Rumors Swirl on EQ2

In the recent EQ newsletter, Sony put in a puzzle that led to two websites: www.nektulos.com and www.wailingcaves.com. (Congratulations to the gang at the safehouse for solving the riddle). Each site brings up an image and the Nektulos one mentions an announcement coming up in May. May is of course when E3 is held. This is the biggest gaming convention of the year, and game companies typically try to save their biggest announcements for the large group of press that comes to E3 each year. So what is Sony going to announce in May? It may be something like a single player game based upon Everquest, or the release of some new zones. However, do not be surprised if it is the launch of Everquest 2. I don't have any positive information on this and am really just speculating, but since they already announced the PS2 version of the game and the Planes of Power expansion, it seems logical that this is not related to either of them. Why make a teaser for something everyone already knows about? And they have never put this type of effort into announcing free content for the game. EQ2, however, would be a huge announcement. In addition, I have been told that the latest version of PC Gamer mentions EQ2 (I have not read it -- I'll try to track down a copy). Plus, Sony has had www.everquest2.com registered for quite a while. So the announcement Sony plans to make in May could well be that they are making EQ2. Or they could just be announcing another expansion or something related to the PS2 version of the game or even something completely unrelated to Everquest. We will be in Los Angeles for E3, so as soon as we find out more, we'll let you know. In the meantime, some of our visitors managed to piece together the murky pictures you see in the two sites.
  • Wailing Caves Full Image
  • Nektulos Full Image
  • Feel free to throw in your own thoughts about what this means. UPDATE (Again): Link already dead.

    Comments

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    Sounds OK
    # Apr 24 2002 at 1:42 PM Rating: Default
    I'm actually excited at the prospect of playing EQ2,despite my 58 Bard and the work i've put into him, it sounds great, EXCEPT that the Dumbasses think that making items decay will provide for a better economy?!?! i can see their point, but it's main use is gonna be to **** people off. No big deal putting lv requirements on things, that's fine, even though the person who worked for the item's choice of where and who it goes to. but these are just all my opinions, EQ2 has massive potential if only Sony will put a little common sense into before finalizing anything.

    i do agree that it would be nice for Sony to finish EQ first, but i'm pretty sure they will.
    the release i keep hearing for EQ2 isn't until October of 2003 anyways, so we all still have at least another year and a half before decisions must be made.

    I personally am just gonna sit back, play EQ and keep up to date on the developments of EQ2 and most likely complain about the bad stuff whenever possible ;)

    Timberleaf Bladesinger
    Troubadour of Tunare
    Brell Serilis
    #Anonymous, Posted: Apr 24 2002 at 1:31 PM, Rating: Sub-Default, (Expand Post) My time is valuable, and because of my EQ addiction I have forsaken just about everything else in my life. Pathetic right? But thats the way I like it. Even though I realize that EQ1 will not be shut down I am afraid many EQ1 players may join EQ2 instead and unbalance the EQ1 community. I have worked too hard to have my world come crashing down around me now. VI has screwed me over enough times. Constantly I experience major bugs which can set me back weeks in play time. When I petition a gm or send an e-mail to customer service the response is always the same. "Too bad, if you don't like it you can quit the game." Ha! They know I will never quit unless somehow my character is reverted back to level 1 with no equipment or anything. Even then I am not so sure. VI needs to get their act together and stop this accelerating path to nowhere. By that I mean EQ for playstation, EQ2 and of course the fact that the release dates of expansions seem to be getting closer and closer. Anyone notice how soon after SoL came out that PoP is arriving in stores? Well maybe they should fix what they have before they come out with new bugged stuff. They charge $30 and then have the gall to charge more by the month? If this keeps up ladies and gentlemen my dignity and my wallet just might overpower my addiction. DOWN WITH EQ2 AND DOWN WITH SHODDY PRODUCTS!
    It's a Computer GAME
    # Apr 24 2002 at 1:14 PM Rating: Excellent
    What I find amusing, is how so many people are Witching (with a capital B) and complaining about a new game. Blizzard is a very successfull company. They put out exactly -1- expansion for each product. We pay the money because it's enjoyable. We have been playing basically the -same- game for 3+ years for some of us, sure there are new zones and stuff and that is great. But it's not really new.

    New. Sure some of the ideas have been tried on other games, but look at it this way, 'Since when was an 'elf' new?' Not since Tolkien wrote lord of the rings. Not since legend really. It is Hard, very very -HARD- to do something completely original anymore.

