New Massively Multiplayer Online Game Currently In Production
SAN DIEGO, CA - January 9, 2002 - Brad McQuaid and Jeff Butler, both key figures in the runaway hit "EverQuest," have formed a development company dedicated to the production of massively multiplayer online role-playing games. The as-of-yet-unnamed company is currently seeking additional funding as they broker the publishing rights to their first independent title.
"Ever since I played my first MUD, my passion has been to create strong massively multiplayer communities," said Brad McQuaid, president of the new company. "With this venture, I can continue the terrific working relationship I have enjoyed with Jeff Butler while we realize our MMORPG ambitions. We believe we have just begun to explore the possibilities of this genre."
McQuaid and Butler are both creators of the massively multiplayer runaway hit "EverQuest," developed by Verant Interactive. The game shattered all multiplayer game records after its release in 1999, exceeding all industry expectations and inspiring three top-selling expansion packs. McQuaid is President and CEO of the new company, and Butler has assumed the role of Vice President.
About Brad McQuaid
Brad McQuaid was the co-designer of "EverQuest," managing the development team from the project's inception until its launch. He later became a founder of Verant Interactive and its Vice President. After Verant's acquisition by Sony Online Entertainment, Brad McQuaid served there as Vice President of Premium Games responsible for "EverQuest," "Sovereign," "PlanetSide," "Star Wars: Galaxies," and several currently unannounced projects. In addition, McQuaid was the company's Chief Creative Officer. He resigned amicably from the company in October 2001. McQuaid is one of the most respected online game developers in the industry, featured in with numerous articles in publications such as "The Wall Street Journal" and "Time Magazine." "PC Gamer" named him one of the "Next Game Gods" in their November 2000 issue.
About Jeff Butler [ 01-10-2002: Message edited by: Kagrama ]
Jeff Butler joined Verant Interactive as Customer Service Manager in early 1999, and was promoted to Producer in 2000. Butler managed the EverQuest Live teams dedicated to ongoing content and development while simultaneously producing the three most recent EverQuest expansions, "EverQuest: The Shadows of Luclin," "EverQuest: The Scars of Velious," and "EverQuest: The Ruins of Kunark." Jeff Butler resigned from SOE amicably in December 2001.
What sort of game would those two crazy kids come up with?
That's gonna turn out to bite someone in the ass eventually.
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Maradön? stumbled drunkenly to the keyboard and typed:
Now my curiosity is piqued!What sort of game would those two crazy kids come up with?
No doubt, something built around (Dun dun duuun) The Vision! (TM)
Lets face it, yes they did make a good game in EQ, but they just kept screwing it up over and over. The "ignore the player base" and "screw as many people as we can" paths that they have taken time and time again show that they are ignorant of the whole "customer service" ideal. The fact that they finally made changes that players have been begging for for months - only after AO and DAoC made a serious threat to their precious business should show which comes first - money or players.
Do I still play? Yes I do, but not for any "love of the game." I play to hang out with friends and socialize with them. Honestly, half the time I sit on some form of IM and chat with them there instead of playing online - even if it's to kick back on n00b character twinks.
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Stormhaven had this to say about Matthew Broderick:
Not to be too sarcastic in my commentary about those two, but I will never touch another video game with their names on it again. Unless they are able to make something of Blizzard's caliber, which I highly doubt.Lets face it, yes they did make a good game in EQ, but they just kept screwing it up over and over. The "ignore the player base" and "screw as many people as we can" paths that they have taken time and time again show that they are ignorant of the whole "customer service" ideal. The fact that they finally made changes that players have been begging for for months - only after AO and DAoC made a serious threat to their precious business should show which comes first - money or players.
Do I still play? Yes I do, but not for any "love of the game." I play to hang out with friends and socialize with them. Honestly, half the time I sit on some form of IM and chat with them there instead of playing online - even if it's to kick back on n00b character twinks.
World of Warcraft 2 r0x0r. So glad Blizz is making an MMORPG. Means itll be done RIGHT 
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Maradön? had this to say about Cuba:
Now my curiosity is piqued!What sort of game would those two crazy kids come up with?
Maybe they'll buy the rights to Dawn?
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Falaanla Marr had this to say about Jimmy Carter:
World of Warcraft 2 r0x0r. So glad Blizz is making an MMORPG. Means itll be done RIGHT
WoW 2? What happened to WoW 1?
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Reynar had this to say about dark elf butts:
Too many people making MMORPG's, not enough consumer base.That's gonna turn out to bite someone in the ass eventually.
Yeah, there'll actually be *gasp!* competition!!
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Stormhaven stumbled drunkenly to the keyboard and typed:
<snipped quote>
Now who does that remind us of? [ 01-10-2002: Message edited by: Maradön? ]
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Palador ChibiDragon had this to say about Robocop:
Maybe they'll buy the rights to Dawn?
*snickers*
Oh, and Reynar, I heartily agree with you...
It may seem like there aren't a whole lot of MMORPGs out there. But since they are all continuous games that require a large amount of your time to play, balancing multiple MMORPGs is difficult...
