Update, 10/18/2012

http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/18/soe-live-2012-keynote-announcements/

EverQuest Next has been redone from scratch so that it's not EverQuest III. Smedley promises it's going to be the "world's largest sandbox-style MMO ever made." It'll be playable at the next Fan Faire.

10/18/2012 SOE Live keynote transcript can be read at this link

http://eq2wire.com/2012/10/18/soe-live-2012-welcome-reception-live-refresh-for-updates/

giving this subject its own topic

Originally posted by Vorthanion

Originally posted by chukekle1

 Enjoy the wait, EQ Next has been talked about for years and years, i don't see it happening. Hell they just recently a few months ago shutdown 3 studios and fired more then 250 people. The EQ series is going down the tube and EQ Next is just a wishful thinking ideal for EQ fanboys.

The rumor mill states that the original concept of EQ Next has been discarded and a newer facebook style of game has taken its place.  Perhaps that's why there have been absolutely no updates from the developers over the last few months.

EQNext was first mentioned august 2009

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EverQuest_Next

no art was seen for the game until Summer 2010 when soe gave some sketches

http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/news/56438/SOE-Fan-Faire-2010-Roundup-EverQuest-Next-Announced

there has always been a "black out" regarding info about it - nothing new there

at the 2011 summers fanfaire,

SOE didnt talk about it beyond saying it would use the same game engine as PlanetSide 2

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/111555-EverQuest-Next-and-Planetside-2-To-Use-New-Forge-Light-Engine

maybe we will hear more info at the October 2012 fanfaire but I doubt it

SOE was still hiring for EQ Next

http://eq2wire.com/2011/10/08/soe-hiring-for-eqnext-team/

in Feb 2012, Greg Spence, former lead programmer of EQ2, has been moved over EQ Next

http://eq2wire.com/2012/02/07/zoltaroth-steps-up-as-lead-programmer-of-everquest-ii-rothgar-heads-to-eqnext/

http://blog.gregsplace.com/2012/02/moving-on-to-next-great-thing.html

if you goto SOE Careers site,

there at least 3 EQ Next jobs still listed as being open

http://www.soe.com/careers/

Sony has been restructuring (staff cuts) and tossing projects like "the agency" and low population mmos like the matrix so I'm dubious EQ next will happen.  Now days there is so much competition in the MMO market as MMOs are costing the same as AAA console games to develop.

"Work With great people who have a sense of humor"

When it comes to continual revenue decline, and diminished relevance in the MMO industry, I guess laughter is probably the best medicine. Well Done, SOE!

I can't see Everquest Next not happening.  I know some people from the EQ team have been moved to the EQ:Next team, and I think the cancelling of The Agency was in an effort to focus on EQ:Next and Planetside 2 (probably a smart move, as those two games have a better chance of being successful than The Agency would have just because of name recognition alone).  Not to mention that I think SOE kind of screwed themselves since EQ2 came out by having too many products, none of which were all that great.  Having two solid AAA games in EQ: Next and Planetside 2 would probably be a lot better for the company rather than having half a dozen mediocre titles.

Originally posted by sirphobos

 Having two solid AAA games in EQ: Next and Planetside 2 would probably be a lot better for the company rather than having half a dozen mediocre titles.

I agree with you, however that appears to be the trend with big gaming companies these days. Back in the day SoE was by far the most hated gaming company in the industry. Now, after purchasing Bioware, the attention has turned to EA. People went on and on about how Bioware couldn't make a bad game..it just wasn't possible. EA bought Bioware, in turn produced Swtor and now we have articles like this floating around http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2012/04/04/ea-is-the-worst-company-in-america-now-what/2/. Oh how the tides have turned..apparently EA now the "Worst company in America" lol.

Truth is, this is how any big business works. They buy out smaller companies hoping to turn a quick profit. The problem with big business and gaming is..there's a level of creativity that gets lost in the process. Stuff that's risky from a business perspective is shunned in favor of more "accessible" mainstream content.

Sad thing is, I don't see this changing in the future. Taunted with the allure of big bucks, smaller, more creative companies will almost certainly continue to sell out unless they can maintain a continuous, significant cash flow. Minecraft, while not a traditional MMO is going through this sort of thing as we speak. An interesting article can be found here: http://www.gamebreaker.tv/pc-games/minecraft-makes-millions/

As far as EQ Next is concerned, once more info is released, something tells me people won't think as badly about SoE as they once did..after dealing with EA anyway.

Originally posted by Nadia

giving this subject its own topic

 

Originally posted by Vorthanion

Originally posted by chukekle1

 Enjoy the wait, EQ Next has been talked about for years and years, i don't see it happening. Hell they just recently a few months ago shutdown 3 studios and fired more then 250 people. The EQ series is going down the tube and EQ Next is just a wishful thinking ideal for EQ fanboys.

