As a follow up to my "Oh Grow Up" message below I direct you to the Sony Press Release about EQ for the PS2 at:
http://www.verant.com/press/eqoa040902.html
Note that they excitedly reference the current installed base of 8.8 million PS2's as potential platforms. If they get only 10% of those users to buy into EQ PS2 it would be DOUBLE the active subscriber base of regular EQ for the PC.
The believers in corporate conspiracy theories among you will likely view this as the evil empire once again trying to rip us off, forcing us to switch platforms to follow all of the development and support teams that will abandon us on our PC's and be shifted to the greater revenue source. Perhaps EQ PC was just a bait and switch, they never ever intended to support it FOREVER and EVER like we want and we've just all been funding their faulty Beta Testing for the PS2 - a console platform where the users tend to be far less tolerant of bugs. EQ PC was a great conspiracy and we weren't REALLY having any fun - just paying to support Sony's R&D programs.
I offer it (as stated in my original post) of how the rational Mega Corps behave. They look at the BIG picture and follow the money. Is that good/bad/irresponsible? Capitalist societies kind of demand it of business (that whole risk/reward thing) and history shows societies that follow those rules tend to deliver the most goods wanted by the most people (albeit not always THE goods wanted by EVERY person).
Heck if it's fun enough I may even buy a PS2 myself - but then that's my bottom line. Am I enjoying myself based on the time and money I CHOOSE to spend on these products. If and when I don't think I am I'll pull up and go down the street. I don't think I'll be stamping my feet on the way out the door though.
Rumors Swirl on EQ2
In the recent EQ newsletter, Sony put in a puzzle that led to two websites: www.nektulos.com and www.wailingcaves.com. (Congratulations to the gang at the safehouse for solving the riddle). Each site brings up an image and the Nektulos one mentions an announcement coming up in May. May is of course when E3 is held. This is the biggest gaming convention of the year, and game companies typically try to save their biggest announcements for the large group of press that comes to E3 each year.
So what is Sony going to announce in May? It may be something like a single player game based upon Everquest, or the release of some new zones. However, do not be surprised if it is the launch of Everquest 2. I don't have any positive information on this and am really just speculating, but since they already announced the PS2 version of the game and the Planes of Power expansion, it seems logical that this is not related to either of them. Why make a teaser for something everyone already knows about? And they have never put this type of effort into announcing free content for the game. EQ2, however, would be a huge announcement. In addition, I have been told that the latest version of PC Gamer mentions EQ2 (I have not read it -- I'll try to track down a copy). Plus, Sony has had www.everquest2.com registered for quite a while. So the announcement Sony plans to make in May could well be that they are making EQ2. Or they could just be announcing another expansion or something related to the PS2 version of the game or even something completely unrelated to Everquest. We will be in Los Angeles for E3, so as soon as we find out more, we'll let you know.
In the meantime, some of our visitors managed to piece together the murky pictures you see in the two sites.
Wailing Caves Full Image
Nektulos Full Image
Feel free to throw in your own thoughts about what this means.
UPDATE (Again): Link already dead.