Sign-Up for Guild Wars 2 Beta – Registration Open for 48 Hours Only!

I guess ArenaNet wasn’t kidding when it said it was dropping something huge today — You can now register on the beta sign-up page and get a chance to playtest Guild Wars 2 ahead of the unwashed masses.

Here’s the original tweet that set off the sign-up rush:
“The #GuildWars2 beta sign-up page is live! It will be open for 48 hours, so sign-up for a chance to get in! http://cot.ag/A7jwF7 ~RB”

How to Register for the Guild Wars 2 Beta

1. Visit the GW2 beta sign-up page.
2. Download the diagnostic tool (Scannertron.exe, 385 KB) that scans your PC hardware specs. Run the program, wait a couple of minutes for it to finish scanning, and then agree to send it to ArenaNet for data analysis.

What’s this for? ArenaNet has said that selection is not on a first-come, first-pick basis. Rather, “Testers are chosen based on development needs” [Source] They most likely want to check that the game runs smoothly in as many different set-ups as possible.

3. You will then be redirected to a beta profile page. Fill-up the form and click Submit.
4. Now the hardest part begins – the waiting! A confirmation e-mail will be sent out for the lucky chosen ones.

Guild Wars 2 Beta Sign-Up FAQs

Community reps have been busy responding to questions of all types, and we’re happy to help out in the info dissemination to save you the trouble of worrying and asking.

I’m forbidden from accessing the GW2 site!

Can I record videos and post a gajillion screenshots on Facebook?

Ascalon Catacombs – Dungeon Primer

The Ascalon Catacombs is the first of eight release day dungeons in Guild Wars 2, and is designed to be tackled by level 30 players in groups of up to five players each. Since the game has done away with traditional party roles, any combination of classes can team up and take on this five-boss PvE instance.

Watch this Ascalon Catacombs opening cinematic to learn of the dangers lurking in the haunted dungeon:

Go check out the new Ascalon Catacombs page to read it all! You don’t want to miss it!

What to Watch Out For

Puzzles

Traps and Cliffs

Repairs

Not Completely Predictable AI

Mob packs

Beta Development Update – New Changes Seen in First Beta Weekend

After binging on the Guild Wars 2 beta weekend video buffet, you may have noticed a few curious features that had not been previewed or elaborated before. Here’s where lead game designer Eric Flannum and the rest of the developer team come in, summarizing the nifty additions designed to make the game more awesome in a new ArenaNet beta development update.

Downed First before Completely Defeated

Compass

Meta-Events

Hidden Treasures

Boons and Conditions

 
Check out the ArenaNet Beta Development Update blog post below.
Beta Development Update | ArenaNet

GW2PC News Round-UP – The First Guild Wars 2 Beta

 

There’s been an avalanche of news following the recently concluded first-ever Guild Wars 2 beta weekend, so much that you might not even know where to start. Don’t worry; we’ve got the bases covered with our link recap of the most incisive beta impressions and riveting videos to come out of the playtest:

Beta Impressions

Beta Gameplay Videos and Guides

That’s easily a day’s worth of reading and watching for you, so be sure to take a break and hang out at the GW2PC forums where other fans are busy chatting what they’re loving about the beta. For more GW2 news and interviews check out the previous News Round-UP.

First Guild Wars 2 Beta Weekend Starts Now!

It’s no public beta, but the first-ever Guild Wars 2 limited beta starting today means that we’ll be seeing a lot more in-depth reviews and gorgeous screenshots!

The limited beta for Guild Wars 2 will last through the weekend through Sunday, and will involve a select group of playtesters and media reporters. There will be a short news embargo, according to, but after that the random press people who got invited (aka the chosen ones) will be flooding the blogosphere with hands-on tell-alls on what they really think about the game.

So far till now, most Guild Wars 2 coverage has revolved around the stunning art and breath-taking environments, but now that we’re inching closer to an open beta, expect videogame journalists including yours truly to start dissecting the finer points of the game like progression difficulty and class balance.

Playtesters, on the other hand, are still handcuffed with a stiff NDA. We imagine this will only be lifted once the wider beta weekend events begin. ArenaNet has said before that there will be no open beta in the traditional sense but it will holding successive beta weekends – similar to what other MMOs like Rift and SWTOR did — leading up to the launch date later this year.

Most likely you haven’t been selected to join this first beta weekend, but don’t fret! Lead designer Eric Flannum promised he will be posting a blow-by-blow recap of what you missed out. Then ArenaNet will follow that up with details on “an upcoming Guild Wars 2 beta event” that you won’t want to miss – which for us is code word for more beta invites so stay tuned!

Get Ready for World vs.World PvP Action in Guild Wars 2

Guild Wars 2 is a pretty ambitious game, but it might have outdone itself with its planned World vs. World PvP feature. Systems designer Mike Ferguson gave us a sneak peek at how this ambitious free-for-all mayhem will be implemented. Here’s a FAQ recap to help you sort it all out:

How Does it Work?
It will be a three-way fight between three server teams allowing for balance since “two teams to gang up to counter a more dominant third team.”

