Everquest is Dying...

[Odo-san]

I don't know why nor do I know how long but Everquest 2 is dying a slow death.

So many people play and just look for the quick fix to their boredom.. level this AA that... Nothing of Lore is ever spoken in my guild... (soulstrike-Splitpaw).

It is just how can I move up faster, get the raid gear needed and just speed-through everything.

I do lore.. I read and follow the stories of mobs I fight.  I do it because I want to learn and feel everquest... now I did play everquest since 1997 with a slow 1440 baud modem ...

Enjoy the game...

[p3t3rl1]

cool story bro.

won't miss you. 

[Vellisse]

Odowood@Oasis wrote:

It is just how can I move up faster, get the raid gear needed and just speed-through everything.

Hey, you just defined MMORPG, clearly your not cut out for it.

[LardLord]

I'm sure the game is doing fine financially or they wouldn't have just purchased a bunch of hardware. 

Finances aside, the game feels pretty lame lately, primarily because of itemization issues.  If they can sort those issues out, I think the game will be about as fun as ever for me.

[Zaldor]

Played Everquest since 1997?  Impressive.  Were you in early Alpha or something?

[Knives]

Velo@Antonia Bayle wrote:

Odowood@Oasis wrote:

It is just how can I move up faster, get the raid gear needed and just speed-through everything.

Hey, you just defined MMORPG, clearly your not cut out for it.

Technically, the definition of MMORPG would be more similar to the part of the opening post you didn't quote - the part about lore and role-playing (hence the RPG in MMORPG).

Usually I try not to post in threads like these for one of two reasons: the opening poster is trying to troll (not necessarily the case here, but sometimes is) and the posters who flock to these threads just throw out claims (without backing them up) that the game is flourishing. Understand, I'm NOT saying EverQuest II is dying (it isn't!) but I understand where the poster is coming from - in my opinion, it's part of the life cycle of the MMORPG.In my experience (haven't played MMOs from the very beginning, but I did start in 2002 and have played most since then), many more players concentrate on the lore aspect of an MMO when its young. In EverQuest, EverQuest II, World of Warcraft (can even be seen in Rift, which is in its early stages now) I personally saw many players discussing the lore of the game, doing quests for knowledge, and role-playing in public during the first 2 or 3 years of the game. Now, the lore channel is often quiet, the role-players are hidden (though not entirely gone), and people look at me like I'm crazy when I start talking about anything to do with the game's story. Hell, I had people on the forums here telling me EverQuest II DOESN'T have a story.

The way I see it, when a game starts to age and the population gets top-heavy, players begin to lose interest in the lore and are more concerned with getting to the end-game. The old content (which provides much of the foundation of EverQuest II's lore) is simply an obstacle in the player's path to end-game. It's disappointing, I agree, but it doesn't mean the game is dying.

[The_Cheeseman]

Lore in EQ2 has never really been of major interest to the greater population. There has always been a small but active lore community, and there still is. The main reason you don't hear much about lore right now is that there isn't much happening right now. DoV is trying to finish-up one of the longest-running stories in EQ2, the Age's End prophecy, and to that end, most of the lore that has come out recently has been fairly straightforward. There are still mysteries out here, like Mayong's origins and his interest in the prophecy itself, but nothing new has been revealed on that front for a long time, so there isn't much to talk about.

You are confusing a lack of new content with a lack of interest in that content. There are plenty of folks out there who care about the story of the game, we're just all waiting for the story to go somewhere.

[Arro]

Velo@Antonia Bayle wrote:

Odowood@Oasis wrote:

It is just how can I move up faster, get the raid gear needed and just speed-through everything.

Hey, you just defined MMORPG, clearly your not cut out for it.

That's your definition of MMORPG, maybe even most people's definition, but it isn't the only definition. Maybe the OP is being a little emo about it, but I have been where he is in the past. Some of us like to play in the sandbox and try to live in the world to some degree. That's the RP part of MMORPG and without it you might as well be playing a really fancied-up version of competetive Tetris. For us it's not about "winning" or "being the best" or even about being better than someone else. Doesn't mean one way is right and the other is wrong or anything. There is room in the game for both playstyles.

IMO, Odowood you just joined the wrong guild. I've been where you are in the past as well. If you hang out in game with a bunch of people who only like the parts oif the game you don't care as much about and don't care much for the parts you do, you get hammered over the head with it all day long and end up feeling like you are alone and playing the wrong game. Find an RP guild somewhere. If not on your server then another server. Surround yourself with like-minded people and you will feel much better about the game and enjoy it more.

[Vellisse]

Arro wrote:

Velo@Antonia Bayle wrote:

Odowood@Oasis wrote:

It is just how can I move up faster, get the raid gear needed and just speed-through everything.

Hey, you just defined MMORPG, clearly your not cut out for it.

That's your definition of MMORPG, maybe even most people's definition, but it isn't the only definition. Maybe the OP is being a little emo about it, but I have been where he is in the past. Some of us like to play in the sandbox and try to live in the world to some degree. That's the RP part of MMORPG and without it you might as well be playing a really fancied-up version of competetive Tetris. For us it's not about "winning" or "being the best" or even about being better than someone else. Doesn't mean one way is right and the other is wrong or anything. There is room in the game for both playstyles.

