The official press release is below. For more information see: http://www.mmif.org

Avatars starring at global film festival MMIF 2010

MMIF 2010
MaMachinima International Festival
Saturday Feb. 20th , 2010
MMIF sims (SL) + Planetart, Amsterdam (NL)

‘MMIF 2010′ is the second edition of an annual film festival in 3D cyberspace with a screening in physical space (’RL’). A seven hour movie marathon with a two hour afterparty. MMIF 2010 can also be followed on the web via live stream broadcasts.

The MMIF is a celebration of ‘Machinima’: a new cinematic art form, created with virtual worlds and video games. On 3D Internet platforms like Second Life, any kind of movie sets can be build for very low costs. The MMIF aims to bring machinima to a wider audience, online – and offline. Machinima artists from all over the world are present in real time at the virtual MMIF Theatre. They present over 50 short films and have talks with other machinimatographers and an international audience.

Audience in Amsterdam can follow the MMIF event projected live on a big screen at the Planetart Medialab Artspace. They can bring their own laptop computers to interact with the show on the big screen. Free wireless Internet and electricity is provided. No entrance fee at Planetart, however tickets are required - reservations must be made via email. Details at http://MMIF.org

The MMIF is a volunteer-run non-profit collaboration of MaMachinima with Planetart, UrbanResort, Meta.Live.Nu, Pop Art Lab, VMax, Ystreams.TV, Metaworld Broadcasting, MetaMeets, Gallery Fermate, and many volunteers. MMIF 2010 is financed by donations and gifts. Virtual land sponsored by Linden Lab. The MMIF was initiated by the Dutch Film maker Chantal Harvey.

MMIF 2010 info, promo video, full programme, live streams, contact and latest updates and changes at http://MMIF.org

MMIF 2010 ARTISTS:

Gala Charron - Ogogoro - Lainy Voom - Draxtor Despres - Bryn Oh - Rohan Fermi - Toxic Menges - Tara Yeats - Phaylen Fairchild - Pooky Amsterdam & Russell (Rosco) Boyd - Poid Mahovlich - CodeWarrior Carling - Evie Fairchild - Graham Miami - Kronos Kirkorian - Osprey Therian - Chaffro Schoonmaker - SaveMe Oh - Dulci Parx - Chatnoir Studios - Paisley Beebe - Rysan Fall - Sol Bartz (phil Rice) - Rocksea Renegade - Cisko Vandeverre – Nitwacket (Pyewacket Bellman) - Chantal Harvey - Lowe Runo - Pia Klaar - Al Peretz - Halden Beaumont - Kolor Fall - Binary Quandry - spyVspy Aeon - Animatechnica - Miles Eleventhauer - Lizsolo Mathilde - Delgado Cinquetti - L1aura Loire - Iono Allen - Pyewacket Kazyanenko - Fort Knight - Luca Lisci - Larkworthy Antfarm - Beans Canning - Gtoon Jun - Tutsy Navarathna - Hadji Ling - Colemarie Soleil - Xineohp Guisse - Lorin Tone - Ian Friar - Suzy Yue - Claus Uriza / Emily Hifeng – Meta Lord, and others.

MMIF 2010 TIMES:
Saturday 20th of February
19:00 CET (= SL 10 am PST) - DOORS OPEN
20:00 CET (= SL 11 am PST) - Opening ceremony + Machinima film screenings
03:00 CET (= SL 6 pm PST) - THE END + After party online in SL

PHYSICAL LOCATION:
Planetart Medialab Artspace
Wibautstraat 150
1091 GR Amsterdam (NL)

VIRTUAL LOCATION:
MMIF 1, 2, 3, 4
Second Life
Teleport links via http://MMIF.org

The Panel was absolutely stellar, comprised of Pooky Amsterdam, Chantal Harvey, Rosco Teardrop and CodeWarrior Carling, spoke about the power of the medium and how it remains a largely untapped resource for talents across a diverse spectrum. I didn’t realize at the time I was putting together this panel that they were not only a remarkable collective, but they truly embodied one of the most amazing tools virtual worlds have to offer; that being the ability for people with oceans between them to stand in a usable space and converse, collaborate, and share. Chantal Harvey, one of the most prolific virtual filmmakers I know is from The Netherlands, Pooky Amsterdam appeared in avatar form from New York, CodeWarrior Carling beamed himself in from Canada, and Rosco Teardrop logged in from Scotland! Despite distance, All of them shared a stage, and beyond that their experiences as pioneers of Machinima Film and Television on multiple platforms.

