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[Jukebox Heroes: Guild Wars Prophecies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/28/jukebox-heroes-guild-wars-prophecies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/28/jukebox-heroes-guild-wars-prophecies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/28/jukebox-heroes-guild-wars-prophecies/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Jukebox Heroes Guild Wars Prophecies
What's that, you say? A cheap tie-in, you say? Oh, pish posh. It just so happens that I appreciate the rich oeuvre of Jeremy Soule, and the alignment of the planets is...

OK, it's a cheap tie-in. I can't help it; Guild Wars has been on my mind this past week, and since the full Guild Wars 2 soundtrack has yet to ship for DirectSong, this will do. Besides, as we well know, music doesn't age at the same pace as games. So why not hit up a soundtrack for the first Guild Wars while we dive into the sequel?

At the risk of understatement, I think it's safe to say Jeremy Soule is somewhat well-known in the field of gaming. As a composer, he's tackled projects like Knights of the Old Republic, Icewind Dale, and the last three Elder Scrolls titles. In the Guild Wars community, he is the voice of the musical soul of the game.

His compositions are the stuff of heaven: full, ethereal, dreamy. It's almost impossible to separate Soule's work on Guild Wars: Prophecies from the game, especially for those who played Prophecies extensively since its 2005 release. I'll be eager to digest and report on his newest work when it arrives, but until then, let's sample the highlights of his first foray into Tyria.

Continue reading Jukebox Heroes: Guild Wars Prophecies

MassivelyJukebox Heroes: Guild Wars Prophecies originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ascaloncomposercomposersdaniel-dociudirectsongelder-scrollsfeaturedgame-musicguild-wars-propheciesicewind-dalejeremy-soulejukeboxjukebox-heroesjustin-olivettiKnights-of-the-Old-Republicmmo-jukeboxmmo-musicmusicopinionpropheciesskyrimsoundtracksoundtrackssquaresofttyriaTue, 28 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: A brief history of Guild Wars 2's Tyria]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/07/flameseeker-chronicles-a-brief-history-of-tyria/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/07/flameseeker-chronicles-a-brief-history-of-tyria/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/07/flameseeker-chronicles-a-brief-history-of-tyria/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

From Giganticus Lupicus to Guild Wars 2
I see a lot of questions about whether or not people who want to play Guild Wars 2 should jump into the original in the (increasingly diminishing) time left before launch. I don't think there's really a one-size-fits-all answer to that question. For those of you who are worried about missing a bunch of lore and history, however, I can do a little to help with an introduction to Tyria, its history, and the events leading up to Guild Wars 2. This won't be exhaustive (see the word brief in the title?), but it might help you understand what the dragon nonsense is about and what's going on with the world you're stepping into. Except where events had exceptional impact, this focuses mostly on what happened in the continent (not the entire world) of Tyria.

I hope it goes without saying that there are lore spoilers ahead, as well as Guild Wars campaign spoilers.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: A brief history of Guild Wars 2's Tyria

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: A brief history of Guild Wars 2's Tyria originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-brief-history-of-tyriaabaddonanetarenanetcataclysmfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesflameseeker-propheciesglintgod-bless-the-wiki-communityguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-loreguild-wars-propheciesgwgw-loregw1gw2historykrytaloremagicncsoftNO-REALLY-SPOILERSopinionpre-searingpropheciessearingshining-bladeSPOILERSstorystorylinethe-cataclysmthe-forgottenthe-godsthe-miststhe-rifttyriawhite-mantleTue, 07 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fan documents visual changes between Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/fan-documents-visual-changes-between-guild-wars-and-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/fan-documents-visual-changes-between-guild-wars-and-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/fan-documents-visual-changes-between-guild-wars-and-guild-wars-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guild Wars
As many Guild Wars players know, Guild Wars 2 takes place in the same world and often in the same areas -- just 250 years after its predecessor. Because of this, ArenaNet elected not to wipe the slate clean and start over with 100% new environments but instead to incorporate old locales and landmarks into its upcoming game.

Guild Wars fan Claire became fascinated with this concept and has dedicated a new blog to documenting all of the visual changes in the world between the first and second game. It's called Project Tyria, and each post consists of several Guild Wars locales contrasted with screenshots of the same areas from the sequel.

Claire writes, "I've always loved the graphics of the Guild Wars games and have grown to love the world of Tyria. We were there in the before times, and now we arrive again in the after."

