E3 Event Coverage

EverQuest

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Game Info

Windows Mac
Developer: 
Sony Online Entertainment
Genre: 
Fantasy
Release Date: 
March 16, 1999
Monthly Fee: 
P2P
T

To many, EverQuest (commonly abbreviated EQ) was the first true 3D MMORPG, featuring luscious environments and a captivating world that brought with it a peak user count of upwards of several hundred thousand users. Although a number of MMOGs came before it, many argue that the precedentEverQuest set has far out-lived its popularity with many games still basing their leveling systems on the old EverQuest style. With an original game design built by Brad McQuaid, Bill Trost, and Steve Clover, EverQuest spawned a sequel, an RTS-based game, and an online trading card game.

Essentially,EverQuest is a fantasy-themed MMORPG that takes place in a world called Norrath. Gamers choose from a vast selection of races and classes, augmenting their characteristics with stat point adjustments until you've created a character that fits whatever role you'd like to fill. After that's done, you're set off into the world where you try to make your way by killing whatever monsters you can find. The developers have added quests into the old gameplay, but you'll still be doing a bit of grinding.

As a mature game in a gradually maturing market, EverQuest still remains one of the tried-and-true staples of the MMORPG genre. Players often refer back to EverQuest when making points regarding MMORPG design, and you'll be hard pressed to find one in ten MMORPG players that haven't at least tried the original EverQuest.

  • New Life for an Old Favorite: Progression Servers Q&A with EQLive Producer Chis Lena

    In case your one of the ten MMORPG enthusiasts that hasn't heard, SOE opened two "Progression Servers" which give players a chance to experience the original EverQuest. Guilds "progress" the game through each of its seven expansions by completing in-game objectives. A number of the Ten Ton Hammer staff have since returned to revel in the nostalgia, so we thought we'd see if anyone at SOE would answer a few questions we had about the origin of the Progression Server idea and where it goes from here. Producer Chris Lena was kind enough to oblige.

    "Tony Jones, Ten Ton Hammer - How do you feel about the brisk pace with which some of the guilds are unlocking the special expansion content?

    Chris Lena, EQLive - My philosophy is that you can never accurately predict how fast or slow content will be overcome so all we can do is set up the rules and just let it go. Trying to control players in an MMO is like trying to put a tuxedo on a tiger – it can be done but nobody is going to be happy about it. I know that some players wish they could linger in certain expansions longer before the next one is opened up but still others feel that the pace is fine. We knew from the very beginning that not everyone would be happy with how things unfolded. That is simply impossible to avoid. "

    Learn more about the Progressive Servers in this exclusive interview. When you're done, let us know if you are playing in the forums right here at Ten Ton Hammer. Share your experiences with us!

    Features, Interviews
    Mon, Aug 14, 2006
    LadySirse
  • RPG Vault's Second Half of Their Look At The Serpent's Spine

    This week brings us the conclusion of RPG Vault's interview with David Ford. This installment covers magic, items and more!

    Jonric: Will there be many new items such as weapons, armor, etc? What are some interesting ones players can expect to see?

    David Ford: Visually speaking, there are a number of really great looking held items that will be found in The Serpent's Spine. One I really like is a Lava dagger that has flowing magma that runs through the blade itself.

    We will be itemizing the expansion from level 1 onward, so there really won't be any type of item that exists in EverQuest that you can't find somewhere in this expansion. Not to say that every item will be duplicated, but the variety will be quite large.

    Catch up on your reading with part one before reading the rest of this interview. Are you looking forward to playing The Serpent's Spine? Let us know in the forums right here at Ten Ton Hammer.

    Features, Interviews
    Thu, Aug 03, 2006
    LadySirse
  • Light Shed on the New Race

    RPG Vault sat down with Game Designer David Ford to talk about the upcoming Serpent's Spine expansion for SOE's Everquest. In part one of this interview we learn about the new race, Drakkin, which are part human and part dragon. We also get a hint at some of the new features that will be included in the expansion.

    EverQuest: The Serpent's Spine is the next expansion pack for Sony Online Entertainment's landmark persistent state world. Aimed to be available via digital distribution in September, it will feature the addition of the Drakkin as the first new playable race in a few years. The official announcement unveiling the product earlier this month also mentioned some other notable elements. For instance, Crescent Reach is described as a fully functioning city complete with merchant, quest, combat and tradeskill areas. The Serpent Spine Mountains area will offer content for every level, from newbies up to the level cap, which will be raised to 75. There will also be new zones, enemies, abilities and more. Since we were immediately keen to know further information and details, we were fortunate in being able to set up the chance to question Game Designer David Ford.