The two hour conference only grew in size for the duration of the event and unfortunately we had to cut the Q&A session short due to the late hour for some of our Panelists. I regret not being able to address many of the questions asked at the end, but we had to stop somewhere.

It was an honor to share this time both with my Panelists and the audience. And to the Agents and Industry professionals that attended, I extend my most sincere gratitude for taking two hours out of your Saturday evening to share it with us. I hope you were able to glean vast amount of information from our conversations.

I will put together another conference in the future as we continue to traverse the very new terrain of Film and Media production using the Virtual Medium, not only to celebrate the talents behind the scenes but also to raise awareness of the craft and it’s potential to perform in the mainstream.

I would like to thank Lorin Tone for filming it for us. I hadn’t originally planned to have it filmed, but Lorin offered to do so during our sound tests and that was a tremendous blessing for me, not only to have this conference preserved for posterity, but also so that others may watch and learn from the phenomenal talents on the panel. Thank you Lorin for providing us that opportunity. I believe it will be available on Pooky Amsterdam’s website when it is ready and I’ll update here accordingly!

Photo Courtesy Of Chantal Harvey

Have a great Sunday!

I’m posting a still from the episode that I found quite funny for obvious reasons, as you can see, her encounters within the World of Warcraft universe are far from over. See you next week!

I’m pleased to introduce the Creative Academy in the virtual world of Second Life. The Creative Academy focuses on Machinima Production and Performing arts, with the ultimate goal of honing the creative skills of individuals and creating productive partnerships between students.

Filmmaking, coupled with the digital era which has introduced machinima to the masses, is an incredibly powerful media tool. The establishment of this New Media Industry has introduced a need, not only for skilled filmmakers with a firm grasp of the tools at their disposal, but also for performers, specifically composers, actors and actresses with the ability to give life to animated characters.

This introductory course will focus on budding filmmakers and performers who want to challenge themselves and improve their craft in pursuit of establishing a career in the virtual film industry.

Students have the capability of enrolling in any of these three offered courses.

Acting
Actors and Actresses interested in improving their craft and translating it to virtual world productions utilizing voice overs to bring unique animated characters to life will benefit from this class. Film makers from various platforms often find the biggest challenge is finding capable and convincing vocal performers.

Creative Writing
This is where it all begins. The story. Students in this class will develop their skills and learn to transition their stories to a 3D environment. By the end of this class, students will have written material that is film-ready for virtual worlds.

Machinima Production
Lights! Camera! Time to make a movie! From scene composition to marketing a finished product for maximum exposure, this class is for the film maker* who wants to bring their story to life through the vivid imagery offered by the virtual world. Students will learn secrets of the trade and how to successfully adapt their creative eye to a 3D platform for stronger results as they create a new short feature over the duration of the class.

(*The Machinima Production class is NOT a beginner class. Students enrolling should already know the basics of controlling an avatar, FRAPS/SNAPZ and editing software and have these on their machine. It is strongly suggested that potential students have one previously completed filmed works.)

GRADUATION

At the end of the Six Week course, Students from the Machinima Production Class and the Performing Arts Class will collaborate to bring together a series of short features which will screen during Second Life’s 7th Birthday Festivities in June.

Students may enroll in the course of their choice, or any variation of the three.

COST
L$ 8,000 per course.

DURATION

Session Begins in February and ends in Mid March. These evening classes which will last for 2 hours beginning at 5pm SLT until 7pm once a week for 6 weeks.

LIMITATIONS

• Classes will be limited to 8 students per course.

• Classes will be conducted in English only.

• Potential Students must have been Active in Second life for minimum 90 Days.

POTENTIAL STUDENTS
Interested parties should send a Notecard to Phaylen Fairchild titled ENROLLMENT INQUIRY. Enrollment is on a first come first serve basis. Payment is expect at time of enrollment.

Please include the following information:

• Avatar Name

• Course Preferred

• Links to Previous Work (If enrolling in Machinima course)

• Time Zone

DO NOT SEND MONEY UPON INQUIRY.

