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EQOA - still my favorite MMORPG
LOTDN
Member Posts: 9
I know that this seems like a completely random observation, but it's more of a critique on MMORPG's in general. Even though it was release for the PS2 in 2003, and it's population isn't what it used to be, Everquest Online Adventures is still the best, and my favorite, MMORPG out there.
I started playing it in 2003, played for a few years, and then moved on to other games...EQ, EQ2, WoW, the regulars. Although these games are graphically superior to EQOA on the PS2, not at the cutting edge of technology, and has been without an expansion for some time now, it still beats all the other guys as far as being just a straight-up great, fun, addictive game.
The reason I play MMORPGs is to interact with the community, and of course, to try to be the best and be respected among the other members of the population. Friends, enemies, helping each other, etc. etc. etc....that's what it's all about for me. I also enjoy the open-endedness, non-linear gameplay, where I can spend 5 hours crafting, 5 hours grinding, 5 hours questing, or whatever. Put this all together, and that's why I play MMORPGs, and not regular single-player games.
That being said, the thing that keeps you into the game, after you've grown tired of grinding or sick of whatever else, is the community. And EQOA, by FAR, has the greatest community I've been a part of. I can talk and talk about how much of a different experience a MMORPG can be with that type of community, but you really just have to see for yourself. If you're bored one day, why not fire up the ol' PS2, get a copy of EQOA: Frontiers online at Amazon or something, and give it a try. It's vast, but managable, and friendly, but competitive. And there's a perfect user base now where you can group up and xp and quest, but not be overcrowded. I just came back to it after a few years away, and I'm sorry I ever left! If you regularly play WoW or EQ, you're in for a nice, fun console alternative to the people you deal with on PC and the cumbersomeness of playing a game like this on the PC.
Comments
Honestly, I had no idea the game was still being supported. What's the population like right now? Isn't it hard to chat and such using a PS2 controller?
I would imagine it supports a USB keyboard, the same as FFXI on the PS2 does.
Chris Mattern
EQOA on the PS2 does indeed support any type of USB keyboard, and chatting is actually easier in this version than on the PC. Actually, game play in general is actually easier and more intuitive that an the PC, since all the necessary bottons are on the controller rather than the keyboard. It's actually pretty ingenius...instead of having to search for the correct letter key for an attack or command, it's either the X or O button, or with the direction buttons. Anything needs some getting used to, but I never found myself trying to keep my eyes on the screen while poking around the keyboard for some button on EQOA.
It is still supported as well, and last night there were a surprisingly high number of people logged in...I couldn't belive it myself!
I myself have though about returning to this AMAZING game many-a-times, but decided against it since i would have to relevel a character. I loved spending many hours kicked back in my bed, keyboard at my side, controller in hand, nearing the point of passing out, grinding in this game. Its so much easier to lay back with a controller and play then sit upright in a chair and play on this radiator of an alienware laptop i have.
Those of us who play FFXI, either on the PS2 or the PC, are familiar with the joys of playing an MMORPG with a game controller :-).
Chris Mattern
What the difference between the pc verision and ps2?
--
"Any free people have the right to choose how it wants to be govern thats the essence of democracy. It's sad when America has chosen for the stability and consistency of a dictatorship and doing it democratically" -utnow
The biggest difference is that you can have a much, much higher resolution on the PC (especially if you change the registry entries yourself or use a 3rd party tool like MogToolz to do it, instead of just accepting the limited options provided by the official configuration tool). Other than that, not much. USB game controller is fully supported and works just like the PS2 controller on the PS2 version.
Chris Mattern
Played for 2 years, love the game.
Oh man, it is SO much more comfortable laying in bed or on the couch with the controller and the keyboard next to me! ;-)
It is a great game, and I still can't get over how many people still play....the first server, Castle Lightwolf, was PACKED last night...with low-level toons too.
1. Trading system, or "Auction", works exactly like eBay. No keeping all of your wares on your toon's body, and staying logged in for days at a time to sell your stuff in the bazaar. No complicated search functions...just straight up, easy-peasy.
