2009 has come to a close, and has brought us plenty in terms of surprise sequels and drama. Here is a comprehensive list of the surprise sequels and drama that hit this past year.

Surprise Sequels of 2009

Everquest Next

So I guess it had to happen eventually, but the revelation this year that Sony Online Entertainment was working on a new Everquest, currently dubbed Everquest Next. With Everquest receiving its 16th expansion pack, and Everquest 2 about to receive another expansion as well, the gravy train just keeps on running for this series. Will Everquest Next bring Everquest to the next generation? We’ll be watching for more information in 2010.

Planetside 2

Planetside 2 should really go on the top as the least expected sequel to be announced this year as, quite frankly, we who monitor MMOs (and who play Planetside) have been convinced for the past couple of years that Planetside was nothing but an afterthought for Sony. If Sony can pull off the old feel of Planetside, with new technology and current generation physics, and graphics, we will have what many games have tried, and none (since Planetside) have achieved: A truly massively multiplayer first person shooter.

Ultima Online 2

Now, this one is still unconfirmed, but it appears that EA is giving Ultima Online 2 another good hard look.

“Well, I can’t say just yet, but Mythic is always looking at our existing intellectual properties and discussing the best course of action for the franchises.”

Ultima Online 2 has been tried and failed, more than once, but will this next attempt come to fruition? 2010 will tell.

So DUST 514 is technically not a sequel, in story, to Eve Online, but it is a continuation of the space shooter. What really sets DUST apart from the rest of the console massively multiplayer first person shooters (Just Massive Action Game, essentially) is the fact that the two games are tied together. Players in EVE must utilize the players in DUST in order to gain control of planets and their resources.

If the trailer is anything to go on, CCP is painting a beautiful picture for console MMOFPS to come.

Drama Of 2009

Atari Vs Turbine

Turbine and Atari are locked in a lethal battle over the Dungeons and Dragons Online MMO, developed by Turbine and published by Atari. Turbine alleges that not only did Atari do a poor job advertising the game, but they did so in a plot to remove Turbine as developers, shut down Dungeons and Dragons Online, and make way for an upcoming Neverwinter Nights MMO from their own studio. Corporate espionage in action!

Events took another turn in December as Hasbro has joined in the suit against Atari, looking to cut off their licensing agreement as a result of Atari’s alleged dealing with competing companies using the Dungeons and Dragons license. Atari is accusing Hasbro of attempting to forcibly revoke the Dungeons and Dragons license, which sounds strangely familiar to Turbine’s claim against Atari. Perhaps it’s karma, but we’re likely to see more of this lawsuit in 2010.

Webzen Vs Codemasters

Not a lawsuit, just as interesting. Archlord is one of the few MMOs who can technically claim that they have died and been subsequently reborn. Webzen and Codemasters made the news when Webzen stripped Codemasters of their rights to publish the MMO Archlord in North America and Europe, bringing control back to Webzen. The servers shut down on October 1st, and were brought back up several days later under a new operator.

As I said in the original article on this issue, Archlord in the west is an MMO that never was, still isn’t, and never will be. So why did I originally report on, and then follow up on, and now look back on, this event? I’m still asking myself.

Interplay Vs Bethesda

When it comes to drama in the courthouse, one can’t pass up Bethesda Vs Interplay. While both companies bicker away at one another, the rest of us are left on the sidelines asking “So is there ever going to be a Fallout MMO?” For right now, Interplay continues work on the MMO, although Bethesda is fighting tooth and nail to get the rest of their IP.

The Twilight MMO

The only article I’ve ever had to cut with regard for vulgarity, Massively.com dropped a bombshell earlier this year with the announcement that a Massively Multiplayer title based on the Twilight series would be produced and launched. Undoubtedly many keyboards were smashed at the thought of an MMO featuring vampires that sparkle, emo girls, werewolves, and brooding relationships.

Well, the article turned out to be a student project that won’t be getting off the ground (The students don’t even have the rights to the IP), but the experience reminded us that, yes, there almost existed an MMO that the very thought of its creation would send much of the internet into a fit of rage.

Aion Vs The Goldfarmers

No developer likes gold farmers, and Aion turned out to be the big jar of honey that attracted every bear within a twenty mile radius. Not to say that fighting gold farmers is a bad thing, but the developers over at NCsoft, and their opposition, have taken the art of digital warfare to an entirely new level.

NCsoft announced the formation of G-Unit (not the rap group, as I soon found out), an elite band of bot hunters, while also announcing several mass bans that scoped out tens of thousands of gold farmers, buyers, and botters on a weekly basis. The farmers have struck back, taking aim not at NCsoft, but at the players. A recent surge in account theft has led the company to believe that goldfarmers may be raising their efforts to steal accounts to use for farming gold, and even selling the accounts they steal, in order to make a buck.

2010 will continue the sparring between NCsoft and the Phantom Goldfarmers. Who will win? Will all of the players simply get irritated and leave? Am I asking inflammatory questions? You bet I am!

Richard Garriot Vs NCsoft

Richard Garriot left NCsoft shortly before the announcement that Tabula Rasa would be shutting down in the beginning of 2009. In an open letter to the community, he expressed his desire to further new experiences apart from the world of video games. Later, Garriot would launch a lawsuit against NCsoft, claiming that the letter was forged, and that he was secretly fired from the company, having no intention of leaving.

Garriot is suing for $24 million, claiming that by forging his termination as willful resignation, NCsoft was able to invalidate his stock options (with Aion releasing conveniently that year in the West) losing him dozens of millions in potential revenue. It is possible that Garriot may demand the rights to Tabula Rasa as part of the lawsuit in order to revive the game, yet that prospect is unlikely.