Shack PSA: Guild Wars 2 headstart access starts tomorrow

Guild Wars 2 is launching next Tuesday, but pre-orders can get early access to the game tomorrow.

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It seems almost unfair that game releases hit on Tuesdays. Weekends give an abundance of free time that could be spent digging into a game, but instead you have to wait until the start of the work week to lay hands on the newest games. This is mostly a holdover from the days of retail delivery, so luckily it can be circumvented using digital distribution. Guild Wars 2, for example, will let you start playing tomorrow if you pre-ordered.

Fans who pre-purchased the game can get into the "Headstart Program," which allows you to play starting Saturday, August 25. You can still place a pre-order for early access if you're so inclined. If you're still on the fence, check out our most recent preview for the game.

Editor-In-Chief
From The Chatty
  • reply
    August 24, 2012 9:00 AM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Shack PSA: Guild Wars 2 pre-orders allow early access.

    Guild Wars 2 is launching next Tuesday, but pre-orders can get early access to the game tomorrow.

    • reply
      August 24, 2012 9:02 AM

      This was actually annouced like months ago :S

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      August 24, 2012 9:05 AM

      ShackNews coverage on GW2 is by far the worst you can find on the internet... it is almost like someone didn't get an invite into the beta and now tries to put out as little as they can.... sad face...

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        August 24, 2012 9:22 AM

        GiantBomb also had 0 GW2 coverage.

        • Zek legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
          reply
          August 24, 2012 9:24 AM

          There has to be somebody on the team that cares in order for it to get coverage, which is for the best really since otherwise there's no point.

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            August 24, 2012 10:36 AM

            Jeff played it for an hour during a very early press event and didn't like it. So I guess that's that. :)

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            August 24, 2012 10:37 AM

            I was really interested in Guild Wars 2, having played several hundred hours of the original, but that's petered out over time. It looks nice, but I'm not that excited any more and don't intend to buy it any time soon.

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              August 24, 2012 10:42 AM

              GW2 is nothing like the original. Give it a try. :)

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                August 24, 2012 10:54 AM

                I was in the latest BWE, played for about 3 - 4 hours and I simply did not like it. I don't like the feel, UI, none of it. Just not interested in it.

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                  August 24, 2012 10:58 AM

                  UI is the slicked UI in an MMO game, ever IMHO. Very minimalistic, non-intrusive and it's showing you everything you need. Most of the screen is however reserved for the actual game.

                  What didn't you like about it?

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                August 24, 2012 10:56 AM

                I will, one day. I'm not an MMO person either, so that's innately less appealing to me.

          • reply
            August 24, 2012 11:30 AM

            no, you don't have to be "interested" to post, it is a gaming news site, one of the biggest mmo releases is today, and all we get is this? it is just sad!

            If they want to be on pair with all other news sites, they need to bring more than 10 words in an article, it is just a joke...

            Just to clarify, i like this website and i just can't believe that articles like this came out... they've been using this same picture for all gw2 articles as well... seriously?

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              August 24, 2012 11:35 AM

              The release isn't today, it's on Tuesday. If you pre-ordered far enough in advance to get headstart access, you probably are following the game close enough by yourself anyway.

              Very little 'new' has happened with Guild Wars 2 in a long time. They revealed a lot, early, so there have been few developments to cover. That leaves previews, really, and we had one a month ago. What non-preview coverage would you like to have seen.

              As for using this same picture several times, it seems Steve took a shine to it. Which is fair enough, it's a pretty picture. When writing a thing, you don't think back to which screenshot you used in your last story on the subject. It's a picture which goes at the top of the article. That's all. I know I used the Mesmer reveal shots a lot, because hey! I liked them.

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      August 24, 2012 9:06 AM

      Way to stay on top of the news there Steve

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      August 24, 2012 9:15 AM

      If I preorder, can I cancel it later when one of their announcements makes me angry?

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      August 24, 2012 9:18 AM

      The preorder is only a one day headstart I think, you need to have prepurchased (paid in full) to get the three days.

      • Zek legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
        reply
        August 24, 2012 9:25 AM

        Basically if you want to play tonight, buy it from the official site and you're fine.

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          August 24, 2012 10:16 AM

          I've tried several times to buy it from their website and it just doesn't work at all, had a few friends try to grab me a copy too and they were unable to buy it either

          Googling around they had a post on their facebook saying they were out of digital keys and may open it up after the game officially comes out. Really sucks as I want to bloody play it but will have to wait until its out and can't play the early access

          My own fault for not ordering sooner I guess but... sucks :(

          I JUST WANT THEM TO TAKE MY MONEY

          • reply
            August 24, 2012 10:49 AM

            Just tried right now and it worked?

            Thanks for purchasing Guild Wars 2!
            Your receipt will be emailed to you shortly.

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              August 24, 2012 10:49 AM

              Maybe its because I'm in europe :/

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                August 24, 2012 10:52 AM

                Ah. Canada over here - it generated the key for me right away

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                  August 24, 2012 10:54 AM

                  I've put a message into their support as my friends here are unable to buy it as well.

                  Never has purchasing a game been this frustrating for me

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                    August 24, 2012 10:57 AM

                    Damn you ArenaNet :(

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                      August 24, 2012 2:33 PM

                      For what it's worth, I bought the game this afternoon from their site. No problem at all.

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      August 24, 2012 10:30 AM

      Tough bunch as usual. We have Ozzie in for the review and he will be in the early access. Several features are planned from his play time. You'll get the coverage for the game you so desperately want ...

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        August 24, 2012 10:42 AM

        W00t!

        My new Woot shirt has arrived!

        Oh! Also, what Keef said!

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      August 24, 2012 10:32 AM

      We will be playing on Far Shiverpeaks EU!

    • reply
      August 24, 2012 10:59 AM

      For anyone who wants to know more

      https://www.guildwars2.com/en/manual

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