MMORPG's (Active KGC Guilds) > Guild Wars 2

Dynamic Events Dev Journal by Colin Johanson

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Steeldragoon:
I've seen the words "it is not as dynamic as they would have you believe" or something similar several times in the past couple of months.

Here is an article that discusses the reality of dynamic events within the game.  Hopefully it aligns some of the expectations for the dynamic content (for existing and new players alike).

http://www.guildwars2hub.com/features/interviews/dynamic-events-dev-journal-colin-johanson

Keen:
You've heard that from me, and even after reading the journal I stand by what I've said because I believe it to be true.

The events are not dynamic.  They are scripted.  Does the game change? Yes, but it changes the same way every time.  What they've done, and they admit to this in the journal, is improve upon the Rift and Warhammer Online events.  They're right about that -- GW2 events are the best events yet -- but they're still not dynamically changing the world.

Don't mistake my frankness for bashing, though.  I'm extremely optimistic about the events, and I think they'll be a great replacement for raids in the end-game and a neat way of making the world feel 'active' while leveling up.

Steeldragoon:

--- Quote from: Keen on July 17, 2012, 06:38:03 PM ---Don't mistake my frankness for bashing, though.
--- End quote ---
First off, I want to say that I realize you are not bashing the game.  I feel like you perhaps just simply have a different view point on how to describe the game or that perhaps you haven't really explored the events much and are saving for the release.

I do hope you agree with me that the above article does a great job of explaining the events for what they are.


--- Quote from: Keen on July 17, 2012, 06:38:03 PM ---The events are not dynamic.  They are scripted.
--- End quote ---

So first off, let me put my assumption out there.  My assumption is that you are not using the word dynamic in the vocabulary sense, but rather the sandbox mmo sense.  Now that is not to say you aren't using the word correctly.  After all one of the definitions is "(of a process or system) Characterized by constant change, activity, or progress."  And as such, the events do have periods where they are static and so are not constantly changing and they do not immediately spiral off so that the activity is never ending because those same periods where those events are static are actually pauses so that new players can join on the next step of the event.

But lets not forget that words often have multiple meanings or at least slight variations in their meanings.  You've got at least two other definitions of dynamic to tackle before you can say these events aren't truly dynamic.  "Stimulating development or progress" - The events do stimulate development and progress of both the character and story of the game as well as the environments around them. (whether the progress is to the ultimate failed state, win state, or for the web events ... to any one of the eventual branches in the web)

"(of a verb) Expressing an action, activity, event, or process" -  Well these are definitely events in the true sense of the word and they definitely give an activity for the players to enjoy.

If you are viewing it as a programmer, then surely you must agree that the parameters going into the script are certainly not static.  There are at least a couple if not more possibilities of values that those parameters could hold.  So since the scripted events are not always performing the failed state or the won state, it must be something other than a static event yes?

Now I think we can agree that GW2 dynamic events will never be AS dynamic as a sandbox game.  But I think you can hopefully understand my disagreement with anyone that might say GW2 events aren't dynamic at all.  Now if the concern is that marketing may have put it over the top as to just how dynamic these games are, that may be, but I think Colin Johanson admits that in his article.  That being said, I don't know if marketing ever stated that the events would never repeat.  I believe marketing simply pushed that players made real change to the surrounding environment and in the sense that players control whether the event chain is in a failed or won state that is correct.


--- Quote from: Keen on July 17, 2012, 06:38:03 PM ---I'm extremely optimistic about the events, and I think they'll be a great replacement for raids in the end-game and a neat way of making the world feel 'active' while leveling up.
--- End quote ---

I agree.  I just worry that some of your blog posts may not necessarily represent GW2 properly to potential players especially when it seems you are attempting to over-correct for the marketing.  I don't mean that you portray the game in a negative light.  But perhaps you would agree with my simple portrayal of the dynamic events below:

GW2 dynamic events are a chain of events that typically affect the local area in a semi-dyanmic way.  The events are scripted and as such they repeat depending on the state of the chain or web.  Although the events repeat, the changes to the landscape surrounding the event and the events themselves provide a dynamic atmosphere.

If you find flaws with the above, then I fall back to my suggestion that the article provides a detailed and accurate description of what dynamic events really are. :)

Keen:
I'd rather they throw out the word dynamic entirely and just call them events. 

Something like:
"Events happen throughout the world of (whatever it's called) on a regular basis.  Centaurs might attack a town, a dragon may harass a zone, or players may find themselves suddenly surrounded by a blizzard caused by an ice elemental seeking to open a portal from his realm to unleash an attack."

Allow the player to assume how the world will change.  Imply it, but don't state it like it's something that doesn't happen several dozen times a day.   

The events can literally be shut down in minutes, then come back a few minutes later in much the same way. 

The events can be camped.

The events do not change.

It's hard to call even the atmosphere dynamic. 

And yes I correct for the marketing because I feel the marketing does a greater disservice to the players than my blunt honesty.

Odius:
I think it's good to look at GW2 and its events and simply just take it for what it is. The game is being WAY over hyped, and this is the sort of thing that kills a game because people end up crying that certain things aren't how they expected them to be.

I don't disagree with you at all Steel, but I also see Keen's point that they should just be called events because it could possibly lead to a big let down for some people. I love the the events I have participated in and really look forward to the different events going forward.

In my opinion, GW2 is just another MMO, but it does a lot of things better. It may not be THE WoW killer, but it certainly raises the bar.

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