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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.

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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.

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1. 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 :)

   Lanarchy Sunday, 30 June 2002, 02:08:50

2. 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)

   Staxic Sunday, 30 June 2002, 09:16:59

3. They switched to USD12.95/month awhile ago.

   Mark Sunday, 30 June 2002, 12:23:37

4. 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.

   Martin Sunday, 30 June 2002, 18:14:39

5. Great article can't wait for the drop date c yall ingame

   -Chaos-

   Sheldon Monday, 1 July 2002, 08:09:59

6. WHEN IS EVERQUEST COMING OUT?? DOES ANYONE KNOW AND HOW DO I BECOME A BETE TESTER?

   tundra Monday, 1 July 2002, 13:58:32

7. 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?

   Nick McCrea Monday, 1 July 2002, 16:53:18

8. "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.

   Velkarath Monday, 1 July 2002, 19:19:35

9. 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.

   Nick McCrea Monday, 1 July 2002, 21:09:53

10. what is Warhammer Online? I have not heard of that MOG.

    Rorrn Tuesday, 2 July 2002, 11:42:26

11. what is Warhammer Online? I have not heard of that MOG yet.

    Rorrin Tuesday, 2 July 2002, 11:43:1

12. nevermind, found the website at warhammeronline.com

    I'll check it out

    Rorrin Tuesday, 2 July 2002, 11:44:40

13. 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.

    kevin Friday, 12 July 2002, 22:32:34

14. 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.

    The Black Phoeinx Saturday, 10 August 2002, 06:47:10

16. LOl will spells be cheapeer in EQ2 lol just wonderin??

    nomatter Saturday, 17 August 2002, 03:21:21

17. 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?

    Brumbat Tuesday, 8 October 2002, 22:27:48

18. 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.

    Kindaorm Thursday, 10 October 2002, 06:33:43

19. 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)

    Kindaorm Thursday, 10 October 2002, 06:43:48

20. 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

    Kindaorm Thursday, 10 October 2002, 06:47:12

21. 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.

    Uenwin Monday, 14 October 2002, 13:52:51

22. 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.

    Tom Wednesday, 30 October 2002, 21:16:13

23. 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

    Malchir Thursday, 31 October 2002, 22:26:16

24. how much will EQ2 cost every month

    MAT Sunday, 1 December 2002, 13:04:30

25. 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

    Brewtalitee Tuesday, 3 December 2002, 23:44:15

26. this rules im going to buy thisno matter what i got a lvl 23 wizzad and he rocks imgoing to make a wizaard and hope hes as kewl

    as this .

    alan gwilliam Monday, 1 September 2003, 06:32:54

27. I would relly like to no how to become a bete tester to EQ 2 if any one has this info post it.

    Link Saturday, 22 March 2003, 23:26:38

28. were are the frogloks?

    max Monday, 31 March 2003, 16:38:2

29. splinter caell is a cool game

    tony Thursday, 10 April 2003, 13:58:38

30. does any 1 no who to cill bowzer on

    Luigi's mansion pliase reply

    tony Thursday, 10 April 2003, 14:08:33

32. Is The Game out yet????

    dabis Saturday, 7 June 2003, 13:01:53

33. when is everquest 2 comin out man

    cad Monday, 14 July 2003, 05:27:36

34. hey iv relly never played this game but right away when i saw it i knew it was a great game .

    kyle Saturday, 4 October 2003, 18:28:56

35. For you people who dont know what everquest 2 will be like i would consider playing DAOC( dark age of camelot). It has the same leveling system, the same weapon system(as getting worn and stuff). It will be more of an upgrade of DAOC then an upgrade of everquest.

    And if you arent going to play everquest 2 because you have a mid level character and dont want to have to start over again, think of it this way: You arent starting over again you will be in a whole new game and you will be the one in the uber guild. sticking with everquest will do nothing for you besides procrastination. soon you will come to eq2 to try it out and you will be blown away. and you wont be in that uber guild because of your commitment to the mid-level character you had on everquest. EQ2 will be a great game.

    Also lets talk about why there SHOULD be zones. If there werent zones you would be lagging 24/7... also lets say there is a lvl 50 zone next to a lvl 1 zone. take plane of hate and the ogre newb zone... you would most likely accidently attack something(or get close enough for something to attack you) that was a very high level. it would also be a harder game to make, and would also screw you over if you had to zone to get away from something you had a second though about after attacking.

    Just saying to you procrastinators out there: you will eventually come to EQ2, coming earlier will grant you a higher level faster, coming later... well you wont do so great... dont miss your chance to start over and be that awesome character with PoT gear that cant sit anywhere without being inspected at least 100 times! ... its sorta funny after awhile. - PEACE! ^^

    God Thursday, 6 November 2003, 15:06:13

36. Hey, in EQ2 willl Items be like levek based like EQ onb PS2 or will items be like they were on EQ1 on PC???

    I cant wait to get the game i know its going to be so cool.

    Nekoli Thursday, 20 May 2004, 16:14:50

37. Dose anyone know if we are going to be able to transefer 1 or 2 items from our EQ1 Toon to our EQ2 Toon, through the hertiage system.

    Giloven Friday, 3 September 2004, 09:43:30

38. hi the name of guild is angels of Darkness, we are offereing a unique guild experience in the game of EQ2 details below...

    1) A 1-liner (guild moto, saying, etc.)

    Forged in the depths of hell and recruiting for Everquest 2. Unique rollplaying experience with awards in and out of game. We offer a community of friends and playpals for a true escape from reality. To find out more visit our web site..

    http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tetragramaton/index2.htm

    2) A description of the guild (as detailed or brief as you'd like)

    Several MMO developers and expeienced veteran Players have combined to forge a system of play within the Everquest 2 game. We offer a strict hierachy of awards leadership and power combined with achieved passwords to advance your char in and out of game. This will be a unique experience for the true Rollplayer with a commitment to the guild. WE believe in looking after the guild to benefit ourselves..perhaps you will join us on the bottom end of the ladder and forge your way up and gain stature and respect on the way!.

    3) Any links you would like to be placed on the guild listings

    web site.. rollplaying explained in conduct tab

    http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tetragramaton/index2.htm

    4) The guild banner and any other images that you'd like placed on the listing.

    Our forum, with applications section

    http://angelsofdark.suddenlaunch3.com/index.cgi

    Loki Wednesday, 13 October 2004, 10:28:0

39. Say, how do I go about finding a job as the receiver a GM on a server of Everquest?

    thank u!

    protestant Friday, 28 October 2005, 18:28:23

40. can u get everquest free? and how?

    colin Monday, 21 May 2007, 22:52:12

41. can u get everquest free? and how?

    colin Monday, 21 May 2007, 22:53:2

42. is eq2 gonna be a fun game if it is tell me peace out hommi

    urmoma idot Monday, 21 May 2007, 22:55:10