We may be four weeks into 2012, but it's the first day of the Year of the Dragon, which sounds like a perfect day to get a better idea of when we'll get a chance to play the most anticipated, dragon-bothered massively multiplayer online game of the year, Guild Wars 2.
After years of teasing and taunting us with gorgeous visuals and novel game mechanics, ArenaNet is finally ready to let some fresh faces take a look at Guild Wars 2. With closed beta events wrapping up this month, next month will see the beta expanding to include "select press", so expect more in-depth previews and analysis of the game once whatever non-disclosure agreement they attach to that expires.
In March and April they'll be ready to let the right ones in, in this case the players that will coalesce into the bubbling mass of camaraderie that will be known as the Guild Wars 2 community. They'll be the ones flooding the forums of World of Warcraft, Star Wars: The Old Republic, and other massively multiplayer joints, letting the other players know how much they're missing. Flame wars will ignite. Guild moves will be planned.
ArenaNet founder and president Mike O'Brien delivered the news today via the developer's official blog, capping it off with a heartfelt statement of eager anticipation.
"It's been an incredible adventure over the past five years, working with our community and our team of dedicated artists, designers, and programmers to realize this vision. This year, the seeds of that work come to fruition. We can't wait to play the game with you."
Mesmers are not controlled; a Mesmer does the controlling, which is probably why this video for the final Guild Wars 2 class slipped out a few days earlier than planned. Mind control!
Master of illusion and control, the Mesmer class perfectly fits the promises made earlier this year by ArenaNet that the final class revealed for Guild Wars 2 would be a complicated one. It's certainly not the sort of character class for folks that want to show off impressive acrobatics, flashy spells, or big damage numbers. No, the Mesmer is all about finesse, and achieving true mastery of the class requires a true MMO maestro.
Of course that's the original Guild Wars Mesmer. What's changed in Guild Wars 2? I guess some things still have to wait until Wednesday.
With fewer and fewer children donning costumes and hitting the streets every year to celebrate all things sweet and spooky, the Halloween tradition is alive and well in the virtual worlds of today's massively multiplayer online games.
The world's a scarier place than it was when I was a kid. Back in my day parents had no qualms about suiting their children up in dark clothing and sending them out to play in traffic and eat candy. It's not so much that the world has gotten more dangerous as it is our enhanced ability to perceive the dangers that were already there. With the internet and cable television we get to see all the horrible things that have been happening for years, and it scares the hell out of parents and children. Communities just aren't what they were back in the day, unless you count online communities.
In the realms of games like World of Warcraft and EverQuest, children of all ages can celebrate the season without fear, outfitting their characters in crazy costumes, earning rare in-games items, and taking down creepy crawlers of all shapes and sizes, all safely from within the confines of their own computer desk. They may get killed, but it's never permanent.
Let's take a worry-free look at how the major massively multiplayer games are celebrating Halloween this year.
Go on, click through the gallery to see how MMO developers are getting their spooky on this year, and don't get too upset if I missed your favorite game; there's a comment section below this post just waiting for you to share.
You can contact Michael Fahey, the author of this post, at fahey@kotaku.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page.
Aion
Halloween-themed costumes and items await in Aion's creepy Harvest Revel, with players tasked with gathering souls for a chance at fabulous prizes. They've got a full guide going on at the Aion website.
The Harvest Revel runs from Wednesday, October 26th, 2011 to Wednesday, November 9th, 2011, and is a celebration of spooky fun. Last year, the Pumpkin King's plans were thwarted by a gang of cheeky Sugarcrooks, and this year old pumpkinhead is nowhere to be seen.
But we're sure the witches in Sanctum and Pandaemonium can have nothing to do with that. And we're equally sure that they have only the best, most noble reasons for having you collect souls on their behalf.
City of Heroes
Paragon Studios pads their usual Halloween fare with Dr. Kane's House of Horror, giving the heroes and villains of Paragon City a chance to quash a vile plan to turn innocent citizens into slavering zombies.
Dr. Kane's House of Horror will add even more panache to the existing Zombie Apocalypse and Deadly Apocalypse, as you venture into a nightmarish mansion full of danger! Take on the Dr's Zombie horde as you make your way through this terrifying house of horror, will you be able to stop the Dr from creating a Zombie army?
DC Universe Online
It wouldn't be a Halloween in the DC Universe without Scarecrow making an appearance. It'll take four players to take down this special incarnation of Batman's scariest villain, with special seasonal treats available to those that survive his diabolical tricks. You've got until November 7.
