ArenaNet sets record straight on Guild Wars 2 'delay'
by Brooke Pilley 
Feb 17th 2009 at 11:00AM
Filed under: Fantasy, Guild Wars, News items, Guild Wars 2
How can you delay a game that never had a set release date to begin with? This is the logic ArenaNet's Mike O'Brien pointed out in a recent open letter to Guild Wars 2 fans. Speculation about the 'delay' began late last week when ArenaNet's parent company, NCsoft, released their Q4 2008 financials that scheduled a 2010-2011 release for GW2.Guild Wars 2 was originally announced in March 2007 alongside Guild Wars' first expansion titled Eye of the North. At the time, PC Gamer magazine confirmed that ArenaNet was hoping for GW2 to go into beta in the second half of 2008. When June 2008 rolled around, the official GW2 FAQ was updated to say that a beta would not be commencing in 2008 as originally planned. During NCsoft's earning call, it was stated that while they originally intended to make GW2 a sequel, it really became a whole new game in development. Mike O'Brien stated in his letter that the game will be ready "when it's done" and not any sooner. "Guild Wars 2 is a large and ambitious game, and we're going to take the time to do it right."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Berenixium said on 11:29AM 2-17-2009
Scribbled on a border of the memo: "It will also cost a fortune to set up the servers for Beta and Live. Go figure!"
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Emperor said on 2:42PM 2-17-2009
Well, the open letter said exactly what we already knew. Nothing!!!
Well 2011 it is!!!
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Yoh said on 3:29PM 2-17-2009
"When its done", yeah, nice community leadership there guys. Give us practically nothing, and shut up tighter than a clam, sounds like a very Blizzard thing to do.
So why should I have interest in this game? Oh yeah, I don't. And this is coming from a fan of the first game.
I just can't help but feel fail on the horizon.
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derella said on 3:50PM 2-17-2009
Beyond what was said during the initial announcement in 2007, they haven't revealed anything new about GW2. I think this is what their fans find frustrating, moreso than any delay.
They have community managers... Why don't they use them? Regularly releasing bits of lore or concept art would probably do some good.
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Digest said on 2:59AM 2-18-2009
I agree with you mate. It's like living but not breathing with the fans out there. This is the mmo that I'm hoping to play like in GW1. Right now I'm not playing GW because of lack in interaction among players. Yeah, you group with PUG's, friends, major towns but its all the same. And getting the game into 2011? The events are just boosting earning titles, etc. anything about the game. It's getting lame especially with the old players. So we try any new mmo that comes out then check any updates with GW2. So lame aotm with GW tidbits.
Jerad said on 11:46PM 3-09-2009
If anyone has truly been paying attention, NCsoft has been dealing with a possible devastating lawsuit vs Worlds.com, http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/12/123_37103.html, http://www.massively.com/2009/01/05/worlds-com-vs-ncsoft-not-yet-served/
I believe they are hoping the lawsuit will end by the time 2011 will hit so the can decide on weather they are allowed to release anymore games or not.
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