[LIMG] Forget SWG. Forget FFXI. Forget WoW.

[Gurney Devries]

I can say without reservation that Guild Wars (http://www.guildwars.com/default.html) is the reigning king of MMORPGs, and it hasn't even been released yet. Not in retail, at any rate.

What does Guld Wars have that other MMORPGs don't, you ask? Well, to start with, it's free. Yes, that's right, free. Well, not entirely. But "free" in the sense that, once it hits retail, there will be no monthly fee. Zero. Zilch. Nada. You pay the price for the game and you can play it online forever without spending a cent more.

Well, a free MMORPG... so it sucks, right? Dead. Wrong. They released a preview alpha which you can log into and play up until the 14th. This is the version they're apparently showing at E3, and you can download it here (http://www.guildwars.com/e3-2004/e3-event_client-download.html). After spending, oh, 6 or so hours with it, I can honestly say that it's already the finest MMORPG I've played to date.

The quests are very detailed, with lots of excitement and geared towards cooperative play with other players. And the best part, the part that many other games in this genre have been ignoring as of late, is the solo play. There are certain areas of the game which are designated solo areas, where the game gives you an entire world to yourself. You can hunt, do quests, collect crafting items all in your own private little world, without having to worry about someone else kill-stealing, griefing or just camping the best spawn spot. Then, once you get tired of that are ready to team up with a party, you can transport instantly to a coop section, find a party in seconds and be ready to go.

Which brings me to my next point: Transport in instantaneous in the game: You start off with certain areas on your map which you can click and be instantly transported to. Then, as you discover more areas, they're added to the list. It's very nice, and removes the tedium of trekking all over the place.

Combat is very itense and fun. The E3 preview has .06% of the total number of skills that are going to be in the final game, and that still adds up to a robust list to pick from. Because the retail version will have over 600 skills per class. And each character can have a sub-class in addition to their main class.

Still skeptical? Think you're going to wait for World of Warcraft because, well, it's made by Blizzard? Well, feast on this:
ArenaNet is a wholly owned subsidiary of NCsoft Corporation, and was founded in March 2000 by key members of the creative teams behind Blizzard’s game series Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo, as well as the Battle.net gaming network. Yep, many of the creative forces at Blizzard left to form AreaNet, who then proceeded to develop Guild Wars.

Like PvP? Or possibly afraid of being PKed at inopportune times? Guild Wars has an entirely seperate section of the game for PvP, which you must choose to enter. There, you can engage in team-based, 4 vs. 4 tournaments. The final game promises to have as many as 36 players per team.

Ok, so how does the game look? You tell me (click for 1600x1200 lossless pngs):

http://panic.hopto.org/swf/Nup/temp/GuildWars-01.jpg (http://panic.hopto.org/swf/Nup/temp/GuildWars-01.png)

http://panic.hopto.org/swf/Nup/temp/GuildWars-02.jpg (http://panic.hopto.org/swf/Nup/temp/GuildWars-02.png)

There are more screenshots in the Gallery (http://www.guildwars.com/gallery/gwscreenshots/gw038.html) on the official site. And yes, they are all in-game screenshots. I can personally verify that they have not been touched up in any way whatsoever. The game has a very pleasant, "airy" feel to it a la Prince of Persia: Sands of Time.

So, let's recap: We have an MMORPG that's has fun combat, innovative gameplay, great support for those who want to solo, group or PvP, stunning graphics AND it's free to play? Sounds like a winner to me.

Doubtful? You have until the 14th to play the "E3 for Everyone" (http://www.guildwars.com/e3-2004/e3-event_client-download.html) version, so hop to it. It's completely free and is a very small download, so you really have nothing to lose.

It took me about 10-20 minutes to get accustomed to how everything works, as there's no tutorial. So if you're confused, just stick with it. If you have any questions, I'll be glad to answer them to the best of my ability.

[Crystal]

Playing it right now. When it comes out, I'm probaly going to buy it. The fact that it doesn't suck, is pretty(not as pretty as the screenshorts above, but still) even on my PC, and there's no monthly fee sold me.

[Darth Viscera]

FINALLY, AN MMORPG SET IN A MIDDLE AGES-ESQUE PERIOD AND FOCUSING ENTIRELY ON MELEE COMBAT AND FANTASY CRAP!

ajklsdfasdjkdlfk;daslkl graHHHHH

spaceships firing at each other, no grind. that's all I ask. why won't they give it to me?

