I can't get into the details right now, but I will say I have hired a talented artist to draw original art work for all of the zones and monsters/characters. I was also contacted by someone in the VG industry who wants to collaborate, but that was only possibly if I converted NG into its own IP. Being the single-player web version of p1999 was fun, but very limiting in terms of what I could do with the website. Project 1999 has an agreement with SOE. I don't. And it's very unlikely that I will ever get one. Project 1999 operates under a set of restrictions, such as not releasing beyond a certain expansion and not being able to monetize. Even if I did, by some miracle, get an agreement with SOE, playing by those rules would be too limiting for me.
This is my first ever web project or game of any kind, so I never initially anticipated this kind of reception and I never thought I'd get over 1000 hits 17 days in a row (and counting). A lot changes when 50 people are looking at your site versus several thousand. Receiving a C&D letter starts to become an actual concern and I didn't want to see NeverGrind end that way. I have way too much fun working on it to let it end that way.
Changing the game was a hard decision that I knew would alienate a considerable number of people like yourself. Particularly players that played primarily for nostalgic reasons. So I understand your dismay, but I still say give it a few months. You are looking at a game that is in the middle of a giant lore transition and everything isn't in place yet. Some of the new stuff will be better, and some of it will be worse. Once they are finished and in place, I think the new linear gameplay, backgrounds, mobs, and music will be way better than the old stuff. Admittedly, the action icons and the new sound effects will probably not be as good as the old ones. I think the EverQuest sound effects are some of the best ever, so it's hard to compete with that. But I think it will turn out pretty well considering the game has a 4-figure budget.
Consider giving it a try in late December/early January and see what you think once the new art and server accounts are in place.
