<s>
EverQuest	B-Protocol
is	I-Protocol
a	O
3D	O
fantasy-themed	O
massively	B-Protocol
multiplayer	I-Protocol
online	I-Protocol
role-playing	I-Protocol
game	I-Protocol
(	O
MMORPG	B-Protocol
)	O
originally	O
developed	O
by	O
Verant	O
Interactive	O
and	O
989	O
Studios	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
PCs	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
dedicated	O
version	O
for	O
Mac	B-Operating_System
OS	I-Operating_System
X	I-Operating_System
was	O
released	O
in	O
June	O
2003	O
,	O
which	O
operated	O
for	O
ten	O
years	O
before	O
being	O
shut	O
down	O
in	O
November	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Later	O
,	O
in	O
February	O
2015	O
,	O
SOE	O
's	O
parent	O
corporation	O
,	O
Sony	O
Computer	O
Entertainment	O
,	O
sold	O
the	O
studio	O
to	O
investment	O
company	O
Columbus	O
Nova	O
and	O
it	O
was	O
rebranded	O
as	O
Daybreak	O
Game	O
Company	O
,	O
which	O
continues	O
to	O
develop	O
and	O
publish	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
the	O
first	O
commercially	O
successful	O
MMORPG	B-Protocol
to	O
employ	O
a	O
3D	O
game	O
engine	O
,	O
and	O
its	O
success	O
was	O
on	O
an	O
unprecedented	O
scale	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
EverQuest	B-Protocol
has	O
had	O
a	O
wide	O
influence	O
on	O
subsequent	O
releases	O
within	O
the	O
market	O
,	O
and	O
holds	O
an	O
important	O
position	O
in	O
the	O
history	B-Architecture
of	I-Architecture
massively	I-Architecture
multiplayer	I-Architecture
online	I-Architecture
games	I-Architecture
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
dozens	O
of	O
similar	O
games	O
have	O
come	O
and	O
gone	O
over	O
the	O
years	O
,	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
still	O
endures	O
as	O
a	O
viable	O
commercial	O
enterprise	O
with	O
new	O
expansions	O
still	O
being	O
released	O
on	O
a	O
regular	O
basis	O
,	O
over	O
twenty	O
years	O
after	O
its	O
initial	O
launch	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
has	O
spawned	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
spin-off	O
media	O
,	O
including	O
books	O
and	O
video	O
games	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
a	O
sequel	O
,	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
II	I-Protocol
,	O
which	O
launched	O
in	O
2004	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
of	O
the	O
elements	O
in	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
have	O
been	O
drawn	O
from	O
text-based	O
MUD	B-Application
(	O
Multi-User	B-Application
Dungeon	I-Application
)	O
games	O
,	O
particularly	O
DikuMUDs	B-Application
,	O
which	O
in	O
turn	O
were	O
inspired	O
by	O
traditional	O
role-playing	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
Dungeons	O
&	O
Dragons	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
,	O
players	O
create	O
a	O
character	O
(	O
also	O
known	O
as	O
an	O
avatar	O
,	O
or	O
colloquially	O
as	O
a	O
char	O
or	O
toon	O
)	O
by	O
selecting	O
one	O
of	O
twelve	O
races	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
which	O
were	O
humans	O
,	O
high-elves	O
,	O
wood-elves	O
,	O
half-elves	O
,	O
dark-elves	O
,	O
erudites	O
,	O
barbarians	O
,	O
dwarves	O
,	O
halflings	O
,	O
gnomes	O
,	O
ogres	O
,	O
and	O
trolls	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
first	O
expansion	O
,	O
lizard-people	O
(	O
Iksar	B-Protocol
)	O
were	O
introduced	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Cat-people	O
(	O
Vah	B-Protocol
Shir	I-Protocol
)	O
,	O
frog-people	O
(	O
Froglok	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
dragon-people	O
(	O
Drakkin	O
)	O
were	O
all	O
introduced	O
in	O
later	O
expansions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
move	O
their	O
character	O
throughout	O
the	O
medieval	O
fantasy	B-Application
world	O
of	O
Norrath	B-Protocol
,	O
often	O
fighting	O
monsters	O
and	O
enemies	O
for	O
treasure	O
and	O
experience	O
points	O
,	O
and	O
optionally	O
mastering	O
trade	O
