Guild Wars 2 Launch Party

Written by: Gary Gannon (@garygannon) | August 25, 2012 8:13 pm

56 Comments

Guild Wars 2 is finally here and to celebrate the Guildcast crew chats it up!

Guild Wars 2

Last Stand At Southsun May 28th

Continuation of the living story and many changes to WvW.Read more »

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World of Warcraft

Patch 5.3: Blizzard’s First Ever Live Video Interview!

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This Week in MMO Ep 144:
WildStar, Rift, Dust 514

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25 comments

http://profile.yahoo.com/SMGRLFM4UASOO7QO26HTHBLIOI Shawn

Great show guys! Way to kick things off in a big way for Guild Wars 2!
dphoenix4

Luckily, I had no issues getting into the game thus far. This game is amazing!
- http://www.facebook.com/jonathan.hornsby.7 Jonathan Hornsby
  
  Likewise. Of course I deliberately didn’t bother right when the severs went up. I waited an hour and just watched Scott’s livestream; I figured the log-in server was going to abused pretty bad, and I’d have better luck waiting a bit.
Josh Rosenvelt

Yeap, there was over 6000 viewers for the show. GW2 is absolutely amazing game, I actually expect it to overtake LoL in xfire before the official release tuesday. This game is bad in that it is very addictive.
tommythepower

One of the worsts launches ever ! we in the EU could not log in all day, and when we get in we get boted out.Doesnt matter, game is not good so i havent tried logging in any more. But i guess if i was on this panel i would also be paid to like the game and would be all weeee yeah fun……
- Michael Smerdon
  
  One of the worst launches ever? I’m guessing you’ve not really been at mmo launches before? It was the norm
  - Old Ben
    
    Shouldn’t have been “the norm”, though; most of the issues they’re having were known from the BWEs and stress tests.
    
    I don’t think this was a complete surprise, and it reinforces my suspicion that they set the launch date based on “external” factors. They probably learned in June (from some current or ex-Blizzard employee) that MoP could not possibly launch before September, and decided to pick a launch date in August, although objectively they would probably have preferred to launch one or two weeks later (with at least another full-scale BWE).
    
    Probably a smart move, in commercial terms, but we’re going to have at least 3-5 days of beta testing.
- Josh Rosenvelt
  
  I bet this guy can’t afford GW2 because hes paying off a wow sub and now he’s pissed.
- Spammerbam
  
  ”game is not good so i havent tried logging in any more.”
  
  Wait, what? You bought the game but thinks the game isn’t good? That’s just a waste of money, imo. On the other hand, I was able to log into the game smoothly at exactly 9:00pm PDT. Guess I was one of the lucky few.
  - MMO_Doubter
    
    How is the trading post working for you?
- Jay
  
  Did Sharuko send you?
  - Old Ben
    
    Well, he’s busy playing so he can’t come.
  - http://twitter.com/dularr Dularr
    
    Did you not follow what happened to the European servers? While the US servers came up like a charm three hours before the official headstart launch, Europle had all sorts of problems.
    - Jay
      
      Only thing I’ve been following this weekend are my characters in GW2…
    - Old Ben
      
      Yes, starting servers at different times was not nice; they should have checked that it was possible to log in from every region before they started letting people create / name characters.
      
      I have a feeling their “EU” login server actually connects to the US, and the link they’re using saw the massive traffic and triggered DDoS protection.
      
      And if they had implemented a face-to-face or CoD trading system like people kept asking them, the “maintenance” on the trading post wouldn’t be nearly as annoying.
- ScottHawkes
  
  We get paid to like GW2. Oh that one always makes me chuckle.
  - MMO_Doubter
    
    One way or another. Chuckle all you like.
    - ScottHawkes
      
      Or, now this might sound crazy, I just like the game? I know that’s a different viewpoint to yours but perhaps that’s just because I have a different viewpoint.
      - http://www.facebook.com/jonathan.hornsby.7 Jonathan Hornsby
        
        Don’t waste your time Scott; Doubter is a proven troll. If you try to counter his argument with anything that makes sense he’ll just ignore it and go off in another direction.
http://profile.yahoo.com/3E2LHOMCZC3WKNS2O343WYOUUQ Darren

Can’t be one of the worst launches when it hasn’t officially launched yet. So long as the majority of issues are fixed by the 28th then it will be one of the smoothest launches by far.
- MiZTiiX
  