2. Class Mastery System - This beats AA points by FAR. It's a really cool system that allows you to divert some or all of your experience earned toward stat increases, new abilities, specializations, etc. that allow you to differential yourself from other toons, as well as focus on certain parts of your character that you enjoy. This is a welcome change to purley raiding or farming once you reach the highest level (60), since at that point, 100% of your xp automatically goes toward CMs. It's just a much more fun, intuitive, and flexible system than AAs.
3. More grouping, and more interaction with other players at all levels. When I played EQ, everyone solo'ed to at least 40 before grouping. Why not just play FFXII or something?
4. Were-forms: The ability to complete quests to morph yourself into a werewolf, werelion, wererat, weregator, or werebear, or even were-hunter. Pretty sweet way to further customize your character.
Other than that, it just has some great storylines, a nice history of Norrath before EQ1, and some cool people playing.
1. Trading system, or "Auction", works exactly like eBay. No keeping all of your wares on your toon's body, and staying logged in for days at a time to sell your stuff in the bazaar. No complicated search functions...just straight up, easy-peasy.
2. Class Mastery System - This beats AA points by FAR. It's a really cool system that allows you to divert some or all of your experience earned toward stat increases, new abilities, specializations, etc. that allow you to differential yourself from other toons, as well as focus on certain parts of your character that you enjoy. This is a welcome change to purley raiding or farming once you reach the highest level (60), since at that point, 100% of your xp automatically goes toward CMs. It's just a much more fun, intuitive, and flexible system than AAs.
3. More grouping, and more interaction with other players at all levels. When I played EQ, everyone solo'ed to at least 40 before grouping. Why not just play FFXII or something?
4. Were-forms: The ability to complete quests to morph yourself into a werewolf, werelion, wererat, weregator, or werebear, or even were-hunter. Pretty sweet way to further customize your character.
Other than that, it just has some great storylines, a nice history of Norrath before EQ1, and some cool people playing.
OK, when I initially answered this question, I thought he was asking about the differences between FFXI on the PS2 and FFXI on the PC; now I'm not so sure. Which was it? In any case, my answer was directed towards FFXI, where both are clients to the same game and the only real difference is the PC's prettier graphics.
Chris Mattern
me and my bro played this (he played like 6 mor emonths then i did) and it was for both of us are truely first MMORPG. my bro started playing on dial up, and every night couldnt wati to hop on and grind away w/ his guild. i jumped on a few months later when we finnaly got cable and loved it. then we go all crazy about FFXI, and most of the ppl on EQ that we knew were jumping to that and for me personaly im a huge FF series fan so all the more better. again he got the jump on it (i had to wait til Xmas for cash) so he got a few moths jump start. that game basicly took over our lives and we both played for a couple yrs a peice. after that he stopped playing MMOs really, just couldnt find the time, he now mostly spends his extra time building this corney little 2D MMO, while i try other games. Sience then there hasnt been any MMOs really for consoles after those 2, cept PSU wich is more action small group style, wich i played but got bored of quickly. now we both have comps to our selves and i decided to find the next best thing. he bought LOTRO w/ his laptop, only to be quickly dissapointed and i tryed out free games, and later bought EQ2, wich shortly after bored me (lot less grouping,button mashing, far to heavy on just quests) to this day im still hunting and waiting for somthing that will bring back the FFXI and EQOA feeling, but nothing has, and ive been waiting forever for a new console MMO, but the futrure looks grim atm. ahh, the old days, wish i could get um back =/
1. Trading system, or "Auction", works exactly like eBay. No keeping all of your wares on your toon's body, and staying logged in for days at a time to sell your stuff in the bazaar. No complicated search functions...just straight up, easy-peasy.
2. Class Mastery System - This beats AA points by FAR. It's a really cool system that allows you to divert some or all of your experience earned toward stat increases, new abilities, specializations, etc. that allow you to differential yourself from other toons, as well as focus on certain parts of your character that you enjoy. This is a welcome change to purley raiding or farming once you reach the highest level (60), since at that point, 100% of your xp automatically goes toward CMs. It's just a much more fun, intuitive, and flexible system than AAs.
3. More grouping, and more interaction with other players at all levels. When I played EQ, everyone solo'ed to at least 40 before grouping. Why not just play FFXII or something?
4. Were-forms: The ability to complete quests to morph yourself into a werewolf, werelion, wererat, weregator, or werebear, or even were-hunter. Pretty sweet way to further customize your character.