[Gurney Devries]

Originally posted by Darth Viscera
FINALLY, AN MMORPG SET IN A MIDDLE AGES-ESQUE PERIOD AND FOCUSING ENTIRELY ON MELEE COMBAT AND FANTASY CRAP!Actually, that's a vast oversimplification, but I digress. It's the setting that seems to work the best for the genre. And from what I've played, there's no grind.

Think Lordaeron. Now think Lordaeron after having everything in sight leveled to the ground.

[Darth Viscera]

space. ships.

[Gurney Devries]

Ok, so the game's not for you. :) If you prefer having SoE suck away your money on a monthly basis with undelivered promises, then so be it. But I'm really digging the innovative gameplay. And I've yet to hear a single person say anything bad about it, be it during the game or on other boards, so I know I'm not alone.

I created a 13.4mb video showcasing the combat if anyone can provide hosting.

[Dasquian Belargic]

:eek It's like NWN on crack. Downloading right right now. Thank you very much for bringing this to our attention :D

EDIT - if anyone's playing, my char name is Arriana Rezner ... since I saw you could add friends :)

[AmazonBabe]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm... another MMORPG to get addicted to? I'm game. =)

I'll have to wait till I get home to dl and such.

(This is going to look verreh purdy on my comp ^_^ )

And while I agree SWG can use some help, I'm not gonna forget about WoW. I've heard nothing but good reviews about it, and it's only in stage two of beta.

[Gurney Devries]

Guild Wars hasn't yet entered beta, and it's already a very polished game. I haven't even run into any bugs yet. It should hit retail sometime around November.

[Figrin D'an]

I may just try this.

And understand that coming from me, someone who really dislikes MMORPG's for many well-documented reasons, that's a huge statement.

The single player/multiplayer option is huge... that's going to attract a lot of people just because of that. It's nice to be able to play alone if you wish, then later jump into a multiplayer game.

It looks very WarCraft-esque. It shows that the design team came from Blizzard. Could be interesting to see how this stacks up against WoW.

[Dasquian Belargic]

It's a lot of fun. Gurney and I have been on a few missions together. The only problem I have so far is that the game has not been very stable for me - a couple of times I've been thrown up an error, but this could just be something on my end. And of course it's not in beta yet, so there are still issues to deal with.

[Gurney Devries]

Originally posted by Figrin D'an
I may just try this.

And understand that coming from me, someone who really dislikes MMORPG's for many well-documented reasons, that's a huge statement.Yeah, someone over at Rage3D said the same thing, pretty much:
Well, I have *never* touched an MMORPG for a few reasons. Ugly graphics, monthly payments, and mind-numbing gameplay being a few.

I tried out this demo and I must say, it is a blast. Trekking around with 3 other people and killing those monsters is fun.It seems to have taken the best bits of every other MMORPG, addressed many of the issues people often have with the genre and stuck it all in one yummy package.

Dasq: If you're getting driver exception errors, try turning down your graphics settings a notch. I hear that fixes it.

[Figrin D'an]

Alright. If anyone wants to rock, look for Dergan Venitor. That's my warrior/monk dude.

[Jared Mriad]

EDIT: Name - Kallis Vehnkhast , Online now.

[Darth Viscera]

Onone Rezneradur...shoulda been Onónë Reznëradur, but oh well.

offline now. frustrated with this game.

[Figrin D'an]

Played it for about an hour or so. It's pretty decent so far. Got into a co-op game with some other people here, and played some solo. Only problem I had was the sound being really scratchy... probably a bug with the game using my sound drivers. Might be on a later this evening.

[Anbira Hicchoru]

This has piqued my interest enough to try it, and I usually hate MMORPGs with a red-fire passion.

The wonders that come from not requiring a stupid monthly fee...who would've thought???

[Gurney Devries]

Originally posted by Darth Viscera
offline now. frustrated with this game. Frustrated with which aspects? Is it unstable for you?

[Darth Viscera]

the controls are very unwieldy to me because I'm accustomed to SWG. My patience with it lasted about 60 seconds.

[AmazonBabe]

Figster: I'll get on maybe some time tonight and try it out a bit. I'll look for you once I've created my character.

[Gurney Devries]

Originally posted by Darth Viscera
the controls are very unwieldy to me because I'm accustomed to SWG. My patience with it lasted about 60 seconds. WASD controls + QE for strafing. :huh Or you can click on where you want to move. I think you're just looking for something to dislike.

