When they phased out EQ1 from store shelves, which was around 2005, they were pushing to get EQ2 noticed. That's why EQ2 were on the shelves. SOE tried for so many years to get EQ2 the boost, and they totally missed the mark. Even though us players have told them we still prefer EQ1, and to stop advertising EQ2 and push us every month to play EQ2 via newsletters and other sorts. In my opinion their strategy backfired, because EQ2 never jumped in subscribers, it has remained fairly the same in a low 100-200k figure, while EQ1 has seen steady decline due to SOE's decision to move on.
It's sad honestly. We won't see boxes on store shelves because they make more money doing digital downloads (retail sucks I think someone said up to 80% of the box price). We also won't see them on the shelves anymore because SOE wants people to see EQ2 as their flagship product instead....soon to be DCUO when it's ready to be released.
To my knowledge, the last physical box that was released for Everquest was the Anniversary Edition released in April 2007.
Meett wrote:
The last box was 2007, but it was Secrets of Faydwer, not Anniversary. So, recently it has only been SoD expansion that has been Digital Download only. Though, I think Legacy of Ykesha may have been Digital Download only as well IIRC. Since it was only 1 recent expansion so far, that is why I thought they might still do a box every year or 2 just to have shelf presence. The actual costs of the box is probably only a couple of dollars. Maybe designing the box itself costs money, but the materials really shouldn't be much at all ($2-$5). It would only take 1 person to make the box art, and shouldn't even take long for that either. They mostly re-use concept art for their packaging. Heck, I could design the box sleeve itself in probably less than 1 week. Going Digital Download only is just the lazy way out IMO. I think they are doing only the bare minimum to keep it going.
weissres wrote:
Going Digital Download only is just the lazy way out IMO. I think they are doing only the bare minimum to keep it going.
No, going digital download only means they take in the full amount. Putting retail boxes on the shelves means they have to pay retailers to sell these, which eats up a big chunk of their profit.
Has nothing to do with being lazy or the cost of boxes/CD prints. Those are cheap items. It's the fact that putting stuff on the shelves makes them less money, even though it's better for the game.
free to play to a certian level with additional account restrictions would absolutely revitalize everquest and give it a built in source for new subscriptions. with free realms, the agency on their roster this would be the perfeect blend of ala carte and subscription revenue.. it woulld also potentionally revolutionize the mmorpg market on the whole dpending on its success.
Retailers don't make very much money off selling brand new games (this is why Gamestop almost always tries to sell you a used version). They charge publishers a lot of money for shelf space because if you ever go to a place like Gamestop you'll realize they just can't put very many games on the shelf.
If your game isn't going to sell a lot of copies, it'd cost you more money to purchase shelf space than the few copies you'll sell. The only exception would be if you're somebody really big, like Halo or WoW or even Diablo 2, because if your store doesn't carry WoW it kind of makes people question your legitmancy even if the said store isn't planning to sell very many copies of WoW.
Now some companies do pay for the shelf spaces at a loss because they want the game to be visible. For example even if Blizzard loses money on WoW (due to shelving cost), they can't afford to have WoW drop off the shelves of Gamestop because then people will be talking about how WoW must be totally dying if Gamestop don't carry them anymore. But in the case of EQ, it's not like seeing a copy of EQ on Gamestop will fool anyone into thinking this is a growing game. And on the converse not seeing any copy of EQ at a Gamestop isn't a sign that the end times are near since that's the way it's been for the last 5+ expansions. So, EQ gains nothing for having a boxed version to sell.
Underfoot will only be available through digital download as done with the Seeds of Destruction.
Funny how its not yet on D2D.... http://www.direct2drive.com/Search....hTerm=everquest
Zatozia wrote:
Thanks for the confirmation, Zatosia, that is exactly what I needed to know
They only care about the $$. Once EQ is no longer profitable they will just close the servers and end it. That may take a long time but is probably what will happen. The fact that they are making half-finished expansions is a good sign of this.
I, myself, understand the Digital Download...but I am disappointed in it.
If you have a newer pc you just can't go to the trusty box to help with the prepatch...you have to spend hours hoping that you can stay connected to DL the game.
I don't know about others...when I try to back up my data on discs...I get tons of errors telling me that SOE files are corrupt or not found...causing me even more headaches, delays and ultimately I almost want to throw things...like buses or tanks.
Have I played the game a while...yes. I am content to grow steady...and I assumed UF would be a digital download with SOE "teaser" that it would be slowly installed over months of time.