  If the launch wasn’t that good on a PRE RELEASE, where the majority of the people who are interested in the game have not bought it, then imagine when it comes out, the majority of the GW2 players base trying to log in + the people who pre purchased. YIKES!
  - Jant0n
    
    I believe that most people who are interested in the game will have either bought or pre-ordered the game already.
    - MiZTiiX
      
      No, if you are realistic when it comes to ANY game, most people who like it buy the normal version and dont pre order. Only the die hard fans do and they are the minority. Its the same with call of duty, most people by it like a month later on Xmas.
      - Jant0n
        
        Let me rephrase what I said. I think most people who were actually interested in playing the game when it comes out will either pre-order or pre-purchase. Yes they will have plenty of sales after the game launches, but I am doubtful that most people who actually want to play on the 28th will not have already pre-ordered or pre-purchased the game.
      - MiZTiiX
        
        No, most people actually ALWAYS by the regular edition. Even if you are so excited alot of people dont want to spend extra money on a game and will just go and buy it on the day of release. Its crazy to think most players would actually get the more expensive version of the game rather than the OFFICAL normal release
      - http://www.facebook.com/jonathan.hornsby.7 Jonathan Hornsby
        
        The pre-purchase and pre-order versions of the game were normal price. I think you are confusing the pre-purchase ($60) with the deluxe edition ($80) or the collector’s edition ($150). Yes you could pre-order or pre-purchase those, but as you said most people did not.
        
        I am surprised you fail to understand that it is possible to pre-order or pre-purchase the standard edition, or “OFFICAL normal release” if you prefer.
      - Guest
        
        yh but that still costs more
      - http://www.facebook.com/jonathan.hornsby.7 Jonathan Hornsby
        
        No it doesn’t. I know. I did it.
        
        Heck I actually paid less by pre-purchasing the standard digital edition; sixty bucks and no tax. So yeah; saved a couple of dollars by not going to the store and picking up a copy on release day. And that is to say nothing of gas money.
      - Jant0n
        
        As Jonathan Hornsby said there is no difference in the price for those who buy the game in a store or those who pre-purchase it is $60 (unless you buy the digital deluxe or collector’s edition).
- http://profile.yahoo.com/W76UOX2IDTRMMYTPASSJDLXLRM Bob
  
  The launch was great for me. Other than the trading post being down, I haven’t had any major issues and I’ve been playing on and off since 9 pm on Friday.
- MMO_Doubter
  
  and if they are not fixed – you will come up with ANOTHER excuse.
  
  As soon as you are charging (in this case the game is live with no wipes planned) – it IS launched.
Fluffenstuffen

Real life has begun.
Jay

What day is it… Where am I… Logged in over 20 hours already, bout to do some more. Other than not being able to “join in” on overflow servers with my boy, the pre-launch has been smooth.

My starting line up thus far: Norn Warrior, Asuran Thief, Charr Engineer, Sylvari Guardian, and last but certainly not least, Asuran Mesmer (sword pistol is just beast).
http://twitter.com/T3HN4T3R Nathan Werner

Arenanet has been working like crazy to fix all the issues. Arenanet deserves our patience. They let alot of us in 3 days early and they’re clearly using us as their beast testers. We broke their login server, mailing system, and the trading post. They’re fixing it! We played for almost 7 hours straight under SUPER heavy load before breaking the game….and they fixed it. Does anyone remember the Diablo 3 release? How about Battlefield 3? How about Vanilla WoW? Arenanet is a great company….they’re going to get it right.
- http://www.facebook.com/jonathan.hornsby.7 Jonathan Hornsby
  
  What worries me a bit is the server issue. Less than one day in and all but three of them were full, and those were high population. And this is just pre-purchases, the pre-order players haven’t gotten in yet. And then there is the people who will be buying the game on or shortly after the actual release.
  
  I know Arena Net got a little flack for having too many servers during one of their beta tests, but now it looks like they’re going to need them.
  - Old Ben
    
    I doubt they are actually “full” as defined by the intended capacity. They’re probably just setting them as “full” once they reach about 2/3rds of that, to force people to distribute themselves more or less evenly across all servers. I suspect on the 28th a lot of “full” servers will suddenly be marked as “high” or “medium”.
    - http://www.facebook.com/jonathan.hornsby.7 Jonathan Hornsby
      
      That has actually already happened. I saw on their twitter last night that they were forced to raise the cap on all servers because of how many people they were getting.
      
