I mean the reason why people fawn over Everquest was because it really wasn't a standard game. It was created as a risk, it was developed by amateurs who had a very strong love in what they were doing. All of the original and Kunark content was spawned (1) Out of a strong desire to replicate the developers' experiences with muds and visualize that in 3d, and (2) excitement- which would probably be contained, and more professional in new mmos- like you wouldn't have such a mad labyrinth of dungeons like Everquest had. Or you wouldn't have lots and lots of quests in a game that were half-done out of a want to quickly put their new quest ideas into the game.

Therefore the next game that is going to have that passion, to have originality (not necessarily that EQ was) will in my opinion be quite possibly an Indie(an independent low budget developer) mmorpg. Minions of Mirth for instance, was one of these. It was notably inspired by Everquest but original in that you were controlling multiple classes. And then there is a game like Tales of the Desert, original and managing to gain a few fans with it's tradeskill play.

with all the hype no-a-days its hard for indie companys to get there game seen. but you are right there needs to be another team like EQ. 

Originally posted by spades07

I mean the reason why people fawn over Everquest was because it really wasn't a standard game. It was created as a risk, it was developed by amateurs who had a very strong love in what they were doing. All of the original and Kunark content was spawned (1) Out of a strong desire to replicate the developers' experiences with muds and visualize that in 3d, and (2) excitement- which would probably be contained, and more professional in new mmos- like you wouldn't have such a mad labyrinth of dungeons like Everquest had. Or you wouldn't have lots and lots of quests in a game that were half-done out of a want to quickly put their new quest ideas into the game.

Therefore the next game that is going to have that passion, to have originality (not necessarily that EQ was) will in my opinion be quite possibly an Indie(an independent low budget developer) mmorpg. Minions of Mirth for instance, was one of these. It was notably inspired by Everquest but original in that you were controlling multiple classes. And then there is a game like Tales of the Desert, original and managing to gain a few fans with it's tradeskill play.

I don't know. How Indie? Darkfall Indie? Maybe not.

I think it will be an EVE type of development. Great design, relatively polished, going after a niche market, not trying to compete with WoW in any way.

I don't really know about EQ as I didn't spend alot of time there, but as an old school AC1/UO player the indie developer Icarus with Fallen Earth has gotten my attention and the attention of many others.

I think you are right though.  The games that will get people's attention will be something that breaks the mold significantly.  The market is oversaturated with clone games.  Games have been refined and refined to the point where they simply lack depth compared to the old school games.

I look forward to the days when the pendulum swings the other direction away from what now makes up the bulk of MMO's.

Agree with ya OP. The big name companies only want to compete with WoW, and dethrone WoW. Indie companies, are a bit more interested in getting the crowd that has not been corrupted by WoW.

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

Originally posted by spades07

I mean the reason why people fawn over Everquest was because it really wasn't a standard game. It was created as a risk, it was developed by amateurs who had a very strong love in what they were doing. All of the original and Kunark content was spawned (1) Out of a strong desire to replicate the developers' experiences with muds and visualize that in 3d, and (2) excitement- which would probably be contained, and more professional in new mmos- like you wouldn't have such a mad labyrinth of dungeons like Everquest had. Or you wouldn't have lots and lots of quests in a game that were half-done out of a want to quickly put their new quest ideas into the game.

Therefore the next game that is going to have that passion, to have originality (not necessarily that EQ was) will in my opinion be quite possibly an Indie(an independent low budget developer) mmorpg. Minions of Mirth for instance, was one of these. It was notably inspired by Everquest but original in that you were controlling multiple classes. And then there is a game like Tales of the Desert, original and managing to gain a few fans with it's tradeskill play.

 

I don't know. How Indie? Darkfall Indie? Maybe not.

I think it will be an EVE type of development. Great design, relatively polished, going after a niche market, not trying to compete with WoW in any way.

I agree very much.  Kicking WoW out of the top spot is a difficult task.  Targeting a smaller audience and focusing on fewer elements and doing the best job possible with those... that's the right direction.  I'd like to see a new game that does away with the tedious leveling and is just straight up PvE adventure.  Lots of dungeons and exotic monsters to kill, and hopefully cool crafting with lots of exotic ingredients to hunt down.

Originally posted by Athcear

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

Originally posted by spades07

I mean the reason why people fawn over Everquest was because it really wasn't a standard game. It was created as a risk, it was developed by amateurs who had a very strong love in what they were doing. All of the original and Kunark content was spawned (1) Out of a strong desire to replicate the developers' experiences with muds and visualize that in 3d, and (2) excitement- which would probably be contained, and more professional in new mmos- like you wouldn't have such a mad labyrinth of dungeons like Everquest had. Or you wouldn't have lots and lots of quests in a game that were half-done out of a want to quickly put their new quest ideas into the game.

Therefore the next game that is going to have that passion, to have originality (not necessarily that EQ was) will in my opinion be quite possibly an Indie(an independent low budget developer) mmorpg. Minions of Mirth for instance, was one of these. It was notably inspired by Everquest but original in that you were controlling multiple classes. And then there is a game like Tales of the Desert, original and managing to gain a few fans with it's tradeskill play.

 

I don't know. How Indie? Darkfall Indie? Maybe not.

I think it will be an EVE type of development. Great design, relatively polished, going after a niche market, not trying to compete with WoW in any way.

