General Discussion

If anyone should hate SOE I should. Let's see; one of the first master Jedi on corbantis server. Mayor of a huge city, great cutomer base as a master bio-engineer, handler of fantastic rare pets that were made extinct but SOE let me keep them, leader and founder of a top guiild with over 300 members. The day NGE came out in fact within 2 hours it was all over for me. I said my said goodbye, logged out and cancelled my accounts (only mmo I ever played I had more then one account) Almost 3 years of work down the drain. I am an older player and took a few years off work to enjoy life a bit not retired but my friends joked I was (not that old yet). During that time I played SWG daily at least 8 hours a day everyday. I loved that game! So do we agree if anyone should "hate" SOE I should.

During that time I started playing EQ2. I was torn on my giving money to SOE after what they did to SWG and to me as a customer. However there was something unique about EQ2. So I kept playing and for a long time actually felt guilty playing. I turned off my hate for SOE and focued only on EQ2. Unlike many I felt SOE made EQ2 better and better. Yes more casual but for me that was great. I went back to work. I am a college art professor. I did not have the 8 hours a day anymore.

I started playing WoW and loved the casual nature of it. It was casual but if you wanted to master it it was a challenge. I never have seen evidence that SOE was trying to turn EQ2 into WoW. They tried that with SWG. They made EQ2 more casual friendly but left the hardcore events in game for those that want that challenge. This was a great move on SOE. Never once did I feel EQ2 was trying to copy WoW. EQ2 is a different experience then WoW that is why I played both. They never felt like the same game to me. Go on and hate SOE there is reason to but if you do you will miss out on one of SOE successes and that is EQ2. EQ2 is not perfect but for me it is one of the best shows in town. I may never subscribe to another SOE out of anger towards them but I am glad I tempered that anger and am able to play EQ2 for what it is. What it is, is a damn good time.

Originally posted by Ylva

Interesting article that I will be sure to follow.

I have not read ALL of the responses to this yet that are posted above me but a few things did catch my eye.

First of all, my experience with EQ2 has been mostly very enjoyable. Those that complain that its too easy , stating it doesn't take long to level etc cannot possibly be playing the actual game. Anytime you spend all of your time grinding to lvl without enjoying the storyline behind the quests that you are doing you will lvl fast and miss the game.  This is with any MMO or RPG or whatever out there. To these people I would wholeheartedly suggest they find a different kind of game. One they can finish and move on while still being somewhat sociable.

I'm a  lore freak. I love to read about what I am doing and immerse myself in the game. I fancy myself a writer and use my characters in EQ2 to help me work out storylines. This is my enjoyment. I've been playing EQ2 well over 3 years now. I am never borad unless I go over the same material too many time with several toons but I need to is look forward and SOE never disappoints with bringing in new content on a regular basis. To those looking for "end-game" , I don't see one in sight.

To sum up Everquest 2's pluses and some small comparisons to WoW I have this to say; EQ2 is less cartoony in appearance providing a more enjoyable atmosphere for those of us who are not only older (30+) but hungry for a more "real fantasy" not a place that constantly reminds us we are in a game. We go to Norrath to escape the "grind" of our actual lives one we can control the outcomes somewhat better then our literal worlds but provides that fantasy element.  I thought that was the whole point of a game. I could be wrong.  The lore of EQ2 is quite vast and fascinating with some excellent writers behind the wheel.

The content is constantly being worked up and expansions are almost yearly. Amazing graphics. The RoK expansion has some of the most memorable and well done sunrises and sunsets. They would rival the real world. 

EQ2 is not a hollow game there is stability behind the visual  but There are always going to be problems and things a handful of people will complain about constantly but I find these are mostly younger new generation gamers. I would hope to educate my grandchildren better.  My own personal complaints are small but do tend to irritate me as I RP my way through life.  Why , for instance, can we not better interact without environments? Example; sitting in chairs. Were we able to actually do something more then look at the massive amounts of graphics in this area and arrange it like doll houses more people would gather together instead drifting past each other. There would be more of a point.

Why doesn't Sony advertise better? I see Wow on every shelf even though it has so little content in comparison. It is difficult to back my own point of view to my friends and family when they can't even find the game anywhere let alone a single commercial. The media is battered and fired with world of warcraft. This alone infuriates me.

This comment is turning into an article by itself so  I will end it here. I'm sorry that you stumbled across the worst of Eq2's population, squeeky wheels that they are. I am with Marron up there when he/she said the following ;

"because the majority of players do not want to lose an hour of playing time rebuilding their character due to an egregious death penalty.  This silent majority is too busy playing and enjoying the game to post up on the forums (generally).'

That would be me. You can find me on Oasis server. Say hello to Fallcon or Dawnrazor, just a razor slice of sunshine.

 

Well said my friend. I wish I had a character slot left I would love to explore Norrath with you.
 

Originally posted by JYCowboy

Why does anyone hate EQ2?

Overflow of hate from a mistake made by SOE/LEC.

