EQ2 getting the NGE treatment?

First it is a 2 week notice that some huge change is coming, right after denying something like this was happening. Then this...

http://stationblog.wordpress.com/2010/07/27/everquest-ii-update-july-2010/

"So, now that we have both the EQII Live subscription and the EQIIX free adventure services, what are we doing next?
The answer is mostly that we’re putting all our sweat into making the game more fun and easier to use."


Those are some really scary words coming from SOE. Here they are in the middle of dumping their current playerbase in an attempt to attract the new potential playerbase and they are once again talking about revamping things to make them more fun and easier? Where have we heard that before?

Specifically that part about "And last, (but certainly not least), we intend to release a design overview for what the classes should be, how they should work together…and then execute on that plan"


It is no secret that the dev team has been struggling painfully to balance the 24 available classes, so speculation is rising.

Re: EQ2 getting the NGE treatment?

and what about:

"...we intend to release a design overview for what the classes should be, how they should work together…and then execute on that plan."


"...the better, and the easier it is for new players to just play the game, instead of struggling with interface and hidden features, the more fun it will be for them and the bigger our world will grow."


"The player base is growing constantly and the EverQuest II Extended service is an example of our confidence..."



i've heard it all before, i've heard it all before, i've heard it all before...

i don't wanna hear, i don't wanna know...

Re: EQ2 getting the NGE treatment?

So that's it? Fuck the current playerbase over with the announcement of the FTP server, then ruin the game itself? Making it so easy a fucking one armed ape can play it.

Re: EQ2 getting the NGE treatment?

another nail in soe's coffin. keep up the good work smed!

Re: EQ2 getting the NGE treatment?

EQ2 is definitely getting the NGE.

Re: EQ2 getting the NGE treatment?

I sense that we will have new ones enter our Brotherhood.

Re: EQ2 getting the NGE treatment?

It seems that SOE is still using the same old "how to make a poorly performing MMO do even worse" manual. Oh they promised to never, ever NGE another game, ever...really; but I don't think they know how to do anything else.

Re: EQ2 getting the NGE treatment?

They don't.

Their developers are either "veterans" with no talent whatsoever (think Blixtev) or noobs who don't know any better.

Which means they take whatever Smed and Cao feeds them and think it's brilliant.

Re: EQ2 getting the NGE treatment?

There is no doubt in my mind that $OE wants EQ2X to eventually dominate over the classic subscription version. EQ2 classic no longer has a free trial (means no access to new players), and EQ2X players who find they enjoy the game cannot transfer their character to the classic subscription servers. The EQ2X Gold membership is $14.99/month, but offers so much less than the classic subscription at the same rate, but $OE is depending on new EQ2X players not wanting to abandon the character(s) they have already developed. $OE is also counting on the new guppies to shell out $200 for a year of game play and still pay for other cash shop items/services just to come close to the classic subscription 'value'.

There is no doubt in my mind that the current EQ2 playerbase is being sacrificed much like the SWG pre-NGE playerbase was and for the same reason. It is just going to be a much slower death. SWG was decimated instantly November 15, 2005.

Re: EQ2 getting the NGE treatment?

Well said Kaz.

On a similar and more interesting note, EQ2flames has a poll going about who is canceling accounts and how many they are canceling.

http://www.eq2flames.com/general-gameplay/67193-how-many-accounts-did-you-cancel.html

It looks like nearly 40% of people have canceled, with over 50% of those closing more than 1 account.

Another 30% of players are considering leaving.


70%, scary stuff.