How Many Per Server Can Join?
Each team will be made up exclusively of players from one server, up to over a hundred at a time. All level ranges can jump in since their power will be re-adjusted, but not equally matched to, to help them survive vs. higher level characters.

What Does the Map Look Like?
It will take place in a “series of huge maps” in Mists, which is the Guild Wars 2 World vs World battleground. Check out the pictures below of the mammoth-scaled battleground.

How Can Server Teams Win?
Each server team can fulfill objectives that earn War Score points, which include everything from destroying base constructs and repairing walls. The team with the highest War Score points wins and earns the best rewards. Better-performing servers get ranked up and fight more competitive teams.

Will Guilds Play A Big Part?
Yes, guilds can “claim” a particular location in Mists, and install bonuses that will give players from their server an advantage while fighting in that section of the World vs. World battleground.

What’s In It For Me?
Killed player enemies will drop random loot. Winning server teams unlock buffs and bonuses for their whole world. And there’s little risk – you won’t drop your personal loot, just a generated treasure like what PvE mobs give out.

Check out the ArenaNet World Vs World blog post below.
Mike Ferguson on Guild Wars 2 World vs. World | ArenaNet

Guild Wars 2 Spanish Localization

ArenaNet announced today that they’ll be adding Spanish to the list of localizations along with German and French, it is also worth to mention that they stated voice content will remain English but be accompanied by Spanish subtitles.
 
Announced through the Guild Wars 2 Spanish Localization blog post, was also announced that ArenaNet is seeking a Spanish localization editor & a Spanish community manager.

Announcing Guild Wars 2 Spanish Localization | ArenaNet

GW2: The Developers Love It!

Awesome new video from Wartower has arrived!
Wartower had the chance to interview 30 Guild Wars 2 Developers at the 2011 Gamescom! Check it out.
“What do you love most about Guild Wars 2 and the work you put down for it. “

We had the chance to interview all the 30 Guild Wars 2 developers from ArenaNet that attended German video games trade fair gamescom in August 2011. We aked them but one simple question: What do you love most about Guild Wars 2 and the work you put down for it. Here are their answers. Enjoy!

-Edited Post 02/14/2012

Racial Abilities – What Powers Will You Possess?

Of the five playable races in Guild Wars 2, did you know each will have unique racial abilities? I know, I was a little bit shocked to read about this because it would present multiple issues such as bias and balancing. As competitive gamers, we don’t want any particular type of criteria, such as race, to have an advantage because it would break the game. Also, we don’t want a certain race to be overpopulated just because of some “cool ability”. Players won’t need to worry about these issues, because racial abilities are essentially enhancements to the Guild Wars 2 experience, giving each race presence and their identity.

Q: What are racial abilities?
These are race specific abilities for each of the 5 races in Guild Wars 2: Norn, Sylvari, Asura, Human, and Charr.

Q: Do racial abilities affect stats?
No.

Q: How are these racial abilities compared to normal profession skills?
They are not as strong as profession skills. Targeting and hit boxes are exactly the same.

Q: How do you use the racial abilities?
Racial abilities are considered utility skills and are equipped in slots 6-10 on the skill bar.

Q: Are racial abilities allowed in structured PvP?
No. It’s purely for PvE, but it is allowed in non-competitive PvP.

Q: Are racial skills dependant on character story options at creation?
Yes. For some races such as the Norn, the spirit chosen at creation will be the first racial skill you are able to use. Other racial skills will need to be unlocked.

Q: What kind of racial abilities does each race have?
Below is a list of currently known abilities, each race will have at least 6 racial abilities ranging from elites, utility, and heal skills:

Read the full article here & see the full list of racial abilities: Guild Wars 2 Racial Abilties

Press Beta Started!

“Press Beta” has started, invitations are being handed out left and right, people from the press are announcing via twitter their invitations. This is awesome news indeed.
Here’s what ArenaNet had to say:

Ok, before this get’s out of hand:
We just started sending out invites. And no, I personally do not have the list of who will get invited.
Also: We will NOT lift the NDA, selected members of the press will be allowed to talk about their gaming experience. No general lifting of the NDA.
Hope that helps, you all have a great weekend.
-Martin Kerstein
ArenaNet
Posted at Guru.

The Press

Tom’s Guide | Invites are out for the Guild Wars 2 beta weekend. Expect an impressions post on Destructoid from me later this month! – Devin Connors
Destructoid | GUILD WARS 2 BETA! Operation High-Five Everyone In Sight is go! – Jonathan Ross
IGN | Guild Wars 2 beta invite acquired. Look for coverage at 6 AM pacific on February 20. – Charles Onyett
Curse Network | Guild Wars 2 CBT invite here we come! Expect lots of juicy details later this month. :] – Curse

Yeah, we certainly can’t wait for February 20th either.