Question about the people in EQ2

[Schadenfroh]

It seems that in the past few days the amount of AOL kiddies has increased on my servers for some reason. Are the EQ2 players generally much older and more mature than some of the WoW people i have been seeing in the past few days?

 

[Looney]

Yep, generally EQ2 is a more mature game. I know in every guild i've been in, 80+% of the people in the guild are older than 25.

EQ and EQ2 is a much more social game... sure, you can solo in EQ2, but it's twice as effective to group. Because it's so heavily grouped dependent (even crafting is interdepedent... you can't make armor unless you have 4-5 other people, in different skills, making things for you), the social retards quickly get bored of the game or find it's not their type of game, and leave.

 

[Looney]

Here are the latest numbers of WoW vs EQ2 subscription rates: http://www.mmogchart.com/Chart...ons_14161_image001.gif

You can come to your own conclusions as to why polls for WoW would have you think WoW is 10x as popular as EQ2 is.

 

[onelin]

As a long time EQ player I highly doubt EQ2 players are much different... real age notwithstanding, many of the people still act like children. The fact that you have to rely on others to get anything done isn't an advantage over being able to solo. Guild politics alone can be one of the ugliest things in a game. I'd say it's hardly a good basis for changing games...people can ruin your fun in any game if you let them. I've been playing games online since the KALI days. I stopped EQ for the WoW beta and have no reason to return. I didn't buy WoW retail, either, so while I do think it's a great game it's not like I'm just cheerleading.

 

[effee]

i find that numbers highly doubtful.

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: effee
i find that numbers highly doubtful.

Why would you say that? They only sold about 600k by Jan 10... and lets say only 2/3 of them continue to play, which would make their active subscriptions about 400k... that's about right then.

Or are you claiming that EQ2 can't be that popular?

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: onelin
As a long time EQ player I highly doubt EQ2 players are much different... real age notwithstanding, many of the people still act like children. The fact that you have to rely on others to get anything done isn't an advantage over being able to solo. Guild politics alone can be one of the ugliest things in a game. I'd say it's hardly a good basis for changing games...people can ruin your fun in any game if you let them. I've been playing games online since the KALI days. I stopped EQ for the WoW beta and have no reason to return. I didn't buy WoW retail, either, so while I do think it's a great game it's not like I'm just cheerleading.

And what's your experience with EQ2?

And the biggest reason why i continue playing these games is due to the people i meet. I've played nearly every mmorpg that ever hit NA, and in only a handful of them do i play longer than the free month (if i can play the free month, i consider getting my money's worth... only game i didn't was Shadowbane), but if i do it's because of the friendships and people that i've met.

 

[Todd33]

Originally posted by: Hardcore
Here are the latest numbers of WoW vs EQ2 subscription rates: http://www.mmogchart.com/Chart...ons_14161_image001.gif

You can come to your own conclusions as to why polls for WoW would have you think WoW is 10x as popular as EQ2 is.

That graph is bogus. Any proof of the numbers? No one releases public number anymore on subscription rates, I doubt EQ2 has anywhere near WoW or even EQ1.

 

[Cook1]

sure, you can solo in EQ2

For like 1% every 7-9 kills you can! They made the xp group oriented all the way

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: Todd33

Originally posted by: Hardcore
Here are the latest numbers of WoW vs EQ2 subscription rates: http://www.mmogchart.com/Chart...ons_14161_image001.gif

You can come to your own conclusions as to why polls for WoW would have you think WoW is 10x as popular as EQ2 is.

That graph is bogus. Any proof of the numbers? No one releases public number anymore on subscription rates, I doubt EQ2 has anywhere near WoW or even EQ1.

Um yeah, they do press releases. Infact, if you walk into SOE headquarters, there's a tickertape sort of screen above the entrance that lists numbers like subscriptions and people online in real-time. It's a sort of motivation for the company.

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: Cook1

sure, you can solo in EQ2

For like 1% every 7-9 kills you can! They made the xp group oriented all the way

Well, about 4 kills per xp from my experience... but yeah, that's why i said it's twice as effective to group, and which is how SOE wanted it. It's not a surprise or hidden fact that SOE games are more group oriented.

 

[Cook1]

Just sucks up the good one if you're on an american based server and can't play til around 2am though.

 

[jterrell]

I am playing EQ2 and yes it seems the crowd is more mature.
Thats likely because so many former EQ players who had quit EQ started back on EQ2. That was the case with me and many people I know.

Same folks playing but 5 years later means an older crowd in general.

