News - RedGuides is working to become an emu-first community, and we want you to play emu, too

[Algar]

Hey dude, I'm not trying to make this a personal attack so sorry if I just respond to the most recent question here.

It is a totally reasonable question and thought, I am not trying to imply otherwise... but, please consider this:
Do you get refunds when you are bannned?
I'm sure some people try, but I want you guys to keep something in mind here: Those developers are people too, and offered what they did in good faith. That money could have already been spent on diapers lol.

I would personally advise a wait and see approach. It could be the next patch is relatively tame, someone steps up, etc. You just can't really know quite yet... and you are still using the product now.

Is there going to be refunds for un unusable annual plug in purchases?

 

[everquestmann]

I feel ya - I found out basically 36 hours before the announcement went out. Sucks.
I don't think red wants to make promises that he's not able to deliver on - cause RG is at the mercy of the success of the open source MacroQuest - something that RG helped the developers drive MQ into where it is now - open
I *personally* really dont like the abruptness, and I sincerely hope that miracles happen and live MQ continues - if it doesn't and RG isn't a banging thriving place my level of 24/7/365 involvement will absolutely have to be spent elsewhere. I won't have a choice.

New Video
How to Code like a Redguides engineer

If that doesnt keep ya 24/7/365+Leap Year i wont know what else would =P

 

[Redfrog]

Daybreak has established it will go after EMUs that cost it money

We don;t know the whole story, but we do know they went after THJ due to the money being made on their end AND the money being lost on DBG side, at least they say this in concept from subscriber loss to THJ. Something we now know is that DBG had plans on a similar server to THJ that was something to bring income in as a 'franchise or lease' (unsure of a good term for it). For all we know, in the EMU scene it had been a long discussed thing how to bring about a multiclass EQ, some of those devs all hang out and work together of sorts. The THJ guys just got ahead of the non DBG connection (legal red tape not binding them or just they actually are more creative coders) and were able to do something unique. Greed is really what got them hit hard though I think.

But back to the point, DBG hit them due to money, it cost them a lot to sue and make them an example, their cash was held in court costs and they did not get anything except to make a 'public' example to stop others from doing the same thing. But the same thing is not about hosting an EMU, its about making smething so profitable and 'stealing' paying customers. No other EMU is doing that..nor will likely do so. Any smart server owner will be a non profit runner, no matter how successful they are. DBG does not have the cash influx to sue so many people for a non money making EMU, not in their financial interest to hit 100 small guys. The THJ people lost but not paid anything, they have to pay if they talk, or give their code, do anything at all. 3.5 mil if I recall. As long as they do nothing, they pay nothing.

DBG rolling the dice with hope people will go to Legends is all. My feeling is EMU owners have zero to worry about, IF and big IF....they got a cease and desist to close their online EMU, they say ok..and open a new one tomorrow.

 

[vsab]

I see Akkadius has quit too, removing some of the helpful items that he hosted, so the Emu community doesn't look as healthy as it once was either. He quit for really the same reason - the new leadership seem to want to punish any other play style.

On the plus side, maybe an RG Emu server? I think RG do a lot to make stuff accessible and I'd really love Akkadius-like "easy setup" for emu done in the RG way - whether you want your local server or to host one. I think it might be relatively essential - because they may well go after that project also.
and

I guess I shan't be buying SoR x 6 then, or continuing with my EQ subs.

 

[q8reflex]

The EMU client doesn't required potential days of work to maintain every time there is a patch.... because it is not and does not need to be regularly patched.


You think the MQ team, who are all profesionnals, are not already leveraging it??

Do you really think you are going to replace them with a GPT prompt?

Algar no need to stretch the issue, i meant just to use to save time since the post stated devs "Lack Time". And Yes, Ai will save you time you and any programming firm in this planet. Oh, and i meant whats good for the whole community.

 

[hackzimus]

In all likelihood, ill be done playing Live/TLP EQ.

Will the Emu branch continue to support Ascendant?

 

[Algar]

I see Akkadius has quit too, removing some of the helpful items that he hosted, so the Emu community doesn't look as healthy as it once was either. He quit for really the same reason - the new leadership seem to want to punish any other play style.

On the plus side, maybe an RG Emu server? I think RG do a lot to make stuff accessible and I'd really love Akkadius-like "easy setup" for emu done in the RG way - whether you want your local server or to host one. I think it might be relatively essential - because they may well go after that project also.
and

I guess I shan't be buying SoR x 6 then, or continuing with my EQ subs.

