Pre-release news/Archives/2011/Jan-March

March

Video: The Guild Wars 2 PAX East Panel

March 25

This year at PAX East ArenaNet hosted a Guild Wars 2 panel in a packed hall full of enthusiastic fans at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. For those who were unable to attend, check out our official video(s) of the panel!

Go Forth and Multiply: The Hylek

March 23

ArenaNet's Eric Flannum reveals the story behind the hylek, the Tyrian frogman race.

Read about it from Eric Flannum on the ArenaNet blog

ArenaNet Artists Bring Home the Gold in Spectrum 18 Awards

March 17

ArenaNet's own Richard Anderson and Kekai Kotaki won big in this year’s Spectrum Awards. The annual awards, which honor excellence in science fiction and fantasy art, were announced last Saturday.

Read more from David Campbell on the ArenaNet blog

Martin's PAX East Round Up

March 16

We’ve safely returned from PAX East to ArenaNet World Headquarters here in Seattle, weary but exhilarated after such an incredible show. I wanted to take a moment to share some of the highlights of our PAX East experience with you.

Read Martin's highlights on the ArenaNet blog

It's ON! PAX East has begun

March 11

When the doors opened this morning, Guild Wars 2 fans descended en masse on the three booths of our partners, Alienware, Nvidia, and Logitech, to get their hands on our brand new demo. As you know, we’ve added the thief, the guardian, and the mighty norn to our PAX East demo, and the response from fans has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic.

Read more from David Campbell on the ArenaNet blog

Catch the Thief!

March 11

A master of stealth and surprise, the thief is the latest Guild Wars 2 profession. Learn more about the elusive thief and watch the profession in action at our new thief web page!

PAX East Countdown: A Glimpse of the Thief

March 10

We're counting the hours until the doors open at PAX East in Boston. We can't wait to meet our fellow gamers and show off the latest Guild Wars 2 demo, which as you all know by now, will feature our latest announced profession: the thief!

Check out the thief renders on the ArenaNet blog.

Andrew McLeod Talks Crafting in GW2

March 9

I'm Andrew McLeod, one of the Game Designers responsible for creating an in-depth but accessible crafting system for Guild Wars 2. We’ve added crafting to the upcoming PAX East demo build, so this seems like the perfect time to talk about it.

Read more on the ArenaNet blog

PAX East Preview: Izzy on Attributes and Iteration

March 8

We often mention iteration in interviews, at trade shows, and here on the blog. But what does it mean when we talk about the iterative process? I’d like to walk you through some changes we’ve made to the Guild Wars 2 attribute system to give you a better idea of our design philosophy.

Read about the iterations to the attribute system on the ArenaNet blog.

PAX East Week Begins!

March 7

Many people will have a chance to play the demo this weekend, getting a firsthand look at the new professions and content. Many more will rely on videos and the impressions written by those who do attend. No matter which category you fall into, this week we’d like to provide you with some context and deeper information about what you’re going to see in the new demo.

Find out what ArenaNet has planned for this week on their blog.

Prepare for PAX East and… the Thief!

March 4

We’re going to devote all week next week to talking about the cool new features in our PAX East demo. We’ve already told you that the guardian profession and norn race will be playable, but next week we’re going to get into detail about three other major features in the new demo – crafting, our revamped attribute system, and our new profession, the thief!

Read more and see a sneak peek video on the ArenaNet blog.

February

A Spirit of Legend

February 25

Life in the frozen Shiverpeaks carries many harsh burdens, and those who choose to live there must be as stalwart as the mountains themselves. The norn have many virtues, among them a fierce tenacity and a zest for the challenges that life brings. One of the most fundamental parts of norn culture is their reverence for the Spirits of the Wild, manifest embodiments of the natural world. These spirits are not only sources of inspiration, they are guides and allies through the difficult journey of life.

Read more on the ArenaNet blog.

PAX East Ahead!