Protip: You can cycle through targets using R+F, which makes selecting enemies in combat much easier.

[imported_Grev Drasen]

I keep getting rocked by flash gargoyles in the solo area.

[AmazonBabe]

Name in-game = Rie Mystt

I'll be playing it every night while it's "open". My hubby also has an account = Djo Kuul

Gonna be playing riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight... NOW!

[Marcus Telcontar]

I'm going to be on - Clarrke Benq. Gurney, you just sold me on this one.

Edit : pretty. Easy to set up and understand. This is Alpha level software? Damn. It's surprisingly polished for that.


Originally posted by Darth Viscera
the controls are very unwieldy to me because I'm accustomed to SWG. My patience with it lasted about 60 seconds.

You gotta be kiddig me. I picked it up in like a minute

[Gurney Devries]

My character's name is "Faith the Slayer". Don't ask. :) I reccomend trying to get accustomed to your skills: How long they take to cast, how long before you can cast them again, etc. They're essential for surviving combat.

Also, if you haven't tried it yet, I reccomend going to the Siege at Fort Koga. It's an 8 vs. 8 Capture the Flag type mission. Extremely fun and challenging.

[Figrin D'an]

Maybe tommorrow night, we should all see if we can be on for a bit, and play as a group.

[Anbira Hicchoru]

Originally posted by Gurney Devries
WASD controls + QE for strafing. :huh Or you can click on where you want to move. I think you're just looking for something to dislike.

Protip: You can cycle through targets using R+F, which makes selecting enemies in combat much easier.

You mean to tell me that you can't navigate with arrow keys or customize controls? Thats a big red X against the game :\

[Gurney Devries]

I'm sure you'll be able to customize keys in the retail version. Keep in mind that this is a pre-beta, and many of the options are still missing. Video options are currently limited to resolution and a single detail slider.

And I got hosting for the gameplay movie. It clocks in at 13.4mb zipped. If you're curious, here's the link: http://dark_god7.home.mindspring.com/guildwars.zip

Right Click > Save As. Of course, the full installer is about the size of the movie, but oh well. :) Not really sure how long my hosting will hold out.

Edit: For the bandwith challenged, there's an excellent screenshot gallery here (http://media.pc.ign.com/media/552/552148/imgs_1.html)

[Anbira Hicchoru]

I'm on dialup :) not that curious.

[Crystal]

My name in game is Either Chicka Chicka or Leeloo Mina, depending.

[Morgan Evanar]

Originally posted by Figrin D'an
Maybe tommorrow night, we should all see if we can be on for a bit, and play as a group. This game is kinda like Diablo, with the same amount of crack invovled.

[Marcus Telcontar]

What is really good is the possibilities for single, multi and MMORPG, all in the one session. And that's the real selling point by the looks of it - this game is everything rolled into one. And the PvP areas too.

I really am surprised just how much I'm enjoying this thing. Easy to pick up and waste time casually.

edit : I actually thought the screenshots on the offical site didnt do the game justice. I'm using however a AMD 64 3000 and a 9600XT vid card, so that may make a difference. Certainly, no lag problems.

[Darth Viscera]

Originally posted by Gurney Devries
WASD controls + QE for strafing. :huh Or you can click on where you want to move. I think you're just looking for something to dislike.

Protip: You can cycle through targets using R+F, which makes selecting enemies in combat much easier.

Think what you want. The controls suck, and it might as well be named "Scantily-Clad Super Kawaii Warrior Girl Crazy Monster Killer Fantasy #32!!". I fail to see how this game is so groundbreaking and ingenius, (zomg run around and kill crazy monsters for no reason for free!) especially since it doesn't even have any space combat.

[Marcus Telcontar]

Originally posted by Darth Viscera
Think what you want. The controls suck, and it might as well be named "Scantily-Clad Super Kawaii Warrior Girl Crazy Monster Killer Fantasy #32!!". I fail to see how this game is so newfangled and ingenius, (zomg run around and kill crazy monsters for no reason for free!) especially since it doesn't even have any space combat.


-_-

1) I'm a basic gamer at best. It took me 1 minute to work out how to play

2) Posts have already highlighted whats good about this.


especially since it doesn't even have any space combat.