Other than that, it just has some great storylines, a nice history of Norrath before EQ1, and some cool people playing.
OK, when I initially answered this question, I thought he was asking about the differences between FFXI on the PS2 and FFXI on the PC; now I'm not so sure. Which was it? In any case, my answer was directed towards FFXI, where both are clients to the same game and the only real difference is the PC's prettier graphics.
Chris Mattern
That's because you're on the wrong board..... This is a discussion about EQOA, not FFXI.
Do you know for certain?
Played for 1 years, love the game.
Blue house
Man, i LOVED this game... Played it for YEARS! I haven't been able to find a game NEARLY as good since. I just wish they would update it. I REALLY wish they would make an EQOA 2 on the PC or maybe even PS3 with updated graphics and content. Lol... Speaking of graphics, looking at the screenshots, i don't remember the game looking THAT bad... Lol...
Yeah this game was amazing to me i LOVED it. I remember when it first came out i was addicted to it, then the next day i would go into class and talk about it with one of my buddies who also liked mmo's. I remember getting into little debates with him about how good this game was, though he never tried it he would always say there is no way this game is that good. He was playing eq on the comp and had all the expansions so he would just say no way its as good as the eq on the comp. They were both great games this was just a nice refreshing game for ps2 imo.
1. Trading system, or "Auction", works exactly like eBay. No keeping all of your wares on your toon's body, and staying logged in for days at a time to sell your stuff in the bazaar. No complicated search functions...just straight up, easy-peasy.
( you havent played EQ in awhile, this has been changed)
2. Class Mastery System - This beats AA points by FAR. It's a really cool system that allows you to divert some or all of your experience earned toward stat increases, new abilities, specializations, etc. that allow you to differential yourself from other toons, as well as focus on certain parts of your character that you enjoy. This is a welcome change to purley raiding or farming once you reach the highest level (60), since at that point, 100% of your xp automatically goes toward CMs. It's just a much more fun, intuitive, and flexible system than AAs.
(wheres the part thats diff. then AA's?
)
3. More grouping, and more interaction with other players at all levels. When I played EQ, everyone solo'ed to at least 40 before grouping. Why not just play FFXII or something?
(soloing or grouping are optional in most mmos and depend on class, in my exp only probs finding a group are at higher lvls mainly due to needing an item or quest for keying and what not)
4. Were-forms: The ability to complete quests to morph yourself into a werewolf, werelion, wererat, weregator, or werebear, or even were-hunter. Pretty sweet way to further customize your character.
(in EQ pc as well)
Other than that, it just has some great storylines, a nice history of Norrath before EQ1, and some cool people playing.
main diff. i found was some very exploitable gltiches leting my friends and I kite and kill things wayyyyyy beyond our lvl and got to 60 in a farely short amount of time.basicly if you have a nice comp,good connection and a compfy chair play the PC vers.
if not and you got a ps2 go for it, its fun albeit a little dated.
Sorry to necromance this post, but wow....just logged back onto EQOA for the first time in almost 6 months, and I gotta say it's still my favorite MMO. And this is after lvling a toon to 70 in WoW and playing EQ1 & EQ2.
I logged onto the Castle Lightwolf server, which is the only server many people still actively play on. I read the game has an account population ~20k, and I'd say the vast majority of these players have at least one toon on this server. This being the case, the in-game activity is very high, and much like a moderately populated WoW server. So, it may be a "dying" MMO, but as the players have taken it upon themselvers to all migrate to the one server, it's actually really bustling ;-)
And the best reason I still love this game - started a new toon, and within 15 minutes, found another player with a new character, we became friends, and did all the low-level starting quests together. And after heading to a main city, I almost immediately had a group invite from a few people, and we leveled together all night. I pretty much went from 1-70 in WoW without talking to a single person. My friends and girlfriend aren't MMO geeks like me, so I have to rely on people I meet in-game for the sense of community that are (should be) central to any MMO.
If you decide to come back, or are just sick of WoW and the other crop of current MMO's, look me up on Castle Lightwolf - the name's Skotch.
Have to say, it was my first mmo and it's what got me hooked to them. It was very addictive at the time, and the community was good, though there were asshats there too..you can never get away from them.
