A mesmer-class character stands proud in 'Guild Wars 2'. Photo: AFP
As well as following the Guild Wars 2 storyline, players can team up, face off against each other, or band together, forming alliances to challenge other player groups up for a test of skill, strategy and social cohesion.
Also profiled are the game's choice of five playable races and the eight available professions that should let players find a combination suited to their team requirements or personal whim.
With Guild Wars 2 having racked up a healthy two million players in the two weeks following an August 28 release, why produce this explanatory video now?
World of Warcraft's latest expansion, the September 25 Mists of Pandaria, might have something to do with it. Certainly the Guild Wars 2 trailer's "no subscription fees" boast, contrasted with WoW's genre standard $14.99 (€12.99/£8.99) levy, would indicate as much.