skills	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
EverQuest	B-Protocol
allows	O
players	O
to	O
interact	O
with	O
other	O
people	O
through	O
role-play	O
,	O
joining	O
player	O
guilds	O
,	O
and	O
dueling	O
other	O
players	O
(	O
in	O
restricted	O
situations	O
–	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
only	O
allows	O
player	O
versus	O
player	O
(	O
PVP	O
)	O
combat	O
on	O
the	O
PvP-specific	O
server	O
,	O
specified	O
arena	O
zones	O
and	O
through	O
agreed	O
upon	O
dueling	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game-world	O
of	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
consists	O
of	O
over	O
five	O
hundred	O
zones	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
design	O
of	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
,	O
like	O
other	O
massively	B-Protocol
multiplayer	I-Protocol
online	I-Protocol
role-playing	I-Protocol
games	I-Protocol
,	O
makes	O
it	O
highly	O
amenable	O
to	O
cooperative	O
play	O
,	O
with	O
each	O
player	O
having	O
a	O
specific	O
role	O
within	O
a	O
given	O
group	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
EverQuest	B-Protocol
featured	O
fourteen	O
playable	O
character	O
classes	O
upon	O
release	O
in	O
1999	O
,	O
with	O
two	O
others	O
-	O
Beastlord	O
and	O
Berzerker	O
-	O
added	O
in	O
the	B-Operating_System
Shadows	I-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
Luclin	I-Operating_System
(	O
2001	O
)	O
and	O
Gates	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
Discord	I-Operating_System
(	O
2004	B-Application
)	O
expansions	O
,	O
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
include	O
the	O
Warrior	B-Protocol
,	O
a	O
tank-based	O
character	O
which	O
wears	O
heavy	O
armor	O
and	O
is	O
designed	O
to	O
take	O
damage	O
for	O
its	O
group	O
using	O
a	O
taunt	O
ability	O
;	O
the	O
Monk	O
,	O
a	O
character	O
which	O
uses	O
a	O
combination	O
of	O
martial	O
arts	O
and	O
barehanded	O
fighting	O
techniques	O
;	O
the	O
Rogue	B-Protocol
,	O
a	O
combination	O
of	O
thief	B-Application
and	O
assassin	B-Application
classes	O
which	O
can	O
sneak	O
and	O
hide	O
in	O
the	O
shadows	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
steal	O
from	O
enemies	O
;	O
and	O
the	O
Berserker	O
,	O
a	O
strong	O
fighter	O
who	O
specialize	O
in	O
two-handed	O
weapons	O
such	O
as	O
axes	O
and	O
are	O
able	O
to	O
enter	O
a	O
state	O
of	O
increased	O
fury	O
and	O
power	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Priest	O
classes	O
are	O
made	O
up	O
of	O
the	O
Cleric	O
,	O
a	O
heavily	O
specialized	O
support	O
class	O
that	O
wears	O
heavy	O
armor	O
and	O
is	O
adept	O
at	O
healing	O
and	O
strengthening	O
their	O
allies	O
;	O
the	O
Druid	B-Protocol
,	O
a	O
magic-user	O
who	O
draws	O
power	O
from	O
nature	O
which	O
can	O
restore	O
the	O
vitality	O
and	O
magic	O
power	O
of	O
their	O
teammates	O
;	O
and	O
the	O
Shaman	B-Protocol
,	O
tribal	O
warriors	B-Protocol
who	O
draw	O
upon	O
the	O
spirit	O
realm	O
to	O
heal	O
,	O
empower	O
those	O
around	O
them	O
,	O
and	O
weaken	O
their	O
enemies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
include	O
Paladins	B-Protocol
,	O
knights	O
who	O
possess	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
take	O
damage	O
or	O
heal	O
with	O
magic	O
or	O
laying	O
on	O
of	O
hands	O
;	O
Shadowknights	O
,	O
dark	O
warriors	B-Protocol
who	O
use	O
a	O
combination	O
of	O
melee	O
attacks	O
and	O
disease/poison	O
abilities	O
to	O
damage	O
foes	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
take	O
damage	O
for	O
the	O
party	O
;	O
the	O
Bard	O
,	O
a	O
minstrel	B-Application
who	O
is	O
able	O
to	O
use	O
magical	O
songs	O
for	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
effects	O
-	O
including	O
damaging	O
enemies	O
,	O
strengthening	O
allies	O
,	O
and	O
improving	O
the	O
movement	O
speed	O
of	O
themselves	O
and	O
others	O
;	O
Rangers	O
,	O
protectors	O
of	O
nature	O
who	O
learn	O
healing	O
and	O
support	O
magic	O
in	O
addition	O
to	O
being	O
able	O
to	O
damage	O
