EQ2 versus The New Kids

[Savanja]

<span style="font-size: small;font-family: Arial;">As EverQuest II gets ready for the old folks home, brand new games are soon heading to shelves all over the world.  What will these new kids on the block mean for the EQ2 community?  It's too soon to tell for sure, but I lay it all out on the line discussing where EQ2 shines, and where the competition might trump us.  Never fear though, EQ2 has something that no game on the market could ever top!  What is it?  Well, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=1330" target="_blank">you'll just have to read to find out</a>!</span>

[Spyderbite]

OMG, Sav... you so opened Pandora's Box for all the Doom & Gloomers. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Calain80]

The greatest bonus of EQ2 for me is the lacking PvP part. PvP tends to attract all kind of immature / stupid / selfish / r0xx3r people, I don't want to play with. Sure there are also a lot of nice people that like to PvP, but there is a special kind of players, which can ruin a game for me, that only look for PvP as a tool to bother / harass other people. Such people would never play a PvE only game and I love my PvE server with an empty ignore list, with people breaking a fight so that a new arrived player can join the group for a quest update, where people donate a whole set of bags / chests to a newbie, they have met by chance, ... I'm sure AoC and WAR will not get this kind of community, as PvP is an integral part on all servers. I played DAoC, but it broke for me close to end level because you had to PvP to even be invited to PvE groups (realm ranks anyone?). So if the lack of PvP is anything to EQ2 it is a pro not a con for EQ2, as it defines EQ2 as a game different from all the other games out there.

[Spyderbite]

<cite>Calberak@Valor wrote:</cite><blockquote>Such people would never play a PvE only game and I love my PvE server with an empty ignore list, with people breaking a fight so that a new arrived player can join the group for a quest update, where people donate a whole set of bags / chests to a newbie, they have met by chance, ...</blockquote>Actually.. that's all I do in game is help people out. And, ironically, I play on a PvP server.FFA (Free For All) PvP systems draw the kiddies.. and unfortunately, people tend to group all forms of PvP in to the same prejudice when judging. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Aurumn]

<cite>Savanja wrote:</cite><blockquote><span style="font-size: small;font-family: Arial;">As EverQuest II gets ready for the old folks home, brand new games are soon heading to shelves all over the world.  What will these <b>new kids on the block</b> mean for the EQ2 community?  It's too soon to tell for sure, but I lay it all out on the line discussing where EQ2 shines, and where the competition might trump us.  Never fear though, EQ2 has something that no game on the market could ever top!  What is it?  Well, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=1330" target="_blank">you'll just have to read to find out</a>!</span></blockquote>Hehe, bonus points for bringing back middle school memories. As revenge/thanks (lol) <a href="http://www.nkotb.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">they're reuniting</a>.

[Grimlux]

Everquest 2 will be around for quite awhile, even longer if they fix their engine. What was it? 5-6 years after EQlive that EQ2 was released. Something like that. Right now is about time for SOE to start budgeting and thinking about building a Sequel for the Everquest universe. Maybe when and if they design a sequel they can hash out the technology side along with pvp and all those other things millions of people are crying out for.

[MuliganVanJurai]

<p>The more games that come out, the more the community thins out.  There is no doubt people will continue to play the older games and without a doubt many will try the new games and/or expansions.  The great thing about EQ1 in its glory days was the community.  There was nothing fantastic about EQ itself, it was just something entirely new, that everyone attempt to struggle through together.  (Thus the importance of fansites, guild message boards ie. Fires of Heaven, etc.)</p><p>As more games came out, some stayed behind, some moved on, and some moved on and came back.  The MMO community has broadened its audience with diverse realm of game choices and the core generation, pioneers if you will, either cling to what they love regardless of the population or fad, while others float around or retire.  </p><p>MMO's are slowly becoming less community oriented and all about numbers or the next best thing.  People fail to realize that UO, EQ1, and DAoC subs collectively were less that a million (which is being generous).  However, their popularity (and profitability) rang throughout the world.  Now everyone is attempting to chime in on this cash cow called MMO's.</p><p>To answer your question, its a cycle, communities will thin out as more games come out.  Servers will consolidate but the games will probably run for some time.  Since the 2 headliners for this year are PvP centralized games, I predict them to consolidate the PvP servers due to population and maybe 1-2 PvE servers.  Other than that, I doubt you'll see much impact on EQ2 due to its PvE value.  </p>

[Savanja]

It's hard these days for a older game to keep it's subs steady in the face of some tough competition.So then I wonder, what can EQ2 do to compete?

