SOE Confirms Development on EverQuest "Next"

Ten years ago, the launch of EverQuest arguably changed the gaming industry forever. Its combination of gameplay, story and cosmetic appeal was precisely what gamers had been waiting for and would soon be the inspiration for many great, and some not so great games to come. Over the years, Sony Online Entertainment has released a number of subsequent EverQuest games set in the world of Norrath; most notable of which being EverQuest Online Adventures and EverQuest II. While both titles continue to retain an active player-base, lately "Will there be an EverQuest III?" has been an increasingly popular subject. Keep reading for official confirmation that "EverQuest Next" is in development.

Recently, we got our hands on a copy of the 10th Anniversary EverQuest Book written by Rusel DeMaria and Paul Lipscombe. The last chapter of this book is intriguingly titled "EverQuest Next" and was individually written by EverQuest Creative Director, Rich Waters. "As we contemplate future EverQuest games, we have to ask, what does the modern MMO player really want from today's games? What will they want four years from now? Current MMOs are still designed traditionally with a pen-and-paper game feel behind them-lots of stats and numbers, experience-based levels and a focus on auto-attack dice roll combat. Will that work for next-gen MMOs, or do we try something different?" Waters writes inquisitively. Later he mentions how they were "ahead of the curve" with EverQuest Online Adventures for the PlayStation 2 because "few players had network adapters for the PS2, and even fewer knew what an MMO was". It's the final statement of the Chapter that confirms "EverQuest Next", however. "So you can see there's a lot to wrestle with as we begin laying the foundation for EverQuest 'Next.' As I write this, we have concept artists and game designers working hard in our studio-taking the lessons of the past, the best parts of the present and the most promising ideas for the future-to bring the world of Norrath to a new generation of players, as well as the dedicated legions of fans who made the EverQuest franchise timeless. I hope we'll see you there."

Does this mean that "EverQuest Next" will give players an innovative, outside of the MMO box look at Norrath? Is it safe to assume that the next installment of EverQuest will be console bound? Currently, there's not much room for anything other than speculation. One thing is clear though, with a confirmed EverQuest Movie and a new EverQuest MMO in the works, our beloved franchise has a bright future ahead of it.

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Next? EQoA2 ???
# Sep 01 2009 at 8:28 AM Rating: Decent
As EQ and EQ2 get lots of love i hope its something for us console players....
" Next "
# Aug 25 2009 at 2:14 AM Rating: Decent
Hopefully they mean something by 'Next' besides the obvious. I'm an EQOA only player. EQOA had 1 expansion which to this day retains replay value. They need to have a new game. no you cant bring your characters over, that was a different game. WTH ? On what games could you ever take your character to the next ( different) game?

It needs to be cross platform , if sony cant deal w/ M$ to get on Xbox ***** 'em. then just Ps3 and PC/Mac would make a huge difference. I'd say most mmo players are using computers as opposed to consoles. To be as successful as possible you've got to appeal to the most customers possible. I know a great deal of ppl who's fav. games are on pc but prefer playing on a console. Software to make all ps3's backwards compatible?

Classes need to retain their uniqueness so archetypes dont run together
Wide Variety of races
add a sense of real estate and land development
cube zone arrangement as opposed to grid
most of all...live up to his:
' As I write this, we have concept artists and game designers working hard in our studio-taking the lessons of the past, the best parts of the present and the most promising ideas for the future-to bring the world of Norrath to a new generation of players, as well as the dedicated legions of fans who made the EverQuest franchise timeless.' - from above


Edited, Aug 25th 2009 6:16am by TCakaCOL
Judgement
# Aug 18 2009 at 9:51 PM Rating: Good
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71 posts
Let's just wait and see what they come up with on these things ie: EQ Movie, and EQIII, before we pass judgement on how it will be. Cripes we don't know anything about any of this yet hardly.

Till then, I'll be playing EQ2.
EQ3
# Aug 17 2009 at 3:04 AM Rating: Decent
I guess the advantage they have now is that all modern consoles do have a network adapter!

EQ3 - I would buy it in a snap.
Everquest Movie... we need a thread
# Aug 16 2009 at 8:49 PM Rating: Decent
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I keep hearing about this marvel but
when I try and search for answers there nothing to be found...