Fly into DCUO's frightfully fun Halloween event to defeat the scariest Bosses and earn in-game tricks and treats! All players will be auto-granted a new mission to enter the Gotham City Sewers and defeat Scarecrow, a Group Boss Fight for four players of any level. Take down the fearsome villain for a chance to earn wicked rewards, including rare loot and Spooky Tokens, which can be used to purchase ghoulish items in Skeets' Boo-tique. The Boo-tique is haunted with Halloween items such as the Jute shirt or pants (chillingly reminiscent of the Scarecrow's own) or a Pumpkin Head. For players who prefer pets, DCUO has terror-ific pumpkin companions that come ready to fight alongside them in combat! Plus, players can also receive Spooktacular loot by visiting the Vault or defeating any boss in the game. This Halloween the most spine-tingling events are happening in DC Universe Online. Find out if you have what it takes to beat DCUO's Spooktacular Scarecrow - hahahahahaha!
EverQuest
The massively-multiplayer online role-playing game that refuses to die (if only the sequel had been better) has been celebrating Halloween since the early days. I remember spending the entire holiday running from zone to zone, collecting special rare items from invading monsters. Sounds like they've toned things down a bit as the game's matured, but the holiday continues to get its EQ due. The party ends tonight!
Dive into a spooky quest to earn tricks and treats in the marketplace for FREE! Players are dared to log in and earn tricks such as the Jack-O-Lantern of Plenty, summoning throw-able pumpkins that can be launched at others, and treats such as the Aura of Jack, allowing players to be surrounded in floating Jack-O-Lanterns. This Halloween, EverQuest is truly taking Fright Night to frightfully fun levels!
EverQuest II
All you have to do to earn special holiday-themed loot in EverQuest II is log into the game. That's it, just log in, get your stiff, and go back to the original game.
Celebrate EverQuest II's Nights of the Dead event with by trick-or-treating in certain zones in-game. Players can show off their costume illusions while taking part in Halloween-themed quests. Additionally, EverQuest II players will find no shortage of spooky surprises during the SOE Trick-or-Treat event, October 28-31, when Halloween themed loot will be delivered to them via in-game mail for logging in.
Free Realms
It might be a game for kids, but they sure know how to throw a family-friendly Halloween party in Free Realms. What other game gives players a vampire versus werewolf dance-off? Extra points for using the word "spooktacular".
Jump into the Free Realms Super Spooktacular in-game event for Halloween fun and adventure! Spooky quests, a Vampire vs. Werewolf Dance-Off in Bone Bog Cemetery, a new Werewolf mount available for purchase in the marketplace to haunt in style and new costumes including a Ghost, Grim Reaper, Mummy and more are available for players. Also, players will be able to claim fun tricks and treats for logging in during the SOE Trick-or-Treat event, October 28-31.
Guild Wars
In what will (hopefully) be the last Halloween for Guild Wars before Guild Wars 2 comes out, Mad King Thorn and his associates rise once more to spread terror and goodies throughout the land.
Once a year, Mad King Thorn and his spooky cohort visit the land of mortals for a creepy celebration full of holiday quests, the Costume Brawl PvP event, Halloween-themed guild vs. guild battles, two new costumes, and lots of other tricks and treats!
Global Agenda
Not even futuristic massively multiplayer shooters are free from the Halloween spirit, as the Haunted Recusrive Colony returns to menace Hi-Rez Studio's Global Agenda.
The Haunted Recursive Colony is once again upon us! Doom Commander and his minions are bringing terror to the Oasis Checkpoint to satisfy their hunger for souls! Only the Agents of Dome City can save the world from the clutches of this evil horde!
Level 30 Agents must protect the cage of souls at all costs from Tuesday, October 18th through Monday, October 31st.
Collect special Halloween flair as you fight off the horde, and successfully complete this Defense Raid for a guaranteed reward!
To help overcome Doom Commander, look out for some other orange names appearing throughout the event to fight alongside you!
Lineage II
In NCsoft's Lineage II they're just handing out the goodies.
Your highest level character per server, per account will receive the following:
Halloween Hat
· A two-slot accessory that gives your character the appearance of wearing a stylish Halloween pumpkin hat
Halloween Gift Box
· A wrapped pack containing a 30-day Pumpkin Transformation Stick, which turns you into a Pumpkin Ghost and can be used for 30 days.
Golden Jack O'Lantern Mask 7-Day Pack
· A jack o'lantern mask two-slot head accessory that last 7 days, giving a buff that increases Max HP, Max MP, Max CP, P. Def, M. Def and Speed for one hour.
RIFT
And then Batman and Robin show up in RIFT. I have no idea.
The day-to-day experience for the average Telaran is generally pretty spooky. At any moment a tear in the very fabric of reality could turn a picturesque Freemarch meadow into a decaying cesspit crawling with undead eager to snack on your soul. For some unknown reason things get especially twisted around this time of year, but the residents of Telara can rest easy knowing that a pair of particularly dynamic Ascended can always be counted on to keep Telara's gallery of rogues in check.
Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures
While Star Wars Galaxies dies a slow and painful death, over in the family-friendly Clone Wars Adventures they'll be dancing on Galaxies' grave all night long! Everybody's dressing up, even the droids.
Join the most ghoulish event in the Galaxy as Clone Wars Adventures™ celebrates Halloween. Now through Nov. 11, 2011, there are spooky costumes, devilish Droids and deadly decorations available for players to alter their characters' appearance and the appearance of their homes. As a special treat, a Creepy Crate will grant a mask each day to anyone brave enough to approach it in the Lounge of the Jedi Temple from October 24 to October 31! Jedi Members can also collect a second set of masks! For those who want more frightful fun, a special Fright Flight Halloween-themed stage of the Rocket Rescue mini-game will also be available! Also during the SOE Trick-or-Treat event, October 28-31, players can find fun illusions in-game to deck out their characters.
World of Warcraft
Blizzard's annual festival of Hallow's End is in full swing, with new rewards and quests joining old rewards and quest in a spooky celebration that ends *checks watch* tonight at midnight. Better hurry.
Once again Hallow's End approaches, promising tricks, treats, and triumphs for boys and ghouls (heh) all across Azeroth! This year, starting on October 18, you'll find a special Hallow's End Wickerman set up and ready to burn in Stormwind and near the Undercity within the Ruins of Lordaeron. Every four hours, Genn Greymane and Lady Sylvanas will arrive to light each faction's respective Wickerman in celebration of Hallow's End. Of course, it wouldn't be Hallow's End without a little mischief…
Light My Fire
To get into the spirit of the holiday, players can visit the Wickerman celebration just outside the city gates of Undercity and Stormwind to obtain quests. One quest tasks players with lighting their faction's Wickerman (earning a nice buff for doing so), or to travel to the opposing faction's city to put a damper on the holiday by dousing their Wickerman!
This Year, It's Your Turn to Take the Kids Out
The Hallow's End celebration is a favorite time for many children in Azeroth, and heroes can make sure that their faction's orphans aren't left out of the fun. Jesper and Spoops, orphaned children of the Horde and Alliance, will be attending the Wickerman celebration. Players who want to make the orphans' holiday a little more special can perform quests which will make sure that this is a Hallow's End the kids won't soon forget!
Complete these quests and you'll come away with a handful of Tricky Treats — once consumable candy, these sugary delights now act as a new currency which you can earn in a variety of ways over the course of Hallow's End, and which you can spend on special holiday rewards! That's not the only way to earn Tricky Treats though.
Ride With the Moon in the Dead of Night
If dousing Wickermen and corralling orphans isn't enough chaos for you, you can perpetrate some stench from above with the help of your faction's disgruntled senior citizens. Crones and Hags are willing to fly you over the opposite faction's Hallow's End celebrations to drop a smelly surprise on their heads — in the form of stink bombs. Naturally, the denizens of those cities won't take such an outrage lying down, so players can volunteer to help clean up the mess.
Trick or Treat
Long a staple of Hallow's End are the colorful orange candy buckets that can be found in capital cities throughout Azeroth and beyond. Reach in and grab a handful of candy which can contain Tricky Treats and more — but beware! Sometimes you'll get a trick as well as a treat.
Prepare Yourselves, the Bells Have Tolled!
The Headless Horseman's shade returns! His fiendish laughter will ring out over the countryside as he descends to set fire to Brill and Goldshire. Valiant and civic-minded players can acquire quests to put out the fires that he so delights in setting, earning some Tricky Treats in the process. Higher-level players can use the Dungeon Finder to queue up and face the Headless Horseman directly in an effort to win macabre prizes from his corpse and finally put him to rest… for now!
Hallow's End Treats!
Unlike previous Hallow's End celebrations where many rewards were earned in a somewhat random fashion, starting this year, players will be able to visit special vendors at their city's Hallow's End quest hub. There, players can spend their Tricky Treats to purchase the rewards they want most, including such in-demand items as the Sinister Squashling. So get out there to quest and Trick or Treat, because your rewards await, but don't delay. The holiday ends at 11:59 p.m. on October 31.