[Aurumn]

<cite>Savanja wrote:</cite><blockquote>It's hard these days for a older game to keep it's subs steady in the face of some tough competition.So then I wonder, <b>what can EQ2 do to compete?</b></blockquote>For starters they could fix the whole multi-core thing so that the average new-ish PC can run the game without all the tweaking. Second they could advertise EQ2 as the PvE friendly alternative to all the hot new titles. That's one of EQ2's strengths so why not play it up? Crafting, housing, lore, alternative means of advancement (as opposed to grinding), etc. Other than that I suppose they could always invest some time/money into improving EQ2 PvP so it could be more competitive with the other options. That would reek of trying to catch up to the pack though while playing up the existing strengths would IMO come off a bit better.

[dawy]

SOE need above all to make a budget for advertising this great game more than its current £2.00 spend in the uk,people just dont know what the game is where i live,but my oh my do they know about WOW,AoC and WAR

[Iapetus]

<p>...</p>

[dawy]

It cant compete really though,they should keep on doing what they do after all EQ2 is a middle aged game nowadays (though looking at it you wouldnt think so) people will come and go so long as the devs keep giving players of all types what they need and not another (more or less) solo expansion like RoK the game will be fine.Its human nature to move onto the next great thing but i fear when they've spent thier cash quite a few people will come to realise what a good game EQ2 is now

[Zabjade]

<span style="color: #00cc00;">Drat I was hoping this was about EQ2 vs New Kids on the Block (Weren't they one of those boy bands?) I was hoping for loot for killin' off a few of them <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />" /></span>

[Savanja]

<cite>Zabjade wrote:</cite><blockquote><span style="color: #00cc00;">Drat I was hoping this was about EQ2 vs New Kids on the Block (Weren't they one of those boy bands?) I was hoping for loot for killin' off a few of them <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY<img mce_tsrc=" />" /></span></blockquote>Now that'd be some interesting PvP.  :pIMO, at this point the best thing that can be done for this game is continue to strive to make this game as good as it can be, and to be sure to get the name of EverQuest II out there.  I still get a whole lot of players from other games that tell me that they -just- heard of EQ2 and thought it looked cool, so they decided to give it a try.  We simply need more of that!

[Zabjade]

<span style="color: #00cc00;">What they NEED to do is advertise more, not just in trade publications, but in mainstream magazines. People have short attention spans you have to remind them with a Rolling pin if need be. </span>

[Spyderbite]

<cite>Zabjade wrote:</cite><blockquote><span style="color: #00cc00;">What they NEED to do is advertise more, not just in trade publications, but in mainstream magazines. People have short attention spans you have to remind them with a Rolling pin if need be. </span></blockquote>But they do. The last two expansions were advertised in the biggest computer gaming magazines. Advertising a brand new game is one thing, advertising a game that's been around for a few years is another matter and a completely different advertising strategy.Very, very few people go to the store and pick up magazines any more. Even less still subscribe to magazines through the mail. Most people read their favorite magazines online. A banner or tower ad on a website is likely to get more attention than the coaster that people set down on their coffee table.As for "mainstream". Heh.. If you're talking about something like Time or Rolling Stone or Maxim.. its never going to happen. All our subscriptions combined for 3 years could not cover the cost of advertising in these magazines. And, its only going to appeal to a very small portion of the reader base. Maxwell House Coffee for example stopped their ad in FHM magazine recently after the magazine ran a poll of its readers which indicated that 50% of them drank Starbucks or another gourmet coffee in the morning.Finally, while I believe that software sales are quickly going in the direction of digital downloads and its really not an issue; I think a better shelf presence would improve new player sales. Right now, I can't find a copy of RoK in a Best Buy or Circuit City to save my life. Just EQ Classic in the bargain bin. In Canada it was worse.. we got our copies of EoF off Ebay cause it was quicker than waiting for Game Stop to stock it.

