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After 4500 hours of playtime over the past 5 years I must say this is eye opening. 1000+ raid kills, countless days of fractals, yet no really motivation to log in daily and play the game. It just became a sort of routine, something that had to be done, not really for the enjoyment, maybe it felt like a duty. Always built what was meta rather than what appealed to the class fantasy, gearing up for the highest damage, or the most useful healer, only the wardrobe management brought a bit of style to my characters. Just shiny and stylized lifeless characters with random names, the term "tools" fits them so perfectly. Thank you for changing the perspective of a veteran.

I’ve been trying to tell players to play GW2 the way they enjoy the most, instead of playing it just to get gold fastest. As you said, the journey is more important than the destination.

This is a profoundly important video with a message that so, so many gamers need to hear. This applies to more than just Guild Wars 2, and I hope it reaches more people.

I adore this love letter to the game! It's also a wonderful metaphor for getting older in general, and that's awesome too. Nice work!

Even as a casual gamer this comment hit me hard "we do not sit down to relax anymore, we sit down to complete". I never thought about it like that but it is so true. Probably why the best MMO memories are from years ago, not because the games were better but because we played to play instead of to complete steps

I think something important that should be mentioned is that this is how ALL games should be played, not just GW2, not just MMOs, just games in general. I have personally been playing games like this for years and I think because of it I've enjoyed gaming so much.

man, this is so cool. for years so many of us mmo players kept feeling increasingly disconnected from our favorite game or mmos in general like, "why do mmos nowadays suck?" but i think we're all just missing this experience that made us love the genre to begin with and the fact that you actually went and did it is so powerful. Most of us just jump to the meta build and rush to the end game but deep down i always knew i wanted to relive the experience of my first mmo. Thank you so much for making this, i believe all mmo players can appreciate what you've done here

Sorry, I'll tell you more. after a 3-4 year breakI returned to GW2, deleted all5 my boost characters, created a new warrior and slowly play with him without looking the wiki or Google. great feeling from such a game and today I came across your video and completely understand you

I keep clearing Maps. My Power Reaper refuses to leave a map until it is DONE. Of course now I've wrapped up "Path of Fire" with all the Necro Elites unlocked and 100+ Hero Points I'll never use but The Map Must Be Cleared. I'm having a blast. And when I finally reach "Secrets of the Obscure" and get Weaponmastery there's going to be a Greatsword/Pistol & Torch Power Reaper wandering around determined to complete all the maps. But you have to explore or miss half the jokes. Like the Dom Mesmer in LWS3 in one of the Manor bedrooms with a clone of the "I'm Rich You Know" Guy in just leather shorts. Well I laughed.

Guess what happens when you start living IRL like that- :) I'm a very old guy now,built my own 'transportable" back in I think 66' or so, and now as I near my own 'expiration' date I've find that In sum I have lived a life I have mostly enjoyed living, both in front of a monitor, and out thrashing about in the Real world:) When asked, I always answered that I was a student of life, there has been sooooo much to see:) Given the present troubles confronting our planet and its inhabitants, I hope that you all manage to sort it out and find for yourselves, lives worth living.

I stared to play GW2 3 years ago and straight after reaching lv 80 i was thrown into raids, fractals and reaching max lv mastery points as fast as possible to do the same content my guildmates were doing.

Congratulations on reaching the realisation (sincere, not sarcasm)

It opened my eyes, honestly. I was made aware of the game by a friend. "Download it, buy the expansion, boost your character to level 80 and join me in WvW".

This is an absolutely fantastic video. I'm a new player, like, brand new. I was following the story along and had to reach lvl 35 before I could enter a certain region so I went about doing the insta-quest things which took me a ways away from where I would have to go, in order to return to the story. After reaching lvl 35, I took the teleport things straight back to where I needed to go in order to continue the story. On the journey back, my charachter said "I can't wait to explore this place", but I paid no attention to what she said. It was only a couple days later that I stopped, and remembered my character saying that and then I thought.........wait......I should have stopped and explored the area. Why didn't I? I didn't because I basically put myself on auto-pilot and was just doing what everything/everybody told me I should do. Go as far as possible, as fast as possible. After realizing this, I've decided to start another character with a different race and profession and I'm just going to explore. Just to see what I can find. I think you're right. I mean, really.........what's the old adage? Life isn't about the destination, it's about the journey. Thank you very much for the support, for me to just have fun in the moment and not tether myself with what the machine tells me I should be doing. Be well.

I'm playing mesmer at lvl 37 right now using a sword and pistol because I imagine the indiana jones scene where the guy comes out swining a sword all fancy and Indiana Jones just pulls out a pistol and shoots him. Every time I use my 4 skill I smile to myself lol

This is a fantastic mindset that I’ve started to realize myself, but you are perfectly putting it into words. I’m currently doing this with a GW1 playthrough and it’s so rewarding! Great video!

I've been playing GW2 on and off for a few years now. I always come back because of the things you mentioned here. I play to have fun. Not to optimize. Exploring this game will truly reward you. When completing challenges or going for mastery, I always try to not look at the wiki, although I must admit it does eventually come to that if it becomes frustrating or unfun. This game is one of a kind and has seemingly endless content in a gigantic and dense world. It's filled with personality and best of all, lots of other players! I hope everyone that plays GW can have the experience you've come to enjoy so much. Absolutely love this game.

The developers definitely thought about how you wouldn’t be able to complete every event in an area. I remember them talking about the creation of these events in the game so that the game would constantly be alive and you wouldn’t have to worry about never having a new adventure basically. It’s honestly very sad to feel how it helps us escape the achievement completionism that has been injected into our brain by the cracked out gamers that ruin it for themselves and others. Slow down.

Great video I played GW/1 for 7 years moved to GW2 at launch (plus all Betas) Have not got board once lvl'ed all toons by doing story 3 toons total map completion 100% on all maps 7 toons total, I have only ever played GW no other MMO's i have totally enjoyed it for years and your video said what I have-not been able to put into words Great Job !!. I am same type of player that @kasianight is casual like helping out new players to the game I roam older maps looking for stranded players...lol and pitch in when it looks like they are having trouble killing a boss or just overwhelmed by a mob or cant figure out a JP or way to a POI. I am 60 years old and hope to be playing when I am in my 80's.... Thanks again for this video it said what i have been thinking for a long time. and you have another subscriber...