Probably healthier since he did.
Everything in his repo is being maintained elsewhere now, in various stages of development.

 

[The Ancient One]

As a community, we can act with we can. As I said, suspended all my subs until know what’s going to be. Remaining time is what’s left of gold toons and that’s it.
If we have union and movement from community, DB might fell where they cares, the pocket.
If so, will obligate them to move in our way.
Money is the word and rules the world!
Did my part for now! No more money to DB and let’s see.

 

[BigCash4421]

Hey dude, I'm not trying to make this a personal attack so sorry if I just respond to the most recent question here.

It is a totally reasonable question and thought, I am not trying to imply otherwise... but, please consider this:
Do you get refunds when you are bannned?
I'm sure some people try, but I want you guys to keep something in mind here: Those developers are people too, and offered what they did in good faith. That money could have already been spent on diapers lol.

I would personally advise a wait and see approach. It could be the next patch is relatively tame, someone steps up, etc. You just can't really know quite yet... and you are still using the product now.

Agree that wait and see is probably the best approach here. People paid for 12month access, and its really no telling, at this point in time whether or not they (seller) will be able to deliver on that. I will say, that generally if you buy something and it stops working at no fault of the customer, the seller is generally viewed as not fulfilling their end of the bargain/contract. At this point, I'd probably pull these additional plugins down until there is more clarity as to whether you can deliver said product over the term, but that's just my point of view.

 

[Jarlentor]

This will be an interesting thing to watch unfold. I've never looked at EMU servers before, but now might be the time to figure it out.
Last I heard you needed a special version of the game to even start with them.

Anyway.... This whole thing is slightly depressing..... Redguides is what has kept EQ fun for the last few years for me.

 

[dewey2461]

So should we all take a moment to fill out the exit survey? ​

​

Daybreak Games All Access Membership Cancellation Confirmation - Please take a moment to fill out this survey to help us improve our services in the future.​

 

[fohpo]

So should we all take a moment to fill out the exit survey? ​

​

Daybreak Games All Access Membership Cancellation Confirmation - Please take a moment to fill out this survey to help us improve our services in the future.​

I’m not sure “RG is giving up and I can’t violate ToS anymore” is going to work. It’s sad, but I totally understand that it’s a passion project that is no longer fun/rewarding for them personally.

 

[Sic]

I’m not sure “RG is giving up and I can’t violate ToS anymore” is going to work. It’s sad, but I totally understand that it’s a passion project that is no longer fun/rewarding for them personally.

i really hate to keep doing the "aktually" bit - but macroquest is by volunteer - brainiac, knightly, dannuic have been the primary developers and drivers of macroquest

RG is at the mercy of that open-source project.

"RG is giving up" isn't really fair. We're trying to do all the things we can in all the directions we can to continue RG being our "daily".

 

[Fargrim]

4-5 Months from now...
From the studio that brought you the THJ Mimic "Everquest: Legends"
Darkpaw Games announces...
Everquest: Rebels
With full MQ support!

Jokes aside if no one takes up that heavy mantle it's been a good run folks!
I'm in the camp of "If ya'll can teach me I'd be happy to do my best to keep things moving"
however I don't have any experience at all in the matter so I'd be a blank slate.

 

[Cinnwin]

this gonna end in tears for the mq community . DPG gonna see a massive drop in players due to this (cause they all box) loss in revenue. they will eye the emu servers population boom and will research into why they just got a massive influx of people . Emu's dont make money but the MQ community DOES. Boom theres DPG's target, yall gonna get the THJ treatment with this decision, really dont see how from a legal perspective that this is a good idea. yall are literally saying "hey we make money letting people exploit your ip on EMU servers Come Sue me!" regardless of what yalls hopes are, this is whats going to happen , your taking out of DPG's pocket . this aint gonna end well like at all.

 

[deathlock]

Do not care for EMU, if LIVE dies, so does my EQ career. 1999-2026 RIP. The ride was fun, the aftermath not so much. (6+ accounts).

 

[TVCChiver]

Do not care for EMU, if LIVE dies, so does my EQ career. 1999-2026 RIP. The ride was fun, the aftermath not so much. (6+ accounts).

14 accounts here, but definitely the same.

