Cheapest Way to Get a New Player to Play?

Demitri · 08-24-2007, 07:24 PM

Is it just me or are the offerings for EQII absolutely pathetic for enticing new players? I have a buddy of mine that is wanting to play, I was showing him the Nursery + Kelethin and he's definitely intrigued. Except now we're looking at $20 for EQII, $30 for Dof, $30 for Kos, $40 for EoF?Where are the conglomerate packaged editions? Is he seriously looking at $120 just to get up to speed? Trial of the Isle (restricted leveling, environment, only 7-days, no tells/chat) is an utter joke.Is there somewhere online I can buy, at least EQII+DoF+KoS for a reasonable amount?I mean I got lured back as an original subscriber and that came with 3 months free plus all the expansions + adventure packs for FREE. Now I can't get a buddy hooked up for even somewhat reasonable pricing?

Norrsken · 08-24-2007, 07:25 PM

Demitri wrote:

Is it just me or are the offerings for EQII absolutely pathetic for enticing new players? I have a buddy of mine that is wanting to play, I was showing him the Nursery + Kelethin and he's definitely intrigued. Except now we're looking at $20 for EQII, $30 for Dof, $30 for Kos, $40 for EoF?Where are the conglomerate packaged editions? Is he seriously looking at $120 just to get up to speed? Trial of the Isle (restricted leveling, environment, only 7-days, no tells/chat) is an utter joke.Is there somewhere online I can buy, at least EQII+DoF+KoS for a reasonable amount?I mean I got lured back as an original subscriber and that came with 3 months free plus all the expansions + adventure packs for FREE. Now I can't get a buddy hooked up for even somewhat reasonable pricing?

EoF comes bundled with everything so you only need to get the boxed version of EoF. Easy nuff. SMILEY

Demitri · 08-24-2007, 07:26 PM

Oh does it? And it includes access to all those areas?The station store specifically says for EoF "Requires original version of Everquest II"

Webin · 08-24-2007, 07:29 PM

I can't speak specifically to the download version, but I can say with 100% confidence that the retail boxed version of EoF includes the original content, plus DOF, KOS, and EOF. I think the box says as much. I would assume that for the same price, the downloadable version does as well.

Norrsken · 08-24-2007, 07:29 PM

Demitri wrote:

Oh does it? And it includes access to all those areas?The station store specifically says for EoF "Requires original version of Everquest II"

Notice "boxed"... However, d2drive has the boxed downloadable. SMILEY<img mce_tsrc=

Lemme dig the link up for ya.And no, sonys online store EoF doesnt come with the previous stuff. Silly enough.Edit:Got it.http://www.direct2drive.com/6/4362/...lation-Download

Demitri · 08-24-2007, 07:35 PM

Nice! Thanks!That said, Sony really needs to advertise better for new players to let them know that it's indeed pretty cheap to get up and running in EQ2 without spending a lot of money.

Spyderbite · 08-25-2007, 02:35 AM

When EoF came out.. I purchased 10 copies. I gave two of them to my best friends as Christmas gifts. The rest I kept near by for friends from other games when they expressed interest in EQII. I have 2 unused copies left. Unfortunately, I left them in Canada when I moved back to the states. So, me and the gf are heading over to Best Buy this weekend to get another EoF so she can install it on her computer and get her own station account. SMILEY

Magazines and commercials are ok forms of advertising, but for gamers, the number one source of advertising is the current player base. Print magazines are almost extinct these days. And, most gamers are online.. well.. playing online games. Not watching re-runs of Scrubs when an EQII commercial comes on. SMILEY

Word of mouth is still the #1 form of advertising for MMORPG's. And, since you now know the secret of EoF (all expansions included) you can spread the word too! XD

Femke · 08-25-2007, 02:52 AM

I bought for my daughter some time ago a EoF-key, including all expansions at Online CD Key (http://www.onlinecdkey.com/index/). Within in two hours I had the key in my mail. Because Everquest II was already installed, we didn't need the software.Maybe this is an idea in combination with the download people mentioned a good idea?Femke.

lstead · 08-25-2007, 10:22 AM

The direct2drive is the best way to get the complete game. But I would just say I agree with the original poster. The Sony store really needs to make the game more easily available and get rid of the very confusing situation with the EOF download.

