[GW2] Pre Pre-Purchase / Pre-Order / Pre-view

A guildie summed it up succinctly: Shit is getting real.

Indeed. We know you'll be able to give ArenaNet your money starting April 10th.
And we've got a little more info here from Regina Buenaobra and GuildWars2Guru.

What to make it of so far:

Massively quoted the pricing @ $59.99 for the Standard Edition, $79.99 for the Digital Deluxe Edition and $149.99 for the Collector's Edition.
*Please note that there is a difference between Pre-Ordering and Pre-Purchasing the game. A Pre-Order of the game from retailers guarantees you a copy at launch and 1 (one) day of Headstart access. Buying the game via Pre-Purchase gets you 3 (three) days of Headstart, access to all the Beta Weekend Events and a Hero's Band which gives you +2 to several stats.

And you can check out the chart again at the official site to compare the offers.
 Standard Edition (SE) gets you a copy of the game. (Yay!)

Deluxe Edition (DE) gets you a copy of the game and:

• Summon Mistfire Wolf Elite Skill - You can only slot one Elite at a time, and supposedly you start using them around level 25-30. It isn't stated when this skill can be used. It's assumed that this will be a neat-looking ability but shouldn't be very powerful or game-changing.
• Rytlock Miniature - A non-combat pet based on a bad-ass charr character. I don't know how this makes sense or why you'd want a Mini Rytlock following you around sniffing your buttocks.
• Golem Banker - summons a servant who grants you access to your Account Storage. Alas, he only lasts five (5) days. 
• Chalice of Glory - a single-use item that allows you to "earn some extra Glory". So, some bonus PvP currency.
• Tome of Influence - a one-time use "boost of Influence". So, some bonus Guild Upgrade currency.

It's not really explained how the Chalice and Tome work - it sounds like you just click and *sploof* insta-Glory, insta-Influence. But, the way it's worded makes me think it might just be a buff that grants an additional % of Glory and Influence.

Again, 2 of the items are single use, 1 is limited 5-day use, 1 is a gimmicky novelty pet, and 1 is likely an inferior skill you probably won't use that much. Absolutely nothing for people to get up in arms about not having, but still dorkily appealing enough to sweeten the pot for overexcitable nerds like me.

There's also the really scary thought that some (maybe all?) these items will end up in the cash shop. It goes against what ArenaNet has been saying, so I wouldn't expect to see them start selling Glory potions for $5. Although, that is where the industry is moving.

Note that, unlike some other games, buying the DE scores you all the cool in-game stuff that the CE offers, so you won't feel like you're getting pinched in that regard.

Collector's Edition (CE) gets you all the goodies of the DE as well as:

• a 10" Rytlock statue
•  "Making of Guild Wars 2" book
• Art Portfolio and five (5) art prints
• a snazzy art frame
•  "Best of" Guild Wars 2 soundtrack CD

The art prints and especially the CD of Jeremy Soule should be really beautiful, and the Rytlock looks like a sexily hulking beast:

 Also note:

When do Beta Weekend Events (BWEs) start, and how many will there be?
The first BWE is currently planned for late April, and we expect to have one every month or so. The schedule is subject to change and will be confirmed at a later date. Currently, we do not know how many of these events we will have.

The (subject-to-change) Minimum System requirements aren't too intimidating at all:

• Windows® XP Service Pack 2 or better
• Intel® Core™ 2 Duo 2.0 GHz, Core i3, AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 or better
• NVIDIA® GeForce® 7800, ATI Radeon™ X1800, Intel HD 3000 or better (256MB of video RAM and shader model 3.0 or better)
• 25 GB available HDD space
• Broadband Internet connection
• Keyboard and mouse