I always liken the idea of a game to a woman. EQ even more so. So when I try and out a video game its quite like a first date. Obviously I'm not gonna know the woman (or the game) totally and all the good and bad right off the bat but I can make some fair sighted judgments. I've been playing Everquest since I was 13 with my Father so yes I have lots of nostalgic purposes with it, but I can also see it for what it is. With emulated servers we are able to kind of play dress up and see what we can create, but you have to remember that its just the same woman under it all. That's not saying you can't be massively creative or unique.
So Everquest is obviously a woman who has aged with some charm. Lets be real no one is playing EQ purely on graphical purpose, and people seriously overblow this. Plenty of games have done great with subpar graphics in their category *cough* Minecraft *cough* and developed great followings. We don't need great graphics for a great game. Just as you don't need a 10/10 woman to be happy, and infact usually under all those pretty bells and whistles lie flaws.
So what drew me personally to Everquest? Well first lets start off, I started AFTER the Velious/Kunark era. So I'm not some old grumpy stiff neck that thinks everything after that era sucks
. I enjoyed a lot of content, from DoDH and doing MM with my brother to grinding it out in Dragonscale Hills. It always has and always will be THE COMMUNITY. THE CHALLENGE. THE UNIQUE TAKES ON CLASSES. Just like with an older woman she may not be the prettiest, often she has the depth and substance to let you see past that, like a good video game. A game like EverQuest can still fit into today, if it plays on its strengths and works on its weaknesses. Yes I doubt Everquest will ever be a pleasing game to look at like FF14 or GW2, however as when you find out with an older woman versus a younger one, the young women (and games) may look pretty, but you just typically can't find the adoration and respect for it like a well developed older woman.
So yes there is only so much work we can do, but we can do a lot (I think any one of Akkadius's servers prove how custom you can really get). Just don't go for the older lady expecting the sweet looks of the younger lady. Instead, look for the deepness like the richness of game play, the connection within the community, the bonds you develop inside and outside the game. Seriously if we play on the community aspect alone EQ will still stand A MILLION miles ahead of a lot of MMOs and why I have a hard time leaving it. Add in the challenging gameplay and the deepness and I'm sold.