Grimwell · 08-25-2007, 05:43 PM

Just to chime in and put this on the dev tracker - EoF is definitely the best way to go. You get the base game and all three expansions in that one price. At a store or Direct2Drive would be the preferred methods right now. SMILEY

Spyderbite is now my favorite person of the day! ;P Word of mouth is indeed the best way to spread the goodness that is EQII. Who are your friends going to believe more? An advertisement in a magazine, a commercial on TV - or their buddy whom they can watch play the game (and possibly try it for a few minutes)? Friends > advertising. Of course, being a community guy, I'm very biased.

melaine_dvarvensplitter · 08-25-2007, 07:19 PM

Grimwell wrote:

Just to chime in and put this on the dev tracker - EoF is definitely the best way to go. You get the base game and all three expansions in that one price. At a store or Direct2Drive would be the preferred methods right now. " />Spyderbite is now my favorite person of the day! ;P Word of mouth is indeed the best way to spread the goodness that is EQII. Who are your friends going to believe more? An advertisement in a magazine, a commercial on TV - or their buddy whom they can watch play the game (and possibly try it for a few minutes)? Friends > advertising. Of course, being a community guy, I'm very biased.

I spread by word of mouth as well and also would like to see abit more public advertising SMILEY

Or maybe SoE slapping up Walmart, Target, Ebay games to name a few to carry it on the shelves as its very near impossible to find it in my area.

ArivenGemini · 08-26-2007, 12:34 AM

Grimwell wrote:

Jor their buddy whom they can watch play the game (and possibly try it for a few minutes)? Friends > advertising.

Not to be difficult, but I do recall a portion of the EULA that expressly forbids letting other people use your account.. even to the point where if you have an account for a minor, you cant use it also.."You may not transfer or share your Account with anyone, except that if you are a parent or guardian, you may permit one child to use the Account instead of you (in which case you may not use that Account)."Personally, I would like to be able to let my friends try it out, play a character.. or let my kids have an alt on one of my accounts.... could we get this EULA section clarified with an official response as to what we really can and can not do?Thanks.

Lithran · 08-26-2007, 12:59 AM

Share does not mean try while your there.

tass · 08-26-2007, 02:59 PM

a word of advice dont even bother to ever ask a store person weather its station pass or a reg eb games store. People hired for jobs now a days are about as qualified as a vegetable on life support in any type of knowledge.Always go straight to the source of the product. Since he's just starting he can just buy the eof expansion since kunark is only lv 1-20 and you level past that so fast theirs really no point in waiting for it to buy to start off. Just 1-20 then the 80's content.

ke'la · 08-26-2007, 03:20 PM

Demitri wrote:

Oh does it? And it includes access to all those areas?The station store specifically says for EoF "Requires original version of Everquest II"

Wow, someone accually read the station store warning, yes indead if you buy it from the sony station store you only get EoF, you have to buy all else seperate. However, If you buy it in the Retail Boxed version, or from Direct to Drive, you get all expaintions upto and including EoF, one think you MAY want to think about though is that Mid-November Rise of Kunark will be released and it will cost $40.00 and it will also include every retail expaintion to date, so if your friend can hold off going to the expaintion zones until mid-Nov, the absolute cheapest way is to get EQ2:Classic(you can usually find this at retail for between $10 and $20) then get RoK retail when its released.

Yngwiem · 08-26-2007, 05:57 PM

OK... a bit off topic....

I was at Best Buy last night, and I found an Everquest 1 box set.... this is EQ1 plus all 13 expansions for..... $20!!!!

