The EverQuest Show - Episode 17 - Interview with Head of Darkpaw Games Jennifer Chan

Fading sits down with the head of Darkpaw Games, Jennifer Chan.
They covered a wide range of topics, including:
- EG7 Purchase
- 2023 Roadmap
- UI Engine changes
- Direct X 11 port
- TLP and TLE updates
- EQ2 Swag store
- Next EQ2 game update
For a full transcript, visit :
everquestshow.com/2023/03/15/...
Additional great EverQuest Show content found at everquestshow.com
Gameplay and music clips courtesy of EverQuest and EverQuest II.
Theme music "Top Of The World" licensed from Tim McMorris, published by King's Crown Productions Inc.
Stock footage purchased from Stock Footage, Inc.

[@Laber77]

Great show Fading; you're giving us light as we see our beloved game will still progress, and not fade! producers seem very excited and so are we !

[@rflynn1974]

I can't believe Fading does this for free, it's legit a professionally produced show.

[@EverQuestShow]

The love of the game!

[@SoyAntonioGaming]

Rumors tell me that random ppl are PLing his alts as compensation. Lots of shady Crushbone belt transactions are involved for sure.

[@EverQuestShow]

@@SoyAntonioGaming I can neither confirm nor deny these allegations. I am not a crook!

[@merelythepawn]

@@SoyAntonioGaming That's seems like it should be a bannable offense. I really don't know; I'm a lonely human that is often considered dubious at best.

[@TheSentry66]

Hahah too funny, guys! 🤣

[@gnorley]

I teared up a little when she talked about EQ literally saving some people’s lives. I am people. I belonged nowhere. I was a social outcast and EQ became my sanctuary. I made friends I never would have met in my little hick town. I have many friends and a good life imo. I don’t think I would have made it without EQ as my crutch.

[@michaelmorton6566]

we need everquest 3

[@VegasAceVII]

Fading is so handsome, i could listen to him all day.

[@geofffarnsworth5103]

Loved the show! Thanks for putting in all this work for the eq community!!

[@jamesmccourt1419]

Nice to hear that the purchase by EG7 has resulted in more resources and money for Everquest development.

[@tommyv5866]

A another banger! 🙂 EQ has soo many stories behind the ppl who created it or are help keeping it running

[@locustkllr]

Somebody pay this well-suited man.

[@crafty_android]

Another great one thanks

[@dement401]

God damnit Jenn. We needed the TLP info.

[@Cornerboy73]

Our man Fading here unleashing a full-scale charm offensive in a bid to pry some secrets for us - solid hustle brother, thanks for another great episode of The Everquest Show o7

[@bountoj]

Im so tempted to download eq2 and start the grind again.

[@brianross9926]

Thanks for bringing us quality updates on the best classic game of all time!

[@Mostcus]

Woah, new cool video! Thanks so much for making my work day better!

[@TR-Graybles]

What is most amazing is that after so many years EQ1 still remains a much-loved Work in Progress that will hopefully be with us for a very long time! Great interview much information has been given and as always, I gobble up these info nuggets with utmost joy! *Edit:* I know it won't be, but I do hope for the 25th Anniversary I do hope for a Classic EQ1 server, with all the misery and joy that that brings... Classic Freeport, Corpse Runs, Original Exp. gain... I know it won't be, but damn do I hope there will come a day!

[@gamerRazmus]

Man, I so want a modern MMO in the EQ world.

[@robertjohns4218]

With the right changes, investment & development the existing one could be.

[@jeffnieb9840]

Vr

[@whiteglovestudio]

@@robertjohns4218 No. Do not underestimate VC $ greed. If you want this, you'll need to support indie devs. Another EQ MMO (that is of the quality you want) will only ever come from indie devs/independents. AAA doesn't innovate anymore.

[@TheBudkai]

Just play in the latest EQ expansions

[@FellowOfHammer]

​@@whiteglovestudiothis

[@tren380]

We need an EQ convention!

[@Kiroc65]

Another great episode. Thanks!

[@greenglade_]

Great work Fading, these episodes are very professional and really make me feel engaged with EQ even when not actively playing and it's great to see the Darkpaw team and previous devs engaging with you.

[@yerpyerp]

Reminded me to say thanks for the heads up about the records back then. Proud owner of the mezmer blue record here. I was playing on a TLP and told my GU about it. I know a few of the guys grabbed some as well. Nice to own that rare drop.

[@Tsaier]

Love the show, love the game

[@andrewkent5208]

Great work as always 🎉

[@mikejenkins1270]

This show is too good. Jennifer seems like a real gem and the franchise seems to be in great hands, although maybe a little too tight lipped! Spill the beans on some of this stuff Jen!

