EverQuest Next Redefines Next-Gen MMOs

[Colt47]

I'm getting really tired of these games being toted as "next gen" and "genre redefining". No one has redefined the genre since 2004, and every game since has been derivative of World of Warcraft. Why? Because they were the first guys to have a mainstream title with diablo style single player elements combined with Everquest style group play.

At this point it's like saying Star Wars Monopoly was genre redefining for the game of Monopoly, because they included Star Wars characters and planets in it.

... okay I think I'm done ranting. Anyway, the game doesn't look horrible, but it will take more than destructible environments and active game mechanics to make it more than a niche title.

 

[Kungfu_Teddybear]

So basically instead of "Yet-another WoW knockoff", it's "Yet another Minecraft knockoff?"

How is this in any way like Minecraft? Because it has destructible environments? Minecraft was hardly the first game to have that. Besides, Minecraft itself is a knockoff.

 

[Lunar Templar]

sounds pretty neat actually, shame about all the pessimist in the thread though, unlike GW2 or Tor this actually sounds like it could do something.

OH FUCK >.> the catchpa IS sentient o.o;;; its asking for a name

 

[Colt47]

sounds pretty neat actually, shame about all the pessimist in the thread though, unlike GW2 or Tor this actually sounds like it could do something.

OH FUCK >.> the catchpa IS sentient o.o;;; its asking for a name

My problem isn't with what the developers are doing as much as the marketing is doing. The destructible terrain is a great addition to the game, especially if they build the game around buildings and towns being destructible. Players could end up devoting their time to literally rebuilding a town after a giant monster they had to beat up just trashed the place.

However, then you have articles like this one that is throwing around the word "genre redefining" and not understanding at all the implications of the phrase. Adding destructible terrain is a clever addition to the genre, but it isn't changing how people play the game. We are still going to be questing for NPCs to get better gear, are likely going to be killing a lot of wild-life for various reasons, and pounding on anvils and sawing at mills to make gear. The combat system is going to be a GCD one with a button interface on the screen. We will be dodging red circles to avoid damage.

There's more than one way to kill a game and the easiest way to do it is to hype it into something more than it really is. We've seen the hype train which gets too many people on board, ships them off, and then because the game was really designed for only a subset of them, have a vocal group of dissatisfied customers get off and tear the train apart.

 

[Black Heron Ink]

Redefining the next generation of MMO's? EverQuest? More like [N]everquest, am I right!?

[small]Sorry...[/small]

 

[Lunar Templar]

sounds pretty neat actually, shame about all the pessimist in the thread though, unlike GW2 or Tor this actually sounds like it could do something.

OH FUCK >.> the catchpa IS sentient o.o;;; its asking for a name

My problem isn't with what the developers are doing as much as the marketing is doing. The destructible terrain is a great addition to the game, especially if they build the game around buildings and towns being destructible. Players could end up devoting their time to literally rebuilding a town after a giant monster they had to beat up just trashed the place.

However, then you have articles like this one that is throwing around the word "genre redefining" and not understanding at all the implications of the phrase. Adding destructible terrain is a clever addition to the genre, but it isn't changing how people play the game. We are still going to be questing for NPCs to get better gear, are likely going to be killing a lot of wild-life for various reasons, and pounding on anvils and sawing at mills to make gear. The combat system is going to be a GCD one with a button interface on the screen. We will be dodging red circles to avoid damage.

There's more than one way to kill a game and the easiest way to do it is to hype it into something more than it really is. We've seen the hype train which gets too many people on board, ships them off, and then because the game was really designed for only a subset of them, have a vocal group of dissatisfied customers get off and tear the train apart.

true as all that is, I find it's generally wiser to ignore most the spin and just look at what they are trying to do verse the circle jerk marketing is trying to get ever one in on. And to be honest, I already expect them to NOT live up to any of the hype they're laying down, I'd rather be surprised they pulled it off then be let down by them failing. if that makes sense at all

 

[Karoshi]

It looks very interesting and promising... you know, like almost every other new MMO.

I am eagerly anticipating the fatal flaw which will cripple the game and leave me once again jaded and bitter.

 

[DugMachine]

If everything is truly destructible I foresee massive PC requirements and the entire world leveled within a month. How would this work if changes are permanent? Guess we'll have to wait and see.

 

[TiberiusEsuriens]

Claiming to remake the wheel is a bit silly, but I definitely see there being some cool uses for destructible terrain. I just hope they don't half-ass it. The more games pushing world interaction the better. The only part of the video that got me was the end. Being fully responsible for the protection/destruction of the world environment is a magnificent tool for players to use and create personal experiences.

 

[evilneko]

How are all the comments about this so ffing jaded?


Guys, this looks great. This looks impressive for an MMO. It's okay to say "Hey, that looks neat!", you won't lose any cool points in the playground for admitting it.

