How much nostalgia plays a role here

[Topgunben]

Just tried to get one of my buddies to play this, who has 0 experience with any MMOs besides WOW. I gave him a fair warning that the graphics are a little dated, and gameplay is also a little dated, but if he is willing to give it a shot, its one of the best games he'll ever play.

Unfortunately it just didnt work out for him haha. I think hes used to the smoothness(?) and handholding that other MMOs seem to offer. Honestly, trying to figure out how to do some of the most basic things in this game can be challenging if youve never done it. Scribing spells, casting spells, canceling casting spells, medding and so forth.

It makes me think though, how much nostalgia plays a role for me, and how that keeps me coming back, moreso than actual gameplay, storyline, or community. I am actually glad that he gave me his honest opinion, but at the same time, I do wonder if he would have stuck it out past level 2 if his opinion would have changed?

Nonetheless, you cant get me into any type of anime, its just not my thing. I see guys my age (mid 30s) talking about their favorite DBZ toons and I just cant even consider getting into it. So for my buddy, maybe thats the case with classic EQ.

[evilwizard]

nostalgia is all that this game has.

new players don't exist, because this shit is hot fucking garbage.

[Jibartik]

lol

[Jibartik]

https://i.imgur.com/NGfij1g.png

[Bondrake]

nostalgia is all that this game has.

new players don't exist, because this shit is hot fucking garbage.

Nah. I play it a couple times a week because I find the game relaxing.

[peterpal]

I think it has a few core elements that new mmos don't offer, I'll go into one:

One of the most genius thing the game has is placing high level mobs into newbie zones and naturally making a relationship with high level players that guide newbies, providing help with buffs, binds or advice. And also newbies getting resources high level people have demand for with bone chips or bat wings, crushbone belts etc.
It's a natural economic and social back and forth that's community building that I haven't seen in many other MMOs. It's usually grind all quest in zone a with static levels 1-10, then go to zone b 11-15 and once you're done with a zone you have no reason to come back ever.

On the other hand I definitely wouldn't recommend the game to people who haven't played it though or expect them to have the drive to keep playing it.

[Zuranthium]

Nostalgia is a big factor for sure, but this game has a bunch of uniquely interesting mechanics and design elements, even if there's a long list of other things that desperately need to be updated. If you go in with a group of people who all collectively decide to actually experience the game, it can still be good. It's extremely difficult to find that and still won't be as great as it was back in the day, but a worthwhile experience nonetheless. I wish your friend had given it more of a chance!

[Topgunben]

Nostalgia is a big factor for sure, but this game has a bunch of uniquely interesting mechanics and design elements, even if there's a long list of other things that desperately need to be updated. If you go in with a group of people who all collectively decide to actually experience the game, it can still be good. It's extremely difficult to find that and still won't be as great as it was back in the day, but a worthwhile experience nonetheless. I wish your friend had given it more of a chance!

Ditto. I found myself trying to not get offended because he was talking so much crap on the game. To me classic EQ has a really special place in my mind, and as much as I hate to admit it, the game has shaped who I am in real life.

I do however realize that the game certainly has its quirks and is highly unpolished. Back in 1999 there weren’t any other MMOs on the market, so people had to trudge through the bad game design elements of Everquest to see what was on the other side.

[tinklepee]

I started on Blue having never played EQ before. My first MMO was EQ2. I'm slowly trying to talk a friend who's also never played into trying it.

[Jibartik]

I Just got this ad on FB and it sums up P99 lol

https://i.imgur.com/V2J2aLq.png

[cd288]

I Just got this ad on FB and it sums up P99 lol

https://i.imgur.com/V2J2aLq.png

This may be your best comment

[Jibartik]

https://i.imgur.com/8S10yNw.gif

[Swish]

Consider red server.

[A Knight]

i think nostalgia has a lot to do with it, but maybe not more than half. I think i would find EQ fun if i just started playing it and never played it in the past. However, comparing it to WOW where you click a lot of a buttons makes it seem like EQ takes less skill or is less advanced. (Which could be true.) So i can see that it would take a lot to overcome that. However, if its fun then its fun. /shrug. So i cant say that i would never just enjoy it how it is.

[Bardp1999]

I find it impossible that someone who didn't play in the 90's/00's could find P99 and think its a good game.

[M.J.]

I find it impossible that someone who didn't play in the 90's/00's could find P99 and think its a good game.

