Are we ever going to get new armor looks? Not just new textures/colors

[Risiko]

<p>First off, I have been playing Everquest 2 off and on ever since beta, and I really do like the game a lot.</p><p>I am just wondering if we are ever going to get new armor models in the game.  Not just new textures and/or colors applied to the same old armor models, but actual NEW armor models.</p><p>I realize that the new race in RoK got new armor models, but I am referring to the rest of the races in the game.</p><p>I am getting sick of wearing the same old ugly cloth, leather, and plate armor models.  We have had them since beta.  It's time for something significantly different.  More variety in armor models would be awesome!</p><p>And, what is up with all of the robes in Everquest 2 looking like jump suits?  You know what I am talking about.  They all look like over sized jump suits made out of thick wool.  Robes don't have pants legs.  Robes drape and flow across the ground as you walk.  You shouldn't even see the feet or legs from behind or the side, and there definitely is NO slit up the back.</p>

[quasigenx]

No. Never. Here, have a cookie.

[Kursa]

<p>gotta wait until the skeletal revamp. SOE stated it would be too taxing on their servers otherwise.</p><p>When will the skeletal revamp be finished? December 21, 2012</p>

[Risiko]

<p>Sweet a cookie!  Thanks!</p>

[Morgane]

<cite>Kursa wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>gotta wait until the skeletal revamp. SOE stated it would be too taxing on their servers otherwise.</p><p>When will the skeletal revamp be finished? December 21, 2012</p></blockquote><p>Isn't that the date that the Mayan calendar ends? END OF THE WORLD!! Bwahahaha!!!</p>

[Apocroph]

<cite>Morgane@Everfrost wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Kursa wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>gotta wait until the skeletal revamp. SOE stated it would be too taxing on their servers otherwise.</p><p>When will the skeletal revamp be finished? December 21, 2012</p></blockquote><p>Isn't that the date that the Mayan calendar ends? END OF THE WORLD!! Bwahahaha!!!</p></blockquote>Eh, my calendar only goes up to December 31, 2008.Who ya gonna believe, the dudes with the big rocks, or the guy with the fancy-shmancy Office Max desk calendar?

[Qandor]

Are we ever going to see new armor looks? Not likely. Smedley has all available funds earmarked for new gimics such as trading card games, pro farming (Live Gamer), and the like. Investing money in the core product is totally out of the question. I think his next project is a line of Norathian breakfast cereals. Coming soon.

[Ace235228]

If you've noticed, the only way you will get 'flexi' or flexible robe ends is to set it at very high or extreme quality. It takes heavy scripting to affect how it works, unlike the cloaks which always move in the same simple pattern now matter how you are running or even if the 'wind' is blowing a different direction. In order to make something truley flexible like that it will take some a physics overhaul of the current system that we have... which will take a long time.

[Magiocracy]

Sadly, as has been pointed out before, a combination of initial poor engine design leading to it taking lots of resources to create and render multiple armour types, and SOE's clear preference for spending time and resources on 'value-added' rubbish such as LoN and other such gimmicks means it's unlikely we'll ever see a proper re-vamp of armour variety. Each new expansion shows less and less creative design on the armour front.As for the mythical 'skeletal revamp', I expect to see it shortly after I meet Bigfoot or the Loch Ness monster.

[Titigabe]

I need to up this thread because this is SO true.A lot of us are complaining about this since a long time, and I wonder if we'll ever get any feedback on this from the dev's. Skeletal revamp was kind of a "rescue pack" when it was presented, but since then, nothing new's coming, nor any kind of information, nor any pictures ...It's so said, been waiting for such a long time, and now, what can we expect? The best I hope.Will players ever be able to wear armors like the Crushbone ones, clothes like New Tunarians ones?The worst in all this is that when you look at mobs, you can see very cool looks! And when it comes to players, it's all about the same model, again and again (with sometimes some new textures).I wanted to add one thing to this thought: take our "Shaman" classes (Defiler - Mystic) and look at how they look. What make them defer from a scout? Nothing. When it comes to "Shamans" (and this is only an example) we tkink of stuff like this:<img src="http://planetemmorpg.free.fr/shaman%20orc.JPG" alt="" border="0" /><img src="http://lh6.google.com/vincebellec/RvU-3VbL39I/AAAAAAAAAWI/HdU_uWq_jPk/Gong%20d%27or%20Shaman.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d8/rixter201/Guild%20Wars/Ritualist/Rt_HalcyonsFem.jpg" alt="" border="0" />and maybe not:<img src="http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/6855/temp1kw0.jpg" alt="" border="0" />Do you see my point?

[Jhanos]

Agreed, I really think the character models and equipment graphics are one of the biggest downsides.  They have done so much to improve the game since launch, but it really, really needs a makeover on the appearances. 

[azekah]

<cite>Margoth@Crushbone wrote:</cite><blockquote>If you've noticed, the only way you will get 'flexi' or flexible robe ends is to set it at very high or extreme quality. It takes heavy scripting to affect how it works, unlike the cloaks which always move in the same simple pattern now matter how you are running or even if the 'wind' is blowing a different direction. In order to make something truley flexible like that it will take some a physics overhaul of the current system that we have... which will take a long time.</blockquote>You can set that setting by itself.

[Chondrichtheyia]

Why can't the female characters be as beautiful and the outfits as sexy as that Guildwars screenshot? Why? /cry

[Thrizz]

I think the armor graphics look good, there's just enough variety. *Shrug*

[Wildmage]

<cite>Chondrichtheyia wrote:</cite><blockquote>Why can't the female characters be as beautiful and the outfits as sexy as that Guildwars screenshot? Why? /cry</blockquote>because its easy to make games like that look good in screenshots but the experience in actual gameplay is completely different.  the clothing/armor in all these games may look pretty but it just glorified skins onto the wireframe of the character while eq2's armor has actual...depth and solidity to it.Frankly I find females in this game plenty sexy in the clothes in this game some of those gnomesses wooo sexy.And frankly neither of those pictures fit my mental image of shamans their showing a ridiculous amount of skin my mental picture of shamans involves wearing...leather furs, bones and feathers not showing all that skin like a drunken sorority girl at Mardi Gras.

[Titigabe]

<cite>Wildmage wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite></cite>And frankly neither of those pictures fit my mental image of shamans their showing a ridiculous amount of skin my mental picture of shamans involves wearing...leather furs, bones and feathers not showing all that skin like a drunken sorority girl at Mardi Gras.</blockquote>Ok, I see your point, and I do agree with it at some points.Anyway, you have to admit that our mental image for Shamans is something more from what you and I have said, rather than my Defiler Gnome screenshot from EQ2, wearing a chainmail with nothing different from a scout, and with a breath plate hardly differentiable from a heavy plate.

[Thrizz]

Guys.... just have some patience.I do agree, I am a firm believer in classes AND races having different armor styles, but until the Skeletal Revamp is in... patience. There's five million other threads like this, and if I were SOE I'd say either have patience or I'm gonna work slower. Give the guys a break its likely not easy to implement this skeletal thing. The Sarnak are the first of the races to have it, and the others will come later.Then I would wager we should see things changing.Personally?I'd love to have shamans look like shamans and have alot of fur on their armor and be able to look tribal. I'd also love it if races had specific armor - Halasians with a nordic style while Ogres might have Crude "LOTR Orc Style" armor, while Kerra might run around tribal and Dark Elves look freaking noble (well evil noble) ... all those type things would be nice, but we just need patience.

[Titigabe]

I think all we are asking is a clue, something to prove that it'll ever happen, one day.When we talk about Sarnaks, frankly, what I see is just the same old fashion looking armors applied on a new body.Players have been waiting for such a long time, talking about patience is normal and reasonable, but there are things to do to helps people being patient, and communication is one.

[Wildmage]

<cite>Titigabe wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Wildmage wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite></cite>And frankly neither of those pictures fit my mental image of shamans their showing a ridiculous amount of skin my mental picture of shamans involves wearing...leather furs, bones and feathers not showing all that skin like a drunken sorority girl at Mardi Gras.</blockquote>Ok, I see your point, and I do agree with it at some points.Anyway, you have to admit that our mental image for Shamans is something more from what you and I have said, rather than my Defiler Gnome screenshot from EQ2, wearing a chainmail with nothing different from a scout, and with a breath plate hardly differentiable from a heavy plate.</blockquote>chainmail would still work if we just had some...shamanic highlights to it.

