During SOE Live, developers from both EverQuest and EverQuest 2 were on hand to talk about their games and the upcoming expansions for each. In addition, new information was released about the so-called EverQuest Next. We've got a report straight out of SOE Live so keep reading!

Any time a list of genre-altering MMOs is made, it is nearly inevitable that the EverQuest series will make its appearance. With almost seventeen years of continuous development since the original game was planned, EverQuest and EverQuest 2 are perennial favorites of many players. With EverQuest Next looming on the distant horizon, it's clear that Sony Online Entertainment is vested in its flagship property.

Read more of Suzie Ford's EverQuest: A Series Spanning the MMO Ages.

"Autonomous Brokering that allows players to buy things from anywhere in the world without having to run to another zone to get it. Items can even be delivered straight to inventories right where players are but that will also incur a delivery surcharge."

Bad idea but not surprising.

The EQ2 information is a bit off on purchasing, CoE will be all in one, excluding AoD.

Chains of Eternity is expected to officially launch on November 13th. Players prepurchasing the expansion will gain access to all previous content as well! ?

Is this really the Case  as Dexella "Community Relations at SOE: stated on the forums that :

Chains of Eternity will include Destiny of Velious. 

It won't include Age of Discovery.

I didn't play EQ1 or EQ2. I want Sandbox, not Themepark, as an experience to play in.

I have very little hope that EQN will really give us a Sandbox experience. I think it's all hype and bull, and I think the best they will offer is illusion and busted bubbles. But I'll watch and make a final determination when info is available to do so. If it does, I'll sing Smed's praises. Otherwise, I really can't say I'll be disappointed since I don't really expect much. It's not just Smed, it's the whole way of doing business in the industry. No faith in it at all.

EQ Rain of Fear will include all past expansions

EQ2 Chains of Eternity will not include AOD

EQ2 COE will give players 2 baubles allowing lvl 90 chars to reach 280 AA

http://eq2wire.com/2012/10/20/280-aas-claim-item-with-expansion/

EQ2 COE will also include tradeskill recipes for all of Tier 10

http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/soe-live-2012-everquest-ii-interviews-highlight-focus-on-crafti/

on EQNext, ZAM interview w Smed

http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=30916

You’ll be able to destroy, massive, massive parts of this world, almost all of it. You can light the forest on fire; we have ambition with this thing. We want it to be something where the world you log into, might not be the world you log into in five days.

What you saw in WoW’s Cataclysm could take place because someone cast a spell that is powerful enough to do something major. We want it to be meaningful. And that’s what we’re building. It’s actually what we’ve built, because we’ve got this now. It just isn’t quite at the level where we’re OK [to reveal it to the public]. We have a story that we want to tell for the announcement of it, we want it that you’re seeing every aspect of the gameplay, we’re one aspect short of that until we’re ready to show, so we’re close now.”

Originally posted by Zekiah

"Autonomous Brokering that allows players to buy things from anywhere in the world without having to run to another zone to get it. Items can even be delivered straight to inventories right where players are but that will also incur a delivery surcharge."

Bad idea but not surprising.

Why?  I like this idea.  I dont like the fact that if I have a full bag I have to run all the way back to a merchant to sell.  Or if I want to buy something I have to run to the Bazaar in PoK.  This adds a much needed convenience at least for me.

Originally posted by Nadia

EQ Rain of Fear will include all past expansions

EQ2 Chains of Eternity will not include AOD

 

EQ2 COE will give players 2 baubles allowing lvl 90 chars to reach 280 AA

http://eq2wire.com/2012/10/20/280-aas-claim-item-with-expansion/

EQ2 COE will also include tradeskill recipes for all of Tier 10

http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/soe-live-2012-everquest-ii-interviews-highlight-focus-on-crafti/

 

on EQNext, ZAM interview w Smed

http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=30916

You’ll be able to destroy, massive, massive parts of this world, almost all of it. You can light the forest on fire; we have ambition with this thing. We want it to be something where the world you log into, might not be the world you log into in five days.

What you saw in WoW’s Cataclysm could take place because someone cast a spell that is powerful enough to do something major. We want it to be meaningful. And that’s what we’re building. It’s actually what we’ve built, because we’ve got this now. It just isn’t quite at the level where we’re OK [to reveal it to the public]. We have a story that we want to tell for the announcement of it, we want it that you’re seeing every aspect of the gameplay, we’re one aspect short of that until we’re ready to show, so we’re close now.”

 

I like Smed is saying but I am questioning the result.  The problem with pure sandboxes is once you give people a toolbox to do whatever they want, they typically end up destroying everything.  The concern is, what happens to players who start playing 2-3 months after launch?  Do they only get to see the destruction from the prior players?  Doesn't add much incentive unless they give the ability to rebuilt.  If I see a burnt down forest I can to replant a new one.  So it could be interesting, very curious about implementation.

