similar subpar performance, so I quickly downloaded the GW2 beta to my laptop.

Ah, now that was more like it. Here was the Tyria I'd glimpsed via screenshots and video over the past few weeks, and I rolled up an Engineer to help determine whether ArenaNet has anything to offer a crusty old newb.

Continue reading An outsider's look inside Guild Wars 2

MassivelyAn outsider's look inside Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetclassesdivinitys-reachengineerfantasygame-mechanicsguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-betaguild-wars-2-beta-impressionsguild-wars-2-impressionsguild-wars-2-newbguild-wars-2-previewguild-wars-2-questsguild-wars-2beta-impressionsgwgw2impressionsncsoftquestingMon, 26 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: How do trinities work?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/flameseeker-chronicles-how-do-trinities-work/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/flameseeker-chronicles-how-do-trinities-work/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/flameseeker-chronicles-how-do-trinities-work/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

No, no -- there's three characters. That must mean there's a trinity.
People have had varying reactions to Jon Peters' post on ArenaNet's blog last week, which explained the newest system of traits and attributes for Guild Wars 2. There've been all sorts of thoughts about it: that it's awesome, that it's unnecessary, that it's a whole lot of words to keep track of (I'm saying that, in fact, and I'm firmly in the camp of folks who think it's all pretty great). Specifically, the inclusion of the compassion attribute, which improves a character's healing output, has raised a glaring red flag for some players who are afraid this is the first step toward holy trinities and dedicated healers. I respectfully disagree.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: How do trinities work?

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: How do trinities work? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetattributesdedicated-healerfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-guideguild-wars-2-previewgwgw1gw2holy-trinityjon-petersncsoftopinionravious-makes-a-good-pointtraitstrinityTue, 06 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: I hope you like PvE stuff]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/flameseeker-chronicles-i-hope-you-like-pve-stuff/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/flameseeker-chronicles-i-hope-you-like-pve-stuff/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/flameseeker-chronicles-i-hope-you-like-pve-stuff/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 folks: What a week it's been, am I right? After the flood of impressions and videos after the select press embargo lifted, ArenaNet decided to whip fans into a veritable frenzy by accepting beta signups from Wednesday to Friday. Fan response was insane -- over 1,000,000 signups in under 50 hours. While a few cool kids on the internet have tried to scoff at that number, I really can't -- it's just staggering to me.

If you were on vacation, sick, or hiding under your pet rock between Wednesday and Friday, I'm sorry -- there was a lot going on. You might consider checking out ArenaNet's blog post to catch up, as there's now a link roundup for your convenience. It's like the team wants you to be able to find out stuff about this game it eventually wants you to buy. Next the devs will be making themselves available for question-pelting on Reddit in an effort to promote clear and rapid comm-- oh wait.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: I hope you like PvE stuff

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: I hope you like PvE stuff originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbooksfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-previewgw1gw2kristin-perrymapsncsoftopinionpersonalityTue, 28 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles Extra: Guild Wars 2 crafting explained]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/flameseeker-chronicles-extra-guild-wars-2-crafting-explained/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/flameseeker-chronicles-extra-guild-wars-2-crafting-explained/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/flameseeker-chronicles-extra-guild-wars-2-crafting-explained/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

GW2
Remember how I wanted to talk to you about crafting in Guild Wars 2? Let's do that now. I made a video while I was fiddling around with the weaponsmithing and armorsmithing disciplines in the recent Guild Wars 2 closed beta press weekend, and I've included it in this extra edition of Flameseeker Chronicles. Let's take a look at exactly what's going on for your first 25 points or so in these disciplines.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles Extra: Guild Wars 2 crafting explained

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles Extra: Guild Wars 2 crafting explained originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetarmorsmithingcraftingcrafting-systemdivinitys-reachfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesgatheringguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-guideguild-wars-2-previewgw1gw2ncsoftopinionvideovideosweaponsmithingWed, 22 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's Guild Wars 2 closed beta impressions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/massivelys-guild-wars-2-closed-beta-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/massivelys-guild-wars-2-closed-beta-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/massivelys-guild-wars-2-closed-beta-impressions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 World vs World keeps
This last weekend, ArenaNet invited a few dozen members of the gaming press into its highly anticipated MMO, Guild Wars 2. The game is still in its closed beta testing stage, but the reveal of this event is an opportunity for the public to finally see what this game is all about.

Our Guild Wars columnist Elisabeth Cardy and I spent a good part of this weekend exploring as much as we could in the game in preparation for today's embargo lift. Read along for each of our impressions below, and be sure to watch our beta montage video at the end of each article.

Elisabeth's impressions | Shawn's Impressions

MassivelyMassively's Guild Wars 2 closed beta impressions originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbetabetasbreakingclosed-betaembargo-liftfirst-impressionsguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-previewgw2impressionsncsoftpress-betapreviewpreviewsvideoMon, 20 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 closed beta impressions -- Shawn's thoughts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/guild-wars-2-closed-beta-impressions-shawns-thoughts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/guild-wars-2-closed-beta-impressions-shawns-thoughts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/guild-wars-2-closed-beta-impressions-shawns-thoughts/#commentsContinue reading Guild Wars 2 closed beta impressions -- Shawn's thoughts

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 closed beta impressions -- Shawn's thoughts originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredguild-wars-2-previewMon, 20 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 closed beta impressions -- Elisabeth's thoughts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/guild-wars-2-closed-beta-impressions-elisabeths-thoughts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/guild-wars-2-closed-beta-impressions-elisabeths-thoughts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/guild-wars-2-closed-beta-impressions-elisabeths-thoughts/#commentsContinue reading Guild Wars 2 closed beta impressions -- Elisabeth's thoughts

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 closed beta impressions -- Elisabeth's thoughts originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredguild-wars-2-previewMon, 20 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A closer look at Guild Wars 2 world vs. world PvP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/a-closer-look-at-guild-wars-2-world-vs-world-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/a-closer-look-at-guild-wars-2-world-vs-world-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/a-closer-look-at-guild-wars-2-world-vs-world-pvp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Trebuchets lob death over the battlements of Stonemist Castle, the gigantic central stronghold in the Mists.
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.

Continue reading A closer look at Guild Wars 2 world vs. world PvP

MassivelyA closer look at Guild Wars 2 world vs. world PvP originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetarenanet-blogGuild-Wars-2guild-wars-2-previewgw2loremechanicsncsoftnewsplayer-vs-playerpvpseigethe-mistsworld-vs-worldwvwThu, 16 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST