EverQuest History: Interview with EQ Game Designer & Programmer, John Troy

Рет қаралды 3,742

3 жыл бұрын

My guest for this stream was John Troy, former EQ Game Designer and Programmer; currently a Technical Architect at Protagonist Games.
For this video, with Twitch comments visible, watch it here: / ppnhu9f-fhab2a
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About This Format
I've started streaming EQ as part of the Aradune TLP release. I'm a former EQ designer, turned Producer and games Exec (see below), who currently streams at: / alovingrobot
I'm using this stream as a means of reconnecting with my old colleagues, tapping into the nostalgia of a great era in our lives (and MMO gaming), and ensuring that some of the fun stories of the past aren't forgotten.
About Me
I'm a American game designer, producer, and executive who currently lives in Germany.
My past roles include:
Star Stable Online -- EP & Chief Product Officer
DarkOrbit -- Senior Live Producer
Wizard101, Pirate101; "Unannounced" -- Producer
DC Universe Online -- Lead Content Designer
"Unnannounced MMOFPS" -- Lead Game Designer
EverQuest: Omens of War -- Lead Game Designer
EverQuest: Legacy of Ykesha -- Lead Game Designer
EverQuest: LDoN -- Lead Game Designer
EverQuest: Planes of Power -- Lead Game Designer
EverQuest: Shadows of Luclin -- Game Designer
EverQuest: Scars of Velious -- Design Apprentice
EverQuest Live -- Customer Service

Пікірлер: 40

@mikefur3957 3 жыл бұрын

I can still vividly remember the EB employee that handed me the 'Ruins of Kunark' box. Life changing moment.

@alovingrobot406 3 жыл бұрын

For me it was a guy at Waldensoftware in Wiregrass Commons mall. He showed me UO and EQ. But agreed when I said that I thought EQ looked cooler. Had he not, I likely wouldn't have started working in games.

@DivineBanana 2 жыл бұрын

@@alovingrobot406 for me it was people like you and Ion Blaze and all the other content creators on KZfaq convincing me why I should play EQ. If it wasn't for you guys I'd still be stuck thinking WoW is the greatest MMO of all time. Good job and thank you for keeping the eternal intrigue and legacy that is EverQuest alive in the minds of a new generation (I was 5 when EQ came out so needless to say I missed the hype and the history at that time). I hope one day even an EverQuest noob like me will pass the torch to a younger generation and show them the wonders of this game. Just as you have shown me, and those employees way back then have shown you. EverQuest is a never ending cycle that's here to stay as long as the internet exists so long as people like you keep spreading the good word of our lord and savior, EverQuest.

@joshh828 Жыл бұрын

@@alovingrobot406 my roommate in Italy was playing this game with all these characters moving around as I watched over his shoulder. Over the next year, I started a Rogue was raiding alongside. Also, EQ was indirectly my introduction to DnD, which is where I met my wife. Also, that roommate married an Enchanter in our guild. They are still married and have a daughter today.

@joshh828 Жыл бұрын

"EB"? Electric Boat? If so, I used to work there...

@gdubsterz1238 Жыл бұрын

In 1982 I was at the US festival..working the tech booth right next to Apple. They were playing Wizardry...and it changed my life. Needless to say I spent very little time at our booth.

@DivineBanana 2 жыл бұрын

Ad nauseam and ad hoc in the same breath, impressive, we got a Socrates over here! No but seriously Ive only been playing EQ for about 3 days now (Im a proper noob) and I simply cannot get enough of these videos. (I watched them before I started playing as well to get hyped for it while figuring out set up and which server to play, I'm a masochist so I went straight into p99) You are such a good interviewer, always keeping the conversation rolling, knowing how to bring up interesting moments, you're very knowledgeable on both the content and the guest's history, and you're just overall super chill and pleasant to listen to. You make your knowledge and expertise crystal clear without ever coming off as a know it all. Very humble guy in fact. You're definitely doing something special here if someone like me who just started playing and doesn't know a thing about EQ is finding these immensely fascinating. Please never stop doing what you're doing!

