GamesFirst! Previews Guild Wars

GamesFirst! has posted a preview for Guild Wars, an MMORPG in development by NCsoft and due out late 2004 (and one of the titles that our own Ophelea reviewed at this year's E3).

The developers shun "treadmill gaming," gameplay rewarded only after hours and hours of mindless leveling. The skill system reflects this philosophy. Skills do not level up with experience. Once you buy it, it's yours and you don't have to pump vast amounts of time into making your new skill worthwhile. This puts an interesting spin on strategy. The point is no longer who spent more time dumping experience points into their skills, but rather the skills your opponent has and what you can use to counter him or her.

Some very interesting twists proposed for Guild Wars, including...*gasp*...no monthly fee?!?

[a href="http://www.gamesfirst.com/previews/todd/guildwars/guildwars.htm" target="_blank"]GamesFirst! Guild Wars Preview[/A]