Continuing on the success of the original EverQuest, Sony Online Entertainment Inc. announced it is developing EverQuest II. Scheduled to launch in Winter 2003, EverQuest II adds significant improvements over the first, widely popular, iteration. EverQuest II uses a completely new, cutting-edge 3D engine developed in-house with a host of technological features allowing the development team to generate an unparalleled visually stunning 3D world. Other features include the ability to own real estate, ride horses, command ships, and experience all-new enhanced spells, quests and events. EverQuest II returns to the culturally diverse world of Norrath in the future of the original EverQuest, with the sheer size and graphical detail greater than ever seen before.
It's no secret that we have seen phenomenal success with EverQuest, said John Smedley, senior vice president and COO, Sony Online Entertainment. With these improvements to an already great game, we are not only investing in our growing online community, but also pushing the boundaries of what the next generation of role-playing games aspire to be. EverQuest II is the successful embodiment of better technology, player feedback and our desire to build an online global community.
Larger in scope than its predecessor, EverQuest II will be able to host hundreds of thousands of simultaneous users from all over the world. And, due to increased localization features including real-time translation in English, French, German, Japanese and Korean, as well as localized servers in select countries, players from every corner of the earth will be able to explore familiar areas and new, undiscovered territories of Norrath. With innovative in-game creatures, weapons and items EverQuest II promises something new for all subscribers.
EverQuest II is truly an amazing experience, said Andrew Sites, producer, Sony Online Entertainment. The vastness of the world, the increasingly deep storyline and the continuity of the online community make EverQuest II an unparalleled game.
The financial success of the original Everquest is undisputed and in order to better understand its magnitude you would be wise to have a look at a Megagames Special focusing on just that success.
It seems that Sony paid attention and their plans for the Everquest 2 are mainly to use it as a vehicle to push their PS2 online plans as far as possible. tHIS IS ONLY Their planned E3 line up is full of Massively Multiplayer titles such as The Planes of Power, PlanetSide and of course Everquest 2.
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Overview
Changes
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With over 4 years of Massively Multiplayer game development experience to draw from, the EverQuest II team will be introducing a myriad of new features never before seen in Massively Multiplayer games.
EverQuest II returns to the rich and culturally diverse world of Norrath. Users will be able to select from a wide variety of both new and old races, as well as an exciting new class system when creating their character. Significant improvements to combat, spell and quest mechanics promise to immerse players even more so than the original. In addition to the new mechanics, users will be able to own real estate, participate in and conduct gladiatorial and theatrical events, as well as have the ability to command horses, ships and other such modes of transport. At release, players will be able to equip thousands of items and encounter hundreds of unique creatures, all within a world so large that it literally eclipses the original Norrath in size.
Features:
-A brand new 3D engine which takes full advantage of a wide variety of recent technological advances in 3D hardware/software such as per pixel lighting, dynamic environment mapping, and a fully programmable surface shader system
-More intuitive gameplay features appeal to both new and seasoned players
-New branching class structure that players define as they advance through the game
-Vast world of Norrath revisits familiar locations and introduces a variety of newly discovered areas in the Age of Destiny, a time period in the future of the original EverQuest.
-Increased character customization capabilities allow players to customize characters' faces, hair, and body types to create truly unique avatars
Deeper character development offering pacing options that cater to game players new to the role-playing genre as well as experienced role-players
-Non-confrontational means of character advancement that include a completely new tradesman character class
-Mounts and vehicles that you can ride and control, including horses and boats, make traversing the massive world of Norrath faster than before
-Norrathian real estate for players to call their own
-All-new trade skill/crafting system
-Completely new and tactically rich combat, spell and skill systems
-A completely revised and enhanced quest system
-Dynamic world environment shaped by player events.
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Everquest 2 On its Way
Changes
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Due to the recent announcement of its development, not many details about Everquest 2 are available.
Some changes however, have been implied by the various interviews and comments made by the games' developers.
While seasoned EverQuest players will immediately notice the visual improvements, gameplay will also undergo several key advancements. EverQuest II will contain a new branching class structure defined by the players as they progress in the game.
Character customization, is considered a key change and players will be able to define faces, hair and body types, while developing characters will now offer pacing options that consider players who are new to the role-playing genre as well as experienced role-players. There will even be a non-confrontational means of character advancement that includes a completely new tradesman character class.
Be sure to keep checking as this preview will be updated as soon as any new information is released.
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