IMO, Odowood you just joined the wrong guild. I've been where you are in the past as well. If you hang out in game with a bunch of people who only like the parts oif the game you don't care as much about and don't care much for the parts you do, you get hammered over the head with it all day long and end up feeling like you are alone and playing the wrong game. Find an RP guild somewhere. If not on your server then another server. Surround yourself with like-minded people and you will feel much better about the game and enjoy it more.

The RP crowd is only about a handful of the entire games population.

[Trensharo]

The game is dying.  I dunno why people have to try to tip toe around something that is obviously staring them in the face.  The game itself is fine.  Dying has more to do with the population.  More people are leaving this game than coming in.  That means the game is only continuing to lose value and incentive to play it - not gaining it.  Even after server mergers some servers are way too light for a decent MMORPG experience.

It doesn't even get a decent population boost when Expansions are released.  SOE sometimes have events like Living Legacy and reactivates old accounts, but that's about it for factorable population bumps go...  Most people these days use Recruit A Friend accounts to PL alts, even.

It's easy to troll other people for saying this.  Go out and try to get some people to switch from other games.  Most people simply don't see value in playing EQ2 compared to something like RIFT and WoW.

EDIT:  Also, another thing that hurts is just how easily accessible HM raid content is.  It's so easy to get there, that too many people who [even] casually raid get to the point where there's hardly a reason to log in outside of raids, exacerbating the issue.

The Account-level XP bonuses griefs new players because it makes them unable to keep up even with Vetaran players' alts when leveling up unless they're constantly being mentored or powerleveled (which is exhausting and boring).

[Arro]

Velo@Antonia Bayle wrote:

The RP crowd is only about a handful of the entire games population.

Well I haven't seen any figures on that so I can't address that claim, but I've run across quite a few of them in the short time I've been playing and I bet he can do the same

[p3t3rl1]

Yes, EQ2 must be dead if we see 300+ people in EW..

[Neiloch]

lol at the idea that since people don't care about lore the game is 'dying.' If you mean in the strictest sense of simply aging not many are going to identify with that definition. But when people think 'dying' they think 'imminent death' not that metaphorical BS of 'we are all dying, it's a just a matter of time.' Here's some other points with proof. Companies tend not to invest new hardware and development in products that are going to be unprofitable soon. RP crowd is a minority. Just look at the ratio of RP servers vs standard. Look at the topics on this very forum, how many are RP related compared to ones that aren't? If the hard raid content is so easy why isn't most raid guilds cleared through it all? they aren't, so it isn't. Unless they are 'choosing' not to clear it even though they can, which would be odd to say the least. I do agree on the time frame for lore though. When a world is just being established, it's like a whole new book. Expansions usually only provide enough lore to constitute a new 'chapter.' and it usually adds it at then 'end' where its not easily accessible by all.

[LardLord]

Trenshero@Antonia Bayle wrote:

EDIT:  Also, another thing that hurts is just how easily accessible HM raid content is.  It's so easy to get there, that too many people who [even] casually raid get to the point where there's hardly a reason to log in outside of raids, exacerbating the issue.

No guild in the game, even the Russians raiding 30+ hours a week, is to the point where there's literally no reason to log on.  Granted, the itemization is boring, so the gear grind feels especially pointless, but no guild is anywhere close to being finished with the raid content.

[Arro]

Neiloch@Butcherblock wrote:

RP crowd is a minority. Just look at the ratio of RP servers vs standard. Look at the topics on this very forum, how many are RP related compared to ones that aren't?

If this is a response to my post then we are in complete agreement. I never said RPers were the majority or even present in equal numbers. I never said anything other than that they are present. There are 2 good RP guilds advertising in the "Guild Recruitment" section of the EQ2X board and a couple on this board as well. One from AB just posted yesterday there.

[Filly67]

Wait!!!! Can I have your stuff?  I never get to ask and I love this game so I will make wonderful use of it.

[Cocytus]

I don't disagree that it's dying. DOV was the big wound. I was on the verge of quitting. But Fanfaire announced they're gonna save us from this ridiculous system of stats and itemization, so my faith was renewed. Now if they make it worse...I'll be talking with my money next time :p

[Novusod]

This thread should be renamed the Lore of eq2 is dying.

The game doesn't seem all that story driven anymore.

Main story arc: Luclin was distroyed resulting in the shatting of old Norath. This event was connected to the disapperance of Odus as it was sucked into the void. The void is main antagonist of entire game. The dragons and giants are just a side story but because they have all the loot right now that is what the players focus on.

[Trensharo]

Quabi@Antonia Bayle wrote:

Trenshero@Antonia Bayle wrote:

EDIT:  Also, another thing that hurts is just how easily accessible HM raid content is.  It's so easy to get there, that too many people who [even] casually raid get to the point where there's hardly a reason to log in outside of raids, exacerbating the issue.