@alovingrobot406 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! That's very kind of you to say. I play on P99 Green as well, so we might cross paths one day. It's a solid server. It's always fantastic to see new people getting into EQ. Not sure if you noticed, but I've teamed up with some great folks I met through streaming, and we're making something interesting for folks that like games like EQ: monstersandmemories.com/

@DivineBanana 2 жыл бұрын

@@alovingrobot406 I literally just found out about this a few minutes ago when you mentioned your indie game in this video. I haven't seen much, but from what little I have seen I am super excited about it. Very much has EQ vibes. I'll be sure to follow closely, congratulations on starting your own game! Must be very exciting for you and also exciting for us players to see something that's old school, unique and challenging rather than streamlined, safe and mainstream. Like you said In another video I totally agree that there is a huge untapped demand for difficult community driven games like classic eq, classic wow, pantheon, even the soulsborne games etc. I wish you the best of luck with it (not that you need it with your experience and skills) and I'm excited to see how it turns out! Keep us updated as always! P.s. I hope our paths cross soon on p99, I'm just a lowly lvl 5 enchanter but eventually I'll learn the ropes and be worthy of glory!

@insidethemindseye1 2 жыл бұрын

Love these interviews, been jamming on them all week

@alovingrobot406 2 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you're enjoying them!

@kerenton5897 2 жыл бұрын

@@alovingrobot406 me too

@TheQxx 2 жыл бұрын

They are amazing. I want whomever did PoMischief to come on here. So many questions

@nehuge Ай бұрын

@@alovingrobot406it’s great listen in the commute to see how these games were made.

@turinhorse 9 ай бұрын

ty John Troy! remember how happy we all were when Vex Thal got worthwhile. and the fixes to stats.... invaluable

@turinhorse4232 2 жыл бұрын

Planes of Power was the pinnacle of EverQuest's greatness. Disagree? FIGHT ME

@angeloserraino5273 2 жыл бұрын

I didnt play past Velious, and whilst I kept a close ear to the developments past that era, it was going hearing all this goss. Yeah, sometimes the grass isn't as green as it seems on the other side!

@VoodooRob75 3 жыл бұрын

Why are there not more of these videos! (I normally listen to them on Spotify). Outstanding insights.

@alovingrobot406 3 жыл бұрын

Hoping to get some more up soonish. 😉

@Stitchlii 3 жыл бұрын

Now I'm going to do POP progression this month since I been messing on FV live. Great VoD

@alovingrobot406 3 жыл бұрын

Nice! Excited to hear how it goes. And thanks!

@wade6523 2 жыл бұрын

First time I saw EQ in 1999 the graphics looked poor to me but I didn't understand the limitations to online games. I got over it very quickly needless to say. It was hard to explain. That's why it was nicknamed EverCrack.

@stragi 2 жыл бұрын

I remember zoning into a broken PoT after the complete tedium of the rathe council race and that's what killed eq for me completely. I logged out and didn't come back until quarm and then moved onto the WoW alpha.

@billd7120 8 ай бұрын

I was on Prexus back in the day. Knew a monk named Kamchek or something like that in Keepers of the Faith. It is too bad that Stasis decided to kill the rotation we had going. Keepers were always very kind people.

@hom-sha-bom 2 жыл бұрын

I liked the ad hoc itemization. I really hate how itemization is done in modern MMOs. Everyone's wearing the same thing. You're x class in the level range of y - z then you wear exactly the same gear as everyone else of your class in that level range. In EQ everyone's inventory was very unique.

@TheQxx 2 жыл бұрын

Amennnnn

@secretsvods 3 жыл бұрын

mr jtbuff himself

@nehuge Ай бұрын

55:00 to 1:00:00 mark….I have worked at about 13 corporate companies in all different industries and trust me it’s the same mess everywhere. Used to build cockpits for planes and it’s like “how the hell do we operate like this and make a product that doesn’t crash the plane ?” Surprised we function as a country.

@francisphillipeck4272 2 жыл бұрын

Ugh rathe council 😢still my fav expansion tho

@eldo4rent 9 ай бұрын

I remember that damn dwarf. You had to say "What storie" to get him to progress the quest and people wanted to say "what story" and couldnt figure out why it didnt work. SPELL IT WRONG "WHAT STORIE"

@SupercovenGW2 6 ай бұрын

Maybe wrong approach... but Monks DID NEED a nerf badly. I was a Monk from Kunark - LOY. and then i made alts and realized how pathetic they were. Monk could out-tank any Knight and do triple the DPS. They were better than Warriors (with disc's down). That was OP nonsense that i personally benefited from. i guess i just didnt know how bad it was till i tried other classes.

@Misterscout 3 жыл бұрын

Man I missed the live stream.

@alovingrobot406 3 жыл бұрын

There'll be more. 😉

@Misterscout 3 жыл бұрын

@@alovingrobot406 told my buddy about it too. Think you could get some people from p1999 or even EQemu originators. Believe emu teams got the boats working again before live did.

@alovingrobot406 3 жыл бұрын

@@Misterscout great reminder. They're on the list. Just been waiting to get settled into the new place and for holidays to pass. Thanks!