08-24-2007, 07:25 PM	#2
Norrsken Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6,450	Demitri wrote: Is it just me or are the offerings for EQII absolutely pathetic for enticing new players? I have a buddy of mine that is wanting to play, I was showing him the Nursery + Kelethin and he's definitely intrigued. Except now we're looking at $20 for EQII, $30 for Dof, $30 for Kos, $40 for EoF?Where are the conglomerate packaged editions? Is he seriously looking at $120 just to get up to speed? Trial of the Isle (restricted leveling, environment, only 7-days, no tells/chat) is an utter joke.Is there somewhere online I can buy, at least EQII+DoF+KoS for a reasonable amount?I mean I got lured back as an original subscriber and that came with 3 months free plus all the expansions + adventure packs for FREE. Now I can't get a buddy hooked up for even somewhat reasonable pricing? EoF comes bundled with everything so you only need to get the boxed version of EoF. Easy nuff. __________________

08-24-2007, 07:29 PM	#4
Webin Server: Befallen Guild: Legion of Legend Rank: Legion Member Loremaster Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 414	I can't speak specifically to the download version, but I can say with 100% confidence that the retail boxed version of EoF includes the original content, plus DOF, KOS, and EOF. I think the box says as much. I would assume that for the same price, the downloadable version does as well. __________________ â•”â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â• â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â •â•â•â•â•— â•‘ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ* â•‘ÂÂÂÂÂÂoÂÂ\ÂÂÂÂâ†’ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ* ÂÂ ÂWebinÂKaltaniÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ â•‘ÂÂÂÂÂ-+--Â¦ÂÂÂÂÂÂâ†’ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ ASCIIÂRangerÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ* â•‘ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ\|ÂÂ/ÂÂÂÂÂâ†’ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ< Legion of Legend >ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ â•‘ÂÂÂÂÂÂ/Â\ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ OasisÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ â•‘ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ* â•šâ•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â• â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â•â •â•â•â•â•

08-24-2007, 07:29 PM	#5
Norrsken Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6,450	Demitri wrote: Oh does it? And it includes access to all those areas?The station store specifically says for EoF "Requires original version of Everquest II" Notice "boxed"... However, d2drive has the boxed downloadable. Lemme dig the link up for ya.And no, sonys online store EoF doesnt come with the previous stuff. Silly enough.Edit:Got it.http://www.direct2drive.com/6/4362/...lation-Download __________________

08-25-2007, 02:35 AM	#7
Spyderbite Server: Venekor Guild: Dark Vengeance Rank: Member Loremaster Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 4,262	When EoF came out.. I purchased 10 copies. I gave two of them to my best friends as Christmas gifts. The rest I kept near by for friends from other games when they expressed interest in EQII. I have 2 unused copies left. Unfortunately, I left them in Canada when I moved back to the states. So, me and the gf are heading over to Best Buy this weekend to get another EoF so she can install it on her computer and get her own station account. Magazines and commercials are ok forms of advertising, but for gamers, the number one source of advertising is the current player base. Print magazines are almost extinct these days. And, most gamers are online.. well.. playing online games. Not watching re-runs of Scrubs when an EQII commercial comes on. Word of mouth is still the #1 form of advertising for MMORPG's. And, since you now know the secret of EoF (all expansions included) you can spread the word too! XD

08-25-2007, 10:22 AM	#9
lstead Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 183	The direct2drive is the best way to get the complete game. But I would just say I agree with the original poster. The Sony store really needs to make the game more easily available and get rid of the very confusing situation with the EOF download. __________________ Kathy, Gnome Mystic Antonia Bayle

08-24-2007, 07:24 PM	#1
Demitri Loremaster Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 95	Is it just me or are the offerings for EQII absolutely pathetic for enticing new players? I have a buddy of mine that is wanting to play, I was showing him the Nursery + Kelethin and he's definitely intrigued. Except now we're looking at $20 for EQII, $30 for Dof, $30 for Kos, $40 for EoF?Where are the conglomerate packaged editions? Is he seriously looking at $120 just to get up to speed? Trial of the Isle (restricted leveling, environment, only 7-days, no tells/chat) is an utter joke.Is there somewhere online I can buy, at least EQII+DoF+KoS for a reasonable amount?I mean I got lured back as an original subscriber and that came with 3 months free plus all the expansions + adventure packs for FREE. Now I can't get a buddy hooked up for even somewhat reasonable pricing?

08-24-2007, 07:26 PM	#3
Demitri Loremaster Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 95	Oh does it? And it includes access to all those areas?The station store specifically says for EoF "Requires original version of Everquest II"

08-24-2007, 07:35 PM	#6
Demitri Loremaster Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 95	Nice! Thanks!That said, Sony really needs to advertise better for new players to let them know that it's indeed pretty cheap to get up and running in EQ2 without spending a lot of money.

