GW2 Player Beta Begins – And Why You Shouldn’t Break Its NDA
The first ever Guild Wars 2 beta for public playtesters is a go this weekend. Congrats to the chosen ones who beat the one-in-a-million-odds and scored the beta access. We’re counting on you to represent for the rest of us!
ArenaNet has also issued a stern reminder to all beta players to leave all the screenshot taking and YouTube recording to the official media, since breaking the NDA might lead to a permanent ban on all ArenaNet games. Ouch.
Here’s the official warning posted on Facebook:
We admit that pretty harsh, and we have no idea how ArenaNet can catch you (maybe a Thief shadowing your every move?), but better not risk it. Those fifteen minutes of livecast glory won’t be worth the banhammer.
Official News
Reminder to All Closed Beta Players | Arenanet Facebook Page
GW2 Microtransactions Shop is Not Pay to Win, Can Be Used Without Spending a Cent
Lucky winners of this month’s closed beta passes (you know who you are) will not only get to play the new Guild Wars 2 professions and gallivant in World vs World maps, they will also get to test-drive the shiny new microtransactions market.
ArenaNet’s Mike O’ Brien confirmed there will be three currencies in Guild Wars 2:
- Gold – Earned in game. Can be traded. Spent on in-game vendors and player auction market.
- Karma – Earned in game. Cannot be traded. Spent on unique rewards.
- Gems – Bought with cash. Can be traded (for gold). Spent on microtransactions shop.
The ability to trade Gold for Gems and vice versa, means playing the game long enough can get you stuff on the microntransactions shop. Rich, but time-starved players can skip the grind and buy all those fancy microtransaction gear and goodies.
But don’t worry. There’s still no “pay to win” items coming. Here’s the money quote:
Sounds good to us.
Official News
Mike O’Brien on Microtransactions in Guild Wars 2 | ArenaNet
Guild Wars 2 Will Have 30 Race Storylines by Level 10
This is the kind of math we want to hear. ArenaNet content designer Leif Chapelle has revealed the number of different story paths available to Guild Wars 2 players based on their chosen race:
“To experience every potential storyline being told from level 1 to 10, you’d need to play the game 30 times (5 races times 3 initial stories times 2 internal branches in each storyline). And that’s just the first ten levels of the game. We have 80 levels of progression for your character, and every ten levels or so, you’ll begin a new chapter in your story.”
Chapelle also suggests that instead of rolling new characters, non-obsessive types can just team up with other Guild Wars 2 players to check out the story path diversions. His post also offers some juicy details on an Asura storyline – a criminal investigation, Asuran genius suspects and a Golem throwdown!
Official News
The Evolution of Narrative in Personal Story | ArenaNet
Guild Wars 2 Beta invites going out!
There you have it! Beta invites are being sent out! If you’re a chosen one make sure your following the NDA.
Check out the official post on Twitter here and the Facebook post here.
GW2PC News Round-Up – Pre-order Guild Wars 2 and Confirmed System Requirements
What’s that noise? That’s the sound of piggy banks shattering like Mesmer illusions at the news that Guild Wars 2 can be pre-ordered starting April 10!
For spartan gamers who can game without the fancy add-ons, there’s the budget Digital Edition set. But if you like some extra companions in your adventure, you can pre-purchase the Digital Deluxe set that offers a helpful Golem Banker and a Mistfire Wolf pet summon skill, among other bonuses.
Last but not the least is the granddaddy of all sets, the Collector’s Edition that comes with all that the Digital Deluxe set has to offer, plus tangible treasures like a 10-inch Rytlock figurine, art books and prints, and a soundtrack CD. (Massively reports that this will set you back $150.)
No matter what you choose, pre-ordering any of the three unlocks cool perks for your account.
Pre-purchase Bonuses
- Access to all Guild Wars 2 Beta Weekend Events
- Three Day Headstart Access
- Hero’s Band (+2 to Power, Precision, Toughness, Vitality, Condition Damage, Healing and +2% Critical Damage)
Go to the Guild Wars 2 Pre Order page for more information on pre-orders or the official page here.
What are Beta Weekend Events?
What’s the Difference Between a Pre-purchase from a Pre-order?