[Cadori Seraphim]

I am equally as frustrated with the copy and paste graphics we keep seeing from day 1.I do get that doing so saves time for them, but as much as they get paid they could stand to hire a few people to add more armor and weapon graphics to the game. (and yes I am aware its more involved)

[Qandor]

<cite>Telkon@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote>Guys.... just have some patience.I do agree, I am a firm believer in classes AND races having different armor styles, but until the Skeletal Revamp is in... patience. There's five million other threads like this, and if I were SOE I'd say either have patience or I'm gonna work slower. Give the guys a break its likely not easy to implement this skeletal thing. The Sarnak are the first of the races to have it, and the others will come later.Then I would wager we should see things changing.Personally?I'd love to have shamans look like shamans and have alot of fur on their armor and be able to look tribal. I'd also love it if races had specific armor - Halasians with a nordic style while Ogres might have Crude "LOTR Orc Style" armor, while Kerra might run around tribal and Dark Elves look freaking noble (well evil noble) ... all those type things would be nice, but we just need patience.</blockquote><p>I think we ae beyond the "patience" point. It has been 3 years with the same rehashed graphics. What are we to wait for a decade? I'm beginning to think that they have already concluded that this game has limited legs. Sure it will be around for as long as there are enough folks to pay to keep the servers up, but that may not mean that they are expecting much, if any, growth. Actually, just the opposite with the games poised on the horizon. So we may be in the mode where what we see is what we are going to get. They will, of course, continue to make expansions, rehashing the artwork once again, to get it out the door as cheaply as possible. </p><p>I know it has been said that there will never be an EQ3, but when you think about it, without Everquest, what exactly does SOE have to fall back on?  </p>

[g0thiC_iCe_cReaM]

<p>I dunno, I'm pretty happy with some of the new armors out with this xpac, granted, it's new texures on basically the same models, but there is a lot more variation to stuff than when the game was released...</p><p><img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i254/g0thicicecream/gart1.jpg" alt="" width="325" height="529" border="0" /></p>

[RufusDeMar]

<p>Yea there could be more variance in the way armor looks...but it doesn't bother me as much as it used to anymore.  Besides I think the OP's pics are different styles and wouldn't fit in EQ2.  I DO believe that SOE knows we want more from their art department and that's what the whole "skeletal revamp" entails.</p><p>I do like the way my character looks now:</p><p><img src="http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/8823/ripfrontxm7.png" alt="" width="427" height="672" border="0" /></p><p><img src="http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/1624/ripbacksz8.png" alt="" width="487" height="713" border="0" /></p><p>OH and the armor looks cool too <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Thrizz]

I say patience because you don't need to make 1000 threads about this. There are hundreds of "we want new armor" threads. You're not the game's developer and how many times do they need to get it through your heads that until the revamp is done they are limited? You forget. They have to make a copy for every single different race until the revamp is done.

[Wildmage]

My conclusion is the department that would be working on new armor graphics are busy with the skeletal revamp, and until that gets finished or to a point where its handed to another department they don't have the time to add significant armor appearance tweaks, which is why the app tab was thrown out there as a temporary stop gap.now I personally thing as of this expansion cloth robes have plenty of texture options same with plate but  none robe cloth/leather which have so few variations their frequently used for one or the other.  Textures overlays are the only things we can expect for armor in general until the skeletal revamp is finished, and they can add totally new armor model shapes.

[Chips]

<p>drunken sorority girl?...nah!! south pacific island spirit communicatin' babe?...sorta....</p><p>my 2 cents.......</p><p>the outfit should represent the area from which it is found ...if you unearth a treasured shaman item from everfrost it should be looking more in line with the halasian people ...thick furs and bone carved whatever .....</p><p>now something from feerott...should be more in line with tropical bird plumage and loincloth kinda things ..and along the same sorta lines with Kunzar, BUT with kunzar there wouldnt be a nice looking bikini top thingy like you see posted above , because there are little to no mammal races there ...the outfit above would most likely be from kind of a Mara-like setting.</p><p> the male shown above with the exception of the well forged axe would be close in line with what one perceives as a generic shaman in an rpg i think.</p><p>for the record most shamans in primitive tropical societies have worn little or nothing aside from some sort of jewelry ( some of that jewelry adorns unmentionable parts of the anatomy in places like Rinja etc.) , and that goes for females too ..so that bikini top shown above ...would likely be non existant in RL.</p><p> those shamans from northern climates would more likely be covered in furs, skins , jewelry and sacred doodads. </p><p>what i dont get is the "chain mail" gear aside from later viking and germanic tribes in n europe i just can't see that gear making any sense.</p>

[Wildmage]

eq1 iconic shamans were barbarians really, and as far as the chainmail thing i think it was a balance decision since druid wore leather and clerics wore plate shamans got shunted to the middle range option of mail.

[Chay]

No we are never going to get any new looks. We will continue to have the same old recycled models with eyesore textures slapped together. I've been patient since launch. Do the math an figure out how much patience is costing me. Of course someone will respond to that statement and say I can always leave. As if that does any good and completely belittles the point of conversation.We do not have enough variety. How is that even possible?

[Moralpanic]

You people who think the skeletal revamp is coming are just being bamboozled. It's just like those people who are waiting for guildhalls... they've been waiting since BETA! 4 years ago!I think they realized that EQ2 is dying, so they're more focused on LoN and other products atm. But then again, from the very first expansion in DoF, where they didn't even bother to give the new MC armor even a new TINT, let alone new textures, it's probably just lack of priority. Whatever the reasons, i wouldn't hold my breath. Whether it's for new textures/models or the skeletal revamp system. We'll probably see WoW2 before anything like that.

[-Arctura-]

(( The Skeletal revamp requires much more work than anyone seems to realize. Im impressed and glad that SOE is taking steps to further their product by improving the avatar visual quality and efficiency. Its good.Its coming. Believe it.

[Chay]

I'm jaded and cynical... it's not coming. We will never have anything that looks good...

[Jhanos]

<cite>Chayna wrote:</cite><blockquote>I'm jaded and cynical... it's not coming. We will never have anything that looks good... </blockquote><p>Nothing is ever as cynical as a optimist who's been beaten down to a realist-Alas</p>

[-Arctura-]

(( they have already done too much work for the new revamp to cancel it and back track, invested too much time to stop and scrap it.

[Rezikai]

<p>(( they have already done too much work for the new revamp to cancel it and back track, invested too much time to stop and scrap it.</p><hr /><p> Actually rumor is with Scott bailing, Lotus the lead art guy moved to a new project, and the lackluster response to the current expansion resulting in less then stellar sales, the skeletal revamp was scrapped.</p><p> I'll expect it about the same time as i see the Phantom Console system released.</p>

[ZexisStryfe]

<p>Scrapping it now would be the worse possible thing they could do. The sarnak already use the skeletal system. The main reason for the whole revamp was to increase variety in armor and such, well if they cancelled it now, then that would create MORE work for them down the road. As of right now they have to create armor and texture them out for each of the 2 sexes of the old races using the old system (36 total textures, not counting SOGA models) AND 2 more for a totally different skeletal system which the sarnak use. </p><p>By making the sarnak use the new skeletal system, they made it so they have no choice but to continue.</p>

[Wildmage]

gotta love these cycles of rumormongering trollz on the boards.

[Zarafein]

yes lotus left, he said this in a thread. this guy: <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=408391" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/...topic_id=408391</a> is responsible now, as far as i know.

[Jhanos]

<cite>Wildmage wrote:</cite><blockquote>gotta love these cycles of rumormongering trollz on the boards.</blockquote><p>I especially love the way they have "secret insight" into the minds of the devs to know exactly why something did or didn't happen.</p>

[Sasandra]

<cite>Lhangion@Innovation wrote:</cite><blockquote>yes lotus left, he said this in a thread. this guy: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=408391" target="_blank">http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/...topic_id=408391</a> is responsible now, as far as i know.</blockquote><p>Wait, director of the art........<span style="color: #ff33cc;"><i><b>team?</b></i></span></p><p>did they change the definition of team to be one person without telling me? cause there doesn't seem to be a full art team as there's really been almost no art improvements in the game in over 3 years, would think a whole team would have been able to do something in that time frame :p</p>

[Shemyaza]

<b><i>Art Director Bill Yeatts wrote: </i></b><blockquote><p>In this day and age a lot of companies are hung up on 'realistic' art. TF2 proved that fun visual that are stylized instead of photo-real can be very successful. </p></blockquote>that's the pick of the quotes from his interview!

