Everquest Coming To the PS2

Boone^ writes "CNET's News.com is reporting that Sony is launching their online network with a bang as the most addictive, non-narcotic drug to ever grace a computer screen will now come to you in full NTSC quality courtesy of the PS2. Currently the release date for both the online network and "EverQuest Online Adventure" are TBA." The article points out part of the reason for introduction will be to drive sales of the Ps2 ethernet adaptor. Now, I haven't played since the Kunark expansion, but I'm hoping this version takes advantage of the Ps2's graphic capabilites, rather then what I've seen on EQ before.

Comments

I personally reckon

[yatest5]

that these games that 'simulate' real life are a BIG waste of time. They kid people into believing that they are not losers because they can 'live a life' online when actually they're just killing time until they die.

There's nothing wrong with playing games per se, but I think that games where you do cool stuff you never usually do, like fly jet fighters, and games where you achieve something more than holding a text converstaion with another similar loser, are far superior.

When I heard of people getting 'married' in these games, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Re:I personally reckon

[Blackwulf]

There's nothing wrong with playing games per se, but I think that games where you do cool stuff you never usually do, like fly jet fighters, and games where you achieve something more than holding a text converstaion with another similar loser, are far superior.

Please tell me where in "real life" I can go slay orcs and dragons, and cast really big pretty magic spells.

When I heard of people getting 'married' in these games, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

I guess being happy for someone actually enjoying themselves is not an option for you, huh. They gotta either enjoy it your way or be pitied by you, even if they're having fun.

Re:I personally reckon

[Zathrus]

that these games that 'simulate' real life are a BIG waste of time

In no way, shape, or form does EQ, UO, AO, DAoC, etc. simulate "real life". They don't even vaguely attempt to.

They do vaguely attempt to simulate a fantasy world, but most of the nitty gritty stuff that makes life real is not simulated.

Talking to people online isn't simulated either. The fact that you seem to think so shows just how vapid and shallow you really are. There's a real person on the other end of those pixels, who has feelings, thoughts, and motivations just like you do. And therein lies the rub, and the reason why EQ and other MMORPGs have a following that eclipses pretty much every other game out there. Because not only do they allow you to "do cool stuff you never usually do", but they allow you to make friends, chat, and have the social interaction that is lacking in most other games.

Yes, yes, scoff if you want at the concept of social interaction. Then realize that /. itself is another form of that as long as you're a poster (gee, look, you are - and a rather prolific one as well). Social interaction hasn't been limited to face-to-face meetings ever since the invention of writing. The Internet, in all its varied forms, is just another version thereof.

If you haven't played an MORPG (which includes MUDs) then you won't Get It. Quake and the like aren't the same - the little interaction there is mostly trash talk. IRC, Instant Messanging, and so forth are pretty similar to MORPG's though. All of them allow the intellectual excercise of talking to an intelligent being that is not yourself, and who may agree or disagree with your goals, thoughts, yada yada yada. Yeah, I know, seems all mystic-y and crap, but that's a lot of what human interaction comes down to.

Why do "losers" (your term, not mine) gravitate toward online interaction? Because for introverted personalities (which most geeks are), it's easier to hide behind a persona than it is to go out in real life. It's a matter of comfort and of being able to distance yourself. And to lower those facades at a speed you feel comfortable with (and yes, they do come down as you get to know people better).

All of the crap that occurs in face-to-face interaction - bickering, rumormongering, petty feuds, etc. happen online as well. All of the good stuff - friendships, loves, happiness, etc. can happen as well.

When I heard of people getting 'married' in these games, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Shrug. I've always thought these things were rather silly myself. Most of the real life couples I know who are married aren't married "in-game". Probably because it's assumed they're married.

And I know people who gotten married to people they met online. Most of them don't have "in-game" marraiges either. I don't.

Graphical MUD on Console?

[mirkurius]

EQ is a graphical MUD, a chat room with some role playing. It is not an action game, and a poor substitute for an adventure game. Streamline it for console? Hmmm... game is already mostly brain-dead... What makes it worthwhile is the human element provided by chat, and if this is missing from the console version what good is it?

Re:mmm, Squaresoft

[spyderbyte23]

...and the Lord looked upon it, and saw that it was good. ;)

That's one way of looking at it, but another way of looking at it is that now Sony intends to compete directly with Square. People play *one* of these things. They're just too time-consuming to do more than one. I bet Square is less than thrilled about this.

Be nice, already.

[DohDamit]

Christ all fucking mighty, be nice.

To start, pay attention to what you wrote.

...but I think that games where you do cool stuff you never usually do...

People who do this are living lives they can't live here and now. Maybe they're not attractive. Maybe they're balding epileptics who live in their mother's house and spend all damn day between contracts playing Everquest. Maybe I have good friends like this, and maybe you should back the fuck off. My bud is having it hard, and self-esteem issues like his aren't helped when some self-appointed judge comes along and calls him a loser.

Or maybe, I'm just havin' fun. Dunno.

Re:Be nice, already.

[katarac]

catch a band, see a film

Bands, movies? What a sad waste of time. How pathetic that you have to go see other people doing things in movies and on stage instead of going out and doing that I like to do.

Re:Think about the children!!!

[why-is-it]

Haven't we already concluded that Everquest leads to suicide? (link) [slashdot.org]. Surely this is a foolish move on Sony's part. Not only are they opening themselves up to potential legal action, but they're killing off their users!

So what? Phillip Morris has been killing their users for years! Sony is a mere Johnny-come-lately!

Re:Memory limitations

[FurryFeet]

Easy.
They don't run on Windows.
And this is NOT a troll. Consoles do need less memory to run games because of the more efficient OS. Check out the minimum PC specs on GTA2, and then consider that GTA3 runs on a PS2.

Graphics

[amokk]

"...but I'm hoping this version takes advantage of the Ps2's graphic capabilites, rather then what I've seen on EQ before." Sorry to say it, but the PS2 (nor any other console on the market for that matter) cannot possibly compare itself to a half-decent PC. Sure, the PS2 looks great on a super-low resolution NTSC screen, but at the end of the day, is it going to run Max Payne at 1280x1024 at over 80fps? I don't think so. No console on the market today has that kind of power no matter what the fanboys tell you.

Not the same EQ...

[throx]

It seems most people have missed the point that the EQ for the PS2 will not be the same "world" as the EQ for the PC. This means (thankfully) that current EQ players don't have to deal with the PS2 players who have significantly decreased interaction, or with the limits the processing power and graphics of the PS2 would impact on the main development tree.

In essence, I see EQ for the PS2 as something that will be the same in name only.

Now what was that L/R/R/U/D/A/B combo for dragon punch to Tormax again?