enemies	O
in	O
close	O
combat	O
or	O
at	O
a	O
distance	O
with	O
bows	O
and	O
arrows	O
;	O
and	O
Beastlords	O
,	O
primal	O
fighters	O
who	O
are	O
constantly	O
joined	O
by	O
their	O
animal	O
wards	O
which	O
help	O
them	O
deal	O
damage	O
,	O
and	O
can	O
assist	O
their	O
teammates	O
with	O
healing	O
and	O
support	O
skills	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
are	O
several	O
deities	O
in	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
who	O
each	O
have	O
a	O
certain	O
area	O
of	O
responsibility	O
and	O
play	O
a	O
role	O
in	O
the	O
backstory	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
setting	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
universe	O
is	O
divided	O
into	O
more	O
than	O
five	O
hundred	O
zones	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
EverQuest	B-Protocol
began	O
as	O
a	O
concept	O
by	O
John	O
Smedley	O
in	O
1996	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Since	O
its	O
acquisition	O
of	O
Verant	O
in	O
late	O
1999	O
,	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
was	O
developed	O
by	O
Sony	O
Online	O
Entertainment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
design	O
and	O
concept	O
of	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
is	I-Protocol
heavily	O
indebted	O
to	O
text-based	B-Application
MUDs	I-Application
,	O
in	O
particular	O
DikuMUD	B-Application
,	O
and	O
as	O
such	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
is	I-Protocol
considered	O
a	O
3D	O
evolution	O
of	O
the	O
text	O
MUD	B-Application
genre	O
like	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
MMOs	O
that	O
preceded	O
it	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Meridian	B-Protocol
59	I-Protocol
and	O
The	B-Protocol
Realm	I-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
John	O
Smedley	O
,	O
Brad	O
McQuaid	O
,	O
Steve	O
Clover	O
and	O
Bill	O
Trost	O
,	O
who	O
jointly	O
are	O
credited	O
with	O
creating	O
the	O
world	O
of	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
,	O
have	O
repeatedly	O
pointed	O
to	O
their	O
shared	O
experiences	O
playing	O
MUDs	B-Application
such	O
as	O
Sojourn	O
and	O
TorilMUD	B-Protocol
as	O
the	O
inspiration	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Famed	O
book	O
cover	O
illustrator	O
Keith	O
Parkinson	O
created	O
the	O
box	O
covers	O
for	O
earlier	O
installments	O
of	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Development	O
of	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
began	O
in	O
1996	O
when	O
Sony	O
Interactive	O
Studios	O
America	O
(	O
SISA	O
)	O
executive	O
John	O
Smedley	O
secured	O
funding	O
for	O
a	O
3D	O
game	O
like	O
text-based	B-Application
MUDs	I-Application
following	O
the	O
successful	O
launch	O
of	O
Meridian	B-Protocol
59	I-Protocol
the	O
previous	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
McQuaid	O
soon	O
rose	O
through	O
the	O
ranks	O
to	O
become	O
executive	O
producer	O
for	O
the	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
franchise	O
and	O
emerged	O
during	O
development	O
of	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
as	O
a	O
popular	O
figure	O
among	O
the	O
fan	O
community	O
through	O
his	O
in-game	O
avatar	O
,	O
Aradune	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
key	O
members	O
of	O
the	O
development	O
team	O
included	O
Bill	O
Trost	O
,	O
who	O
created	O
the	O
history	O
,	O
lore	O
and	O
major	O
characters	O
of	O
Norrath	B-Protocol
(	O
including	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
protagonist	O
Firiona	O
Vie	O
)	O
,	O
Geoffrey	O
"	O
GZ	O
"	O
Zatkin	O
,	O
who	O
implemented	O
the	O
spell	O
system	O
,	O
and	O
artist	O
Milo	O
D	O
.	O
Cooper	O
,	O
who	O
did	O
the	O
original	O
character	O
modeling	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
EverQuest	B-Protocol
launched	O
with	O
modest	O
expectations	O
from	O
Sony	O
on	O
16	O
March	O
1999	O
under	O
its	O
Verant	O
Interactive	O
brand	O
and	O
quickly	O
became	O