3) If the game is bad, who cares if your nude in a turkish bathhouse with 72 virgins waiting to be pleasured. It is STILL a bad game. Flying space does nto make a good game.

If you dont like it, fine, you may have the craptastic mess that is SWG to yourself. Right now, I'm seeing quite a nice game and even more remarkable as it's pre-beta.

[Darth Viscera]

What's your incentive for going out and killing those crazy gargoyles?

[Marcus Telcontar]

Originally posted by Darth Viscera
What's your incentive for going out and killing those crazy gargoyles?

When did I say the main attraction of this game was random chopping of critters? When did anyone spruiking this game say that was the main point?


The point, seems you missed it, is that this game you make of it what you will and you play it the way you want to play it

You can play it like a FPS. You can play it as a team, You can play it as a RPG. You can play it as a MMORPG. You can play it as a PK. The game supports them all.

It's not closed to Australia, like Galaxies is - LucasArts in their infinate wisdom does not support Aust sales!!!!

[Darth Viscera]

oh

[Kelt Simoson]

Im a big online game player...mostly im my experience ive been playing DAOC (Dark Age Of Camelot) This game is quite jaw dropping and ill give it a test as soon as i can...hmm.

Im not easily impressed but with this i am.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Going to be playing all night, pretty much. As before, char name is Arriana Rezner.

[Master Yoghurt]

Well, I have to say the graphics are good, and the different gameplay modes are quite fun. Overall a pretty good game. But best MMORPG..? :)

Right now, I am in doubt if it qualifies as a MMORPG (with capitalization of the letter M). The game appears worryingly limited in customisation of character, equipment/weapons, game world size, no trade or crafting system that I can see. Game play also seems exclusively focused on combat. Yes, there are different modes of it, but still, I suspect it will become tedious in the long run..

Anyway, lets review the good bad and the ugly..


The Good:
* Some very nice and detailed graphics.
* Locations are unique and created with artistic attention to detail
* Moody ambient sound effects and atmospheric music.
* Gameplay is very intuitive and easy to get into.
* Different gameplay modes. Solo, group and PvP all seem fun.
* No grinding or spawn camping that I can see.
* Surprisingly few bugs for an alpha.
* No lag experienced in crowdy areas.
* The missions dont feel generic. The quests naturally update as you progress. Very nice!
* No monthly fee


The Bad:
* No customisation of control? AFAICS, this seems intended.
* No other races than human? The character appearance customisation seems extremely basic.
* Few weapon classes and the weapons only seem to derivate by damage range.
* The combat system feels very unsophisticated, maybe even a little boring after some playing time..
* Limited amount of skills available at one time. Although, this seems like a good way to add strategy in a "Magic the Gathering" sort of way, I believe this restriction encourages using the same skills over and over again.. too repetive
* Where is the story.. or rather what is the story if there is one?
* No emotes? No player cities? How do you socialise other than constantly grouping with random people going for another "hack & slash" mission?


The Ugly:
* Only 6 different professions? And with the dual profession system, it seems there will be clones running around everywhere
* Insanely limited equipment system. You cant even even equip a sword and a shield at the same time?? o_O No rings, bracers, amulets, gloves, belts.. not as much as a shoe!
* Gamebreaking pathing problems. Example 1: Fighting a mob tends to stick you to the ground with superglue. 2; Paths are restricted, preventing you going up the smallest hill.
* Where is the crafting system?
* The image of being a "free" MMORPG is somewhat deceptive, as expansion packs is scheduled to be released every 6 months. Thus you will be effectively out of the loop if youre not willing to put in some cash on regular basis. Id say the "free" image thing is a clever marketing ploy to lure as many people as possible to sign up on launch ;)


Conclusion:
Overall, it should succeed very well as an advanced multiplayer version of Diablo. Nice arcade style RPG feel, but as as far as MMORPGs go (if it can be categorised as such), there are better alternatives around. Guild Wars looks like the kind of game that might entertain me for max a month or 2, before moving to something with more longlasting appeal.

Overall Preview Impression: 8.0/10

[Dasquian Belargic]

Right now, I am in doubt if it qualifies as a MMORPG (with capitalization of the letter M). The game appears worryingly limited in customisation of character, equipment/weapons, game world size, no trade or crafting system that I can see. Game play also seems exclusively focused on combat. Yes, there are different modes of it, but still, I suspect it will become tedious in the long run..

Remember, the game is not yet even in beta-testing. It has a long way to come yet :) Everything that's currently available in the game is just there as a very small preview, from what I understand.