[ke'la]

Titigabe wrote:<blockquote>I think all we are asking is a clue, something to prove that it'll ever happen, one day.<span style="color: #0000ff;">When we talk about Sarnaks, frankly, what I see is just the same old fashion looking armors applied on a new body.</span>Players have been waiting for such a long time, talking about patience is normal and reasonable, but there are things to do to helps people being patient, and communication is one.</blockquote><p><span style="color: #0000ff;">Have a Sarnak show thier Helms and then tell me it's the same olf Fashioned armors, Yes, they did not change the chest/legs or any other piece of the armor, but that makes sence, because it would not be right that every other race in game would have the same old borring armor models while the Sarnak get new cool ones, just because it is easier to make new models for them. Especally when they are waring the exsact same piece of armor.</span></p>Qandor wrote:<blockquote>Telkon@Antonia Bayle wrote:<blockquote>Guys.... just have some patience.I do agree, I am a firm believer in classes AND races having different armor styles, but until the Skeletal Revamp is in... patience. There's five million other threads like this, and if I were SOE I'd say either have patience or I'm gonna work slower. Give the guys a break its likely not easy to implement this skeletal thing. The Sarnak are the first of the races to have it, and the others will come later.Then I would wager we should see things changing.Personally?I'd love to have shamans look like shamans and have alot of fur on their armor and be able to look tribal. I'd also love it if races had specific armor - Halasians with a nordic style while Ogres might have Crude "LOTR Orc Style" armor, while Kerra might run around tribal and Dark Elves look freaking noble (well evil noble) ... all those type things would be nice, but we just need patience.</blockquote><p>I think we ae beyond the "patience" point. <span style="color: #0000ff;">It has been 3 years with the same rehashed graphics. </span>What are we to wait for a decade? <span style="color: #6600ff;">I'm beginning to think that they have already concluded that this game has limited legs. Sure it will be around for as long as there are enough folks to pay to keep the servers up, but that may not mean that they are expecting much, if any, growth. Actually, just the opposite with the games poised on the horizon. So we may be in the mode where what we see is what we are going to get. They will, of course, continue to make expansions, rehashing the artwork once again, to get it out the door as cheaply as possible.</span> </p><p>I know it has been said that there will never be an EQ3, but when you think about it, without Everquest, what exactly does SOE have to fall back on?  </p></blockquote><p><span style="color: #0000ff;">Because it is almost imposable to make new armor models in a timly faction, on the other hand weopons wich are not as labor intencive have tons of differant looks in RoK, and that's not counting the Epics.</span></p><p><span style="color: #6600ff;">Well consitering they are still putting out massive amounts of content for MxO, Planetside, and VG and combined I think they don't have the population EQ2 has, I seriously doupt that they have given up on EQ2, also the "Lack luster" resecption is in compairison to EoF wich was a Sea Change for EQ2 and had Tons of visable bells and whistles. Also I think the fact that RoK is tieing or beating Burning Crusade in most year end "Best of's" says maybe it's not as lack luster as you think. </span></p><p><span style="color: #6600ff;">If the Starwars NGE aftermath has taught us players anything it's that SoE does not give up on titles without a Massive fight. Even in the face of Gianormous Subscriber loses. Wich is a good thing as SWG returned to pre-NGE numbers as far as subscribers go, and you can say alot of things about the NGE and the years sence but one thing you can't say is the stuff they are doing over thier is "on the cheap", BTW it would be CHEAPER for them in the long run to implement the new skellital system, even if they don't use it to put new armor models in the game, because they still would have to hand texture each and every model currently in game to add new textures to Copy/pasted models.</span></p><p>Wildmage wrote:</p><blockquote><span style="color: #3300ff;">My conclusion is the department that would be working on new armor graphics are busy with the skeletal revamp, and until that gets finished or to a point where its handed to another department they don't have the time to add significant armor appearance tweaks, which is why the app tab was thrown out there as a temporary stop gap.</span>now I personally thing as of this expansion cloth robes have plenty of texture options same with plate but  none robe cloth/leather which have so few variations their frequently used for one or the other.  Textures overlays are the only things we can expect for armor in general until the skeletal revamp is finished, and they can add totally new armor model shapes.</blockquote><p><span style="color: #0000ff;">Accually it's my understanding that the people doing the Skellital Revamp are the people in the Mechanics Department, the same people that gave us the huge RoK Zones, Addaptive Combate Music(the part that makes it work not the music itself), and all the other stuff not visable to players, the people that would give us new armor graphics are the people that also give us the Pritty parts of the game like the zone art itself, the vast amount of time they spent on Textures to make VERY OLD and VERY WARNOUT armor models look halfway deacent. As for the Appearance tab that was accually added to shut up the "armor dies" people. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></span></p><p>Moralpanic wrote:</p><blockquote><span style="color: #0000ff;">You people who think the skeletal revamp is coming are just being bamboozled. It's just like those people who are waiting for guildhalls... they've been waiting since BETA! 4 years ago!</span><span style="color: #6633ff;">I think they realized that EQ2 is dying, so they're more focused on LoN and other products atm. But then again, from the very first expansion in DoF, where they didn't even bother to give the new MC armor even a new TINT, let alone new textures, it's probably just lack of priority. </span>Whatever the reasons, i wouldn't hold my breath. Whether it's for new textures/models or the skeletal revamp system. We'll probably see WoW2 before anything like that.</blockquote><p><span style="color: #0000ff;">Well I guess the live footage of an Alpha build of the revamped human I saw at Fan Faire, and the fact that the Sarnak are currently using the Revamped where just a ploy to doup people again, though why they would waste lots and lots of money to support something they really are not doing is beyond me, but who knows maybe your right and they are just dumping money down a hole just to perpetuate a lie. As for Guild Halls, they a) where not promosed in beta, Guild HOUSING was promosed and is infact in game, you know thoses 5 bedroom HOUSES that require you to be in a GUILD to buy, those where what was promosed. They in fact out right have said on many occations that they really did not want to add Guild Halls until they could figure out a way to make them more then a glorified House. They now have some Ideas and asked for some of our Ideas, but as of Fan Faire it was still in the VERY EARLY(read brainstorming) stages of development. So while yes we have been waiting on the skelital revamp for atleast 2 if not 3 years, we have only been waiting on offical word on Guild Halls sence Aug. as the offical word prior to that was "not until we can think of some usfull things to do in it".</span></p><p><span style="color: #6600ff;">As to this comment, first LoN HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH EQ2 DEVELOPMENT, it was and is being developed by a differant devision of SoE, heck the two groups don't even work in the same State. EVERYTHING that has to do with EQ2 comes out of San Diego(other then the few things that get developed by the SoE Taiwan(formaly SOGA) like Darklightwoods and Fallen Destany), everything that has to do with LoN comes out of Denver. Saying LoN effects EQ2 development is like saying Pirates! TCG, Stargate TCG, and the other TCGs that SoE Denver developes effects EQ2 development. Now as to EQ2 dieing, well um, SWG has been DECLARED dead a number of times and is still doing well and putting out tons of content, Vanguard was declared dead and is on the road to recovery, MxO has been declared Dead, yet just ask the players their and they will tell you that SoE is the best thing that has happened to that game. EQ2 is not dieing, just because it does not have WoW's Fictional Numbers does not mean it is on it's last legs, and even if it was look at Planetside, that game has been "on it's last legs" for like 5 years and it is still getting massive content addtions including new art work and such. So even if EQ2 was on life support(and it's not) SoE is just about the best company to care for it, as SoE will provide all the care it needs for as long as their are still people playing the game, and they will NOT do it on the cheap, just ask VG players. Oh and the reason the DoF CRAFTED armor models did not even get a new tint, was NOT because of the art department it was because we had a really bad TS Dev(remember this was the same expaintion that gave Carpenters EMPTY Rare Recipee books, it also was under the old development system that has not been in place sence after KoS launched).</span></p><p>Rezikai@Najena wrote:</p><blockquote><p>(( they have already done too much work for the new revamp to cancel it and back track, invested too much time to stop and scrap it.</p><hr /><p><span style="color: #3300ff;"> Actually rumor is with Scott bailing, Lotus the lead art guy moved to a new project, and the lackluster response to the current expansion resulting in less then stellar sales, the skeletal revamp was scrapped.</span></p><p> I'll expect it about the same time as i see the Phantom Console system released.</p></blockquote><p><span style="color: #3300ff;">Got to love internet rummor, so let me get this strait just because 2 of the people on a team are leaving(granted they happen to be people who are at or near the top of the EQ2 team) SoE is going to scrap what probly amounts to millions of dollars of dev time and not complete an already parcially implimented game mechanic. Yeah, that makes sence. Especally when you can tie a good part of the blame of those lack luster sales on the fact that this system is not in place yet causing blandness and More of the same additudes when it comes to armor design(this is based on a number of reviews of the game). </span></p><p><span style="color: #3300ff;">Again let me get this striate they are going to scrap a system that they spent millions of dollars on, that also solves one of the driving issues behind the suposied "lack luster" sales, though I don't understand how selling more copies then they expected to is lack luster but anyway, yeah that makes sence.</span></p><p>Sasandra@Unrest wrote:</p><blockquote>Lhangion@Innovation wrote:<blockquote>yes lotus left, he said this in a thread. this guy: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=408391" target="_blank">http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/...topic_id=408391</a> is responsible now, as far as i know.</blockquote><p>Wait, director of the art........team?</p><p><span style="color: #0000ff;">did they change the definition of team to be one person without telling me? cause there doesn't seem to be a full art team as there's really been almost no art improvements in the game in over 3 years, would think a whole team would have been able to do something in that time frame :p</span></p></blockquote><p><span style="color: #3300ff;">Then yoru not paying attention because other then the lack of new armor models*, the art in EQ2 is atleast 10 times better in "current content" then it is in the launch content. Just look at Unrest and compare it to Stormhold, or heck look at the RoK armor TEXTURES and compair them to the rest of the textures in game, or look at the MoB armor(that does not have to deal with the issues that player armor does). I am sorry but thier is more to the Art Department then Player Armor Models, and I am certain that if they could they would impliment new armor models in a heartbeat.</span></p><p><span style="color: #3300ff;">*wich is a game mechanic issue and is not accually under the direct perview of the art department, and saying it is, is like saying a painter makes thier own brushes and paint, artists can only work with the tools they are given.</span> </p><p>Chayna wrote:</p><blockquote><span style="color: #3300ff;">I'm jaded and cynical... it's not coming. We will never have anything that looks good... </span></blockquote><p><span style="color: #3300ff;">I personally think there are already alot of things in game that look very good, heck I have like 6 competly differant outfits that I can put on my Swashbuckler and only 1 of them is the status Dress(the white one not the blue one in your sig). Granted alot of the outfits use the same Model, but while the "Cut" of them is the same the look of them is completly differant. I personally think the Art Department has done an amazing job consitering the extreemly limited tools they currently have.</span></p>