successful	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
year	O
,	O
it	O
had	O
surpassed	O
competitor	O
Ultima	B-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
in	O
number	O
of	O
subscriptions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
anticipation	O
of	O
PlayStation	B-Device
's	O
launch	O
,	O
Sony	O
Interactive	O
Studios	O
America	O
made	O
the	O
decision	O
to	O
focus	O
primarily	O
on	O
console	O
titles	O
under	O
the	O
banner	O
989	O
Studios	O
,	O
while	O
spinning	O
off	O
its	O
sole	O
computer	O
title	O
,	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
,	O
which	O
was	O
ready	O
to	O
launch	O
,	O
to	O
a	O
new	O
computer	O
game	O
division	O
named	O
Redeye	O
(	O
renamed	O
Verant	O
Interactive	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Executives	O
initially	O
had	O
very	O
low	O
expectations	O
for	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
,	O
but	O
in	O
2000	O
,	O
following	O
the	O
surprising	O
continued	O
success	O
and	O
unparalleled	O
profits	O
of	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
,	O
Sony	O
reorganized	O
Verant	O
Interactive	O
into	O
Sony	O
Online	O
Entertainment	O
(	O
SOE	O
)	O
with	O
Smedley	O
retaining	O
control	O
of	O
the	O
company	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
team	O
,	O
including	O
Brad	O
McQuaid	O
and	O
Steve	O
Clover	O
left	O
SOE	O
by	O
2002	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
expansion	O
Shadows	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
Luclin	I-Operating_System
(	O
2001	O
)	O
gave	O
a	O
significant	O
facelift	O
to	O
player	O
character	O
models	O
,	O
bringing	O
the	O
dated	O
1999	O
graphics	O
up	O
to	O
modern	O
standards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
expansion	O
Planes	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
Power	I-Operating_System
(	O
2002	O
)	O
introduced	O
The	O
Plane	O
of	O
Knowledge	O
,	O
a	O
hub	O
zone	O
from	O
which	O
players	O
could	O
quickly	O
teleport	O
to	O
many	O
other	O
destinations	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
EverQuest	B-Protocol
made	O
a	O
push	O
to	O
enter	O
the	O
European	O
market	O
in	O
2002	O
with	O
the	O
New	O
Dawn	O
promotional	O
campaign	O
,	O
which	O
not	O
only	O
established	O
local	O
servers	O
in	O
Germany	O
,	O
France	O
and	O
Great	O
Britain	O
but	O
also	O
offered	O
localized	O
versions	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
in	O
German	O
and	O
French	O
to	O
accommodate	O
players	O
who	O
prefer	O
those	O
languages	O
to	O
English	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
following	O
year	O
the	O
game	O
also	O
moved	O
beyond	O
the	O
PC	B-Device
market	O
with	O
a	O
Mac	B-Operating_System
OS	I-Operating_System
X	I-Operating_System
version	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2003	O
experiments	O
began	O
with	O
digital	O
distribution	O
of	O
expansions	O
,	O
starting	O
with	O
the	B-Operating_System
Legacy	I-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
Ykesha	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
year	O
the	O
franchise	O
also	O
ventured	O
into	O
the	O
console	O
market	O
with	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
Adventures	I-Protocol
,	O
released	O
for	O
Sony	O
's	O
internet-capable	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
the	O
second	O
MMORPG	B-Protocol
for	O
this	O
console	O
,	O
after	O
Final	B-Protocol
Fantasy	I-Protocol
XI	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Story-wise	O
it	O
was	O
a	O
prequel	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
events	O
taking	O
place	O
500	O
years	O
before	O
the	O
original	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
spin-off	O
projects	O
were	O
the	O
PC	B-Device
strategy	O
game	O
Lords	B-Application
of	I-Application
EverQuest	I-Application
(	O
2003	O
)	O
and	O
the	O
co-op	O
Champions	B-Application
of	I-Application
Norrath	I-Application
(	O
2004	B-Application
)	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