It's fascinating to see how ArenaNet has envisioned 250 years taking its toll on the monuments, cities, and vales of the original game; realizing the importance of keeping the world accurate for the hardcore fans seems to be a noted priority for the team. Head over to Project Tyria to see more on the comparison screenshots.

MassivelyFan documents visual changes between Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetcompare-and-contrastcomparisonfan-blogfan-sitefansitefantasyguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2ncsoftproject-tyriascreenshotstyriaMon, 21 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Player's real-life journey honored in Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/players-real-life-journey-honored-in-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/players-real-life-journey-honored-in-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/players-real-life-journey-honored-in-guild-wars-2/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Guild Wars 2
Guild Wars player Kelly Wells became inspired to go on a real-life adventure due to her explorations of Tyria and an encouraging TED talk -- and so she did it. Starting from Maine, Wells and her faithful dog crossed America to California by foot, ending the trip with a visit to ArenaNet in Seattle. The developers were so impressed by Wells' journey that they decided to make her part of Guild Wars 2.

In a new ArenaNet blog post, Lead Content Designer Colin Johanson shares how bowled over the devs were when they met Wells and why her epic journey had to become part of Guild Wars 2. "If we all took that perspective on life, deciding to make positive changes and refusing to let anything get in our way, it'd be amazing to see how much we'd all be able to accomplish," Johanson said. The team then collaborated to come up with a similar figure for its upcoming title.

Thus was born Ameranth, a Sylvari explorer who traverses the width of Tyria with her trusty dog, Anna. When players encounter her, Ameranth is known to say, "Ever since emerging from the Pale Tree, I've had the itch to see what the world has to offer. And what better way than with my own two feet?"

MassivelyPlayer's real-life journey honored in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AmeranthanetarenanetbetaColin-Johansonfantasyguild-wars-2gw2inspirationaljourneyKelly-Wellsncsoftted-talktyriawalk-across-americawalk-across-tyriaWed, 16 May 2012 17:00:00 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[The Daily Grind: Are you playing GW in anticipation of GW2?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/the-daily-grind-are-you-playing-gw-in-anticipation-of-gw2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/the-daily-grind-are-you-playing-gw-in-anticipation-of-gw2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/the-daily-grind-are-you-playing-gw-in-anticipation-of-gw2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars - Ranger pre-Searing
So last week was basically Guild Wars 2 week around these parts. There were the press beta reveals, ArenaNet's 48-hour beta signup blitz, and a general we-can't-wait-for-this-game vibe in the air.

All of that conspired to drive me back into the world of Tyria for the first time in six years, and after I patched the original Guild Wars client, I spent a few hours poking around the pre-Searing bits of the Prophecies campaign.

What about you, Massively crew? Assuming you're not in the Guild Wars 2 beta, are you getting ready by playing (or replaying) the original game?

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: Are you playing GW in anticipation of GW2? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenanetbetadaily-grindfantasyfeaturedgame-discussiongamer-discussionguild-warsguild-wars-2mmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicspre-searingpropheciestdgthe-daily-grindtyriaTue, 28 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet blog update details changes to Guild Wars 2's boons and conditions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/arenanet-blog-update-details-changes-to-guild-wars-2s-boons-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/arenanet-blog-update-details-changes-to-guild-wars-2s-boons-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/arenanet-blog-update-details-changes-to-guild-wars-2s-boons-and/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 - downed state
ArenaNet has just released a new blog post to follow up its first Guild Wars 2 press beta weekend. Lead designer Eric Flannum says that the preview event went off without a hitch, and he also indicates that the dev team has a lot on its plate as it gears up to bring the game to a wider audience.

He starts things off with a look at Guild Wars 2's unique "downed" mode, which is basically a pre-death state wherein you have a limited selection of abilities to rally and potentially save yourself. The blog goes on to detail changes to the game's compass, tweaks to its meta-events, and an extensive look at the updates to boons and conditions. Head to the official ArenaNet website for all the details.

MassivelyArenaNet blog update details changes to Guild Wars 2's boons and conditions originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arena-netarenanetboonscompassconditionsdev-blogdev-diarydowneddowned-modeeric-flannumfantasyguild-wars-2gw2tyriaTue, 21 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Have media impressions affected your excitement level for Guild Wars 2?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/the-daily-grind-have-media-impressions-affected-your-excitement/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/the-daily-grind-have-media-impressions-affected-your-excitement/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/the-daily-grind-have-media-impressions-affected-your-excitement/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 - Elementalist concept art
So our first official Guild Wars 2 impression pieces are in the books, and boy was there a lot to digest after ArenaNet's press preview weekend.

