Whilst reading a new site I discovered about MMORPG’s, a small news article caught my attention. The article in question talks about a 10th Anniversary Everquest book which in the final chapter suggests there is another instalment of Everquest in very early development. The author of the article comes to this conclusion from a piece of text in the book which does seem to point to another Everquest based game, though it gives no details as to whether the game would be an Everquest 3 or a console spin off.
I for one would obviously give EQ3 a try should there ever be such a game, as I’m a long time fan of the world of Norrath. I played the original Everquest for a good few years and have played EQ2 from beta until now. Despite EQ2 “dumbing” down a bit to appeal more to the WoW crowd than the original would have done, Everquest 2 is still in my mind the best MMORPG out there.
There is one problem though, the text from the book talks about bringing the world of Norrath to a new generation of players. For me this means making a game more akin to WoW than the original EQ. WoW is what I do not want a 3rd Everquest to be like. Before you get the wrong idea, I’m not slagging off WoW, although World of Warcraft is not for me due to it’s graphics and easy mode gaming style, it has brought a lot of players to the MMORPG genre who wouldn’t normally even think about playing such games.
I would prefer EQ3 if it happens, to market itself towards the older MMO players, those that like a challenge. There was something to be said for real death penalties where you had to run back to your corpse, along with the fact you couldn’t just flee from creatures and always make it out alive. Vanguard promised this kind of game, but never really delivered due to it’s disastrous launch.
I still live in hope that such a game may be developed one day. After all whilst the largest market is no doubt the younger gamers amongst the MMO community, there are a lot of gamers out there that do want something a bit more difficult. Those gamers that don’t whine when something isn’t given to them on a plate, or that enjoy levelling that you can’t do from 1 to max in a short space of time. These games will in the long run make you more money as they stay with games for longer periods paying more in subscriptions than the players who jump into an MMO hit max level and leave. These games also do not have to be raiders, many in my guild would love such a game to be developed and we are all casual gamers. The level cap for those of us that played Everquest was something that took a long time to reach, but gave a great sense of achievement when it was obtained. Not all casual gamers like easy mode MMO’s.
I would like Sony to recognise this market and aim the game at those players rather than try to make the next WoW.
What are your thoughts on a possible Everquest 3? Or what are you looking for in a future MMO?
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I played EQ1 from 1999 to approximately 2005, and I have to say, that was the time i “grew up”, going from that annoying 11 year old girl running around barely grasping the games etiquette (because we all know the majority of kids that young in a game can get annoying) though thoroughly enjoying the challenge of my first epic quests, and so on, up through to a high school graduate with a good grasp on almost everything there was in the game.
Ive played WoW, and admit i had fun, but i couldnt stick with it without getting nostalgic for that old not so dumbbed-down gameplay, though by that time Eq1 itself had gotten to be a different game without much enjoyment left for me, so it wouldnt last long either. Ive played aion, which was fun for a little bit, but too repetitive and it didnt seem like there was much to their world.
But my ultimate solution –
Take EQ1, revamp the graphics (not like the revamped zones that became just the simple one-way-to-go paths like nektulos and probably others were made into) change a few minor details to improve on the world, though not making it easier and to increase exploration, remembering what its like to stumble into that wrong area in a not often seen corner of a newbie zone.
Now I know this is just a bit of rambling on, and its all already been said, but hey, just my 2c of reminiscing, and we would all like to do it all over again if given the change (that change preferably being an EQ3 bringing back all the aspects we loved that cant be found in any other mmo)
EQ1 was my first real mmorpg experience, some friends talked me into playing and I was hooked. My only complaint at first with it was that if noone had been there to show me some of the finer things I would not have played long, like yhere shouldn’t be any places in your starting city you can accidentally wander into and get killed within 2 minutes of starting out without leaving your own city.
EQ2 was next because EQ1 was really outdated by EQ2 and the “I can get every AA that exists” thing was just crazy. EQ2 made some big strides over EQ1 in a lot of areas. I then moved on to WoW because my friends moved and recently quit WoW because of the lack of challenge thing.
Both MMOs had big pluses and minuses comparitively. EQ2 had way too much specilization, way. It was a great idea to cut raid partys down so much, I hated waiting on numbers 70 and up in EQ1 to get organized to go take down MB or whatever. But in making so much class specialazation, and so many of them really necessary – Brigands come to mind. So instead of waiting on the 70 plus people you were left waiting for the one max level brigand to get online so you could go raid. Comparitively I really like the way WoW does that with the 3 trees, and dual specilization, you are short a tank for this instance, of Ill swap specs to tank and were good.