[LadyVader]

Just an update, an ETA, something, the waiting is getting ridiculous.  Please throw us a bone here, at least Domino drops in and posts upcoming goodies for us, where are the rest of you all at?  I keep reading posts or bits here and there that the revamp is in the works, coming, postponed, etc, what gives now?  Cloth wearers have an extremely limited amount of clothing to choose from atm.  I'd give anything to even wear leather, sheesh!

[Rezikai]

<p>ke'la wrote:</p><p>Again let me get this striate they are going to scrap a system that they spent millions of dollars on</p><hr /><p>Eh, like i said it's a rumor, and as for the "surprising move" to scap something they spent lots of time/money on, isnt surpising at all. Might i remind us of the entire Spell consoidation that was planned to combine all classes 14 lvl spells of 30ish spells into about 12.. that took lots of the time and was well on its way when shelved. Another example is the "Knowledge Book" feature that was supposed to come out w/ RoK.. that has been delayed if not shelved as well. Stuff like stopping a major project happens in the corprate world all the time, and make no mistake the old days of letting artistic vision guiding the way the money is spent in MMO's has long since passed. </p><p>Not that I was trying to get everyones feathers in a ruffle by saying what i've heard on the grapevine, and it may not be true thats why its a rumor, but after this long one would think we'd have more to go on. Meh not that i care if i did ruffle feathers, but i wont be holding my breathe for this.</p>

[Mysticdraco]

Allakhazam is having a chat with the developers soon, maybe we can get an official response as to if it has been canceled or not?

[Ceridon]

I have to agree.  I was talking with my friend about this just this morning.  He said he'd come back to EQ2 if they just had some more variety with the armors.  He says that half the fun of leveling is getting new armor that looks cool and different then what he's been wearing for the past 10 or so levels.  I kind of feel the same, but to me that's not a big deal, but he does make a point.  Look at all the different armor styles in "the other game"  that's what EQ2 needs, then we'd have so many more subscribers.  IMHO. 

[Kursa]

<p>Well, like I said, my uncle who lives in SOE told me December 21, 2012.</p><p>Im sticking to that like Peas and Carrots!</p>

[Mysticdraco]

Well I didn't receive an official response from the devs on the questions I sent in however, they did mention that the skeleton revamp is still in the works it is just rather difficult so they don't want to give any official dates if they couldn't hit their target time. So I suppose in a sense they did answer my question about getting new armor as the skeleton revamp is still occuring (so they say).

[Risiko]

<p>You sent in a question and someone responded?</p>

[Gnobrin]

<p>Yep, there's plans for new armors and clothing, but that can't happen until the character models get their revamp due to the HUGE amount of differing forms that take even doubly more testing to ensure that they don't "clip through".  Yes, the revamp's still in planning at the time being, but sadly there's no ETA right now on a finish.</p><p>~Gnobrin!</p>

[Deadrus]

Thanks SOOOOOOOOOOO Much Gnobrin for makeing this post. It's so nice to hear a dev coment on the character skeleton/model Revamp. It was starting to get depressing thread after thread talking about it asking if it was still in the works and its so nice to have an offical yes it is still in the works thank you very much. When their is an ETA can you let us konw. It would be much aprecated.

[Guy De Alsace]

<p>While we're at it - is anyone still working on the disappearing shadows bug? Last I heard they managed to reproduce the problem and someone was looking into it. Since then its been quiet. My shadows seem to stay longer before disappearing now so I dont know if thats just luck or something thats been tweaked since.</p>

[Risiko]

<cite>Gnobrin wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Yep, there's plans for new armors and clothing, but that can't happen until the character models get their revamp due to the HUGE amount of differing forms that take even doubly more testing to ensure that they don't "clip through".  Yes, the revamp's still in planning at the time being, but sadly there's no ETA right now on a finish.</p><p>~Gnobrin!</p></blockquote><p>Well it's great to know that it is still going to happen.  The only question I have is when you say "the revamp's still in planning at the time being," does that mean that no actual work has been done on it yet?  As in they are still planning on starting working on it OR it is in the middle of actually being done?</p><p>I ask because I would assume this is a major bit of work to actually be done, and if it has not actually been started yet (just still in the planning phase), we are a very long time away from seeing it in game.</p><p>Can you clarify please?</p>

[Mirander_1]

<cite>zip wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Gnobrin wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Yep, there's plans for new armors and clothing, but that can't happen until the character models get their revamp due to the HUGE amount of differing forms that take even doubly more testing to ensure that they don't "clip through".  Yes, the revamp's still in planning at the time being, but sadly there's no ETA right now on a finish.</p><p>~Gnobrin!</p></blockquote><p>Well it's great to know that it is still going to happen.  The only question I have is when you say "the revamp's still in planning at the time being," does that mean that no actual work has been done on it yet?  As in they are still planning on starting working on it OR it is in the middle of actually being done?</p><p>I ask because I would assume this is a major bit of work to actually be done, and if it has not actually been started yet (just still in the planning phase), we are a very long time away from seeing it in game.</p><p>Can you clarify please?</p></blockquote>They're in the middle of the project.  Sarnaks use the new model system, and they had a demo of the new human one at the last fan fair.