 

[Whodis]

It's a sad day, but entirely understandable. Yes, it is possible that someone else may be able to step into the dev's boots - but those are big boots to fill and I'm not holding out too much hope.

I won't do anything for a while and I have no issue with the money I have paid for RG and plugins. For the fun I've had, it's been well worth it and my only comment is, "Thank you!".

I do think it's a shame that Daybreak didn't work more closely with the boxing community and maybe even start to incorporate many of the ideas into the game itself. It could have been awesome. But that wasn't to be. If MQ is no longer available on Live servers, I think there will be a steady collapse of guilds and servers as more and more people leave. Revenues will dwindle and the future of EQ looks grim, in my opinion.

In the meantime, there will be plenty said on this thread and I think we can already see all of the stages of the "grief cycle" playing out:

Personally, I'm going to see how it all plays out. I have paid up on EQ on most of my toons until July. At that point, if things go as I suspect they will, I'll just cancel my payments and use the feedback form linked above to tell DBG that they have basically killed my server and it is no fun any more. I'll then save myself a bunch of money each month and spend my time on something more productive (probably put more time into my song-writing).

However, if a miracle happens and I'm able to continue to box on Live, that's what I'll do. I don't see an EMU in my future. I had already thought that SOR would likely be my last expansion and that, if banned, I'd just quit.

Anyway, as I say, I would like to thank all of the devs here for the pleasure they have given me through their software. It's been a lot of fun!

 

[Hooknose]

Hey dude, I'm not trying to make this a personal attack so sorry if I just respond to the most recent question here.

It is a totally reasonable question and thought, I am not trying to imply otherwise... but, please consider this:
Do you get refunds when you are bannned?
I'm sure some people try, but I want you guys to keep something in mind here: Those developers are people too, and offered what they did in good faith. That money could have already been spent on diapers lol.

I would personally advise a wait and see approach. It could be the next patch is relatively tame, someone steps up, etc. You just can't really know quite yet... and you are still using the product now.

Not a chance I go to EMU. You will lose quite a bit of revenue as i am sure this feeling is felt by most. I myself spend a good amount of money on MQ/CWTN/RG and other plugins and obviously that ends now. I will play my one main toon until I get tired of it and move on, likely back to playing poker to make money instead of spending it. With that being said, 30$ here and there is nothing to me but the fact that I can spend 30x2 a week ago then get word like this just pisses me off. Why would I follow this lack of trust. If it's about money, which i'm pretty sure it is, spit it out and i am sure the community will respond.

 

[Ninjamonkey2728]

As Brother Cinnwin stated, I too believe once the tally is in and dbg sees the dip, they'll start investigating. Once they see emu servers population increasing, money made or not, they WILL target emus to try to force players back to live. Just my 2 cents. Thank you to the devs that have provided this service, it's kept us going for so long. No hard feelings here, sucks, but it is the inevitable conclusion why dbg decides our money isn't good.

 

[hector_red]

Yeah, sad day in some respects, long time coming in others. I personally have continued playing EQ for years past when it stopped being fun for me. For a time things like MQ were a way to keep the game interesting and viable, but eventually I quit using MQ because I was tired of the ban waves and just focused on the live raid force I'm part of, but that raid force is MQ dependent for survival. With its likely shuttering my time in EQ will be at an end, something that TBH I've wanted for years but I didn't want to bail on my raid crew.

The thing keeping me in EQ in the end was the community I was part of--and I do think many similar communities are very dependent on MQ, the impact for the game writ large will likely be significant, I think far bigger than the impact of all the ban waves they've done combined.

I can't blame the MQ devs, while I know many of them do accept money for their work, I think it's always been more akin to a passion project for those guys and no one owes us their labor. Redguides is doing the best they can now that the open source devs are hanging up their hats, there is no magic or easy way to replace them.

 

[Algar]

Not a chance I go to EMU. You will lose quite a bit of revenue as i am sure this feeling is felt by most. I myself spend a good amount of money on MQ/CWTN/RG and other plugins and obviously that ends now. I will play my one main toon until I get tired of it and move on, likely back to playing poker to make money instead of spending it. With that being said, 30$ here and there is nothing to me but the fact that I can spend 30x2 a week ago then get word like this just pisses me off. Why would I follow this lack of trust. If it's about money, which i'm pretty sure it is, spit it out and i am sure the community will respond.