    Keep reading to find out what David Ford had to say and then head over to the forums right here at Ten Ton Hammer and let us know if you are planning to play this new expansion.

    Features, Interviews
    Mon, Jul 31, 2006
    LadySirse
  • Four New Screenshots

    Everquest's next expansion The Serpent's Spine is due out in September 2006. Today, have a look at the four newest screenshots.

    Planning to check out this exciting expansion? Gonna pass? Tell us why in the forums right here at Ten Ton Hammer, don't forget to let us know what you think of these screenshots while you're at it!

    Images, Media
    Mon, Jul 24, 2006
    LadySirse
  • SOE Announces The Serpent’s Spine™

    Here is the press release announcing this expansion:

    SAN DIEGO, CA – July 10, 2006 – Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE), a global leader in the online games industry, today announced EverQuest® The Serpent’s Spine™, a new expansion for the Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMOPRG), EverQuest. EverQuest The Serpent’s Spine will only be available via digital download beginning in September for the price of U.S. $29.99.

    “In an ongoing commitment to introducing new features into EverQuest, The Serpent’s Spine introduces the Drakkin, the first new player race since the Frogloks were added to the game seven expansions ago,” said Chris Sturr, Senior Brand Manager, Sony Online Entertainment. “In addition to the new race, players of all levels will benefit from this expansion, as we are including content for levels 1 to 75.”

    Players will also be able to explore a new starting city, Crescent Reach, which contains merchants, quests and combat. As in the last expansion, there will be new dynamic features such as auras, traps and destructible terrain. Players will be able to reach level 75 with new spells, raids and abilities.

    About EverQuest The Serpent’s Spine
    Nestled in a great ravine in the Serpent Spine Mountains is an ancient abandoned ogre city now called Crescent Reach, which is home to a new race born to protect the future of dragon kind, the Drakkin. Six dragons defied the council of the ancient dragons of the Nest and chose to create a new race to protect their future. The Drakkin are borne of humans touched by a dragon's blood and their colors and appearance represent the dragon that created them. Rapidly aging and reaching maturity in only months, the Drakkin forget their human beginnings and make their pilgrimage to Crescent Reach, the home of their dragon creators and the rest of their kind.

    EverQuest The Serpent’s Spine features the following:

    * New Player Race: The Drakkin have been created from both human and dragon blood to protect the future of all dragon kind. Several colors and customizations will be available to make each Drakkin character unique, such as elegant scale markings and horns.
    *Level Cap Increase: Players can now reach level 75, complete with new spells, abilities, raids and quests for greater power.
    * Content for Levels 1 to 75: Play through every level of the game without ever leaving the Serpent Spine Mountains.
    * New Starting City: Crescent Reach is a fully functioning city with all that is required to learn and thrive in EverQuest, including merchant, quest, combat and tradeskill areas.
    * Dynamic Features: New zones, NPCs, destructible and interactive objects.
    * New AAs, Spells: Experience new spells and Alternative Advancement abilities.

    The EverQuest base game is required for this expansion. For more information on EverQuest The Serpent’s Spine, please visit: http://everquest.station.sony.com/

    News
    Wed, Jul 12, 2006
    LadySirse
  • Chris Lena Answers More on EverQuest's Retro Server

    Chris Lena, Producer of Everquest, stops by MMORPG.com to talk more about the new Progressive Servers.

    MMORPG.com: Are there any expansions (such as Lost Dungeons of Norrath) you expect that can be unlocked out of sequence?

    Chris Lena: We will have a website that will track the progress of the unlocking of expansions. Even at day one this timeline will give you some hints but we are not revealing exactly how the unlocking will work.

    Read more at MMORPG.com.

    Features, Interviews
    Thu, Jul 06, 2006
    LadySirse
  • What Does Classic Mean To You?

    MMORPG.com has an interview posted with Chris Lena, a Producer on EverQuest. In this interview questions are answered regarding the new "progression" server and how it will bring the classic feel back to old school and newer players alike.

