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I would argue Ultima Online set the bar for MMOs long before Everquest. The UO servers had 3000+ players online vs the 300ish of Meridian 59.

syncsynchalt 12y ago
I wasn't sure how to phrase it. The first two real MMOs (in the massive sense) where UO and EQ, with UO coming first. That said I think modern MMOs would claim more in common with EQ than UO.
- LanceH 12y ago
  EQ being the first in full 3D as I recall.
- sshconnection 12y ago
  They do. Pre-patch UO was much more of a free for all. Then the 2nd Age created a mirrored server that prohibited all but mutual combat. It took a lot of the excitement out of it for me. The risk/reward of going to dungeons and territorial feuds were what drew me to the game.
  - nrb 12y ago
    Minor correction: Renaissance, not the 2nd Age, split the world into two mirrored facets.
codezero 12y ago
I agree, though I do think EverQuest was more popular in the public image, I remember when it was mentioned in the movie "The New Guy" and I was like, whoa!
sireat 12y ago
UO was the first really popular MMO but it was 2D(or 2.5D at best). EQ was the first 3D MMO. UO was fantastic for its mix of PvE and PvP. For a time, you could be a player who preferred PvE but you could still protect yourself against PvP. I remember mining in rags, when underneath I was a fully maxed armed plate wearing mage ready to pounce on any unsuspecting griefers. EQ took a different route, it emphasized PvE. PvP servers were considered broken. There were endless discussions in gaming forums lamenting this lack of "forced but fun" PvP in EQ which was present in UO. However, EQ proved to be more influential, the big successes that followed like WoW emphasized PvE and the care-bear factor. Those games that tried to bring some sort of forced PvP onto users failed.(I am not sure where EVE falls in this regard) Disclaimer: I played both UO(1998-2000) and EQ(2000-2006) and my bots still play EQ.

syncsynchalt 12y ago

I wasn't sure how to phrase it. The first two real MMOs (in the massive sense) where UO and EQ, with UO coming first. That said I think modern MMOs would claim more in common with EQ than UO.

LanceH 12y ago
EQ being the first in full 3D as I recall.
sshconnection 12y ago
They do. Pre-patch UO was much more of a free for all. Then the 2nd Age created a mirrored server that prohibited all but mutual combat. It took a lot of the excitement out of it for me. The risk/reward of going to dungeons and territorial feuds were what drew me to the game.
- nrb 12y ago
  Minor correction: Renaissance, not the 2nd Age, split the world into two mirrored facets.

codezero 12y ago

I agree, though I do think EverQuest was more popular in the public image, I remember when it was mentioned in the movie "The New Guy" and I was like, whoa!

sireat 12y ago

UO was the first really popular MMO but it was 2D(or 2.5D at best). EQ was the first 3D MMO. UO was fantastic for its mix of PvE and PvP. For a time, you could be a player who preferred PvE but you could still protect yourself against PvP. I remember mining in rags, when underneath I was a fully maxed armed plate wearing mage ready to pounce on any unsuspecting griefers. EQ took a different route, it emphasized PvE. PvP servers were considered broken. There were endless discussions in gaming forums lamenting this lack of "forced but fun" PvP in EQ which was present in UO. However, EQ proved to be more influential, the big successes that followed like WoW emphasized PvE and the care-bear factor. Those games that tried to bring some sort of forced PvP onto users failed.(I am not sure where EVE falls in this regard) Disclaimer: I played both UO(1998-2000) and EQ(2000-2006) and my bots still play EQ.