Everquest Companion: The Inside Lore of a Gameworld [Paperback]

Robert Marks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2003 | ISBN-10: 0072229039 | ISBN-13: 978-0072229035 | Edition: 1

Take a fascinating look at the EverQuest game itself, the worldwide following that has grown around it, and the phenomenon of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs). Beyond merely dealing with strategies for winning the game, this book offers a glimpse inside the game, offering a chance to understand the history and some of the underlying issues of the game.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Can't Get Enough EverQuest?

For everyone who loves EverQuest or who has wondered about the game's appeal, here is the ultimate guide to the game world! You'll go behind the scenes to meet the game's creators, discover their influences, see how the game was made, and learn what it takes to run and maintain one of the world's most massive multiplayer online role-playing games. Author Robert Marks conducted extensive interviews with the designers, artists, and programmers to bring you this insider's look. You'll also hear from the players themselves, visit an EverQuest Fan Faire, and be entertained by the many amusing stories that can only take place in this spell-binding reality.

• Trace the origins of computer role playing games from the fantasy lore of Tolkien and others
• Meet the creators of EverQuest in exclusive interviews conducted just for this book
• Marvel at the eye-popping concept art and detailed visualizations that are developed before programming begins
• See the massive server farms that maintain the virtual world
• Find out the true stories behind the controversies
• Learn the improbable tale of how a simple D&D campaign evolved into the most popular online fantasy RPG of all time
• Meet the people who play EverQuest and enjoy their surprising stories

Full color game art section inside!

About the Author

Robert B. Marks (Kingston, Canada) is a professional writer and editor and EverQuest enthusiast. Although a Medievalist by education, Marks has been involved with computer games for his entire adult life (and most of his childhood). His first professional publication was a review of Myth II: Soulblighter for Computer Gaming World. Since then, Marks inaugurated the Blizzard fiction line for Pocket Books with a best-selling ebook titled Diablo: Demonsbane, has written close to 200 professionally published articles covering the Web Hosting industry, and has written an ongoing bi-weekly column titled Garwulf’s Corner, which deals with computer game issues and has a readership in the tens of thousands spread across the world.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media; 1 edition (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0072229039
• ISBN-13: 978-0072229035
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #824,034 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book about a game that is part of my life, December 18, 2003

By 

Angela McCormick (Colorado Rockies above Boulder) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Everquest Companion: The Inside Lore of a Gameworld (Paperback)

Everquest has always been a big part of my life. This is a bit strange, as I haven't played the game in over a year and a half. This might give you an idea of how Everquest and its community can become a part of you. I picked up this book to learn more about the game where the motto is "You're in Our World Now".

This book was a wonderful read. Anyone who has played or hasn't played yet wondered what EQ is all about will gain a thorough understanding of this epic game. It starts out with an introduction of Everquest and how entering its world unveils a whole other life, meeting thousand of other people, from students to housewives to doctors to military people. The game is extremely compelling (understatement perhaps) to play, with its quests, tradeskills, sense of belonging, and sense of accomplishments. You look with pride upon your avatar (your character in the game). You may get to know members of your guild better than your own family. You learn to work with people, to take advantage of their different skills. You learn to cooperate and achieve things that will make you swell with pride for the rest of your life.

The book covers the history of MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game), I found this fascinating and had no clue how far back its roots went.

Along the way you meet key Everquest people, the ones who envisioned the game, built it, drew it, expanded it... You see sketches and concept art and screenshots, complete with a full color layout in the middle section. You hear the stories of its players, as well as the ones who've lost a significant other to the game. The book addresses and clarifies the concept of "Evercrack", addiction to playing. You learn about guilds, raids, "mobs", and possible EQ-coined words like "woot". The book concludes with its venturing into other gaming realms, both in genres (RPG, strategy) and mediums (PocketPC, cellphone, Playstation, tabletop version).

As I said, I'm a retired Everquest player (I used to play 80 hours a week). Why do I still consider EQ a part of my life? The community and the belief that this game was such an experience in my life, bringing me to build a site about my favorite bard class, EQDiva.com (even mentioned in the book!). So I continue to keep in touch with its community, keep up with its expansions and patches, so I can do my part to provide information to its player base. That said, I must admit that this game was a bit too addicting for me, so I myself stay away and no longer encourage friends to play. But I understand and empathize with those that still play, and I still think it's a wonderful game.

This is a beautiful book, peppered everywhere with its lore, art, stories, dreams... It is my opinion that this game is the most compelling, intricate and well-thought out game in history, and I'd go so far as to say it's not a "game", it's a virtual life. It's a one-of-a-kind experience, one you will never forget. This book will help you understand...

~ Kocho Divah from EQDiva

2.0 out of 5 stars Good content but not as advertised, July 9, 2011

By 

Howard M. (Phoenix, Arizona United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Everquest Companion: The Inside Lore of a Gameworld (Paperback)

The book is well written and offers some nostalgia for former Everquest players or anyone who is interested in the early days of the MMORPG. I would give it a much higher review except for the construction of the book. The back cover displays "full color game art section inside". There may have originally been a color section but this book as it is printed now is all black and white.

5.0 out of 5 stars great deal, February 5, 2010

By 

Mark Bankus Sr. "Peacemaker05" (Portland. MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Everquest Companion: The Inside Lore of a Gameworld (Paperback)

the item was described very plainly and was what I was looking for, also it was in great shape. Would deal with this seller again