2010 was the year that so may great minds fantasized about. The captured the imaginations of readers around the globe with high concepts and otherworldly notions. It’s unfortunate that we haven’t quite made it there. I imagine that those pioneers of science fiction must be pretty disappointed, overall, at our lack of progress.

However, it gives new breath to the voices of new visionaries who will dream what our tomorrows will be like. Perhaps 2010 was full of the explicit wonderments those authors of the 1950’s and 1960’s believed it would be, but the writers of today are armed with such powerful imagery of what it will be, taking the future to the next step. While we may not have clones, or androids, flying cars or space colonization, we do have soft rumblings of the possibility. No longer do they remain fantastical machinations, but in some respects, they lay now in the real of real possibility.

Regardless, 2010 is real now. It isn’t a science fiction illusion crafted by a brilliant writer, but the date on which our calendars will read for the next 12 months.

I spend my New Years with two remarkable filmmakers in a virtual world. We dressed for the occasion, spoke as if we were in the same room in the real world while actually being in the same room in the digital realm. We laughed, shared stories, went to parties. We weren’t in the same town, state or even in the same country, but our New Years Eve was spent very much in the company of one another. That alone I think might have sent Asimov into a state of bewilderment. It is these worlds that lift boundaries and make something that was once impossible, even unimaginable, a simple course of everyday virtual living. It made me realize how fortunate I am to live in this era, and I am so excited to see how it continues to evolve over the next decade.

That said, to my friends from around the globe, in worlds both real and unreal, on this dawning of a new decade in this new millennium, I wish you all a New Year where all of your dreams will come true.

Phay

Last year saw the Phaylen, Evie and Kit officially at odds with one another at the beginning of the season, and later forging some significant bonds.

After competing for (And losing) a position on the reality Show “So You Think You Can Prance” after the audition hall burned down, the women returned home for a nice evening toast in front of the fireplace, entirely unaware of the ominous arrival of a new neighbor moving in during the night.

The Season finale, which aired June 6th 2008, found the women suffering bouts of paranoia regarding the new neighborhood fixture in the mysterious black van after a rash of disappearances stuck their town. Certain that he must be hiding something, they broke into his house where Kit, after accidentally shooting half her hair off and sporting one pigtail, unwittingly uncovers a secret passageway leading into a hi-tech control room where beyond lay powerful and bizarre relics from throughout history.

Much to their misfortune, as the stranger returns home, the women, accompanied by their equally neurotic gay neighbor, take shelter in the closet. When the door opens, rather than coming face to face with the mysterious man they believe responsible for the disappearances, they are met by the police, and are subsequently arrested. However, Kit remained trapped in the secret lair, undiscovered by the police as the others were hauled off to jail.

As the police care left the cul-de-sac, they saw the black Van parked alongside the curbside as the mysterious neighbor watched fro behind tinted windows.

With Kit in the secret room, the Man returns home and Kit watched him from a series of security cameras as he approaches the very room she is in. Thinking quickly, she barely makes her escape by shuffling down a trellis. But, her escape was too quick, and she left behind her purse, which the Mysterious neighbors eyed immediately.

After coming home from Jail, Evie and Kit are on the telephone talking, while Phaylen is asleep in her house. We see that she has stolen a strange glass orb, one of the relics, from the neighbors house which sits on her vanity. It rolls off the surface by itself, across the floor and stops at the end of her bed where a huge creature with horns and a deep growl manifests at her feet as she sleeps soundly. He holds out his hand and with a resounding thunder, emits a ray of light that levitated the unconscious woman into the air and with a sharp flash of light, we see she has vanished into thin air.

Evie hears the distant rumble and moves curiously down her long hallway to the window at the far end which Faces Kit’s bedroom window next door. From her window she sees a dark figure appear in the shadow INSIDE Kit’s house and recognizes it as the mysterious neighbors whose house they had broken into.

Certain that Kit is in desperate peril, or about to be, Evie runs in a panic from her house, across her lawn, marching into Kit’s open front door and up the stairs into her bedroom where she finds it empty. She makes a hasty exit and runs across the street to Phaylen’s house and into her room where she finds she too is nowhere to be seen.