Whether you're anxious to discover more about the game's combat, intrigued by an MMO that lacks dedicated healers, or looking forward to a transformed Tyria some 250 years after the original Guild Wars, there is plenty to chew on.

Even those of us on the periphery of a game's fan community can get caught up in the pre-release groundswell, and though I've barely played the original game, I find myself quite intrigued by the reports coming from my colleagues. What about you, Massively readers? If you weren't already on board the fan train (or even if you were), has the recent media coverage upped your excitement level for Guild Wars 2?

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: Have media impressions affected your excitement level for Guild Wars 2? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arena-netarenanetbetadaily-grindfantasygame-discussiongamer-discussionguild-wars-2guildwars2impressionsmmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicstdgthe-daily-grindtyriaTue, 21 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2's Asura Week continues with a look at environmental concepts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/guild-wars-2s-asura-week-continues-with-a-look-at-environmental/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/guild-wars-2s-asura-week-continues-with-a-look-at-environmental/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/guild-wars-2s-asura-week-continues-with-a-look-at-environmental/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 - Asura environment art
Asura Week continues today with another blog entry from ArenaNet's Matt Barrett. While yesterday's update looked at conceptualizing the floppy-earred cutelings themselves, today's blurb is all about their environmental art.

Asuran design is heavily influenced by ancient Hindu architecture and features "massive stone columns, intricate, masterful carvings, and a sense of being inside a mountain," Barrett explains, before going on to share several thumbnail sketches and designs for more specific in-game props. While most of Barrett's showcase is in black and white, he does do color pieces as well, primarily toward the beginning of the conceptual process. After that, he says, "it's much more economical to explore designs in grayscale."

So what is it that makes Asura tick, according to the ArenaNet's art department? They're "mad with ambition to harness the power of the planet, and they have all the best tools with which to do it."

On a lighter note, today's update also features an Asura advice column filled to the brim with pearls of wisdom about everything from lemonade turrets to grawl-infested cabbage crops. Head to the official Guild Wars 2 website for the full Asura experience.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2's Asura Week continues with a look at environmental concepts originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arena-netarenanetartasuraasura-weekconcept-artenvironmental-artenvironmental-conceptsfantasyguild-wars-2gw2matt-barrettmatthew-barretttyriaTue, 13 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet releases third Guild Wars 2 sound design dev diary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/04/arenanet-releases-third-guild-wars-2-sound-design-dev-diary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/04/arenanet-releases-third-guild-wars-2-sound-design-dev-diary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/04/arenanet-releases-third-guild-wars-2-sound-design-dev-diary/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

ArenaNet's third and final Guild Wars 2 sound design dev diary is live without a net on the company's official blog, and today's installment comes through with an interesting conclusion to the sonically inspired trilogy.

The piece is clearly written by and for sound geeks, and we mean that in the nicest possible way (as some of the terminology left us scratching our heads). Lead sound designer Drew Cady and sound engineer Robert Gay are our guides to everything from voice processing, to mastering, to parallel processing. We're not sure what the heck any of that means either, but we're confident you'll get it if you go read the blog right now.

If you're in a rush, the long and short of it is that ArenaNet is spending a lot of time, effort, and money on Guild Wars 2's sound design. Though gaming soundtracks are often drowned out by custom playlists and voice chat, Tyria's soundscape is shaping up to be one worth hearing.

MassivelyArenaNet releases third Guild Wars 2 sound design dev diary originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arena-netarena.netarenanetdev-blogdev-diarydrew-cadyfantasygeek-speakguild-wars-2gw2robert-gaysound-engineersoundscapesoundtracktech-talktyriaThu, 04 Aug 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet revealing Guild Wars 2 PvP and customization at Gamescom]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/arenanet-revealing-guild-wars-2-pvp-and-customization-at-gamesco/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/arenanet-revealing-guild-wars-2-pvp-and-customization-at-gamesco/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/arenanet-revealing-guild-wars-2-pvp-and-customization-at-gamesco/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Europe's largest game expo is getting ready for plenty of Guild Wars 2 goodness, as ArenaNet will be bringing its highly anticipated fantasy MMO to the Cologne convention that runs from August 17th to August 21st.

