Everquest 2
Sony Online's sequel to the game that inspired a thousand followers comes under the spotlight.
Verant had one particular goal in mind when they launched Everquest way back in 1998- they wanted to take the atmosphere of the original text multi-user dungeons and attach a cutting edge 3D engine. This achieved, Everquest went on to become one of the most successful online RPG’s in the market place, with thousands upon thousands of subscribers. A sequel was inevitable. Due for release at the end of 2003, Everquest 2 hopes to recapture the hearts of EQ’s massive fan base, as well as make genre casual-friendly.
EQ was the second major MMORPG to reach consumers. These early MMORPG’s had one major problem – the designers had absolutely no idea how people would behave online, and thus had no idea how to balance the game. Massive problems were encountered upon launch, and it took many years of tweaking and balancing to make the game play well. But despite the hundreds of patches over the years, the EQ core game play ideals did not change greatly. EQ was blighted by several design decisions that make it very unappealing to casual gamers.
The game was intensely party-orientated – only a couple of the character classes could seriously make it on their own. This meant that upon logging in, players were forced to spend a long time finding a suitable party. EQ was also frustrating due to the large amount of “downtime” necessary after a big battle, as non-healer classes had no way of healing themselves other than rudimentary bandages. And of course, there was the “camping”, waiting your turn at a good spot to retrieve some necessary item. Only in an RPG would gamers be willing to queue their virtual selves. EQ had other problems too, but these were the ones that made the game most difficult to pick up and play.
Verant have had years to look at the competition, and they have realised certain things. Almost universally, new MMORPG’s make a point of limiting downtime to a minimum – it’s now expected, nay demanded, by gamers. Another axiom is that players should be able to dip into the game for a short period and still be able to do something worthwhile. This means eliminating the necessity of finding a party. The game may remain largely party based (as ultimately it’s the community that keep people coming back), but people must have alternatives when they are unable or can’t be bothered to find some dungeon fellows.
Everquest 2 intends to deal with all these issues, and more. Set in the Age of Destiny, a few thousand years after the Age of Turmoil of the original, EQ2 offers more than just a new graphics engine. It offers a rethink of the EQ core values, to retain the strengths of the EQ brand and finally make it accessible to casual gamers.
Comments
EQ2 will be an AWESOME game! I have a Paladin high Elf in EQ1 and i cant wait to make one in EQ2 :) By the way, to the guy who did the preview, you didnt speak about the fact that Banks will be regional. I mean by that that each city will have its own banks. 2nd, you will now be able to buy houses, boats, and some other stuff (ya i said BUY). Finally, you forgot to talk about the fact that everyone starts with the same basic character, except the Race. At Lvl 6, you choose a basic class, at Lvl 15 you choose a more advanced class branching from your lvl 6 one, and at 30 you choose your specialized class. Well, i cant wait! EQ2 4ever :)
Any news on whether EQ2 will have a Team PvP server like Vallon Zek? (Another too, but I didn't play on that other server, so can't remember the name)
They switched to USD12.95/month awhile ago.
As mentioned in the article, competition will be very stiff. Where at the start, there only were games like Ultima Online, Meridian 59 and Underlight, they'll now have to compete on the RPG field with Asheron's Call 2 (which has a -remarkably- similar system), World of Warcraft, Imperator, Verant's own Star Wars Galaxies, possibly the announced Matrix online, as well as a number of (currently) smaller Online RPGs. And let us not ignore the power of Neverwinter Nights, which may not be "Massive Multiplayer", but it's the best customizable RPG out there yet.
Great article can't wait for the drop date c yall ingame
-Chaos-
WHEN IS EVERQUEST COMING OUT?? DOES ANYONE KNOW AND HOW DO I BECOME A BETE TESTER?
Thanks for the omissions, Lanarchy. As for being a beta tester, first choice goes to EQ Legends subscribers, then to long term EQ players. The rest of us won't get a look in...Verant are strict believers in rewarding customer loyalty, and why not?
"As long as the loading is short, a zone system makes the transitions between very different environment types very simple"
Come on - you didn't actually fall for this transparent marketing gibberish did you ?
Think back to everquest - they went to insane lengths, including duplicating large sections of zones in some cases, to cover the transition areas between zones because of zoning. Think of the karanas, the desert, anywhere where the zone wall is large.
Zoning makes it HARDER to make transitions between different areas not easier.
I take your point, Velkarath, but I think you misrepresent mine slightly. The zoning in EQ wasn't perfect, but it was the easier and most obvious solution to certain server capacity problems, and the point which Verant try to make, which I largely agree with, is that the gameplay benefits gained from implementing a seamless zone system are negligible compared to the problems created. As long as the loads are short, I'm perfectly happy with that.