[@EverQuestShow]

Haha! I suppose if you're the head of the company, it's nice to mind your mouth. Not only from overly exhuberant fans like ourselves, but investors, bosses etc! Jenn is an extremely savvy individual.

[@Caliban_80]

I think she has been more transparent about what's happening than anyone has been in the past. The roadmaps are a great addition.

[@brianbedney3259]

Great work Fading! Definitely see a future EQ convention happening in the future would be my guess…and long over due. Sneaking up on those milestone anni’s! Proud to be apart of this community!

[@aeryneliss]

Thank you for the update! The tlp teaser ... I can't wait until we have more info!

[@chapo90]

The quality of this channel really impresses me!

[@Caliban_80]

Jen is awesome, she has brought a whole new level of transparency to the games. It seems like she has set a direction for the franchise that wasn't there previously.

[@juniare7222]

Awesome video! Keep em coming!

[@keanurevert9275]

will always love everquest, if you still play, i hope you keep it alive.

[@manda---]

I love watching your videos, you never disappoint.

[@jay_roberts]

You're a wizard JChan, keep up the good work!

[@MurdockEx]

Okay, so you said something over a year ago that's been eating away at me. You mentioned in a previous video that there are still loads of items in the game that have never been discovered. My best guess is these rare drops in a raid or something, but the LitRPG reader in me keeps thinking that maybe there's some quests out there that just haven't been discovered, yet. My curiosity is piqued and if you could revisit this topic some time I would love to know more. Even just another tiny sliver of information. Thank you for continuing to make these fantastic videos.

[@Sparcen]

Thank you Fading. Your show is amazing!

[@johnmisenheimer8341]

Way cool Fading , love it . And it's time for a Fight . Lol.

[@dfae5638]

i am so excited i am glad to get some info on the pvp server :) and i am super exicted for the swag store i am gonna get a defiler shirt!!!! hopefully they sell plushies to!!!!

[@JaySityEnt]

by far the best game I ever played in my life. I still have not found a game as good as eq since I last played. The last expansion I played LDON. Watching this video is bringing back all the memories of pulling all nighters playing this game.

[@JonathanVachon777]

Should come to agnarr server. We are in plane of power/ldon forever

[@marshallcierovola376]

Thanks for another great interview!

[@merelythepawn]

Just imagining that DirectX 9 was "next gen" graphics in 2002 for Windows 98, ME and XP. Pretty amazing that anything made today is still even able to run on it

[@gamhuin]

Excellent interview. And yay Brasse! She's amazing! Excited for that episode.

[@KraxThebOld]

Awesome Show!

[@spacehawkthunderstorm]

I want the vinyl, are you making more? 😁

[@Kronikax]

Another great episode!

[@JonSellers_TheBlue]

This show is the best thing since Alt + R

[@rexaraven]

I'm terribly curious about the new, upcoming TLP servers now. I normally don't get excited over them. Great interview!

[@christographerx64]

Great show Fading. In terms of EQ1 TLP Im now WORSE off being even MORE excited but forced to wait a whole other month for details! noooooo :D

[@TheAradar]

That swashbuckler t-shirt :P I was hoping it said EQ3 on it lol, oh well...keep hoping :P Hopefully EQ1 gets support for ultrawide monitors with that 64bit upgrade sometime in the future.

[@keanurevert9275]

that sprinkler tattoo was really cool!

[@Morraak]

Exciting news indeed! I'm kind of hoping for the 25th anniversary they either announce a sequel aka Everquest 3 or an Everquest remake/remaster.

[@whiteglovestudio]

I don't want a remaster. I'd rather see a port to mobile. A sequel (I don't want a remake either, I enjoyed EQ) is not gonna be worth playing unless the devs have the same degree of hands-off freedom the original devs had (and any other major game success out there) and that simply will not happen with big investors. It will need to be crowd-funded, small indie studio with old vets that actually love the idea of doing it again. No half-assing and the release has to be done right. No stupid "open alpha/early access!". Closed alpha>Closed Beta>Open Beta>Release. Corporate culture stifles the very thing that provides the company value; artistic talent. While it's cool to see EQ get some love, I really hope nobody is under the notion the game has any upward mobility in its current form... a mobile release would be a raving success and is honestly the smartest business move you could make with the IP. Yes we can still log in and play, but the game is a basically a museum compared to the experience of playing when it still had full servers 24/7. Obviously empty games don't get the kind of updates that keep you wanting to play to see "whats next". EQ2's launch getting botched sent alot of people to the dark side... World Of Warcraft. We wanted a shinier version of everquest, we got something totally different and it couldn't use more than 1 core when dual cores were poppin meanwhile WoW had great optimization on top of everything else they did right back then. You still have at least 1-2 million people that want to play EQ2, everquest with a new engine and a new lease on life including several years of great content full-updates/expansions. You only get one shot, if you screw up another EQ launch the IP will die off into obscurity. If you get it right though... you'll be on top of the market for years to come.

