if anything I hope it would drive people away, as Daybreak will soon no longer be a company and EQ2 will be shuttered along side all their remaining games.
Why do players have to go back to old games? May be it is time to move beyond everquest.
I don't often completely agree with @nariusseldon, but I think he makes a very important point here. Everquest installed many, if not most, of the game systems we associate with MMORPGs. It has shaped the face of MMORPGs, even to some extent UO which preceded it. Those links to the past, the systems and mechanics and conventions, seem to be holding the industry back.
Maybe the industry needs to drop anything EQ-like for a while in order to move past and innovate. Otherwise, we'll end up with a bunch of EQ-clones with modern graphics (which everyone claims isn't important to them).
(Unlike @nariusseldon, I don't think that automatically means MOBAs or other variations. I don't think the concept of an MMORPG is simply a worn-out, one-trick pony. It's just no one is really looking to break away completely from the past and still try to be an MMORPG).
Logic, my dear, merely enables one to be wrong with great authority.
There are lots of open world PvP gankfests games launching or on the horizon. I would love to see a modern day game similar to EQ2. In otherwords, a quest/story driven game with tons of content for PvE players. I've been playing ESO and loving it but don't see much else around.
SOE/Daybreak should have overhauled their game engine a lot time ago. Making the game more accessible by scaling properly would have done more to attract users to their game than these promotions their running. No one is going to care if they get a free 90 if they log in and the game runs like ass on their PC or Laptop. This game is from 2004. It should run decently even on 3-4 year old Intel/AMD Laptops with Integrated Graphics at this point (Provided they aren't using A4/6 or Celeron CPUs - which are usually coupled with old-gen iGPUs to boot).
EQ2, like EQ, is done. There is nothing they can do for that game to really get a decent boost of players due to its age. In order to end up with a huge player base after a decade, you have to have an even bigger one to start. Player bases always decrease in size as time goes on. Players leave for RL commitments, other games, boredom or burn-out.
What matters over the stretch is whether or not you can maintain enough players that the player base continues to be a selling point for the game. It is for WoW, it certainly is not for EQ or EQ2, or 98% of the other MMORPGs out there. No matter how much hate WoW gets on sites like this, it will continue to be the default go-to for many new players simply because it's where the people are; this builds upon itself, like an avalanche. It's the #1 priority of running an MMORPG - do what it takes to get the biggest possible player base.
WoW isn't an anomaly. It's Exhibit A on how to succeed in this business. Lots of companies are doing the opposite in an attempt to differentiate too much and failing. Some are doing something too similar, leaving users wondering "why bother starting over, when it's basically a WoW clone?"
EQ2 was different enough from WoW, while still being similar enough to bring in the same types of users. They just needed better programmers to pull it off, or to skip one of those 1000 expansions and work solely on revamping their engine so that the game scaled properly on modern hardware (64-Bit, DX10/11, Multi-Core CPUs, etc.) :-(
MMORPGs are a genre that should value accessibility and gameplay over graphics prowess and "looks" because "looking good" often increases the system requirements which cuts down your potential player base targets. By the time many of those people upgrade their PCs, your game is likely to be old news and they won't be thinking of it 2-3 years down the road.
Something new is bound to be coming out for them at that point.
Played EQ since 1999 untill 2003 and EQ2 for 2 years , those were good times, but I am glad a game like Black Desert exists because I am having a great time. So right now I am not concerned with mmorpg future or EQnext cancelation.
Considering there was never really an EQN, there is no one to leave it.Plus, with EQN, the writing was on the wall for quite some time now for most people. I don't think the number of people waiting in the wings for EQN was very large.
If OPs question was "now that EQ1 has closed are players moving to EQ2" or even "now that Landmark has closed are people moving to EQ2" but EQN?
Don't recall ever seeing any players numbers for EQN but "something close to zero" sounds about right so I think we can confidently answer the OPs question by saying EQN's cancellation won't result in any noticeable increase in EQ2 numbers.
A more interesting question would be has there been any drop off in EQ1 or EQ2 brought about by a perception, maybe, that DBG is abandoning the franchise? It isn't of course and I doubt anyone would be able to say one way or the other.
I could see DBG planning for Pantheon's launch though. If it has both an OK launch and is recieved as an OK game - doesn't need to be brilliant - then EQ1 and EQ2 may lose players. Obviously any game is a "threat" to any other but Pantheon potentially could make serious inroads into the playerbase.
Why do players have to go back to old games? May be it is time to move beyond everquest.
I don't often completely agree with @nariusseldon, but I think he makes a very important point here. Everquest installed many, if not most, of the game systems we associate with MMORPGs. It has shaped the face of MMORPGs, even to some extent UO which preceded it. Those links to the past, the systems and mechanics and conventions, seem to be holding the industry back.
