Future of EQ?

[Kanudil]

So my original post was probably hard to understand, and the humor in it may have been lost. I wanted to ask my fellow shamans as to what you think the future for EQ is? It's been out for over 10 years now, and while it's still a great game, how long do you think there will be a continuation of updates/expansions/services provided for EQ? When do you think the cut off point will come, or do you think there will occur a new EQ (mix between EQ1/2) with many improvements upon both games and a mix of the good in both?

One major downfall imo of the current EQ and why it's so hard to get newer players is first and foremost the graphics, followed by the large gap in the number of expansions content. I would be all for a complete reworking of the graphics for EQ with new...updated content at the same difficulty (or near it) that was the original EQ, with some things added from EQ2 (as I've played EQ2 and I don't believe that it's an upgrade over EQ but it certainly has its decent points). The major problem with this imo would be that people wouldn't want all their years of work wasted and gone from all their years of playing. So, what would your solutions be towards major renovations and improvements to EQ? I personally would rather play EQ than all the other MMOs that are out atm as they've all fallen short of what I came to expect after playing EQ.

[Delfino]

The graphics may be dated, but, from my experience, the biggest hindrance for new players is the overarching play style that Everquest requires. It's not a quick pick-up type MMORPG in the vein of WoW, EQ2 where you can log on for short amounts of time and get stuff done. Like most games it is a time sink, but it's the mother of all time sinks. You can get far in the group game as a boxer or if you have a few friends, but to really enjoy most of the game you need to invest in a guild. This will open up raids, more groups, better fellowship, etc... Unlike other games, the guilds that actually will be worthwhile are not a dime-a-dozen. If you enter EQ alone, you'll have to work hard to find a guild that can offer what you're looking for, whether it's family style, group content, mid-tier raiding, or high end raiding. If you're lucky you can find one that offers a mix of those.

The focus of EQ these days is pretty much only 70/75+ content. There is no community for the lower levels other than random power levelers. This is also a huge roadblock for new people. If you come into this game not knowing anyone, you're pretty much stuck with whatever you can find to advance. There are plenty of fun things to do at the lower levels, but there isn't much opportunity to actually participate in a lot of it without help. I haven't experienced the lower end game in a long time, save for PLing alts and friends. I have no clue what it's truly like for someone that's just started.

From what I've read, there's pretty much no way to update the graphics without creating a brand new engine. This can't be done without a major financial boost. The amount of time it would take to update models, zones, etc... would take more focus and man-power than they currently have focusing on EQ. The way current developers avoid messing with a lot of the game's code shows that there isn't much of a chance that anything substantial will be done. It's most likely not due to them not wanting to update the game, but rather a financial decision SOE has made long ago. Don't quote me on that though , pure speculation. It doesn't seem like EQ is anywhere near the top of the list for things to improve/maintain on a regular basis. I'm sure it's still a decent cash flow for SoE. With the inclusion of the marketplace, LoN they can still get people to pay for such an old game. However, the funds are most likely being used to fund other projects. Otherwise, we'd be seeing much more support and updates for EQ by now.

EQ2 and vanguard are the only other MMORPGs I’ve played outside EQ. What I like about EQ2 is the fact that you are less dependent on specific group make-ups to be productive. I played a necromancer and my brother a brigand, and we were able to do a lot of the group content very well. The trade skills in EQ2 are awesome. Unlike EQ, EQ2 trade sills are extremely useful. Being able to make your own spells, furniture, armor, weapons that may not be as great as the group, raid drops was awesome for the more casual, non-guilded players. I’d love to see EQ adopt that type of trade skill system. That’s probably the only major thing I could see EQ even possibly adopting though. I liked how EQ2 was much more quest based. They were great ways to xp, and to keep from just grinding for the sake of leveling up. The journey was much more rewarding than camping for armor and pulling mobs just to kill. The major part of EQ that keeps me coming back is the community of friends, guilds that are awesome. If it wasn’t for that, I’d most likely just solo/duo in EQ2. I’ve been playing since July of 01, and will most likely play till either the community completely falls apart or they run out of hamsters to run the server wheels 

[Samanna]

They could have a new engine for every zone released in 2010 or later, and not have to mess with existing content. They'd need to be able to translate stuff between environments, though.

