editd d title: EQ2 launched already (warning some screenshot topcs 2nd page slw load

[Harkoliar]

taken from thier website

link: http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/e...&message.id=30
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SAN DIEGO, CA – October 25, 2004 – Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online (MMO) gaming, today announced that EverQuest II is scheduled to simultaneously ship to North American and European retail stores on November 8, 2004. EverQuest II is the highly-anticipated follow-up to Sony Online Entertainment’s original EverQuest, the most successful and longest-running 3D MMO role-playing game in North America.



“After more than four years in development, the wait for EverQuest II is almost over,” said John Smedley, president, Sony Online Entertainment. “We’ve invested heavily on development of the game to ensure that EverQuest II has the highest production values of any online game produced to date. We want to deliver a game to our players that will provide an experience like nothing they’ve ever seen.”



Sony Online Entertainment is delivering a truly groundbreaking MMO game in EverQuest II with pioneering firsts in advanced 3D graphics, story, voice, production values, and gameplay. EverQuest II features the most realistic graphics of any MMO game ever created with a next-generation 3D graphics engine designed to keep pace with hardware developed over the next few years. Players will hear more than 70,000 lines of spoken dialogue in EverQuest II as non-player characters are given voiceover for the first time ever in an MMO game bringing the story of EverQuest II to life. EverQuest II also features gameplay innovations that make EverQuest II fun and exciting for all types of players and play styles, from hardcore gamers, to new MMO players, to those who play in groups, and solo players.



EverQuest II comes in three versions, all of which include a 30-day subscription (excluding SOE All Access subscriptions) to the game’s online world. The CD version and DVD versions of the game carry an SRP of $49.99 and include the game, an in-game item and an in-box item.



Limited quantities of the EverQuest II Collector’s Edition (DVD) are available at an SRP of $89.99. The Collector’s Edition includes a number of in-game items, including “paintings” of EverQuest II scenery to be hung on the walls of a player’s house, magical talking statues of Antonia and Lucan (voiced by Hollywood talent Heather Graham and Christopher Lee), and an exclusive pet baby dragon. The Collector’s Edition also includes an exclusive art book, bonus DVD with trailers, gameplay videos and behind-the-scenes footage, a soundtrack CD, a collector’s coin with a velvet pouch, a cloth map of Norrath, and two posters.



EverQuest II carries a monthly subscription fee of $14.99 for continuing access to the game world. Players can subscribe using a credit card, or purchase SOE 30-day and 90-day Game Cards, which open the new world of Norrath to those who choose not to use a credit card.

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Its coming out soon.. very soon (and in the middle of my finals ugh!!). I for one cant wait for it to come out. I checked the other threads and it seems to me there are quite a few IW willing to play WOW (good for you guys.. lemme know how it goes [img]smile.gif[/img] ).

so I am asking, any IW who are going to play EQ2??
I am planning to play with a halfling and my class would be a fury (prist-druid) hopefully. Im looking for some companions to join me. Anyone?

one thing I do not like about MMORPG is that I hate coordinating time schedules since I live in Australia.

[ 11-10-2004, 04:05 AM: Message edited by: Harkoliar ]

[Harkoliar]

wow.. after two days .. no one has yet replied?? boy it going to be a lonely game play for me IW [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Thoran]

All those MMO games irk me, perhaps I'm not alone.

I don't like paying 50 bucks for a game then having to pay monthly to play it. If the game doesn't SUCK the maker should give it away for free and make their money on subscriptions.

From a marketing standpoint, the choice to charge up front makes sense if they think a fair number of us will buy the game then decide it stinks and not pay their subscription rates... they'll still still get their money.

Sleazy if you ask me, never paid to play online and never will until a manufacturer stands behind his product and provides free downloads (or maybe 2 months up front... that I could live with).

[Jotin]

I'm on the beta right now and loving it, not very far though unforunately, havne't had much time. My character gets erased after the beta is over right? Wonder what kind of character i'll be when i get the game.

[Lady Blue03]

Down with EQ2! Ragh! WoW pwns all!

[Stratos]

I'm thinking along the same lines as Thoran.

Let's see...you pay for:
1. The game.
2. The suscription.
3. The internet connection.

