I have heard it called Minecraft on
steroids.
EverQuest Next Landmark is SOE's next chapter in the
Everquest Franchise. EverQuest Next and EverQuest Next Landmark's game play is described as an
Adventuring/crafting/harvesting/building sandbox as seen here. SOE
being a major contributor to the MMO market, has once again taken the
spotlight in touting “Pioneer” or “ Time for some new ideas in
the genre and if someone is going to do it, it should be EverQuest.”
Ingredients are very important as with
any recipe. Mom's homemade chocolate pie (which is to die for) is not
only about ingredients but proportions and how the ingredients are
added. Landmark's main ingredients are destructibility and a
procedurally generated world. What we are uncertain of, are
proportions and application.
We have a general idea though videos
and interviews but without tasting it for ourselves, we don't know
what is too much or what is too little. If all or most of the
landscape is destructible, in a world which traveling is essential,
it may be a challenge to find your way back without road signs or
points of interest. “I turned left at the big tree or hill but its
gone now.” We know the world heals itself but will it reset back to
its original state. In a sense this does add flavor to adventuring
but if there is an ever changing landscape it may be frustrating.
Landmark is an ever changing world and being in pre-alpha development
also means, its an ever changing world.
SOE's desire to include the masses
(with a cover charge for entry)in an early alpha state is also
something new. A chance for the player base to help in development,
ideas and testing is exciting and even more so for SOE fans. It does
seem that a new direction is wanted, warranted or needed in this
genre of game play. Old EverQuest fans are hoping to re-capture their
first love. New and old gamers are looking for something different
than what they have been experiencing. Is this the “Holy Grail?”
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| Iconogrial (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
When Landmark is released and we set our eyes on EverQuest Next, will
the true replay-ability without the grind finally exist? Will we
actually find ourselves in a world that is truly ever changing? It
will be the Holy Grail if all the ingredients and proportions are
properly applied.
Following SOE and the EverQuest
Franchise for over 14 years has yielded more good times than bad, and
I have complete confidence in their development team. I know what a
perfect chocolate pie tastes like and I like pie. I don't know how a
perfect game feels like but maybe I will get a chance to find out.
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