these	O
side	O
projects	O
,	O
the	O
first	O
proper	O
sequel	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
late	O
2004	B-Application
,	O
titled	O
simply	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
II	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
EverQuest	B-Protocol
II	I-Protocol
faced	O
severe	O
competition	O
from	O
Blizzard	O
's	O
World	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Warcraft	I-Protocol
,	O
which	O
was	O
released	O
at	O
virtually	O
the	O
same	O
time	O
and	O
quickly	O
grew	O
to	O
dominate	O
the	O
MMORPG	B-Protocol
genre	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Since	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
World	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Warcraft	I-Protocol
and	O
other	O
modern	O
MMORPGs	B-Protocol
,	O
there	O
have	O
been	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
signs	O
that	O
the	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
population	O
is	O
shrinking	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
2006	O
expansion	O
The	B-Operating_System
Serpent	I-Operating_System
's	I-Operating_System
Spine	I-Operating_System
introduced	O
the	O
"	O
adventure-friendly	O
"	O
city	O
of	O
Crescent	O
Reach	O
in	O
which	O
all	O
races	O
and	O
classes	O
are	O
able	O
(	O
and	O
encouraged	O
)	O
to	O
start	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
2008	O
's	O
Seeds	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
Destruction	I-Operating_System
expansion	O
introduced	O
computer	O
controlled	O
companions	O
called	O
"	O
mercenaries	O
"	O
that	O
can	O
join	O
groups	O
in	O
place	O
of	O
human	O
players	O
;	O
a	O
response	O
to	O
the	O
increasing	O
difficulty	O
of	O
finding	O
other	O
players	O
of	O
appropriate	O
level	O
for	O
group	O
activities	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
March	O
2012	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
departed	O
from	O
the	O
traditional	O
monthly	O
subscription	O
business	O
model	O
by	O
introducing	O
three	O
tiers	O
of	O
commitment	O
:	O
a	O
completely	O
free-to-play	O
Bronze	O
Level	O
,	O
a	O
one-time	O
fee	O
Silver	O
Level	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
subscription	O
Gold	O
Level	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
same	O
month	O
saw	O
the	O
closure	O
of	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
Adventures	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Just	O
a	O
few	O
months	O
earlier	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
II	I-Protocol
had	O
gone	O
free-to-play	O
and	O
SOE	O
flagship	O
Star	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
Galaxies	I-Application
also	O
closed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
EverQuest	B-Operating_System
expansions	I-Operating_System
are	O
as	O
follows	O
:	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
names	O
were	O
originally	O
the	O
deities	O
of	O
the	O
world	O
of	O
Norrath	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
technical	O
terms	O
,	O
each	O
game	O
server	O
is	O
actually	O
a	O
cluster	B-Architecture
of	O
server	O
machines	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
is	O
an	O
official	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
server	O
list	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
unofficial	O
3rd-party	O
servers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
example	O
,	O
the	O
Project	O
1999	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
servers	O
are	O
intended	O
to	O
recreate	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
in	O
the	O
state	O
it	O
existed	O
in	O
the	O
year	O
it	O
launched	O
and	O
the	O
two	O
subsequent	O
expansions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
SOE	O
devoted	O
one	O
server	O
(	O
Al'Kabor	O
)	O
to	O
an	O
OS	B-Operating_System
X	I-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
which	O
opened	O
for	O
beta	O
testing	O
in	O
