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I often hear the phrase "paradigm shift" used to describe what GW2 is going to do for the genre. However I don't see what GW2 is doing that actually makes it a "paradigm shift" seeing as how every aspect of the game has been done before already by games before it.
So please enlighten me as to what makes GW2 a "paradigm shift".
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The only time I have seen the phrase "Paradigm Shift" used in reference to GW2 is a guild that goes by that name.
GW2, imo, takes a lot of great things from previous games, builds on the concepts and advances the systems in a way which I personally feel (after playing it) is a great direction. If somebody doesn't like the concept of dynamic events or an action paced world of events, then obviously the advancement of these systems would not be to their liking as well, for the most part.
GW2 does almost nothing as a copy and paste implementation from other games. It moves almost everything it does in one way or another, whether people like the direction or not.
Paradigm shift? Nah.
Incredible progress? In my opinion, no doubt.
Personally, I wouldn't say that it's a complete "paradigm shift", more like a selective "paradigm shift". What I mean is that in my opinion it's includes an evolutionary take on certain core systems that are found in many "themepark" type MMO's
For instance, the "Renown Hearts" and Dynamic Events systems are both an evolutionary take on the traditional linear quest system found in games like Rift, TOR and WoW. Both of the GW2 systems create an environment which (to me at least) feels more "natural" and fluidic. Where results of an event can have consequences on future events that follow.
It all comes down to what one defines as the meaning of the term "paradigm shift".
The fact is that the differences found in GW2 do set it apart from other MMO's. Will it be enough for it to be successful? I don't think anyone can say right now with any degree of certainty.
Top 10 Most Misused Words in MMO's
The problem I've found people have with using this term (I have and still believe it is a valid term in business settings) is that the definition of it in the strictest sense is that a new discovery in a branch of science makes all other theories obsolete e.g. by using a planned scientific experiment around the globe, it was proven that the earth is round. This makes any further theory about the earth being flat, square, ovoid, etc. nonsensical and wrong. Therefore, since there is nothing that can create this type of fundamental change to the way business runs, there is no way to call naything a business creates a 'pardigm shift'.
My argument to this is that there can be changes made that make a business, or it's output, so fundamentally different that it makes little sense for people to go back to an older model. Yes, there are still people that do not have a cell phone (I am actually one of those), but it's a narrow group of people that a cell phone does not appeal to. As things improve with the coverage/cost of cell phones it will become a smaller and smaller population that will not have one.
So the easy way to relate this to GW2 is by using what is being called the GW2 effect. The fact that many people that have played GW2, cannot go back to their old game of choice because they do not find it fun, enticing, or otherwise worth their time. Why? That's the magic question. The best answer I have been able to come up with is that the overall game of GW2 is better than many other games in the same genre, not because of any single change (or group of changes) but the game as a whole is better than the sum of it's parts, which in terms of this discussion make it better than most games within the genre. I think the statment 'it just works' conveys this quite nicely.
Erm...the bit in red seems to contradict the rest of your post.
Anyhow, I do agree that the "the whole is better than the sum of its parts" is probably a good (albeit vague) summary.
Top 10 Most Misused Words in MMO's
Erm....no....just.....no.
Top 10 Most Misused Words in MMO's
This guy is one smart mo fo
For all the reasons every poster has put in the GW2 forums...until people get tired of it, then it will be something entirely different.
i wouldnt mind more companies offering "buy to play" mmos
but im not expecting any industry adaptation beyond that
EQ2 fan sites
more like....i like pizza, but as i'm eating it i suddenly have a craving for fried chicken
Exactly. The "Guild Wars 2 effect" makes other games seem so boring and not fun at all. Probably that's why on lists with "things you don't like about GW2" it's pretty common to see "it makes other games look bad" or something along those lines.
Block the trolls, don't answer them, so we can remove the garbage from these forums
I think many may be looking in the wrong place. The paradigm shift is what is happening to players' expectations and actions. From now on I will expect much, much more from developers who want my £10 per month.
If I can't go into a game, wonder off in a random direction and find meaningful content, I will not pay.
If I'm forced to play in "world of corridors" I will not pay.
If a game tries to force me to ONLY be a dps, support or tank I will not pay.
If developers design a world were kill-stealing and douch-baggery is encouraged, I will not pay...
And this is the kicker: I hold GW2 as the bare minumum standard for a B2P game. If a game maker wants to charge me box price plus a sub then it had better be above and beyond what Anet are offering. Playing sub games with cash shops just seems silly now.
The paradigm shift seems to be happening inside of players, not within the game.
There is NO miracle patch.
95% of what you see in beta won't change by launch.
Hope is not a stategy.
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"This kind of topic is like one of those little cartoon boxes held up by a stick on a string, with a piece of meat under it. In other words, bait."
Paradigm shift, no.
People that called it a paradigm shift probably only played 1 or 2 MMORPG in their life time. If you look at individual features of Guild wars 2, there really isn't much new. How they improved it is how to make all of these features fit together.
read this
http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game/473/view/forums/thread/336987/The-Tao-of-Arenanet.html
it explains whats innovative- if its enough to be a paradigm shift ? you have to judge that yourself.