Dear Sony...

[Aragain]

Hrmm, just wondering, has anyone ever ASKED SOE if we could reverse engineer EQ to see what it was made of, and possibly spawn forth other non profit modifications from it?

Ok, maybe not word it like that. But the guys up there have to have some kind of human, like, emotional... qualities, that would understand what you were trying to accomplish, especially if you point out how much of a learning experience it is.

And hell, if you want good programmers for your games, get the people who love it so much that they need to know how it works, and find ways to make it work differently, and succeed.

Was just wondering...

[Windcatcher]

Hrmm, just wondering, has anyone ever ASKED SOE if we could reverse engineer EQ to see what it was made of, and possibly spawn forth other non profit modifications from it?

Legally speaking, they don't need to. Reverse engineering is explicitly allowed under the DMCA, as long as the devs follow the rules:
- no decompiling,
- no use of anything confidential,

...and probably some others as well. Otherwise, what they're doing is legal. That's not to say that SOE couldn't use predatory techniques to squash the project if they wished, such as bringing a lawsuit that is expensive to defend. One such suit would IMHO end this project in a heartbeat (though, in reality, I suspect it would only cause the project to move offshore, since it's open source).

The one thorny issue, as far as I can tell, is if people start running the game using copied CDs, since EQEmu is presently incapable of checking the CD key. This makes the issue more akin to the bNetd situation (which I admit I haven't followed closely as I don't play their games online). That's one reason why the mods are so vehement in demanding that people BUY the CDs--it's a problem they don't want.

I'm not a dev, but for those who wonder where I stand: crack open the wallet, let some light in to the darned thing, and BUY THE FRIGGIN CD!

[a_Guest03]

I bet it all comes down to:
Sony wants to control it, either by controlling the source or even all the binaries.
The guy who controls Sony PROBABLY doesn't see things our way.
Mess trickles down.
Little guy may like us, but doesn't want to be singled out and fired for helping us.

[Aragain]

Yah, that makes sense, my post was more of just a /ponder rather then a suggestion or question.

In the end, all some people care about is money.

[Edgar1898]

Ok, maybe not word it like that. But the guys up there have to have some kind of human, like, emotional... qualities, that would understand what you were trying to accomplish, especially if you point out how much of a learning experience it is.

If the androids up at SOE had emotions they would probably be blowing a few fuses from laughing so hard :P

Thing is, SOE just like most other companies dont want people to reverse engineer their stuff. There are a lot of reasons for this, but specifically: money. Once we get the emu fully functional and stable, soe will have lost the ability to release a version of their servers for profit (if they ever intend to :P ). Not only this, but other game companies could steal the code and use it in their own games if SOE would freely release information. Once these other games are released, SOEs business model could become affected, and we know how SOE loves money...

[viroodiemzero]

I think the key factor here is , that yes SoE likes money, Who doesnt. But SoE is pretty blind to the way people wanna play.

Had SoE released a "Legacy" server (basically EQ: core, much akin to how guildwars was running) and allowed people who bought the EQ core 9.95 jewelbox cd free , unlimited access. Would there really be a need for this project? Or lets say make a server like storm hammer, with all the extra cost affiliated with it. If there paying 40 a month to play there, should they NOT be able to summon items like aguide/gm? no ,what does storm hammer get? zones 3 months earlier than the rest of the servers, and some lame ass GM quests, which its already been pretty well realized SoE/vi Produced GM quest simply blow.

So the point here really is, SoE turned their backs on a certain portion of their potentail market base. So that market base turned to other sources for that service. And whats worse, is they are starting to alienate more people with the constant nerfing that seems to go on any more. People dont like the idea of paying money to play, devoting time to working very hard to obtain something, only to have it later taken away from you, or made to be irrelevant.

I do agree, for everyone who wants to come to these servers. Have a little decency, and pay the cash to purchase the CD, and in all honesty, go make use of that first free month on EQ live. Seriously. Ppl need to see how the game is intended to work for all players, before they get all the extra tools at their disposal.

Also as a suggestion, if your playing on any server with any kind of frequency, ya know, try and donate a little to the cause.(havent yet, but will be soon It will only help the people who are running the server, run it better, more stabley, and more efficently. Example if everyone who plays on guildwars server, donated 10 dollars 1 time, that would help image immensely to further the stability , and over all size allowance of the server in general.

But all in all , these are all just my opinions. take them for what their worth

[a_Guest03]

I'm sure the servers you describe cost money to maintain each month. $9.95 boxed set from everyone may maintain it for one year.... But how many people would switch to that server? EVERYONE! Why pay $10/mo for 60 extra zones unless you're uber?? How many of us were uber when we quit? I know I wasn't, and I bet a lot of the silent majority of users weren't either. They don't mind losing us. A lot of us paying a little bit of money really doesn't compare with their pools of people willing to pay a fortune. It's supply and demand. If they limit the supply to a happy medium, they make the most money. When it all comes down to it, you're looking at economics, calculus and an intersecting line. The deciding members of Sony will follow that line until it is no longer returning as much money as other ventures. And they won't clean up after themselves either. They will end services, lock code, and move on.

[BloodMuffin]

Hmmm, lemmie put it this way. I bought the game yes, but i am no longer paying for EQ. Unless they make me a god with all the coolest crap in the game i won't pay for it i love EQEmu because you can make a twink run around and kill the highest mobs without spending 2 years ammounting all the crap just to go on a simple raid.

I'll go back to playing once they gimmie a monk with a 255damage 1dely h2h weapon with 60000000000 plat on him. :twisted:

[Liante_M]

the whole point of everquest is to get players addicted and keep playing. you think people would keep playing if they already had the best gear and crazy damage?

[Aragain]

Well, many people play BECUASE they have the leet gear, or are getting close to it, and basically have nothing better to do.

That, combined with the effort put in to the character, the friendships gained through that effort, and the face that at higher levels, life is a lot more fun.

At least, that is how it was for me, and still is for many of my friends.

So, as long as SOE doesn't do any sudden character wipes, they should have plenty of players for a good while.

[bigalstifler]

Pretty much end of discussion here, but everything in the world revolves around money, with that comes power, and with that ...well we all see the world today so i will stop talking there verant is all about that money moolah whatever you call it.

[Aragain]

/agree

[sup2069]

Originally Posted by a_Guest03

And they won't clean up after themselves either. They will end services, lock code, and move on.

Man that is a little scary. Imagine logging on to the server select screen one day to do that raid for your Epic. BAM...:


""Sony Computer Entertainment would like to wish everyone a Happy 5 years of Everquest!. We hoped you enjoyed Everquest as much as we did. Sad to say EQ will not be returning forever.Refunds for previously renewed subscriptions, will not be refunded, just recently added in the EULA. Stay tuned for more SOE games and thank you for the lovely money! :mrgreen:

-Everquest Team""

[Crythen]

Originally Posted by sup2069

""Sony Computer Entertainment would like to wish everyone a Happy 5 years of Everquest!. We hoped you enjoyed Everquest as much as we did. Sad to say EQ will not be returning forever.Refunds for previously renewed subscriptions, will not be refunded, just recently added in the EULA. Stay tuned for more SOE games and thank you for the lovely money! :mrgreen:

-Everquest Team""

LOL! :twisted: That'd be so evil! I'd laugh so hard!

[Slayer02]

Originally Posted by Aragain

But the guys up there have to have some kind of human, like, emotional... qualities

HAH! Talk to a Sony rep some time, real "human" qualities, sony reps should be considered a different race called "Bloodthirsty and Greedy"