I know people whose kids play so its definitely a stockholm / cult thing if you get em at the right age. This comment isn't even remotely the creepiest thing to ever be said on this forum.

[DMN]

Magic 8-ball says:

Your princess is in another castle.

[cd288]

I find it impossible that someone who didn't play in the 90's/00's could find P99 and think its a good game.

Idk I've seen a surprising number of people on the sub Reddit and in game who said they never played EQ before P99. I'm sure there's a decent number of people who try it and can't get into it, but it's certainly not zero.

[Arvan]

people who are used to old school gaming but never played p99 could prob like it and enjoy it

a person who has only played modern hand holdey stuff would probably be totally lost and have zero clue what to do or why its fun

[ElDude]

Undoubtedly nostalgia plays a huge part in the initial hook for most, but, from my albeit brief experience so far, there is undoubtedly something beyond the rose tinted spectacles which grabs people and gets them invested once again.

My intrepid Druid so far has experienced three extended corpse runs, a number of hugely charitable benefactors, and an impressive number of varied pick up groups. And it has been a blast.

If I was to explain to a friend that gaining level five took two evenings of serious grind, or that in the completion of an unmarked quest involving Bone chips, an abandoned building with a hidden wall, grimy cellar and random angry NPC which murdered me in one hit (and all this in one of the major hubs) I’m not sure they would jump at the chance of joining my adventure.

I last played EQ when I was about 11, 17 years ago. Returning is a little bit like going back your childhood home and the nostalgia is strong. However, beyond some sight seeing and knowing nods, I don’t think this explains the recent evenings I’ve spent on orc hill, or the grim determination of retrieving my corpse from Nekutlus because I set out in the evening and forgot that the original designers were maniacs.

Having recently delved head first into WOW Classic, there is something to be said for the design which envelopes EQ (or this P1999 variant). The obtuse nature of the game and it’s unrelenting challenge forces you to work with others and socialise. In the past decade I can count on one hand how many conversations I’ve had in other MMOs - and even then they were probably about the good old days in Norrath. This week I’ve met people who have been helpful, talkative and, in the case of newbies like myself, surprised that they have been missing this human experience for the past few years.

Stick a new engine on top of EQ, and smooth some of the rougher edges and this would be celebrated under the same terms as Dark Souls and similar games of its ilk. Nostalgia is probably the barrier to entry to persevere with a game that’s two decade old, as well as an installation process which, while made simple by the community, will put off some. However, there’s so much here that later games just failed to replicate or even appreciate. EQ feels like a world, WOW managed to retain some of this sense in the early days, but modern MMOs and updated older titles completely fail. That’s why I don’t think it’s just nostalgia that’s keep folks invested.

[A Knight]

I just hope they never go back to realistic graphics on EQ. If i found a wizard in the woods that said, "I can take you to another world that is magical and full of adventure, with the snap of my fingers." I wouldnt want to go from realistic real life graphics to more realistic real life graphics. I like old EQ graphics, they are magical and actually feel like a video games. Another reason why WOW graphics are ok, because they look cartoony. Which is related to my opinions on super advanced hard class builds. I think WOW has its place in life, but if i want the feel of skilled warrior and advanced graphics I'd play an FPS or an RTS. No offense to those who like that.

[Fammaden]

I've been guilded with people in their 20's for whom P99 was their introduction to EQ, and this was on blue before green drew in this fresh interest in the project. EQ has something that's greater than the sum of its parts, which is why this thread even exists 20 years later.

[Shin_Ra]

Yes and No.

EQ was my first 3d MMO and a complete game changer at the time. I was one of those kids who could never settle on a class. I must have rerolled every single character type at some point and never got one past level 40.

I used to love GFay and Crushbone. On P1999 I tried a Wood Elf Druid and Rogue, loved it but got bored. I think I've done too much Gfay.

Just rerolled (did I say I "used" to be one of those who always rerolled?) an Iksar Monk and absolutely loving it. Brand new experience for me, totally different part of the world.

So for me it's part nostalgia, and part doing all the stuff I never got around to doing on live.

[ZamnilBlackaxe1989]

My first MMO was WoW in 2005, played until 2008 when Warhammer Online came out, after that died in 2012ish I stopped playing mmos. Was always aware of EverQuest, but never knew much about or played it. P99 has been my first taste of the game, so it certainly isn't nostalgia that draws me here.

