Everquest Companion: The Inside Lore of a Gameworld (Paperback)

by Robert Marks (Author) "This is a chapter for beginners-for all those people who have heard about EverQuest and seen the game in the local software store but don't..." (more)
Key Phrases: massively multiplayer games, persistent world, player population, Elizabeth Woolley, Neverwinter Nights, White Wolf (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
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.

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!

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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 8.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #204,371 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 65 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)

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

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fun reading, but overall weak development, February 6, 2007

By	Pylfryth (Outside of Qeynos) - See all my reviews

Got quite a kick out of seeing the Inns and lands of Everquest made into a story. Would love to see more stories. The writing was somewhat stiff; grammatically in error just enough to be a bit of a pain. Seems like a few words were just looked up in a dictionary for variety - but incorrectly applied in context.
Women characters, a good guideline for fantasy writing calibre, were boringly stereotyped - either weak, pale nothings or horrible vamps. Kind of funny, it was so bad.
Plot - High points for this - I thought the ending was well done, wrapped up nicely with just a bit of a surprise. Overall, worth an afternoon just to see Qeynos again.

4 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this book shows everything, December 26, 2004

By	Donald Arnold "everquest master" (allen,ok usa) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

if you like everquest or dont know what is it this book is worth a look it tells you every think about this game how the lord of the rings became the best mmorpg of all you should buy this book