Next Everquest installment: Everquest "Next".

[Treesong]

Seems like they are indeed working on the next installment in the EQ universe: Allakhazam.com: Everquest: SOE Confirms Development on EverQuest "Next"

Quoting the last sentence:

"So you can see there's a lot to wrestle with as we begin laying the foundation for EverQuest 'Next.' As I write this, we have concept artists and game designers working hard in our studio-taking the lessons of the past, the best parts of the present and the most promising ideas for the future-to bring the world of Norrath to a new generation of players, as well as the dedicated legions of fans who made the EverQuest franchise timeless. I hope we'll see you there."

Not much to talk about yet, really, but somehow I am still exited.

[Quineloe]

I'll give it a look, but the name is really fucking stupid.

Smedley: we're producing the next Everquest. Everquest next.
journaldouche: So what's the name?
Smedley: the next everquest.
Journaldouche: yeah I got that, but the name?

[Treesong]

I remember them regretting that they called their second MMO in Norrath "EQ2" so I think they are being extra careful with the name this time. People apparently had a hard time stomaching how different EQ2 was from EQ1, yet the name was so similar.

[Chanur]

I hope they learned from Eq1 and Eq2 and can blend things together and make something great. I am probably waaaaay to hopeful though.

[NativityInBlack]

Will be there, again, no matter what.

5+ years of EQ1, about 6 months of EQ2, hope EQN (EQN? hehe) last longer.

Pre-order anyway, make it good SOE!!

Miss the real ding sound.

[Sinnes]

Originally Posted by Quineloe

I'll give it a look, but the name is really fucking stupid.

Smedley: we're producing the next Everquest. Everquest next.
journaldouche: So what's the name?
Smedley: the next everquest.
Journaldouche: yeah I got that, but the name?

They should just name the game "Norrath".

[kasey]

I think the problem of eq2 was not its lore or its name or anything else cosmetic. Its the endless limitations on every single tiny aspect of the game. They regulated everything. Half the time i wanted to do something with someone it was "too low level" "too high level" "do not have key to enter this instance" "have to do this quest or that first or the groupmember gets the shaft" or lockouts blalabla bullshit. The list is endless, its like they deliberately tried to stop you from getting stuff accomplished.

Remember how the mobs "locked" and nobody could attack them but the first initiator? rofl


I wonder if they will just continue this crusade against our free will and creativity with their next title.

[Glaive]

Originally Posted by kasey

I think the problem of eq2 was not its lore or its name or anything else cosmetic. Its the endless limitations on every single tiny aspect of the game. They regulated everything. Half the time i wanted to do something with someone it was "too low level" "too high level" "do not have key to enter this instance" "have to do this quest or that first or the groupmember gets the shaft" or lockouts blalabla bullshit. The list is endless, its like they deliberately tried to stop you from getting stuff accomplished.

Remember how the mobs "locked" and nobody could attack them but the first initiator? rofl


I wonder if they will just continue this crusade against our free will and creativity with their next title.

I'm not disagreeing with your complaints, but many players like myself didn't even get in far enough for this to be their issue because they couldn't get past the goddamn cosmetics. Horrid-looking game. Terrible models, terrible art, terrible armor textures, and terrible combat animations (for a horrible combat system).

Also, fuck constantly dealing with zoning and load times and traveling around everywhere by ringing a gay fucking bell. I felt like I was going to a series of plastic-looking movie sets rather than a massive, living world like in WoW.

[Escher]

I really hope it's not console bound. Hell, I'd probably go buy a damn PlayStation just to try it out though. EQ's been raping my soul since 2001.

/sigh

[yoshimura]

I hope they go back to basics and don't keep 10 million subs as their 'vision'...

[Vilgan]

The bell was pretty dumb. They've eased up on the limitations a ton. I'd actually consider eq2 one of the best MMOs these days for options to do various content due to their fucking awesome mentor/AA for past content thing. Zone lockouts are pretty much a thing of the past except for some raid content (holy shit it was bad at release tho!).

My main two complaints are:

1) I should not need 3 hotbars to play my class. Condense the skills down and give actually using one some "oomph". I really dislike the feel of combat in EQ2, and if EQ3 combat feels like EQ2 combat it will not do well (imo).

2) fuck the 24 unique classes idea. build it for 8 or 10 or MAYBE 12. Trying to make 24 classes desireable (in their own unique way) for a raid size of 12-24 just doesn't work. Talents/AAs/whatever can create some diversity in the classes, but trim it down a bit.

Tbh, I think there are a lot of good things about EQ2. I hope they keep those and learn from their omg wretched mistakes (like the feel of combat). If they do, EQ3 could be seriously badass. I hope they do a good job, as I'd love to play what EQ3 COULD be if done right.

[Phelps McManus]

Originally Posted by kasey

I think the problem of eq2 was not its lore or its name or anything else cosmetic. Its the endless limitations on every single tiny aspect of the game. They regulated everything. Half the time i wanted to do something with someone it was "too low level" "too high level" "do not have key to enter this instance" "have to do this quest or that first or the groupmember gets the shaft" or lockouts blalabla bullshit. The list is endless, its like they deliberately tried to stop you from getting stuff accomplished.

I think unlocking zones and boss instances was a good idea that backfired. I liked the idea of progression outside of just leveling. It almost evoked high end raiding progression for the casual gamers. Everyone's goal is to get to max level and these little mini goals were a helpful distraction from the grind between 1 and 50.

The backfiring part probably had a lot to do with how incredibly difficult EQ2 was at release. I remember hellish grinds at level 12-15 in that orc cave outside of freeport. The boring combat did not help.

It is too late on an established game; the restrictions should be lifted as the game ages anyway. But if the EQ2 that exists now was what they had released with, I think their original progression path with all of its unlocks would have been enjoyable.

[Ryoz]

Although I'd like to see this do well, I have doubts, after seeing the horrid mess that was eq2. I'd like to see them focus on the aspects of the game that made EQ great. The mmo market has changed drastically, so not everything will still be appealing, but I think wow missed a lot of it. Progression not becoming obsolete after a new expansion, aa's, non-instanced dungeons, vague quests, camping named. Again, I think a lot of the tedium that enshrouded EQ will not be appealing anymore, or maybe it will. You had a feeling that you were actually building a character in EQ instead of just upgrading gear on a cycle of never ending alts.

I guess we'll wait and see. I'll try it of course, but I have doubts.

[XadionDarkborn]

72 + man raids please....

Thinking back, ToV, SSRA, AoW, VT and Seru...those where raids...MC, BWL and 40mans kinda kept the feeling but 10/25mans dont feel like raids just slightly big retard groups.

Copy and Paste EQ1 classes and races... and world! shit... and the plot! call it "EverQuest: Norrath" or just "Norrath" next is stupid...we want EQ rebooted- not EQ2 nor really EQ3....

Anywho...excited as always- as I have been addicted to EQ sence 1999.

edit: not console please...computers are where MMO's should be so they can flex with technology slightly better than consoles.

[yoshimura]

An ever (r)evolving world instead of a massive static world would be neat. This includes change of mobs, change of spawns and pathing, change of loot.
So a new char experience will always be different.

Even at max level the game will offer continuous advancement.

Not sure who'll write that script though ...