The fantasy MMO Guild Wars 2 is taking storytelling to new heights. The story of the world of Tyria is told in episodes and seasons, much like new US series that rely on a cohesive narrative across months and years. Now, Guild Wars 2 is venturing into new storytelling territory.
As reported by mmorpg.com, the folks at ArenaNet have consulted with storytellers and artists from other media to get tips on how to design a longer narrative arc, how to create more vivid characters, and how to make the second season, the second book, of a storytelling cycle much more exciting than the first.
Guild Wars 2 as a pioneer in modern storytelling
This is exactly what ArenaNet is planning with the second season of the living story in their buy-to-play MMO Guild Wars 2. It will introduce players to the villain of last year, Scarlett O’Hare. Only with this new information will they understand what was going on in the pretty head of this apparently insane woman.
O’Hare is, by the way, definitely dead. Such tricks as having a villain who just can’t be killed belong more in the realm of comics than in modern storytelling, which is what shows like Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones (even though…) or Sons of Anarchy shine for.
“The further you progress in the second season, the more players should wish to play the first season again,” is a quote from designer Chris Whiteside during a conversation with massively. Therefore, it’s not surprising that ArenaNet is already seriously considering making the first season of the Living World replayable in the future. Just as it will be done with the episodes of the second season and as players know from their DVD shelves. After all, many rewatch all episodes of the series in one go when a new season starts. Binge-watching is what they call it.
Video recorder function aims to make new storytelling relatable
Guild Wars 2 also wants to continue focusing on other narrative details and pay more attention to specifics. The background, the scenario, the new world that the heroes embark on will be familiar to franchise veterans. The journey leads to Drytop, a crucial area that played a significant role in the first Guild Wars. But that was 250 years ago, as the designers assure, since then, quite a lot has changed. And the characters you meet on your travels? They won’t be faceless beings who only differ by the color of their armor, but should be real characters that gain contours and peculiarities throughout their story.
That ArenaNet is serious about this new direction can be seen in small details. They sent their in-house composer to collaborate with the Brandenburg State Orchestra to record the soundtrack for the new living story. After all, a modern presentation of a story requires an appropriate sound. Also, motifs and melodies can create connections between different points in a story. And this connection will become more important as the story becomes longer and more complex.
The second season of the living world has been playable since yesterday.
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