None
Super nerds are high-fiving until their palms are sore as Sony Online Entertainment has announced that the grandfather of the modern MMO, EverQuest, will adopt a free-to-play model in March. EQ producer Thom Terrazas made the announcement in a letter to the EverQuest community yesterday. He explained that the change was brought on by the shifting landscape of the gaming industry: “EverQuest players are some of the most loyal, long-standing players of any MMO in existence. With the gaming landscape changing every day, we want to ensure we continue to evolve the game to keep players engaged and bring in even more new players to further expand the community. With no up-front costs or required membership, we might see a new player or two along the way, and more people is always a good thing!” Starting in March, EQ’s payment structure will be split into three tiers: Free, Silver and Gold. Players who choose the free-to-play or silver plans will have a few restrictions, but players who cough up the $14.99 per month that it takes to be a Gold member will have full access and receive 500 Station Cash per month. 
I’m not sure if a free-to-play model is enough to revitalize a 13-year-old game, especially when you consider that most MMOs have adopted a similar model recently. But, either way, it’s worth a shot. By Josh Engen |