Now is the time of a great exodus. Abandon thy beloved MMO games, for they are but false idols. Deliver yourselves unto Guild Wars 2, for thine is the way into Divinity's Reach. Hear ye all, for The Great Migration has begun.
Or something like that according to a new press release from NCSOFT and ArenaNet, developer and publisher of the Guild Wars franchise. To bring even more players into one of the most popular MMO games of all time (Warcraft, what's that?), the two companies have announced the "Great MMO Migration." Not nearly as dramatic as the opening paragraph, but the rewards are considerably more...um...rewarding, provided you have no problem embarrassing yourself online in a video contest.
As the release notes, "The program invites players to enter a video contest for a chance to win one of thousands of free copies of Guild Wars 2 being given away. Everyone in this exodus wins. NCSOFT and ArenaNet are also offering new players the biggest discount ever, with a chance to purchase the award-winning game at 40 percent off list price." The rules of the contest are simple:
"Players can enter the 'Great MMO Migration' video contest by creating a 30-second video reciting 'The Guild Wars 2 Oath' in a public place." Make a jackass out of yourself, and you can win a copy of the game. Easy, right? 5,000 winners will be declared in all. If you wanna bone up, you can see the words of the oath below, filling in the words where needed Mad Libs style. Make sure you read the contest's official contest rules and submission guidelines.
Guild Wars 2 Oath
I, [name], renounce [adjective] games and pledge my allegiance to Guild Wars 2.
I likewise declare my freedom from [noun] subscription fees!
That I turn my back forever on [noun] which is/are totally [adjective].
That I will take up arms to defend the [noun] and crush evil with my [noun].
I take this oath to Guild Wars 2 freely, without [noun] because I am [noun].
The contest is officially live, and goes 'til December 3. If you're camera shy, you can still grab the game at a discount until the contest ends, though it's not as great a deal if you were a contestant.
Entering a new world's never easy, so to ease things for the new players, NCSOFT and ArenaNet are encouraging new players to come forth by giving them a valuable new item, the "Letter of Influence." The letter allows players to reward any guild that welcomes them with open arms.
Video contest winners will be announced via email and on the website on or around Tuesday, Dec. 10.