Playing with friends however, EQ2 leaves WoW in the dust; A) there are soooo many servers on WoW it is near impossible to wind up on the same server as your friends or family by accident and even if you do, you need to have a lvl 20, 30 , 40 and 50 character laying around to play with them as they level up. EQ2, invite to group, right click mentor, done.
So whatever and whenever it comes out I hope they take the best of both games, simplifying class specilization for easier group/raid party making but definately keep EQ2s slick mentor system, oh and WoW does win by a long shot on the tradeskills front, get the stuff for 15 combines, go. I don’t want to have to concentrate and click buttons to offset every table I make.
Hi, I agree with you Lauralan,
My perfect EQ3 would be pretty much EQ 1 with some better graphics – i’d love to re-visit the zones with the same size feeling but newer crisper graphics – imagine EC/WC with glow effects and smooth edges
Iksar and other models containing the original spirit, but a lot nicer looking !! 
Perhaps streamed loading of zones so the world really feels like one big land (this is the one envy of wow I really have!)
Changes:
I would however perhaps like EQ3 to challenge more in crafting as I remember it being a bit pointless in EQ1!
I would think soloing would need to be possible in EQ3, I don’t think I would enjoy the same ammount of time /LFG as I once did
I do think though folks should be encouraged to group!
My guild has played since the start of EQ, through WoW, and back into EQ2. I really hope SOE keeps Norrath alive into another more updated MMO. I haven’t heard anything yet, but it would be absolutely wonderful!
I played everquest for a few years. When I quit I had a 70 shammy who I raided on. I play wow now and I have an 80 mage and pally. I’ve played EQ2 and Aion, didn’t really like either of them.
Reaching max level in wow doesn’t mean it’s over, and yes it is very very easy to do. I read a recent article about wow, in which 1 of the lead designers said “it really sucks when you spend months designing and tuning a dungeon with detailed encouters that less than 1% of your players will play through.” Keep in mind the lead WOW designers met through EQ. I agree, it would suck to spend so much time on such a small percentage of your audience.
I do miss old EQ, but the game really started to suck for me around the time PoP came out. I would definitely take a look at EQ3 if they decide to release it. I also enjoyed reading this article.
I am currently aware that a Planetside Next is coming out. I know this because SOE sent out e-mails to all the old vet’s of the game asking their opinions on what to put into the new game. So I would expect SOE to be working on that for a while, so I would not be expecting another Everquest for atleast a few years.
But honestly, I think that they will make another Everquest, despite what the developers say. They gained way to much money and respect from that series and would be stupid not to make a second sequel.
I played Eq2 for about 3 1/2 years and loved the game. Got myself a lvl 80 SK/Brigand and loved the game, but unfortunately had to end my subscription due to various reasons. But, if I had to place money on it, I gaurantee we will see another Everquest in the next few years.
I honestly think that if someone is mentioning the word AA, or anything that has to do with level 60+ stuff pertaining to Everquest, they have truly not experienced the beginning days when EQ was utterly amazing. The days when your corpse could be looted by other players when consent was given, the days when northern ro had the dervish going around (dorn) the days where oasis croc’s where the place to be hunting, and last but not least, when east commonlands tunnel was the buying/selling market manually as apposed to the horrible bazaar that started the fall of EQ. I wish only that some could have experienced the beginning days, and they truly would be haunted forever in a sense that they will never find that feeling in an MMO again.
Ron I totally agree I miss the tunnel SOOO bad and hunting in the oasis in croc groups gah those were the days even having to wait 5 min to zone because I was on Dial-up, and going to get your corpse lol ohh those long runs at 3am to get your corpse, it dident matter it was so totally worth the wait and the run because it was awesome! Man Its unfortunate that we may never see a day like that agin because everything has been made so easy.
You can play Everquest 1 like it used to be and for free as well. look up Project 1999. 300-500 players online simultaneously at the moment. I only started a few days ago, so much fun
Good ol’ memories.
hi I played EQ1 in early years and seen EQ1 be ruined new exspansions that everything was better items and mobs to kill.
My Idea EQ3 bring back old EQ ways no level requirment/level cap of items. Allow you to exsplore as you do in EQ.do away with plains of power bring back the cities. hot zones make them all that way so you can see your grind of leveling orgeting that aa you needed to be obtainable but not to easy.like to see more races factions like old days.