Maybe the industry needs to drop anything EQ-like for a while in order to move past and innovate. Otherwise, we'll end up with a bunch of EQ-clones with modern graphics (which everyone claims isn't important to them).
(Unlike @nariusseldon, I don't think that automatically means MOBAs or other variations. I don't think the concept of an MMORPG is simply a worn-out, one-trick pony. It's just no one is really looking to break away completely from the past and still try to be an MMORPG).
what amusing about your statement is you could slap WoW instead of EQ an say the same thing for the next 10 years about MMO's
the issue is many the creators/investors of MMO want $$$ not a good game, a good game is just a byproduct of getting the $$$.
so that why their lot copy an pasting of games, innovation an risk mean little when it don't make you money.
when money not a issue or you already made a successful product, that when you get more innovation an risk an caring about fans.
instead of waiting for the next great MMO/game to rival X MMO/game, you could try make your own an see why it a cutthroat business that after $$$ more then a loyal fan.
Why do players have to go back to old games? May be it is time to move beyond everquest.
I don't often completely agree with @nariusseldon, but I think he makes a very important point here. Everquest installed many, if not most, of the game systems we associate with MMORPGs. It has shaped the face of MMORPGs, even to some extent UO which preceded it. Those links to the past, the systems and mechanics and conventions, seem to be holding the industry back.
Maybe the industry needs to drop anything EQ-like for a while in order to move past and innovate. Otherwise, we'll end up with a bunch of EQ-clones with modern graphics (which everyone claims isn't important to them).
(Unlike @nariusseldon, I don't think that automatically means MOBAs or other variations. I don't think the concept of an MMORPG is simply a worn-out, one-trick pony. It's just no one is really looking to break away completely from the past and still try to be an MMORPG).
I do think mmorpg is a worn-out, one-trick pony (great words, couldn't say it better myself). That is why devs are making Destiny & The Division. Why restrict to the old no instanced, virtual world model when devs can explore how to make online games fun in other ways?
Plus, it is not like the new variations are failing. Destiny made a ton of money. TD made a tons of money. I predict the experimentation will continue.
Impatiently waiting on Camelot Unchained and Pantheon here. Prolly gonna mess around in Tree of Savior in the mean time for some old Ragnarok Online type nostalgia
EQ 2 is the best mmo out right now behind Black Desert. EQ 2 is a good place to play while waiting on something else.
I know people like to state opinions as fact so that is what I am going to do just so I can fit in.
The best MMO out there right now is Wurm Online, not EQ2.
In fact, Darkfall, Wurm and Fallen Earth are all better than EQ2
And I will not say that you are wrong.
If that you want to believe then have at it. :-)
well like I said, given that we are stating opinions as fact and all.
oh wait on that subject as not an opinon but as a fact I think EQ2 is actually the worst MMO I personally have ever played. Its not bad, it just happens I havent played any MMO less good is all
Please do not respond to me, even if I ask you a question, its rhetorical.
Impatiently waiting on Camelot Unchained and Pantheon here. Prolly gonna mess around in Tree of Savior in the mean time for some old Ragnarok Online type nostalgia
Agree with you about Camelot Unchained, but Pantheon hasn't sold me yet. The combat looks bad and the graphics put me too sleep. Too early to judge a game like pantheon so let's hope for the best.
I played EQ2 many years ago shortly after it first came out but quit shortly after the patch that made all the items become "attuned" to your character... so now I can work my ass off for a piece of gear that is better than the piece I currently have and I can't even pass my old piece onto a friend or sell it? That legendary sword that I worked for 2 months to get ultimately becomes vendor trash for 5 silver when I upgrade? Well, at the time it really pissed me off so I quit MMO's for a while but now that it's the norm I guess it doesn't bother me enough to not play any, but it still irks me.
No, EQ:N was about to fix my biggest gripes with EQ2, the ridiculous skill bloat and more then fugly graphics, god how I hate the way it looks and the amount of skill bars, an instant turn off.
/Cheers, Lahnmir
'the only way he could nail it any better is if he used a cross.'
Kyleran on yours sincerely
'But there are many. You can play them entirely solo, and even offline. Also, you are wrong by default.'
Ikcin in response to yours sincerely debating whether or not single-player offline MMOs exist...
'This does not apply just to ED but SC or any other game. What they will get is Rebirth/X4, likely prettier but equally underwhelming and pointless.
It is incredibly difficult to design some meaningfull leg content that would fit a space ship game - simply because it is not a leg game.
It is just huge resource waste....'
Gdemami absolutely not being an armchair developer
EQ 2 is the best mmo out right now behind Black Desert. EQ 2 is a good place to play while waiting on something else.
I know people like to state opinions as fact so that is what I am going to do just so I can fit in.
The best MMO out there right now is Wurm Online, not EQ2.
