Better Together: Stories of EverQuest - Shacknews Long Read Feature
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In order to commemorate the 20th anniversary since the release of EverQuest, Sony Online Entertainment's groundbreaking MMORPG, the folks over at Shacknews have put together a massive "long read" feature entitled Better Together: Stories of EverQuest. In this novel-length series of articles, the game's developers share plenty of memorable moments and behind-the-scenes stories that celebrate EverQuest.
If you're interested in a sample, this article tells the story of how EverQuest was almost published by Microsoft. It also comes with a short companion video:
You can find a playlist containing these videos here, and an excerpt from the article below:
According to Smedley (known to his developers as Smed), the majority of 989’s developers viewed EQ’s team as the nerdy kids on the playground. “We would do these product reviews, and they were weird,” he remembered. “I'd show what we had, and up came this early version of EverQuest, and there were snickers—literally snickers—across the room.”
Smed’s only champion within Sony brass was Kelly Flock, an executive who saw potential in a massively multiplayer online game. In late 1998, months before EverQuest was due to ship to retailers, Flock broke bad news to Smed: He had a month to find a new publisher for EQ, or Flock would have to fire the team.
Desperate, Smed cast a wide net. “I also talked to Microsoft. EverQuest almost became a Microsoft game. If they had moved a little faster, it would have,” he admitted.
Before Microsoft and Smed could sign a contract, another group within Sony stepped up to publish EverQuest. The team was spun out of 989 Studios and renamed Verant Interactive, known today as Daybreak Game Company. Following its launch on March 16, 1999, EQ did so well that Sony bought exclusive publishing rights.