    We shell out 50 bucks for Diablo 2, we shell out money for Throne of Baal, we'll shell out money for EQ 2. Why? Because it's -new- and I wish them luck with it. I knew it was only a matter of time till I had to upgrade my P3 700 maybe by next year I'll have a reason to.

    It's a changing world, a changing market, I wish them the best of it, and if they do it right, (Hell even if they do it wrong) I'll play the game simply because we like eye candy. That's why Kunark rocked, why Vellious rocked, etc etc. Eye candy. Relax, play some EQ or get with RL and realize it's not going to be here for at least a year and a half, minimum.

    Raksasha
    51 Tier'Dal Warrior
    Mithaniel Marr
    RE: It's a Computer GAME
    # Apr 24 2002 at 1:18 PM Rating: Default
    Nuff said!
    =)

    -Strifen
    #REDACTED, Posted: Apr 24 2002 at 1:11 PM, Rating: Sub-Default, (Expand Post) fix this game before you make a new one!!! *********
    RE: sigh
    # Apr 24 2002 at 1:15 PM Rating: Default
    Man, the reason why this is up is because we love EQ1. Obviously they have done something good to bring all of you guys together and stand for it. No game is perfect, especially when they are basically the first 3d MMOG on the market. Im sure its not all that easy just to fix everything in the game.. But EQ is great and they did a good job. But remember, Verant is a business like all others and to keep economy flowing they need new products. EQ2.

    -Strifen
    Quit worrying, people
    # Apr 24 2002 at 1:06 PM Rating: Decent
    EQ2 won't be out for a long time, I wouldn't be surprised at late 2003 or sometime in 04. And as has been said, EQ1 isn't being replaced. EQ2 is basically just a new, standalone game, just set in the same universe. Sure some people will migrate to it, just like whenever a new MMORPG comes out, but it probably won't pull too many people away from EQ1. At first, anyways. I suspect that as people play it, either it'll be good enough to attract most of the original players, or people will simply leave it alone if it sucks. And go back to playing EQ, or whatever other game may have replaced it by then.

    Personally, I like the look of it... whether it lives up to its potential or not is another matter.

    Oh, and my 2cp... There's no way you're gonna be able to take your old char into the new game.
    A) New game is in the future. Unless you're a dwarf or an elf, yer probly dead of old age...
    B) Completely different class/levelling/skill system. From the sounds of it, completely incompatable with EQ1
    C) Er... not got a c, but still.

    So, like the wiser among us have been saying, stay calm... EQ ain't going anywhere anytime soon.
    Re: Yuck
    # Apr 24 2002 at 1:04 PM Rating: Default

    Re: Prev message

    Dont' get my previous message wrong..I know the old EQ isnt going anyplace for now.


    Aloysous
    57 Enchanter
    Tunare
    yuck
    # Apr 24 2002 at 12:58 PM Rating: Default

    After reading the "Features" of the new EQ..I feel they are dumbing it down to
    a very great degree..It's becoming SIM-EQ..Im not thrilled with that..The inherant
    difficulty is what makes EQ, EQ. I agree with the others that stated they should just fix and develop EQ as it stands now. Trying to shorten up the game by making people
    level faster,based on a new mathmatical model, cheapens what the EQ people now
    have done and makes the time we've all spent to develop our EQ personas moot.
    I guess some marketing person(s) decided that THEY needed to move to the next best thing and basicly move the old EQ players with them, like it or not..This whole thing smacks of NEW COKE...

    Aloysous
    57 Enchanter
    Tunare
    Pitiful
    # Apr 24 2002 at 12:54 PM Rating: Default
    Listen,

    #1 Verant never said anything about getting rid of EQ1.. So for all you panic stricken people out there........ RELAX. They never even mentioned taking down EQ1. EQ2 would be another game for people to play if it came out. Sooooo.. If you dont like how it sounds, dont buy it. Its as simple as that.. Continue playing your EQ1, EQ2 is there for those who want something new and different. To me so far it sounds awesome. Why would you get a new game if its EXACTlY the same as the first one? It's called #2 for a reason. There must be changes.. And theres only so many you can do before reinventing old ones.

    #2 There may not even be an EQ2 yet... If so it wont be for awhile anyways. So my good people, RELAX...