Originally posted by Amaranthar

I didn't play EQ1 or EQ2. I want Sandbox, not Themepark, as an experience to play in.

I have very little hope that EQN will really give us a Sandbox experience. I think it's all hype and bull, and I think the best they will offer is illusion and busted bubbles. But I'll watch and make a final determination when info is available to do so. If it does, I'll sing Smed's praises. Otherwise, I really can't say I'll be disappointed since I don't really expect much. It's not just Smed, it's the whole way of doing business in the industry. No faith in it at all.

 

You should try EQ. Its free to play to try it out.  The later expansions have more themepark like elements, but is the farthest thing from a themepark in the context I believe you use above.  There is a trail or golden path you can follow but at anytime you can break away and literally do whatever you want.  You want to craft (all professions - they dont limit it to two) go ahead.  You want to go to another zone?  (there are hundreds and multiple ones at different levels) go ahead.  You are limited by where you know where to go and what to do.  Which used to be the fun of the game, but today with the internet and EQ websites you can look up every mystery and bypass the incentive to do it yourself.

Wish there was an updated EQ to play, but only have EQN to think about.  Not convinced, but open to try it out to see how they changed it.

Didnt particularly like the aesthetic of EQ2, though it is a good game as well.

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Originally posted by darkhalf357x

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Originally posted by Zekiah "Autonomous Brokering that allows players to buy things from anywhere in the world without having to run to another zone to get it. Items can even be delivered straight to inventories right where players are but that will also incur a delivery surcharge." Bad idea but not surprising.

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Why?  I like this idea.  I dont like the fact that if I have a full bag I have to run all the way back to a merchant to sell.  Or if I want to buy something I have to run to the Bazaar in PoK.  This adds a much needed convenience at least for me.

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Convenience turned MMORPGs into single player carnival games where "everyone's a winner!"

Some people go back to WoW when new MMOs are released. I go back to EQ.  I love its freedom and 'old school' challenging feel.  No hand holding (unless you want it), tons of content to go through, extensive lore, and a great friendly talkative community.

Its been holding my interest longer than any other MMO.   Cant wait for rain of fire.

Originally posted by ext1

 

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Originally posted by darkhalf357x

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Originally posted by Zekiah "Autonomous Brokering that allows players to buy things from anywhere in the world without having to run to another zone to get it. Items can even be delivered straight to inventories right where players are but that will also incur a delivery surcharge." Bad idea but not surprising.

---

Why?  I like this idea.  I dont like the fact that if I have a full bag I have to run all the way back to a merchant to sell.  Or if I want to buy something I have to run to the Bazaar in PoK.  This adds a much needed convenience at least for me.

---

 

Convenience turned MMORPGs into single player carnival games where "everyone's a winner!"

 

I disagree. I think content turned MMORPGs into single player carnival games.  Leading me from quest to quest, waiting in line to do what the person did before me.  Using this convenience will not stop me from being an active member in my guild, or speaking with/helping out strangers I run across.

Doing all that (unecessary) running around didnt make me more social.  It just made me more fustrated.  Convenience <> easy.

Originally posted by darkhalf357x

Originally posted by Amaranthar

I didn't play EQ1 or EQ2. I want Sandbox, not Themepark, as an experience to play in.

I have very little hope that EQN will really give us a Sandbox experience. I think it's all hype and bull, and I think the best they will offer is illusion and busted bubbles. But I'll watch and make a final determination when info is available to do so. If it does, I'll sing Smed's praises. Otherwise, I really can't say I'll be disappointed since I don't really expect much. It's not just Smed, it's the whole way of doing business in the industry. No faith in it at all.

 

You should try EQ. Its free to play to try it out.  The later expansions have more themepark like elements, but is the farthest thing from a themepark in the context I believe you use above.  There is a trail or golden path you can follow but at anytime you can break away and literally do whatever you want.  You want to craft (all professions - they dont limit it to two) go ahead.  You want to go to another zone?  (there are hundreds and multiple ones at different levels) go ahead.  You are limited by where you know where to go and what to do.  Which used to be the fun of the game, but today with the internet and EQ websites you can look up every mystery and bypass the incentive to do it yourself.

Wish there was an updated EQ to play, but only have EQN to think about.  Not convinced, but open to try it out to see how they changed it.

Didnt particularly like the aesthetic of EQ2, though it is a good game as well.

With respects, you don't know what I mean by Sandbox. I'll explain, since I didn't before and left you in the dark on my comment.