I have grouped all of once and find it actually quite easy to solo provided you wait until the highest level to do the quests. The quests give excellent exp as well so leveling has been quite easy for me. I understand that may change later on in the game but I played EQ and was able to solo and dont imagine that will change provided I hunt in the proper locations.

It will obviously be easier in 6 to 8 months when better gear has trickled down to lower level players.

And ya Cook try to find the right server. If you are at 2 AM EST you can play with PST folks easy. If its 2 AM PST then you need to hit a Euro server.
OR you might enjoy being able to get content fairly easily. Just hit a message board and ask around for other night owls

 

[skace]

If you think one game is more mature than the other, you are kidding yourself. The only difference is how much damage an immature person can cause.

 

[jterrell]

Thats simply not true.

If you take a cross section of games obviously they will have different spectrums of age.

EQ2 is generally popular with EQ1 players who have experience in the same world and are older.

WoW is a seriously toonish looking game that appeals to many for its lack of time sinks and immediate satisfaction.

Even reviews that laud WoW and pan EQ2 state EQ2 is directed more at hardcore older players and WoW is a more fun, less exhaustive game.

I played EQ with guys who helped design and create WoW.

 

[skace]

I don't recall when hardcore and older became synonymous. Last I checked, most "hardcore" players are still in high school. Where as most of my WoW guild are full time workers. The laid back "casual" atmosphere appeals more to people who don't have all day to spend on a game.

Edit: oh and most of the people I played EQ1 with are now playing WoW... or not playing MMORPGS at all.

 

[imported_obsidian]

Originally posted by: Todd33

Originally posted by: Hardcore
Here are the latest numbers of WoW vs EQ2 subscription rates: http://www.mmogchart.com/Chart...ons_14161_image001.gif

You can come to your own conclusions as to why polls for WoW would have you think WoW is 10x as popular as EQ2 is.

That graph is bogus. Any proof of the numbers? No one releases public number anymore on subscription rates, I doubt EQ2 has anywhere near WoW or even EQ1.

Well then maybe you should read a little more into that site. Those numbers are indeed real at the time they are put out. The author even tells you how certain he is of the numbers. Just because the subscription numbers of all MMOs aren't on the front page of shacknews doesn't mean they don't exist.

 

[Malak]

From my knowledge, the graph seems pretty accurate. Although I'm surprised Shadowbane is that high.

 

[Hadsus]

Originally posted by: skace
I don't recall when hardcore and older became synonymous. Last I checked, most "hardcore" players are still in high school. Where as most of my WoW guild are full time workers. The laid back "casual" atmosphere appeals more to people who don't have all day to spend on a game.

Edit: oh and most of the people I played EQ1 with are now playing WoW... or not playing MMORPGS at all.

Agreed.....my observation also. Last nite, in fact, someone in our guild asked "how old are you in RL" in guild chat.....something you see frequently with clans/guilds. Of those who answered, one or two answered "20's" and everyone else answered "30's." No doubt there are lotsa kids playing but there are a large number, like me, who did the EQ 1 thing of long corpse runs, day long raids, camping rare spawns, etc. Those days are gone, thankfully. I want a more easy going game and WoW is the answer....I thought EQ 2 was too much like EQ 1 in this regard.

 

[CVSiN]

Originally posted by: Hardcore
Yep, generally EQ2 is a more mature game. I know in every guild i've been in, 80+% of the people in the guild are older than 25.

EQ and EQ2 is a much more social game... sure, you can solo in EQ2, but it's twice as effective to group. Because it's so heavily grouped dependent (even crafting is interdepedent... you can't make armor unless you have 4-5 other people, in different skills, making things for you), the social retards quickly get bored of the game or find it's not their type of game, and leave.

LOL if you think wow isnt social you havent played past 30...
it gets very slow and boring without a group past 30 and you will miss all the instances (dungeons) without a group you can count on...

WoW is a very social game for anyone playing it to win...
guilds are a must and very large guilds are almost mandatory if you want to be able to do things like Molten core or Black Rock Spire or Onyxia that require 40 L60s to even get in the front door...
and then locks the group for 5 days where only those SAME 40 people can attempt again...
so if you want to farm onyxia once a way is found you would need 2 groups of 40 seperate people to be able to run her 2x in a week. with the same guild...

Also the quickest way to 60 is NOT soloing its 5 man power instancing... over and over and over.... so your at least beign social with the same 5 people for 8-10 hours a day =P

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

EQ and EQ2 is a much more social game... sure, you can solo in EQ2, but it's twice as effective to group. Because it's so heavily grouped dependent (even crafting is interdepedent...

Crafting anything GOOD in WoW is interdepented too. All the best exp and loot is found in instances, which are group areas (or raids, even larger group). You have the option to solo, and then you have the better option to group.