[Kyle Raiden]

I'm on as "Briana Takara"...please talk to me...I'm lonely, and I have no friends. :cry

[Gurney Devries]

Originally posted by Morgan Evanar
This game is kinda like Diablo, with the same amount of crack invovled. I don't get the Diablo comparisons. :huh
The game appears worryingly limited in customisation of character, equipment/weapons, game world size, no trade or crafting system that I can see.That's because this is a preview. Again, this game isn't even in beta yet. It's just a preview build that AreaNet took to E3 and decided to let everyone play. Game World, Equipment, Skills, Customizability... this is just a very, very small fraction of what will be in the full game. In fact, they stated that this is only 0.6% of the content of the final game. Heck, they haven't even implemented the titular "Guild" system yet.

This is not yet a full retail game that they're selling for 50 dollars. You can't criticize it on things they simply haven't finished yet. They've still got 6 months to go. Maybe I'm gushing a bit by saying "Best MMORPG ever", but it shows more potential than any other one has. And I'm already having more fun with this than I've had playing EQ, AC, AC2, AO, UO, FFXI or SWG.

And there's definitely a crafting system already in place, as I've crafted some stuff so far. I daresay it's one of the better crafting systems I've come across so far.
The image of being a "free" MMORPG is somewhat deceptive, as expansion packs is scheduled to be released every 6 months. Thus you will be effectively out of the loop if youre not willing to put in some cash on regular basis. Id say the "free" image thing is a clever marketing ploy to lure as many people as possible to sign up on launch Definitely doesn't seem like this will be the case, from what I've heard. From my understanding, people that don't buy the expansions packs can even still go to the new areas if someone else takes them (although this is just what I hear). It's not like they're trying to masquerade the monthly fee as expansion packs: They've said straight from the beginning that they need to make the money somehow, so they're going to try to make it up in initial sales and regular expansion packs. Heck, Everquest has had - what - like 10 expansion packs by now? And you still pay a monthly fee.

The PvP alone is enough to keep someone occupied for more than a month.

[Master Yoghurt]

Definitely doesn't seem like this will be the case, from what I've heard. From my understanding, people that don't buy the expansions packs can even still go to the new areas if someone else takes them (although this is just what I hear). It's not like they're trying to masquerade the monthly fee as expansion packs: They've said straight from the beginning that they need to make the money somehow, so they're going to try to make it up in initial sales and regular expansion packs. Heck, Everquest has had - what - like 10 expansion packs by now? And you still pay a monthly fee.

From the IGN article on Guild Wars:


How are they going to make money on this proposition? Through retail and the sale of future expansion packs. ArenaNet is hoping to release new expansions every six months or so for players to enjoy. And while they're certainly hoping that everyone buys into the expansion philosophy, ArenaNet is also making sure that players who don't buy the expansions will still be able to get online and enjoy what they have bought. They'll still be able to see and play with everyone, but won't be able to use new equipment, weapons, skills, and areas that have been added.

Article link: http://pc.ign.com/articles/512/512115p3.html

Everquest has been around for what? 10 years or so? That makes one expansion pack per year or one expansion per 12 months. The 6 month rate suggest to me theire strategy is pushing the subscription fees in to the expansion packs instead. The marketing idea is ingenious. Since there are no monthly subscription fees + this E3 demo everyone can try out, people will flock to buy Guild Wars at launch. Then as all these people who never tried a MMORPG before gets hooked with the admittedly addictive gameplay (MMORPGS are just that), they will have have a fair amount of people buying twice as many expansion packs as usual (because they dont want to miss out on the new content). Very clever :rollin

Im not implying its wrong of them to do this. I am just saying keep this in mind when branding the game as free. Its not always gold what glitters..

Now, in response to:


That's because this is a preview. Again, this game isn't even in beta yet. It's just a preview build that AreaNet took to E3 and decided to let everyone play. Game World, Equipment, Skills, Customizability... this is just a very, very small fraction of what will be in the full game. In fact, they stated that this is only 0.6% of the content of the final game. Heck, they haven't even implemented the titular "Guild" system yet.

and..


Remember, the game is not yet even in beta-testing. It has a long way to come yet Everything that's currently available in the game is just there as a very small preview, from what I understand.

