In June of 1999 I finally was able to buy a computer and the at that time the new game EverQuest that i had been watching my fellow Sailor and friend play through beta and release in March. At the age of 33 and with ten years of service in the Navy I sat watching the loading screen with more anticipation than a child at Christmas time. As the music played I knew that I had found a new love in my life.
All these years later I am gray, balding, and retired from the Navy, and my passion for EverQuest still burns as bright as it did that first day. My love for the glorious game never faltered even though I had periods that due to commitments to my country and my family I was unable to play at times. And actually that love is more deeply set then ever before because it has became therapeutic to me now. Even though it may not be known there are many of us retired and disabled veterans that play the game. And a conversation with one of my fellow vets last week enlightened me that i was not the only one that the game has been a GREAT therapeutic outlet for me. After being injured in Desert Storm I have had numerous spinal surgeries and I live in pain daily that would floor most people and have for way over 20 years now. On those days that the pain is at its worst and medication is not helping I can log into my home away from home and amazingly my pain will not go away but it becomes so much more bearable because EverQuest in all its glory helps my mind to focus on the game rather than the pain.
Needless to say for me EverQuest is very special, and within that wonderful world the two places that will always be my favorite places even though they are obsolete now and the new players have no clue how truly awesome they were back in the day. The first is the newbie log not far from the entrance to Neriak. This was the gathering place where friendships, alliances and even loves were made on a daily basis back in the day. It was meeting place for all avid new recruits to gather and go on adventures and great hunts.
The place I say that ties with the Newbie log would have to be the then east commons tunnel. As a young dark elf or human grew and matured they would venture out to the world of the commons and the Tunnel was the new newbie log now where groups formed and planned for the next great adventure. This also was where if you needed an item you would go and sit and watch the auction channel and millions upon millions of platinum pieces were traded for items within that tunnel.
These two places no longer hold that glory of yesteryear but they will forever hold the heart and memories of this old dark elf necromancer.
Slar De'Morte of the Rathe
EverQuest Franchise Holiday Contest!
SOE and ZAM team up to give the community some awesome prizes!
UPDATE: Winners have been announced!
Thank you everyone for your entries! It's definitely been a trip down memory lane reading so many wonderful stories. The contest has now ended and we'll be finalizing the list of all qualified names before randomly selecting winners in a blind drawing.
Winners will be announced by 11:59pm Pacific Time on Tuesday, December 31, 2013. Winners will also be notified via Private Messaging (PMs) on ZAM that they have won. We will update this article and post a new one as well informing everyone of the results!
This holiday season, Sony Online Entertainment and ZAM want to share the holiday spirit with the community with an epic contest! It doesn't matter if you play EverQuest, EverQuest II or want to dive into EverQuest Next Landmark, there is something for all Norrathians here. We have one grand prize and three Station Cash prizes from SOE, as well as a bonus for ten lucky people from ZAM!
- GRAND PRIZE: One winner will receive codes to the collector's editions of the most recent EverQuest and EverQuest II expansions, Call of the Forsaken and Tears of Veeshan (a $90 value each), as well as a code for the EverQuest Next Landmark Trailblazer Founder's Pack (a $100 value; total prize value of $280)
- Three more winners will each receive one $10 Station Cash code (worth 1000 SC)
- Ten more winners will each receive three months premium on ZAM
Continue after the jump for details on how this contest will work!
How to Enter
- Log in to your ZAM account (registering is free!)
- Post a comment at least 3-5 sentences long (minimum) in the comments section of this article
- The comment should focus on your favorite location in Norrath, in any EverQuest franchise title. Why is it your favorite place? Did something fun happen to you or your guild there? Do you just love the environment or lore of the location? Are you new to Norrath, but want to talk about a location you are excited to visit in-game?
- You can supplement your comment by linking to a video or picture of this location! It's not required and won't affect your entry into the contest, but it's a lot more fun to share!
- Deadline for entries is 11:59pm Pacific Time on Friday, December 27, 2013... that means you have one week to enter!
- Only one entry per person, please!
Due to the amount of entries we have, comments may take a bit of extra time to load... patience, grasshopper!
How We Judge
- As long as your entry meets the contest guidelines above, you will be entered into a random blind drawing!
- Winners will be announced by 11:59pm Pacific Time on Tuesday, December 31, 2013
- Codes for the Grand Prize and Station Cash will be sent to the appropriate winners via private message on ZAM by 11:59pm Pacific Time on Tuesday, December 31, 2013
- Winners of the three months of premium on ZAM will have it added to their account and will be notified of their win via private message on ZAM. This has to be done manually, so there may be additional delay.
Obligatory Information
- No purchase necessary, but you need to register for a free account with ZAM if you haven't yet
- You must have an account with SOE to be able to redeem the codes. They will not work for PSS1 account holders.
- We don't care which country you're in as long as you have an SOE account
- The contest begins whenever this article goes live on Friday, December 20, 2013 and ends at 11:59pm Pacific Time on Friday, December 27, 2013
- One entry per person
- ZAM staff and their immediate family are not eligible. Sorry, hubby!
- SOE employees and their immediate family are not eligible. Sorry, Roshen!
That's everything! You can enter the contest for yourself, or to try and win an awesome gift for a friend or loved one -- either way, we can't wait to read everyone's stories!
Disclaimer: I'm aware that the picture above doesn't reflect the recent EverQuest and EverQuest II expansions... what it does reflect is my favorite locations in those games! =)
Ann "Cyliena" Hosler, Managing Editor
Follow me on Twitter: @Cyliena