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any one else think SOE would be better off letting EQ go F2P?
Sneakers05
Member Posts: 316
and just making money off it through cash shops and expansions? Being F2P Loads more people will come and they would eventually buy off the cash shop and buy expansions.
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Comments
I think one issue is that not many players want to return to EQ, even if it was F2P. There are just so many more options for a MMO player these days. Making an Item mall may actually anger what remains of the current population ..driving Eq1 deeper into the hole
Torrential: DAOC (Pendragon)
Awned: World of Warcraft (Lothar)
Torren: Warhammer Online (Praag)
Personaly I would say yes. But rather would see it being P2P without cashshops, on the other hand I have no clue except for speculation how their business models are doing right now, so professionaly I would say that I don't know what to do unless I would be presented with hard fact numbers/figure's.
even if EQ was faltering - it has the lifesupport system of Station Pass
other old games like Ultima Online and Asherons Call are still charging monthly fees
EQ2 fan sites
There are already more F2P EQ servers than I shake a stick out.
It's just too dated now : That would be like going back and playing Half-Life, sure it's good and sure it's playable but we've come along way. The fans of the game who have quit got bored of it a long time ago too and they want something new.
Meh, they don't need that. What they need is to change the game. Remove stupid zones, update the engine, add mechanics, basically evolve it. That's the only thing that will bring it back, until then it'll just stay as-is, which SOE is apparently perfectly happy doing. Personally, I'd love to work on the EQ team to implement some cool new features, like more dynamic PvE events, but that'll never happen. I do think EQ has some of the best lore around though, largely because it's unique, but it's noticable in-game as well.
So many more options? you mean like world of warcraft the hold my hand game.... etc everquest has been around for 10 years and I think that says something, the games a classic, and alot people still play for the simple fact theres tons to see and do and its still going strong with one of the biggest game worlds.
The only thing that would help SOE in terms of EverQuest classic, would be to revamp the UI and make the game less clunky.
Graphic overhauls aren't needed, just a new, modern approach to controls and movement. That really is what turns people off to the game now. After you play WoW and other smooth MMOs, when you go back to EverQuest you feel like you're trudging through sludge trying to get around with the UI.
The idea of a FREE Everquest has been a dream of mine for awhile.
Without doubt, I would 100% play that game if it was free.
Yeah, It's dated but so much content..
If only there was a glimmer of hope for this coming true tho..
I don't know about f2p, but it most certainly is not worth the $15 a month they charge, there are a lot better games out there and more coming. EQ2 is dying on the vine right now.
It most certainly needs a change of something. I just don't think SOE knows what to do with it.
You don't take a subscription game and change it to the "free to play"/item mall paradigm. You just don't. That drives away your existing playerbase, and the only people who will approve of the change will be those who still won't the game even though they approve of the change. I mean, that would make about as much sense as if they were to try to turn EverQuest into a basketball game.
They should, and I will say why I think its in their best interest.
With station shop they need to draw from a larger audience than just their subscribers. That base is too small. Also, the thing that makes EQ fun is people. With more people that would mean more fun, and that means more people to buy items from the shop. Seems pretty simple.
I agree, F2P is very enticing. For anyone on a budget, it could be a very viable alternative to anything that is out there right now. For me, the main thing keeping from being excited about it, if it happened, is that you can only load 8 spells at a time, like Guildwars (unless they changed it). I understand some players like this option for strategic reasons, but not me.
Vault-Tec analysts have concluded that the odds of worldwide nuclear armaggeddon this decade are 17,143,762... to 1.
You're quire right. Talking to the people playing and the ones who quit, former guildies and friends...nothing would change for them or me if EQ was F2P or not. The decision to leave EQ (or stay) in EQ is not determined by running costs, it's bugs, flaws, boredom of the game or a discontent with SoE. Players won't go back because it's F2P.
This won't attract new players either because graphics won't be updated anymore and some EQ designers (item designer, quest designer) are now working on Free Realms.
It might bring in a few players and that will probably be enough for SoE to justify making EQ F2P, but it's some fast money. EQ and F2P isn't a viable strategy because the game is too old to attract new players and the current players aren't really interested in F2P cash shops, they just play cause it's what they do but many have left for WoW or are playing WoW and less EQ but just have an account because of -mostly- nostalgic reasons.
EQ's server are almost dead, and it's something which has been predicted year after year but now it's actually visible enough that when you do a /who all <class>, you can see that EQ is almost out of steam and it's mostly nostalgic players and very few raiders who still play.
Oh no, A graphics overhaul is very much needed. The controls are fine exactly the way they are. The game was designed to be played in first person view. It always has been. Animations could use an improvement as well, but you know what, for spell effects, even as old as they are, they are still better than many of todays games. I loved the fact that as you gained levels, you got more colors in your spell effects. Man, When I got that third color in my summoning spells, that was kick ass! As for free to play. I say anytime you have a cash shop, the game should not also have a subscription but thats just me. I dont mind at all to help support a f2p game by buying things in the cash shop, I just wish they would actually put more usefull things in there besides the standard exp potions and such.