Probably because for the past some-odd years, everything's been trying to imitate WoW, and the MMO scene is stagnant as fuck. Not to mention all the other MMOs--and shit, let's just say games in general--that promised people the moon and didn't deliver.

In short, I'll believe it when I see it.

Though, if it does turn out to work well... I might just get back into MMOs.

 

[WanderingFool]

Now this sounds cool. Both the terrain modification and dynamic enemies sound awesome. Hope this actually works, if for nothing else than a possible idea for future MMos to actually consider.

 

[rednose1]

It sounds like a heaven for trolls and griefers.

Seriously, do these people even PLAY online games?

Exactly what I was thinking. Either these "destructible" environments are restored relatively quickly, or there will be massive trolling (every bridge to anywhere destroyed, area of value/newbie lands made inaccessible) within the first days of release.

I like that they're trying new things, and the NPCs changing tactics looks like it has potential, but the destructible environments thing will either be too cheap to not really be worth it, or will cause too much griefing to be worthwhile.

 

[klaynexas3]

Redefining the next generation of MMO's? EverQuest? More like [N]everquest, am I right!?

[small]Sorry...[/small]

Everquest will never go away. I guess you could call it, Everpest!

[small]I regret nothing[/small]

OT: Promises sound pretty cool, like any MMO that has yet to reach the market. Then it hits the market...

That's not to say we haven't seen some cool stuff that other MMOs have brought to the table, but it's never as awesome as they make it out to be. And I'm still hooked on that cocaine of an MMO World of Warcraft, even if it's only a private server, so the chances of it devouring my soul like the world of Azeroth has are rather slim. But, we shall see I suppose. We shall see. That best way that it can devour my soul, though, is to have massive amounts of pages online of lore, and THEN there's the expanded universe. Seriously, why does no other MMO have any more than like a page or two of lore on their site? It makes the world feel rather small in comparison.

 

[deadish]

It sounds like a heaven for trolls and griefers.

Seriously, do these people even PLAY online games?

Exactly what I was thinking. Either these "destructible" environments are restored relatively quickly, or there will be massive trolling (every bridge to anywhere destroyed, area of value/newbie lands made inaccessible) within the first days of release.

I like that they're trying new things, and the NPCs changing tactics looks like it has potential, but the destructible environments thing will either be too cheap to not really be worth it, or will cause too much griefing to be worthwhile.

The engine seems to allow anything to be destroyed, but from what I heard they will be restricting the destruction by players. So some structures while indestructable to player, can be destroyed by mobs.

While I like the concepts, the art has me wondering. It looks like every other FTP WoW clone, I watched the reveal and some of the art literally looks stolen from Blizzard. I am interested, but I will hold final judgment until I see my Iksar.

You don't seriously think Blizzard has a monopoly on cartoony characters do you?

From my point of view, it looks a lot like one of Disney's theatrical animated features.

 

[Diddy_Mao]

Seems like a pretty legit idea, but I am calling it now.

There are going to be a lot of fuck-off deep holes in this game, and a lot of them are going to be directly under where new players spawn.

Also, making walls in choke points is going to be hilarious.

This is a valid point.

When designing an MMO it's not enough to think "this feature is fun and will add depth to the game." you must also think "If I was a huge asshole how would I use this feature to make sure nobody else had fun."

 

[2xDouble]

It's a neat concept, and Cube World has already demonstrated limited viability of this (though on a significantly smaller scale), but these are some pretty hefty promises. ...and let's be blunt, SOE hasn't really delivered on its promises since... I don't remember when. Seriously, I can't think of anything. Someone help me out here...

Still, it sounds worth looking into, and if it can work on a slightly-larger-than-Minecraft scale, I'd call that a huge success. (cough, cough, YogVentures...) Bonus points if they can incorporate some of the scripted dynamism introduced and refined by Guild Wars 2, Rift, Firefall, Wildstar, etc., to make the sandboxes have some sort of meaning. Otherwise, you'd just end up with another Second Life, and nobody needs that.

 

[Ickabod]

Finally an AAA decides to run with Minecraft. Now if they can actually create some AI that is dynamic then BAM you have some evolution in the MMO game.

I'm hoping, but I'm doubtful that it will happen.

 

[Shamanic Rhythm]

MMOs and RPGs in general are always promising these kind of dynamic environments, but then someone sits down and realises the nightmarish job that would be coding it to work properly. So it generally ends up being little more than a scripted gimmick in the end.

On the other hand, an MMO where you can grief people by digging holes under them sounds like hours of fun!

 

[VanQ]

I thought Guild Wars 2 already re-defined next gen MMO's?

I mean how many games are going to claim that damn statement again and again, what does "re-define MMO" even mean at this point? There are so many different kinds already...

I'm sure that someone will eventually actually redefine MMOs in stead of just using it as a buzzword. The thing I wanna know is, why do MMOs even need to be redefined? We need new types of MMOs out there to keep things fresh for sure, but I see no problem with old school type MMOs like WoW, Ultima, Tibia or even EQ1 and 2.