New Flagship Project from SOE?

[Hatorade]

Big that reminds me of how much I would love VG combat in EQ2, maybe this is out chance!

[kudos]

Originally Posted by Araxen

I think they've been working on EQ3 in an unofficial capacity for a bit now.

They have been working on EQ3 in some aspects for a while now. They even mentioned it in an interview with IGN or something a few months ago.

[Grave]

Originally Posted by Kuro

It kinda wierds me out to see a general-application Lead Design position put up. Aren't these games normally someone pushing their vision/concept to the higher-ups, not "We want an mmo. Anyone wanna make one?"

I thought it was strange too, but seeing no actual requirements is what made me actually decide to apply for the job.

But hey, if you think about it, maybe they've decided to take a chance on some new blood? These companies keep hiring former designers just because of experience (see 38 Studios, almost all of their game designers are from EQ2). The same people keep getting recycled. This is understandable, experience is very valuable, but I think there are a lot of people out there who have the talent necessary to be solid designers but haven't been given the chance to show that. I mean, did Tigole have any game design experience prior to being hired by Blizzard? I'll admit I'm not 100% sure, but as far as I know he was just a guy that was really into EQ. I think the decision to hire him turned out to be a good one. Maybe SOE is willing to take the same chance and just wants to see what kind of applicants they'll get.

[Grizzlebeard]

Originally Posted by Big W Powah!

I should go get some SSs of my Ogre Beastlord/bard for you after I finish my epic-extravaganza this weekend (both should have 1.0 by end of the weekend)

I don't have many of my old SS's left, lost most of them a while back to a nasty virus. These ones always make me smile. A friend pulled this beauty, wish I could claim it was one of mine.

[Hatorade]

I wonder if that is survivable with todays gear.

[Kuro]

Today's Gear and a Healer Merc=Good To Go

[Moorgard Mobhunter]

Originally Posted by Grave

The same people keep getting recycled. This is understandable, experience is very valuable, but I think there are a lot of people out there who have the talent necessary to be solid designers but haven't been given the chance to show that.

Lead designer is a very specific position, and most established companies would want to hire someone with at least a proven understanding of the game design process. And I can tell you that for what SOE considers a lead designer, you'd need to have experience managing a good-sized team.

But as far as entry-level designers, it makes absolute sense to bring in fresh blood and let them prove themselves. We have several people on our design team who were never designers before, but all of them had some related experience that made them strong candidates. We've been extremely happy with the results and will continue the practice of mixing fresh blood with veterans.

[XadionDarkborn]

EQ1 had a magic, from haveing a unique racial starting city for what? 11 races at launch, plus 2 for human. Sure Odus sucked black erudite big forehead ballsacks- but everything else held a shitton of stuff- fuck even halas had noobs wondering wtf was in the palace icegiants guarded- then you eventualy got in there and wtf dragon behind a rock?

EQ2 had sparks of magic at launch with their vanilla and total shit untill EoF in terms of world, feel and experiance of 'the world' their combat was fucked once they (like VG) took the road MORE traveled by MMOs and WOW-ized

The trick to classes that EQ had was...there could be skill involved- I honestly cannot tell you how- I am sure min maxers could explain to me how 1 level 50 SK with XYZ gear somehow was better than a level 50 SK with the same XYZ gear in terms of numbers and dps ratios or some shit- but the fact that I was grouped to tank over a more geared fellow SK because he had a rep as sucking and being a jerkoff...I suppose that leads more into community as well.

Leveling should not be ding-ding-ding crazy look at D&D and the power shift between levels- vanilla EQ1 had this (what what? it was based off of 3.0 slightly? noooo) honestly levels 25-40 I experianced more of the world, content etc than I did in wow from level 1-60 with my lock- and now even more than leveling in godforsaken BC from 55-70 on my DK, god BC sucked

okay i am done rambeling for now

[Grave]

Originally Posted by Moorgard Mobhunter

Lead designer is a very specific position, and most established companies would want to hire someone with at least a proven understanding of the game design process. And I can tell you that for what SOE considers a lead designer, you'd need to have experience managing a good-sized team.

But as far as entry-level designers, it makes absolute sense to bring in fresh blood and let them prove themselves. We have several people on our design team who were never designers before, but all of them had some related experience that made them strong candidates. We've been extremely happy with the results and will continue the practice of mixing fresh blood with veterans.