Hey dude I don't work for RG but sorry that is happening to you.
I'm just a dude. Thanks.

 

[azuresme]

我对这个决定非常失望，RG是一款收费的软件，如果你们觉得收取的费用不匹配你们的工作，你们可以涨价，如果你们觉得收多少都无法匹配你们的工作，那也至少给我们这些用户更多的缓冲时间。你们这样的决定对你们的信誉难道不是重大的打击吗？时至今日，确实很多人没有mq已经玩不了eq了，但不代表那些人愿意抛弃eq，专门去玩mq。即使未来你们和dbg言归于好，你们这次的行为也很难让我敢再次购买RG的服务。仅以此作为吐槽，也懒得用英文了，也希望这就是个愚人节玩笑。

 

[Sic]

我对这个决定非常失望，RG是一款收费的软件，如果你们觉得收取的费用不匹配你们的工作，你们可以涨价，如果你们觉得收多少都无法匹配你们的工作，那也至少给我们这些用户更多的缓冲时间。你们这样的决定对你们的信誉难道不是重大的打击吗？时至今日，确实很多人没有mq已经玩不了eq了，但不代表那些人愿意抛弃eq，专门去玩mq。即使未来你们和dbg言归于好，你们这次的行为也很难让我敢再次购买RG的服务。仅以此作为吐槽，也懒得用英文了，也希望这就是个愚人节玩笑。

"I am extremely disappointed with this decision. RG is paid software; if you feel the fees collected don't match your work, you can raise the prices. If you feel that no amount of money can match your work, you should at least give us, the users, more of a buffer time. Isn't this decision a massive blow to your credibility?
Today, it is true that many people cannot play EQ without MQ, but that does not mean those people are willing to abandon EQ just to play MQ. Even if you reconcile with DBG in the future, this action of yours makes it very hard for me to dare purchase RG's services again. Just venting here, and I'm too lazy to use English. I hope this is just an April Fool's joke."

RG is at the mercy of the open-source MacroQuest

 

[fohpo]

i really hate to keep doing the "aktually" bit - but macroquest is by volunteer - brainiac, knightly, dannuic have been the primary developers and drivers of macroquest

RG is at the mercy of that open-source project.

"RG is giving up" isn't really fair. We're trying to do all the things we can in all the directions we can to continue RG being our "daily".

I was kidding, I acknowledged that it was a passion project and they were focusing elsewhere. I don’t think they’re giving up, they’re just follow their passion.

 

[arcreactorkc]

Not a chance I go to EMU. You will lose quite a bit of revenue as i am sure this feeling is felt by most. I myself spend a good amount of money on MQ/CWTN/RG and other plugins and obviously that ends now. I will play my one main toon until I get tired of it and move on, likely back to playing poker to make money instead of spending it. With that being said, 30$ here and there is nothing to me but the fact that I can spend 30x2 a week ago then get word like this just pisses me off. Why would I follow this lack of trust. If it's about money, which i'm pretty sure it is, spit it out and i am sure the community will respond.

I don't know what makes you think this is about money. DBG has continually made it harder and harder to updated MQ to match the updates. It takes more and more time every update to work out what they changed, and why they changed it so MQ can actually work with the new changes.

I have yet to see any of the main dev crew with their hand out holding MQ at a ransom.

 

[fohpo]

I don't know what makes you think this is about money. DBG has continually made it harder and harder to updated MQ to match the updates. It takes more and more time every update to work out what they changed, and why they changed it so MQ can actually work with the new changes.

I have yet to see any of the main dev crew with their hand out holding MQ at a ransom.

Because they don't, they've been incredible and people throwing a fit are just entitled.

 

[ArcaneProphet]

I don't understand gleefully hoping for the downfall of a game we've all loved at some point, regardless of recent actions or business decisions.

 

[Whodis]

I don't understand gleefully hoping for the downfall of a game we've all loved at some point, regardless of recent actions or business decisions.

I'm not sure I see "gleeful" from any of the posters here. Maybe I skipped some.

 

[Hooknose]

Because they don't, they've been incredible and people throwing a fit are just entitled.

I'm not throwing a fit, I am entitled to though...

 

[drphilrup]

Because they don't, they've been incredible and people throwing a fit are just entitled.

yeah people generally feel entitled to something when they pay for it. being disgruntled after a blindeside like this seems reasonable. People trade money for time every day. offering to make it worthwhile for them may help ease the burden. but if they're done, they're done. it be like that sometimes.

