EQ2 in a nutshell

Back in January, I first starting hearing things about a major update coming to Everquest 2. Upon reading some details, I became intrigued. Ultimately, I purchased a discounted box at GameSpot, and re-upped my old account, specifically to play on the Test Server to see what all the hub bub was about. That was when they first posted Publish 19a to the server.

Two months later, I decided to move on. I personally needed something different, but I largely felt EQ2 was vastly improved because of Publish 19.

Here’s why.

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EQ2: Instancing critique

As much as I think EQ2 has vastly improved since beta, the one thing I still find troublesome is how they handle instancing. My criticism of it is based on my experiences in WoW and CoH, inevitable comparison.

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EQ2: On Census and Merges

The phenomena that is World of Warcraft has resulted in a very broad array of people looking at the game, and at the genre. One of the more interesting groups is the folks at PARC who, for awhile now, have been gathering and reporting all sorts of interesting data at their PlayOn blog.

WoW is one of the most culturally relevant MMORPGs out there right now due mostly to its appeal both globally and in individual markets. As such, the support data collection and reporting gets is more broad, and more covered.

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EQ2 and WoW: Race and Class

As a followup to EQ2: On Census and Merges, I reviewed the available data in ways similar to how WarcraftRealms reports theirs: breakdowns by Class and Races (among other things).

I'm seeing some interesting parallels.

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Changed Rules

I know SOE draws a lot of ire from the MMORPG community. Some of it is certainly deserved based on their past actions, even if it is misdirected, like blaming someone on the EQ2 team for changes to SWG. But the sheer scope of changes they have been making seem to imply a renewed vigor within their various development groups. Individually and collectively, these changes resulted in me taking a new look at the games I thought I'd never play again.

Basically, I underestimated their willingness and ability to change.

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EQ2 Live Update 19 Thoughts

For weeks, I have been eagerly anticipating Live Update 19 for Everquest2. The level of changes in this free patch are significant, and from what I've experienced on the Test Server since the middle of January, all of the changes are for the better.

Last night, the patch went live.

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EQ2 Server Combines

This isn't your typical "End of All Things" type comment about server combines in a game. Rather, it's a different sort of look at the recent announcement by Scott "Gallenite" Hartsman, Senior Producer for Everquest 2, about the combination of lower population game servers.

Basically, I take what the letter states at face value. This is, for me, a first.

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Threading the (Space) Needle

Travelling for a few days here, but MMOG devs never sleep. No real article today, but I invite anyone interested to read the EQ2 PvP rules overview. Interesting stuff.

I'm not really sure how many people are going to play PvP in a game called "Everquest", particularly if they continue with the idea of having XP debt on a PvP loss. If I had to bet, I'd say that's the first idea they'd drop. Fights are quick, and death too unpredictable to add sting to defeat.

EQ2: And the difference a year makes

The last time I played EQ2 was in beta. By the end, I was more interested in building maps than playtesting. At the time, I felt WoW was my calling. It turned out to be that way for a solid thirteen months, the longest period of time I've ever held an account in this genre (though my EQ1 and SWG histories each have more cumulative time in). It was the right decision at the time, and I certainly got my money's worth.

But a lot can change in a year.

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