If the changes to EQ2 were made not under the shadow of the failings of SWG, then it would be no where near as strong.  The changes might even be acceptable.

I agree. I was scratching my head when I read this article.  It almost seems, nowadays, to simply hate SOE because its the "in' thing to do. EQ2, in my opinion, is a solid game with tons of content and can cater to the casual or the hardcore player at the same time.

What's funny to see is that before the NGE came along, EA was seen by many as the MMO devil with its killing of MMO titles and looked to SOE and EQ as the standard. Now the folks that hate SOE are looking to EA/Bioware to be their "savior" with their up and coming MMO. Funny how it comes full circle.

EQ2 is the best, the more solid and complete MMORPG out there.

People that can't see or understand that really have some problem...

If you are among the crowd long enough you realize one thing: no matter what you do in the internet, there will always be jerks. I ignore them. Debating with people who are psychologically fixated in projecting all their hate and RL frustration on one object, in this case SOE, cant be argued with. It is a mental problem, and they need a therapist. Its a reflex, a programm. There is not talking to them. I know. I tried.

SOE is objective not a better or worse game company than any others. Period.

Originally posted by eccoton

If anyone should hate SOE I should. Let's see; one of the first master Jedi on corbantis server...

 

 

 

This post has more truth in it than even the author probably realizes. This sense of entitlement is why people hate SOE, and yes, most of it is residue from what happened with SWG, tied together with the all too common misconception that this world and the people in it owe you something.  The fact that this player, and thousands more like him, hang on to their 'accomplishments' (if you can call holo-grinding or village-grinding a Jedi an accomplishment) prior to the NGE like they're some sort of badge of honor is indicative of a mindset that is either unwilling or unable to adapt to change, and unable to comprehend basic fact that sometimes life sucks.

Yes, what SOE did to SWG was brutal, and ultimately unnecessary. Yes, those of us that were there from the beginning (and even those who came later) all lost something, whether it was time, friendships, money, or all of the above.  What a lot of people also lost was their dignity, and their common sense, as they now hop from one forum to the next, foaming at the mouth towards anyone who doesn't agree that Sony is the anti-Christ.

I'm glad this poster that I quoted can at least separate EQ2 from what happened to his characters in SWG, but the way he begins his post is unfortunately a common thread that runs amok amongst the hordes of pissed off SWG vets who continue to feel urinated on by the gods because they lost their precious Elder Jedi and whatever else. 

Sony has made some good games, and may even make a few more, no matter how much certain folks may wish otherwise.  This is not coming from a Sony fanboy, although I'm sure those charges will be leveled shortly, but rather from someone who was burned by SWG, but was also able to move on, adapt, and not QQ about it for the next three years.

To the original poster, good luck navigating the hate if you choose to play, or write about, SOE games. I'm afraid it will always be there unless these SWG vets suffer a sudden breakout of common sense, as internet forums bring out the absolute worst in people more often than not.

/salute

I stopped reading after I noted a trend and I started counting.

SWG  HAS BEEN MENTIONED 30 TIMES

Now maybe I'm the crazy one, but this was an article about EQ2. What I see happens is people burned from SWG laying blanket statements down about SOE ruining everything else.  So fine. Lets talk SWG.  I was a Bio Engineer and Creature Handler I was two professions that no longer exsisted when the NGE came out.  I was mad and I quit that day. 

 But I wasn't so blinded by rage (Remember, it is a game) To realize two points. The team that makes SWG does not make EQ2.  And I'm not even angry at the EQ2 team, they were doing what was told. LA was the one that wanted a carbon copy of World of Warcraft, they saw the numbers, LA wanted a piece of that. Lucasarts is far from innocent of exploiting a game and  making a game for the garunteed profit "Star Wars" will bring in, no matter how good  (or bad) it is.

So four years later players still complain about the evils of SOE. The evils which basically translate to one event that was more likely an act of Lucasarts then SOE. I moved on, I play EverQuest 2 and I enjoy it.  

Originally posted by auvii

"find something you like and have fun"

 

Your right that quote does do the trick, except not how you put it. Orginally EQ2 was its own game and was something people liked, then SOE decided they wanted money, obvious I suppose. Playing the game now feels dirty and unnatural. I Logged in and felt as if I was playing a very very shity WoW mod. Its sad that SOE ruined such a great game.

 

Maybe EQ3 will come one day and make its own mark.

        EQ2 had it s niche game then decided when it was losing subs to WoW that they would incorporate ideas that WoW had in hopes that it would lead players to its game......The end result was a greatly dumbed down version of the original EQ2.......The one thing I learned when I played EQ1 was that SOE is definitely a business and they are in it for the money only......Most changes they make are for the benefit of the company not for the player.......I have to agree with the poster I quoted in that EQ2 now feels like your playing a bad WoW version.....Pretty much everything is soloable and the group content is too easy...... EQ2 was originally aimed at the more hardcore player but now is geared for the casual.