Running outside, she unexpectedly comes face to face with the mysterious man in the middle of the road, but this time he is carting a gun. They stare each other down as he cocks the gun and aims it directly at her.

The ground at Evie’s feet begins to tremble and dust scatters into the air as monstrous creature rises against the nighttime sky directly behind her, breathing down her neck. She does a quick turn, gasps in terror…

And that was the end of the show.

For over a year fans of Divas who followed the short web series have been wondering what happened after that dramatic climax.

Well, DiVAS has returned this past December with the first episode in 16 months.

With the first episode of Season 2, “Phaylen Seeks A World Of Warcraft Guild” we find that Phaylen has been living in a different virtual world -and she sticks out as much as she did in her previous.

There is still much to be revealed, which will lead up to the 1 hour Series Finale.

Welcome Back to the show!

I looked out into the audience and there they were! Not just a collective of people sitting in the dark, but people who have really meant something and contributed immensely over the years to my virtual existence.

Toxic Menges, who I recruited on the fly for SL6B and was instrumental in making something that was so amazing. For me, she made a good experience even better by being a part of it. And then she lent her abilities to the fruition of the I Wanna Be A Celebrity Show that I produced after that.

Poid Mahovlich, My Brash British Sister who I’ve remained close to over the years. We’ve screamed at each other and and then, a mere blink of an eye lash later, would be laughing ourselves silly. She’s been a joy to work with over the years.

Pooky Amsterdam who is the quintessential. I am a fan, and beyond that I consider her a Sister. She’s a brilliant mind whose strength and determination I find inspiring. I’ve come to hold her very close to my heart.

Glimmer Silverstar also happens to be a dear friend in the real world. she took off work to be there. She’s seen me at my best. She’s seen me at my worst, and she’s never once, in 10 years, held it against me.

Sasy Scarborough and Whimsy Winx have been there from the beginning. In fact, Sasy was the very first interview I ever did with regard to DiVAS. They’ve both been guests on my own Podcast and Sasy and I recently appeared on the same episode of Tonight Live With Paisley Beebe. They’re a duo who I find embody friendship, and that I can count them amongst mine is a treasure.

Chantal Harvey and I “grew up” in Machinima together. Although she’s made far more films than I have, I find both her talent is without limits, and beyond that, she is one of the most genuine, caring, thoughtful souls I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. Her support of me has always been unwavering.

Matthew Anthony, who I met by accident, argued with over frivolous things, and who, for some cosmic reason I’ve always felt a kinship with was sitting there. He looked so impossibly handsome in his tuxedo. I count myself so very lucky to have gotten to know him. His talent is immense, his professionalism is unsurpassed, and I enjoy every moment with him tremendously.

Crap Mariner is this force of nature. He makes me laugh like few can and I am a frequent visitor of his CatCam where I’ve grown quite fond of his feline friends. It was last summer I saw his own performance at SL6B as the OmniPrim and his quick wit and natural wry humor left me in stitches. Quite simply, I adore him.

Lauren Weyland is the Virtual Comedy Queen who has become a dear friend. It takes a special kind of heart to be the kind whose time is dedicated to making so many people laugh. That, and she was the only one who noticed I was wearing the wrong pair of shoes! The genius that is Lauren is undeniable, and to have someone of that authentic caliber stand by to lend their support is an honor.

Kate Hanks has been my partner is Second Life for nearly four years now. In any life, there are so few people tuned into your person who actually “get you” without first feeling the need to challenge you. Kate has always been that one. Our partnership began as a parody, forged out of discouragement with relationships at the time, and it evolved into a critical part of my Second Life. I love that woman as much as if she lived next door. There is no virtual boundary between our friendship, or defining the context of it. Kate is very real to me. Her friendship is something I will cherish until the end of my days.

Delinda Dyrssen captured my heart via an entirely different world. the information Highway took me to her blog where she wrote so honestly about a very real plight. I watched her posts, prayed for her comeback recovery, and after a Kidney Transplant just a short time ago, she came to share the evening with me. She is an inspiration, and I stand in awe of someone who has fought such a battle that for most would impale the human spirit, and she won. She is a hero of her own story, and I love her for sharing it so indiscriminately.

