SOE unveiled PlanetSide 2 and released details on the upcoming EverQuest and EverQuest II expansions during the first day of Fan Faire.

Forge Light Engine

Smedley went in-depth into SOE's next-generation MMO engine, which is called Forge Light. They're using it to develop both PlanetSide 2 and EverQuest Next. He focused on their newfound ability to create massive seamless worlds: "No more zones. We're done with zones. This is seamless on a level you've never seen before."

Smedley emphasized that Forge Light will provide these two new games with real-time physics and updated graphics, such as improved lighting and shadows. "When you cast a fireball, it's going to be a fireball. You'll see it from miles away," he said.

To prove his point, Smedley showed off a teaser image of a character's face in EverQuest Next, which you can see below. "We're not trying to make the game that everyone expects us to make," he said regarding EverQuest Next. "We want perfection."

Other SOE Titles and Station Access

Smedley showed a trailer for the Fortress of Solitude raid that's coming to DC Universe Online in Update 4, which we saw at E3 last month. He also announced that Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures' upcoming Battle for Iceberg 3 update will take place between seasons 3 and 4 of the television show.

He also had another bit of interesting Clone Wars Adventures news to share: "as of tomorrow, you'll be able to go to McDonald's and get a happy meal with Clone Wars Adventures on the box. That makes us very excited."

Smedley finished his portion of the community address by reminding everyone that the new All Access pass allows players to try out many of SOE's titles for only $19.99 per month, or $14.99 per month if you sign up for a year. "We think that's a great value," he said.

The address ended with SOE's Linda "Brasse" Carlson, who was dressed as a dwarf and holding a lightsaber, saying goodbye to Star Wars Galaxies. After showing a video full of fond memories, she asked players to enjoy the game for the rest of the year before it shuts down in December.

Darryl Gangloff, editor-in-chief