    Carolyn Koh quizes the folks behind the brand new EverQuest "Progression Server", which lets players play EverQuest the way it was originally presented to the players. We talk to Chris Lena, a Producer on EverQuest, about this.

    MMORPG.com: There’s been a lot of interest in the Progression Server and I’m going to ask the $64 dollar question. Why? Why did you think that such a concept would work?

    Chris Lena: There are a lot of reasons for this server idea, but for me it was a fairly simple solution to a problem EverQuest has had for a long time. People always say to me that they would love to try EverQuest or that they used to play and would like to get back into it but they feel overwhelmed because of all of the content that has been added. They feel like they could never catch up and just lose their gumption. The Progression Server is a way for all of those people to get on this new server at level 1 and progress through all the content together. The amount they have to learn when they start is bite-sized. But the Progression Server has become a lot of things to a lot of people and you can find dozens of different reasons on our forums as to why players are interested in this concept.

    Read the rest of this interview at MMORPG.com

    Features, Interviews
    Thu, Jun 22, 2006
    LadySirse
  • SOE announced on the Official Forums today that they're releasing yet another expansion pack for their MMO Monster EverQuest.

    “EverQuest Prophecy of Ro will give players the opportunity to interact with and transform the online world of Norrath like never before,” said Chris Sturr, Sr. Brand Manager, Sony Online Entertainment. “In addition to a variety of new features, EverQuest Prophecy of Ro continues the fascinating storyline as new and old players alike explore, battle and adventure through EverQuest on more than 30 new missions encountering new creatures and environments throughout the journey.”

    Players will be able to interact with the world thanks to three new features. The first, spheres of influence, can be used to thwart your enemies or aid allies. The second feature is a trap system that will let players deceive opponents with player-set traps. And for the first time in EverQuest, players will be able to destroy objects in the world; doors can be bashed in, walls can be toppled and towers can be destroyed, leading to a new level of interactivity within the game and opening up a new realm of design.

    It's amazing that this game is still going strong after nearly seven years since release. Shows you that you can't keep a good game down.

    Click Here for More Information and News on EverQuest

    News
    Tue, Jan 03, 2006
    Awenyddion
  • Not Ready for Retirement
    EverQuest Titanium, a boxed set including every expansion released for the game, goes on sale for $19.99 January 11th. Also, players with cancelled accounts can grab 21 days of free play if they reactivate before January 13th. All of this co-incides with SOE's release of EQplayers.com, a site chock full of real-time player profiles and other community-friendly features.

    In addition to EverQuest Titanium, SOE is launching EQ Players, a website designed to extend the player's interaction with the game outside of the game world. This new service gives players more ways to access, track and expand their in-game characters by obtaining character statistics, profiles, item information, in-game activities and more all in one place. The website, www.eqplayers.com, will launch on December 15, 2005, and will have profiles for more than 4.9 million characters and more than 335 million total inventory items. EQ Players will be available for EverQuest players to try, at no additional cost, until December 29, 2005, after which time some EQ Players features will carry a monthly fee. In addition, as a special offer, SOE will reactivate previously closed EverQuest accounts for 21 days of free gameplay but the former EverQuest players must take advantage of this offer before January 13, 2006.

    View SOE's "EQPlayers / Free Play" press release here!
    Other links of interest:

    News
    Tue, Dec 13, 2005
    Ethec
  • Almost six years and still going strong! Let's hear a Boo-Yah! for the game that got me started in this crazy MMO world. Friday, SOE posted Kytherea’s Keepsakes on the Developers Corner at the EverQuest Live Official Site. She shows off some really great concept art in comparison to what these Gods look like in game. It almost makes me want to go back and play again... almost..

    To follow the journey traveled by a piece of artwork from the imagination, to paper, then implemented in a game such as EverQuest is truly an interesting adventure. I enjoy traipsing through old folders of concept art from time to time, both to see what the artists have imagined over the years and also to see how the concepts of long ago have developed into the living, breathing world of EverQuest. In one of my frequent expeditions I tripped over the concept art for some of the EverQuest deities (from all the way back in 1998!). When I looked at each piece of artwork I was amazed at how closely these depictions of the deities represented their physical forms in the world of EverQuest and I wanted to share these with you.

    More EverQuest Live News and Information

    News
    Mon, Dec 12, 2005
    Awenyddion
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