In fact, Darkfall, Wurm and Fallen Earth are all better than EQ2
And I will not say that you are wrong.
If that you want to believe then have at it. :-)
well like I said, given that we are stating opinions as fact and all.
oh wait on that subject as not an opinon but as a fact I think EQ2 is actually the worst MMO I personally have ever played. Its not bad, it just happens I havent played any MMO less good is all
And still,
I will not say that you are wrong.
If that is what you want to believe then have at it. :-)
Comments
거북이는 목을 내밀 때 안 움직입니다
Please do not respond to me, even if I ask you a question, its rhetorical.
Please do not respond to me
Maybe the industry needs to drop anything EQ-like for a while in order to move past and innovate. Otherwise, we'll end up with a bunch of EQ-clones with modern graphics (which everyone claims isn't important to them).
(Unlike @nariusseldon, I don't think that automatically means MOBAs or other variations. I don't think the concept of an MMORPG is simply a worn-out, one-trick pony. It's just no one is really looking to break away completely from the past and still try to be an MMORPG).
Logic, my dear, merely enables one to be wrong with great authority.
EQ2, like EQ, is done. There is nothing they can do for that game to really get a decent boost of players due to its age. In order to end up with a huge player base after a decade, you have to have an even bigger one to start. Player bases always decrease in size as time goes on. Players leave for RL commitments, other games, boredom or burn-out.
WoW isn't an anomaly. It's Exhibit A on how to succeed in this business. Lots of companies are doing the opposite in an attempt to differentiate too much and failing. Some are doing something too similar, leaving users wondering "why bother starting over, when it's basically a WoW clone?"
EQ2 was different enough from WoW, while still being similar enough to bring in the same types of users. They just needed better programmers to pull it off, or to skip one of those 1000 expansions and work solely on revamping their engine so that the game scaled properly on modern hardware (64-Bit, DX10/11, Multi-Core CPUs, etc.) :-(
MMORPGs are a genre that should value accessibility and gameplay over graphics prowess and "looks" because "looking good" often increases the system requirements which cuts down your potential player base targets. By the time many of those people upgrade their PCs, your game is likely to be old news and they won't be thinking of it 2-3 years down the road.
Something new is bound to be coming out for them at that point.
Don't recall ever seeing any players numbers for EQN but "something close to zero" sounds about right so I think we can confidently answer the OPs question by saying EQN's cancellation won't result in any noticeable increase in EQ2 numbers.
A more interesting question would be has there been any drop off in EQ1 or EQ2 brought about by a perception, maybe, that DBG is abandoning the franchise? It isn't of course and I doubt anyone would be able to say one way or the other.
I could see DBG planning for Pantheon's launch though. If it has both an OK launch and is recieved as an OK game - doesn't need to be brilliant - then EQ1 and EQ2 may lose players. Obviously any game is a "threat" to any other but Pantheon potentially could make serious inroads into the playerbase.
the issue is many the creators/investors of MMO want $$$ not a good game, a good game is just a byproduct of getting the $$$.
so that why their lot copy an pasting of games, innovation an risk mean little when it don't make you money.
when money not a issue or you already made a successful product, that when you get more innovation an risk an caring about fans.
instead of waiting for the next great MMO/game to rival X MMO/game, you could try make your own an see why it a cutthroat business that after $$$ more then a loyal fan.
The best MMO out there right now is Wurm Online, not EQ2.
In fact, Darkfall, Wurm and Fallen Earth are all better than EQ2
Please do not respond to me, even if I ask you a question, its rhetorical.
Please do not respond to me
거북이는 목을 내밀 때 안 움직입니다
Plus, it is not like the new variations are failing. Destiny made a ton of money. TD made a tons of money. I predict the experimentation will continue.
And I will not say that you are wrong.
If that you want to believe then have at it. :-)
oh wait on that subject as not an opinon but as a fact I think EQ2 is actually the worst MMO I personally have ever played. Its not bad, it just happens I havent played any MMO less good is all
Please do not respond to me, even if I ask you a question, its rhetorical.
Please do not respond to me
Proud MMORPG.com member since March 2004! Make PvE GREAT Again!
/Cheers,
Lahnmir
Kyleran on yours sincerely
'But there are many. You can play them entirely solo, and even offline. Also, you are wrong by default.'
Ikcin in response to yours sincerely debating whether or not single-player offline MMOs exist...
'This does not apply just to ED but SC or any other game. What they will get is Rebirth/X4, likely prettier but equally underwhelming and pointless.
It is incredibly difficult to design some meaningfull leg content that would fit a space ship game - simply because it is not a leg game.
It is just huge resource waste....'
Gdemami absolutely not being an armchair developer
And still,
I will not say that you are wrong.
If that is what you want to believe then have at it. :-)
What I don't get is why are you talking to me?