Yes, yes, I am aware of all that :) I just had the feeling the superlatives was starting to get out of hand in this thread, so it was about time someone had reservations. Basically, I agree its in a good shape for an alpha. However, how about waiting for Guild Wars getting closer to launch before handing out best MMORPG awards or making any final judgements?

May I suggest we just enjoy the demo for what it is, rather than debating the merits of SWG vs GW. Its way to early for that IMO.

[Kelt Simoson]

My characters name is Tanzal Boral, Necromancer/Warrior at your service if anyone is interested in grouping. :)

[Gurney Devries]

I meant that people wouldn't be left out of the loop, not that they wouldn't be releasing an expansion every six months. And EQ has only been around for maybe 5 years. 10 years would mean that it predates Doom. :p Which puts their expansion packs at - hey - one every 6 months. And, like I said: You don't need to buy them. You can spend $50 (or whatever the cost of the final game is) and play it forever without spending a cent more.

[Dasquian Belargic]

:verymad as much as I love playing this, I'm getting very irritated with the random errors

[Gurney Devries]

Originally posted by Dasquian Belargic
:verymad as much as I love playing this, I'm getting very irritated with the random errors Don't know what to tell you, other than "Wait for the open beta". :\ We finished the quest, but I'll go back and do it with you again. It's not so difficult, once you know how to do it right.

Try updating all of your drivers?

To continue our discussion: I think most people here know that I don't pointless gush over a game (in fact, it's rare for me to get excited about a game before it's released). That's because I know that, what I may find exciting may not appeal to everyone else here. But Guild Wars is simply stunning in its depth and scope. I feel it deserves all of the positive attention it's been getting and then some.

I haven't even touched on half the things that make this game great, because I want people to experience it for themselves. The streaming technology is a revolutionary, the near infinite draw distance in the game is stunning, the way the game tailors quests to your character and your character alone is refreshing... all of these things add up to a really unique experience.

[Kyle Raiden]

Just a quickie...if I leave the solo area, can I get back? Only, I accidentally clicked on one of the places in the map, to see what happened, and I'm wandering around with a load of the items I need for a quest :\

[Pierce Tondry]

I might try this. It is doubtful though.

[Master Yoghurt]

I meant that people wouldn't be left out of the loop, not that they wouldn't be releasing an expansion every six months. And EQ has only been around for maybe 5 years, putting their expansion packs at - hey - one every 6 months. And, like I said: You don't need to buy them. You can spend $50 (or whatever the cost of the final game is) and play it forever without spending a cent more.

Yeah, I just realised youre right. Everquest has a 5 year anniversary. I guess you could say Everquest is a money drain in comparison to Guild Wars. Probably in more ways than one. I am not going to defend Everquest btw. I think its pricey myself, but more because of its aging design :)

On the other hand, if someone is playing (even casually) GW for a 6 months period of time, I think you will agree with me that individual is very likely to buy the expansion pack. Of course, he/she may chose not to, but then miss out on all the extra content. It seems to me that majority of those who would spend a lot of time and use the most network resources would also be the ones who pay the most. In the event a person spent only say 2 months playing, he would still have spent more dollars (in your example $50), than a person who spent 2 months playing SWG ($25 includes 30 days playing time + an additional $15 for 30 more days, which makes $40 total).

When arguing that MMORPGs are too costly because of the monthly fee, one should take into account that 1. the subscription fee is what allows the developers to update the game with new content on a monthly basis, 2. game time is included with the box, and 3. that the starting fee for normal games (the purchase of the box) is often just as high as for a MMORPG (or higher if the MMORPG has been out for a while and dropped in price). Effectively, its just as big of a risk as purchasing any other game.

What baffles me, I see people spend $40-60 on a game (normal single player games), and finish it in 24 hours or what not. They will not hesitate to emphasise how good value for money it was.. then, the next thing they say $25 is too much investing into a MMORPG because of the monthly fee (knowing that game time is allready included) o_O

[Master Yoghurt]

Originally posted by Pierce Tondry
I might try this. It is doubtful though.

What do you have to lose? Its a free trial. It costs you nothing! I'd say, give it a try, download and form an opinion yourself! :)

Oh, and for those wondering, my ingame name is: Valandil Moonblade and I am a Monk/Warrior

[Gurney Devries]

SWG is only $25 because it's been out for a while. I'm sure GW will drop that low after a few months, making it just that much more of a steal. :) And, instead of doing once-a-month updates, they're going to be streaming updates to you constantly, as you play. If this pans out, this could lead to some very awesome situations where the game world is literally changing around you as you play.

