Early release
From Smedley:
First and foremost, thanks for helping us test EQ2. We're getting great feedback and you're helping us find and fix problems at a very rapid rate.
I wanted to address a couple of concerns:
1) Login - these issues should be completely gone in the next few days. Sorry for the problems, but simply put there were problems that needed addressing.. and addressing them caused some bugs.. those will be gone quickly.
2) Lag - it's really 2 zones atm.. it's Antonica and Commonlands. The team has made great strides in this area..and they have some big stuff coming in within the next few days that we hope is really going to get things back to normal. It's gotten a lot better, but we see it too (we're all playing EQ 2 all the time). This will go away before we launch. Please also understand that we have very deliberately been running the servers at what we consider to be the maximum capacity. In the next day or so we'll add another server or two to the list that players can go to. This should help a lot since as we let in a lot of new people we won't be seeing them all go in to the existing ones. Our strategy here is a simple one - to keep the servers stressed out to make sure we address server performance issues. At launch we will have a significant number of servers, so in and of itself this should help a great deal.. but we're not relying on that. We're going to make sure the performance is good.
3) Launch - The offical announcement comes out tomorrow. While I understand that some of you may feel the game is coming out too early.. we feel very strongly that we can address the remaining issues and have a very smooth and successful launch. We have a lot of things that we're testing internally before we open them up to you all... and that does include a ton of bug fixes that are underway. The team is closing bugs out at a lightning fast rate. From the outside, when you see login issues it looks like we've taken a step backward.. and I can understand how it appears that way. But the people on this team are stone cold pros who have done this for a long time and are dedicated to making sure EQ2 is an enjoyable experience.
Thanks,
John Smedley
President, Sony Online Entertainment
worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online (MMO) gaming, today announced
that EverQuest II is scheduled to simultaneously ship to North American and
European retail stores on November 8, 2004. EverQuest II is the
highly-anticipated follow-up to Sony Online Entertainment's original
EverQuest, the most successful and longest-running 3D MMO role-playing game in
North America.
"After more than four years in development, the wait for EverQuest II is
almost over," said John Smedley, president, Sony Online Entertainment. "We've
invested heavily on development of the game to ensure that EverQuest II has
the highest production values of any online game produced to date. We want to
deliver a game to our players that will provide an experience like nothing
they've ever seen."
Sony Online Entertainment is delivering a truly groundbreaking MMO game in
EverQuest II with pioneering firsts in advanced 3D graphics, story, voice,
production values, and gameplay. EverQuest II features the most realistic
graphics of any MMO game ever created with a next-generation 3D graphics
engine designed to keep pace with hardware developed over the next few years.
Players will hear more than 70,000 lines of spoken dialogue in EverQuest II as
non-player characters are given voiceover for the first time ever in an MMO
game bringing the story of EverQuest II to life. EverQuest II also features
gameplay innovations that make EverQuest II fun and exciting for all types of
players and play styles, from hardcore gamers, to new MMO players, to those
who play in groups, and solo players.
EverQuest II comes in three versions, all of which include a 30-day
subscription (excluding SOE All Access subscriptions) to the game's online
world. The CD version and DVD versions of the game carry an SRP of $49.99 and
include the game, an in-game item and an in-box item.
Limited quantities of the EverQuest II Collector's Edition (DVD) are
available at an SRP of $89.99. The Collector's Edition includes a number of
in-game items, including "paintings" of EverQuest II scenery to be hung on the
walls of a player's house, magical talking statues of Antonia and Lucan
(voiced by Hollywood talent Heather Graham and Christopher Lee), and an
exclusive pet baby dragon. The Collector's Edition also includes an exclusive
art book, bonus DVD with trailers, gameplay videos and behind-the-scenes
footage, a soundtrack CD, a collector's coin with a velvet pouch, a cloth map
of Norrath, and two posters.
EverQuest II carries a monthly subscription fee of $14.99 for continuing
access to the game world. Players can subscribe using a credit card, or
purchase SOE 30-day and 90-day Game Cards, which open the new world of Norrath
to those who choose not to use a credit card.
About EverQuest II
EverQuest II is the next generation of massively multiplayer gaming, a
huge online world where thousands of players come together for adventure and
community. Featuring breathtaking graphics and a vast, beautiful game world
to explore, as well as voices for almost all non-player characters, EverQuest
II sets new standards in gameplay and immersion. EverQuest II brings players
into its world with a powerful epic storyline and gives them the power to be
the hero or villain in their personal adventure. Players enter this world by
creating their own unique character, choosing from 16 races and 24 classes.
Players will encounter hundreds of creatures as they travel across majestic
landscapes of rolling hills, barren deserts, dense forests, and bustling
cities. Thousands of items, hundreds of spells, and unlimited adventure await
all who enter the world of EverQuest II. EverQuest II also features:
* A new, massive online world for thousands of players to explore,
filled with danger, adventure and mystery
* Voices for most non-player characters (NPCs) in the game, a huge
project encompassing more than 70,000 lines and 130 hours of dialog
* Unparalleled character customization capabilities. In addition to
thousands of armor, weapons and items users can equip, players will be
able to customize their character's facial appearance to an incredible
level of detail and personalization
* 16 races, dozens of levels and 24 classes with a branching system that
allows players to choose their class as they advance
* Player-owned real estate (such as apartments, homes, and guild houses)
* No race/class combination limitations, allowing players to truly
choose who they want to be in game
* New user friendly game mechanics with reduced learning curve for both
new and seasoned players
* More than 160 unique creature types, from Orcs and Goblins to huge
dragons and menacing Living Statues
* Incentives for current EverQuest subscribers
* A state-of-the-art, cinematic quality 3D graphics engine capable of
improving as hardware technology advances
* State-of-the art combat, spell and skill systems
* Trade skills available to all player classes
About Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a subsidiary of Sony Pictures
Digital Inc., is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online
games, with a subscriber base of over 750,000 active accounts around the
globe. SOE creates, develops and provides compelling entertainment for the
personal computer, online, game console and wireless markets. Known for its
blockbuster franchises, EverQuest(R) and PlanetSide(R), as well as for
developing Star Wars Galaxies(TM): An Empire Divided(TM), SOE continues to
redefine the business of online gaming and the creation of active player
communities while introducing new genres on various entertainment platforms.
Headquartered in San Diego, CA, with an additional development studio in
Austin, TX, SOE has an array of cutting-edge online games in development.
EverQuest is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment America
Inc. SOE, the SOE logo and PlanetSide are registered trademarks of Sony
Online Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are properties
of their respective owners.
i didnt expect that, since they wanted to redo the whole class system. they got 2 weeks to get it done now =P
Unless its already done.....
i didnt expect that, since they wanted to redo the whole class system. they got 2 weeks to get it done now =P
Can you say Star Wars........... :?
I'm still trying to decided which game was released to early. Star Wars or Horizons.
Granted, now that Lucas Arts is revoking Sony's license to star wars and pulling the entire game in house. I might actually consider going back to star wars.
drizzii didnt expect that, since they wanted to redo the whole class system. they got 2 weeks to get it done now =P
Can you say Star Wars........... :?
I'm still trying to decided which game was released to early. Star Wars or Horizons.
Granted, now that Lucas Arts is revoking Sony's license to star wars and pulling the entire game in house. I might actually consider going back to star wars.
All I know is the majority of beta testers I have actually had contact with are loving EQ2 at the moment. I have a good feeling abou this game. Oh and the gra-FX are rocking something fierce from the SS + movies I have seen.