early	O
2003	O
,	O
and	O
officially	O
released	O
on	O
June	O
24	O
,	O
2003	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
never	O
developed	O
beyond	O
the	B-Operating_System
Planes	I-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
Power	I-Operating_System
expansion	O
,	O
and	O
contained	O
multiple	O
features	O
and	O
bugs	B-Error_Name
not	O
seen	O
on	O
PC	B-Device
servers	O
,	O
as	O
a	O
side-effect	O
of	O
the	O
codebase	O
having	O
been	O
split	O
from	O
an	O
early	O
Planes	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
Power	I-Operating_System
date	O
but	O
not	O
updated	O
with	O
the	O
PC	B-Device
codebase	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
running	O
on	O
older	O
,	O
PowerPC-based	O
systems	O
lost	O
access	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
at	O
that	O
point	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reviews	O
of	O
Everquest	B-Protocol
were	O
mostly	O
positive	O
upon	O
release	O
in	O
1999	O
,	O
earning	O
an	O
85	O
out	O
of	O
100	O
score	O
from	O
aggregate	O
review	O
website	O
Metacritic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Greg	O
Kasavin	O
of	O
GameSpot	O
similarly	O
felt	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
combat	O
was	O
"	O
uninteresting	O
"	O
but	O
did	O
note	O
that	O
,	O
unlike	O
earlier	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
genre	O
,	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
offered	O
the	O
opportunity	O
to	O
play	O
on	O
servers	O
that	O
would	O
n't	O
allow	O
players	O
to	O
fight	O
each	O
other	O
unless	O
they	O
chose	O
to	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
it	O
heavily	O
promoted	O
cooperation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ultimately	O
,	O
the	O
reviewer	O
would	O
declare	O
that	O
"	O
the	O
combat	O
may	O
be	O
a	O
little	O
boring	O
,	O
the	O
manual	O
may	O
be	O
horrible	O
,	O
the	O
quest	O
system	O
half-baked	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
game	O
not	O
without	O
its	O
small	O
share	O
of	O
miscellaneous	O
bugs	B-Error_Name
.	O
</s>
<s>
But	O
all	O
you	O
need	O
is	O
to	O
find	O
a	O
like-minded	O
adventurer	O
or	O
two	O
,	O
and	O
all	O
of	O
a	O
sudden	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
stands	O
to	O
become	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
memorable	O
gaming	O
experiences	O
you	O
've	O
ever	O
had.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Baldric	O
of	O
Game	O
Revolution	O
likewise	O
stated	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
more	O
co-operative	O
than	O
Ultima	B-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
,	O
but	O
that	O
there	O
was	O
less	O
interaction	O
with	O
the	O
environment	O
,	O
calling	O
it	O
more	O
"	O
player	O
oriented	O
"	O
instead	O
of	O
"	O
 '	O
world	O
 '	O
oriented.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Next	O
Generation	O
stated	O
that	O
"	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
is	I-Protocol
one	O
of	O
the	O
rare	O
games	O
that	O
gives	O
back	O
increasingly	O
as	O
you	O
play	O
it	O
,	O
and	O
it	O
is	O
the	O
newest	O
high	O
watermark	O
by	O
which	O
all	O
future	O
persistent	O
online	O
worlds	O
will	O
be	O
judged.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Computer	O
Games	O
Magazine	O
would	O
also	O
commend	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
three-dimensional	O
graphics	O
and	O
environments	O
,	O
remarking	O
that	O
"	O
With	O
its	O
3D	O
graphics	O
,	O
first-person	O
perspective	O
,	O
and	O
elegantly	O
simple	O
combat	O
system	O
,	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
has	O
finally	O
given	O
us	O
the	O
first	O
step	O
towards	O
a	O
true	O
virtual	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Everquest	B-Protocol
was	O
named	O
GameSpot	O
's	O
1999	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
in	O
its	O
Best	O
&	O
Worst	O
of	O
1999	O
awards	O
,	O
remarking	O
that	O
"	O
