Guild Wars Mini-Interview #9
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Q: Having eliminated so much grind from the leveling process, how do you intend to keep non-PvP gamers who play frequently coming back for more (between expansion packs)? What sorts of goals might these players have to aim for once they have reached Ascension?
A: Well, the first thing that comes to mind is "stuff!" I don't know about you, but part of my gamer personality profile includes the word "collector." For us collector types, what will keep us coming back to Guild Wars after we're maxed on levels is the hunt for the unique items or for that bow with just one more point in damage or the unusual rune for an armor upgrade. Judging from the way the game plays now, I don't think that the highly-sought-after or unusual items will be found in great profusion. I don't see people passing on the special items in the alpha test, and I believe that the desirability factor will remain. "Rare" really means rare in Guild Wars! You won't have an inventory filled with items with yellow text, and when such an item drops and you see that it's assigned to you, your heart does a little happy dance.
But there are a lot of things besides the inventory that are involved in game longevity. In addition, it's important to remember our streaming technology. That tech is not just a mechanism for keeping the world safe and secure, or for fixing exploits and bugs. Streaming technology allows us to send you new content on a regular basis. I've mentioned holiday or seasonal events before, but keep in mind that we could easily send you a whole new mission, complete with two or three sub-quests. We will be evolving the world in many ways, and will be giving you new opportunities for combat of all kinds. The opportunity to develop a deeper inventory of skills will draw many people. In fact, some folks may well be driven more by the notion of owning and mastering every skill in the game than they are by the tournament itself. So speaking about what would draw you to play post-Ascension there are several things, including: The acquisition of items, mastery of skills, exploration of different professions, attainment of a great number of skills, creation of a new guild, support of guild recruits as they complete quests and learn the ropes, improvements to your guild hall, and of course, the inclusion of tantalizing new content.
In short, there are a multitude of gameplay opportunities and a number of gaming styles supported in Guild Wars. And yes, for the non PvP player, there is definitely life after Ascension. :-)
