There are so many MMOs now that most people who have played EverQuest have played at least a handful of them by now (I have probably played 50+). Most of us do that every day now in some fashion through this website, facebook, Xbox Live, etc, but back in the late 90s and early 2000s, communicating with people over the internet was an experience, and we also had never played a game like EverQuest before. I think today we're too focused on the meta-game as the novelty of meeting and adventuring with people from around the world has worn off. That said, I'm not sure it would be the same. Somebody could make a kickstarter MMO something similar to Shroud of the Avatar that doesn't even have to have amazing triple A graphics, and I think it'd have a playerbase. Despite it being a good game, it had a number of issues at launch combined with a number of design flaws (group quest chains everywhere) that lead it to eventually be shut down. An MMO called Vanguard: Saga of Heroes was developed by one of the original minds behind EQ, and it was touted as the spiritual successor.

The Project 99 server is a good example of that. I think there's a niche audience for a modern day EQ equivalent.

Full disclosure that I did start EQ in the Planes of Power era. That is just mostly things like maps, limited fast travel, and I would even go so far as to promote getting rid of loosing XP after death. I think you can invoke the spirit of classic EQ with some of the more modern conveniences. I don't necessarily feel that classic EQ was the best iteration of the game. When I played, there were maps or at least there was the ability to make or download your own maps.

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