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Try them both...it's the only way
Centhan
Member Posts: 483
I am just writing this to say I was wrong
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About a month ago before I had the opportunity to play either WoW and EQ2, I started a post saying how EQ2 seemed to be more my type of game, the graphics were better, gameplay seemed more involved, etc etc etc. I didnt trash WoW, I just thought EQ2 would be better suited to me.
Now that Ive played both, all I can say is holy moly was I wrong.
I am the PERFECT example of what you should NOT do if deciding between WoW and EQ2, and that is go solely on screenshots, videos, and reviews (mine included). The only TRUE way to decide which game to play is to play each game and decide for yourself
Since WoW open beta ended, Ive been dying to play again, it really got its hooks in me. Even while playing (err testing) WoW, I had no desire to purchase EQ2 after it was released. I was just having so much fun with WoW.
Well, there are a few days left until the WoW release, and I figured I would give EQ2 a shot. Again, from reading certain reviews and posts I felt it deserved at least that. Im not going to ramble on and on about what I didnt like. Lets just say it felt too plain, static, choppy (animation, not lag), and bland for my gaming tastes. Movement seemed stiff, and overall it just didnt seem exciting. Bottom line is I need to be having fun while playing a game (duh), and this just didnt do it for me.
Now this is NOT to say I think the game is horrible. It will appeal to many people. In fact, I really cant understand all of these posts I read about graphics being grainy or laggy. Everything looks great looking at it from a graphical standpoint, just pretty horrible from an artistic standpoint.
There are many people who will obviously prefer EQ2 over WoW. My point is, in my opinion you just need to try them both first hand to find out which is more your style. I am having more fun than I imagined playing and exploring the WoW environment, and don't see that changing any time soon.
Comments
You are right, Ive played WoW St so far. Im getting EQ2 next, if I dont like that game im screwed.
EQ2 Qeynos Guild- http://www.imperium-arcanum.com
Centhan, I agree with you in that the best way to formulate any valid opinions about anything is to actually experience it. This is why I am constantly advocating the trial of games before becoming fanbois/gals.
Of course, this is impossible now that EQ2 has gone live and did not offer Open Beta similar to what WoW did. I, and many others, may have liked EQ2 more than WoW.
However, I can say for certain that I am going with WoW. Absolutely fun in every respect. I can't believe how addicted I am to this game. Never has any game made me want to play it so badly. I cannot justify trying EQ2 since I know for a fact that I thoroughly enjoy playing WoW. I works for me and that's all I need to know. I refuse to spend loads of cash on "maybe" games. I'm betting on the sure winner.
I'm going through some withdrawal symptoms, obviously.
I was "lucky" enough to try EQ2 for myself, and my personal recommendation is that if you've tried WoW and liked it, there's no reason to try EQ2.
I can understand that some people need to know they're not missing out on something good, but $50 is a little too much to ask just to find out, and as the game already has a mediocre reputation, why would they bother?
If Sony had been confident in their product they would have opened it to the public before release, but it's apparent to me that they're just trading on the Everquest name (a game they themselves didn't even create in the first place).
If Everquest 2 had been developed by another company under another name it wouldn't recieve a fraction of the attention it's receiving, as it's just an average MMO.
World of Warcraft under another name would still be an incredible game.
I don't know, guys, I just can't see the connection between immersion and level grind. Having beta-tested EQ2 rigorously to give it a fair shake, it doesn't amount to much outside of what EQ already did. I don't really count the quests as quests due to the lack of exposition and direction. Scavenger hunt is a more apt term for the EQ2 quest system, even after you find the quests themselves.
In contrast, you can freely play WoW as a regular game (sans hardcore grindathons) and the levels come naturally. Basically, I'd call WoW's level transitions as intuitive to actual "gaming" and EQ2's "choppy" due to the tired routine of grinding.
And heres my point. What happens when all these levels come so fast that your level 60 in 2 months..or even a month! Will you honestly stay just to "rule" in pvp? I dont think so. will blizzard try and make it interesting for people who play and max out so fast, that maybe, but will it work?