Following	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
's	O
release	O
in	O
March	O
,	O
the	O
whole	O
gaming	O
industry	O
effectively	O
ground	O
to	O
a	O
halt	O
 [ ... ] 	O
At	O
least	O
one	O
prominent	O
game	O
developer	O
blamed	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
for	O
product	O
delays	O
,	O
and	O
for	O
several	O
weeks	O
GameSpot	O
's	O
editors	O
were	O
spending	O
more	O
time	O
exploring	O
Norrath	B-Protocol
than	O
they	O
were	O
doing	O
their	O
jobs.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
website	O
would	O
also	O
include	O
the	O
game	O
in	O
their	O
list	O
of	O
the	O
Greatest	O
Games	O
of	O
All	O
Time	O
in	O
2004	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Academy	O
of	O
Interactive	O
Arts	O
and	O
Sciences	O
named	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
their	O
Online	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
for	O
1999	O
,	O
while	O
Game	O
Revolution	O
named	O
it	O
the	O
Best	O
PC	B-Device
RPG	O
of	O
1999	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
included	O
in	O
Time	O
magazine	O
's	O
Best	O
of	O
1999	O
in	O
the	O
"	O
Tech	O
"	O
category	O
,	O
and	O
Entertainment	O
Weekly	O
would	O
include	O
the	O
game	O
in	O
their	O
Top	O
Ten	O
Hall	O
of	O
Fame	O
Video	O
Games	O
of	O
the	O
'	O
90s	O
,	O
calling	O
its	O
virtual	O
world	O
"	O
the	O
nearest	O
you	O
could	O
get	O
to	O
being	O
on	O
a	O
Star	B-Operating_System
Trek	I-Operating_System
holodeck.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2007	O
,	O
Sony	O
Online	O
Entertainment	O
received	O
a	O
Technology	O
&	O
Engineering	O
Emmy	O
Award	O
for	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
under	O
the	O
category	O
of	O
"	O
Development	O
of	O
Massively	O
Multiplayer	O
Online	O
Graphical	O
Role	O
Playing	O
Games	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
the	O
2nd	O
annual	O
Game	O
Developers	O
Choice	O
Online	O
Awards	O
in	O
2011	O
,	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
received	O
a	O
Hall	O
of	O
Fame	O
award	O
for	O
its	O
long-term	O
advancement	O
of	O
online	O
gaming	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
being	O
the	O
first	O
MMORPG	B-Protocol
to	O
feature	O
a	O
guild	O
system	O
and	O
raiding	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Editors	O
of	O
Computer	O
Gaming	O
World	O
and	O
GameSpot	O
each	O
nominated	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
for	O
their	O
1999	O
"	O
Role-Playing	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
awards	O
,	O
both	O
of	O
which	O
ultimately	O
went	O
to	O
Planescape	B-Application
:	I-Application
Torment	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
CNET	O
Gamecenter	O
likewise	O
nominated	O
it	O
in	O
this	O
category	O
,	O
but	O
gave	O
the	O
award	O
to	O
Asheron	B-Application
's	I-Application
Call	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpot	O
would	O
also	O
nominate	O
the	O
title	O
for	O
Best	O
Multiplayer	O
Game	O
of	O
1999	O
,	O
but	O
would	O
give	O
the	O
award	O
to	O
Quake	B-Application
III	I-Application
Arena	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2012	O
,	O
1UP.com	O
ranked	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
57th	O
on	O
its	O
list	O
of	O
the	O
Top	O
100	O
Essential	O
Games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
EverQuest	B-Protocol
was	O
the	O
most	O
pre-ordered	O
PC	B-Device
title	O
on	O
EBGames.com	O
prior	O
to	O
its	O
release	O
in	O
March	O
1999	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
NPD	O
Techworld	O
,	O
a	O
firm	O
that	O
tracked	O
sales	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
reported	O
559,948	O
units	O
sold	O
of	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
by	O
December	O
2002	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
2004	B-Application
the	O
title	O
's	O
lifetime	O
sales	O
exceeded	O
3	O
million	O
copies	O
worldwide	O
and	O
reached	O
an	O
active	O
subscriber	O
peak	O
of	O
550,000	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