Oh no, A graphics overhaul is very much needed. The controls are fine exactly the way they are. The game was designed to be played in first person view. It always has been. Animations could use an improvement as well, but you know what, for spell effects, even as old as they are, they are still better than many of todays games. I loved the fact that as you gained levels, you got more colors in your spell effects. Man, When I got that third color in my summoning spells, that was kick ass! As for free to play. I say anytime you have a cash shop, the game should not also have a subscription but thats just me. I dont mind at all to help support a f2p game by buying things in the cash shop, I just wish they would actually put more usefull things in there besides the standard exp potions and such.
I know the game was designed for first-person view; I played it for years. Have you tried playing it recently, though? It feels pretty 'meh'. I think the graphics are fine, especially with the Luclin upgrades. Graphics aren't what make a game anyways - it's the gameplay. EverQuest has good gameplay, it just needs to become accessible and easier to comfortably control.
Oh no, A graphics overhaul is very much needed. The controls are fine exactly the way they are. The game was designed to be played in first person view. It always has been. Animations could use an improvement as well, but you know what, for spell effects, even as old as they are, they are still better than many of todays games. I loved the fact that as you gained levels, you got more colors in your spell effects. Man, When I got that third color in my summoning spells, that was kick ass! As for free to play. I say anytime you have a cash shop, the game should not also have a subscription but thats just me. I dont mind at all to help support a f2p game by buying things in the cash shop, I just wish they would actually put more usefull things in there besides the standard exp potions and such.
I know the game was designed for first-person view; I played it for years. Have you tried playing it recently, though? It feels pretty 'meh'. I think the graphics are fine, especially with the Luclin upgrades. Graphics aren't what make a game anyways - it's the gameplay. EverQuest has good gameplay, it just needs to become accessible and easier to comfortably control.
As a matter of fact, I resubbed about 3 days ago. The addition of the mercs are really nice. Since there is not many folks around my level (playing a cleric), I got a tank merc and went to Sol B (since it was the hotzone for 45-50). Made 50 already and really liking it. With the mercs, its kinda like playing a pet class except you have no commands to give them. They are a bit stupid though, had my merc die on me because he decided to fight the imps IN the lava and I couldn't keep him healed fast enough. Afterwards I did find out you can set them to passive and they will come back to you eventually. Unlike mage pets, they dont exactly follow you around very easily.
As for it feeling 'meh'. It doesnt feel like that to me. I think probably a turn off point now for a lot of folks is the slow combat. Everyones gotten used to killing stuff in 10 seconds or less so when it takes you 1-2 minutes to kill something, they could get bored. However I am finding it extremely nice as I am sick of the super fast paced combat in todays mmo's. I actually have time to make decisions, like when my merc died, I actually had time to run out instead of being dead 5 seconds later like would have happened to me if I had been playing it at todays mmo combat speeds.
The OP is off the mark....
EQ just put out another expansion this past either Oct or Nov, and pretty sure they have already announced the newest. I know for sure they just put in the 11th yr vet reward AA as I saw it in patch notes other day. That doesnt sound like a game going anywhere. Something about a bank....probably a spawning bank to deposit loot...unsure though.
When I re-upped last month, we still had nearly 10 in friend chat, compared to 15 to 20 per night 3 or 4 yrs ago. I saw a friend from old guild, and he sounded like they are doing fine as well.
My server(mith/saryn) has lost a number of folks over the years. Completely dead? Wouldnt say so.
I dont think there is a game around with as much content, and truly is a shame it is past its prime due to the time requirement it demands.
It is, and as far as I can tell, will always be my fav MMO. Expansions took dedication for guilds to finish, and PoP was probably the coolest raid expansion with the long raid list required to make it to Time. They just let folks in nowadays, but back then we worked our arses off to be keyed. Making a Quarm pet rocked...me and fellow nec would spam guild with them(wake the dead AA).
When the day comes it is no longer viable, it would be nice if SOE would sell it as a package single player game. PCs by then should be able to handle the whole game, I would think, for a single player running merc helpers(or regular player class helpers if they would let you have em). Spawning zones only when needed etc.
I always keep trying to go back....but health and money always keep me away from running my 3 accounts. Cant justify that investment on how little I feel like sitting that long at a PC. Since I dont wanna kite on my nec account anymore, it doesnt leave me much as I run my pali with my shammy account in tow. So basically would be either 30 or 45 per month.
Now if SOE wanted to let me have all 3 accounts for 15 total a month(5 each), I would almost breakdance for that :P
But as long as I can log in and see the amount of folks online I did(granted it was fabled month), I see no way they do as the OP suggests.
Asking Devs to make AAA sandbox titles is like trying to get fine dining on a McDonalds dollar menu budget.