Ten Ton Hammer - Taking MMO Gamers to the Next Level!

Ooo, Tell Me About Your First Time!

Tales of Your First MMO

by Shayalyn

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A couple nights ago, while playing some MMO (which shall remain nameless just...because), someone on the /ooc channel blurted, “OMG! EQOA popped my cherry, too!” Of course, just a couple seconds later she said demurely, “Whoops! That was a mistell.” But it was too late; everyone heard it. Obviously, she mistakenly used the out of character chat channel during a private discussion about the first MMO she’d ever played, and the one that took her MMO virginity happened to be EverQuest Online Adventures. My former minion (that’s “assistant,” in polite terms), who now runs the Ten Ton Hammer Dungeons & Dragons Online community, was also seduced by EQOA. I’m sure he would’ve related to Miss Accidental /OOC and her enthusiasm for the game.

If you’ve read any of my articles, or my blog, you know that EverQuest was my first love. Whether your first is the best or not is almost irrelevant--you never forget it. My head is fuller than a 10-slot backpack with memories of Norrath and its denizens. While I no longer play EQ, primarily because I reached all the goals I’d set out to reach and felt it was time to move on, I can still vividly recall people, events, and locations. I’m certain I can attribute some of that nostalgia to the fact that EQ initiated me into the world of massively multi-player online games...or did it corrupt me? Meh! Either way, I’m here and I’m happy about it.

Sigil, the developers of Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, is betting on a good portion of their player base feeling the same nostalgia for EQ. In fact, the founders of Sigil--Brad McQuaid (CEO), and Jeff Butler (President)--were also the primary creative forces behind EverQuest. Many Sigil team members are also EQ dev team alumnus. It’s certain that many who feel nostalgic about EQ are looking for something to take the place of the game some of them have played on and off for 6 plus years, except that now they’re looking for something in a next generation package, not a revamped EverQuest, but a new game, new world and new platform that stands a chance of making them feel the way EverQuest once did.

Of course, Sigil would be missing the boat if all they were counting on for subscribers were a bunch of ex-EQers. Naturally, the team is looking beyond--way beyond. Brad McQuaid has acknowledged this saying, “We have two target audiences: the 'old school', who already mostly know about the game, and the 'new school', for example the WoW player looking for something deeper and a game with more freedom.” Many current gamers didn’t come to play MMOs by way of EverQuest or similar old school games like Ultima Online or Dark Age of Camelot; they came by way of the new school--primarily World of Warcraft, which boasts approximately 6 million subscribers worldwide.

The question is: who was your first? Which MMO brought you to the world of massively multi-player online gaming? Was it an old school game like EverQuest, or the latest generation, such as WoW or EQ2? And do you feel nostalgia about your first time; the game that took your MMO virginity? Don’t be shy--we want you to tell all! Vote in our poll, then tell us your deepest, darkest “first time” secrets in our forum.

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VOTE IN OUR POLL! Which game took your MMO virginity--an old school game; or a next generation game?  Do you feel nostalgic about your first MMO? My first was an old school MMO (such as EQ, UO, or DAoC), and yes, I feel lots of nostalgia for that game. My first was an old school MMO, but I'm not particularly nostalgic--bring on the latest and greatest. My first was a more recent MMO (such as WoW or EQ2), and even though it's recent, the game will always be memorable to me. My first was a more recent MMO, but I'm not all that attached to it. I'm ready for something new. Other VOTE HERE!