EQ has nine years of development behind it. Two expansions per year with at least two major rewrites of the game engine and graphics.
In terms of game play it is one of the most advanced games available. But it is aimed at players who want a serious challenge, which is not for everyone.
EQ2 was designed to offer similar game depth but without the same level of work. It seems EQ2 was aimed to fit somewhere between WoW and EQ.
EQ2 is prettier that EQ, especially compared to the original EQ zones which have not yet been recoded in EQ.
EQ offers a level of immersion and stimulation that no other MMRPG has been able to match (we even have people coming back from Vanguard because of this very point).
But, EQ was designed from the beginning to be a "team" game, although you can play solo, you only get to experience the best it has to offer in groups and multi group battle teams. (Erh, called "raiding" in game jargon).
Its far from dead, we've just had two massive expansions with a myriad of quests, missions and other stuff that will take me a year to catch up on
But the price of the stimulation and enjoyment that comes with overcoming the challenges of the game, is time. My reckoning is that it takes a two year committment to get to really experience the full depth of EQ. Popping in and playing for 6 months and then leaving, would leave with very little idea of what the game really has to offer.
P.S. In summary
EQ is vastly bigger.
EQ has crappy graphics in comparison.
EQ has a far more deeply developed system of quests, missions, tasks and tradeskilling (it has to be said that a lot of new ideas developed for EQ2 came across to EQ as well.
EQ was designed to lead people into raiding as the ultimate experience within the game, this is good for some others hate it. (EG You can experience most of EQ2 without raiding, you cannot in EQ).
Edited, Jun 3rd 2007 3:14am by Iluien Edited, Jun 3rd 2007 3:21am by Iluien