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EverQuest turns 10

By TomM_GScom, GameSpotPosted Mar 16, 2009 4:28 pm PT

Ten years ago today, 989 Studios and Verant Interactive flipped the switch on EverQuest, and in so doing, turned the massively multiplayer online role-playing gaming genre on its ear. The seminal MMORPG celebrates its 10th anniversary today, and in addition to San Diego proclaiming the date as Sony...

Ten years ago today, 989 Studios and Verant Interactive flipped the switch on EverQuest, and in so doing, turned the massively multiplayer online role-playing gaming genre on its ear. The seminal MMORPG celebrates its 10th anniversary today, and in addition to San Diego proclaiming the date as Sony Online Entertainment Day, the game's publisher is honoring the occasion with a number of announcements and in-game events.

Pertaining to events in the real world, SOE said that the 10th anniversary edition of its annual Fan Faire will descend on Las Vegas from June 25-28. As in previous years, the EQ-player powwow will feature a community address from SOE president John Smedley, developer sessions, and in-game tournaments. Members of the original EQ development team will also be on hand to sign autographs. Tickets are expected to go on sale in April, with more information available on the event's Web site.

Norrath's shores will also partake in the festivities, and SOE has a number of in-game events scheduled to roll out in the next few months. According to the publisher, new content will be available for both solo and group adventurers. Players will also be able to compete in large-scale raids for a chance to place on the 10th anniversary leaderboards. SOE's 10th Anniversary Web site has more about the planned events.

Named GameSpot's Game of the Year in 1999, EverQuest has gone on to spawn 15 expansion packs, a number of spin-off games, and a full sequel, EverQuest II. According to SOE, in its 10-year history, players have created more than 12 million characters, and more than 1 million non-player characters currently populate the EQ world. The game's most recent expansion, Seeds of Destruction, launched in October.

65 Comments

  • sakin13

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 2:57 am PT

    There must have been an evil conspiracy that unfolded around the time that WOW launched and EQ lost about half its population in one shot. That was the Gates of Discord expansion that had content for level 70 when characters could only get to level 65 at the time. It was so frustrating that it made even the most fanatic players give up and go to wow. EQ has evolved. Alot. There have been good things and bad things about the evolution but one thing is certain . what we felt during the first few years of EQ was and always will be very unique. So many rich feelings ( good and bad of course ) that no other game will ever achieve. Now if Verant was still in the picture i think EQ would have had gone through a more extensive overhaul. ALthough players that still play dont mind the graphics at all there can be alot of improvements in the polishing front so that new and old players can be re-attracted to the game. Happy Birthday EQ !

  • Sscythe

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 5:27 pm PT

    I don't think you can ever forget your first mmorpg toon...I have very fond memories of EQ--right along with some horrible memories of some very nasty corpse runs But whoever made the comment regarding being able to solo hit the nail on the head, IMO. I played a warrior, and let me tell you, trying to level one of those in the early days of EQ, especially if you were playing in the off-hours when the rest of your guild was offline, was sheer torture. (Another horrible memory--spending 6 hours lfg without success.) While successors to EQ have had better graphics and some arguable improvements, I'll always look back with a fondness in my heart for my "first love". Happy birthday, EQ!

  • Giantsfan22

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 2:40 pm PT

    People still play this? Wow. This was my first mmo and even though looking back the combat would allow me to eat a sandwhich while talking on the phone and daydreaming, the game had a certain aura to it. There was a real sense of community lacking in some mmos today. I think the mmo genre is very slowly dying because people are tired or boring combat. Even AoC with its "revolutionary combat is still pretty static. That and they are insanely expensive to develop. Once a really good cobat system emerges, the genre will have new life. But anyway, happy birthday everquest! You got me hooked on mmos and for that...I thank you.

  • aldrenar47

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 11:44 am PT

    People who play WoW have it easy... Everquest was brutal! It took ages to level, you could barely solo anything, travel was ultra slow unless you were certain classes (or begged them to help you... "SoW please!"), and you lost lots of experience when you died. You could even lose levels by dying, and you had to run back to your corpse naked to loot your equipment. But it did make for a very intense, rewarding play experience. There was a real sense of danger, and it really felt like you achieved something when you finished a dungeon or killed a dragon. That feeling of danger is lost in WoW and other recent games, because the penalty for dying is so low and travel is so fast. I remember messing around and getting killed in Onyxia's lair in WoW, just for kicks... you would never do that in Everquest, ever! Don't get me wrong, WoW is a good game, better in many ways than EQ. They just had very different rules.

  • mcjakeqcool

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 11:14 am PT

    Cannot belive how quickly these past 10 years have gone, really makes you think.

  • Shmoe82

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 11:00 am PT

    Great game, its awesome thats its still around 10yrs later. It and Ultima Online will always be my favorite online RPGs.

  • Voqar

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 10:51 am PT

    I joined EQ about 2 weeks after it released and was blown away. At the time it was pure magic - a complete revolution in gaming. Over time you come to realize it has a sadistic/masochistic design and a lot of design flaws mixed in, but during those early days nobody cared and it was good times that'll never be repeated exactly the same.

  • Hazzerz

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 10:19 am PT

    Hmm, I thought it was a bit older than 10 years.

  • -Inertia

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 10:15 am PT

    Still play EQ1 every so often my dad has played it from launch day over 1 year playing time on it...its insane

  • Hekynn

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 9:39 am PT

    Congrats EQ! lol I played Eq1 for 6 yrs and played EQ2 since launch day

  • BtmnHatesRbn posted Mar 17, 2009 8:47 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    BtmnHatesRbn

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 8:47 am PT (hide)

    And nobody cares about EverQuest. Go ahead, say the name at a GameStop and get a funny look.

  • Airek49

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 8:35 am PT

    The game that started it all. No game will ever have the charm and magic as the original Everquest did.

  • saris340

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 8:10 am PT

    You missed out then, Scars of Velious was one of the better expansions they released.

  • gamedragonshi

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 8:05 am PT

    I too was a victim of this early on....but i gave up the bad habit right as the "Scars' expansion came out.

  • aura_enchanted

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 7:33 am PT

    happy birthday to you *snorts some evercrack* happy b-da... what are doing again?*

  • NicAgent

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 7:22 am PT

    Evercrack!

    I do remember watching the local news that night Shawn Woolley killed himself.

  • SpideR_CentS

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 7:12 am PT

    I was on EQ towards the beginning. I was always a gamer but never really played RPGs. So EQ introduced me to RPGs as a whole. I played it mostly because it was cool playing with other players. Once Xbox live came out and I could play fighters, sports, racing, shooters, etc with others I quit EQ. Was a good game though, but way too many time sinks. WAY TO MANY TIME SINKS!

  • shawnanthony

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 7:07 am PT

    I do believe that the WOW creator's met while playing EQ so if it was not for EQ then you would not be playing WOW. (write that down)

  • carneyfolk

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 6:17 am PT

    wow, 10 years, i am old. Congratulations EQ! One of the greatest and most influential games ever made.

  • CamiKitten

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 6:02 am PT

    Happy Anniversary EQ ~ you were the start of good things! Can't believe it's been 10 years now o_O

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