gamergeek26

Our guild has had two meet-ups, one in 2009, and one in 2010. Since the guild is actually close to 7 years old, 2009 was a long time after we had formed. There is a core group of attendees who have been long time guild members, and sometimes a couple friends from RL, too. I wasn't able to attend last year's, but the first one we had was a lot of fun, and we all seemed to get along as if we had known each other for years. (Which, basically, we did.) I think we all called each other by in-game name (this continues onto Facebook, which is sort of hilarious because others have no idea who my gamer friends are or why they call me 'Araxes') initially, although we did all introduce ourselves by real name.

The biggest challenge each year has been coordinating a location, as we are literally all over the States, and then the issue of who makes the reservations, pays the initial cost, etc. It can be tricky, and we usually begin to plan many months in advance ... but unfortunately, like this year, it just isn't always in the cards for people, given schedules, family, jobs, school, travel, and expense.

I definitely recommend all longstanding guilds meet up in RL, though. It's great.

I will be looking forward to news of EQNext.

@Tempes Magus

Oh certainly. I'd count myself among that group, too. It seems that we're a minority, however.

It will be interesting to see if time -- and burn out -- has actually changed the way a large group of people feel about it, enough to constitute an actual market.

Here's my nickel:

The game looks amazing, and in theory it sounds like a terrific open-world experience.

However, past experience in Vanguard, and to a lesser degree, EQ2 when it first launched, informs me that Western gamers generally scatter after taking a brief taste of a true open-world experience. For better or worse, we seem to like generally being herded and directed. We like it in our jobs, we like it at our sporting and entertainment events, and we like it in our gaming. When these things are not present we cite any number of reasons as to why a thing "sucks" or "fails" or "is awful."

I personally really have a hard time playing Eastern-developed MMOs. Their aesthetic is different; they have an underlying texture that doesn't gel with me. Things are definitely "lost in translation."

Yeah. I prefer the subscription model; I'm willing to tolerate a cash shop that sells cosmetic items. Even basic gear (at a reasonable price point). Anything beyond that turns me off, though.

I think DDO worked so well becuase, simply, it was one of the first. There was no F2P Western market, not in terms of AAA titles, at any rate.

Now? We're flooded.

It will be interesting to see what happens. Like you said, people only have so much time in one day. I can barely manage two games, let alone 5.

@Araxes

The comment I made above this one was supposed to have been part of a previous conversation. I don't know what the heck happened that it attached to something else. LOL

Indeed it was striving. On paper, or in theory, it certainly sounded wonderful that people should have to be logged in and sitting in their houses in order to sell the things that took literally weeks to make, a great opportunity for real-world-style bartering and roleplay. It might have had a chance if EQ2 hadn't crashed and burned in 3 months time (you could blame the merits of the game itself, back then, or you could blame WoW, take your pick) and could have maintained a million-plus population. The practical demands soon gave way to the broker system, however, as the vast majority of people did not want to sit in their houses in order to sell things, or even be logged in, to sell things (a point that was not always part of the broker system, either). A great example of how EQ2 has continually changed for the better. Isn't it interesting though that the notion of being logged in and sitting in one's house so people can physically come TO that house to browse the wares, now, seems a novel concept? It's novel, yes, and it's also proven to be a failed concept (although people can still sell from their houses, if they so choose.) This is why I sometimes feel that although people may wax nostalgic for the old days, we have to look back and say "Yeah. Great. Those were the old days. Things are better now." Not in all cases -- in fact I recently ranted about the horrible trend of powerleveling -- but in some cases, the changes are for the best. That's another post entirely, though.

Ummm. Yeah, I'd say your list is right. EQ2 was my "first" -- although I gave WoW a tumble and a romp in the hay, just so I could have my wicked way with it. Your list is right, but I can't say that objectivity is really what it's all about. What if I had played AoC before I ever laid mouse on EQ2? I might feel very differently about AoC. EQ2 is certainly the better game, and yes, I feel it's a better game than LotR, as well. I started EQ2 when it launched and if someone had handed me EQ2 or AoC in 2004, I would have chosen AoC. EQ2 was a horrific game, at launch. It was brutal. Yes, rose-colored glasses DO play a part. I sometimes remind myself of the things that we take for granted, 7 years later. Those things were not always present in EQ2. You could say that EQ2 has had 4 more years to grow and mature, while AoC is still young. Of all the things you list, only housing and collections were actually in the game at launch (and obviously combat). In fact, chronomages, festivals, and flying mounts are all relatively recent; flying mounts are practically brand new. Crafting? Well, it's debatable whether the system is better now than it was at launch -- but I bet you will find a number of people who could attest to the fact that crafting in EQ2 was, at launch, an absolute nightmare. (Just the same, there are some people who wish it had not morphed into its current form ... masochists.)

Anyway I'm just rambling. I blame the beer. Nice read, though.

I don't know if this counts as service, but one time, a GM named "Hightower" showed up in the middle of one of our raids. He was a giant blue Sarnak. He showed up becuase a [ratonga] guildmate had petitioned that his special "a wheel of finely aged Roquefort cheese" was missing from his backpack. Who does this in the midst of raiding? Crazed ratonga. Well, of course we were all curious and we began to banter with the GM. He froze one of our guild officers in place, who threatened to do a drive by in Gorowyn, and then had a dance off. The Sarnak were the new race at the time, so none of us understood what the heck he was doing when he started dancing (watch the Sarnak dance, you'll know what I mean.) Our guildleader's wife then called the milk and cookies (a GM staples in EQ2) he was handing out "nasty" and demanded something better, like a master spell for herself, before doing the /rude emote. The GM told our guildleader that if his wife were nicer next time, we might get something better.

Honestly it was the most awesome GM encounter I've had.