of	O
September	O
30	O
,	O
2020	O
,	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
had	O
66,000	O
subscribers	O
and	O
82,000	O
monthly	O
active	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sony	O
discourages	O
the	O
payment	O
of	O
real-world	O
money	O
for	O
online	O
goods	O
,	O
except	O
on	O
certain	O
"	O
Station	O
Exchange	O
"	O
servers	O
in	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
II	I-Protocol
,	O
launched	O
in	O
July	O
2005	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
this	O
point	O
this	O
system	O
only	O
applies	O
to	O
select	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
II	I-Protocol
servers	O
;	O
none	O
of	O
the	O
pre-Station	O
Exchange	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
II	I-Protocol
or	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
servers	O
are	O
affected	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2012	O
,	O
Sony	O
added	O
an	O
in-game	O
item	O
called	O
a	O
"	O
Krono	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
adds	O
30	O
days	O
of	O
game	O
membership	O
throughout	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
and	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
II	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
October	O
2000	O
,	O
Verant	O
banned	O
a	O
player	O
by	O
the	O
name	O
of	O
Mystere	O
,	O
allegedly	O
for	O
creating	O
controversial	O
fan	O
fiction	O
,	O
causing	O
outrage	O
among	O
some	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
players	O
and	O
sparking	O
a	O
debate	O
about	O
players	O
 '	O
rights	O
and	O
the	O
line	O
between	O
roleplaying	O
and	O
intellectual	O
property	O
infringement	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
was	O
one	O
well-publicized	O
suicide	O
of	O
an	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
user	O
named	O
Shawn	O
Woolley	O
,	O
that	O
inspired	O
his	O
mother	O
,	O
Liz	O
,	O
to	O
found	O
Online	O
Gamers	O
Anonymous	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Massively	B-Protocol
multiplayer	I-Protocol
online	I-Protocol
role-playing	I-Protocol
games	I-Protocol
(	O
MMORPGs	B-Protocol
)	O
are	O
described	O
by	O
some	O
players	O
as	O
"	O
chat	O
rooms	O
with	O
a	O
graphical	O
interface	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
sociological	O
aspects	O
of	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
(	O
and	O
other	O
MMORPGs	B-Protocol
)	O
are	O
explored	O
in	O
a	O
series	O
of	O
online	O
studies	O
on	O
a	O
site	O
known	O
as	O
"	O
the	O
HUB	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
May	O
2004	B-Application
,	O
Woody	O
Hearn	O
of	O
GU	O
Comics	O
called	O
for	O
all	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
gamers	O
to	O
boycott	O
the	O
Omens	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
War	I-Operating_System
expansion	O
in	O
an	O
effort	O
to	O
force	O
SOE	O
to	O
address	O
existing	O
issues	O
with	O
the	O
game	O
rather	O
than	O
release	O
another	O
"	O
quick-fire	O
"	O
expansion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Since	O
EverQuests	B-Protocol
release	O
,	O
Sony	O
Online	O
Entertainment	O
has	O
added	O
several	O
EverQuest-related	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
EverQuest	B-Protocol
Role-Playing	O
Game	O
(	O
a	O
role-playing	O
game	O
produced	O
in	O
collaboration	O
with	O
White	O
Wolf	O
which	O
uses	O
the	O
d20	O
system	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Legends	B-Application
of	I-Application
Norrath	I-Application
(	O
a	O
virtual	O
card	O
game	O
which	O
launched	O
sometime	O
in	O
2007	O
or	O
early	O
2008	O
which	O
also	O
awards	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
and	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
II	I-Protocol
players	O
with	O
in-game	O
items	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
line	O
of	O
novels	O
have	O
been	O
published	O
in	O
the	O
world	O
of	O
EverQuest	B-Protocol
,	O
including	O
:	O
</s>