But to the question asked a year ago, lol
The diff between pc and PS2 version, is that EQOA was a PS2 only game. It wasn't EQ, so you couldn't play with them. Unless you used a PS2 emulator.
I found, however, that it was a huge grindfest, and if you didn't have the groups to camp grind out the xp, you were didn't get far. Though the exploration was amazing in there. Best to date, though I think it's due more to the fact that it was my first mmo than in comparison to newer ones.
Not sure if I'd enjoy an EQOA type mmo now, as I've changed since, but I'd have to try one to see whether or not I could still find that addictive yearning and immersion.
It WAS a huge grindfest, but for the last 6 months or so, they have inputted the "Boon of Hagley" for sale at pretty much every city.
For 1000 tunar (eseentially nothing), you get a self-casting buff that quadruples (4x!) your XP. And this buff last for like 2 weeks or something like that, unless you die.
The "Boon" seems to make leveling in EQOA similar to leveling in WoW...you can make a 20 in a few hours, and doesn't take much longer after that to get to 25, 30, etc. They also have the "Pickclaw Event" and "Roots and Herbs" that expedite leveling, so the devs really seem to be focusing on wanting us to enjoy the end-game and have fun.
And with the CLW server booming and friend/group invites bouncing all over the place, I'm having a blast being back ;-)
This is one of the best MMORPG i've ever played (maybe because it was my first MMORPG). The community is incredible, and even though I never got to 60, I still had a lot of fun.
I had no idea that people still played EQOA. They increased the monthly fee, so I'm not sure if I can come back and level up to 60 lol.
QFT. I made alot of characters and only 2 got to lvl 60 but I hardly even used them. Most I just got to level 30. This incorporated what MMORPGs are supposed to be about. Its about content and fun, not about "endgames". People used to play to enjoy the game and take in everything in it, not "keep grinding til I reach max level, quit then go to another game or wait for an expansion".
I remember just taking out a couple months to help newbies just for the hell of it. I didn't gain a single experience point the whole time.
Yes my wife and i loved EQoa , we played for about 4 years (CLW Server- Cosa Nostra, Guild) it was in our opinion the best mmorpg ever and still is , right next to Eq pc . The amazing seamless world was the best ever created, even today no game has come close to pulling it off as good as they did , tho VG tried hard .
Not a day goes by where my wife and i wish they would make a remake for it on Ps3 exactly the same as the original just updated grafix and just expand on it from where its at into more of the Eq lore/world . We would still be playing it today if they had kept adding new content or pushed out another expantion. We often think about going back to it as is , as there has yet to be an mmorpg that can compair to it , VG is currently the best/closest thing , even tho they screwwed that game pretty well.
This game was a decent game when it was first released. I had lots of fun with, but thats when it only cost 9.99 a month to play and before Bordiel left the dev team.
Now the game is garbage. They have it so rigged up that Wizards can tank, Bards can be the groups main healers.
Were-forms are utter garbage, and this year theyve added vampire forms. The raid mobs on the game are all exploitable in some way, items are way over powered
Every tank class now can wield the Shadow Knights level 49 EPIC weapon as a 1hander total garbage.
As for those hunt and gather quest herbs and roots, thats a great idea however a low level character does not benefit from this as level 60 toons camp these low level mobs to farm the herbs and roots to sell in the auction, So unless you have a level 60 or alot of tunar you wont be doing that quest pickclaws is the same way.
Game charges 14.99 now a month also. Just really isnt worth the money. all tanks can now wear robes as theyve added a new robe drop in the game for tanks and it drops like common loot so every tank has it. someone said earlier the game has 20k people . not even close clw at peak times maybe has 200 ppl online at most, and you cant ever get a real exp group as everyone expects a power level or they wont group.
So ya waste your money.
Yeah, you're right about everything you posted. However, around the time that the expansion was released, this was a very good game. All of the new implements that you talk about were added because EQOA's plunged dramatically, and the devs just didn't care about the game enough.
Only EQOA diehards play now. Those same EQOA diehards would disagree that EQOA is "a waste of money", simply because they've enjoyed the game up intil now.
I think most people on this thread would agree with you everything you say, but then again, most people on this thread have moved on and just reminisce about the great game that was EQOA.