We may be four weeks into 2012, but it's the first day of the Year of the Dragon, which sounds like a perfect day to get a better idea of when we'll get a chance to play the most anticipated, dragon-bothered massively multiplayer online game of the year, Guild Wars 2.
After years of teasing and taunting us with gorgeous visuals and novel game mechanics, ArenaNet is finally ready to let some fresh faces take a look at Guild Wars 2. With closed beta events wrapping up this month, next month will see the beta expanding to include "select press", so expect more in-depth previews and analysis of the game once whatever non-disclosure agreement they attach to that expires.
In March and April they'll be ready to let the right ones in, in this case the players that will coalesce into the bubbling mass of camaraderie that will be known as the Guild Wars 2 community. They'll be the ones flooding the forums of World of Warcraft, Star Wars: The Old Republic, and other massively multiplayer joints, letting the other players know how much they're missing. Flame wars will ignite. Guild moves will be planned.
ArenaNet founder and president Mike O'Brien delivered the news today via the developer's official blog, capping it off with a heartfelt statement of eager anticipation.
"It's been an incredible adventure over the past five years, working with our community and our team of dedicated artists, designers, and programmers to realize this vision. This year, the seeds of that work come to fruition. We can't wait to play the game with you."
Awwww.
Welcome to the Year of the Dragon [ArenaNet]