There is a pretty set MMORPG population. The amount of new MMORPG players is fairly small, I think. So every new MMORPG is directly competing with the other games, unlike in video games. So, a new MMORPG has to draw it's fanbase away from their current MMORPG.
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JooJooFlop thought this was the Ricky Martin Fan Club Forum and wrote:
Personally, I will give my business to any MMORPG that offers me the most delicious candy.
Here here!
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Maradön? thought this was the Ricky Martin Fan Club Forum and wrote:
Here here!
Ow ...
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JooJooFlop had this to say about Matthew Broderick:
WoW 2? What happened to WoW 1?
What I hope they mean is that it is the World of [Warcraft 2]... As in Warcraft 2's World, now World of Warcraft #2...
If I'm wrong, then Blizzard is perhaps digging themselves in way to deep, hehe...
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Maradön? had this to say about Reading Rainbow:
Yeah, there'll actually be *gasp!* competition!!
There isnt now? We have UO/ EQ/ AC/ AO/ DAoC/ Lineage (sp?)
Not even 2 million people on all of those games combined, with lineage controlling more then the rest combined. So what happens when more come into play? Well unless the consumer base expands about 2 fold very soon, some will have to leave the arena.
Not that this is a bad thing of course. But my question is knowing this, why make another MMOG?
There's already another dozen MMOGs on the way, and most of them will never see the light of day, and those that do...you wont make much money from.
Anyone care to answer that? =)
Besides how many fantasy games have we seen at this point? EQ, AC, UO, DAoC, etc etc ad nauseum.
sigpic courtesy of This Guy, original modified by me
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Ja'Deth Issar Ka'bael impressed everyone with:
Besides how many fantasy games have we seen at this point? EQ, AC, UO, DAoC, etc etc ad nauseum.
And look how many more are on the way...*groan*
sigpic courtesy of This Guy, original modified by me
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Ja'Deth Issar Ka'bael thought this was the Ricky Martin Fan Club Forum and wrote:
I want more cyberpunk-type multi-user games. (Ones that actually work, danke). I've got this twitching need for cyberpunk of late, and having played Deus Ex til my fingers bleed isn't resolving the need anymore.Besides how many fantasy games have we seen at this point? EQ, AC, UO, DAoC, etc etc ad nauseum.
sigpic courtesy of This Guy, original modified by me
Anyway. It'll be interesting to see if McQuaid and Butler can marshal a strong customer service team for their next venture 
Personally I can't wait for WoW
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Reynar had this to say about Tron:
There isnt now? We have UO/ EQ/ AC/ AO/ DAoC/ Lineage (sp?)
Umm...
UO? It has a loyal playerbase, but do you really think they have new subscribers very often?
EQ. Yes.
AC. Don't make me laugh.
AO. Eh, some people like it.
DAoC. It has potential... but everyone I know who plays DAoC and liked it hasn't played in over 4 weeks...
Lineage. Never heard of it.
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Elvish Crack Piper had this to say about dark elf butts:
Is neocron released already, in beta, or nothing released yet.
It's definatly in beta as I am ..., er was a beta tester.
and remember the SB motto.Shadowbane:We play to Care [ 01-10-2002: Message edited by: Mr. Duck ]
Also, Kegwen, from what I understand, Lineage is a HUGE Asian MMORPG (I can't remember where it's based, but I want to say Korea...?).
I've wondered if there's an English/US Version released/in the works...
Also, from what I understand, it's even got EQ beat in players, by a LOT to...
sigpic courtesy of This Guy, original modified by me
sigpic courtesy of This Guy, original modified by me
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Vorago had this to say about Optimus Prime:
World of Warcraft takes place after the events in Warcraft 3. The burning legions have been pushed back, destroyed or whatever happens to them, and now the shattered kingdoms are trying to rebuild.Personally I can't wait for WoW
Warcraft 3? When did this happen?!
Darkness Falls forever!!!
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Lashanna had this to say about Captain Planet:
Warcraft 3? When did this happen?!
Uhhh, the beta sign up is going on, or it just ended.
Check here for WarCraft III [ 01-10-2002: Message edited by: Elethi ]
sigpic courtesy of This Guy, original modified by me
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Kanid had this to say about Tron:
I wanna be a Werewolf!Darkness Falls forever!!!
Napalm is especially entertaining against Werewolves in wolf form, 
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Check out the big brain on Lashanna!
Napalm is especially entertaining against Werewolves in wolf form,
Bleah. Napalm sticks to EVERYTHING anyway. Maybe I would be a demon. Vain the Demon was my favorite character in DF anyway, until he mysteriously disappeared. 
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Reynar thought this was the Ricky Martin Fan Club Forum and wrote:
But my question is knowing this, why make another MMOG?
Because MMOG's, though prolific (as prolific as the genere can be anyway), are still in a sort of embryonic stage.
Even the best currently existing MMORPGs suffer from a lack of entertaining gameplay in comparison to CRPG's and comparable games in non-MM generes, choosing rather to repeatedly play the "Character Addiction" card.
Furthermore, character development in even the best currently existing MMORPG's is really rather simplistic when compared to character development in CRPG's like FFX and P&PRPG's like D&D.
Why make more MMORPG's? Because it forces the hand of progress.
