Guild Wars 2 (official review on pp 21)

[PR_GMR]

Don't forget this is a public event:
http://www.arena.net/blog/the-beta-weekend-event-is-coming

This is a public event, which means that you’re not bound by a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). So go ahead, feel free to take screenshots, shoot video, blog, tweet, write, or compose a rock opera to share your Guild Wars 2 experience with the world.

This is my b-day weekend and I got a lot going on, so I figure I'll wait and see how ya'll feel about it. Maybe I'll take the plunge for a later weekend when I have more time to burn though all bets are off once Diablo III's out.  

Oh, you bet I'm gonna be yapping about it! 

[jersoc]

if you want the client, find a torrent and it'll auto update itself.

or i saw this on gaf: http://cloudfront.guildwars2.com/pVRS48PNCNhr0nlwfSIGf2jVkt4AhkjAVCp0IUp3ptvHlENECYbMWlJ49hwCn1J/Gw2.zip

it's the client and it'll also patch itself. getting anywhere between 800kb and 1.7meg on it. so it's fast as hell.

[PR_GMR]

Woot! Just got the beta client download email. Check your email, folks!

[Lockdown]

Figures!  The most anticipated game for me in years, and I'm out of town all weekend.   

I plan on checking this thread A LOT while I'm away though, so post your asses off, please!

[Asharak]

I plan on checking this thread A LOT while I'm away though, so post your asses off, please!

Unlikely, but I promise lengthy impressions (what, me, ramble? Never!) on Monday. Posting on the weekend will likely only occur if the beta is a Diablo 3-level of unstable / inaccessible.

- Ash

[Asharak]

The beta hasn't even started yet and I'm already impressed by three things:

1) The log-in screen is very pretty (OK, that's not really a thing).

2) They actually have an intelligent, informative error message if you try to log in right now ("Your account is all prepared but there is no beta event running right now"), unlike some games' *coughdiablothreecough* plethora of indecipherable error codes.

3) In a feature I had never seen before but that needs to become a global standard, and not just for games, the log in screen displays a "chroma hash" of your password: a set of three colours right next to the password box that will always be the same, assuming you've entered your password correctly, so you don't have to wonder if one of those asterisks was actually a typo.

Is it 3PM EDT on Friday yet?

- Ash

[Elmo]

Info on choosing your world for beta:  http://www.arena.net/blog/choosing-and-transferring-worlds-in-guild-wars-2

[Asharak]

Info on choosing your world for beta:  http://www.arena.net/blog/choosing-and-transferring-worlds-in-guild-wars-2

So if we're playing GW2 with the Wanderers, have they picked a world yet? Who's our contact with those ne'er-do-wells again?

- Ash

[Covenant]

When you preorder and register your serial number, is Guild Wars 2 supposed to show up in your game list under the NCSoft account management page? I got an error halfway through the registration process and want to verify I am good to go for this weekend.

[Elmo]

Looks like The Wanderers will be playing on the Sorrow's Furnace server.

[Asharak]

Looks like The Wanderers will be playing on the Sorrow's Furnace server.

Danke. I shall attempt to remember that come Friday.

- Ash

[PR_GMR]

(grumbles)

Be aware that there currently problems with resetting your GW2 password. Got frustrated this morning. I'm hesitant to download the client from anywhere else as there's a rumor that other downloads may have keyloggers on them.

[Elmo]

When you preorder and register your serial number, is Guild Wars 2 supposed to show up in your game list under the NCSoft account management page? I got an error halfway through the registration process and want to verify I am good to go for this weekend.

I have the client installed and ready to go for beta weekend.  Don't see it on my NCSoft accounts page.

[Knightshade Dragon]

I'm finishing my writeup today, but we'll have ooooh.....around 300GB of video to share with you guys over the next few days before the beta opens, plus my writeup, and over 100 minutes of interviews.  Yea...we're doing it up like that.

[PR_GMR]

I'm finishing my writeup today, but we'll have ooooh.....around 300GB of video to share with you guys over the next few days before the beta opens, plus my writeup, and over 100 minutes of interviews.  Yea...we're doing it up like that.

  

[Blackadar]

I'm finishing my writeup today, but we'll have ooooh.....around 300GB of video to share with you guys over the next few days before the beta opens, plus my writeup, and over 100 minutes of interviews.  Yea...we're doing it up like that.

Don't keep us in suspense.  Thumbs up or down?  Those of us on the preorder fence need a push one way or another!

[Booner]

I'm finishing my writeup today, but we'll have ooooh.....around 300GB of video to share with you guys over the next few days before the beta opens, plus my writeup, and over 100 minutes of interviews.  Yea...we're doing it up like that.

Don't keep us in suspense.  Thumbs up or down?  Those of us on the preorder fence need a push one way or another!