You see, I strongly believe that in a Sandbox game, you can go anywhere and play. I do expect that some areas should be much more difficult, and that newbies should not be able to survive most monster areas (as opposed to normal animal wilds). I do expect that a character that's half developed should need the help of more developed characters to survive the more dangerous areas. But I think it should not only be possible but common that they have this in their daily game play, in cooperation with guild mates or friends of any level. There's a huge social interaction in a worldly sense that's missing from these Themepark games.

I feel this way because a game world does not feel accessible otherwise. Dividing a game world up into zones (or levelled content as in EQ's case) that are built for particular level ranges is exactly what I think a Themepark is all about. And that is most certainly what EQ was about.

And that does not work for an immersive world. Sure, you can have immersion in other ways, and EQ was good at that sometimes. But as far as feeling like you were in a single world, rather than a game world that was chunked up with levels in mind to play through as in a game of controlled activity...no, EQ was not a Sandbox game.

Originally posted by Amaranthar

Originally posted by darkhalf357x

Originally posted by Amaranthar

I didn't play EQ1 or EQ2. I want Sandbox, not Themepark, as an experience to play in.

I have very little hope that EQN will really give us a Sandbox experience. I think it's all hype and bull, and I think the best they will offer is illusion and busted bubbles. But I'll watch and make a final determination when info is available to do so. If it does, I'll sing Smed's praises. Otherwise, I really can't say I'll be disappointed since I don't really expect much. It's not just Smed, it's the whole way of doing business in the industry. No faith in it at all.

 

You should try EQ. Its free to play to try it out.  The later expansions have more themepark like elements, but is the farthest thing from a themepark in the context I believe you use above.  There is a trail or golden path you can follow but at anytime you can break away and literally do whatever you want.  You want to craft (all professions - they dont limit it to two) go ahead.  You want to go to another zone?  (there are hundreds and multiple ones at different levels) go ahead.  You are limited by where you know where to go and what to do.  Which used to be the fun of the game, but today with the internet and EQ websites you can look up every mystery and bypass the incentive to do it yourself.

Wish there was an updated EQ to play, but only have EQN to think about.  Not convinced, but open to try it out to see how they changed it.

Didnt particularly like the aesthetic of EQ2, though it is a good game as well.

With respects, you don't know what I mean by Sandbox. I'll explain, since I didn't before and left you in the dark on my comment.

You see, I strongly believe that in a Sandbox game, you can go anywhere and play. I do expect that some areas should be much more difficult, and that newbies should not be able to survive most monster areas (as opposed to normal animal wilds). I do expect that a character that's half developed should need the help of more developed characters to survive the more dangerous areas. But I think it should not only be possible but common that they have this in their daily game play, in cooperation with guild mates or friends of any level. There's a huge social interaction in a worldly sense that's missing from these Themepark games.

I feel this way because a game world does not feel accessible otherwise. Dividing a game world up into zones (or levelled content as in EQ's case) that are built for particular level ranges is exactly what I think a Themepark is all about. And that is most certainly what EQ was about.

And that does not work for an immersive world. Sure, you can have immersion in other ways, and EQ was good at that sometimes. But as far as feeling like you were in a single world, rather than a game world that was chunked up with levels in mind to play through as in a game of controlled activity...no, EQ was not a Sandbox game.

I see.  Based on your reply I dont believe you will like EQN (an assumption).  It sounds like it will be too close to themepark for you to enjoy. Time will tell. True sandboxes as what you are looking for I would say check out XYSON.  Just heard they have a free trial but can't confirm.  

Also interested in what sandbox games you are playing now.  I might check them out.

Originally posted by darkhalf357x

Originally posted by ext1

 

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Originally posted by darkhalf357x

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Originally posted by Zekiah "Autonomous Brokering that allows players to buy things from anywhere in the world without having to run to another zone to get it. Items can even be delivered straight to inventories right where players are but that will also incur a delivery surcharge." Bad idea but not surprising.

---

Why?  I like this idea.  I dont like the fact that if I have a full bag I have to run all the way back to a merchant to sell.  Or if I want to buy something I have to run to the Bazaar in PoK.  This adds a much needed convenience at least for me.

---

 

Convenience turned MMORPGs into single player carnival games where "everyone's a winner!"

 

I disagree. I think content turned MMORPGs into single player carnival games.  Leading me from quest to quest, waiting in line to do what the person did before me.  Using this convenience will not stop me from being an active member in my guild, or speaking with/helping out strangers I run across.

Doing all that (unecessary) running around didnt make me more social.  It just made me more fustrated.  Convenience <> easy.

 

I think you are missing the point. I take it you didn't play UO, and that game is still the classic example of the sort of "social" game play based not only on not having things conveniently wrapped up for the player, but also giving players the tools to do something about it...through game play.