The elegant Rusch Raymaker is someone I have an insurmountable respect and appreciation for. If you asked me, everything she touches is gold. She has achieved so much with AVENUE Magazine, of which I write for (However, last month ended up missing a deadline due to being swamped with the new Divas, the live show and a blow hard drive!) and her passion is something to stand in awe of. She let me photograph her last year for a gallery show I still intend to do, and we had the most wonderful time chatting - it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship of which I am grateful for. She has lent her support to me in so many of my efforts, including last night, along with her ravishing partner Jesika Contempomi. To me, Rusch is a powerhouse of intense drive, unrelenting dedication and I know that she is one of the few people who could hold the world in the palm of her hands and still care about those upon it. To see her there with Jesika tonight was such a joy.

Lucy Eberhart, my dear friend, my producer on this effort. In such a short amount of time, I saw her from being diagnosed with cancer to those unfathomable chemotherapy treatments and now, to full remission. I’ve laughed and cried with her, sometimes simultaneously. An experience like that with another human being forges a bond that I find quite indescribably. She is a hero, in my eyes. I met her long ago as a fan of DiVAS, then worked with her on the Celebrity Show well before this. We whooped it up with our chickens of which I got her hooked on, and then our turtles! When I asked her to do this with me, she jumped on board, both in sickness and in health, and she stayed by my side with unfailing support throughout. Even when she was not expected to, she remained a pillar of support. Without her, none of last night would have been possible. How do you say thank you? How do you find the words to describe your infinite gratitude and appreciation? Words pale in comparison to how I feel.

These people, all critical parts of the body of my virtual life over the last seven years sat before me as I told jokes and stories from my real one. I didn’t realize, at the time, that the true show was not on the stage, but down there in that one-of-a-kind audience of faces who create a tapestry, one so beautifully woven, of where I have been over the years, who I picked up along the way, who carried me along with them on their adventures and who joined me in mine.

This was not just a show. It was an event of my Second Lifetime, and less because of the events on stage, but more because of the people who came together, all in one place, to wish me well on my Birthday. For that, I am moved beyond measure.

It’s the last live show I’ll ever do, I know this much. And not because of anything egotistical or fearful, but because nothing in this world or any other can ever be so precious, or so unforgettable to me.

From the bottom of my heart,

Phaylen
December 14, 2009

——- For some fantastic images from last night’s show, visit:

Crap Mariner’s stream here (link) !

Sasy Scarborough’s Flickr stream here (link) !

I wish I could play for the world tomorrow, but alas, it cannot be given the impact on region performance a big crowd has. I deeply regret not being able to logically accommodate everyone who turned in RSVP’s. If I had it my way, everyone would be able to attend! Regardless, there will be a recorded version available for viewing/listening in the near future, so I hope those of you who couldn’t attend the live show will tune into the rebroadcast that will be posted here!

Also, there will be a new DiVAS in time for Christmas!! I think you’re all really going to enjoy it!

Enjoy the return to DiVAS!

For fans of Guild Wars, today marked a milestone in the evolution of what will become Guild Wars 2 (link), the sequel to the highly successful game released in 2005. The developers of Guild Wars were actually the first to pioneer the territory of free-to-play gaming, which proved extremely successful for NCSoft. The original game, and the subsequent three expansions (Factions, NightFall and Eye of The North) were a unique introduction to the typical hack and slash genre in that each individual game fleshed out the backstory of one of the 4 main characters is a sweeping storyline. Part of the appeal for me was the distinctive feeling I was playing a pivotal role in an epic film!

The first game wasn’t without it’s weaknesses, however. The point and click movement felt antiquated, and the combat a little clumsy. The opportunities to engage in experiences with other players were few and far between because the world itself was instance intensive; meaning 90% of the time you were traveling through your own personal instance alone, or with NPC henchmen to aid you in your battles. Essentially the world suffered from segmentation to an inhibitory degree if you cared at all to share your experiences with the MMO context. The only places to actually see other players were in major areas or mission town. Guild Wars didn’t use Servers as we have come to know them over the years. The load on servers was separated by what they call Districts. The really nice thing was that, regardless of what district you were on, you could easily travel to another a more populated district if the one you were in was empty.