[Chay]

this pretty much rocks...  head jewelry instead of hats would have me giddy for days... real skirts would have me giddy for weeks... visible jewelry would have me  twitching with glee... bra tops... well i might just explode... itemization customization inspiration gyration... woo<img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d8/rixter201/Guild%20Wars/Ritualist/Rt_HalcyonsFem.jpg" alt="" border="0" />

[Wildmage]

<cite>Chayna wrote:</cite><blockquote>this pretty much rocks...  head jewelry instead of hats would have me giddy for days... real skirts would have me giddy for weeks... visible jewelry would have me  twitching with glee... bra tops... well i might just explode... itemization customization inspiration gyration... woo<img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d8/rixter201/Guild%20Wars/Ritualist/Rt_HalcyonsFem.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></blockquote>you may like it but I say that the head jewelry is the same thing as some of the options we already have for character creation, the head, neck, shoulders, waist and hips are way off in positioning and proportions.  The rest of it meh still frames only show so much how does that lil tart move in that stuff is it stiff or does it flow Im betting its stiffer than cardboard.

[ke'la]

<cite>Wildmage wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Chayna wrote:</cite><blockquote>this pretty much rocks...  head jewelry instead of hats would have me giddy for days... real skirts would have me giddy for weeks... visible jewelry would have me  twitching with glee... bra tops... well i might just explode... itemization customization inspiration gyration... woo<img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d8/rixter201/Guild%20Wars/Ritualist/Rt_HalcyonsFem.jpg" border="0" alt="" width="555" height="480" /></blockquote>you may like it but I say that the head jewelry is the same thing as some of the options we already have for character creation, the head, neck, shoulders, waist and hips are way off in positioning and proportions.  The rest of it meh still frames only show so much how does that lil tart move in that stuff is it stiff or does it flow Im betting its stiffer than cardboard.</blockquote>I beleave that is GWs art and if I am correct, your Assumtion is correct that stuff moves about as much as sheet steel, (cardboard accually flaps in the wind). GWs looks Awsome in screenshots but it looks terrable when played.

[liinc]

I completely disagree with the poster about in game graphics for Guildwars. If you have the right rig and video card, the graphics are unparrallel to most games.  Now I do think Eq2 graphics are very very good, But I just love the atmosphere and feel of the graphics of GW. For some people it is hit or miss though, but graphics are always amazing not just in screen shots.

[Killustrated]

<p>It's great to see a dev respond, but--in all honesty--I have a feeling SOE is already working on an EQ3.  If I'm not mistaken, the original Everquest was released in March '99 and EQ2 was released in Nov. '04.  With those release dates in mind, EQ3 should be released between 2009 - 2010.  I can't see a corporation spending millions of dollars to simply tweak a 3.5 year old game, when they could be using the money to produce the next big MMORPG.  All I've seen from Sony is them implimenting aspects of Vanguard, since it failed.  Notice the description of a EQ2 half elf is the exact same as that of a Vanguard half elf.  Now, it's a skeletal revamp.</p><p>My apologies for being cynical, but by the time the revamp is released, SOE will release word of their next big MMO and the revamp will pale in comparison to their new project's graphics.</p><p>It's exactly what the developers of Guild Wars decided:  instead of tweaking their current game, they simply decided to release a sequel.</p><p>Don't get me wrong, I still feel EQ2 is the only current MMORPG worthy of my time, but I don't trust corporations.</p>

[Wildmage]

<cite>The_Stranger wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>It's great to see a dev respond, but--in all honesty--I have a feeling SOE is already working on an EQ3.  If I'm not mistaken, the original Everquest was released in March '99 and EQ2 was released in Nov. '04.  With those release dates in mind, EQ3 should be released between 2009 - 2010.  I can't see a corporation spending millions of dollars to simply tweak a 3.5 year old game, when they could be using the money to produce the next big MMORPG.  All I've seen from Sony is them implimenting aspects of Vanguard, since it failed.  Notice the description of a EQ2 half elf is the exact same as that of a Vanguard half elf.  Now, it's a skeletal revamp.</p><p>My apologies for being cynical, but by the time the revamp is released, SOE will release word of their next big MMO and the revamp will pale in comparison to their new project's graphics.</p><p>It's exactly what the developers of Guild Wars decided:  instead of tweaking their current game, they simply decided to release a sequel.</p><p>Don't get me wrong, I still feel EQ2 is the only current MMORPG worthy of my time, but I don't trust corporations.</p></blockquote>Everquest 3 is only slightly more likely than Duke Nukem Forever coming out.

[Chay]

Oh I really don't want a Everquest 3. I have to say the words "In the planning stage" are a bit of a let down.

[Chay]

<cite>Wildmage wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite></cite>you may like it but I say that the head jewelry is the same thing as some of the options we already have for character creation, the head, neck, shoulders, waist and hips are way off in positioning and proportions.  The rest of it meh still frames only show so much how does that lil tart move in that stuff is it stiff or does it flow Im betting its stiffer than cardboard.</blockquote>* I wasn't speaking of the specific head jewelry shown. Just an option for something other than ugly annoying same as they ever were hats. I don't want the annoying permanent tiaras or goofy headbands.* The shoulder, waist, and hip proportion are not out of the realm of possible diversity. However... At no point did I discuss the proportions, only the visible clothing/equipment options. * I never commented on the functionality or the physics of the items. My assumption that if new styles are added that they will flow properly. (Unlike the capes we currently have which look like everyone decided to tie a towel around their neck). Again I was speaking of the overall look of the design of the clothing. Not the physics of it or any merits of the other game. Yes, physics are important should something like that be introduced to the game but at this point I'm just window shopping.

[Wildmage]

<cite>Chayna wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Wildmage wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite></cite>you may like it but I say that the head jewelry is the same thing as some of the options we already have for character creation, the head, neck, shoulders, waist and hips are way off in positioning and proportions.  The rest of it meh still frames only show so much how does that lil tart move in that stuff is it stiff or does it flow Im betting its stiffer than cardboard.</blockquote>* I wasn't speaking of the specific head jewelry shown. Just an option for something other than ugly annoying same as they ever were hats. I don't want the annoying permanent tiaras or goofy headbands.* The shoulder, waist, and hip proportion are not out of the realm of possible diversity. However... At no point did I discuss the proportions, only the visible clothing/equipment options. * I never commented on the functionality or the physics of the items. My assumption that if new styles are added that they will flow properly. (Unlike the capes we currently have which look like everyone decided to tie a towel around their neck). Again I was speaking of the overall look of the design of the clothing. Not the physics of it or any merits of the other game. Yes, physics are important should something like that be introduced to the game but at this point I'm just window shopping. </blockquote>granted Im just cautioning you against falling in love with superficial details you get from screenshots which on a scale of 1-10 of accuracy I'd rate them around 3. with 10 being highest accuracy..