February 24

In just over two weeks, we’ll descend upon Boston, Massachusetts for PAX East! We recently shared a few details about what we have in store for the event, and now I’m here to let you in on the rest of our plans. We have lots of new demo content to show off. Norn fans are in for a treat, because this demo showcases the norn starter area! Not only that, but the guardian will be playable at PAX East!

Read more on the ArenaNet blog.

Brand New Norn Video, Wallpapers, and Lore

February 24

Norn Week continues! We've updated our norn page with new wallpapers, expanded lore, and a brand new video featuring the Shiverpeaks, hunting grounds of the norn. Learn more about these shapechanging barbarians who prize glory and valor above all on our updated Guild Wars 2 norn page!

Norn Week – Designing and Redesigning Events

February 23

Hi, I’m Jeffrey Vaughn, a content designer here at ArenaNet. I’m responsible for creating events, populating the world, and trying to make sure you’re always having fun. One of the most recent maps I worked on was the Wayfarer Foothills, the starting area for the norn, just outside of Hoelbrak in the Shiverpeak Mountains. It was especially exciting because this map is the first area many gamers will experience in Guild Wars 2. Read more on the ArenaNet blog.

Norn Week – Go Big or Go Home

February 22

Norn are big, and they do everything in a big way, including architecture. The five great structures of Hoelbrak – the Great Lodge and the four lodges dedicated to the Spirits of the Wild – are built on such a scale that even the mighty norn look small in comparison. But how big is norn big? Read more on the ArenaNet blog.

Legend and Legacy – The Norn in Guild Wars 2

February 22

We’re putting a lot of effort into bringing Tyria to life, making it feel like someplace people actually live. With each race taking a prominent role in Tyria now, making sure that they feel true to their roots while still feeling alive and unique has taken a lot of care and consideration. Of all the races, it may seem easiest to keep the norn intact, but like the others, their culture has grown and advanced over time. Read more on the ArenaNet blog.

Norn Week Begins!

February 21

They come from the land of the ice and snow—the norn! A valiant race of shape-changing barbarians, the norn are one of the five playable races in Guild Wars 2. This week we’re going to get within axe-throwing distance of the norn on the ArenaNet Blog with posts full of lore, art, screenshots, audio clips, fiction, and more. On Thursday, Feb 24th, we’ll be updating the GuildWars2.com norn page with a brand new video featuring the Shiverpeaks, the norn hunting grounds. Read more on the ArenaNet blog.

Assuring Quality – QA at ArenaNet

February 14

Hi, I’m Jerramen “Yamen” O’Donnell, a member of ArenaNet’s Quality Assurance (QA) department. As a longtime Guild Wars player, I was lucky enough to join the company just in time for the big unveiling of the Guild Wars 2 demo at gamescom last year. During my time here, I’ve been really impressed with how ArenaNet incorporates QA as an integrated part of the development process, and I’d like to share with you what we’re doing to make sure Guild Wars 2 is the best game it can possibly be. Read about QA at ArenaNet on the blog.

The Line of Duty – The Three Military Orders of Kryta

February 11

The relationship between the three martial arms of the human nation of Kryta is a delicate one. The Seraph are the army, the police force, and the protectors of the populace. The Ministry Guard serve the ministers, government officials, and nobility of Divinity's Reach. The Shining Blade are the queen’s personal bodyguard and, as the well-informed may tell you, her spies. Read more on the ArenaNet blog.

Human Week Continues with New Video and Lore

February 10

We've updated the human page with new wallpapers, expanded lore, and a brand new video featuring Divinity's Reach and surroundings. Learn more about the indomitable spirit of the Krytan people in the face of rampaging centaurs, looting bandits, and political intrigue on our updated Guild Wars 2 human page!

Character Art in Guild Wars 2 – Designing Humans

February 9

The character work for GW2 has been very exciting and rewarding for us. We've had a lot of upgrades in technology for this game: normal maps, real reflections, per vertex specular, new skin shaders, more polygons… I could talk forever about the new technologies, but I would probably bore you all. Suffice it to say, we're very happy with where we are and where we’re going with the visual design of characters and creatures. Read more on the ArenaNet blog.