NCsoft is doing away with every bit of the aforementioned and creating a lush persistent world. While there will still be instances, it will not nearly be so instance-centric. The objective this time around, according to the developers, was to create a more fully realized world without so many gateways that isolate characters in instances and break immersion. They want their player to feel as though they are a part of something much bigger; Not playing a solo, single player game.

When Guild Wars 2 was announced in 2007, it was met with great anticipation. Many people play Guild Wars. Some play quite regularly, while others re-visit the game incrementally, but not as frequently. There are many elements that made Guild Wars such a huge success beyond the free-to-play format. It actually broke the disappointing tradition of “You get what you pay for.” With Guild Wars, NCSoft created what is possibly, even today, one of the most lush and graphically appealing worlds ever to grace the metaverse. Their characters are stunning in realization, their attire is absolutely riveting, the creatures that inhabit Tyria are astonishingly well made. You won’t find any clunky or cartoony models in Guild Wars. I regard it as one of the most visually sophisticated games of all time. They also have a crafting system, albeit one that is not easy to navigate. But I do believe that Guild Wars remains one of the most fulfilling free to play games on the market; Obviously indicating that you needn’t go bust to enjoy some quality game time.

A few otehr games followed in Guild Wars’ footsteps but quickly fell off the MMO radar. Dungeon Runners was a World of Warcraft sppof, quite literally. You would loot items like “The Glowing Broken Blade of Dancing Drunk Leprechans,” taking a comedic jab at World of Warcrafts obscenely long loot item names. Cosmetically, it’s similar to Warcraft as well, and the NPC’s talk, often crudely, but they talk. Dungeon Runners, while free, relied on player to purchase extra items through a marketplace for real money. For a small subscription fee you could have access to higher end content and better loot. But the incentive wasn’t enough for people to shell out their hard earned cash, and the game itself is not populated primarily by 13 year old boys who can’t afford the real World of Warcraft subscription fee.

With Guild Wars, there wasn’t any catches. The only think you paid for was the game. You didn’t have to shell out for extra advantages or nicer gear. It essentially did what it said on the tin. And we like that.

Another thing that kept players, including me, retuning to the lands of Tyria for some game time was the dedication of NCSoft Devs in consistently and reliably adding updated content, having festive holiday events, creating new quests and offering up new adventure packs which added new campaigns. The game itself, even 5 years later, is still one of the hottest sellers on the market.

In the great tradition of the Guild Wars storytelling, And Guild Wars 2 takes place 250 years after the events in their third and final expansion to the original, Eye of the North. One aspect i found incredibly innovative was that, while your characters you created and played throughout the original Guild Wars are long dead, their legends and achievements will be remembered in Guild Wars 2! They were heroes of the great war after all, and the descendants of your character will keep their memory alive through the Hall Of Heroes. A building in the city that is like a hall of records, even those great warriors of 250 years ago have not been forgotten.

But the world of Tyria has evolved considerably in the time that has passed. Relationships between the factions, even those that were once hostile, have now now united in the shadow of the greatest threat Tyria has ever faced. New races have appeared on the horizon to join in the battle, The Sylvari, beings of light, who have woken to the Dawn of a New Age in Tyria. Races players are already familiar with, such as the Asura, Norn and Charr, are now playable races. This alone expands the game substantially in scope, given that in the original Guild Wars a player could only be a Human.

Today, NCSoft release their first introductory trailer to the races of Guild Wars 2. The game has been shrouded in secrecy and information has been slow to appear, but it seems like NCSoft is slowly lifting the veil, and with ever bit they reveal, the game look even more incredible!
For fans of Guild Wars, today marked a milestone in the evolution of what will become Guild Wars 2 (link), the sequel to the highly successful game released in 2005. The developers of Guild Wars were actually the first to pioneer the territory of free-to-play gaming, which proved extremely successful for NCSoft. The original game, and the subsequent three expansions (Factions, NightFall and Eye of The North) were a unique introduction to the typical hack and slash genre in that each individual game fleshed out the backstory of one of the 4 main characters is a sweeping storyline. Part of the appeal for me was the distinctive feeling I was playing a pivotal role in an epic film!