[Deadrus]

<p>I think an Eq3 could be likely. A game that impoves the look of eq2 but build with curent technology in mind. (dual/mulit core cpus and sli graphics cards) Giving us armor and variety in look but make eq3 ALOT closer to eq1. No lame [Removed for Content] shattering or rending. Every race haveing their racial citys, larger citys being hubs where other races can start also Antonica still 1 contenant and maybe build Eq3 on the scale of Vanguard. haveing it HUGE but haveing it still look and feel like eq should. Seeing things familiar but more spaced out makeing travel more meaning full. I basicly want a recreatoin of EQ1 with much larger scale in mind (so they could add new locatoins and dungoens so its not completly rehashed) Really all i wanted for EQ2 was for it to be an eQ1 but much more user frienly better grapchis better systems. Oh eq3 should go back to classes like in eq1 not the 12 classes just cloned to be slightly different and calling it 24 classes. </p><p>I'm not saying bring back the beast lords cuz i honestly hate thoes threads they really dont have a place in eq2 becuase of the archtype system the classes are basted on. Is a huge flaw that is problay the bigest reason they wont be adding any more classes to eq2. Even thought we still dont do the supclass quests the system is still there in the background codeing of eq2 and thats a problem. Many of the classes are too much alike or just not differnt enough to be differnt classes. Any way bring on eq3 and have the best of eq2 with the best of eq1. That would be great. </p>

[LordFyre]

<p>Actually, a new MMO has the advantage of not trying to fix old code.  (We know from some of Mr. Smedley's comments that it would not be called "EverQuest III" even if it was still set in Norrath.)</p><p>And, it would also allow a reduction of the classes, as fewer classes are easier to balance well.   </p><p>It would also, as "Deadrus" points out allow the clean up of the story.  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  </p>

[Deadrus]

Yeah i heard Mr Smedley's comments that the next mmo in norath wouldnt be called EverquestIII. But i bet you the community that come from eq1 and eq2 to play this eq game that's not called eq3 will call it eq3 anyway. (because another game that is an mmo set in norrath how would it not be called eq3) So i really dont see why they should try to change the nameing convention of the game. Don't fix what aint broken. And in the case of EQ2 that exacly try to do they tried to fix what wasnt borken in eq1. (antonica for instnace) And the blew it into smitherines. I Actualy think the shattered lands was what they had to do when there no zoneing engine didnt work. Witch is why we see all theas old screen shots of locations we never see in game now because the zones were scraped all togeather when the seamless world didnt work with eq2 so the broke antonica up into little peices.

[ke'la]

<cite>The_Stranger wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>It's great to see a dev respond, but--in all honesty--I have a feeling SOE is already working on an EQ3.  If I'm not mistaken, the original Everquest was released in March '99 and EQ2 was released in Nov. '04.  With those release dates in mind, EQ3 should be released between 2009 - 2010.  I can't see a corporation spending millions of dollars to simply tweak a 3.5 year old game, when they could be using the money to produce the next big MMORPG.  All I've seen from Sony is them implimenting aspects of Vanguard, since it failed.  Notice the description of a EQ2 half elf is the exact same as that of a Vanguard half elf.  Now, it's a skeletal revamp.</p><p>My apologies for being cynical, but by the time the revamp is released, SOE will release word of their next big MMO and the revamp will pale in comparison to their new project's graphics.</p><p>It's exactly what the developers of Guild Wars decided:  instead of tweaking their current game, they simply decided to release a sequel.</p><p>Don't get me wrong, I still feel EQ2 is the only current MMORPG worthy of my time, but I don't trust corporations.</p></blockquote><ol><li>EQ3 will never be released, one of the major issue the devs have with EQ2 is that it was a Sequel and that changed expectations. IF they release another game in the world of Norath it will NOT be a Sequel. </li><li>EQlive has had MILLIONS of dollars spent on it sence EQ2 launched so even if there is another project based in Norath, chances are EQ2 will continue to go on with updates and large projects for a long time after the New Norath game comes out.</li><li>EQlive had it's whole graphics engine upgraded to DX9 not long befor EQ2 came out, and I am willing to bet that upgrading a graphics engine from DX8 to DX9 is just as if not more labor intencive then a skeletal revamp.</li><li>SoE is not the Developers of Guild Wars. SoE is still spending money on Planetside and MxO for hecks sake, one thing you can't say is SoE abandons it's older games for a new shiny game.</li><li>EQlive is also getting money spent on it, huge amounts in fact and it is a 10 year old game. MMOs are not like Single player games, the REAL money is in Subcribers, and the only way to keep subscribers is to spend money improving the game.</li><li>The reason they are implementing aspects of VG is because, while poorly implemented and bugfilled, VG has some really good ideas in it, and I don't know what your talking about with the skeletal revamp and VGs models as there is nothing in the VG models that will port to EQ2 infact chances are its going to go the other way.</li><li>as has been stated MANY times befor the new models are IN GAME in the form of Sarnak, and last I check they don't look anything like any other race. </li><li>as has also been stated MANY times, a VERY apha model of Human Male in the new skeletal system was shown at the last fan faire, it was at the time FAR from ready for primetime but it was shown, so they are making progress on it.</li></ol>

[ke'la]

<cite>Deadrus wrote:</cite><blockquote>Yeah i heard Mr Smedley's comments that the next mmo in norath wouldnt be called EverquestIII. But i bet you the community that come from eq1 and eq2 to play this eq game that's not called eq3 will call it eq3 anyway. (because another game that is an mmo set in norrath how would it not be called eq3) So i really dont see why they should try to change the nameing convention of the game. Don't fix what aint broken. And in the case of EQ2 that exacly try to do they tried to fix what wasnt borken in eq1. (antonica for instnace) And the blew it into smitherines. I Actualy think the shattered lands was what they had to do when there no zoneing engine didnt work. Witch is why we see all theas old screen shots of locations we never see in game now because the zones were scraped all togeather when the seamless world didnt work with eq2 so the broke antonica up into little peices. </blockquote><p>Maybe they will call it EQOA?</p><p>Yes there already is a Norath Based MMO out there other then EQlive and EQ2, it is called Everquest Online Adventures, and it is placed befor EQlive, but it's not called EQlive's Prequel, unlike EQ2 wich is called Eqlives Sequel WICH IT IS NOT, the 3 games all exsist in differant universes, granted they may have some simallar events in thier past but EQlive 500 years Hence will look VERY differant then EQ2.</p><p>Heck they may not even use the Everquest name, then how would you call it EQ3?</p><p>They could call it something like say I don't know Vanguard, and set it on a Differant planet.</p><p>What I am saying is there is already a Modern Engined Fantacy MMO in SoE's stable that they are spending a fortune on, why would they add a forth?</p><p>The Fantacy MMO market is WAY over saturated, Lets just list them LotRO, WoW, GW2, WH, AoC, EQ2, and VG. Thats not counting the ones from Asia or some of the older ones that are going strong like DoaC, EQlive, and UO. SoE is not going to spend a gigantic amount of money to put a new game into a market that is already super saturated with games like Fantacy MMO, especally when 3 of those games are SoE properties already and a new Fantacy MMO will effect those too. Wich is why SoE is making The Agency and DConline(though the Superhero market is looking to get saturated to but atleast they have a licence here).</p>

[Killustrated]

<cite>ke'la wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>The_Stranger wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>It's great to see a dev respond, but--in all honesty--I have a feeling SOE is already working on an EQ3.  If I'm not mistaken, the original Everquest was released in March '99 and EQ2 was released in Nov. '04.  With those release dates in mind, EQ3 should be released between 2009 - 2010.  I can't see a corporation spending millions of dollars to simply tweak a 3.5 year old game, when they could be using the money to produce the next big MMORPG.  All I've seen from Sony is them implimenting aspects of Vanguard, since it failed.  Notice the description of a EQ2 half elf is the exact same as that of a Vanguard half elf.  Now, it's a skeletal revamp.</p><p>My apologies for being cynical, but by the time the revamp is released, SOE will release word of their next big MMO and the revamp will pale in comparison to their new project's graphics.</p><p>It's exactly what the developers of Guild Wars decided:  instead of tweaking their current game, they simply decided to release a sequel.</p><p>Don't get me wrong, I still feel EQ2 is the only current MMORPG worthy of my time, but I don't trust corporations.</p></blockquote><ol><li>EQ3 will never be released, one of the major issue the devs have with EQ2 is that it was a Sequel and that changed expectations. IF they release another game in the world of Norath it will NOT be a Sequel. </li><li>EQlive has had MILLIONS of dollars spent on it sence EQ2 launched so even if there is another project based in Norath, chances are EQ2 will continue to go on with updates and large projects for a long time after the New Norath game comes out.</li><li>EQlive had it's whole graphics engine upgraded to DX9 not long befor EQ2 came out, and I am willing to bet that upgrading a graphics engine from DX8 to DX9 is just as if not more labor intencive then a skeletal revamp.</li><li>SoE is not the Developers of Guild Wars. SoE is still spending money on Planetside and MxO for hecks sake, one thing you can't say is SoE abandons it's older games for a new shiny game.</li><li>EQlive is also getting money spent on it, huge amounts in fact and it is a 10 year old game. MMOs are not like Single player games, the REAL money is in Subcribers, and the only way to keep subscribers is to spend money improving the game.</li><li>The reason they are implementing aspects of VG is because, while poorly implemented and bugfilled, VG has some really good ideas in it, and I don't know what your talking about with the skeletal revamp and VGs models as there is nothing in the VG models that will port to EQ2 infact chances are its going to go the other way.</li><li>as has been stated MANY times befor the new models are IN GAME in the form of Sarnak, and last I check they don't look anything like any other race. </li><li>as has also been stated MANY times, a VERY apha model of Human Male in the new skeletal system was shown at the last fan faire, it was at the time FAR from ready for primetime but it was shown, so they are making progress on it.</li></ol></blockquote><p>In regards to VG and the EQ2 skeletal revamp being similar:  what I meant by that statement is SOE is adapting a "skeletal" system that enables characters to wear a broader ranger of armor, etc.  Similar to Vanguard.  In terms of EQ2 models vs.  VG models--there is no comparison.  They look nothing alike.</p><p>Should SOE release another Norrath title, I sincerely doubt it'll be called EQ3, but since I don't know what they'd call it, I elected to call it EQ3.</p><p>I agree, SOE is a company that continues to invest in its games, but I can't help but wonder what else they have up their sleeves.  Regardless of how loyal a fan may be, SOE is a corporation and corporations are always thinking about the next big thing in terms of making money.  It's only natural.  Is the skeletal revamp a big thing?  Hell, yes it is.  And it's a great idea (and about [Removed for Content] time too!).</p><p>However, I still have the feeling that the skeletal revamp has inspired SOE execs to begin their next big strategy in online gaming.  Perhaps, they'll wait a few more years, until rival companies release their own new MMORPGs.  I'm sure the skeletal revamp will happen, but I'm expecting it to be shadowed by another project in the near future.  Hell, it might not even be in the world of Norrath.</p><p>That is all.  Peace.</p>

