Chiming in with the legion of April Fools gags today, developer ArenaNet swapped all level 20 player characters' avatars with stick figures in the MMO Guild Wars (PC).

The swap was brought to our attention by reader Tadej Lasic. While the change was universal across the game—avatars became stick figures in outposts, Guild Halls, PVP areas and so on—the swap did not affect heroes, NPCs, or any characters not directly player-controlled.

This Guild Wars Guru forum thread (thanks Blues News) is filled with Guild Wars followup information, all gathered from the most recent issue of PC Gamer. ArenaNet is planning to ditch the Chapter format for the game, and is instead focusing on an expansion pack called Eye of the North, as well as a proper sequel.

The Eye of the North expansion pack is set for a holiday 2007 release, and will cost less than the previous chapter additions. It features no new professions, but will include new armor sets, new skills, new heroes and new areas to explore. Its storyline will bridge the gap between the first game and Guild Wars 2.

Guild Wars 2 meanwhile, will feature four new races, and "radical" changes to many game elements including PvP play and the NPC companion system. It also sounds like there will be less instancing, and the level cap will be either really high or non-existant. The game will also remain fee-less. A beta is expected to start in 2008. For much more, go here.

Here you go!
Additional Database Entries

• Field Commander (SOE, PSP, 2006)
• Sam & Max Episode 1: Culture Shock (Telltale, PC, 2006)
• Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (Digital Eclipse, X360, 2006)

Featured ShackReviews:

• This week, Masem has a review of iNiS' Gitaroo-Man (PS2).
• SixDemonBag checks out Clover Studio's (RIP) God Hand (SP2), while...
• ...grayscale takes a look at the same developer's Okami (PS2).
• Finally, SilverSnake gives us his impressions of Q? and Phantagram's Ninety-Nine Nights (X360).

ArenaNet and NCSoft sent along this press release, announcing that a Prerelease Bonus Pack for Guild Wars Nightfall will hit stores September 6. The prerelease pack will include a 10 hour/14 day trial key for Guild Wars Prophecies and Guild Wars Factions, a bonus key for an additional character slot for a Guild Wars Nightfall account along and two exclusive items for the new professions, and a mini strategy guide along with game media.

ArenaNet sent along this press release, announcing the next Guild Wars campaign, Guild Wars Nightfall. Currently in beta, a Nightfall PVP preview event for current Guild Wars players will start Friday July 28 and end Sunday the 30th. The preview event will allow you to check out the two new professions, and compete for items that can be exchanged for rewards.

Computer & Video Games has a new Q&A with Michael Gills of ArenaNet. The Tournament Coordinator is asked about the company's foray into the e-sports scene with Guild Wars: Factions.

The GuildWars.com events page has been updated, noting that the Dragon Festival will soon start (June 30) for Guild Wars Factions owners. According to ArenaNet, players "can join in fun carnival-type games, play new mini-missions and special PvP gameplay, undertake unique quests, and collect Asian-flavored treats such as red bean cakes and rice wine. Ceremonial Dragon Masks will be awarded to those players who are able to collect enough globes filled with the Jade Wind essence that changed Cantha two hundred year ago".

The Adrenaline Vault has a Q&A on Guild Wars Factions, asking Jeff Strain of ArenaNet about this newly released stand-alone MMORPG expansion.

There's another big batch of new releases this week. PS2 gets the much awaited Ace Combat Zero, Guild Wars gets its standalone Factions (PC) campaign, and Benoit Sokal's anticipated Paradise (PC) finally comes out. Sokal is the designer behind the Syberia games, two of the better received traditional adventures of the last few years. Personally, I wasn't a huge Syberia fan; the games always felt too sterile and noninteractive for me, but I know a lot of adventure fans enjoyed them so it should be interesting to see how Paradise does. DS also has sort of an odd trio of games this week, with a fighter in the form of Guilty Gear Dust Strikers, a Taito RPG/RTS called LostMagic, and--of all things--a Top Gun combat flight sim game. Go figure.
Additional Database Entries

• UberSoldier (Burut, PC, 2006)

Featured ShackReviews:

• Another bountiful batch of reviews this week. Masem revisits Square's Final Fantasy VII (PS1) and also checks out Nintendo's Metroid Prime Pinball.
• SixDemonBag has two reviews as well, writeups on EA's Medal of Honor: European Assault (Xbox) and Crystal Dynamics' Tomb Raider: Legend (X360).
• Finally, SilverSnake reviews Telltale's CSI Three Dimensions of Murder (PC) and Entity brings us another review of Crystal Dynamics' Tomb Raider: Legend (X360).

This week I started Funcom's Dreamfall (Xbox) and Vivarium's Odama (GCN). Meanwhile, I'm slowly working through three Zelda games: The Legend of Zelda (NES), A Link to the Past (SNES), and Ocarina of Time (N64).

The second part of CGOnline's Guild Wars Factions Q&A is now up, asking ArenaNet's Jeff Strain more about the upcoming stand-alone expansion pack.

Computer Games Online is the latest site to feature a Guild Wars Factions Q&A. In the first part of this article format Q&A, ArenaNet's Jeff Strain talks about Factions pretty much being an all-new game instead of a basic expansion pack, the new gameplay features, the two additional professions, and territory control.

ArenaNet sends along word that the Guild Wars website has been updated, offering a new Factions movie. The video runs for just over a minute and a half showing the new characters and creatures found in the stand-alone expansion pack.

The latest Gaming Steve podcast is up, offering an interview with ArenaNet's Jeff Strain. Surprisingly enough, the interview is about Guild Wars and the upcoming Factions expansion.

GameCloud is the latest site with a Guild Wars Factions Q&A. ArenaNet's Jeff Strain talks about Guild Wars sales, goals for Factions, the new features, the recent free PvP weekend and future update plans for the original Guild Wars.

GWOnline.net has posted the latest Guild Wars Q&A, asking the ArenaNet crew about the current state of the game and the upcoming Factions expansion pack.

GamesIndustry.biz and Total Video Games both have new Q&As posted with ArenaNet's Jeff Strain, asking him about Guild Wars Factions and topics related to Guild Wars. Thanks Guild Wars Slovenija.

There's a Guild Wars: Factions preview on Computer & Video Games, going hands-on with the standalone expansion pack for ArenaNet's online action RPG.

A trailer for Guilds Wars: Factions is now available from FileShack, showing the additions brought to ArenaNet's debut title through this stand-alone expansion pack.

NCSoft & ArenaNet issed this press release today, announcing a Guild Wars Factions beta test event. All current Guild Wars players can join the event, and they can each invite up to three friends to join. Beta access will also be available through the Guild Wars Factions pre-order package (in stores February 28), which will include a pre-order CD, a GWF beta access key, a 'friend' key allowing access to the beta event, and a 14-day, 10-hour trial key for the original game. The beta event will start March 24.

The official Guild Wars website has been updated with nine new screenshots from Guild Wars: Factions, the upcoming add-on for ArenaNet's online action RPG. Thanks Voodoo Extreme.