Post by Morreion on Aug 31, 2010 9:04:17 GMT -5
EverQuest II: Is New Halas Really New?
It has been said that developers have a very short window of opportunity in which to grab a player's attention and, most importantly, to keep it. To that end, MMORPG.com's Phil James has a review of the recently overhauled starter zone in Everquest II. Find out if Phil thinks the reworked starter zone in EQII is enough to capture and retain a player's interest.
The initial isle sets the trend for the kind of levelling you will expect to find. Progression comes fast and there is more than enough content here for you to out-level some of the quests. In fact, I don’t recall ever being given a quest that was above my level and by the time I had passed level 10 quests started being a level or two below mine. Staying ahead of the curve carries on throughout the whole zone. It is designed to take characters to level 20, but players should have no problems getting to the mid-twenties before reaching New Halas itself.
Everquest 2 Extended Review, New Free MMORPG from SOE (Suite 101)
Is Anything About Everquest 2 Extended Redeemable?
The answer to this question will depend largely upon the person playing. Old-timers are mostly irate, and justifiably so—the makers of the game they have played and loved for years have turned their backs on them. Newcomers, however, have a lot of good content available to them for free (if they can stand the limitations and hourly requests to fill SOE's pockets).
Also, unlike the Live servers, the free server is currently packed with people, and finding groups for low-level dungeons—a task that was nearly impossible on Live servers—is a piece of cake on the free.
The answer to this question will depend largely upon the person playing. Old-timers are mostly irate, and justifiably so—the makers of the game they have played and loved for years have turned their backs on them. Newcomers, however, have a lot of good content available to them for free (if they can stand the limitations and hourly requests to fill SOE's pockets).
Also, unlike the Live servers, the free server is currently packed with people, and finding groups for low-level dungeons—a task that was nearly impossible on Live servers—is a piece of cake on the free.
EQ2 New Player Mount Guide (Ten Ton Hammer)
Each of the new player cities has a mount available through their newbie quest series. Higher level characters can generally also run these quests to obtain the mounts as long as they haven't already completed the quests required. It is possible to get the mounts from each of the cities or pick one up from a city other than your own starting city, it just takes a bit of travel!
This useful article points you towards getting your first mount.
Examining EQ2 F2P Restrictions (Player Versus Developer)
Though I don't dislike EQ2's group content, dungeon runs in the game take too long for them to be a serious considering in my purchasing decisions. As long as I'm prepared to write off dungeon runs and play a free race/class (or pay one-time unlock fees), I can have basically everything that I used to pay to do in game for free. If SOE is going to make it inconvenient for me to participate in the economy, I can just ignore that part of the game altogether, other than perhaps to get a pair of bags for my two free bag slots.
This is a good article laying out what you can do for free and what you have to pay for, from a player that has subscribed to EQ2. He gives his impressions of what is worth paying for.
EverQuest II: User interfaces: Does ‘one size’ fit all? Hardly
In his latest MMORPG.com article, Michael Lafferty discusses the recent changes to the Everquest II user interface, or UI. While acknowledging some nice changes, Michael discovered that many players think that the new version leaves much to be desired. In comments from the players themselves, Michael discovers that one size does NOT fit all. Find out why.
On Wednesday, August 18, Sony Online released GU57 for EverQuest II, an update that did several things but the most notable – from the moment a player logs in – is a streamlining of the UI. Of course, in the days before the update, there was a lot of trepidation and in-game chatter about what would happen and the majority of it was of the ‘doom and gloom’ variety. The update launched, some things were more accessible and while there was complaining – after all, during a six-year run, some commands were second nature and now players have to think again, not just tap keys – generally, life has carried on in Norrath.
SOE has to learn that non-subscribers are a NECESSARY evil. (EQ2X Forum Thread)
What other companies have learned, is that FREE players still have value for the PAYING players and that this value has to be maximised to make the big buck customers stay happy. And thats exactly what's not happening in EQ2X. I am a bronze player myself (played EQ/EQ2 for years allready) and my use to gold players is near to zero.
The only thing I do is crowding the place which is allready a good thing, cause there's nothing worse, than empty servers. But otherwise:
- I can't buy stuff from gold players over the broker (and I am not only talking equipment, everybody makes good plat on collections alone)
- I can't put up loads of harvests (especially rare) ones on the broker for the dedicated gold crafters
- I am to not much use for a guild since I haven't even enough storing space to keep all those status loot I find, to craft high-end stuff and I cannot be properly equipped to raid.
- Since my equipment and spell levels are also under par I am also of not much use for grouping with gold players
The only thing I do is crowding the place which is allready a good thing, cause there's nothing worse, than empty servers. But otherwise:
- I can't buy stuff from gold players over the broker (and I am not only talking equipment, everybody makes good plat on collections alone)
- I can't put up loads of harvests (especially rare) ones on the broker for the dedicated gold crafters
- I am to not much use for a guild since I haven't even enough storing space to keep all those status loot I find, to craft high-end stuff and I cannot be properly equipped to raid.
- Since my equipment and spell levels are also under par I am also of not much use for grouping with gold players
This is a fair point, and many are wondering if Sony will have to adjust it's bronze/silver/gold payment models.