[dawy]

Shopspace..thats whats needed..in my local game store WOW is everywhere and i mean everywhere but when i asked for RoK when it came out i got a blank look from the assistant and was asked is it for the 360...

[Spyderbite]

<cite>dawy wrote:</cite><blockquote>Shopspace..thats whats needed..in my local game store WOW is everywhere and i mean everywhere but when i asked for RoK when it came out i got a blank look from the assistant and was asked is it for the 360...</blockquote>I've stepped in to a video game shop maybe twice in the past 5 years. Its easier to pre-order online and let it be dropped off at my door.WoW is every where because it never needs to be restocked. Even Blizzard has admitted to over saturating the retail stores and that majority of its sales come from online orders. Yes.. a better shelf presence is nice. But, no need to over do it like WoW.

[Vilesummon]

With the upcoming games that are coming out, I have often wondered about SOE's strategy in dealing with them. Coming from the Venekor PVP server, the population has gotten pretty bad already. Reading the forums, you expect a moderate number of players to leave to the new games on both the PVP servers. Look at the number of players that now have their signatures tied to AoC, or have links to the guilds that already exist in the game that isn't even out. My thoughts are that SOE should be smart and address the issue BEFORE the new games come out. I know that a lot of players in my guild and on my server are not thrilled with the current population issue but flat out REFUSE to pay SOE to move our characters. It would act in such a way that it would destroy guilds if not everyone can move or create a situation where some players would have to pay $450 if they moved all their tradeskillers. Since the game is older and is occupied by long-time customers, SOE should offer up some free transfers to try to reinvigorate the interest in the game. Using the two PVP servers as an example, you would have some players from the low population server (Vene) move to the high population server (Naggy), the exodus of players to the new games....*poof* a fairly balanced and stable situation with population.Clearly, it would seem that pre-planning isn't one of SOE's strong points, and I don't know why they let situations deteriorate before they address them. I have said it time and time again, my family has 3 Eq2 accounts, 2 of which are being canceled (not even to go to AoC) because of population issues. Kinda boring to pvp on a server where you have about a two hour window of when people are around to pvp against. The third account isn't really a happy player at this point, but said he will wait to see if AoC lives up the hype. If it comes close, he is gone too for the same reasons...little to no pvp.

[ashen1973]

<p>Having tried both of the 'new kids' and being pretty disappointed with both, I have to say I cant see EQ2 losing many PVE players at all. Not so sure about PvP players, as PvP has never been my thing and both WAR and AoC seem very heavily PvP orientated.</p><p>I think, and im sorry to those who enjoy PvP in EQ2, that Sony should continue adding to the PVE experience, just as they have been, but let the old PvP dog die. The game was never designed with pvp in mind from the outset, and trying to tag it onto the back of the game was always doomed to failure (my opinion only).</p><p>Being a PvE based game, EQ2 doesnt attract players of the console-generation mindset, so is never going to reach the subscription numbers of WoW (and I dont believe WAR or AoC will get close either). WoW's mass-marketing, ease of access, low machine spec requirements and ease of play will attract far more players than a game with more depth that takes a while to get into/learn.</p><p>As long as SOE keep adding new content then EQ2 will keep a stable player base for sometime to come. If another, PVE based, game hits teh market, then this may change. Sure, theres plenty of posts on various forums from people who 'cant wait for WAR release' or are 'cancelling my subs as soon as AoC is launched'. But I remember the same types of posts a while back, prior to Vanguard release, and look what happened (or failed to happen) there.</p><p>The one thing SOE must do is improve the marketing of this game. As others have posted, its virtually impossible to find a retail copy on the shelves of any game store in the UK and the vast majority of PC game players have never even heard of EQ2. Im not talking about mass-marketing WoW style, just the occasional advert in PC games magazines and copies of the game displayed on shelves.</p>