9:02 pm, September 30, 2013
274
Don't flame negative predictions/discussion of GW2 so quickly
The title is such b/c I thought it less argumentative than "my victory lap over the GW2 community". I was basically right about all my predictions for GW2 widely derided as "trolling" in these forums, which helps us all remember that the best argument might not be the one that we like to hear, listen to the voice of reason over fanboyism.
I said the game's population would crash if there was no endgame progression, and lo and behold, Anet added in endgame progression, which was ferociously attacked by the casuals, and now they don't plan to add any more in for 2013. The game is still fine for casuals, there's still plenty for them to do and the living story is paced so that it gives them enough time to do it. But this game is not for hardcore players, as the non altaholics just log in for a week to finish the new living story chapter and go back to a game with more lasting appeal. Catering to extreme casuals and hardcore players is a thin rope and Anet has never fallen off of it in favor of hardcore mmo players.
I said sPvP seemed like an afterthought given how much time, dedication, and money they poured over PvE, and months after launch sPvP is more of a ghost town than PvE with esports interest in it no where in sight.
So what's my point? Is that there are very negative things that could be on the way for GW2, which can be seen and avoided if you listen and follow logic. As an established oracle or yore (kidding), here's what I think is on the way for GW2: If Anet doesn't add any more endgame content, which I don't think they have plans to do and are rather focused on their living story which has been a poor replacement for real endgame content, the PvE scene will continue to decline, and the idea that PvP is the endgame similar to the first Guild Wars will be reinforced since there is apparently an sPvP overhaul on its way. For a non sub game, having PvP be the endgame just makes sense, since it doesn't require Anet to keep adding new content for it.
Though sPvP being any GOOD will take a lot of work, since there's a lot of competition to GW2's PvP, which was maybe a surprise to Anet. WvW will probably just stagnate, WvW has already found its niche and there will probably be momentary spikes in its playerbase if there are ever are major balance patches aimed at WvW play, but I don't see any long term increase in WvW players unless they add more rewards for ranking well in WvW, making it more desirable to be the tier 1 server.
Flame on.
I said the game's population would crash if there was no endgame progression, and lo and behold, Anet added in endgame progression, which was ferociously attacked by the casuals, and now they don't plan to add any more in for 2013. The game is still fine for casuals, there's still plenty for them to do and the living story is paced so that it gives them enough time to do it. But this game is not for hardcore players, as the non altaholics just log in for a week to finish the new living story chapter and go back to a game with more lasting appeal. Catering to extreme casuals and hardcore players is a thin rope and Anet has never fallen off of it in favor of hardcore mmo players.
I said sPvP seemed like an afterthought given how much time, dedication, and money they poured over PvE, and months after launch sPvP is more of a ghost town than PvE with esports interest in it no where in sight.
So what's my point? Is that there are very negative things that could be on the way for GW2, which can be seen and avoided if you listen and follow logic. As an established oracle or yore (kidding), here's what I think is on the way for GW2: If Anet doesn't add any more endgame content, which I don't think they have plans to do and are rather focused on their living story which has been a poor replacement for real endgame content, the PvE scene will continue to decline, and the idea that PvP is the endgame similar to the first Guild Wars will be reinforced since there is apparently an sPvP overhaul on its way. For a non sub game, having PvP be the endgame just makes sense, since it doesn't require Anet to keep adding new content for it.
Though sPvP being any GOOD will take a lot of work, since there's a lot of competition to GW2's PvP, which was maybe a surprise to Anet. WvW will probably just stagnate, WvW has already found its niche and there will probably be momentary spikes in its playerbase if there are ever are major balance patches aimed at WvW play, but I don't see any long term increase in WvW players unless they add more rewards for ranking well in WvW, making it more desirable to be the tier 1 server.
Flame on.