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 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[ArenaNet president defends microtransactions and in-game RMT in Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/guild-wars-2-president-defends-microtransactions-and-in-game-rmt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/guild-wars-2-president-defends-microtransactions-and-in-game-rmt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/guild-wars-2-president-defends-microtransactions-and-in-game-rmt/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guild Wars 2
MMOs have to make money; that's a fact of life (and of business) ArenaNet President Mike O'Brien knows quite well. In an interview with VentureBeat, O'Brien explained how the studio is handling the monetization for Guild Wars 2 and blasts RMT companies for their practices.

O'Brien addressed why Guild Wars 2 is being offered not as a straight free-to-play title but as a retail product with an up-front cost. "The answer is we're really focused on creating the highest-quality MMO, not the lowest-cost MMO," he replied. "I think Guild Wars 2 is one of the best values in gaming, period. Where else can you get this many hours of enjoyment, of content, of polish, of replayability, for $60?"

He also took the opportunity to expand upon his own blog post covering microtransactions from a few weeks ago. "Creating a microtransaction system that doesn't upset or alienate your player base is straightforward, once you clearly define what's in-bounds and what's out-of-bounds," O'Brien stated. He says that ArenaNet wants to be "open and honest" with players regarding the in-game store options and promises that these will be "non-essential additions to the game and convenience services" only.

O'Brien also had strong words about the shady practices of RMT companies, practices that ArenaNet is trying to combat by offering its own in-game RMT system. "Where there's a real profit incentive, someone out there in the world will lie, cheat, and steal to make that profit, " he said. "By letting players trade directly with each other, we take the power away from RMT companies and give it to the entire playerbase."

MassivelyArenaNet president defends microtransactions and in-game RMT in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbetabusiness-modelbusiness-modelscash-shopfantasyguild-wars-2gw2in-game-storeinterviewitem-shopmicrotransactionMicrotransactionsmike-o-brienmike-obrienmonetizationncsoftreal-money-tradingrmtventurebeatTue, 22 May 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Take a behind-the-scenes tour of ArenaNet's (totally awesome) offices]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/take-a-behind-the-scenes-tour-of-arenanets-totally-awesome-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/take-a-behind-the-scenes-tour-of-arenanets-totally-awesome-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/take-a-behind-the-scenes-tour-of-arenanets-totally-awesome-of/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I want to go to there.
Guild Wars 2 fans are surely champing at the bit to get their hands on the game next week in the game's first public beta weekend, but you know what's cooler than taking part in GW2's beta weekends? Doing so at ArenaNet's offices in Seattle, which is exactly what the folks at Eurogamer got to do just recently.

Not only did they get the opportunity to sit down and play the Guild Wars 2 beta with the team, but they also got the chance to chat with many of the key figures behind it all. Virtually every department of development is represented in the lengthy article, which includes interviews with head honcho Mike O'Brien, QA manager Mike Zadorojny, art director Daniel Dociu, lead content designer Colin Johanson, and many, many more. So if you're interested in a behind-the-scenes look at the studio behind what could be this year's biggest MMO, just head on over and check out the full piece.

MassivelyTake a behind-the-scenes tour of ArenaNet's (totally awesome) offices originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbehind-the-scenescolin-johansondaniel-dociufantasyguild-wars-2gw2interviewinterviewsmike-obrienmike-zmike-zadorojnyncsoftstudioMon, 23 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet clarifies Guild Wars 2 CE pre-purchase options]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/arenanet-clarifies-guild-wars-2-ce-pre-purchase-options/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/arenanet-clarifies-guild-wars-2-ce-pre-purchase-options/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/arenanet-clarifies-guild-wars-2-ce-pre-purchase-options/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 - angry pre-purchase customers
There's been a bit of confusion concerning Guild Wars 2 collector's edition pre-purchases of late. ArenaNet's Mike O'Brien took to Reddit earlier tonight to address the issues, and he had plenty to say about retailer reservations as well as the fact that Amazon isn't listing the CE.

The long and short of it is that any retailer that is distributing keys prior to the April 10th street date is violating said street date "and risks losing [its] allocation of keys." That said, ANet can't stop stores from taking reservations, but O'Brien says unequivocally that "a reservation is not the same as a pre-purchase."

As far as the Amazon situation goes, O'Brien explains that the company was simply unable to deliver digital codes at the time of purchase in addition to physical boxes on release day, so ANet has "reallocated [its] units to other retailers." Finally, O'Brien provides a link to some pre-purchase CE alternatives.