    -Strifen
    Daoc
    # Apr 24 2002 at 12:53 PM Rating: Default
    this game is basicly Daoc with some other changes i have played eq for about a year and half now and playa little AO and some Daoc the one thing i hated was the armor thing. i have never been good at getting money in any game i perfer to lvl maybe cuz i am behind all my friends i can see they are trying to make twinking going away and all then give weapons and armor min lvls and dont make me spend money every little time well igot to go cya

    43 war
    22 ranger
    26 ench
    Well...
    # Apr 24 2002 at 12:48 PM Rating: Decent
    The items they are publishing on the upcoming game sound very ambitious. The problem is when you get too ambitious, there are certain things you just can't do. The people at Artifact Entertainment learned that the hard way with Horizons, and had to go back to almost square one redesigning the game, pushing back the beta and release dates by about a year.

    This seems to be SOE trying to start from scratch fixing many of the problems in the game, taking ideas from other games (DaoC, Horizons, AC, AO) and trying to make EQ. I see two problems here.

    Everquest has always been plagued with bugs, and a harsh customer service policy which could be fixed by keeping better logs on player files so they don't have to assume a player is trying to scam them, rather they have proof either way. Because of this, every time a new MMOG comes out, people say that (insert game here) is going to destroy Everquest. When the smoke clears 3 months after release, 90% of everyone who left comes back to EQ. Many people poured blood sweat and tears into this game, have come to like most of the features around it and have become comfortibile in it. No other game past or future will be able to "destroy Everquest".

    This is the problem. EQ2 will probably not survive as it will force players to abandon all their hard work to start over, and will be radically different in many ways from what we have come to love, despite the bugs, over the last 3 years.

    Now what happens if they take down the servers for EQ and only offer EQ2. Then SOE had better be damned sure that this is the smoothest launch of a game ever, because there are going to be people who, rather than start all over in Norrath again, decide to give those other games they still have CDs for lying in a drawer a second try.

    If the game has a poor launch or hasn't been tested enough for enjoyment with a wide variety of players, tehy could wind up killing what no other company has ever been able to do.

    If they don't take down the servers of the original EQ, EQ2 will probably have a fairly strong opening, and then flop down to the same levels that AO, AC or DaoC are at now. All of those are great games, but they are just to foreign compared to what we are used to.

    If they continue updating the game, and the graphics every few years, this game would have no problems continuing for a long time. Just make a few changes in game to fix the economy, fix giants pocket cash, more recommended level items with a greater penalty on the level, more random drop items like Trance Sticks and less campable mobs, and update zones like what has been done with RE, CT, etc. A few new zones on Norrath every year like Hole and (soon) Veksar.

    Maybe its best to let this game go the way of Fallen Age. A great idea that just isn't quite right for its time.

    Just my Opinion though. SOE has a multi million dollar marketing department that has analyzed all this and decided to go ahead. I just hope the timing is right, and they have some tricks up their sleeves.
    EQ2
    # Apr 24 2002 at 12:37 PM Rating: Default
    The way I read it was that they won't be changing EQ1. EQ2 is a whole new game. So I think your old eq charactes are safe. You just now have the option of playing a differant game with the same story line. If you don't like it just don't buy it when it comes out. It sounds intriguing but I am forever addicted to EQ1.
    Hope it isnt VI
    # Apr 24 2002 at 12:27 PM Rating: Default
    I just hope it isnt Verant Interactive who is developing this for Sony. They could F*CK up a wet dream!
    Wha??!?!?!
    # Apr 24 2002 at 12:22 PM Rating: Default
    "which i hope means only fighting a boss and dying will cause that" - you crazy? That's the only time most of us ever die....

    Duke Vendric Ravenkrest, Grave Lord of Saryrn
    verant did say something
    # Apr 24 2002 at 12:13 PM Rating: Decent
    check out casters realm ppl. next month's edition of PC gamer has the announcement of EQ2.
    EQ2 = DAoC
    # Apr 24 2002 at 12:12 PM Rating: Default
    Wow this EQ2 really sounds like Dark Age of Camelot,..., say no more LOL
    x2
    # Apr 24 2002 at 12:07 PM Rating: Default
    More bugs. More updates. More problems. Longer waits for fixes. Raise in monthly fees. Diluted customer base. What is everyone ******** about?
    Just me
    # Apr 24 2002 at 12:03 PM Rating: Excellent
    **
    508 posts
    When I look at what (little) I see so far about EQ2, I think it makes a great deal of sense. EQ is a super game, and very popular. Verant should (and obvioulsy would) capitalize on that. One way to do that is to provide more flavours of it.

    They have previously said they will release a Play Station 2 version of EQ set before the current EQ era (hehe I assume "EQ0"). Now they talk about a whole new PC based game set in the EQ future.

    So, we would have 3 games based on the same story line, and in the same location but different times.

    Would I play EQ0 on the playstation? Of course.
    Would I continue to play EQ1? Of course.
    Would I buy EQ2 and play it? Of course.

