Player Disquiet Leads To EverQuest Expansion Delay

EvilBastard writes "Sony Online Entertainment have announced that, due to an almost universal player backlash against the next expansion pack that is seen more as a $30.00 patch for missing content, they are delaying the new EverQuest expansion by 6 weeks, and will 'spend time fixing the problems you have brought to our attention'. Also announced is a plan to fly some of the more vocal website people to SOE headquarters, to try to restart enthusiasm for what may be the last EverQuest expansion ever. With the cancellation of Everquest for Mac, some high-profile guilds quitting, 6 months of allegedly declining numbers, big - budget competition and now a widespread call to boycott future games, is the much-predicted end of EverQuest almost here?"

Comments

Re:Not being an Everquest player

[Anonymous Coward]

People are basically angry that SOE has promised them the world, but delivering a not-so-polished turd. They have released a neutered character class, tons of high-end content that casual players will never have a chance to see, and a new game engine that has severely broken collision in the game. The gameplay has become even more of a grind and massive time sink over the years and EverQuest is basically no longer that game that had such amazing appeal.

EQ2 aims to fix a lot of the design issues they had with EQ. The graphics engine in EQ2 is fucking incredible, and if the gameplay has quality half as good, it will be an awesome game.

Re:Not being an Everquest player

[Hecubas]

This is the straw that broke the camel's back. If you're played EQ for any amount of time, chances are you've read Woody's comics.

Things that led to this:

• SOE upgraded the graphics engine to use DirectX 9, causing much headache for under par machines (which were running fine before).
  
• Within a short period, they released many expansions. The latest, Gates of Discord, being totally aimed at uber high end raiders, and was not labeled as such.
  
• Said latest expansion was so difficult, if you weren't playing the "core" classes, you're SOL. Also, it appeared much of the content was buggy.
  
• In the midst of Dx9 issues and fixing bugs with the latest expansion, SOE announces yet another expansion.
  

Interestingly enough, during this time they've reduced prices on expansions and have several bargains on year long subscriptions. My theory is SOE is painfully aware of the MMORPG competition and is using a shotgun approach to hang onto the market. That would explain bringing the game up to speed to today's graphics and releasing expansions rapid fire, while at the same time dropping prices.