Seems sorta unlikely that EQ2 has nearly the same # of subscriptions as WoW does when I see polls where WOW has 10 times as many votes as EQ2, but whatever.

As for immature people in WoW.... get in a good guild, throw out a /ignore when needed, and maybe turn off General Chat. I haven't had much of a problem with them. I know some are out there, but when you party with guildies you don't have much contact with the immature people.

 

[Malak]

Originally posted by: ArmchairAthlete

EQ and EQ2 is a much more social game... sure, you can solo in EQ2, but it's twice as effective to group. Because it's so heavily grouped dependent (even crafting is interdepedent...

Crafting anything GOOD in WoW is interdepented too. All the best exp and loot is found in instances, which are group areas (or raids, even larger group). You have the option to solo, and then you have the better option to group.

Seems sorta unlikely that EQ2 has nearly the same # of subscriptions as WoW does when I see polls where WOW has 10 times as many votes as EQ2, but whatever.

As for immature people in WoW.... get in a good guild, throw out a /ignore when needed, and maybe turn off General Chat. I haven't had much of a problem with them. I know some are out there, but when you party with guildies you don't have much contact with the immature people.

I think it'd be hard to trust those polls if the people who play EQ are more mature. I don't usually vote on those polls. WoW is full of fanbois.

 

[Hadsus]

Originally posted by: CVSiN

Originally posted by: Hardcore
Yep, generally EQ2 is a more mature game. I know in every guild i've been in, 80+% of the people in the guild are older than 25.

EQ and EQ2 is a much more social game... sure, you can solo in EQ2, but it's twice as effective to group. Because it's so heavily grouped dependent (even crafting is interdepedent... you can't make armor unless you have 4-5 other people, in different skills, making things for you), the social retards quickly get bored of the game or find it's not their type of game, and leave.

LOL if you think wow isnt social you havent played past 30...
it gets very slow and boring without a group past 30 and you will miss all the instances (dungeons) without a group you can count on...

WoW is a very social game for anyone playing it to win...
guilds are a must and very large guilds are almost mandatory if you want to be able to do things like Molten core or Black Rock Spire or Onyxia that require 40 L60s to even get in the front door...
and then locks the group for 5 days where only those SAME 40 people can attempt again...
so if you want to farm onyxia once a way is found you would need 2 groups of 40 seperate people to be able to run her 2x in a week. with the same guild...

Also the quickest way to 60 is NOT soloing its 5 man power instancing... over and over and over.... so your at least beign social with the same 5 people for 8-10 hours a day =P

There is no definitive way to enjoy WoW....or EQ 2 for that matter. "Playing to win" ????? What's that? What you're describing may be great for you but you are also describing exactly what I *don't* want to do. I don't want to get involved in huge uber level raids (sitting around wasting time while everyone arrives.....the organizing, the attack planning, et. al.), day long instancing, and farming grinds. That's EQ stuff that I've gladly put behind me. WoW is a social game.....but you don't need a large guild to enjoy it regardless of your level.

 

[onelin]

I find it hard to believe either can be objectively listed as "more mature" in terms of the group of players. Within a guild, I know ours always had an 18+ rule (and most were 25+ and even 30's and 40's) ...that's just how it was. Yet that speaks NOTHING about the general server populations for any game.

As for my comments earlier it said nothing about EQ2 players, only what I can infer from having spent time with the same people in EQ (that migrated to EQ2). The other half of the EQ poluation migrated to WoW instead...so the age thing isn't a valid hypothesis.

I'd chock things up to personal preference and what the majority of your friends play... I always played to play with friends (and when and if I pick either game up, it will be to play with friends)

 

[CVSiN]

Originally posted by: skace
I don't recall when hardcore and older became synonymous. Last I checked, most "hardcore" players are still in high school. Where as most of my WoW guild are full time workers. The laid back "casual" atmosphere appeals more to people who don't have all day to spend on a game.

Edit: oh and most of the people I played EQ1 with are now playing WoW... or not playing MMORPGS at all.

Quoted for major truth...
everyone in my guild is 25-48 years old...
all of us work and all of us hate EQ and EQ2 with a passion the game didnt even hold our attention past L30 in beta or final..
and we ALL LOVED EQ1.. we all played for almost 4 years and never got bored...
EQ2 is a pile of crap...
sorry they captured none of the majoc that EQ1 did... Infact WoW captured more about what I liked in EQ1 than EQ2 did...

Also all of the Uber guilds left that Pile of crap..
Afterlife... Conquest... Fires of Heaven... and many more are all playing WoW and providing us with the same great info they did in EQ1...