MassivelyArenaNet clarifies Guild Wars 2 CE pre-purchase options originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetcollectors-editionfantasyguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-collectors-editiongw2mike-obrienncsoftFri, 06 Apr 2012 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet expands on microtransactions in Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/arenanet-expands-on-microtransactions-in-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/arenanet-expands-on-microtransactions-in-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/arenanet-expands-on-microtransactions-in-guild-wars-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2
ArenaNet has put up a new blog post with information about Guild Wars 2's cash shop system as well as some of the philosophy behind the game's microtransaction design. Mike O'Brien, ArenaNet president and Guild Wars 2 executive producer, started off the post by saying that the microtransaction system will be part of this month's closed beta event, then went on to talk about the hows and whys of the system.

ArenaNet's approach is this: Microtransactions are run on a currency of gems, which are purchased with physical-world money and traded in various quantities for the goods and account services available. Players also have the option of trading their purchased gems for in-game gold -- and purchase gems with in-game gold.
"If you want something, whether it's an in-game item or a microtransaction, you ultimately have two ways to get it: you can play to earn gold or you can use money to buy gems. We think that's important, because it lets more players participate on a level playing field, whether they use their free time or their disposable income to do it."
As to the micro-transaction items themselves, O'Brien steered away from specifics. He mentioned things like visual distinction and expression as well as account services (which we saw plenty of in the original Guild Wars) and "time-saving convenience items" while adding that ArenaNet is opposed to the idea of requiring players to spend cash in order to maintain an even playing field.

MassivelyArenaNet expands on microtransactions in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetcash-shopfantasygemgemsguild-wars-2gw2micro-transactionmike-obrienmtxncsoftTue, 20 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: What lies ahead]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/flameseeker-chronicles-what-lies-ahead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/flameseeker-chronicles-what-lies-ahead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/flameseeker-chronicles-what-lies-ahead/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Pre-Searing
To say last week was exciting for Guild Wars 2 fans is a bit of an understatement. Mike O'Brien gave the community the news it's been dying to hear, Ree Soesbee told us all about the Jotun (no, seriously, I hate those guys and their stupid KDs), and... well, some other things happened too.

We've got lots to talk about, so hit the jump and let's dive right in.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: What lies ahead

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: What lies ahead originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetarenanet-guild-wars2featuredflameseeker-chroniclesguild-wars2guildwars2gwgw2mike-obrienncsoftree-soesbeeMon, 30 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 confirmed for 2012, public beta coming [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/guild-wars-2-confirmed-for-2012-public-beta-coming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/guild-wars-2-confirmed-for-2012-public-beta-coming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/guild-wars-2-confirmed-for-2012-public-beta-coming/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

OMGOMGOMG
ArenaNet founder and president Mike O'Brien rocked the Guild Wars 2 community very early this morning with a blog post celebrating 2012 as the year of the dragon and the official launch year for Guild Wars 2.

Guild Wars 2 recently finished up a very small closed beta test, and now ArenaNet is planning to start opening the testing doors wider very quickly: "In February we'll invite select press to participate in beta testing, and in March and April we'll aggressively ramp up the size of our beta test events so that many of you will have a chance to participate."

This all leads up to the event fans have been eagerly awaiting on the edge of their seats: a 2012 launch for Guild Wars 2, according to O'Brien. He wrapped up the blog post with words guaranteed to put a big smile on the face of every fan: "So welcome to the Year of the Dragon - the year of Guild Wars 2."

[Update: Martin Kerstein has further clarified ANet's plans on the GW2 Guru forums, reminding players that "public beta events" does not mean "unlimited open beta." He does say that at least some of these events will be in the form of weekend testing events.]

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 confirmed for 2012, public beta coming [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetarenanet-guild-wars2closed-betaguild-wars-2-2012-launchguild-wars-2-launchguild-wars2guildwars2gw2gw2-launchlaunchmike-o-brienmike-obrienMon, 23 Jan 2012 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mike O'Brien discusses the business of ArenaNet]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/mike-obrien-discusses-the-business-of-arenanet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/mike-obrien-discusses-the-business-of-arenanet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/mike-obrien-discusses-the-business-of-arenanet/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's hard to become invested in MMOs and video games without learning something about the industry at play -- an industry of repeated layoffs and mergers, acquisitions and shuffling ownership, and a whole lot of passion and drama over seemingly inconsequential subject matter. The acquisition of PopCap by Electronic Arts last week prompted The Seattle Times to conduct an interview with Mike O'Brien of ArenaNet, known for the highly anticipated Guild Wars 2 and the already quite successful Guild Wars, about acquisition, corporate oversight, and the life of a smaller studio moving into big waters.

