I just wrapped up my F.o.F. interview with J.P. Harrod for Blogzilla 1985 about his time working on the grandfather of multi-massive online role playing games (whew!), Ultima Online, and we discussed the current state of the industry. J.P. is a talented guy, but for whatever reason no longer works in the industry, and that is a shame. You would think that an industry that has gotten so stale would welcome talented minds, but I'm beginning to think that we are heading towards the very death of the genre.

Or, at the least, the death of new ideas within it.

We discussed at length the positive and negative impacts that the juggernaut World of Warcraft has brought to the table, and I found his thoughts on it to be very interesting. In the interview you'll be able to read this Friday, J.P. explains how the blame for the stagnant state of the genre doesn't fall on Blizzard or Warcraft for being successful, but on other companies for taking the easy road and just aiming for another WoW clo

If you are still playing Everquest, and you'd be surprised how many still are, it is time to sign up for their 18th expansion. They have just released the details behind what it takes to become a beta tester. It seems that those who attended the SoE Fan Faire will have guaranteed access as long as they sign up on the website. The following are the words straight from Sony's mouth:

We are now accepting sign-ups for the EverQuest® Veil of Alaris™ expansion beta. The beta period is expected to begin on Tuesday, September 13, 2011.

As with previous years' beta, the sign-up process has been made easier for you… and for us! Once you sign up, the system places you in a pool of potential beta testers. When the invite stages occur, beta testers will automatically be selected from

Over all the time I have spent in various MMORPGs, I have seen the many ways they hang the proverbial carrot in front of you. Whether it be leveling and gaining new skills and spells, or simply allowing you access to new and interesting zones. While all of these are effective, I have seen the death of many MMOs come due to the complete lack of end game character building. If a player doesn't feel like they can improve their character anymore than what they already have achieved, they will find themselves bored and wanting. A few games that have lasted the test of time by employing one or more of the following methods to keep players around for the long term:

Loot Centric Progression:


Can you really have a good MMO without amazing weapons and gear sitting on the horizon, just waiting for yo

It was fall of 1998 and in my hands

Well, as you may have read in my last blog that I was bored with the games I have been playing. After a few days now, I have made a choice. I am returning to my roots. Yes, I am returning to EverQuest.  I know what many of you will say about the game. That the graphics are too old, etc. Usually the graphics thing(Graphics only help a game, doesn't improve it really unless the game already had good gameplay.). Well, I am curious to see how I view the game now. I can not believe that the game is up to 14 expansions now. Heck, I still remember having to order Ruins of Kunark and it coming in the mail the day it launched(Yes, everyone made an Iksar.) The only thing sad about this for me was the guy who got me into MMO's in the first place died a couple years ago.

                I hope this experiment helps me out. It's either that or I give up MMO's in general. -sighs-

Everquest update: Steamfront Mountains get a facelift

Posted Oct 20, 2007 at 11:22PM by Charles D.Listed in: EverQuest, News, ScreenshotsTags: Sony, FaydwerAs EverQuest moves onto its 14th massive expansion, the developers from Sony Online Entertainment are continuing to improve the northern continent of Faydwer as it is set for a major visual facelift when the next maintenance comes in this Thursday.

Veteran gamers who've been playing this long-running MMORPG will appreciate the new changes that the Steamfront Mountains will be getting. You can take a look at the "before and after" pictures we've compiled below showing the improved graphical models, as well as the added textures.

There's no doubt that this will give players a new perspective after seeing how the revamped Steamfront Mountains add with the already rich lore of the world of EverQuest.

Steamfront Mountains feature the lands of the gnomes and their clockwork creations. Asides from that, small communities of dwarves and elves live alongside the gnomes. All these new changes continue to build the great mythos behind this eight-year old MMORPG. If you're still not convinced, take a look at the images below.

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If you are a player of either EverQuest orEverQuest II and you would like to beta test Legends of Norrath, pleasesend an email with the subject header "LON" to eq2beta@station.sony.com.Please include your Station A