LETS START SOME THREADS HERE AND AT EQPLAYERS-FORUMS...
if there are enough [threads] then maybe Sony will get the picture... literally
new eq
# Aug 15 2009 at 5:41 AM Rating: Default
i hope they keep the game the same as EQ. it ain't broke just old. give eq an overhaul on the graphics and add more to the game. don't change the why it is.

eq2 was a change . neat and graphics are great. but i think most still prefer to play old eq over eq2. at least long run wise.

i spend over 5 yrs on eq and only 3 month on eq2.

start off simple and as close ot eq 1 as possible . but as time goes on then add in new ideas.

if a lunch fails to pull players well. it dies so fast vangaurd is one eg. i love vangaurd oin concept but too many issues . not many there to play it became a solo game fast.

eq wasn't solo freindly at first but now is for the lower lvls at least. but the higher the lvl the better off we are in groups.

i'm babbling sorry. just got off a long day at work.
____________________________
To play well with others is to NOT GET THEM KILLED

5x eve online (Currently playing 2 accounts)
1x darkfall "worse game ever"
8x EQ 1 accounts char's lvl 30-52 7 years (3 accounts active)2nd fav
6x Asheron's call lvl 40-99 one lvl 132 (FAV GAME ALL TIME)
2 EQ 2
3 Horizons
3 WOW
3 DAOC
1 D&D online
4 FFXI
2 vanguard
4 anarchy
2 SWG
1 lineage 2
2 AOC
1 LOTRO
1 City of H / V
beta's AC2,lotro,eq2,aoc, lineage 2, darkfall, crimecraft, fallen earth, aion, Jade Dynasty
new eq
# Aug 19 2009 at 1:23 AM Rating: Decent
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159 posts
I agree entirely! The Original Game "Everquest" lauched this gaming trend and we have to give credit where it is Due. I will always play the original version of Everquest and have no desire to change, I am an old fart set im my old stinky ways, 3 accounts with some strong toons. Also, finally afforded a PC to 3 box...and have 6 toons if my mercs are counted or I can have 3 friends instead of mercs. Lets fix some of the falacies we are dealing with, upgrade some old areas of the game making people want to go readventure those areas of the past and lets make EQ the alltime MMO multi billion dollar game it deserves.... now dont go raising the damn monthly dues....lol just kidding.

You all have done a tremendous thing here, although we give ya hell....we love every minute we play. I have almost come to accept bugged scenarios, "slap me please", there are gonna be problems, stop creating new things till ya fix the coding, pathing and not so working quests and tasks and other broken area's... then push on expansion after expansion.

Wanna do something else for goodness sakes make an Everquest movie, a pinball game and a blow-up doll,,,but please leave us the original game. And by the way we love u guys also, the old team, the addition to that team and all the people that have moved on or passed away.

"GIVE ME ORIGINAL EVERQUEST OR GIVE ME DEATH".

Grodie AKA Dorgin "the Borg" Kingseye
EQ 3
# Aug 14 2009 at 8:28 PM Rating: Decent
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Everquest 3. Hm.

It has already been said here and promptly criticized but unless EQ 3 somehow integrates EQ 1 and 2 it just don't make no sense.

If it is indeed called Everquest Next and not Everquest 3 then I can just see the EQ 1 and 2 servers looking like the Terminator's eye at the end of every Terminator movie....
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After 16 years, I'm not listing every friggin character.
Console
# Aug 14 2009 at 5:17 PM Rating: Decent
I highly believe the next EQ will be console based. There is a huge void for console MMO's. If Sony can pull it off they could really capture a huge market and wouldn't even necessariliy be competing directly with WOW. I'm actually suprised Blizzard hasn't tried to tap the console market yet.
Everquest 3... For sure!
# Aug 14 2009 at 6:32 AM Rating: Good
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If they truly took the best of all thier (Soe's) mmo experiences to develop an EQ3 the game would be a success in the way that matters to a corporation --it would be profitable.

Yes it will scavenge players from existing titles (if it is a PC game, console not so much as far as impact on EQ and EQ2)but rather than fearing this Soe would be wise to embrace it.

The easiest way to transition it would be to ensure legacy servers where people's characters are moved into the new game. I know a lot of people that wouldn't even try EQ2 when it came out because they couldn't move their efforts forward.