As O'Brien puts it, the decision to seek outside funding from the start was a direct result of the scale and scope of the Guild Wars project. Rather than trying to scramble for resources to create a big project that could compete, the studio went for a company that seemed like it would appreciate their way of doing business. And O'Brien has nothing but positive things to say about the working relationship between his studio and NCsoft -- although he's very aware of what can happen when a small studio gets bought by a larger organization. The full interview should be of interest to anyone who follows the industry... and like we said, that's a good part of the MMO crowd.

MassivelyMike O'Brien discusses the business of ArenaNet originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbusinessbusiness-discussionscorporategame-industryguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2industryMike-obrienmmo-industryncsoftMon, 18 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[An ArenaNet retrospective: "We're not a video game company, we're a community building company"]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/06/an-arenanet-retrospective-were-not-a-video-game-company-wer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/06/an-arenanet-retrospective-were-not-a-video-game-company-wer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/06/an-arenanet-retrospective-were-not-a-video-game-company-wer/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

"I don't think I've seen a studio more passionate about its work."

Massively contributing editor Larry Everett made this comment regarding ArenaNet in our recent Staff Choice Awards, and his timing couldn't have been better. ArenaNet has begun 2011 in a big way with the ArenaNet retrospective. The 15-minute video is a trip back in time to the earliest days of ArenaNet and Guild Wars, but it doesn't stop there. Over 20 ArenaNet team members give their perspectives on where the company has been, where it's going, the company's take on Guild Wars 2, and what makes it great.

If you loved the Manifesto video, you're likely going to find this one an even bigger treat. Follow along after the jump to see the ArenaNet retrospective video and Massively's take on it.

Continue reading An ArenaNet retrospective: "We're not a video game company, we're a community building company"

MassivelyAn ArenaNet retrospective: "We're not a video game company, we're a community building company" originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-j-thompsonanetarenanetarenanet-retrospectivebob-steinchris-lyecolin-johansondaniel-dociuemily-diehleric-flannumguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2horia-dociuisaiah-cartwrightjason-stokesjeff-grubbkaty-hargrovekekai-kotakukristen-perrymike-obrienMike-Zadorojnyncsoftrandy-priceree-soesbeerichard-andersonvideoThu, 06 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: The movers and shakers of 2010]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/30/the-perfect-ten-the-movers-and-shakers-of-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/30/the-perfect-ten-the-movers-and-shakers-of-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/30/the-perfect-ten-the-movers-and-shakers-of-2010/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Even though MMOs are the products of great teams of talented workers -- from sound artists to writers -- it's inevitable that a few of the people behind the curtain step out into the limelight. It's a smart move, really; it provides a personal face for people to associate with the game, it keeps messages consistent, and it draws any potential hate onto one person instead of the team at large.

It stands to reason that these public figures end up being some of the major movers and shakers in the industry because of their high-profile positions. From CEOs to community managers, these are the people with power to make decisions, the voice to change opinions, and the personalities to inspire millions.

Oh, that last sentence is pure poetry. Let's re-read it again, shall we?

So in our last Perfect Ten of the year, I've asked the Massively team to compile a list of the 10 biggest MMO movers and shakers of this year. All of these people now owe us cupcakes of gratitude. (Legal Disclaimer: This does not signify a binding cupcake-blogger contract.)

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: The movers and shakers of 2010

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: The movers and shakers of 2010 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>30-studiosage-of-conanaocarenanetask-crypticbiowarebioware-mythicbree-profred-this-tgachampionschampions-onlinechris-caocoocraig-morrisoncraig-zinkievichcrypticcryptic-studioscupcakecupcake-contractcurt-schillingdan-ericksondan-stahldaniel-ericksondaniel-stahldark-side-of-the-forcedc-universe-onlinedcuoddodungeon-fighter-onlinedungeons-and-dragons-onlineea-biowareend-of-the-yearend-of-the-year-2010engineering-reportseq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfourth-pillarfree-to-playfuncomguild-warsguild-wars-2jack-emmertkate-paizlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromabinogimaplestorymike-obrienmin-kimneverwinternexonnexon-nanexon-north-americapaizperfect-10perfect-tenrhode-islandriftrift-planes-of-telarascott-hartsmanstar-trek-onlinestar-wars-the-old-republicstoswtorthe-old-republicthe-perfect-tentortriontrion-worldsturbinevindictusworld-of-warcraftThu, 30 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: PAX 2010 travel diary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/06/flameseeker-chronicles-pax-2010-travel-diary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/06/flameseeker-chronicles-pax-2010-travel-diary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/06/flameseeker-chronicles-pax-2010-travel-diary/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's Sunday night and PAX is over. My iPhone and laptop are screaming for mercy. It's been a wild ride, I have the Con Crud, my feet hurt so much I keep checking to make sure they're not stumps, and all I want is to turn the clock back to last Friday so I can do it again.