[@Liquescentgaming]

I would be happy for my UI and hot bars to be saved server side so if I ever have to reinstall I don't need to setup all my bars again.

[@anderspedersen6750]

25th anniversary: They find the original UI code in a closet

[@MrTermn8r]

I met my wife in EQ in 2004, married in 2010, 4 kids later and we are still going strong and playing EQ!

[@Metal19134]

Been Playing Sice 2004 And only thing i i look forward to is Progression Servers and looking forward to another one for the 25th anniversary LOVE THE GAME EQ FOREVER

[@paltrax]

where you at man we miss you :)

[@TheSentry66]

I’m waiting for EverQuest UNREAL5 or a well done EQ themed title that I can play on mobile - I know mobile is the debil, but if monetization is not overdone I’d be interested!

[@Codric]

My wallet is open and ready for the vinyl album. Pretty please! 😂

[@dmitryw.2209]

Shout out to that G600 mouse! True MMO nerd mouse!

[@zer05tar]

It's a new first person shooter, high fantasy building game like Fortnight but with spells, speed and building, with classic Everquest feel. You're going to love it.

[@Tassy989]

Nice video. I know Daybreak has been working on something for years, Massivly Op use to speculate it was eq 3. Holly hinted to something on the ip but just teased never confirming. Than last year a rumor on a AGS collaboration with Daybreak, now hints of a big announcement.......I am curious

[@WolfsheadSky]

LOVE this show! I gotta ask...where do you get those EQ shirts? Are they available somewhere?

[@John-bg3mm]

Watching this episode made me think how interesting it would be if they designed an expansion for TLP progression. The thought is that since the servers die out after PoP, that they release new content for people to try out after that with new tradeskills, loots, quests, raids, etc. I am sure that idea isn't practical, but it would be really cool! They could launch it along side GoD, and every year maybe make another one for the following expac if it were a success.

[@jollyruthless8219]

Great show! EQ is looking to the future and is building a strong foundation to I believe deliver new graphics that will optional. I don't believe they have any designs to squeeze out old timers but new and shine might reduce the barrier for new players. I don't play EQ because if nostalgia, i play because it is a good game with features no other game has. I don't think they would spend this time of money to go 64 bit, new UI engine to just make a new game.

[@DarkGnome1]

Fading, thanks for working so hard to bring us these insights and looks into the game. Also, where did you get that desktop background?

[@EverQuestShow]

It's the art commissioned for the 10th anniversary I believe. Used for the EQ10th anniversary book cover. I think you can find it online easily with a google image search...

[@EverQuestShow]

I assume you're talking about the one on my side computer....If you're talking about what's keyed behind Jenn, that from Darkpaw...with no significance (I asked)...just nice artwork they had.

[@DarkGnome1]

@@EverQuestShow yes the one on your side computer. Thank you!

[@purler3221]

When it comes to goodies for sale, I want a sweatshirt and I want to be able to buy it from the UK! Please!

[@kinnakor6619]

So it seems like they are going to make something entirely new for EQ but still keeping it the same. Like in the way that TLP is a different ruleset and experience from Live. So there will be 1.TLP servers, 2. Live servers, Then 3. A total remake or reimagining of EverQuest? Perhaps a smart move that doesn't take the resources of making an entirely new game but uses the new backend software they seem to be keen on updating ( this was my clue for this idea). So you could log onto EQ and choose between 3 different types of experiences on the same game?

[@keithm7022]

EQ fanfaire 2024 !!!!

[@EverQuestShow]

Wouldn't that be AMAZING?!?

[@mattstansbeary3068]

@@EverQuestShow Yes, but I still cry over the last one.😢

[@drdroop2163]

New character models. We don't even need them all at once. Just do them well and do them right. We'll likely be stuck with whatever you make for the next 25 years so no need to rush :)

[@boot-strapper]

I want them to make eqclassic remastered. Like, remake eq up to veloious in like unreal 5. That would be soooo sick.

[@HectorYague]

That would be an insta-buy for pretty much all of us original EQ players!

