We seem to be back on information overload with Guild Wars 2 today, with a GW2 blog update, and two new English interviews (and one in Dutch!).
A little more information has been trickled to us about the so-called Dynamic Event System, providing some insight as to whether the world will be permanently changed due to our actions (it will), whether we can make life-or-death decisions (we can), or whether we will see events repeat over time (…inconclusive?). GW fans are busy on forums everywhere trying to wrap their minds around the idea, wondering if this is really possible, whether this is what gamers really want in the first place, and if ANet can actually make it happen. Most seem to agree, though: if GW2 launches with this content working as advertised, all other MMOs better look upon GW2 and despair. Okay, maybe I’m being a bit dramatic.
Will there be days when I log in to GW2 and my guildmates are happily discussing that dragon that they totally helped to annihilate, and that I missed witnessing because I was offline when the action went down? Almost certainly. But the next day I’ll get to fight a Cyclops or explore an underground cavern or something, and get to tell the tale to a rapt audience later, too, so I can hardly be too sad about a skipped opportunity or two. Others suggest this will be a real barrier for some people; that if everyone doesn’t get to kill that particular Big Boss, folks will be disappointed and leave. Will that be enough of a problem that it will relegate GW2 to niche status?
Casual Is As Casual Does 
With 6 million boxes (plus) sold, I think a built in audience already exists.
GW2 as a niche title WILL NOT happen. The changes are too unique and the capabilities and systems in place will make the game a hit just like the original.
Not Hype, but FACT.
I envision great success for GW2 as well – in my mind there is no reason why it shouldn’t storm the MMO world – but from what some forumers are saying (admittedly I am attempting to take naysayers seriously here), it may be our first opportunity for gamers to put their money where their mouth is. So many have asked for the ability to change the world they RP in, and now that GW2 looks like it will be granting that wish to some degree, others are suggesting that players will never stand for it.
It will be interesting to see if players actually want what they ask for, in this case.
I wouldn’t go as far as to say I would be mad enough to leave a game if I don’t get to participate in some kill or another, but I would be one of those people who would be a little sad too if I missed out on a dragon or cyclops or whatever. I would like a chance at least to experience the “important” events though and hope in that case they would be repeated over time, even if it’s not for several weeks or months.
I’m inclined to agree with your perspective – as I referred to in my post, the chance of being able to fight a cyclops (or insert mob here) elsewhere is what would keep my disappointment at downing a dragon at bay. From what I understand of the system, there will be events such as these going on all over the place, so you’re more or less bound to encounter *something*. Fingers crossed and all that.
According to this new interview on MMORPG.com, there is further clarification to the effect that yes, events will be cyclical and after a period of time, it may indeed be possible to repeat events.
http://www.mmorpg.com/mobile/features.cfm?from=home&read=4235&ismb=1
yeah cyclical, so even if you miss the dragon one day, as long as you keep going back you’ll see that big dragon kill eventually. The way they describe events cascading and more than one big event in a zone sounds like there will be plenty to see though, even if you miss lots of stuff.