I am heartened again

[Arython]

It seems SOE does still care about Everquest II.  Today on Station Players they are listing their <a href="http://www.station.sony.com/fanResourceCenter.vm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fan Resource Center.</a>This is a website of images and videos all about Everquest II.  And something I hope other gamers will see and think, "wow this game looks cool."  I think many of us long time SOE players feel a bit upset about is the total lack of retail presence and advertising for titles like Everquest II.  However both this new site and during the launch of Rise of Kunark SOE did put forth a bit of effort to recapture those who left the game, and some new players as well.One such sign has been the email campaigns of free play time, another is the ads on sites like MMORPG.com.  Considering they score very high on their polls, I can see why they advertise there.But the retail presence still seems weak, and perhaps the days of buying the box are coming to a close for MMO's, and we will just digitally download the games.  But I do like my paper goods, cloth or paper maps, manuals, prima guides, etc.Everquest II is the most casual it's ever been, experience comes easier then it ever has.  Even WoW probably has a tougher death penalty.  And yet no can match EQ2 for it's style and avatars.  The best looking western MMO out today.  The game is still very rich with content.  It seems Everquest II has found it's stride, perfect game for busy parents, people with little time, an hour or so to jump on do a quest, or perhaps gain a level.  But yet enough content to keep you questing (although many are fed-ex) long after bedtime.

[Griffildur]

<p>I don't know about best - looking. For example I really liked Lineage 2 for their avatars / armours / weapons. The designs and implmentations are absolutely magnific. In EQ2 we still have  strange movements, positions - like on the carpet, on mounts etc. the armours could be done a lot better and we could have more unique ones not just copy and past from a few standard designs.</p><p>A lot of improvement can still be done from this point of view.</p>

[Iamken]

<p>Long live Everquest 2!</p><p> This game has improved immensly since launch. A lot of people have tried it when it first came out and did not like it. Unfortunately these people still hold the same opinion of the game but they have not been back since.</p>

[Thunderthyze]

<cite>Gelydor@Splitpaw wrote:</cite><blockquote>It seems SOE does still care about Everquest II.  Today on Station Players they are listing their <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.station.sony.com/fanResourceCenter.vm" target="_blank">Fan Resource Center.</a>This is a website of images and videos all about Everquest II.  And something I hope other gamers will see and think, "wow this game looks cool."  I think many of us long time SOE players feel a bit upset about is the total lack of retail presence and advertising for titles like Everquest II.  However both this new site and during the launch of Rise of Kunark SOE did put forth a bit of effort to recapture those who left the game, and some new players as well.One such sign has been the email campaigns of free play time, another is the ads on sites like MMORPG.com.  Considering they score very high on their polls, I can see why they advertise there.But the retail presence still seems weak, and perhaps the days of buying the box are coming to a close for MMO's, and we will just digitally download the games.  But I do like my paper goods, cloth or paper maps, manuals, prima guides, etc.Everquest II is the most casual it's ever been, experience comes easier then it ever has.  Even WoW probably has a tougher death penalty.  And yet no can match EQ2 for it's style and avatars.  The best looking western MMO out today.  The game is still very rich with content.  It seems Everquest II has found it's stride, perfect game for busy parents, people with little time, an hour or so to jump on do a quest, or perhaps gain a level.  But yet enough content to keep you questing (although many are fed-ex) long after bedtime.</blockquote>I don't think it will have Blizzard quaking in their boots. People STILL have to log onto SOE in order to find the site. I wonder how many people, entirely new to MMORPGS, pick EQ2 as their first game?

[Spyderbite]

<cite>Holymoly@Runnyeye wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite></cite>I don't think it will have Blizzard quaking in their boots. People STILL have to log onto SOE in order to find the site. I wonder how many people, entirely new to MMORPGS, pick EQ2 as their first game?</blockquote>Not so many. But, I consider that a good thing. You get a better quality of player who is after all going to become a part of your community. In my opinion, I prefer "word of mouth" advertising. Let people go play WoW just because of the large display at Best Buy. Once they're ready to take the training wheels off they'll go where their peers go. And, in many cases that's EQ1 or EQ2.Is 1,000,000 subscribers better than 100,000? Well, thats a matter of perspective. For people who don't care who they play with as long as they have somebody who will put up with their screaming in Vent while beating down the big bad dragon. Quantity is the way to go.For people looking for an MMO for what it is.. an interactive Community. I have and always will choose the MMO with the smaller subscriber base and best reputation. I have attended meetups, weddings, funerals, birthdays and am even a god father as a result of the relationships I've made in MMO's.In the two short weeks that I played WoW.. I just wanted to hand out detention slips. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/97ada74b88049a6d50a6ed40898a03d7.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" />

