Here's some pre-alpha to live footage of Everquest 1 to help understand the process of development from a passionate yet small developer.
Pre-alpha developer footage from 1997. The music was literally what was used in this publisher release of this video and was not added by the uploader.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFKrlynZNtU
Video release from final Alpha before they began beta phase and ultimately the Marh 16th, 1999 release.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0rv1pqCs-E
Live release tutorial which was most people's first experience of the game in the live state. Pay attention to the names on the tombstones. Ssra mentioned before Luclin, Aradune, and notable names attributed to the food dishes in the game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l93daYpKY8
Emulator showing the game state on live release after March 16th. This is the most accurate video I found showing the authenticity to the game in that stage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWisI2lSc_A
And of course, the intro.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym9hIEbnijw
While I would love to make comparison from EQ's developement to P:ROTF, their advance stage is impressive and consistant, yet they really have a long way ahead.
I don't think we can expect an alpha date when only one model out of 18 is barely functionnal (Human male, armor showing and such but not much customization yet), and not even 1/3 of the world is done.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not criticizing the state of the game but despite my starve for a release date, I realize they are far to be done, in world building, in character models, in concrete gameplay, in core mechanics. We will have a milestone when 6 out of 18 models and kingsreach will be all set, as an exact third of the observable world will be done, but yet I fear we are more on the 1/10th of the work done (I really hope I'm wrong, but I can't say for sure).
Such nostalgia!
Thnx for posting this... made my night..
That intro gave me chills of excitement!
Ha. That music on the first link is ridiculous.
Watching that tutorial video really brings me back. As a acne-riddled brat in high school with a crappy computer, anytime I couldn't get EQ to work (often!) I would just log into the tutorial and roam around for hours, while reading an EQ strategy guide just to get my fix.
Good times.