I'm sure hardcore players who enjoy the game will buy every expansion pack that comes out for it, but that's no different than any other MMORPG (or even some single player games - how many people surely buy every Sims expansion that comes out?). That just means all the more stuff to keep the game fresh for those players. More casual players who are only spending a few hours a day with the game probably don't need to worry about buying every single expansion pack right when it comes out, since they'll still have plenty of content in the main game.

[AmazonBabe]

The one thing that kinda bugged me about this game is that I couldn't find a way to inverse the mouse (I'm one of those weird ones that likes to inverse the mouse). But I had to keep reminding myself that this was only the alpha and beta wasn't even out yet. So hopefully they'll have all those nifty customizable options and such when the full version comes out.

[AmazonBabe]

On a side note that I forgot to add...

I WANT TO PLAY AS A GIGANTIC GROUP TONIGHT.

I WILL MOST LIKELY BE GETTING ON AT ABOUT 7:00 PMish PDT.

MY CHARACTER'S NAME IS RIE MYSTT.

ANYONE GOING TO JOIN ME???

:)

[Morgan Evanar]

Arduna Ving reporting in.

[Figrin D'an]

I'm on right now.

[AmazonBabe]

>_<

Just got home (damn traffic).

Getting on now :)

[Crystal]

I was asleep, so I'm pretty sure that I missed it. Oh well, maybe tomorrow night? Please?



SWG is only $25?? Last I looked it was still around $50

[Mitch]

I'm on 28k dial-up. No fun to be had for me.

*Goes and boots up TradeWars*

Ahh, classic text space adventures...

[Arya Ravenwing]

I've never tried a game of this sort online before - liked it for the twenty minutes I played. Jumped on the bandwagon late I'm afraid. :(

[Gurney Devries]

There's a new quest they just added. You can start it by going to Khylo and talking to Prince Rurik, the big guy with the flaming sword. That Mountain Preview area that was empty before? It's now populated by Tundra Giants, Griffins, Drakes, and a gigantic Bone Dragon called Rotscale (lvl 30). I went in with a group of 7 people and, after about an hour, we managed to take the sucker down. :D It was the most fun I've had doing a quest in a long, long time. Here's a screenshot:

http://panic.hopto.org/swf/Nup/temp/rotscale.jpg

Afterwards, I went back to town and one of the developers was on, fielding questions for people. It was very awesome: He seemed really interested on getting players' input on what they'd like to see in the game, was realistic about expectations and was all around pretty funny. Great guy.

[Zasz Grimm]

will it be playable after today? I just saw this thread and feel at a loss?

I love MMORPGS. I played diablo 2 and LOD for 3 years, and a good 2 was just dueling / PvP. And I play Ragnarok Online occasionally, have a level 80 character.

I hope there's still time

[Crystal]

Nope, just today. Untill beta testing, or when it comes out. So get your butt on while you still can. I plan on spending as much time as I can on it today.

[Zasz Grimm]

well, im playing in solo mode- but i have no idea how to switch it to multiplayer? It's probably right infront of me and I just can't see it. I'm owning up some stone elementals, trying to find some more lodestones for an axe for mah warrior.

[Jubei SaDherat Vader]

click 'map' and choose a place to go.

[Zasz Grimm]

ya, finally got it. now im just toying with builds- so far I found the monk/elementalist is the best, especially for parties...if you like supporting.

[Gurney Devries]

Oh, I forgot to mention: Ben Mikesh, the dev I talked to, said that you will more than likely be able to keep your account name and character appearance for the retail game, unless this becomes impossible for them to do.

[Darth Viscera]

oh good, wouldn't want those 2 days to go to waste

[Gurney Devries]

Viscera, you're just bordering on trolling now.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Originally posted by Darth Viscera
oh good, wouldn't want those 2 days to go to waste

You can actually accomplish a lot in two days. Although you can't level up, I've aqquired in 8 new character skills in the time I've been playing it. And managed to amass some difficult/tedious to find resources.

[Darth Viscera]

Originally posted by Gurney Devries
Viscera, you're just bordering on trolling now.

<strike>you really need to chill out. There's a big difference between trolling and a light-hearted facetious remark, and I resent the allegation.</strike>

I apologise for any perceived trolling and will refrain from strafing your thread.