No guild in the game, even the Russians raiding 30+ hours a week, is to the point where there's literally no reason to log on.  Granted, the itemization is boring, so the gear grind feels especially pointless, but no guild is anywhere close to being finished with the raid content.

Here, I added some emphasis for you, since you have trouble reading, it seems.

Paying $15 a month to log in 9 hours a week to raid is a bad value.  An MMORPG should offer more than that.

Other games do, that's why they have 2-5-10x the player population this one has, nevermind the other issues.

Hardcore players always stick with their game.  They tend to invest the most time and energy, thus stand to lose the most if they quit or migrate to another game.

Every game is like that.  That is how it always happens

[Wurm]

Got tons of people playing everyday on Crushbone...

[msgnomer]

Odowood@Oasis wrote:

I don't know why nor do I know how long but Everquest 2 is dying a slow death.

So many people play and just look for the quick fix to their boredom.. level this AA that... Nothing of Lore is ever spoken in my guild... (soulstrike-Splitpaw).

It is just how can I move up faster, get the raid gear needed and just speed-through everything.

I do lore.. I read and follow the stories of mobs I fight.  I do it because I want to learn and feel everquest... now I did play everquest since 1997 with a slow 1440 baud modem ...

Enjoy the game...

I'm not quite sure of the point of your post, but one thing struck me as curious.  You say it's dying because players want to know how they can move up faster, and speed-through every thing.  While I don't personally like it, this appears to be more of a design goal rather than evidence of the game dying.  "Streamlined" early questlines, numerous speed-up leveling potions and double xp periods, and to me the shocker of all that I discovered when I played around with a new character - you actually get a knight title if you level your characer past twenty in a set period of time.

I think your sentiment is more accurately about the death of the old in-depth MMORPG.  Rather than signal the game's death, what you describe is an attempt to revitalize the game.  It's not my sort of direction, but it appears to be by design.

[Rorasis]

Velo@Antonia Bayle wrote:

Odowood@Oasis wrote:

It is just how can I move up faster, get the raid gear needed and just speed-through everything.

Hey, you just defined MMORPG, clearly your not cut out for it.

Described some of them, maybe, but there are plenty others out there.

[Neiloch]

Rebaleo@Antonia Bayle wrote:

Agree with the second poster.  300 people for a serverwide event on the most popular EQ2 server?  Pfaw.  Even the deadest WoW servers probably have 300+ people in orgrimmar or stormwind at nearly every time of day.

and how many of those are farmers, boxed, AFK, not at the level cap, etc. Try a combat zone and not a [Removed for Content] safe town hub on one of the biggest MMO's in the world. This has to be one of the worst comparisons I have seen on here. "Hey lets compare a city hub on this huge MMO to a combat zone with an event that has level restrictions" Think the only things those two scenarios have in common is that they are online.

[StormQueen]

HAHAHAHAHA same EXACT thing that I have read on these boards since sometime in May 2005. 

Try being a bit more creative, folks, with those declarations and comparisons.

And yes, if the shirts had thought that advertising this game would have gotten them player numbers, they would have.  But.....what do the unwashed masses know?  Only what they're told.  Thus bud beer and wow mmo.  Not Leinie fine crafted ale and EQ2 mmo.  Word of mouth only goes so far especially in the face of the mistakes and just plain bullheaded decisions that the corporate talking heads have made over the years.  Will they learn that this frantic maintenance/bone throwing on this game is less effective than doing it right/competently the first time? Who knows?

[Zaldor]

EQ2 is definitely in the "cash cow" stage of a product's life cycle.  There is nothing wrong with that and anyone who has taken a few finance/marketing/business classes knows this is the normal cycle of things.

[deadcrickets2]

Funny... I was told in another thread it's not dying and there are PLENTY of new players.

[Felshades]

What is it with you guys and all the doom and gloom?

WoW lost half a million subs, yet still had over 11 million, and even then "WoW is dying".

I swear to Hate every single freaking time one little thing doesn't go the way you want it to, "the game is dying".

Take your doom and gloom and apocalypse whining somewhere else. It's getting old.

[Senya]

Sakiri@Crushbone wrote:

Take your doom and gloom and apocalypse whining somewhere else. It's getting old.

/agree!

Been hearing about EQ dying since around '02 and every game I've played since then has been "dying" regardless of how well they were doing.

[bohohoboprobono]

The fact is, every MMO is dying.  Not a single one out there has positive population growth.  The MMO bubble has burst.

That said, it's incredibly important that when you decide to quit, you run to the forums and tell everyone ASAP.  And then come up with some typically BS reason why you're doing it.  Stop trying to justify your dissatisfaction and drag everyone else down with you.

Also, can I have your stuff?

[Morrias]

bohohoboprobono wrote:

The fact is, every MMO is dying.  Not a single one out there has positive population growth.  The MMO bubble has burst.

I wouldn't say MMOs are dying, I think the EverQuest style of MMOs are dying just because theres so many of them and they're all the same, I hope some company takes a chance soon and does something new. (I don't mean new like Rifts 'were attacking you while you quest har har' I mean new as in an entirely new take on what MMOs really are)