[HalflingSpergand]

nostalgia is all that this game has.

new players don't exist, because this shit is hot fucking garbage.

Tbis is really funny in an ironic way. Only an idiot would think this is hot garbage, but most people are idiots

[Bebo]

The problem isnt that the game requires Nostalgia. The problem is....he has no other mmo experience besides .......WOW. If you want him to try a Everquest experience similar to classic Everquest but with a lot of quality of life improvements he would appreciate you should try to play with him on Aradune. That is one of the latest retail TLP which is currently in Kunark with Velious opening in a 2 and half months...It will cost a sub but thats meeting him halfway i think

[Tywulf]

Back in 1999 there weren’t any other MMOs on the market

Both Ultima Online and Meridian 59 pre-date Everquest, while even in their "heyday" never achieved the following that EQ has.

[Muggens]

Ive actually "recruited" 8 RL buds to P99, but only 2 of those stayed for a while, and those two had played it during classic live. The new recruits fell off pretty quickly. So yeah, I think nostalgia plays a part for sure, but I know there are fresh blood coming into P99 aswell. The game is good, but not for everyone

[JDAm0nk]

Both Ultima Online and Meridian 59 pre-date Everquest, while even in their "heyday" never achieved the following that EQ has.

Also worth mentioning the Korean game Lineage which was extremely popular and had some unique PvP mechanics for its time.

[Centurionx]

Also worth mentioning the Korean game Lineage which was extremely popular and had some unique PvP mechanics for its time.

I played Lineage 2 for a short time, can't remember much but liked it for the most part. Seemed like there was a new mmo every other week pre-wow, and I tried playing most of em. But something always brings me back to classic EQ. Maybe it's partly nostalgia. However, the same effect wasn't reached whilst playing wow vanilla on a private server. Something was always "missing" with that game, not really sure how else to put it :p

[Tunabros]

I feel you man
I showed this game to all my friends
they all said it was old and gross and complicated

Dunno why they prefer league of legends over EQ

[Dural_Levant]

Both Ultima Online and Meridian 59 pre-date Everquest, while even in their "heyday" never achieved the following that EQ has.

So, I always knew about Ultima Online. In fact, back in the day, was about to buy it at EB Games before a store associate told me to get EQ instead; actually putting the retail box in my hand. However, I have NEVER heard of Meridian 59. I always thought that EQ was the first 3-D MMO, but according to Wikipedia, I have been wrong for years.

I have to say that I am rather intrigued. Has anyone here ever played it? What was your experience?

[BlackBellamy]

So, I always knew about Ultima Online. In fact, back in the day, was about to buy it at EB Games before a store associate told me to get EQ instead; actually putting the retail box in my hand. However, I have NEVER heard of Meridian 59. I always thought that EQ was the first 3-D MMO, but according to Wikipedia, I have been wrong for years.

I have to say that I am rather intrigued. Has anyone here ever played it? What was your experience?

Watch this video that's it in a nutshell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peT0Zwr5Zhk I mean don't watch the whole thing just skip around. It's EQ with way worse graphics, and as you can see the character movement sucks, and everything is just slightly worse than EQ. Look at that fight around 5:30 it's super unexciting and you can't tell what's going on. If there's anything surviving on on nostalgia, it's Meridian 59.

Zone design is labyrinthine, small mazes with big vertical walls everywhere blocking your movement. Models are sprites, all look like crap. I downloaded it and tried it even if there is some kind of gem in there buried with some quests or some advancement, I never got to it because it was so crap-ugly and stupid.

I guess the same reaction any younger WOW-fed-fan would have to p99.

[kjs86z]

I find it impossible that someone who didn't play in the 90's/00's could find P99 and think its a good game.

I played Asheron's Call in that '99-'04 era...had heard about Everquest.

Some RL buddies convinced me to try P99. Been here enjoying it ever since.

[peterpal]

I had an awesome time in Meridian 59 and never had a better PvP experience than any other MMO. But even when it came out the graphics were horrible and sub-standard.

The community of like 200 players per server was even tighter knit than Everquests. Guilds could rent guild halls and if you beefed with another guild you could go to war with them and even claim their hall.
I remember we actually had bat phone events when someone attacked the guild hall in the night and we had to defend it.

It also had 3 different factions you could join that made a major impact on the gameplay - not like horde/alliance in wow. - it's really strange that things like these don't even exist in modern games 25 years later.

Eventually EQ came around and the general MMO scope shifted to PvE content.