    The thought of this sort of game structure would be great for exploration and story line. No, I wouldn't want the characters to be duplicated between these games - they are three separate games based on the same story, set in different periods of time. For me, playing the games is about the journey to the end (ie level 60 or 100 or whatever), rather than hitting the end. Starting over with nothing is fun, especially if everyone else is also doing it. That makes for community and teamwork.

    All in all - a very good news day :)
    Hahaha
    # Apr 24 2002 at 11:58 AM Rating: Default
    The post below mine is right. Look how pathetic we all are. We're sitting here ******** about something that may or may not exist. We're all so addicted to this game that VI will make the same amount of money on EQ2 as did on EQ1, both of them will remain up, and they'll be twice as rich and we'll be twice as addicted.
    HEHE
    # Apr 24 2002 at 11:55 AM Rating: Default
    Verant has said nothing and everyone is already coming to conclusions!

    The love of marketing :)
    Mr ANON.
    RE: HEHE
    # Apr 24 2002 at 12:00 PM Rating: Default
    Au contraire, Verant HAS released information on this subject, just enough for imaginations to run amok. I agree though, it's all marketing. Sometimes, however, these things have a way of blowing up in your face.
    tsk tsk
    # Apr 24 2002 at 11:31 AM Rating: Default
    What a crock. Fix the current EQ you morons. Focus, focus, focus. It amazes me that Verant can't even live up to it's Luclin promises (hehe remeber The Bazaar??) and yet is already making plans for a totally new game. If they can't manage the current situation what will happen when they stretch themselves even thinner?? If I have spent all this time developing my characters so they can s/!tcan this game and con me into starting over you can forget it. I don't expect EQ to be perfect but I do expect that Verant show some sort of initiative in striving for perfection. Exactly how many secret BS projects are they working on? PoP, EQ2, blah blah blah. Can you fix the freaking Bazaar first please???
    #Anonymous, Posted: Apr 24 2002 at 11:23 AM, Rating: Sub-Default, (Expand Post) You little babies! (I can mostly tell from your spelling, grammar and punctuation, then your mentality shows after that).
    EQ2 = Daoc/SB
    # Apr 24 2002 at 11:22 AM Rating: Decent
    All VI is doing is scurrying like rats to make a game that can Compete with Shadowbane probly one of the most anticipated mmorpegs to be released in about 3 to 4 months.. If you compare the parts some of there ideas come straight from Daoc but the majority of there new ideas come From SB right down to the way you choose your classes and lvling all the way to the 100 lvl deal. Except SB stops lvling at around lvl 70. I believe but you can still lvl beyond lvl 70 thats just there soft cap on lvling after that the lvls get super hard to get and benefits are rather diminshed for acheiveing them. Me personaly I wont be trying EQ 2 I spent 3 years + now on Eq not to see it revamped for the 100th time and put in a new retail box.
    RE: EQ2 = Daoc/SB
    # Apr 24 2002 at 11:58 AM Rating: Default
    WTF dude ShadowBane is never going to be released... Even if it does its going to be filled with L33t 7 year olds PKing themselves into a coma.. and running around telling everyone else how they Suxxors.. :P

    And I don't think SB is even close to being one of the most anticipated MMORPGs on the list to be released.. I can think of 10 others in the making that are far more likely to come out, and are getting a better response.
    EQ
    # Apr 24 2002 at 11:20 AM Rating: Default
    Personally i dont think they are taking away EQ1.They know haow many fans there are, and they just made a new EQ 1 expansion.
    just a stupid thought
    # Apr 24 2002 at 11:17 AM Rating: Default
    Maybe they should just have two dimensions. One dimension EQ 1 other is EQ 2. and you could start out in which ever you like.You never ever have to go from EQ 1 to EQ 2 if dont want, or from 2 to 1.Or at high levels you can teleport.
    EQ FOREVER
    # Apr 24 2002 at 11:13 AM Rating: Default
    All I know is that if the original EQ ends I'll lose all faith in VI. The concept of zoning mobs is absolutely idiotic. As is the new banking system, the sudden loss of Luclin, Kunark, and Velious. If the old game doesn't continue then EQ has lost me as a customer. As well as most of my guild (which is onon the Terris-Thule server, fyi). It's called EverQuest for a reason. Our current adventure in Norrath wasn't supposed to come to an abrupt end. I've worked hard to raise my characters. Used up real time from my own life to support my chars and further my guild....and all that isn't going to go down in flames on one of VI's whims. EVERQUEST FOREVER. Down with EQ2.
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