Guild Wars: Overview
Arena Net developers, many of whom had worked on the Diablo series at Blizzard Entertainment, formed Arena Net in 2000 with the idea of creating online environments. Even today, Arena Net developers continue to improve their servers, visit fan sites, observe PvP matches and actively play Guild Wars.
Guild Wars, released in 2005, is a free-to-play MMO. Starting with Prophecies, the Guild Wars franchise has expanded with Factions, Nightfall and Eye of the North. Eye of the North is the final chapter of the Guild Wars saga as developer, Arena Net, looks to the future and Guild Wars 2.
Guild Wars has two main areas of focus: Player versus Player where teams, or ‘guilds’ battle for the Hall of Heroes, and Player versus Environment, where players compete against AI controlled monsters, complete quests and attempt to fulfill the story arc.
Here is a brief synopsis of each of the ‘chapters’ of Guild Wars:
- Prophecies (2005) is set in a world based around a western-style adventure story. You will start off in the grand country ofAscalon, helping the King and his Prince in their battle against the vicious Charr. The story then continues over many lands and nations, taking you through the icy Shiverpeak Mountains, the jungle kingdom of Kryta, and the long-abandoned Crystal Desert in an attempt to stop a deadly evil from destroying the world.
- Factions (2006) is set in an Asian-themed world. You will start off in the monastery for new recruits on Shing Jea Monastery, where you will be trained by the renowned Master Togo. The story then continues onto the mainland where you will meet and ally with one of the warring factions of the Luxons and the Kurzicks, and begin a quest to save the Emperor himself from the evil Shiro Tagachi.
- Nightfall (2006) takes place in the North-African themed continent of Elona. You begin on the lush island nation of Istan, having just been recruited to the noble order of the Sunspears. Your adventure takes you across the sea to the mainland, where you will encounter the military nation of Kourna, lead by Warmarshal Veresh, and the merchant nation of Vabbi, led by the three merchant princes. Eventually, you will venture out into The Desolation in an attempt to stop a long-forgotten god from destroying the world.
- Eye of the North (2007) takes place in Tyria - the continent that the original Guild Wars campaign took place on. It has been six years since the events of Prophecies. In order to stop the looming threat of ancient creatures bent on nothing but destruction, players must traverse new places in Tyria, never seen before – the Far Shiverpeaks, the Charr Homelands, Tarnished Coast, and head beneath the world itself to combat this evil. (source: Guild Wars Wiki)
Guild Wars notably became one of the first major North American MMOs to abandon the subscription model. Instead players only need to buy the retail box and can then play for free.