 

[strongbus]

yup this going hurt. in my guild alone we have 3 or 4 that box on our raids. depending on how many mains are one any giving raid day the number of boxes we have running mq ranges is about the same as 1 1/2 groups to 2+. And we just a family style raid guild. so losing that many is going greatly impact what we can and can't do on raid nights.

 

[Granditos]

I guess it was only a matter of time. I was really expecting that the end of my EQ career would be from a ban. Guess it is time to get off the hamster wheel that EQ has become (maybe always was) and do something else. Good news is my box hasn’t been banned so if things change with RG, I can load them all back up.

 

[TVCChiver]

After all these years playing with MQ, and this time finally coming to a (possible) end. Gonna use the time to explore the outdoors much and work on some family faction, not the end of the world. The MQ devs deserve to have their own lives, and if this was putting too much extra work on them, so be it. Let them enjoy their lives without having to do something they dread doing. Hopefully they will all be able to pick up again on their passion projects and get to spend more time with their friends and family, that is exactly what I plan on doing with all my newly added free time! Thank you to all the devs and for redguides what yall have done for the last decade +.

 

[Winkatlilly]

Completely understandable, thanks again Redguides!

 

[The Ancient One]

14 accounts here, but definitely the same.

10. RIP

 

[vandersl]

First and foremost, congratulations to brainiac, Knightly and Dannuic on what should only be a positive change for them. Many thanks for their efforts, and the efforts of everyone involved with RG and VV over the years. I was surprised that EQ was still active when I looked it up years ago, amazed that my original accounts were still there, and then dumbfounded at how much better MQ made the game once I stumbled across it. I have played EQ actively for the past 7 years and I can say without reservation that it would not have happened if not for MQ and this community.

Speaking only for myself, only the live game is of interest. My drive in the game is based largely on new content, new expansions, and getting characters to their maximum potential while retaining the feel of a familiar place where I have history and can go back down memory lane. The annual expansion cadence gave a reason to come back to the game each holiday / winter season. I am not sure how EMU will fit into that. Jumping between servers with different playstyles and custom content up to a level limit seems akin to the TLP hamster wheel of constantly starting over, while also losing any friends or aquaintances made along the way.

While there were never any guarantees playing live with MQ, at least there was an expectation that the game would be there when I cam back to it. I respect the efforts of EMU developers and hosters, but have serious reservations that any one server will be maintained for the long run. Not to cast aspersions, but we are all experiencing what can happen when what starts as a volunteer work of passion becomes just work. The lack of new content on an EMU server and the possibility of the server shutting down is just a different form of baspend risk - unable to return to the game to play with your current character (actually, this announcement is basically a perma-ban on my accounts on live, that avoided the recent wave but sadly cannot avoid this one).

I hope I am wrong, and that I can come back to RG in a year, or two, or ten and find a thriving community and game. Meanwhile, I expect that if my EQ itch comes up again I will need to scratch it by trying out EQL. Which was probably their intention all along.

So long, and thanks for all the fish.

 

[Augmentor]

Daybreak's clown crew has been doing a great job of killing the game on their own, and the new "EQ Legends" is further proof of that. Completely out of touch. I got used to playing without MQ for a long time, only started using it again recently. I understand the situation, but I also think the core issue is with the skeleton crew at daybreak.

 

[Lockney1972]

After my wife traded me in for a younger model 14 years ago this has been my 24/7 life other than work. I don't have cable tv or anything. Eq was my shrink. Have tried emu and made my own server at one point. Could never get into it because I hate starting over and like the new higher level instant spells and short cast times. Also the aa higher levels provided. I guess will try the new Daybreak Emu thing . One day when eq folds and by miracle the emu servers can get levels up to 100 to 130 or whatever level eq ends at I will go for that like pancakes and redheads. The work the devs here put in was monumental and I wish all of them happiness in the change. I wish I had Elon Musk money I would pay for it all to continue but alas I don't. Best times of my life and will always be grateful. A toast to all of us! It was grand. If it somehow continues on live.....disreguard this message till the tru end of the story. It isn't over till the lights go out!

 

[shiftyund]

I would love to learn more about how mq works but, I haven't touched assembly or c++ in 27 years. So I've forgotten more then I know.