08-25-2007, 02:52 AM	#8
Femke Loremaster Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 480	I bought for my daughter some time ago a EoF-key, including all expansions at Online CD Key (http://www.onlinecdkey.com/index/). Within in two hours I had the key in my mail. Because Everquest II was already installed, we didn't need the software.Maybe this is an idea in combination with the download people mentioned a good idea?Femke.

08-25-2007, 05:43 PM	#10
Grimwell Community Relations Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,062	Just to chime in and put this on the dev tracker - EoF is definitely the best way to go. You get the base game and all three expansions in that one price. At a store or Direct2Drive would be the preferred methods right now. Spyderbite is now my favorite person of the day! ;P Word of mouth is indeed the best way to spread the goodness that is EQII. Who are your friends going to believe more? An advertisement in a magazine, a commercial on TV - or their buddy whom they can watch play the game (and possibly try it for a few minutes)? Friends > advertising. Of course, being a community guy, I'm very biased.

08-25-2007, 07:19 PM	#11
melaine_dvarvensplitter Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 671	Grimwell wrote: Just to chime in and put this on the dev tracker - EoF is definitely the best way to go. You get the base game and all three expansions in that one price. At a store or Direct2Drive would be the preferred methods right now. " />Spyderbite is now my favorite person of the day! ;P Word of mouth is indeed the best way to spread the goodness that is EQII. Who are your friends going to believe more? An advertisement in a magazine, a commercial on TV - or their buddy whom they can watch play the game (and possibly try it for a few minutes)? Friends > advertising. Of course, being a community guy, I'm very biased. I spread by word of mouth as well and also would like to see abit more public advertising Or maybe SoE slapping up Walmart, Target, Ebay games to name a few to carry it on the shelves as its very near impossible to find it in my area.

08-26-2007, 12:34 AM	#12
ArivenGemini Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,260	Grimwell wrote: Jor their buddy whom they can watch play the game (and possibly try it for a few minutes)? Friends > advertising. Not to be difficult, but I do recall a portion of the EULA that expressly forbids letting other people use your account.. even to the point where if you have an account for a minor, you cant use it also.."You may not transfer or share your Account with anyone, except that if you are a parent or guardian, you may permit one child to use the Account instead of you (in which case you may not use that Account)."Personally, I would like to be able to let my friends try it out, play a character.. or let my kids have an alt on one of my accounts.... could we get this EULA section clarified with an official response as to what we really can and can not do?Thanks. __________________

08-26-2007, 12:59 AM	#13
Lithran Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 268	Share does not mean try while your there.

08-26-2007, 02:59 PM	#14
tass Loremaster Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,097	a word of advice dont even bother to ever ask a store person weather its station pass or a reg eb games store. People hired for jobs now a days are about as qualified as a vegetable on life support in any type of knowledge.Always go straight to the source of the product. Since he's just starting he can just buy the eof expansion since kunark is only lv 1-20 and you level past that so fast theirs really no point in waiting for it to buy to start off. Just 1-20 then the 80's content.

08-26-2007, 03:20 PM	#15
ke'la Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,445	Demitri wrote: Oh does it? And it includes access to all those areas?The station store specifically says for EoF "Requires original version of Everquest II" Wow, someone accually read the station store warning, yes indead if you buy it from the sony station store you only get EoF, you have to buy all else seperate. However, If you buy it in the Retail Boxed version, or from Direct to Drive, you get all expaintions upto and including EoF, one think you MAY want to think about though is that Mid-November Rise of Kunark will be released and it will cost $40.00 and it will also include every retail expaintion to date, so if your friend can hold off going to the expaintion zones until mid-Nov, the absolute cheapest way is to get EQ2:Classic(you can usually find this at retail for between $10 and $20) then get RoK retail when its released. __________________

08-26-2007, 05:57 PM	#16
Yngwiem Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 184	OK... a bit off topic.... I was at Best Buy last night, and I found an Everquest 1 box set.... this is EQ1 plus all 13 expansions for..... $20!!!!