Against the Wall: Humanity in Guild Wars 2

February 8

For us, voice plays a crucial part in establishing a world. Voice gives us the opportunity to tell stories with drama, humor, and—more importantly—a realistic tone. If we can make the humans of Tyria look, act, and sound real while making it feel like you’re humanity’s champion in its darkest hour, then we’ve succeeded. It’s a high bar, but it’s one we are committed to reaching. Hear more on the ArenaNet blog.

Oh, the Humanity! Human Week Begins

February 7

Welcome to "Human Week," our week-long look at humans here on the ArenaNet Blog and on GuildWars2.com!

A noble, resilient people, humans were the only playable race in Guild Wars, but a lot has changed in the 250 years between the original game and Guild Wars 2. Times are tough for the humans of Kryta; they have to contend with marauding centaurs, bandits, and internal intrigue, to say nothing of the looming threat of the Elder Dragons. Through it all, they’ve managed to maintain their hope, dignity, and (as you'll see) their fashion sense. Read more on the ArenaNet blog.

Unleashed at PAX East – ArenaNet Travels to Boston with New Demo

February 2

The days are getting longer, Phil the groundhog has confirmed that we will get an early spring, and there is a certain smell in the air. This can only mean one thing: convention season is upon us! We’re extremely thrilled to kick off the 2011 season by travelling to PAX East to meet our East Coast fans once again! Read more on the ArenaNet blog.

What's Your Style? Jon Peters Talks About Combat

February 1

With the introduction of the Guardian, there has been a heated debate over the Holy Trinity and the combat system. Jon Peters reviews the combat system in light of the Guardian, removing fear of the Holy Trinity sneaking back into the game. What's Read the blog post on the ArenaNet blog!

January

Link Roundup: The Guardian

January 28

After months of anticipation, we announced the latest profession for Guild Wars 2 this week – the guardian! A heavily-armored fighter with a wide range of offensive and protective abilities, the guardian mixes magic and melee to create a versatile profession that is equally effective solo or in a group. The guardian is the first Guild Wars 2 profession that did not appear in the original Guild Wars game – but not the last! Read more on the ArenaNet blog

On Guard! Introducing the Guardian Profession

January 27

Presenting the most recent Guild Wars 2 profession - the guardian! A versatile fighter who empowers his allies and crushes his enemies, the guardian is as dangerous with a staff as he is with a massive two- handed hammer. Discover the powerful offensive and defensive abilities of the guardian right here!

Mysterious Guardian Profession

January 21

The forums and Twitter are abuzz with some new information from the PC Gamer camp. On January 21, they posted their Big 10 of 2011 and included Guild Wars 2 in the mix — along with a screenshot of Logan Thackeray captioned “Logan Thackeray represents the Guardian profession in GW2’s iconic adventuring group.” The offical unvealing of this profession will be on Thursday of the following week. see here

The Wisdom and Power of the Kodan

January 11

They first appeared in the world as rumor, as legends. Travelers told tales of great ships made of ice and bedecked with sails glimpsed among the fjords. Then norn hunters returned with more stories of white furred bear-men—unlike those norn blessed by Bear—who possessed great power but who were also filled with great fear. They were fleeing the north, the land of the Elder Ice Dragon Jormag. They were creatures of wisdom and judgment, weighing the races of Tyria and finding them wanting. They were the kodan. Read more on the ArenaNet Blog.

Fans Support ArenaNet in Year End Awards

January 7

As one year ends and another begins, it’s a natural time for gamers to take a look at what they loved/hated in the past year and what they’re looking forward to in the year ahead. In other words, it’s time for end of the year awards! Let’s take a look and see how Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 did this year. Read about it on the blog.

Our First Decade: The ArenaNet Retrospective Video

January 6

It’s hard to believe that it’s been over ten years since we opened the doors here at ArenaNet. As we kick off another fantastic year, we thought this was a good time to look back at our first decade of existence. For our holiday party we put together a retrospective video that reflects on what makes this studio such a great place to work, and we thought we would share it with you. We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it!

View the Arenanet retrospective video here...