I don't mean every single item/ability/aspect of the characters either. Supposing the new game had a level cap of 40 and an AA point system (hopefully so and not the dumbed-down build system games seem to favor now)then its not that hard to envision a system that ranks characters and translates them over.

For example: Level 65 rogue with 400 AA becomes level 28 Scout (supposing rogue class not in new game) with 100 AA. Gear points based on the old character's rating allow purchase of special vendor gear.

So a level 85 Ranger with 4k AA would start out maxed level, AA and points to drop into this special gear vendor. As long as some servers weren't legacied with old characters then you have the "new start" experience for those that want it too.

Mirror over guild affiliations at the date of character capture as well, then give all existing (including inactive) Soe accounts the new game (or be smart and base it on 2 continents and only free trial out 1 of them) and 1 month access for free.

Whatever they actually do will hopefully be good.
Everquest 3... For sure!
# Aug 14 2009 at 9:54 AM Rating: Decent
I never liked the idea of free levels and aa's like from your 'maxed out ranger' it is a tiny step from buying an account. The player wouldn't know the in's and out's of the class in the new game. There needs to be a transition. I believe that to unlock your new Uber scout with gear and stuff, you should play a 'normal' scout to about 75% of max and THEN do some sort of quest-class specific-that shows you can handle the class. And bang, the scout you wanted is unlocked.

I love Everquest and hate to watch it die. Unfortunately, EQ is showing its age with the models/animations and the gameplay (and I have heard that the coding is a nightmare). But, a revamp would be harder than making a new game.

So much more I could say, but will leave it at, "I love EQ, and would play EQIII even though I couldn't stand EQII"
IMO
# Aug 13 2009 at 8:18 PM Rating: Default
IMO don't have an Everqust 3 it would stretch out the player base of all the Everquest games and cause several of them to die out. I think an Everquest movie is just what is needed since there seems to be many returning players to the game having a lil advertisment would do wonders to Everquest's numbers. Fix the bugs spend time with a graphics overhaul on Everquest and Everquest 2, and get Everquest's name out to the public once again
Caveat lector
# Aug 13 2009 at 8:09 PM Rating: Decent
45 posts
Talk of MMOG revolution? I'll believe it when I see it. The moneymen know that the most successful title on the market is, at its core, derivative of all the things that Waters is making out to be stuffy and antiquated. (In reality they are popular and also flexible.)

Edited, Aug 14th 2009 12:10am by Treppenwitz
my opinion on EQ Next and my advice
# Feb 08 2011 at 5:18 AM Rating: Decent
Quite simply love EQ and have good times in EQ 2, but one thing that EQ and EQ 2 have in difference to me is in EQ as a paladin i had 1 bar for combat spells and 4 buttons to push for my combat talents. In EQ 2 I have to basically play the piano on my keyboard for any character, that tires my fingers and wrists as i play EQ 2. Please for the love of god bring back simplified eq controls i hate having to be Mozart of the keyboard.
Yes to having contested zones, but make a lot of the items Lore so the game won't have a bunch of greedy campers sitting out looting everything from one set mob over and over and never move all day. Please do not make a token system like in EQ 2 i'm sick of switching to a new token type every expansion. If you are to have tokens just make it one type all the way through the game.
Make crafting viable forever in this game, quickly after KoS expansion for EQ 2 Crafted pieces became meh gear for people. You could craft some pretty gnarly stuff in EQ when PoK came out such as the Nightmare Wood Bow. But in EQ 2 you can make blah bows and chintzy weapons and armor. Now i know there are some people out there that love to strike that anvil and make real gear that players will actually be using against a dragon, and not something you just throw in the lake cause its better off being there.
Bring back gear customization. I can't stand the station cash for one type of gear look, granted some of them are cool and would readily buy some if I like what I see. But armor dyes and weapon varnishes are not going to kill your sales in Station cash if you make them basic and nothing fancy.
Pvp for pvp servers, I'm not going to play a game that is any way shaped like Lineage or Lineage 2 where you level and some superman comes your way and beats you down without you knowing whats going on, that is just dumb and is for people who like the pvp environment. I like my EQ and EQ 2 in one flavor kill mob, mob dies, players divvy loot and players rejoice.
Well thats all I can think of at the moment, hope someone from SoE reads what I have to say. Good day all.
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