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve walked into a room with a monitor and a nervously-smiling man at one end and been told I’m about to see the future of MMOs. I smile back politely, and the same old dance begins. Too often, I feel a numbness, a struggle to reconcile professionally wanting to know what’s going on with personally despairing of the idea of giving over dozens of hours of my life to what’s so often a mess of cloned features and over-sold, under-realised promises. My most recent sighting of Guild Wars 2 really did break through that numbness, made me sit up straight and pay full attention. I still don’t know how much of what it’s trying to do will be practicable and effective over long-term play, but seeing it took me back to a time before my awful genre ennui, back to when every time I sat down to see a new MMO my mood was excitement, not cynicism. Here’s why. (more…)
The Charr is the feline race of Guild Wars 2's Tyria and is, in the case of these plushies, adorable.
You can contact Brian Crecente, the author of this post, at brian@kotaku.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page.
We've featured the concept art of Guild Wars 2 here twice before, showcasing the talents of concept artists Levi Hopkins and Kekai Kotaki. Today, then, let's do it a third and final time.
Think of it as a trilogy, with the final act the contributions of the series' Creative Director, Daniel Dociu.
Dociu, born in Romania, has been living in the US since 1990, and prior to his work on the Guild Wars series was employed at studios like Square, Zipper and EA.
He's something of a legend in the world of concept art, having been recently honoured with EXPOSÉ'S Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement, putting him alongside the likes of Syd Mead (Blade Runner), Ralph Macquarrie (Star Wars) and HR Giger (Alien).
Oh, and fun fact: he was also the face model for Half-Life 2's Father Grigori!
To see the larger pics in all their glory, either click the "expand" icon on the gallery screen or right click and "open link in new tab".
Fine Art is a celebration of the work of video game artists. If you're in the business and have some concept, environment or character art you'd like to share, drop us a line!
You can contact Luke Plunkett, the author of this post, at plunkett@kotaku.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page.
We published some footage of Guild Wars 2gameplay shot off several television screens earlier this week. Wartower.de does one better, capturing a direct feed straight off a rig.
In the video you see a fight against Tequatl the Sunless, a giant dragon boss of Guild Wars 2.
You can contact Brian Crecente, the author of this post, at brian@kotaku.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page.
Amidst the bushels of chaos and action from upcoming games flying out of Germany this week, this idyllic new Guild Wars 2 trailer has you stop and contemplate it's picturesque beauty. And then, of course, it unloads it's own brand of chaos and action by the bushelful. I hope you have lots of empty bushels at home.
ArenaNet character designer Kristen Perry was presented was presented with a thorny task when asked to cultivate the plant-like sylvari race for Guild Wars 2: Finding the balance between green-skinned humans and tentacle monsters.
When you imagine plant people, those are the two images that immediately come to mind. Either you've got green elves with leaves for hair, or Swamp Thing. One is lazy; the other hideous. What Kristen needed to do was splice together trimmings from both branches of the plant people family tree and come up with a happy medium.
The solution was to create an illusion of anatomy. The figure was not formed from a human with leaves on top of it, but rather a human shape made from grown plant parts. This originates from specific growth sockets. The primary growth socket starts at the small of the back, where a tail might grow. Like many fruits and vegetables, there are two ends: the main stem and the opposing divot (which makes a really good belly button). Graceful leaves sprout from the growth socket, curving around and through the body to simulate the desired musculature. I used stems and broad leaves to articulate the carpal tendons and the flesh of the lower arms. Hosta leaves spiral out at the shoulders in a teardrop shape to form the deltoid "muscles," while branches spring from the clavicles. Scientific anatomy turned out to be creepy, but garden-variety fantasy anatomy was just what was needed.
What she wound up with is a rather gorgeous race of sentient-plants reminiscent of the tree people from the Doctor Who episode "The End of the World". As a hopeful Guild Wars 2 roleplayer, I'd take a pair of shears to that any day.
Kristen Perry on Designing and Redesigning the Sylvari [ArenaNet]
You can contact Michael Fahey, the author of this post, at fahey@kotaku.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page.
The answer to the question posed in the headline is a simple one: the Guild Wars 2 sound team. It's how they do it that's a little tricky.
I'm not going to say that creating the sounds for a regular game isn't a daunting task. It's just that normal console and PC games have a finite amount of content. Crafting the sound for a massively multiplayer online game involves making sure hundreds of thousands of players are hearing the right things at the best quality at the right time. Every footstep, every creaking floorboard, and every rustling leaf needs some sort of sound treatment. When you immerse yourself in the world of Guild Wars 2, these guys will be your ears. You gotta respect that.
Might I add that it is my dream to one day be featured in a video with a banjo soundtrack? Thanks for stealing my dream, sound team.
You can contact Michael Fahey, the author of this post, at fahey@kotaku.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page.
We may be four weeks into 2012, but it's the first day of the Year of the Dragon, which sounds like a perfect day to get a better idea of when we'll get a chance to play the most anticipated, dragon-bothered massively multiplayer online game of the year, Guild Wars 2.