I know someone is gonna say, "blizzard has done a great job, then will surprise us with content" Yes they have done a great job producing a MMO, but how does anyone know that it will appeal to the people who want to play long team? nobody knows untill its released....for all any of us know, this could turn out to be lineage 2 all over again
Actually, I do think so. Why did anyone play Ultima Online for so long? Five years ago you could max out a character with 7 grand master skills (that means a "finished" character) in less than a week in that game, yet people still played it for years. Community, and PvP are the top two reasons why anyone anywhere often revers "old-school" UO like a shinning light amidst a scorched sea of ash. Of course, I am only speaking about the demographic of players who actually feel that way.
1. PvP IS a big enough draw when properly implemented and maintained. Not speaking of UO since the actual draw of PvP as it was implemented there has nothing to do with how modern 3D MMOs handle it. Ask yourself why the majority of people still play DAoC. I know friends and entire guilds who can't be pulled away from that game with the jaws of life simply because they enjoy accuing hundreds of thousands of realm points per week.
2. Community will keep players. And WoW is very community friendly. Sense of community is immediately enhanced when a game like WoW, or DAoC implements a side v. side system. Yeah, EQ2 has it, but what are you actually doing to affect the other side? Nadda, it is a shallow point of backstory. I am not arguing against EQ2 on this point, I am merely pointing out that WoW has "community potential."
People still log-in to Ultima Online to garden and park at West Britian bank to shoot the breeze with each other. Not including the people who are still tolerating the decaying combat imbalances in PvP )for another discussion).
The bottom line here is simple. Discounting a game because it appears to lack enough ubermob03s at the endgame to keep a player raiding and content is a very shallow and near-sighted view. A MMORPG should be rated for more than it's level grind and loot content.
As a final note, spending 4-5 hours a day playing WoW will lead to hitting 60 closer to one month, not two.
And in the end what will that promote most of all? Guh! Alts! WoW allows 50 characters max with 10 per any server. Does anyone else besides me remember reading the initial articles concerning WoW and its "alt-friendly" philosophy? The devs want and intend for players to desire to create more than one character. So far I would say it is working as intended.
Easier leveling promotes more alts which in turn promotes wider gameplay options for the individual. Afterall, if you have a nice four or five character stable to choose from you can change up your playstyle more often. And since each class has its own distinct playstyle, that statement carries more weight.
You're right, and I was so close to not buying it because I was having so much fun playing WoW I really didn't need to try EQ2. But like I said, I wanted to formulate my own opinion, the $50 didn't mean anything to me, and I was a long time player with EQ and figured I owned it to myself to see if it was worth continuing playing in the EQ realm...it's most certainly wasn't (sadly).
For me personally, I never cared much for an "endgame" in any MMO, so this isn't even a concern for me. I always had more fun in the journey than the destination so to speak. The lower levels in EQ for me were infinitely more fun than when I maxed out at 65 with my characters and played with them. I have no problem creating an Alt and starting the ride all over again
I'm not a powergamer, but certainly above a casual gamer so I don't think I'd hit 60 all that quickly. If I do, maybe we will all be pleasantly surprised and have alot of fun at the maxed out level. Besides, you have to remember that there will be very few people at level 60 and a month or two. That gives a month or two for Blizzard to add the upper level content for us when we get there, if it doesn't already exist.
By the way, same here Gannith. Serious withdrawal symptoms with me as well
I got the almost same great feelings with WoW that I got when I first started playing EQ, and that's saying alot. I can't wait for release.
I know that this is a bit off-topic, but there seems to be quite a few people who say the fact that the leveling isnt a grind in WoW means that the game will not hold the interest of players (or at least imply this). Games like Shadowbane, UO, SWG, and Horizons have very fast leveling if you know what shortcuts (or macros) to use. Now Im sure personal opinions may vary, but the fact that these games are still around and two (UO, and SWG) have huge populations sorta proves that their is a market for games that dont require months of grinding to acheive a "uber" character.
As far as playing both before making a decision, maybe, but I believe there have been plenty of reviews given on both games to make a decision.
MMO Vet since AOL Neverwinter Nights circa 1992. My MMO beat up your MMO. =S