The rumor mill states that the original concept of EQ Next has been discarded and a newer facebook style of game has taken its place.  Perhaps that's why there have been absolutely no updates from the developers over the last few months.

EQNext was first mentioned august 2009

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EverQuest_Next

no art was seen for the game until Summer 2010 when soe gave some sketches

http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/news/56438/SOE-Fan-Faire-2010-Roundup-EverQuest-Next-Announced

 

there has always been a "black out" regarding info about it - nothing new there

 

at the 2011 summers fanfaire,

SOE didnt talk about it beyond saying it would use the same game engine as PlanetSide 2

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/111555-EverQuest-Next-and-Planetside-2-To-Use-New-Forge-Light-Engine

maybe we will hear more info at the October 2012 fanfaire but I doubt it

 

SOE was still hiring for EQ Next

http://eq2wire.com/2011/10/08/soe-hiring-for-eqnext-team/

in Feb 2012, Greg Spence, former lead programmer of EQ2, has been moved over EQ Next

http://eq2wire.com/2012/02/07/zoltaroth-steps-up-as-lead-programmer-of-everquest-ii-rothgar-heads-to-eqnext/

http://blog.gregsplace.com/2012/02/moving-on-to-next-great-thing.html

 

That still doesn't answer the question of whether they're sticking with the old concept for the game or changed it to the rumored facebook concept.

Originally posted by Vorthanion

Originally posted by Nadia

giving this subject its own topic

 

Originally posted by Vorthanion

Originally posted by chukekle1

 

That still doesn't answer the question of whether they're sticking with the old concept for the game or changed it to the rumored facebook concept.

if Planetside 2 is published as a facebook game I ll believe that rumor...as those 2  games share the same engine...really hope they have more to show at this years fan faire though, am quite excited to see more of EQ 3, would love to be part of moving my EQ2 guild to EQ 3....even if not as a leader on paper : P

The "Facebook Option" sounds so like them. "Everfarmquest....ville" My wife and all her annoying friends would so play that. I didn't say that.

Originally posted by Boatsmate

The "Facebook Option" sounds so like them. "Everfarmquest....ville" My wife and all her annoying friends would so play that. I didn't say that.

well can only say their lead producer said imagen the most crazy things and it wouldnt be what EQ3 is...but hopefully not in this way.....burn slowly and painfully if this were true ;P  

I would love to find out where people are getting this "rumor" that it's going to be a facebook game from.  Seriously, who are your sources besides some anonymous internet forum poster?  False rumors spread by people relaying false rumors.  And right, a facebook game is going to utilize the same Nvidia engine that Planetside 2 is going to be using.  That makes a whole lot of sense.

EQ1's lead programmer recently got pulled to work on EQNext, so it's not vaporware.  You will hear more about it during SOE's fan faire in october.

found the source of facebook rumor,  an anonymous forum poster

http://www.mmofringe.com/forum/2-Section-8/17114-the-latest-on-SOE-and-Everquest-Next

this rumor was posted over 6 months ago

since that time...

- SOE put up jobs for C programmers on their career site (October 2011)

- moved the two Lead programmers from both EQ (Steve Klug) and EQ2 (Greg Spence) over to EQNext

I doubt they need all that for a facebook game

Originally posted by Nadia

found the source of facebook rumor,  an anonymous forum poster

http://www.mmofringe.com/forum/2-Section-8/17114-the-latest-on-SOE-and-Everquest-Next

 

this rumor was posted over 6 months ago

 

since that time...

- SOE put up jobs for C programmers on their career site (October 2011)

- moved the two Lead programmers from both EQ (Steve Klug) and EQ2 (Greg Spence) over to EQNext

I doubt they need all that for a facebook game

I saw awhile back somebody's (a soe dev) resume where they listed their previous projects/work etc.  And one of them was listed PC Game: EQ Next.

Could never find this post again but it was posted because people were debating if  EQ next would be for PC or console.

The Facebook/farmville EQ rumor was debunked by smed himself on Twitter back in December 2011. HERE is the cutouts of the screenshots of the conversation.

EQNext and Planetside2 are using the same mmo engine for visual effects

can see some Planetside 2 video footage here

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/exclusive-alpha-planetside-2/728575

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Originally posted by Nadia
giving this subject its own topic
 

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Originally posted by Vorthanion

---

Originally posted by chukekle1
 Enjoy the wait, EQ Next has been talked about for years and years, i don't see it happening. Hell they just recently a few months ago shutdown 3 studios and fired more then 250 people. The EQ series is going down the tube and EQ Next is just a wishful thinking ideal for EQ fanboys.