As for the duplication et al, I think much of this was down to inexperience - lessons will have been learned, and hopefully EQ2 will see more carefully tailored transition areas. The point about zoning allowing easier transitions is simply that some of the change of scenery can be left to the imagination, I think, rather than painstakingly mapped out.
One last point - part of the purpose of a preview is to generate interest, and as such a lot of company produced hype is taken at face value. It's not that I've been "taken in" by anything, just that the company's claims are taken to be true, until proven otherwise.
what is Warhammer Online? I have not heard of that MOG.
what is Warhammer Online? I have not heard of that MOG yet.
nevermind, found the website at warhammeronline.com
I'll check it out
KEEP THE GAME THE WAY IT IS!!! I love EQ and most likely always will, i played it for a good 2 months but got bored because of difficulty on leveling. But i have chosen a race and class that will better suit me. This game is much different from any other, we should keep it this way. It is very realistic and shows the troubles of making it through life in the medieval times, like making a living and getting food. The world is too large for me though, i dont even know how to work a sewing kit. The creators of Everquest should make a "How To" manual over the internet, to show newbies(like myself) how to operate kits and to teleport. Maybe just a beginners book, tell you about working the kits, teleporting, fishing, and so on. But please suggest this and think on creating it,,,,,, it would help me out.
This is heaps like Warhammeronline, they both look realyl great!! but as i play warhammer im gona have to keep up my loyalties.
and i think the warhammer races would be better
Um, do you have to buy this game or how does that all work??
Does this game have forums and stuff aswell cos the warhammer one does and weve set up guilds and stuff already, u konw so when the game comes out you can group up and help each other out and stuff.
LOl will spells be cheapeer in EQ2 lol just wonderin??
I played Eq for 3 years now, and they did a great job expanding the game. Then whoops..back to beginning again..why not improve eq 1 further?
i play a lvl 51 shaman in everquest and i thort the same if u look on the everquest sites on the net u will find sites for all you needs from trade skills to spell listings its all the you just need to know where to look.
Im a AD&D fan i dont see why u like warhammer cuz it is a ripoff from AD&D so all i can say is that everquest 2 will be 300% better than warhammer so mate just get over it cuz WARHAMMER IS A LOAD OFF CRAP :0)
they will still keep everqust 1 up to scratch they will not let one the games go down cuz they have another one up its not how it works aslong as peeps play everquest 1 they will keep upgradeing it so u dont need to be conserned about that
i know im not
Im sure EQ-2 is going to rock everones world in the near 2003 to 2004. But my main concern is about everquest 2 going on the playstaion system. I know it's coming out in the spring of 2003, but then again i cant find anything on it, anywere. I look and look and look but all i get is everquest 2 for the pc. I can tell everyone all about the pc version but is it going to be the same for playstaion? Im not sure were to find this out, if you know the answer please post it. All on EQ2 you can get the nice lvl 100, i think thats really nice but then dont forget there are new things like your wep's can and will break in the game at some put and for all the twinkers out there remember that your's will forsure. Hehehehe i think this no twinking way's. With all my humble hand the Ranger from Tunare is happy to help all the pleople of the new world.
I think you should make all the weapons look really awesome too because some of the ones in EQ (original) look kinda boring. so add a sweet little touch to the weps for me and ill be happy! oh and mabey like for dungeons that are kinda scary have like different music for it like a scary type music but like an orcistra type you know, and do the same for other zones but have different music for like certain types of zones and diff music for every town. that way you dont get bord with just listening to yourself run or walk.
Ok I think everquest 2 is gonna be the worst thing in my life... why? well its still about a year or two away (face it people we know what game designers are like) and I'm already addicted, (there goes my social life again) anyway I think the no twinking mod is a nice touch oh and the graphics look nice! (time for a new computer)
my two cents, make that three
ps. I hope they have different types of poison
how much will EQ2 cost every month
Come on peoples as with "Legends", EQ2 is just another way for Verant/Sony to suck your money out of your wallets. I hope you dont think EQ1 will be supported after the EQ2 general release. Well it wont and after a while as seen by Sony/Verant in the past once they have your money they forget about you, be it Technical Support, Ingame Support or even a simple Hello From a wandering GM. So hey take it at face value and pay your $40 a month (Oh you thought they would leave it at $12.95?) And as more glitches an bugs arise in EQ1 more and more time will be spent in EQ2 to fix these very problems. (BTW I was stuck underneith JPF for nearly 3 days before a Guide helped me out.) So hey lets see what they offer and hope it wont break us all
I would relly like to no how to become a bete tester to EQ 2 if any one has this info post it.
were are the frogloks?
splinter caell is a cool game
does any 1 no who to cill bowzer on
Luigi's mansion pliase reply
Is The Game out yet????
when is everquest 2 comin out man