This artwork just begs to be a sandbox world, doesn't it?
The Future of EverQuest: EverQuest Next.
The announcement from Smedley at SoE’s fan faire that the EverQuest universe would be expanding is amazing news. It’s nothing but an announcement right now with a followup coming this weekend though.
Time for some speculation. SoE has defined a very clear trend for their games over the past two years. They’re going for a casual, low entry barriers, cash shop model that results in rather shallow MMO’s. Will this be the fate of EQ Next? Unfortunately, it’s likely that EQ Next will be the Free Realms style of game but I’m not giving up all hope.
If it’s the game that I want it to be, EQ Next will be a serious MMO for SoE and one that reflects a different or additional direction for SoE. They can show people that they’re able to trend towards the popular free gaming as well being capable of providing the hardcore MMO enthusiasts a reason to be SoE customers.
EQ Next could be the next step of MMO innovation or the next stage of what the original EverQuest started. Afterall, EQ pioneered much of what started the industry. Having the original universe be the one to move us forward seems appropriate.
I’m wanting a sandbox or more open game. I’m wanting a lot of group-centric gameplay and traditional MMO mechanics, but updated for this generation. There hasn’t been a real attempt since Vanguard and I really, really think it’s time.
Will it happen? Probably not, but I’m crossing my fingers and praying that this weekend will be full of awesome and upbeat blog entries about how great EQ Next will be instead of why it’ll be a step backward.
Similar posts (automatically generated):
- Observations about EQ going Free and other F2P ‘stuff’
- Upcoming WAR Changes
- Would Reckoning make a good MMORPG?
- Would Reckoning make a good MMORPG?
- Dark Millenium cancelled? Nope says THQ
- What the player really needs
- Keen’s Predictions for 2012
- Uncovering a Treasure Trove of Old Games
- The Sandbox Ecosystem
- And We’re Back
Leave a reply