Don’t laugh but my dwarf was proud to get his first suit of plate at lvl 23 and his fine steel sword could not hit magic creatures. cap was level 50 back then EQ1.you worked for what you got and did trade skills or payed someone who had them.Poeple ran from Kaladim to qeynos took 4 hours real time with out spirit of wolf.At low level that was tough.thoose was the days of everquests beginnings. Like I said that what I would like of EQ3
Well I was looking for information about an Everquest 3 and I cant find anything even hinting at a new one, and this is the most recent post ive found about it, so here goes. @ Ron Lefleur, I feel you man, I had a macro made if i remember correctly that spammed in shout, INC DORN BDYNN TO PLATFORM , and correct me if im wrong I think that was Dervish camp number 2, or was so labled on my server. I remember hunting in crushbone and then running the leather, shoulderpads i think, all the way back to the dwarf city by foot. I can remember giving patterns and mats for Patchwork armor on my rogue, to a guy at the inn in north ro. There is so much more I could mention about old school EQ but ill get on with my point. I Think that , like some, EQ 3 should be a new EQ 1. No other game has ever made me feel , like Eq 1 did. I want challenge. I cannot stand easy mode mmos. With comes a certain type of people I just dont enjoy playing with. I could go on and on , but lastly I will say that I , among who knows how many, would be very very happy about an EQ3 (1).
Ah, reading all these old EQ stories really brings me back! EQ1 is #1, imo their is only one game that I was as addicted to and that was DAOC (Dark Age Of Camelot) best pvp game ever, and pretty darned good pve. WoW basicly took DAOC’s pvp system and flourished from it,because wow never always had the BG’s. But I am with all the old eq vets, big world, hard to lvl, alot of items. I’ve played pretty much all the mmos and none have compared to EQ and Daoc.So my advice would be to keep it simple, and big, up the graphics a little, add some more Pvp,although the Pvp events in eq1 were fun as heck!
Eq1 was my first real mmorpg experiance as well. I had played a few other games, and was a huge final fantasy fan.
What I find is a very huge part of keeping players playing, is actually the in game music. Music made specifically for a game means it’s unique to that game, and gives the player unique feelings towards that game. Which could be why I was so into the FF series.
What made me enjoy everquest 1 for 6 years (my entire highschool experiance, 6 hours a day – very unhealthy) was that I started out when the game was new, and got to watch it develop over time. The first few new expansions were incredible improvements. They eventually revamped the graphics, and levels and items just got plain f-in silly.
I played eq 2 for a year, only got a mage to 45, then 2 years later played it again, and with determination, in 1 month got a necro to 80 with amazing gear and wealth.
I hate games that are over crowded because it just makes you feel ordinary and boring,
I found groups and soloing to be both very exciting to be in, but those 80 player raids were just plain stupid. It’s like… you get to kill a few bosses who drop a couple items, good luck if you get anything. It was a good online social experiance though.
I really enjoyed eq2 as well. The part that I hated the most was people exploiting the game. (or the fact that i had dialup)
In eq3, I am thinking it should be a brand new world to explore, keyword EXPLORE. Exploring and adventuring is where the fun is at. Not sitting there for 12 hours camping a stupid frog for a mask that doesn’t make you any better, it just changes your skin colour. (but still kinda cool).
More dynamic aspects of the game should be added, ie: random factors – like the weapon system in borderlands – take that method and use it everywhere – ie: to maps, to clothing, crafting, spells, etc.
The game itself doesn’t have to be a complex monstrosity of bandwidth hogging, super graphical intensity. As long as the gameplay/music/graphics/experiance is enjoyable and “new” for the user, it’ll sell.
quality over quantity.
Personally I’d like to see more enticing story lines, and more videos. It could be totally different, ie: more futuristic and not so much in old mystic wood elf tree forts.
What I would like in EQ3
… Beside the teknic part that it has to support multicore, and 64bit.
…
Less classes then in EQ2. Yes it’s nice with a lot of classes to pick from, but it’s to hard to ballance them all.
Public quests. That is one thing I like about WAR.
Big zones/ Zoneless world.
Not to big world to start with.
I like a big world, but if you start with a to big world. people will be spread all over the world, and it will be hard get get groups up and running without waiting 20-30 min for all to get there.
AA points. I like that, as it is a way to get better without just getting more levels.
No camping.
I hate it when you get a quest where you need to kill a mob that is on a spawn time. and sometimes it’s the place holder that will spawn.
And when you are sitting there with 20 otheres waiting and see who gets it. It’s just a pain in the #”¤%
Quest locations shown on map.
A thing I liked in WAR was that it showed you the general location of where the quest object can be found.
Sure it makes the make more easy. But 99% of the players just look up the location on the web if they can find the object with in a few minnuts.
Henrik go play WoW. There’s a charm to working for things in a MMORGP. It’s not about beating the game because you can’t. It’s all about the journey.
I agree with most of you guys, make EQ 3 a completely updated graphics wize of the old original EQ, make the npc’s talk to you like in EQ 2, also please bring back the original uber “train to zone” shouts that i miss so much. I do realize that alot of you dont like zones, but mobs running you down unless you zone was always a bunch of fun.