[AmazonBabe]

While the game is some-what fun, I'm having some issues with the balance in game play.

I have tried for the umpteanth time to get by the second mission (with a group), and I just can't do it. I find the creatures to be a bit too difficult. It's highly frusterating and makes me not want to play (I don't feel I can get anywhere :( ).

Unless they do something about that in the next few stages of testing the game... well, basically that will determine whether I buy the game or not.

We'll see what improvements they come up with for the beta.

[Gurney Devries]

The missions were kind of difficult (the second one being the most so), but if they weren't, we would have run out of things to do in the first day. For mission 2, you really need to get a group who knows what they're doing together. A dedicated healer is a must.

By the way: Check the language options for the game.

[Lady Vader]

Well, I think the alpha free days is over now. I was trying to see if I could find you to take you on mission 2 so i could see what was beyond it. Oh well. :\

Also, for some strange reason... I changed my clothing color yetsreday and remapped some of my powers, but when I logged on today, my clothes were no longer colored and my remapped powers were no longer remapped. Can we say bug? So I went ahead and reported it.

[Gurney Devries]

Mission 2's difficulty will probably be tweaked before it hits shelves, since the general consensus is that it's tougher than the missions that come after it. Even so, it's do-able if you get the right group. I reccomend taking a monk, elementalist and warrior with you. It may take some patience, but where would the fun be if we finished everything on the first try? ;)

As far as the bug you mentioned: They said someone tripped on a power cord in the server room and some of the stuff got rolled back a few hours.

I've been looking for you, but haven't caught you online yet. :\ Fig and I are playing now, though.

[Figrin D'an]

I got up to the 4th mission. I think I tried it 5-6 times. Got so close the last couple of games. As with mission 2, you have to have a group who knows what to do and works together. You can't just charge in and hack and slash your way to victory. You'll get beat down in seconds.

I've encountered a few bugs. Nothing really horrendous though. It was fun for the few days the test was up. More fun than I thought I could have with a MMORPG. It'll be interesting to see the final game.

[Gurney Devries]

Right now all of the devs are in town, killing everyone.

http://panic.hopto.org/swf/Nup/temp/gw009.jpg
http://panic.hopto.org/swf/Nup/temp/gw011.jpg

[Sarr Koon]

Dark Age of Camelot is the king of all MMORPG's IMO. I been playing that for a year running. I've played other MMORPG's like EverQuest, Final Fantasy XI, Star Wars Galaxies, and Shadowbane. Nothing can come close to DAoC. Just my opinion =)

[Dasquian Belargic]

lmao @ the naked massacre. okay, that's weird.

[Crystal]

Aw, I knew I should have stayed up.. that's great :lol

[Dasquian Belargic]

I really wish I had this game to play today :\

[ReaperFett]

Looks alright, but I'm more of a tights n flights kinda guy.

[imported_QuiGonJ]

Guild Wars gave me a 32MB USB Flash Memory stick. I like the no monthly fee aspect, but all they had us doing at E3 was PvP arena combat. Nice to hear there was more to it than that.

I have about 200 pics that I'm naming, and then they will be posted at CCnet.

[imported_Firebird1]

I Guess I'm late...

But I did play this one a little bit...

It was a fun thing....A bit more along the lines of Diablo 2 for some reason... :p

But it was the most fun I've had in a MMO since Tribes was DL'ed free on fileplanet...

[Morgan Evanar]

Tribes isn't an MMO.

[imported_Firebird1]

Originally posted by Morgan Evanar
Tribes isn't an MMO. :rolleyes :evil :evil :evil :crack :crack

And your point is? The Demo was the most fun I've had with the game since Tribes anyways!

[Lady Vader]

Originally posted by Gurney Devries
As far as the bug you mentioned: They said someone tripped on a power cord in the server room and some of the stuff got rolled back a few hours.

>_<

I musta missed this line when reading it way back...

Anyhoo, I hope that doesn't happen when they release the full version of the game. That would be a PAIN :x


I've been looking for you, but haven't caught you online yet. :\ Fig and I are playing now, though.

Came across Figs one time while online, but never did see you online (then again ,that was another bug where I'd add ppl to my freinds list, and they'd show up as offline, even if they were standing right in front of me :rolleyes). Dun worry, Gurney... we'll meet when the game is released. :)

[Drake Shadowstalker]

You can forget those games, but DO NOT forget City of Heroes. That game rules!!!