In UO, for example, there were no auction houses. But players could own houses, and they were able to set up their own auctions. Guilds did this since it was generally beyond a single player's ability (mostly due to time, but also handling things). Also, in UO players organized and set up "Trade Fairs". Events where craft players got together and sold and repaired to service other players. Customers got deals and low prices, were able to stock up, while the merchants made more money by volume. This is game play. Not "hack'n'slash game play, but game play for a wise range of player types...together. It adds to the overall game, feels more like a world, and gives depth in a wide range of ways to the entire game experience.

The alternative, where games have gone today, gives convenience, but removes all the other game activity. This was social activity. It's almost entirely missing today. And the result is hardly nothing else outside of the hack'n'slash. And players for the most part rarely talk to others. (yeah, yeah, I know, there's a few people here who say they always talk and are very social, what with talking about their favorite music and rock bands and all that. )

Originally posted by darkhalf357x

Originally posted by Amaranthar

Originally posted by darkhalf357x

Originally posted by Amaranthar

I didn't play EQ1 or EQ2. I want Sandbox, not Themepark, as an experience to play in.

I have very little hope that EQN will really give us a Sandbox experience. I think it's all hype and bull, and I think the best they will offer is illusion and busted bubbles. But I'll watch and make a final determination when info is available to do so. If it does, I'll sing Smed's praises. Otherwise, I really can't say I'll be disappointed since I don't really expect much. It's not just Smed, it's the whole way of doing business in the industry. No faith in it at all.

 

You should try EQ. Its free to play to try it out.  The later expansions have more themepark like elements, but is the farthest thing from a themepark in the context I believe you use above.  There is a trail or golden path you can follow but at anytime you can break away and literally do whatever you want.  You want to craft (all professions - they dont limit it to two) go ahead.  You want to go to another zone?  (there are hundreds and multiple ones at different levels) go ahead.  You are limited by where you know where to go and what to do.  Which used to be the fun of the game, but today with the internet and EQ websites you can look up every mystery and bypass the incentive to do it yourself.

Wish there was an updated EQ to play, but only have EQN to think about.  Not convinced, but open to try it out to see how they changed it.

Didnt particularly like the aesthetic of EQ2, though it is a good game as well.

With respects, you don't know what I mean by Sandbox. I'll explain, since I didn't before and left you in the dark on my comment.

You see, I strongly believe that in a Sandbox game, you can go anywhere and play. I do expect that some areas should be much more difficult, and that newbies should not be able to survive most monster areas (as opposed to normal animal wilds). I do expect that a character that's half developed should need the help of more developed characters to survive the more dangerous areas. But I think it should not only be possible but common that they have this in their daily game play, in cooperation with guild mates or friends of any level. There's a huge social interaction in a worldly sense that's missing from these Themepark games.

I feel this way because a game world does not feel accessible otherwise. Dividing a game world up into zones (or levelled content as in EQ's case) that are built for particular level ranges is exactly what I think a Themepark is all about. And that is most certainly what EQ was about.

And that does not work for an immersive world. Sure, you can have immersion in other ways, and EQ was good at that sometimes. But as far as feeling like you were in a single world, rather than a game world that was chunked up with levels in mind to play through as in a game of controlled activity...no, EQ was not a Sandbox game.

I see.  Based on your reply I dont believe you will like EQN (an assumption).  It sounds like it will be too close to themepark for you to enjoy. Time will tell. True sandboxes as what you are looking for I would say check out XYSON.  Just heard they have a free trial but can't confirm.  

Also interested in what sandbox games you are playing now.  I might check them out.

I'm not playing anything now. There's nothing worth playing. Xyson (or however it;s spelled, that seems wrong somehow) is very lacking. I do, after all, want a good game.

All Sandbox games have issues for me, enough that I'm not interested. Most have been "King of the Hill" PvP games and very much lacking in other content. Due to shoe string budgets.

The only good Sandbox games to come out are these, with their current issues for me (and I think most other gamers too)...

• UO- old, 2-D, lots of bad choices over the years, has tended to move farther towards Themepark design. Lot's of very good things added too, but overall too many issues that combine to vastly reduce my desire to play it. I played UO from the very first hour of release, and for about 10 years after. Left several times to try out a few other games, came back repeatedly, finally just gave up.
• AC. The thing is, I never played it, so I'm not entirely sure if it's actually a good game. Just recently I found out that I made an assumption that it was "Themepark", at least sort of, but evidently was wrong. I think a lot of others like me made this same mistake. We didn't realize that all those levels moved more sideways than up. Their mistake was not getting this out well enough to us.
• Eve. Space game, no boots-on-the-ground world. I strongly prefer Fantasy, but could accept a good Sci-Fi Sandbox.