I've already pre-purchased, but I want to know the answer too. I'm having a bit of buyers remorse because of the lack of release date....so I just want some outside validation. 

[skystride]

Figures!  The most anticipated game for me in years, and I'm out of town all weekend.   

I plan on checking this thread A LOT while I'm away though, so post your asses off, please!

Yeah I'll be out of town too.  Not only am I missing this, I'm also missing Tera headstart and Guild Wars 7th anniversary (good time to get some of those Hall of Monuments stuff unlocked for GW2).

[tcweidner]

with prepurchases happening, with the NDA lifted, I'm gonna guess a june 1st release.

[jersoc]

with prepurchases happening, with the NDA lifted, I'm gonna guess a june 1st release.

my guess would be no later than august. I'd go july 17

[Lockdown]

I'm finishing my writeup today, but we'll have ooooh.....around 300GB of video to share with you guys over the next few days before the beta opens, plus my writeup, and over 100 minutes of interviews.  Yea...we're doing it up like that.

   

That is awesome Ron.

[Grimwar]

So I am curious, I have the client downloaded and even though I preordered the first day it was available, I have yet to get an e-mail about the beta weekend.  My retail key is registered, so would I still be able to play this weekend or am I boned?  I did some searching for an answer, but I didn't come up with much other than people complaining about not being able to download the client.

[Booner]

So I am curious, I have the client downloaded and even though I preordered the first day it was available, I have yet to get an e-mail about the beta weekend.  My retail key is registered, so would I still be able to play this weekend or am I boned?  I did some searching for an answer, but I didn't come up with much other than people complaining about not being able to download the client.

From what I've gathered.... one way is to check is by starting the client and providing your log in info, if you get an error roughly stating that "Your account is all prepared, but there are no events running at this time", then all is good.

[PR_GMR]

I...am.. ready. 

[greeneggsnham]

As Petty would say, the waiting is the hardest part.

[ericb]

I got excited earlier because I clicked login and it went to a connecting screen for about 20 secs...then went back to the "hey stupid, beta starts tomorrow" message

[Grimwar]

So I am curious, I have the client downloaded and even though I preordered the first day it was available, I have yet to get an e-mail about the beta weekend.  My retail key is registered, so would I still be able to play this weekend or am I boned?  I did some searching for an answer, but I didn't come up with much other than people complaining about not being able to download the client.

From what I've gathered.... one way is to check is by starting the client and providing your log in info, if you get an error roughly stating that "Your account is all prepared, but there are no events running at this time", then all is good.

I tried that and it looks like I am good to go.  Thanks!

[PR_GMR]

I tell you. I've got it bad for this game. I'm sitting here with the login screen up... just listening to Jeremy Soule's amazing soundtrack.

[Knightshade Dragon]

Thumbs up is hardly covering it.  The first portions of my videos are up:

Hands on preview with 1 video, 102 screenshots: http://gamingtrend.com/2012/04/26/guild-wars-2-hands-on-preview-1/

Hands on PvP / WvW with 4 videos: http://gamingtrend.com/2012/04/26/guild-wars-2-hands-on-pvp/

Being honest, I played World vs. World before I really knew what i was doing, so it was a lot of flailing.  The PVP came out better.   Tomorrow I'll post the 5 man level 30 dungeon in its entirety - something NO OTHER website has done.   That's a great set of video.   After that I have 100+ minutes of interview with 5 developers to answer every question I could come up with and then some.   Coverage?  Yea....I got that.

Oh, and yes...it was fun killing the professionals at these various outlets.  Bunch of plushies...

[Knightshade Dragon]

with prepurchases happening, with the NDA lifted, I'm gonna guess a june 1st release.

The number I heard is that they were 90% complete.  That points to October for me, but it's still a guess.

[Soulchilde]

LD has nudged me into this.  I skipped GW1, so I'll be getting into this one fresh.Thanks for the video, Ron

[Elmo]

Great writeup Knightshade.  Thanks.

[Elmo]

Login message now says that I can't connect, try again in a few minutes.   

[PR_GMR]

Login message now says that I can't connect, try again in a few minutes.   

You took the day off to play it did you? 

I'm gonna suffer at work until 5:55pm. 

[Elmo]

Me, no.  I'm retired!  Only advantage I know to being old.   

And the login message is back to saying there is no beta event right now.

[Pharaoh]

Last meeting over. Comps out the door!

Come to me GW2! Its time for glorious PvP! Screw PvE content, I want DAOC back!

[USMC Kato]

My launcher patched up again just now.......

[Arkon]

Just logged in and creating a character!

[Asharak]

Just logged in and creating a character!

I hate you with every fibre of my being. Um, I mean, have fun!

- Ash

[USMC Kato]

I'm logged in! Kato has been created