I miss the gift of gaming that SOE used to have...I could have old friends without deep pockets come out and group with me for an exapansion and enjoy the game more deeply.
Woe SOE that it was abandoned. I lost over 320...actual number is 341 Vazaelle/MS friends online...due to that. College and Military folk that had limited resources that were glad to have a "video game" to make them feel connected since neither had the time or the money to enjoy socializing any other way and made a great gift to hand to those looking for something to do.
I read in this post that some games 11+ years old change...true...they do. But are they gone? Nope. I know that Mario, Sonic, FF, Link, DD,Comic book characters and more are far older then that and still have a positive role in the gaming community...and we, those that fell in love with the ideas and concepts those characters offer from way back when...are happy to share that experience with our families...thus the younger generation wants to also interact with those characters and the games we still enjoy.
Is it unrealistic to hope for a reinfusion of a great concept. NO. I find it to be unrealistic that no one else wants to take the game to a new plateau of new found wonder and expectation! Am I content with the quests or the faction...the harder zones that only elite pass thru until several expansions later I may be able to enjoy...I am unsure. Jealous perhaps...but honestly...I like the story to develop and open those Pandora's boxes as I learn more...sure the reward can be dazzling...but the puzzle, myths, mystery and the excitement from having more coming is always a delightful challenge...and probably why so many old players...like myself...are content to remain here.
Am I looking forward to UF? Um...not really...I sometimes get vertigo from playing the game and or seasick. I worry that the cavernlike caves may do that to me unintentionally. But will that stop me from trying to learn and uncover some of the new perks? I would say nope...probably not.
So...that's my thoughts. /shrug
Such as they are.
I miss the nifty key chains! The Ykesha staff was one I think and umm.. I got a rogues 2.0 Epic dagger out of another... and the pretty cloth maps.. and.. and.. and... *cries*
Angahran-Bertox wrote:
Definately looks like advertising for EQ is just a myth.The only people SOE seem to 'advertise' new expansions to are those of us already playing, and they wonder why their player base is shrinking ?How about taking back some of the money that is being diverted from EQ subscriptions to fund things like LoN, the Marketplace, Free Realms, etc and actually ADVERTISE EVERQUEST ?I know it's a radical idea that'll never happen, but one can dream....Ang.
Definately looks like advertising for EQ is just a myth.
The only people SOE seem to 'advertise' new expansions to are those of us already playing, and they wonder why their player base is shrinking ?
How about taking back some of the money that is being diverted from EQ subscriptions to fund things like LoN, the Marketplace, Free Realms, etc and actually ADVERTISE EVERQUEST ?
I know it's a radical idea that'll never happen, but one can dream....
Ang.
SOE hired the old Amiga Marketing team from Commodore Int. The new people decided to stay with a winning strategy.
I've always thought with digital download purchases, that they should offer to send you a CD/DVD, nothing fancy just a DVD if you choose to pay $5 shipping.
People love to have the game in their possession, it's like actually having it rather than linked to your station account.
Moldy cheeseburgers... I only eat misty thicket picnics and hero sandwiches and that funny bread thing. And the occasional lump of zelniak fat. That moldy cheeseburger could be a good addition to baking.
Akinit wrote:
Also, take into consideration how many MMO's have closed every since EQ was launched. 10+ years in and still out living even the most popular/hyped MMO launches. Age of Conan, Warhammer Online, and now Aion is starting to see a decline in the player base. There are more, but those are some of the most anticipated and well known ones.
EQ has it's problems, but being out to outlive even the new-boys in town is something that shouldn't be downplayed.
My point is, if SOE refuse to advertise EQ then there is only one direction the player base is going to go and that is down.Ang.
My point is, if SOE refuse to advertise EQ then there is only one direction the player base is going to go and that is down.
An advertising campeign would kill this game outright.
The thing about advertising campeigns is that they are a) expensive(most people don't seem to be understandable about that part) and b) once you issue one, suits expect substantial results to help justify the money spent. If its not there, and they feel they're throwing good money after bad, there is the inevitable backlash to shut the game down and consolidate to others.
The best thing EQ can do is simply keep surviving and justifying the budget allocated. Then we all get the fun of continuing to play. Just imagine EQ as Granny. She's old and frail and if she tries to do jumping jacks(even though it may be good for her health), she'll probably just end up breaking a hip and hastening her departure. The best thing for her to do is continue on her normal routine and live off the pension while having everything she needs paid for. Thats where we're at and either understand it and move on or keep raging against the dying of the light that we don't have advertising.
