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Sony Online Entertainment and the EverQuest team have announced that the game will be going free to play beginning in early March, just in time for its 13th anniversary.
Also at the free-to-play launch, all players will receive a Welcome Pack containing items to add to your gameplay experience. You'll be able to summon a unique Mercenary to fight by your side and we're including some Bayle Marks to help pay for the services of your newly summoned Mercenary. A couple of Experience Potions are also included to help you increase your experience gained while adventuring. For all the collectors that like to show off all the great wares to your friends, we're giving you an item to display in your home and add to your collection. And finally, you'll be able to customize the appearance of one of your weapons with a Weapon Ornamentation - also included in the Welcome Pack. So be sure to check the claim window for your free gifts.
Read the full announcement letter by Thom Terrazas on the EverQuest site.
UPDATE: As part of the F2P push, Sony has also announced the closure of the Mac version of Everquest.
Thanks to Xexv for the link and heads up!
Comments
Now if Sony would take VG to the F2P format i would be a happy panda.
well i expect all soe products to adopt the free to play model since smedley has clearly said he believes this to be the future of mmo.
I'll pass. Their idea of "free" is a joke.
"Censorship is never over for those who have experienced it. It is a brand on the imagination that affects the individual who has suffered it, forever." - Noam Chomsky
I was waiting for this to happen foreverah! woooooooo!
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No access to the progression server. That sucks, its the main reason for old players to come back.
lol, wonder if they will "grandfather" former subscriber charrs to be playable like they ended up doing for eq2. Also wonder if the aa slider will be stuck at 50% for bronze/silver.
Anyone know what a prestige item would be?
Yeah i dont understand that move.
Didn't really like how they handled F2P in EQ2, but I'll keep my eyes on this one. Who knows, perhaps even SOE can learn from their mistakes.
It's too bad that EverQuest looks like the predecessor to King's Quest 1.
At first glance it appears a carbon copy of eq2s which i despise. I dont think it will have the same negative impact however depending on what a "prestige" item is. For one spells tiers dont start in eq1 until what level 80? Secondly quests arent the main source of leveling so limiting these doesnt carry much weight either. 1000 aa for silver not sure the impact since i have like 500 max on my old chars. Ill give it a try and hope it doesnt turn out as gimped as eq2.
You have to be kidding me... The original EQ F2P before VG F2P? That is absurd.. I mean, I understand the anger and animosity involved in the whole SoE vs Sigil thing, but come on.. Money is money and VG would bring in players and flow (if they did the CS right) to SoE anyway..
Anywho, I will more than likely get on this and return to a different age of mmo (if its even the same anymore).. Hopefully they create a new progression server that starts the timeline over with no expansions and works its way through them over time..
can someone answer me a question plz..i have station access and this game is on the list..do i have to purchase the game to play it atm..i mean the early stuff not veil of alaris..or can i d/load the client now and play(i,m a tight bastard).
Greeeaaaat news!!! I couldn't bring myself to pay for a sub, but I'm definitely going to play now.
http://www.questhard.com
Yes I found their EQ2 F2P model to be pretty restrictive. I would guess this pretty much answers the question about the Everquest Next payment model.
Really? This game sucks and Im not having fun? Im going to unsub right now. Thanks for the tip.
It's entirely possible that EQ had the reources to make the switch sooner. Going Free to Play is more than just adding an item mall to the game.
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
"Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre
http://massively.joystiq.com/screenshots/everquest-veil-of-alaris-0/4594184/#/4
Looks close, man.
He who keeps his cool best wins.
Well Smeadley continue with what he announced some months ago. SOE change from p2p to freemium model totally.
Imo in max 2 years all SOE titles will be freemium. I bet EQNext will be as well.
Well good to know, I know now I won't be playing any SOE mmorpg again.
Oh totally, they already announced that Planetside 2 will be F2P, so EQ Next will almost certainly follow the same pattern.
So they increased the team size and there seems to be a new Producer. Hopefully this means Vanguard might go the F2P route soonish.
Not really, if you want a specific race or class you can buy them on the SC Market, my problem is that they rip off people...$7.50 for a class.
Another issue that annoys me is that they don't allow free players to wear Fabled/Legendary items, at least let folks that prefer micro transactions to pay for access to Fabled/Legendary without having to subscribe.
I guess it was just a matter of time.
I wonder if they plan to do the same for Vanguard as well? I have a feeling that are choosing between that and closing it down, I hope they keep it around. Even with all it´s flaws it is still a good game.
Looks like darkfall. Oh well tolerable graphics for games nowadays, I'll definately give this a shot when it goes F2P
the sec VG goes f2p im there with bells on. Will have to knock the dust off of Byron and get back to work