Ryan

EQ did plenty of things right and wrong. Nostalgia plays a big part in it, but although I was burnt out on MMO after EQ1 I still tried WoW and EQ2, along with others. For my money, EQ2 was the best MMO out there.

WoW is a great game, by a great company. It has so many subscribers because it is accessible. Death penalties do nothing to detract the hardcore. For some people, like myself, death penalties seem like an appropriate punishment. If you were stupid or did something risky, that was the price you paid. Often you needed to risk death to get greater rewards. It was especially harsh in the early days, but by the time I quit EQ, it was basically something I never worried about. Can't say I missed it. However, most people hate the idea of experiencing a penalty because they didn't know Kithicor forrest is full of higher level creatures at night.

Yes, for the hardcore, there should be a stiffer punishment to make their advancement feel challenging, but making a global death penalty will effect and deter those who dislike it. Something a little harsher than WoW, maybe, but losing exp shouldn't be the penalty. Instead focus on penalties for death in situations where hardcore players will expose themselves to higher risk than a non-hardcore. Like the option to chose a more difficult dungeon instance for better drops and stiffer death penalties.

I preferred the non-instanced dungeons, but if you have them, there has to be some sort of alternate instanced area for people to go who don't feel like waiting for a decent camp. in short, penalties are an incentive to some, but a burdon to others, so you have to find a way to implement them so they only apply to people who will actually get more enjoyment out of the frustration.

WoW was one in a long line of fantasy MMOs a few years ago. I was an avid EQ player and a there was a new flavor of the week, many copying EQs format. WoW was was proclaimed to be the EQ killer and another denounced it as the newest fad.

WoW was the game that finally usurped EQ. It's no doubt a great game and it addressed the issues people had with EQ and was well made. I still believe EQ and EQ2 are better games, but that is my preference. I could never get a good group of players to hang with in EQ2, but I still feel it is the best MMO I've ever played.

My point is, WoW will have players for years to come. The time investment and nostalgia will keep players (like me) only have 1 good MMO life in them. I can't ever dedicate 300+ days played to a game again.

What it is going to take for WoW to be dethroned is a new game that pulls the casuals out of WoW and brings in the future MMOers first. WoW's graphics being stylized helps them from being so dated, but eventually they will be. I'm really we'd see SOE take some lessons from WoW on a technical standpoint and release EQ3.

I actually really liked the book Little Black Sambo as a kid.

Just play games instead of spending money elsewhere.

Disposable Heroes and Fight Fire with Fire are two songs I was really hoping for. Overall, I think I am a little disappointed, but I'll still get it. I mean, bought Aerosmith for f's sake.

It seems like people are automatically DQing phones that miss one of the listed criteria. Well in my opinion no phone meets all his criteria above, and does it well, for under $200. He is going to have to compromise somewhere. I am a iPhone and Storm owner and my recommendation, given your wants, is the iPhone 3G 8GB. He does not need a smart phone given his current phone and complaints. ATT has a better coverage network than most providers (except Verizon imo). The data plan on ATT is cheaper than a BB data plan. It's cool, fun, good capacity, and plenty of free apps. The G1 is the only other viable option, but I'm telling you, just get iPhone.

It's simply a price issue. I understand that they don't want to keep losing money, but they need a $300 model. In return, the Wii will probably cut costs, but there is no way a person should pay $250 for a Wii over a $300 PS3. It's worth the $50. Might save that in batteries for the controllers within a year.

EQ2 is by far the best fantasy MMO. WoW is good, but people who have never played EQ2 really are missing out on a great experience.

2009 is going to be a good year to be a Playstation owner. I really see very little reason not to get one if your old enough to get a credit card. It's easily worth it considering their new deal. You could keep yourself occupied quite a while playing the back catalog of good games.

Oh well, the price will drop next year anyway. Then all the online games will be filled with the shrieking of prepubescent douche bags in all their glory.

This game looks fantastic. Don't think it's going to be bigger than Halo 3 or Gears 2, however KZ3 might. I love how people think this is the one exclusive the PS3 has. I own probably 30 games across both consoles and I have just as many exclusives for each console. PS3 has a fantastic selection of exclusives. Even some of the not so great ones (Heavenly Sword) are still fun. I also own several PSN games. Whatever haters, you're the ones missing out. As for length, 6-10 is not terrible, when it's coupled with multiplayer, which hopefully is as polished as the game and robust enough to have some legs.