Blog entry outlines how ArenaNet wants players to experience the game world anywhere, at any time.

Rick Ellis is a tech director at ArenaNet, and he leads a dedicated extended experience team that provides extensions for Guild Wars 2. What does that mean, exactly? It means ArenaNet wants players to be able to experience the game world through mobile and web applications. Intrigued? Keep reading after the jump for more details.

Ellis has written a detailed blog entry explaining how his team is in charge of creating apps that will allow you to stay connected to the world of Guild Wars 2 through the web and your iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Android smart phone. Here's just a sampling of the services they'd like to offer:

• A demo at the Penny Arcade Expo showed an iPhone and iPad running a real-time world map display where you can watch your friends run around, see events as they happen, view points of interest, etc.
• The demo also showed that you'll be able to chat instantly with your friends.
• The team is "exploring features that allow out-of-game friends to help in-game friends by locating places or items." For example, mobile users will be able to tap their map and have a rader ping appear on their friends' in-game mini-map or world map.
• It will be easier to access wiki content so you won't have to jump out of the game as much to access information.
• You will be able to tap a character on the world map and view information about that character, such as stats and gear. You will also be able to find out where each item was obtained.

The purpose of all these apps is to keep players connected to the game and their friends. Ellis emphasizes socialization throughout the blog post. Be sure to read it for even more details on the Guild Wars 2 extended experience.