[Maitz]

It's been a year since i retired from EQ and this is just my 2 cp looking on EQ as a retired player.

It's been a fun ride but like it or not all things have to end eventually. Everquest is more or less a thing of the past in gaming industry, today's younger generation of players simply isn't accustomed nor interested in kind of MMORPG Everquest is. It's just an ugly and boring game to them. Heck EQ can't even be considered a semi-mainstream MMO anymore.

All you can do it hope they keep the game patched & new content rolling in for as long as possible. Nothing they could possibly do would change EQ from and ancient game with a (small) cult following into anything else.

It's time for the aged queen mother put off her rose tinted glasses and realize her times are long since past.

[Caythy]

I tried to return to EQ (main Ranger, alt Shaman), on my home server there were not enough players left during EU times to raid Emperor Crush.
Those I know, all moved to the EU server (by paying an arm and a leg for a server transfer of their active chars).

I started a new toon on the EU server and had to grind through empty zones - not how I remembered EQ.
Quit after playing 48 levels solo.

The game is extreme hostile to new players and to returning players (EQ is a group/raid game).
Maybe, for US players, there are more people online in their time zone...

EQ was a great game I will always remember .

[Scalia]

I see the whole "death of EQ" issue as two separate, although related, issues:

1. Will there come a time when there is another game on the market which I, personally, prefer to EQ1?

I assume that the answer is "yes". I have played other games which do certain things better than EQ, so it's probably just a matter of time until some game puts together a "total package" which will be more attractive than EQ's "total package". Alternatively, EQ may self-destructs by selling everything for RL dollars or doing something equally reprehensible.

2. Will there come a time when the number of people playing EQ1 drops so much that it no longer makes sense to release new expansion and, eventually, run the servers?

I assume the answer is also "yes", but, given UO's track record, it may take a while. Even if SOE decides to get out of the business of running EQ1, it may be able to sell it to another company which will keep it afloat on a shoestring budget. It's not guaranteed, of course, as the field is littered with MMORPG corpses, but given EQ1's following, I suspect that it still has quite a few years in it unless SOE decides to merge it into EQ3 or some such.

Now, finding time to play EQ1 or any other game is a different matter altogether...

[Dakshere]

I gaze into my crystal ball for the future of Everquest...

I think the signs are already there that EQ is dying, much like people realize they are dying once they "start feeling old". The signs that I have seen so far...

1. No more random zone revamps.
2. Expansions are pushed back to yearly.
3. Expansions are smaller than anticipated.
4. Game altering bugs and exploits are taking longer to fix/remedy than before.
5. Server mergers.

The future of the game is left in the hands of the existing players. EQ is driven by the subscription base. The existing players are the ones that buy the expansions and pay the monthly fees. At some point the subsciptions will drop to a point that making expansions will not be financially sound. Eventually, the subscriptions will drop to a point where maintaining the servers will not be finanically sound.

My guesses are...

A. The next expansion will be out in the first half of 2011. UF was delayed by a couple of months, and the next expansion will be delayed a little more.
B. The expansion noted above will be the second to last expansion. The last expansion will be some sort of "end game" finale that will come out in 2012. I almost expect this to be more of a Dragons, Dragons, Dragons or G3 type of deal that will run the guilds through the history of EQ.
C. There will be another server merge in late 2010.
D. I see EQ celebrating 15 years in the industry in 2014, and the game limping along even after that.

[Ughbash]

I think EQ is doing well.

The graphics in UF are excellent a step above any of the other zones.

It is realtively easy to come back now with the new gear, low levels are almost boring.

Now I can't speak for EU players, and how many people are on at EU times, but at least on Tunare there is an EU guild (Anthem).