In a new post on the company blog, Martin Kerstein gives us an idea of what we can expect from the NCsoft demo booth. The playable GW2 build will include all seven professions revealed thus far, the complete Charr starter experience, and a mid-level demo featuring powerful Orrian enemies (and Sylvari and Asura playable characters).

Last but not least, gamers will finally get their hands on Guild Wars 2's character customization system as well as its PvP component. Hands-on PvP experiences will be available, and players can also watch exhibition matches between developers and select European players.

MassivelyArenaNet revealing Guild Wars 2 PvP and customization at Gamescom originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arena-netarena.netarenanetasuracharacter-customizationcharrcharr-starter-experiencedemoseventsfantasygamescomgamescom-2011guild-wars-2gw2martin-kersteinncsoftplayable-demoprofessionspvpreal-world-eventstyriaFri, 29 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: Eric Flannum on GW2's Engineer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/25/massively-exclusive-eric-flannum-on-gw2s-engineer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/25/massively-exclusive-eric-flannum-on-gw2s-engineer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/25/massively-exclusive-eric-flannum-on-gw2s-engineer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Unless you've been spelunking near the center of the earth for the past few days, you're likely aware that ArenaNet recently unveiled Guild Wars 2's seventh class. Chances are high that you're also aware of said class's affinity for turrets, guns, and various contraptions meant to rain death down upon any unfortunate enemies that cross its path.

Today, Massively presents a new interview with Guild Wars 2 lead designer Eric Flannum. Naturally, the guest of honor at this Tyrian banquet of exclusivity is the Engineer, and Flannum (along with several other ANet dignitaries) provides us with a few tasty mechanical appetizers before getting down to the lore-centric main course.

Bon appetit after the cut.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Eric Flannum on GW2's Engineer

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Eric Flannum on GW2's Engineer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 May 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andrew-mcleodanetarena-netarenanetclassesengineereric-flannumexclusivefeaturedgame-mechanicsguild-warsguild-wars-2gw2interviewjohnathan-sharpmike-fergusonncsoftthe-engineerturretturretstyriaWed, 25 May 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet talks Guild Wars 2 environment art]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/arenanet-talks-guild-wars-2-environment-art/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/arenanet-talks-guild-wars-2-environment-art/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/arenanet-talks-guild-wars-2-environment-art/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

There's a new Guild Wars 2 dev blog loose on the interwebs, and ArenaNet's Peter Fries has lots to say about the upcoming sequel's environment art. Fries paints a pretty picture of the game's locations, both literally and in the mind's eye of folks excited about ANet's decision to make Tyria more of an open world. "In the original Guild Wars, a map artist could cheat in places they knew a player could never reach, using unbacked facades or hollow props, but there are few parts of this game world that are inaccessible," Fries notes.

The blog entry gives us a high-level overview of the creation of a game map from prototype to finished product, and Fries says that environment artists were involved very early in the process (usually just after a level designer finished up with an initial three-dimensional sketch). We're also let in on the fact that ANet typically uses two environment artists working in tandem on a particular map, the better to shoulder the significant workload inherent in filling the landscape with minutiae.

Finally, we get a bit of a tease as to why location and location art matters, as Fries alludes to the history of Tyria and the continuity from the original game to the sequel. "Players who enjoyed the lore of Guild Wars will find plenty of relics from our game's history in the landscape of Guild Wars 2, sometimes tucked into surprising places," he says.

MassivelyArenaNet talks Guild Wars 2 environment art originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarena.netarenanetartdesigndetailsdev-blogdev-diaryenvironmental-artfantasygame-designguild-wars-2gw2location-artloremap-designncsoftopen-worldpeter-friestyriaWed, 27 Apr 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[It's a rat, it's a bat, it's Guild Wars 2's Skritt!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/05/its-a-rat-its-a-bat-its-guild-wars-2s-skritt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/05/its-a-rat-its-a-bat-its-guild-wars-2s-skritt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/05/its-a-rat-its-a-bat-its-guild-wars-2s-skritt/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Don't call them Bat-Men, Skaven or Reepicheep; you'll address them as "Skritt" and do it with respect if you know what's good for you.

In a new ArenaNet blog post, Ree Soesbee reveals the latest Guild Wars 2 monster to plague the land: the "horribly, wickedly tricksy" Skritt. Skritt are a humanoid blend of rats and bats that live in massive colonies under the surface of Tyria, emerging to mooch and presumably harvest spoons from their victims.