[Perdu]

Brand new player chiming in here. I have zero nostalgia because my first ever MMO besides runescape was wow classic when it released last year. I've just started a druid here and had more emergent gameplay experiences and meaningful social interactions in 3 days playtime than in my entire levelling experience in WoW classic.

I'm sure nostalgia plays a role, but its not needed. The game is just great.

[Donkey Hotay]

nostalgia is all that this game has.

new players don't exist, because this shit is hot fucking garbage.

This is somewhere around 9/10 True, I would say. I'm sure Perdu is a nice person and I mean no offense but I wouldn't take any odds on his playing out a month based on my experience since 2013.

The game is very strategic and almost turn-based when you consider regen and respawn timers but once you've devised your strategy for a given play area, there's absolutely nothing worthwhile to do in the game while you wait for glacial regen. Everyone tabs out of the game because the boredom isn't alleviated by the group chat you would have had in the original game to fill this dead space.

If a player has to tab out of a video game to keep from eating paint chips for entertainment, it's hot garbage just like the man said.

[Muggens]

I feel you man
I showed this game to all my friends
they all said it was old and gross and complicated

Dunno why they prefer league of legends over EQ

time to get more interesting friends

[Ennewi]

time to get more interesting friends

[Tunabros]

time to get more interesting friends

Seems like people under the age of 30 don't have interest or heart for gaming history
>-<

[strongNpretty]

This is somewhere around 9/10 True, I would say. I'm sure Perdu is a nice person and I mean no offense but I wouldn't take any odds on his playing out a month based on my experience since 2013.

The game is very strategic and almost turn-based when you consider regen and respawn timers but once you've devised your strategy for a given play area, there's absolutely nothing worthwhile to do in the game while you wait for glacial regen. Everyone tabs out of the game because the boredom isn't alleviated by the group chat you would have had in the original game to fill this dead space.

If a player has to tab out of a video game to keep from eating paint chips for entertainment, it's hot garbage just like the man said.

And i'm sure you're a nice person too.. Med breaks, Tab outs, Spawn Breaks.. All crucial to make sure a huge chunk of this community gets the fuck up off their chair to stretch or bath or eat..

[Donkey Hotay]

I really don't care, Mr. Internet Tough Guy avatar.

[strongNpretty]

I really don't care, Mr. Internet Tough Guy avatar.

Cared enough to tell me you don't care and provide me with a name. Anytime you provide a name to something.. You care... This is somewhere around 9/10 True, I would say.

[Dural_Levant]

Watch this video that's it in a nutshell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peT0Zwr5Zhk I mean don't watch the whole thing just skip around. It's EQ with way worse graphics, and as you can see the character movement sucks, and everything is just slightly worse than EQ. Look at that fight around 5:30 it's super unexciting and you can't tell what's going on. If there's anything surviving on on nostalgia, it's Meridian 59.

Zone design is labyrinthine, small mazes with big vertical walls everywhere blocking your movement. Models are sprites, all look like crap. I downloaded it and tried it even if there is some kind of gem in there buried with some quests or some advancement, I never got to it because it was so crap-ugly and stupid.

I guess the same reaction any younger WOW-fed-fan would have to p99.


I had an awesome time in Meridian 59 and never had a better PvP experience than any other MMO. But even when it came out the graphics were horrible and sub-standard.

The community of like 200 players per server was even tighter knit than Everquests. Guilds could rent guild halls and if you beefed with another guild you could go to war with them and even claim their hall.
I remember we actually had bat phone events when someone attacked the guild hall in the night and we had to defend it.

It also had 3 different factions you could join that made a major impact on the gameplay - not like horde/alliance in wow. - it's really strange that things like these don't even exist in modern games 25 years later.

Eventually EQ came around and the general MMO scope shifted to PvE content.

So it turns out that Meridian 59 is available on Steam for free. So I tried it out with some friends for an evening. I think both of you were right in your own ways. I could see my high-school self really get invested in this game if I had known about it. That said, it's definitely running on nostalgia.

[Tunabros]

So it turns out that Meridian 59 is available on Steam for free. So I tried it out with some friends for an evening. I think both of you were right in your own ways. I could see my high-school self really get invested in this game if I had known about it. That said, it's definitely running on nostalgia.

This game was really fun until I got lost. I only met around (i say) around 10 players in total? They all seem to be afk or they'll run away real fast