Of course, which is why I said there's a near-zero chance that they'd hire me, a 23 year old fresh out of college (and I wasn't even studying game design). But hey, it never hurts to apply.

Glad to hear 38 is indeed mixing in some fresh blood. I've been keeping watch on the Jobs page hoping you'll want a little more.

[tad10]

Originally Posted by Grave

stuff deleted..

My only problem is I couldn't stomach EQ2 long enough and therefore haven't played nearly any of the expansion content. I don't really know what direction the lore went in some cases, so that impedes the storytelling a bit.

Who cares about EQ2 lore? It's the Superman IV of MMOs. Best to pull a Singer and just ignore its existence when making EQ3. I rather like your rift/PS idea as well as the VG comments that followed. The best of VG (combat/classes and before they screwed it up crafting/harvesting) + the best of EQ (lore, itemization, and everything else) + new graphics engine = a damn fine game.

[Itzena]

EQ2 is in a parallel timeline to original EQ, so EQ3 could just be in another one...or just follow on from EQ1 + X decades/centuries.

[Borzak]

At the rate the latest MMO's have been going I wouldn't be suprised if they take all the great things about EQ/EQ2 and shitcan them and take all the clunky/funky and things people hate and combine them into EQ3.

Even taking the latest survey in EQ1 had little to do with fixing the game rather it was focused on how they could nickle and dime you to death with paying for "micro content" and other pay for bonuses like the station store stuff.

[Ukerric]

Originally Posted by Grave

The gist of the new game would be that players are sort of MTG-style Planeswalkers, traversing different worlds for whatever purpose or aim they may have.

You're a bit too timid.

Use the phasing technology that's finally seen the day. Use it heavily: each zone has multiple phases - and the players can travel between them AT WILL. (ok, outside combat)

You've got quests that unlock access to those phases, of course. When you enter a zone for the first time, you only access the base reality... as you progress within the zone, you get more and more various aspects of the zone.

Place some unifying theme across the various phases... and you've got a world to wonder...

[Grave]

Originally Posted by Itzena

EQ2 is in a parallel timeline to original EQ, so EQ3 could just be in another one...or just follow on from EQ1 + X decades/centuries.

Oh, cool. That would work a lot better for the idea I wrote up, because the whole cataclysm thing kinda messed up the world in a way I didn't really like. In the EQ3-era Norrath I envisioned most of the original cities are still intact for example, they've simply evolved over the centuries. For example, the direction I took Freeport is vastly different than the dark and evil one in EQ2. Mine is more of a neutral trade city like in EQ1, but it's gone even more in that direction. All races are accepted there and it's kind of this trading and travel hub where you might see all manner of creatures. Racial tension is higher than ever in this version of Norrath, so Freeport's neutrality is an important thing and has been a major boon for the city financially. I saw it as sort of a throwback to the days where people would negotiate trades in the EC tunnel and then meet at Freeport's bank to make the transaction. Similarly, in EQ3 Freeport would be where everyone went to trade or mingle.

[XadionDarkborn]

Originally Posted by Itzena

EQ2 is in a parallel timeline to original EQ, so EQ3 could just be in another one...or just follow on from EQ1 + X decades/centuries.

True, and I hated the excuse :-)

But where would EQ3's history divulge from "EQ"- if I understand it EQOA and EQ1 are all continuious EQ2 was just as Ziest is to Highlander :-P

EQ2's timeline divulged at the end of PoP - and even then it is given reason- when we killed Quarm and foreseeably fucked everything up the rift was created- hence EQ timeline and EQ2 timeline- if I understand the current lore of the newest EQ timeline- the timeline EQ followed on ends in the destruction of fucking everything with EvilJesus (zeburrofosocxzxcxcx) on a rock and dead veeshan floating around.

EQ3 needs to be where the bitch does not just send us back to PoK and say "Bad humans you almost erased yourself from existance by killing the actual gods!" but zap everythign back to the begining of the Age of Exploration (is that EQ1 or EQOA? I forget-) but back to whatever EQ1 was.

Honestly I would play EQ1 again with new visuals- REFINED (not redone/imagiand) lore and quests and again I say refined combat system- keep the inbalance of classes- thats what made them work togethere so well.