Too much money for a casual gamer like myself. You'll need to play alot to make this worth it, in which case job/studies would suffer.

[Jotin]

Originally posted by Lady Blue03: Down with EQ2! Ragh! WoW pwns all!

LOL, have you played both lady blue? eq2 is pretty fun, why down with it? Are you in the wow beta?

[Lord of Alcohol]

gee people whining about having to pay for an online game. What a surprise. Some people buy at least 4 new games a year, add it up. Many here buy far more. Add it up. I'll be playing WoW, but I'm sure EQ2 is also good.

[Harkoliar]

Originally posted by Thoran: All those MMO games irk me, perhaps I'm not alone. I don't like paying 50 bucks for a game then having to pay monthly to play it. If the game doesn't SUCK the maker should give it away for free and make their money on subscriptions. From a marketing standpoint, the choice to charge up front makes sense if they think a fair number of us will buy the game then decide it stinks and not pay their subscription rates... they'll still still get their money. Sleazy if you ask me, never paid to play online and never will until a manufacturer stands behind his product and provides free downloads (or maybe 2 months up front... that I could live with).

well Thoran, they do need money to maintain thier servers. I think all the MMORPG has a 15 USD subscription fee for it which is pretty decent.

Lemme see for arguments sake, these people need the money for:
- the development of the game (which pays off when you buy the game orginally)
- the servers which needs to be maintained 24/7
- the people who are working to keep those servers maintained
- the people who work in keeping in touch with the players constanly having to patch up bugs and other problems that may arise
- the people who are still developing new ideas to add to the existing MMORPG lore and stuff

seriously, they have been developing this game for 4 years. it is just as expensive as all the other games out there and they need money to keep up the servers which is no easy task.

now if you are going to argue how come why other multiplayer games have free online playing, you should first think that from FPS to RTS, all of these games have a limit of at most 32 players on a single server which SOMEONE in thier computer host. The only server the companies keep online is like a basic chat room where all the servers are listed in the first place.

another example would be Z . He keeps the server online with having 30 people at most then it gets laggy ( i hate mention it but its true for me anyway). just imagine in a MMORPG world where HUNDREDS of players play online at the same time? You need a way bigger server not to mention that there are several server located world wide. As much as i want to lobby for free MMORPG, how can they survive?

another thing is that if you buy the game, there is a one month free subscription for you to play EQ2 (im not 100% but i think it is) so you have more than enough time to play to see if you like the game.

just look at it this way, 15 dollars may pretty hefty but that is cheaper than going out with friends, watching movies, playing arcade, getting drunk in bars, buying other gamess which cost way more than 15 dollars

if you play just on casual basis (like im planning to not hardcore mind ya) and play 20 hours a month, that is more than enough to make your subscription worth it since it will be less than 1 USD for an hours worth of game time (cheapter than arcade if you ask me). what more if you are going to play 60 hours a month?

im sure there are some games out there that offer free downloads with subscription I have heard about it but its really you choice if you want to play or not. if your not interested then dont play. the only thing i like about about a subscription fee is the best deterant for whiny power-gamers (best example would be in undermountain with ubers around then taunting you as well sigh) edit: of course the mods keep a good job in EFU

if your thinking about internet requirement connection and new hardware because EQ2 has high system requirements, just think of DOOM3 which is single player and having higher requirements than eq2 and if you think about internet connection well, eq2 works well with a 56k and you also need an internet connection to play multiplayer online anyway.

MMORPG is not just any online game. its a whole new alternate world altogether where you can make friends and explore online the vastness of the world.

ah well this is only my 2c . sorry if i got carried away abit. im just trying to cover all grounds in the argument.

[ 11-09-2004, 06:43 AM: Message edited by: Harkoliar ]

[Harkoliar]

Originally posted by Jotin: quote: Originally posted by Lady Blue03: Down with EQ2! Ragh! WoW pwns all!

LOL, have you played both lady blue? eq2 is pretty fun, why down with it? Are you in the wow beta? [/QUOTE]she is only having fun . seriously, there is no shame in choosing one game since i cant afford paying 30USd a month. each have thier own pro's and con's . enjoy LadyBlue