[Vendolyn]

Reasons why I heart the EQ2.It pretty much goes beyond things like, how long I could spend in character creation if I wanted, how breathtaking the water effects are (and how, since beta, I keep finding them so stunning), or the occasional run through random lower level zone and find a GM hosting a mini event : )I love that there are so many paths to choose.  LotRO was too casual for me.  EQ1 was too much between camping contested spawns, 4am Klandicar raids, organizing 72 (or more!) people through text only, needing to group if you couldn't somehow kite mobs, etc.  WoW (and I did play again for about a month after the expansion was out for a bit) was never enough, always the same thing over and over, and half the time I felt like I was babysitting (especially when I was in the position of running a pre-BC raiding guild).What's always drawn me back here, I can choose a solo path.  I can choose a pure crafting route.  I can choose to group and crawl through dungeons.  I can choose to raid.  Most important, I can choose all of the above, and switch in and out of these positions at will.  The content is immense (I've only seen a teeny portion of the new lands, most of it is from running new characters through TD and doing KP solo quests).And, most importantly, the people I play with : )And those who I don't.  People here have their own personalities, and I feel like I'm getting to know quite a few of the regular posters.  Call it an extended community beyond who I run into on my server.Edit: In all of my above sappiness, I forgot one thing I've been wanting to mention here.  I got all warm and fuzzy with every recent posting in the Community News forum recently.  I thought it was great that all of the new GU42 stuff has been spread throughout the community, giving different people different things to show off.  Cheers to the EQ2 crew for spreading the goodies among everyone out there.

[Yngwiem]

<p>I think they are doing a better job now advertising... or at least making the software available at stores.</p><p>I was at Best Buy last week, and saw a bunch of EQ2 boxes. Before, you might as well have gone on a scavenger hunt.</p><p>As for graphics and such... personally, I don't have to have pretty graphics to enjoy a game. Heck, anyone remember Wizardy 1-3?? they were just lines and text!! But still one of the funnest games I have ever played. </p><p>Earl Weaver baseball back in the 80's. Not great graphics. There were better looking baseball games. But Earl Weaver had content. Stats. </p>

[Journee]

<cite>Spyderbite@Venekor wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Holymoly@Runnyeye wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite></cite>I don't think it will have Blizzard quaking in their boots. People STILL have to log onto SOE in order to find the site. I wonder how many people, entirely new to MMORPGS, pick EQ2 as their first game?</blockquote>Not so many. But, I consider that a good thing. You get a better quality of player who is after all going to become a part of your community. In my opinion, I prefer "word of mouth" advertising. Let people go play WoW just because of the large display at Best Buy. Once they're ready to take the training wheels off they'll go where their peers go. And, in many cases that's EQ1 or EQ2.Is 1,000,000 subscribers better than 100,000? Well, thats a matter of perspective. For people who don't care who they play with as long as they have somebody who will put up with their screaming in Vent while beating down the big bad dragon. Quantity is the way to go.For people looking for an MMO for what it is.. an interactive Community. I have and always will choose the MMO with the smaller subscriber base and best reputation. I have attended meetups, weddings, funerals, birthdays and am even a god father as a result of the relationships I've made in MMO's.In the two short weeks that I played WoW.. I just wanted to hand out detention slips. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/97ada74b88049a6d50a6ed40898a03d7.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" /></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: x-small;color: #ff9900;font-family: Comic Sans MS;">:nod </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;color: #ff9900;font-family: Comic Sans MS;">I totally agree with Spyderbite.  </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;color: #ff9900;font-family: Comic Sans MS;">I would have to agree, I would rather have fewer players and a better quality of player & game than to be over run with 'players' who are total n3wBz. I gave WoW a try and didn't even finish my 2 week trial and I had a group of about 50 friends who were playing on the same server begging me to stick with it.  NO THANK YOU.  The game lacked what I am after and the player base was annoying to say the least.  </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;color: #ff9900;font-family: comic sans ms,sand;">A 'great' individual once said Quality > Quantity.  I would have to agree <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;color: #ff9900;font-family: comic sans ms,sand;">~Journee~</span></p>