The first game wasn’t without it’s weaknesses, however. The point and click movement felt antiquated, and the combat a little clumsy. The opportunities to engage in experiences with other players were few and far between because the world itself was instance intensive; meaning 90% of the time you were traveling through your own personal instance alone, or with NPC henchmen to aid you in your battles. Essentially the world suffered from segmentation to an inhibitory degree if you cared at all to share your experiences with the MMO context. The only places to actually see other players were in major areas or mission town. Guild Wars didn’t use Servers as we have come to know them over the years. The load on servers was separated by what they call Districts. The really nice thing was that, regardless of what district you were on, you could easily travel to another a more populated district if the one you were in was empty.

NCsoft is doing away with every bit of the aforementioned and creating a lush persistent world. While there will still be instances, it will not nearly be so instance-centric. The objective this time around, according to the developers, was to create a more fully realized world without so many gateways that isolate characters in instances and break immersion. They want their player to feel as though they are a part of something much bigger; Not playing a solo, single player game.

When Guild Wars 2 was announced in 2007, it was met with great anticipation. Many people play Guild Wars. Some play quite regularly, while others re-visit the game incrementally, but not as frequently. There are many elements that made Guild Wars such a huge success beyond the free-to-play format. It actually broke the disappointing tradition of “You get what you pay for.” With Guild Wars, NCSoft created what is possibly, even today, one of the most lush and graphically appealing worlds ever to grace the metaverse. Their characters are stunning in realization, their attire is absolutely riveting, the creatures that inhabit Tyria are astonishingly well made. You won’t find any clunky or cartoony models in Guild Wars. I regard it as one of the most visually sophisticated games of all time. They also have a crafting system, albeit one that is not easy to navigate. But I do believe that Guild Wars remains one of the most fulfilling free to play games on the market; Obviously indicating that you needn’t go bust to enjoy some quality game time.

A few otehr games followed in Guild Wars’ footsteps but quickly fell off the MMO radar. Dungeon Runners was a World of Warcraft spoof, quite literally. You would loot items like “The Glowing Broken Blade of Dancing Drunk Leprechans,” taking a comedic jab at World of Warcraft’s obscenely long loot item names. Cosmetically, it’s similar to Warcraft as well, and the NPC’s talk, often crudely, but they talk. Dungeon Runners, while free, relied on player to purchase extra items through a marketplace for real money. For a small subscription fee you could have access to higher end content and better loot. But the incentive wasn’t enough for people to shell out their hard earned cash, and the game itself is not populated primarily by 13 year old boys who can’t afford the real World of Warcraft subscription fee.

With Guild Wars, there wasn’t any catches. The only think you paid for was the game. You didn’t have to shell out for extra advantages or nicer gear. It essentially did what it said on the tin. And we like that.

Another thing that kept players, including me, retuning to the lands of Tyria for some game time was the dedication of NCSoft Devs in consistently and reliably adding updated content, having festive holiday events, creating new quests and offering up new adventure packs which added new campaigns. The game itself, even 5 years later, is still one of the hottest sellers on the market.

In the great tradition of the Guild Wars storytelling, And Guild Wars 2 takes place 250 years after the events in their third and final expansion to the original, Eye of the North. One aspect i found incredibly innovative was that, while your characters you created and played throughout the original Guild Wars are long dead, their legends and achievements will be remembered in Guild Wars 2! They were heroes of the great war after all, and the descendants of your character will keep their memory alive through the Hall Of Heroes. A building in the city that is like a hall of records, even those great warriors of 250 years ago have not been forgotten.

But the world of Tyria has evolved considerably in the time that has passed. Relationships between the factions, even those that were once hostile, have now now united in the shadow of the greatest threat Tyria has ever faced. New races have appeared on the horizon to join in the battle, The Sylvari, beings of light, who have woken to the Dawn of a New Age in Tyria. Races players are already familiar with, such as the Asura, Norn and Charr, are now playable races. This alone expands the game substantially in scope, given that in the original Guild Wars a player could only be a Human.

Today, NCSoft release their first introductory trailer to the races of Guild Wars 2. The game has been shrouded in secrecy and information has been slow to appear, but it seems like NCSoft is slowly lifting the veil, and with ever bit they reveal, the game look even more incredible!

This trailer is a MUST SEE! (As a little Aside- Web phenom and creator of the hugely popular web series The Guild (link), Felicia day, voices the impish Asura!)