[@tjloa]

What about bringing back FanFair? And the ability to transfer a toon to its own account?

[@Reviirifi]

So the new TLP will show how either gentrify levels or some sort of a mentor system to improve the leveling experience got it.

[@rustysarkela7754]

Seems like eq is in good hands 😊

[@elminweatherbee7672]

The tech debt in this game is real. The amount of work to modernize the game is amazing.

[@gavcarl]

Gnome Monks are coming!

[@EverQuestShow]

That would be HUGE news! LOL =)

[@VetranoD]

@@EverQuestShow I would do awful, no good, terrible things to a kobold for this.

[@RE-sc9bz]

Really wish they would do another giveaway this year.. i missed my chance to try for a Fippy plushie.. sad times :(

[@TheBudkai]

All I know is I'm definitely rolling a toon on the 25th Anniversary TLP servers!

[@CoreChamber]

Any clue or good guess on what the new EQ1 TLP rules will be?

[@JON_CORE]

Think they will give all accounts free heroic boosts again... Lord knows the game needs it. Could get a lot of people back into the game and even bring in some new faces. Don't think daybreak gave any out yet. I'm not gonna hold my breath but I hope they do.

[@joshuaburch6708]

I'm in a boat with mmos that I wish they would create servers that would progress to a certain expac and stop like pop or omens

[@EverQuestShow]

Agnarr is PoP locked.

[@TomBrady-ce9md]

Bring back the old UI engine. Why did we need the new one ?? The screen flashes when you open bags and things don't overlap

[@livelucky74]

Outsourcing coding always scares me. Completely anecdotal but they company I work for had some very bad results with it.

[@sabra401]

How about that new Oakwynd TLP FTE server? Experiment lol. She meant to say disaster!!

[@TheIndigoEclipse]

EQ is still a classic and nostalgic game. But even after all these years, my one major complaint about the game was never addressed. Respawn timers on quest mobs. Camping things for hours and days while competing with others is not fun. I really hope that this is changed to be more respectful of players time, Especially with work and family obligations most of us juggle with now compared to our youth in the game. It can still be challenging and a classic playstyle with community while respecting our time.

[@viridian10]

No big announcement yet. Was the big announcement the tlp? Or is is something else?

[@darintroxel3295]

what happened to the show it stopped?

[@viridian10]

So where is this big announcement?

[@EverQuestShow]

Soon (tm).....

[@viridian10]

@@EverQuestShow just take my money Daybreak I’ll buy a Firiona vie body pillow if available out with it

[@viridian10]

@@EverQuestShow you're killing me Fading is it tomorrow? Saturday seems perfect everyone is off work

[@viridian10]

Any news yet?

[@gamingod2137]

Eqoa frontiers remake on console pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[@Jeff-ne1lh]

Sigh...I think Darkpaw has been promising things about a New Everquest to the point that few people believe them anymore...I am curious as to what happened to the influx of capital that was suppose to go to the Marvel MMO....that was significant, and I assume the venture capitalist that put up the funds wants some form of return....a lot of unanswered questions... I have heard for years now that Darkpaw just dosen't have the people or talent to create anything new and is why both games are pretty much in maintenance mode...I hope that isn't true, in the right hands the IP could be a license to print money.

[@gavinfairbanks]

Tell me you know nothing about what made eq2 pvp great without telling me you know nothing about what made eq2 pvp great.

[@whiteglovestudio]

Damn, seems like EQ might have fallen into the right hands. Whew. Would have been a crying shame if the IP was slowly forgotten and instead of reinvigorated. Are they willing to launch a new game/modern engine or is it just milking the cow further? edit: I'm confused, she seems like a good fit for the EQ community... why is her position and planetsides positions open? I mean planetside desperately needs someone good, hell they would have been better off without any leadership possibly the way the game went since launch lol, but everything she was discussing sounds on point. ...Unless you guys have new projects in mind... for the love of god if you are going to do something new with either IP... DON'T &!#@ IT UP! (please)

[@dust921]

bring back land mark and everquestNext3 or im not investing

[@draxx85]

I really wanted to like the new eq2 expansion but the power creep was too much. 1 shotting everything in the overworld made the world feel so boring, buggy and sterile. The solo dungeons were tuned a lot better so its clear that its not beyond the scope of the game. Not sure I will be coming back until they make some serious mechanical changes that will make the game just more fun.

[@kalebclemons]

i still use a standard UI just set up the way i want. i truly hope this doesnt screw with that. not a big deal tho, i can normally rebuild it in 5 minutes