Yesterdayâs Q&A with Guild Wars 2 content designer Mike Zadorojny painted the development of next monthâs blockbuster MMO in broad strokes. Today ArenaNet releases a series of videos that break the gameâs design down to four core components: dynamic events, player versus player, personal story and combat.
A massively multiplayer online role-playing game is much more than players hitting monsters until they are dead, though that certainly plays an important part. If the combat was dull and lifeless it wouldnât matter how compelling the rest of Guild Wars 2 was. Of the four pillars itâs probably the most traditionally important to existing MMO players.
PVP combat is important as well, especially in a game where war between player-made guilds is right there in the title. Guild Wars 2 helps lure in the less competitive players by leveling the playing field. When you go into PVP, youâre the same level as everyone else. Youâve got access to the same skills and equipment. It all boils down to how you play.
Dynamic events is something thatâs new-ish to Guild Wars 2. Other games have had world events and local quests, but Guild Wars 2 does it a little differently. It helps that the game doesnât penalize one player for hitting on another playerâs enemies. Since there is no kill-stealing, everyone is free to pile into these dynamic events without fear of ticking anyone off.
And finally thereâs the personal story each individual player will experience What ArenaNet has done is forged a more intimate bond between player and world through a series of story-driven quests filled with memorable characters and dramatic events. Itâs like a single player game laced throughout the massively multiplayer one.
How do these four pillars come together? Weâll find out next month, when Guild Wars 2 goes live.
Video: The Pillars of Guild Wars 2 Gameplay [ArenaNet]
