Some time ago... snakes used to kick.
I used to play a game called EverQuest. Back when it was operated by big bad Verant Interactive, long before it was wholly governed by big bad Sony Online Entertainment. Well, that's when I started. As it happens, EQ was one of those games that defined the genre. EQ is to MMORPG's what Half-Life or Doom are to FPS's. There was a whole continent to explore, with major cities, encampments, forests, deserts, secluded glades, castles, sewers... all manner of places. I've met a number of people via the game that have become fast friends, people I truly care for, and worry about. The game kept me amused for, what, maybe 4 years, nearly 5. A record still unbroken by any single entertainment media I can think of. I do not have the worlds longest attention span.
As with all things computer-related, it had "features". Among my favourites was the ability to fall through the world, ending up underneath. As the game expanded, more content was added, more places to explore, and more bugs introduced. Eventually, the sheer mass of new content drive me away from the game, I didnt have the time or the inclination to work up the necessary gear and skills to progress further. So I packed it in.
After 4, near on 5 years of hammering my way through the game, levelling countless characters to post level 60 (cap hit 70 before I left... too far to go), the fondest memories I have of the game itself are of teh first few weeks, when it was all new, and everything was worth a second look. The fondest memories of people I met in the game occur much later, but I digress. These original imprints of the game mechanics, bugs, graphics (truly terrible to look back at) are what EQ means to me as a game. And I see this week, SOE patched the game so snakes could no longer kick. I honestly think they should have left that in, just for the oldschool players. Its a part of what endeared the game to so many people, so long ago.
Anyhow, all the best to any and all that still play on Saryrn, particularly Sodalisae, and even more particularly the GM, Twenna. Because I spent many a happy hour with those people whom I have never met, and partly because I know she'll read this sometime soonish, and I dont pay her all the compliments she deserves.
Anyhow, bring back the kicking snakes.
I'm off to play World of Warcraft now.
As with all things computer-related, it had "features". Among my favourites was the ability to fall through the world, ending up underneath. As the game expanded, more content was added, more places to explore, and more bugs introduced. Eventually, the sheer mass of new content drive me away from the game, I didnt have the time or the inclination to work up the necessary gear and skills to progress further. So I packed it in.
After 4, near on 5 years of hammering my way through the game, levelling countless characters to post level 60 (cap hit 70 before I left... too far to go), the fondest memories I have of the game itself are of teh first few weeks, when it was all new, and everything was worth a second look. The fondest memories of people I met in the game occur much later, but I digress. These original imprints of the game mechanics, bugs, graphics (truly terrible to look back at) are what EQ means to me as a game. And I see this week, SOE patched the game so snakes could no longer kick. I honestly think they should have left that in, just for the oldschool players. Its a part of what endeared the game to so many people, so long ago.
Anyhow, all the best to any and all that still play on Saryrn, particularly Sodalisae, and even more particularly the GM, Twenna. Because I spent many a happy hour with those people whom I have never met, and partly because I know she'll read this sometime soonish, and I dont pay her all the compliments she deserves.
Anyhow, bring back the kicking snakes.
I'm off to play World of Warcraft now.
posted by Subscribed at 4:42 PM
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