One interesting fact about this race is that Skritt share intelligence in an unknown way, and the more of them that congregate the smarter they become. It's this tenacity and hive-mind that have made them mortal enemies of the Asura, who are adamant that all Skritt be wiped out.

So what prompted the creation of Guild Wars 2's Skritt? "We hadn't explored the idea of a hive-mind in our world before, but we didn't want to just repeat the old standard-an insectoid race. We went through many ideas, and eventually settled on the concept of a rattus rattus based horde. A major consideration in their creation was that this race had to challenge the asura on their own terms, but not be just another super-intelligent species."

MassivelyIt's a rat, it's a bat, it's Guild Wars 2's Skritt! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetarenanet-blogasurabat-menbatmanguild-wars-2gw2hive-mindloremobmobsmonsterncsoftraceree-soesbeereepicheepskavenskritttyriawickedly-tricksyTue, 05 Apr 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 blog updates with Norn lore entry]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/guild-wars-2-blog-updates-with-norn-lore-entry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/guild-wars-2-blog-updates-with-norn-lore-entry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/guild-wars-2-blog-updates-with-norn-lore-entry/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The world of Tyria has long been possessed of deep and engaging lore, and the official ArenaNet blog has just updated with a bit more of the backstory that fans will be soaking up with the eventual release of Guild Wars 2. ANet's Ree Soesbee has penned a Norn-centric piece that offers a revealing look at the warrior race's affinity for the Spirits of the Wild.

Soesbee's update focuses on four of the more important Spirits -- bear, snow leopard, raven, and wolf -- and features three story vignettes to go along with a bit of intro exposition in each case. Head to the official ANet blog for the latest update as Norn week comes to a close.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 blog updates with Norn lore entry originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarena-netarenanetbackstoryguild-wars-2guildwars2gw2lorencsoftnornnorn-weekree-soesbeespiritsspirits-of-the-wildstorytyriaFri, 25 Feb 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Discussing Guild Wars 2 iconic characters with author J. Robert King]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/24/discussing-guild-wars-2-iconic-characters-with-author-j-robert/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/24/discussing-guild-wars-2-iconic-characters-with-author-j-robert/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/24/discussing-guild-wars-2-iconic-characters-with-author-j-robert/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Guild Wars lore constitutes stories -- nay, legends -- of remarkable heroism. The depth of this lore has entranced many a player of the game. ArenaNet created a world that enveloped the player in a setting that seemed greater than he. Guild Wars 2 will be no exception. Instantly, the player is surrounded by vivid characters and storylines that reach far beyond what he will ever see in-game. These amazing stories will be explored in a series of books. ArenaNet's Jeff Grubb recently sat down with the author of Edge of Destiny, J. Robert King, to discuss the characters and climate of the second novel based on events surrounding Guild Wars 2.

Earlier this year, we met the characters of Destiny's Edge, a motley crew from all walks of Tyria, in the Races trailer. King speaks in depth about each of the different characters and how he personally related to each of them. The author explains in the interview: "[ArenaNet] provided me all kinds of information and images of these characters, but I couldn't write about them until they were mine. And the team gave me the creative freedom to make the characters my own."

Definitely take some time to read the full interview on ArenaNet's site, and don't miss Massively's analysis of Edge of Destiny coming up in Monday's Flameseeker Chronicles.

MassivelyDiscussing Guild Wars 2 iconic characters with author J. Robert King originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetascalondestinys-edgeedge-of-destinyguild-warsGuild-Wars-2gwgw2iconic-charactersinterviewj-robert-kingjeff-grubbncsoftnovelracestyriaFri, 24 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars: Eye of the North gets Steamy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/09/guild-wars-eye-of-the-north-gets-steamy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/09/guild-wars-eye-of-the-north-gets-steamy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/09/guild-wars-eye-of-the-north-gets-steamy/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If you've been holding back from purchasing Guild Wars' first (and probably only) expansion pack, then you might want to reconsider. Guild Wars: Eye of the North not only is available on Steam for the first time, but is being offered for 33% off one week only, bringing the price down to $13.39 until October 15th. This is a better deal than the discount that NCsoft is offering on its own store, where GW:EotN is on sale for $19.99.

While not a full-fledged campaign, Eye of the North does offer a huge assortment of goodies, including new regions, tons of dungeons, dozens of new skills, additional heroes, and rare armor sets.

For players eagerly awaiting Guild Wars 2, it's definitely worth a trip back through the lands of Tyria, especially now that we're learning more about how the Hall of Monuments from Eye of the North will "pay forward" rewards and titles into Guild Wars 2.