I had appointments and interviews with so many different game studios, and I was excited about every single one of them, but you guys know I was making Guild Wars 2 a top priority. I squeezed in time to indulge at every opportunity and have a lot to say.

When I was spending time with Guild Wars 2 this weekend, something struck me over and over. Every employee whom ArenaNet could possibly spare from the office was there in force. I asked at one point and was told that every person wearing that white shirt was an ArenaNet employee. They were out there doing everything they could to spend time with the fans, and more than one developer told me that it was a huge thrill to finally be able to share all of this with people who love it as much as they do. The inability to share all of this exciting news has been as frustrating for them as it was for us, but it was for a good cause, and I think every fan at PAX this weekend agreed it was worth the wait.

With that in mind, it was an easy decision to share my weekend experiences and photos with you guys for today's Flameseeker Chronicles. Follow along after the jump while I go find more Nyquil.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: PAX 2010 travel diary

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: PAX 2010 travel diary originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetcolin-johansonelijah-milleremily-diehlfeaturedgameplayguild-wars-2gw2hands-onjohn-corpeningjon-petersmartin-kersteinmike-obrienMike-Zadorojnyncsoftpaxpax-2010pax-primepax-prime-2010regina-buenaobratirzah-bauerMon, 06 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[This game will care that you're there: Our look at the Guild Wars 2 manifesto]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/this-game-will-care-that-youre-there-our-look-at-the-guild-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/this-game-will-care-that-youre-there-our-look-at-the-guild-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/this-game-will-care-that-youre-there-our-look-at-the-guild-war/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Earlier this week, ArenaNet promised a new Guild Wars 2 video. That announcement came with a warning: no, it's not a new class reveal, and many fans were pretty disappointed. What could possibly serve as an adequate substitute for a class reveal? It's safe to say that the disappointment was blown out of the water yesterday with the unveiling of the MMO Manifesto and the Walking the Walk blog post.

Merriam-Webster defines the word manifesto as a "a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer," but when the word is used in context, there are usually strong feelings behind those intentions. Revolutionary, groundbreaking, and change are words associated with such a thing, and it was a word well-chosen by ArenaNet with this newest reveal.

Follow along after the jump as we take a closer look at what ArenaNet showed us yesterday.

Continue reading This game will care that you're there: Our look at the Guild Wars 2 manifesto

MassivelyThis game will care that you're there: Our look at the Guild Wars 2 manifesto originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetarenanet-blogcolin-johansondaniel-dociufeaturedghosts-of-ascalonguild-warsguild-wars-2gw2manifestomike-obrienncsoftree-soesbeetrailervideoWed, 11 Aug 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 video features developers and new gameplay footage]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/10/guild-wars-2-video-features-developers-and-new-gameplay-footage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/10/guild-wars-2-video-features-developers-and-new-gameplay-footage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/10/guild-wars-2-video-features-developers-and-new-gameplay-footage/#commentsFiled under: , ,

You know all those quotes and images ArenaNet has been teasing us with the past few days? Well, we finally found out what that was all about -- the promised Guild Wars 2 video was finally released.


We've known for a long time that the design goals for Guild Wars 2 were to make something bigger and better than what we've come to expect from an MMO. A truly immersive story in which the world around you isn't made up of blocks of quest text, oblivious NPCs, and enemies who loiter in a field waiting for you to come attack.

In the new video from ArenaNet, we hear more on this plan straight from the developers: Mike O'Brien, Daniel Dociu, Colin Johanson, and Ree Soesbee. Follow along after the jump to hear what they have to say, and check out the beautiful new gameplay footage in the video.

Continue reading Guild Wars 2 video features developers and new gameplay footage

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 video features developers and new gameplay footage originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetcolin-johansondaniel-dociuguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-videogw2mike-obrienncsoftree-soesbeeTue, 10 Aug 2010 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 news coming this week?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/17/guild-wars-2-news-coming-this-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/17/guild-wars-2-news-coming-this-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/17/guild-wars-2-news-coming-this-week/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


It has been such a long time since we've heard anything on ArenaNet's Guild Wars 2. In fact, the game has been so quiet over the years (yes, it has been over 2 years) that we often find ourselves reporting on every single tidbit we find, and then some.

