I like to start off by saying that the new zones, zone graphics, game play, equipment and spells are fantastic. SoE’s EQ1 world is my fantasy life away from reality. I have enjoyed it tremendously. I am an avid player since August of 99’ but my concerns are the dwindling population. Mind you, I have only played the PvP servers, Rallos Zek and on transfer of servers, Zek. So my concerns may not be game wide but only server wide.
This last weekend, at prime time 6-9pm (PST) there were less than 100 merchants in bazaar, and less then 200 on general chat. Hopefully because players were grouped up with guilds on raids and were not logged on to general chat or have their 2nd box not in trader mode. I do not believe this was the case. During the same time NewPlayers channel had only 36 logged on. I believe a fair estimate that half of these logged on are from experience players or bazaar merchants and the other half, hopefully, new players.
Tell me how a person that only plays, heavy advertised, WoW or other morph games would know about EverQuest besides veteran player’s word of mouth? What got me on this topic was that my son, who played EverQuest before, moved to WoW, stopped because of grades, and now started up again. Would not consider playing EQ. Because everyone he knows (high school age) is playing WoW. WoW even has commercial on the History Channel, with popular Rock Band member, Actors and Sports Heroes advertising for them. I went to Best Buy, this weekend, and the only thing available on shelf was one EQ2 game box. No game cards or reference books to EQ1 anywhere. There was a nice floor display of the new WoW expansion, lot of books and maps and even a floor poster at entrance announcing the expansion.
What made EverQuest popular was the interaction of other players, grouping, begging for ports, begging for binds, joining guilds, the feel of belonging to something and on PvP server’s anxiety and sometimes hate. But was part of the gaming experience.
What ever made the EQ player leave, all games or move to WoW? SoE is directing nothing towards bring these and or new (never played a online game before) players to our game.
One of the big things I feel hurt the game was not having a tangible game box to be sold in stores, no strategy guides, not even a poster enticing some one to try the game out.
I have to admit that I was introduced by the game from word of mouth. The best form of advertising but not the only one. Not smart to put all your eggs in one basket with, specially in the ever changing , highly competitive computer world. At one time the EQ1 economy was in the top 10 economies in the world. Now it is not even mentioned in gaming magazines.
Back again, to marketing this fantastic game. What are SoE’s plans to bring in new players? Advertising the game to the younger player? Is their intent, to add great content, graphics and game play to patronize the loyal player until there is no more players logging on to game? They were number one. You don’t stay number one by letting number two get ahead of you. You stomp, crush, out play your opponent and keep them number 2. But I have to say right now EverQuest 1 is not in the top 5 anymore. Their population was by far 3 to 4 times that of any other game. No longer now.
Thanks for having this form and letting me vent. Please fellow players, try by word of mouth to bring in new players. We need them to keep this game alive. And yes, I have some ideas for marketing, and I have sent them into Sony. Ask anyone on Zek, I have no reservation to speak my mind.
Happy and Safe Holidays may God Speed.
Armourcarr, Zek Bazaar Trader
Vinney DeWanderer, Zek Human Ranger
Edited, Dec 8th 2008 4:27pm by Vinney