So if you haven’t seen the very verbal, yet visually stunning “Manifesto” trailer for Guild Wars 2, go check this little bit out, and come back when you’re done feasting your eyes on it:
Not surprisingly, I like stuff like this. Trailers are always fun to watch, but they are even more fun when little nuances are done that make them unique. In this case, the trick is to include developer philosophy and humanism into the mix. Developers appear in all their excited, slightly haggard-with-little-sleep glory, putting out notions like a card shark deals to his marks. The other interesting thing is that they plainly speak about their notions. Guild Wars 2 is not a grind. People hate grind. People want to be heroes; MMOs have failed to make people heroic. Bosses aren’t epic because they respawn, and everyone is the same.
And Guild Wars 2 aims to change all of that, for the better.
Really, the reason why I’m so happy and excited for this trailer is not because of all that, but for the simple idea that it takes cojones, nuts, guts, testicular fortitude, whatever you want to call it, to make such bold, straight statements. This is different than the “bold” statements MMO devs make about subscriber numbers, or how they plan on torching the competition, or all that. It doesn’t take a sack to say those things, because that’s just bravado. No, laying out the design philosophy and saying not just “we hope to” but that “we will” makes all the more difference.
There are people out there who continue to be cynical about the idea of trailers, visual aids, and even the most plain of ideas communicated through media. It’s too bad that they are, because it’s rare to see developers with a willingness to put themselves out there, this early, and try to declare their own identity. In an online world where MMOs have higher failure rates than first-year restaurants, to be so bitter about them to the point of picking apart even a bold trailer like this one is a little sad, yes? No matter what the message is, the modern MMO trailer is meant to be taken in, enjoyed, and watched over and over again. GW2′s developers simply made sure that you heard their message loud and clear – and out there for all to see. Happy cojones to you.
Great write-up. Can't wait for this game to come out. It sounds like the MMO games I always thought MMO games should be. Every MMO I've played so far has disappointed (aside from maybe Guild Wars, which isn't really an MMO). I really hope ArenaNet can pull it off. And no monthly fees is a big plus!
Your back! I should start using RSS feed..Oh well glad your back. More and more people are talking about GW2. I might have to add it to the list of games I check out.
I don't know that most people are cynical about the ideas of trailers and visual aids. I think people have an issue with the far-fetched ideas presented in such. It's typical of any MMO, and GW2 isn't an exception here. They promise the world in an oyster, and like others, the expectation is they won't deliver it.
That's the cynical angle, and it isn't unique to GW2.
That's a fair point. I think developers are also on the hook to manage expectations as much as players are. They dream as much as players do when it comes to games, but are much more dangerous because they have the tools and teams to make it happen.
I guess I just don't see the point of having a typical response to what people try to make atypical.
This excites me, and because it is ArenaNet, I know they will pull through. After an interview I heard about the original Guild Wars, I purchased the game and was in awe. Guild Wars was fresh, full of new ideas and MMO philosophy. And you know what? They done good. Guild Wars 2 will be much the same, I imagine, and I can't wait to try it out.
[...] my last post I talked a little bit about MMO cynics and how they do tend to feel about the latest and greatest to come through the online RPG-verse. [...]