 

I agree very much.  Kicking WoW out of the top spot is a difficult task.  Targeting a smaller audience and focusing on fewer elements and doing the best job possible with those... that's the right direction.  I'd like to see a new game that does away with the tedious leveling and is just straight up PvE adventure.  Lots of dungeons and exotic monsters to kill, and hopefully cool crafting with lots of exotic ingredients to hunt down.

You should try Fallen Earth if you haven't already.

From what you described you may like it as it sounds very much like what you described.

Originally posted by Athcear

Targeting a smaller audience and focusing on fewer elements and doing the best job possible with those... that's the right direction.  I'd like to see a new game that does away with the tedious leveling and is just straight up PvE adventure.  Lots of dungeons and exotic monsters to kill, and hopefully cool crafting with lots of exotic ingredients to hunt down.

Sounds like a great game to me.

I never played EQ, but started MMOs with Asherons Call.  Same idea, totally indie in the beginning.

"In summer 1995, the company moved its base out of my apartment into my mother's house near Providence. At first, we only used the living room. Then we spread into the family room and the basement. Soon we had six team members working so hard they'd started living in the place, and Mom moved out! It was a very hot summer and we had no air conditioning. But at last we built enough of a product to be able to give real demos. And our business plan and business savvy kept improving."

from http://www.mit.edu/~jonmon/Business/Turbine/

Mark my words, the project Blizzard is working on will be the answer. All the vets will hate them, yet love them for it.

p.s. Is "Fawn" the new flavor of the month word? You know, like "sauce", or "pwn", or "antiquing"?

I believe the closest there is in development right now is Mortal Online.

Of course, like everyone who plays MMOs for first time, they will never see/feel that old spark again.

I wish a developer would just put the small stuff that EQ had back into a game.

Even though EQ was a level/class based game, skills still played a part. You couldn't hope to reliably cast a spell from a school you hadn't practiced in.

I liked that if I didn't have a light source I was blind as a bat  (BB  tunnel as a Barbarian without a torch or wisp stone was fun!). Just having darkness made things like spells or playing a race with low-light vision or ultra-vison a real perk. 

Languages were fun, yes you could learn them easily but it was still fun to have them.

I know WoW has food but it's just for stats and effects you don't need it, I like it when you have to be mindful of your supplies.

Not being able to tell directions unless you were skilled in it, and no map made it extra confusing but getting lost led to a lot of adventures for me at least.

I liked how druids in wolf form would draw guard aggro because really why wouldn't the guard come after a wolf or bear or somthing in an area they were protecting. 

Encumberence, swimmingskill, ect.. Theres a lot more but it's just simple stuff like that that has such a big effect imo.

I think they have left out a lot of the best from the past instead of building on it like so many have claimed.

I agree with you.  I think both Chronicles of Spellborn and Fallen Earth have made pretty good attempts, but neither was quite good enough.  Chronicles suffered from boring quest design, and FE still has pseudo-themepark syndrome with a mostly empty world.

Im with you guys. Id pay 2x what I pay for subs to get my hands a game that was as challenging as EQ was.

Actually, it sounds like Dawntide (http://www.dawntide.net/) would fit that description pretty well.

Originally posted by Muddleglum

I wish a developer would just put the small stuff that EQ had back into a game.

Even though EQ was a level/class based game, skills still played a part. You couldn't hope to reliably cast a spell from a school you hadn't practiced in.

I liked that if I didn't have a light source I was blind as a bat  (BB  tunnel as a Barbarian without a torch or wisp stone was fun!). Just having darkness made things like spells or playing a race with low-light vision or ultra-vison a real perk. 

Languages were fun, yes you could learn them easily but it was still fun to have them.

I know WoW has food but it's just for stats and effects you don't need it, I like it when you have to be mindful of your supplies.

Not being able to tell directions unless you were skilled in it, and no map made it extra confusing but getting lost led to a lot of adventures for me at least.

I liked how druids in wolf form would draw guard aggro because really why wouldn't the guard come after a wolf or bear or somthing in an area they were protecting. 

Encumberence, swimmingskill, ect.. Theres a lot more but it's just simple stuff like that that has such a big effect imo.

I think they have left out a lot of the best from the past instead of building on it like so many have claimed.

The modern MMOs have REALLY missed the mark in this area.  All of the little details and "fluff" add style and depth to the game world and unfortunately, they've been cut in favor of more focus on combat (which has always been awful), quests, and leveling.

Things like real darkness, no maps, etc are just viewed as too difficult and time consuming.  In short, NO STYLE...

i traded my vista 32 bit for window 7 64 bit ,and guys let me tell you !if the openning sales are any indication

the next big game will have to be on window 7 64 bit or any 64 bit os comparable

second:it will have to be designed on dx11 base ,yes its that good

third it will need to use a to be released technology  from microsoft

the engineer at redmond research called it donnybrooks

never heard that name not many have heard it since it was annouced forst time at microsoft techfest in 2007

and these 3 point will be mandatory  in the next big mmo

it could be f2p but i dont believe f2p will be able to publish any game with these 3 feature

full dx11

window 7 64 bit

donnybrooks

but the next big mmo will have those feature no doubt in my mind

i never thot i would say this but microsoft technology is very good this time around(finally)

Originally posted by Arcken

Im with you guys. Id pay 2x what I pay for subs to get my hands a game that was as challenging as EQ was.

If people would do this, I'm sure niche games would be more successful

EQ1 had a HUGE development budget.  Nothing like indies.