Official News
GW2 Mesmer Profession Overview Updated!
The Guild Wars 2 Mesmer has evolved from Guild Wars to become a master in visual deception and mental destruction. Mesmers summon multiple illusions that deal damage and debilitating conditions to enemies. Mesmers can then shatter these same illusions to inflict even greater damage and more serious status effects, or even grant boons to allies.
The constant summoning and shattering of illusions can make even the most focused enemies lose their bearing on the battlefield, and Mesmers take advantage by unleashing magical energy attacks. This profession is attuned to players who like to keep their foes confused and impaired with multiple debuffs.
Stay tuned as we update the remaining 7 Guild Wars 2 Professions!
GW2 Requirements & System Specifications
The screenshots and videos don’t lie. Guild Wars 2 is a fantastic-looking game with spell effects that fill the screen and ultra-detailed environments you’ll want to get lost in. But of course, your very first question should be: Can I even run it on my PC?
The consensus is that ArenaNet will keep the minimum system specifications as low as possible, so that if you can play other online games like Aion and Star Wars the Old Republic you will also be able to play Guild Wars 2. Of course right now these are just mere speculations.
Guild Wars 2 Graphics – Adjustment Controls
During the beta, we also got a glimpse of how you can customize your graphic settings by accessing the Options menu or pressing the keyboard shortcut “F13”. Here is a rundown of the adjustment options confirmed for Guild Wars 2.
Best Performance – Balanced – Best Appearance
Guild Wars 2 allows you to calibrate your visuals based on presets, from the best performance settings to the best appearance settings. What constitutes as best performance and best appearance will of course if you barely meet or greatly exceed the Guild Wars 2 system requirements.
Go to the Guild Wars 2 System Requirements page to read the rest & more!
Tinker with the New Traits and Attributes for Guild Wars 2
Not too long ago, developers sat down and evaluated the level of spec customization in Guild Wars 2. “Are we pushing it far enough?” The answer was no, apparently, so they decided to introduce new attributes and traits, listed in their full glory in this new Traits and Attributes developer blog.
To recap, systems designer Jon Peters said there are new Offense attributes that improve critical strikes, conditions damage and condition durations, and new Support abilities that boost heals and boons duration.
On top of that, each profession now has a unique attribute that enhances their playstyle. Warriors, for example, can increase their special Brawn attribute to make their burst skills deadlier.
That’s not all. GW2 players will be able to invest points between five different trait lines. So for your Engineer, you will have to choose whether to specialize in damaging Explosives, deadly Firearms, useful Inventions, unstable Alchemy or debilitating Tools. (They all sound so fun!)
Click here to see the trait lines for all professions.
Official News
Play Your Way: Jon Peters on Traits and Attributes | ArenaNet
Next Guild Wars 2 Beta Coming in “Late March”
ArenaNet and NCsoft have confirmed rumors that the much-awaited first player beta, you know the one you and a million others signed up for, will be held in “late March.”
Gaming site MMORPG.com was one of the first who broke the news, revealing that:
What plausible excuse will you be using to get out of school or work, and into the Guild Wars 2 beta? Are you psyched for the World vs. World beta or will you be diving headfirst into the Ascalon Catacombs?
Discuss it at the GW2PC forums!
GW2PC News Round-Up – ArenaNet’s Picks and 1 Million Registered for Beta!
ArenaNet’s Rubi Bayer composed a round-up of the most noteworthy beta articles she’s found over the past week. A lot of what she listed was already included in our own news round-up, but there were a few new ones which we’ve listed below.
Last link also points to the celebratory Facebook announcement that after a whirlwind beta sign-up, a million fans registered in 48 hours. It’s going be a tight race for those beta passes!
Beta Impressions
Guild Wars 2 Overflow Servers Kill Queues Chris Thursten | PC Gamer
Flameseeker Chronicles Extra: Guild Wars 2 Crafting Explained Elisabeth Cardy | Massively
Guild Wars 2 Editorial: A New Breed of MMORPG? Garrett Fuller | MMORPG.com
Foreign Sites Coverage
Buffed (German site) | Buffed.de
Onlinewelten (German site) | Onlinewelten.com