      So seeing as they have already used that option they are likely to still need more servers by release day. Back up plans or not it is pretty clear that Arena Net has been taken off guard by how many people have flocked to their game.
      - Old Ben
        
        > it is pretty clear that Arena Net has been taken
        > off guard by how many people have flocked to their game.
        
        Even if they don’t get updates from retailers (to know the exact number of box sales), they obviously know exactly how many registered accounts they have in each region.
- MMO_Doubter
  
  Great company – despite their failures?
  
  WE didn’t break shit.
- http://twitter.com/dularr Dularr
  
  While I want to complement Arenanet communications. Let’s not cut them too much slack.
  
  Arenanet knew exactly how many headstart players they could have, the hype and the fact everyone pre-purchased in full the game should have given then a good idea of the number of players.
  
  We paid in full, months in advance for the headstart, so don’t cry for Arenanet and forgive what is clearly another round of beta testing.
  
  We didn’t break anything.
  
  If this had been any other game publisher, the fan base would be out for blood.
  - http://www.facebook.com/people/Jim-Bergevin-Jr/1393526370 Jim Bergevin Jr
    
    On top of that, GW1 was borked as well. Anet made mention of the fact many times in the last 5 years that GW2 was a different game. As such I lost all desire to play GW2, but still intend on playing GW1 for as long as possible. I don’t want a completely separate game inhibiting my ability to play GW1, so yes, they need to be taken to task on that subject and need to find a way to prevent that from happening again.
DoctorOverlord

Oh good, you posted this. I missed most of it, I just got to see Scott streaming and coughing up phlegm at the very end lol
Revanhavoc

You guys have come along way…my little GW 2 show all grow’d up…*sniffles*
http://www.facebook.com/patrikules.vunderbar Patrikules Vunderbar

Scott is such a trooper. Hope you’re feeling better man!
Krzysztof Kotarba

I’m old mmo player… GW2 is amazing, it doesn’t feel like mmo. Individual loot, nodes no mob taging, fun when you meet ppl, exploration.
- http://twitter.com/dularr Dularr
  
  I agree, in many ways this does feel like a single player game, coordination with other players is not necessary. I do like the lack of mob tagging, mat farming system and down system.
  
  I am enjoying the first time through all the vistas and POI.
  - Old Ben
    
    > in many ways this does feel like a single player game
    
    Good luck doing any kind of protection or escort event solo…
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Jim-Bergevin-Jr/1393526370 Jim Bergevin Jr
  
  And yet, one of the biggest complaints about SWTOR is that …. it doesn’t feel like an MMO – but more like a single-player game. Go figure.
  - Key Foster
    
    I know right!? Crazy how the world works.
- http://twitter.com/lifensoul Steven Whiting
  
  And that’s what I’m liking about it. Individual loot, resource nodes and as long as everyone hits a mob, even if not a in group, everyone still gets credit. And it all works.
disky00

Elisabeth, those cheeks.
disky00

Elisabeth, those cheeks.
bsqminus4ac

I loved how they ignored the host as soon as the servers were up. I can’t say I would have done anything different.

Poor Scott was trying to be a good sport even though it was clear that he was far to ill to be on the show.

Scott, did you get Jarimor?
http://profile.yahoo.com/SMGRLFM4UASOO7QO26HTHBLIOI Shawn

Keep in mind WoW Vanilla had the worst launch in MMO history ever and nothing can top that.
http://twitter.com/GrantElicious Grant Butler

I hate this host he sucks.
DoctorOverlord

Finally watched this, awesome episode everyone! I napped through the launch foolishly thinking the game might not start until 12. Great to see your experience at the launch and at least I got to see the end of Scott’s streaming.

Mike S. You da man! You didn’t let the haters get you down with your prediction and stuck to your guns, good job!

It was hilarious seeing the moment the servers went live. Everyone’s reactions were terrific. Elisabeth was bouncing with excitement while Scott kept his British composure and Richie just looked shocked and Mike had that great resigned look as he realized he had just lost all control. Thanks for the laughs!

Last Stand At Southsun May 28th

Patch 5.3: Blizzard’s First Ever Live Video Interview!

This Week in MMO Ep 144:
WildStar, Rift, Dust 514

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