[Deadrus]

<cite>ke'la wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Deadrus wrote:</cite><blockquote>Yeah i heard Mr Smedley's comments that the next mmo in norath wouldnt be called EverquestIII. But i bet you the community that come from eq1 and eq2 to play this eq game that's not called eq3 will call it eq3 anyway. (because another game that is an mmo set in norrath how would it not be called eq3) So i really dont see why they should try to change the nameing convention of the game. Don't fix what aint broken. And in the case of EQ2 that exacly try to do they tried to fix what wasnt borken in eq1. (antonica for instnace) And the blew it into smitherines. I Actualy think the shattered lands was what they had to do when there no zoneing engine didnt work. Witch is why we see all theas old screen shots of locations we never see in game now because the zones were scraped all togeather when the seamless world didnt work with eq2 so the broke antonica up into little peices. </blockquote><p>Maybe they will call it EQOA?</p><p>Yes there already is a Norath Based MMO out there other then EQlive and EQ2, it is called Everquest Online Adventures, and it is placed befor EQlive, but it's not called EQlive's Prequel, unlike EQ2 wich is called Eqlives Sequel WICH IT IS NOT, the 3 games all exsist in differant universes, granted they may have some simallar events in thier past but EQlive 500 years Hence will look VERY differant then EQ2.</p><p>Heck they may not even use the Everquest name, then how would you call it EQ3?</p><p>They could call it something like say I don't know Vanguard, and set it on a Differant planet.</p><p>What I am saying is there is already a Modern Engined Fantacy MMO in SoE's stable that they are spending a fortune on, why would they add a forth?</p><p>The Fantacy MMO market is WAY over saturated, Lets just list them LotRO, WoW, GW2, WH, AoC, EQ2, and VG. Thats not counting the ones from Asia or some of the older ones that are going strong like DoaC, EQlive, and UO. SoE is not going to spend a gigantic amount of money to put a new game into a market that is already super saturated with games like Fantacy MMO, especally when 3 of those games are SoE properties already and a new Fantacy MMO will effect those too. Wich is why SoE is making The Agency and DConline(though the Superhero market is looking to get saturated to but atleast they have a licence here).</p></blockquote><p>Ha maybe it will be called Everquest Aigan. but Still if it comes out after Eq2 and it set in norath im sure at least some part of the comunity will refer to it as eq3 even if it doenst have the name everquest in it. I do konw of Eqoa and its a prequil to eq1. Not really any way to call it eq 1/2 that be kinda wierd so EQOA worked fine for it. And as you said if its based in a differnt world it would need to be called EQ3 cuz its in a differnt world. But as long as its a norath based game it should always keep the everqust name. or im sure people will probaly referto it as an everquest game. </p>

[Kaalenarc]

<cite>Rezikai@Najena wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>(( they have already done too much work for the new revamp to cancel it and back track, invested too much time to stop and scrap it.</p><hr /><p> Actually rumor is with Scott bailing, Lotus the lead art guy moved to a new project, and the lackluster response to the current expansion resulting in less then stellar sales, the skeletal revamp was scrapped.</p><p> I'll expect it about the same time as i see the Phantom Console system released.</p></blockquote><span style="color: #ffff00;">Lackluster response to the latest expansion? HUH? The DEVs have said time and again the sales response to RoK was roughly TRIPLE what their most optimistic projections were. I'd love to know what you're basing that on , other than perhaps anecdotal evidence?</span>

[LordFyre]

<cite>Kaalenarc@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote><span style="color: #ffff00;">Lackluster response to the latest expansion? HUH? The DEVs have said time and again the sales response to RoK was roughly TRIPLE what their most optimistic projections were. I'd love to know what you're basing that on , other than perhaps anecdotal evidence?</span></blockquote>The only "sales" problem I had heard was that some people were having trouble finding boxes.  <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" />

[ke'la]

<cite>The_Stranger wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>ke'la wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>The_Stranger wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>It's great to see a dev respond, but--in all honesty--I have a feeling SOE is already working on an EQ3.  If I'm not mistaken, the original Everquest was released in March '99 and EQ2 was released in Nov. '04.  With those release dates in mind, EQ3 should be released between 2009 - 2010.  I can't see a corporation spending millions of dollars to simply tweak a 3.5 year old game, when they could be using the money to produce the next big MMORPG.  All I've seen from Sony is them implimenting aspects of Vanguard, since it failed.  Notice the description of a EQ2 half elf is the exact same as that of a Vanguard half elf.  Now, it's a skeletal revamp.</p><p>My apologies for being cynical, but by the time the revamp is released, SOE will release word of their next big MMO and the revamp will pale in comparison to their new project's graphics.</p><p>It's exactly what the developers of Guild Wars decided:  instead of tweaking their current game, they simply decided to release a sequel.</p><p>Don't get me wrong, I still feel EQ2 is the only current MMORPG worthy of my time, but I don't trust corporations.</p></blockquote><ol><li>EQ3 will never be released, one of the major issue the devs have with EQ2 is that it was a Sequel and that changed expectations. IF they release another game in the world of Norath it will NOT be a Sequel. </li><li>EQlive has had MILLIONS of dollars spent on it sence EQ2 launched so even if there is another project based in Norath, chances are EQ2 will continue to go on with updates and large projects for a long time after the New Norath game comes out.</li><li>EQlive had it's whole graphics engine upgraded to DX9 not long befor EQ2 came out, and I am willing to bet that upgrading a graphics engine from DX8 to DX9 is just as if not more labor intencive then a skeletal revamp.</li><li>SoE is not the Developers of Guild Wars. SoE is still spending money on Planetside and MxO for hecks sake, one thing you can't say is SoE abandons it's older games for a new shiny game.</li><li>EQlive is also getting money spent on it, huge amounts in fact and it is a 10 year old game. MMOs are not like Single player games, the REAL money is in Subcribers, and the only way to keep subscribers is to spend money improving the game.</li><li>The reason they are implementing aspects of VG is because, while poorly implemented and bugfilled, VG has some really good ideas in it, and I don't know what your talking about with the skeletal revamp and VGs models as there is nothing in the VG models that will port to EQ2 infact chances are its going to go the other way.</li><li>as has been stated MANY times befor the new models are IN GAME in the form of Sarnak, and last I check they don't look anything like any other race. </li><li>as has also been stated MANY times, a VERY apha model of Human Male in the new skeletal system was shown at the last fan faire, it was at the time FAR from ready for primetime but it was shown, so they are making progress on it.</li></ol></blockquote><p>In regards to VG and the EQ2 skeletal revamp being similar:  what I meant by that statement is SOE is adapting a "skeletal" system that enables characters to wear a broader ranger of armor, etc.  Similar to Vanguard.  In terms of EQ2 models vs.  VG models--there is no comparison.  They look nothing alike.</p><p>Should SOE release another Norrath title, I sincerely doubt it'll be called EQ3, but since I don't know what they'd call it, I elected to call it EQ3.</p><p>I agree, SOE is a company that continues to invest in its games, but I can't help but wonder what else they have up their sleeves.  Regardless of how loyal a fan may be, SOE is a corporation and corporations are always thinking about the next big thing in terms of making money.  It's only natural.  Is the skeletal revamp a big thing?  Hell, yes it is.  And it's a great idea (and about [I cannot control my vocabulary] time too!).</p><p>However, I still have the feeling that the skeletal revamp has inspired SOE execs to begin their next big strategy in online gaming.  Perhaps, they'll wait a few more years, until rival companies release their own new MMORPGs.  I'm sure the skeletal revamp will happen, but I'm expecting it to be shadowed by another project in the near future.  Hell, it might not even be in the world of Norrath.</p><p>That is all.  Peace.</p></blockquote><p>SoE is looking to the future, and what they are seeing is WAY to many standard Fantacy MMOs on the market and in the works. Wich is why the known SoE projects are mostly games that are in catigories other then FantacyMMO, with Free Relms possably being the only exception, but that is not a "Standard" MMO it's one of those RMT style "Free" MMOs. Then there is The Agentcy wich is a Spy MMO and DC online the only Licenced Superhero MMO that will be on the market.</p><p>So SoE is looking to the future and the one thing they are not seeing is a successful Standard Fantacy MMO being launched anytime soon.</p>

