Sony Online has one more card up its sleeve to try and pull reticent Everquest players back in game: they're rebooting the entire world.

Sony Online Entertainment is giving EverQuest players both new and old a chance to experience the largest persistent world as it was in the very beginning by launching two Progression serves: "The Combine" and "The Sleeper". At launch, the Progression servers will consist of the EverQuest zones in Antonica, Faydwer and Odus that were available at launch back in 1999. Players will work together to level and conquer key content that will in turn progressively unlock every expansion released for EverQuest since 1999 up through 2006's Prophecy of Ro.

There's two parts of me. First, there's the largely nostalgic gamer who wants to experience afresh the magic of Everquest and other MMORPGs which I once loved for thousands of hours but have since viewed with cynicism. And then there's the guy who has since played World of Warcraft and recognizes Everquest for the homo habilis of MMORPG gaming it is.

World of Warcraft has single-handedly driven nearly to extinction the entirety of Sony's MMOG empire. Sony's practically giving their MMORPGs away with the Sony Stationpass: Everquest 2, Star Wars Galaxies, Planetside, Everquest, and Matrix Online — all included for a single fee. That's nice for gamers and all, except most of these games are terrible. As for Everquest and Everquest 2, do any other MMORPG games look so old and worn in comparison to World of Warcraft?

This is an interesting move on the part of Sony, because it's essentially a public admission that Everquest can't compete... Everquest's only appeal is now nostalgic. Part of me thinks that this event is pretty cool, but it's also very clearly the death rattle in the throat of the deposed king. There's no shame in that: EQ's had a good, long run, and this is a rather sweet and ingenious way to send the old girl off. Still, we can't wonder if Sony will ever have a truly successful MMORPG (like EQ in its hey day) ever again... they no longer seem to understand the industry they largely created.

Don't worry if you've got a character in-game already— these are going to be virgin servers. Press release after the jump. Florian Eckhardt

SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT TO LAUNCH NEW "RETRO"EVERQUEST PROGRESSION SERVERS

"The Combine" and "The Sleeper" Progression Servers will allow all players to start on a level playing field as they explore the online world of EverQuest as it was in the beginning

WHAT:

Sony Online Entertainment is giving EverQuest players both new and old a chance to experience the largest persistent world as it was in the very beginning by launching two Progression serves: "The Combine" and "The Sleeper". At launch, the Progression servers will consist of the EverQuest zones in Antonica, Faydwer and Odus that were available at launch back in 1999. Players will work together to level and conquer key content that will in turn progressively unlock every expansion released for EverQuest since 1999 up through 2006's Prophecy of Ro. Players must have the EverQuest base game to begin the progression and must have purchased the software for each expansion pack they are trying to unlock. In conjunction with this unique opportunity to start over again with EverQuest, qualifying inactive EverQuest accounts will be activated for a 30-day trial period and those players will gain access to some Station Players features.

SERVER FEATURES:

The Progression servers will feature the following:

• Normal, non-PvP servers (no transfer server) titled "The Combine" and "The Sleeper" in-game

• Each expansion will be unlocked by the server-wide progress of the players and the content they complete

• Two new servers for past players to re-experience an untouched world where talented and skilled players reign supreme

• New players will be able to experience all of EverQuest's content and start on a level playing field with veteran players

• Relive the evolution of one of the most successful MMORPGs in history

WHEN:

"The Combine" and "The Sleeper" Progression servers launch on June 28, 2006

WHERE:

Log onto: www.everquest.com for more information

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