Well, now we get official word from ArenaNet's president himself that solid news is coming. According to Mike O'Brien's wiki talk page, we should expect some information on Guild Wars 2 in what he's calling "an exciting week ahead". With PAX coming in two short weeks, could this be an announcement of GW2 being shown there? We're excited to find out ourselves, but in the mean time, check out the animated logo on the main Guild Wars 2 website, and follow along after the jump for Mike O'Brien's exact quote.

Continue reading Guild Wars 2 news coming this week?

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 news coming this week? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenanetbreakingbreakingnewsguild-warsguild-wars-2mike-obrienncsoftpax-2009Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Your thoughts on Jeff Strain's NCsoft departure?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/13/the-daily-grind-your-thoughts-on-jeff-strains-ncsoft-departure/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/13/the-daily-grind-your-thoughts-on-jeff-strains-ncsoft-departure/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/13/the-daily-grind-your-thoughts-on-jeff-strains-ncsoft-departure/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As we've reported on for the past two days, ArenaNet co-founder Jeff Strain has left his position at NCsoft and is moving on to new pastures. While his former co-founding partner, Mike O'Brien, has said pretty affirmatively that his departure won't affect the development of Guild Wars 2, we're still interested in what you think of all of this.

It's certainly a very sudden and unexpected move, especially when you take into account the departure of David Reid as well, even if they both left for unrelated reasons. With Aion coming closer and closer to a launch in the United States, and NCsoft pushing to be #2 in the realm of subscription numbers, the timing for these departures seems to be odd.

But, we're not going to waste this space with our thoughts, we want yours! Drop what you think of all of this into the comment box below, and let your voices ring across the internet!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Your thoughts on Jeff Strain's NCsoft departure? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionarenanetdavid-reidguild-warsguild-wars-2jeff-strainmike-obriennc-westncsoftncsoft-westopinionsubscription-numbersthe-daily-grindThu, 13 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet's co-founder comments on Jeff Strain's departure from NCsoft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/12/arenanets-co-founder-comments-on-jeff-strains-departure-from-n/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/12/arenanets-co-founder-comments-on-jeff-strains-departure-from-n/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/12/arenanets-co-founder-comments-on-jeff-strains-departure-from-n/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

As we reported on yesterday, Jeff Strain, the co-founder of ArenaNet, has parted ways with NCsoft. Jeff's visions were certainly a driving factor behind ArenaNet's growth and Guild Wars production, but it's important to note that his leaving will not directly impact ArenaNet, as he has been away from the company and paired with NCsoft West since 2008.

On the tails of his departure comes a comment from Mike O'Brien, ArenaNet's other founder and Jeff's long time friend. Mike not only sends well wishes to his former founding partner, but also reaffirms that Guild Wars 2 production will not be affected by Jeff's departure. Mike has even gone as far to say that we're getting close to finally getting tangible news on their new masterpiece.

Mike's full statement can be found after the break.

[Thanks Goonja!]

Continue reading ArenaNet's co-founder comments on Jeff Strain's departure from NCsoft

MassivelyArenaNet's co-founder comments on Jeff Strain's departure from NCsoft originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenanetbreakingdepartureguild-warsguild-wars-2jeff-strainmike-obriennc-westncsoft-westWed, 12 Aug 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet sets record straight on Guild Wars 2 'delay']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/17/arenanet-sets-record-straight-on-guild-wars-2-delay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/17/arenanet-sets-record-straight-on-guild-wars-2-delay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/17/arenanet-sets-record-straight-on-guild-wars-2-delay/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

How can you delay a game that never had a set release date to begin with? This is the logic ArenaNet's Mike O'Brien pointed out in a recent open letter to Guild Wars 2 fans. Speculation about the 'delay' began late last week when ArenaNet's parent company, NCsoft, released their Q4 2008 financials that scheduled a 2010-2011 release for GW2.

Guild Wars 2 was originally announced in March 2007 alongside Guild Wars' first expansion titled Eye of the North. At the time, PC Gamer magazine confirmed that ArenaNet was hoping for GW2 to go into beta in the second half of 2008. When June 2008 rolled around, the official GW2 FAQ was updated to say that a beta would not be commencing in 2008 as originally planned. During NCsoft's earning call, it was stated that while they originally intended to make GW2 a sequel, it really became a whole new game in development. Mike O'Brien stated in his letter that the game will be ready "when it's done" and not any sooner. "Guild Wars 2 is a large and ambitious game, and we're going to take the time to do it right."

MassivelyArenaNet sets record straight on Guild Wars 2 'delay' originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenanetguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2mike-obrienncsoftTue, 17 Feb 2009 11:00:00 EST