[Killustrated]

<cite>ke'la wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>The_Stranger wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>ke'la wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>The_Stranger wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>It's great to see a dev respond, but--in all honesty--I have a feeling SOE is already working on an EQ3.  If I'm not mistaken, the original Everquest was released in March '99 and EQ2 was released in Nov. '04.  With those release dates in mind, EQ3 should be released between 2009 - 2010.  I can't see a corporation spending millions of dollars to simply tweak a 3.5 year old game, when they could be using the money to produce the next big MMORPG.  All I've seen from Sony is them implimenting aspects of Vanguard, since it failed.  Notice the description of a EQ2 half elf is the exact same as that of a Vanguard half elf.  Now, it's a skeletal revamp.</p><p>My apologies for being cynical, but by the time the revamp is released, SOE will release word of their next big MMO and the revamp will pale in comparison to their new project's graphics.</p><p>It's exactly what the developers of Guild Wars decided:  instead of tweaking their current game, they simply decided to release a sequel.</p><p>Don't get me wrong, I still feel EQ2 is the only current MMORPG worthy of my time, but I don't trust corporations.</p></blockquote><ol><li>EQ3 will never be released, one of the major issue the devs have with EQ2 is that it was a Sequel and that changed expectations. IF they release another game in the world of Norath it will NOT be a Sequel. </li><li>EQlive has had MILLIONS of dollars spent on it sence EQ2 launched so even if there is another project based in Norath, chances are EQ2 will continue to go on with updates and large projects for a long time after the New Norath game comes out.</li><li>EQlive had it's whole graphics engine upgraded to DX9 not long befor EQ2 came out, and I am willing to bet that upgrading a graphics engine from DX8 to DX9 is just as if not more labor intencive then a skeletal revamp.</li><li>SoE is not the Developers of Guild Wars. SoE is still spending money on Planetside and MxO for hecks sake, one thing you can't say is SoE abandons it's older games for a new shiny game.</li><li>EQlive is also getting money spent on it, huge amounts in fact and it is a 10 year old game. MMOs are not like Single player games, the REAL money is in Subcribers, and the only way to keep subscribers is to spend money improving the game.</li><li>The reason they are implementing aspects of VG is because, while poorly implemented and bugfilled, VG has some really good ideas in it, and I don't know what your talking about with the skeletal revamp and VGs models as there is nothing in the VG models that will port to EQ2 infact chances are its going to go the other way.</li><li>as has been stated MANY times befor the new models are IN GAME in the form of Sarnak, and last I check they don't look anything like any other race. </li><li>as has also been stated MANY times, a VERY apha model of Human Male in the new skeletal system was shown at the last fan faire, it was at the time FAR from ready for primetime but it was shown, so they are making progress on it.</li></ol></blockquote><p>In regards to VG and the EQ2 skeletal revamp being similar:  what I meant by that statement is SOE is adapting a "skeletal" system that enables characters to wear a broader ranger of armor, etc.  Similar to Vanguard.  In terms of EQ2 models vs.  VG models--there is no comparison.  They look nothing alike.</p><p>Should SOE release another Norrath title, I sincerely doubt it'll be called EQ3, but since I don't know what they'd call it, I elected to call it EQ3.</p><p>I agree, SOE is a company that continues to invest in its games, but I can't help but wonder what else they have up their sleeves.  Regardless of how loyal a fan may be, SOE is a corporation and corporations are always thinking about the next big thing in terms of making money.  It's only natural.  Is the skeletal revamp a big thing?  Hell, yes it is.  And it's a great idea (and about [I cannot control my vocabulary] time too!).</p><p>However, I still have the feeling that the skeletal revamp has inspired SOE execs to begin their next big strategy in online gaming.  Perhaps, they'll wait a few more years, until rival companies release their own new MMORPGs.  I'm sure the skeletal revamp will happen, but I'm expecting it to be shadowed by another project in the near future.  Hell, it might not even be in the world of Norrath.</p><p>That is all.  Peace.</p></blockquote><p>SoE is looking to the future, and what they are seeing is WAY to many standard Fantacy MMOs on the market and in the works. Wich is why the known SoE projects are mostly games that are in catigories other then FantacyMMO, with Free Relms possably being the only exception, but that is not a "Standard" MMO it's one of those RMT style "Free" MMOs. Then there is The Agentcy wich is a Spy MMO and DC online the only Licenced Superhero MMO that will be on the market.</p><p>So SoE is looking to the future and the one thing they are not seeing is a successful Standard Fantacy MMO being launched anytime soon.</p></blockquote><p>I agree, "fantasy" MMOs are beginning to saturate the gaming industry; however, fantasy roleplaying games have always been my preferred choice of gaming.  Though I wish someone would come along and re-event it.  When I first received word Shadowrun was being made into an online game, I thought, GREAT!  Then it turned out to be an online shooter, not the RPG it's known to be.  Sure, it was a re-invention, but it would have made a perfectly fine MMORPG in it's original state.  Fantasy MMOs may be saturating the market at the moment, but with the likes of an Elder Scrolls and Bioware MMORPG projects in the works, I keep my hope that someone will come along and do it right.</p><p>In the meantime, I'll stick with EQ2--it IS still the best fantasy MMO on the market (in my opinion), at the moment.</p>

[Risiko]

<p>The MMORPG market may be saturated with Fantasy-based MMORPGs, but when you get right down to it, only a handful of them are actually any good.  Many hundreds of them are copy cat piles of trash that have been mass produced from third world countries trying to cash in on the industry.</p><p>I honestly only consider Everquest, Everquest 2, FFXI, and World of Warcraft to be the current fantasy-based MMORPGs on the market.</p><p>Vanguard, Dark Age of Camelot, and Horizons are effectively dead, so I don't even consider them now days.  Then there is a couple hundred copy cat MMORPGs on the market that just don't even deserve to be mentioned.</p><p>Out of Everquest, Everquest 2, FFXI, and World of Warcraft, only Everquest 2 truly fills the realistic-looking fantasy-based MMORPG niche.  Everquest 1's graphics are highly out dated.  FFXI shoots for an anime themed graphic scheme, and World of Warcraft uses a very cartoonish looking high-fantasy graphical theme.</p><p>Vanguard was competing for the realistic-looking fantasy-based MMORPG niche market, but the lead designer of Vanguard shot the game in the head with the last game update.  So, Vanguard is effectively out of the running now.</p>