---

The rumor mill states that the original concept of EQ Next has been discarded and a newer facebook style of game has taken its place.  Perhaps that's why there have been absolutely no updates from the developers over the last few months.

---

EQNext was first mentioned august 2009
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EverQuest_Next
no art was seen for the game until Summer 2010 when soe gave some sketches
http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/news/56438/SOE-Fan-Faire-2010-Roundup-EverQuest-Next-Announced
 
there has always been a "black out" regarding info about it - nothing new there
 
at the 2011 summers fanfaire,
SOE didnt talk about it beyond saying it would use the same game engine as PlanetSide 2
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/111555-EverQuest-Next-and-Planetside-2-To-Use-New-Forge-Light-Engine
maybe we will hear more info at the October 2012 fanfaire but I doubt it
 
SOE was still hiring for EQ Next
http://eq2wire.com/2011/10/08/soe-hiring-for-eqnext-team/
in Feb 2012, Greg Spence, former lead programmer of EQ2, has been moved over EQ Next
http://eq2wire.com/2012/02/07/zoltaroth-steps-up-as-lead-programmer-of-everquest-ii-rothgar-heads-to-eqnext/
http://blog.gregsplace.com/2012/02/moving-on-to-next-great-thing.html
 

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I appreciate the current news. With a flurry of games coming out Everquest Next has nearly become an afterthought. Guild Wars 2 is looking like they have paid close attention to what MMOers have been looking for since games like EQ have come out. I feel GW2 has set a nice bar for up and coming MMO's.

Lets hope the SOE team puts as much thought into detail as Anet/NCsoft has with GW2.

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Originally posted by ace80k

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Originally posted by sirphobos
 Having two solid AAA games in EQ: Next and Planetside 2 would probably be a lot better for the company rather than having half a dozen mediocre titles.

---

I agree with you, however that appears to be the trend with big gaming companies these days. Back in the day SoE was by far the most hated gaming company in the industry. Now, after purchasing Bioware, the attention has turned to EA. People went on and on about how Bioware couldn't make a bad game..it just wasn't possible. EA bought Bioware, in turn produced Swtor and now we have articles like this floating around http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2012/04/04/ea-is-the-worst-company-in-america-now-what/2/. Oh how the tides have turned..apparently EA now the "Worst company in America" lol.
Truth is, this is how any big business works. They buy out smaller companies hoping to turn a quick profit. The problem with big business and gaming is..there's a level of creativity that gets lost in the process. Stuff that's risky from a business perspective is shunned in favor of more "accessible" mainstream content.
Sad thing is, I don't see this changing in the future. Taunted with the allure of big bucks, smaller, more creative companies will almost certainly continue to sell out unless they can maintain a continuous, significant cash flow. Minecraft, while not a traditional MMO is going through this sort of thing as we speak. An interesting article can be found here: http://www.gamebreaker.tv/pc-games/minecraft-makes-millions/
As far as EQ Next is concerned, once more info is released, something tells me people won't think as badly about SoE as they once did..after dealing with EA anyway.

---

When big business steps in its more about their bottom line than appealing to the gaming community. Even when some people like Curt Schilling went on their own the gaming community felt inspired that an independent developer was going to build a game free from cooperate hobnobbing, however 38 Sudio's is having its own set of problems.

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/7938433/curt-schilling-video-game-company-asks-rhode-island-more-help

With 88 studious no longer creating an MMO, i have shifted my views back to EQ Next, i have played GW2 and it is not my fancy. I am also a huge EQ1 junkie and i hope they make the classes more inline with that game than EQ2. With Smed and Smokejumper in control i am very hesitant, but we shall see.

update from Smokejumper

http://eq2wire.com/2012/06/19/eqnext-news-late-this-year/

http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/19/those-wanting-everquest-next-information-have-a-long-wait-ahead/

http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=519092&post_id=5765513#5765513

06/18/2012 15:39:26     Subject: Re:Eq2 and Eqnext

SmokeJumper DoD Joined: Aug 8, 2005 Messages: 1069 Offline

Answering the original questions. EQ Next is still being built within a black box. The *earliest* we are currently considering that we *might* reveal info is late this year. We're being very particular about what needs to be in the game before revealing it to folks, so until that stuff is ready, we won't be showing anything. (Screens you saw from a couple years ago are completely obsolete now and are not pertinent to the current game at all.) There is no reason for EQ or EQII to ever fade away. EQN is not being designed to replace those games. The only way it could "kill" EQ or EQII is by being such a phenomenally better game that everyone flocks to it. Many miles to go before we sleep.

SOE is still operating in a news blackout - just like Blizzard's Titan

Great to see some kind of news about EQN!