MassivelyGuild Wars: Eye of the North gets Steamy originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 09 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenaneteye-of-the-northguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-eye-of-the-northgwgw2hall-of-monumentsncsoftpromotionsalesteamtyriaSat, 09 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Know Your Guild Wars Lore: In the beginning...]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/10/know-your-guild-wars-lore-in-the-beginning/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/10/know-your-guild-wars-lore-in-the-beginning/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/10/know-your-guild-wars-lore-in-the-beginning/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


In this week's Know Your Lore feature, we've decided to start our exploration of other games, besides just Lord of the Rings Online. This isn't to say we won't return to LotRO soon, but we'd just like to mix it up a bit and showcase the lore of other MMOs with deep stories as well. So this week we're exploring the lore of Guild Wars, a game with an extremely deep story, courtesy of the talented writers at ArenaNet like Jeff Grubb and Thadeus Lamount.

As announced at PAX last year, Guild Wars' lore is about to get a jump start soon with a series of new novels being published about the lore between GW1 and GW2. This is exciting for any Guild Wars fan as it places the game firmly within the status of other MMOs with their own novels, such as World of Warcraft, Warhammer Online and of course, Lord of the Rings Online. So we're going to kick off our journey into Guild Wars lore with an explanation of how it all began. How was the world of Tyria created? When did humans arrive, and where did the other creatures come from? Follow along below for more of our first looks at the lore of Guild Wars.

Continue reading Know Your Guild Wars Lore: In the beginning...

MassivelyKnow Your Guild Wars Lore: In the beginning... originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenanetfeaturedguild-warsjoystiqfeaturesknow-your-guild-wars-loreknow-your-lorencsofttyriaTue, 10 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Take a New Year's vacation in Guild Wars]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/01/take-a-new-years-vacation-in-guild-wars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/01/take-a-new-years-vacation-in-guild-wars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/01/take-a-new-years-vacation-in-guild-wars/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Have a bit of spare time early in this brand-new year? You might consider a vacation to the exotic locales of Guild Wars. The Gamer 2.0 site is featuring a humorous travelogue of parts of Cantha, Elona, and Tyria, with commentary on the suitability of various zones as travel destinations.

For more sights of Guild Wars, check out our own gallery below, or some of the highly talented screenshot artists plying their trade on Flickr. You never know what might be your next hot-spot for travel!

Gallery: Guild Wars Core Gallery

MassivelyTake a New Year's vacation in Guild Wars originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jan 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canthaelonaguild-warshumortyriavacationTue, 01 Jan 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Looking out on Wizard's Tower]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/28/one-shots-looking-out-on-wizards-tower/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/28/one-shots-looking-out-on-wizards-tower/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/28/one-shots-looking-out-on-wizards-tower/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Resident Guild Wars photographer Paul offers this shot of the Wizard's Tower as seen from Kessex Peak in Tyria. However, while it presents an interesting view from afar, there's currently no way to get inside. (If only they had flying mounts like in World of Warcraft!)

Do you have any images of unusual people or places in your favorite game? Send 'em our way (and for holiday shots, don't forget our holiday postcard contest!), so we can feature your screenshot and story for tomorrow's One Shots! It's easy to participate -- just send your screenshots and stories to oneshots@massively.com.

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: Looking out on Wizard's Tower originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Dec 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>guild-warskessex-peakncsoftone-shotstyriawizards-towerFri, 28 Dec 2007 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: An abandoned ship]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/15/one-shots-an-abandoned-ship/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/15/one-shots-an-abandoned-ship/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/15/one-shots-an-abandoned-ship/#commentsFiled under: , ,

,
Paul, who has sent us a number of shots from Guild Wars, offers for your consideration this shot of a ship, seen frozen into the ice, in Nightfall. He explains that this ship can be found in the southern Shiverpeaks of Tyri -- and that it looks a great deal like the ships from Factions. Interesting! It's the only reference that we know of for Factions inside of Nightfall.

Know of any out-of-the-way places in your favorite game?? We want to hear about it -- and see it! -- for our next edition of One Shots! Send your screenshots and stories to oneshots@massively.com. You may see it featured here tomorrow, same time, same place!

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: An abandoned ship originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Dec 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>factionsfeaturedguild-warsncsoftnightfallShiverpeaksTyriaSat, 15 Dec 2007 14:00:00 EST