Whenever someone who was interviewing him took a moment to thank him for helping them through a tough time, meeting their spouse, whatever the reason may have been.... he always got a little uncomfortable accepting the gratitude. I hope now he can see just how many people loved not only his work, but him as a man, and the countless lives he touched. He definitely made a difference in this world during his time here.
I found myself feeling deeply saddened when I heard the news of Brad's passing today. Amazing how a creator of worlds that we lived in and loved could mean so much to so many people. Most of us never met him. I did have a few small interactions in Vanguard. I was praising Vanguard still my favorite game to this day and he sent me a tell saying thanks. I could tell he really loved his creation and was happy that some of us loved the game as much as he did. He will be missed but his legacy will live on.
Thanks for all the amazing times Mr McQuaid.
Our household held a silent moment for Brad last night. He's impacted us and many of our friends in positive ways since the EQ days. He was always happy to run around his games/game forums and speak with the players.
For those of us who have read/watched Ready Player One, Aradune was our version of the Wizard Anorak. Perhaps he will appear now in Pantheon and send us adventurers on some minor task or epic quest. Living forever in his digital worlds, that he crafted with love for gamers, would be poetic.
~WN
So, I know this is posted elsewhere, but it was nice to hear him speak again:https://www.mmorpg.com/pantheon-rise-of-the-fallen/news/game-on-visionary-realms-talks-pantheon-and-industry-jobs-1000042957
And on that fateful day Aradune the ranger walked alone into the lasting darkness as the everburning flame of his blade, the Fiery Avenger, petered out, never to be seen by mortal eyes again.
And the people were saddened and many wept for they had lost their guide who took them to new, unknown worlds for them to adventure in. Worlds where they could be heroes or villains, make new friends or enemies but more importlantly: worlds where they would make new memories that would last them a lifetime.
It is a curious---and bitter---bit of irony, that real life is so fake. So fake that Brad's fantastic worlds would became a welcome refuge. An alternative, more real than the reality of modernity that so many of us find so wanting. Brad saw far enough to place our social needs at the center of his design.
Having first played EQ as a pre-adolecent, it took me many years to piece this together. It is nothing short of brilliant.
Let us all endevor to so contribute with our talents... O7
I wasn't going to say anything because I am terrible at saying what and how I feel but I think Brad deserves it so I will.
Brad would talk if you spoke to him. He would take time out of his night to communicate with people. I was playing EQ and logged off and saw him online on facebook and said Hey Brad. Brad responded and I was a little taken back. I never expected him to but then he carried on an entire conversation with me about music, games, motorcycles whatever.
That was Brad.
The top 5 best games I've ever played on a PC, 2 of which Brad was the mind behind them. Everquest and Vanguard. My wife and I have played his games for 2 decades now and my son started with a Halfling Ranger in Everquest when he was 3. We have friends that are life long friends that we made in Everquest that are from other states and even a couple from other countries.
I truly feel the world has lost a great person. Brad wanted to make us all a community and have us all play someone that was different and when working together with others could achieve great outcomes. I sincerely hope they can get Pantheon out and in some way pay tribute to Brad in Game. So everyone can keep Brad Aradune McQuaid in our hearts while we adventure through the world he created.
Rest in Peace Brad I offer my deepest condolences to your family.
i am shocked by Brad's sudden departure and regret he could not live to see Pantheon become a reality i am not the greatest with words or grammar and i loathe speaches but this is a time i feel it is right for one.
in 2013 as a 13 year old boy i discovered EQ downloaded it and even in its post Brad era it gave me a sense of wonder and excitement i have never felt since. it was so strong that i insisted that my sister try it then my mom then my dad we all sunk years into that game and then i caught wind of Vanguard and i loved it but sadly i had only 6 months or so experience a world i would have easily sunk more years into.
going into those old zones on EQ and seeing the wonders of those old zones was like going back in time almost and despite its age it interested me much more than anything else i had seen before even if there was no reward i was driven to see and experience all that Norrath had to offer old and new and i have come to realize over 15 years of gaming that Brad McQuaid was able to make over a month of tedium camping a named some of the best and most memorable moments of your life.
before i got involved with Pantheon i did not know a thing about Brad but over time learned that he was a master of his craft and most importantly unlike most legends seemed real seemed human was someone you could look up to faults and all.
for me it is easy to say my time in EQ shaped me for the better it help improved my typing skills it is responsible for my social skills and helped me hone my merchant skills and gave me some of the greatest moments of my life and was one of the last things i ever played with my mother before she died 7 months ago she is the reason i donated to Pantheon she wanted to get to meet the devs and i guess she will be meeting one of them.
may she and other fans that have fallen before be the first ones to play test the Heaven port of Pantheon that Brad has surely already started work on
PS the bastard had to go and die before i could mob train him in Alpha god rest his soul
Brad's vision for what an immersive world is and his realization of it in Everquest, Vanguard and now Pantheon, is one of the most influential feats of game design wisdom in history.
Every time anyone reflects on why they have such fond and crystal clear memories of one of his worlds, just remember it is squarely because of Brad and his insistence on tenets such as risk vs reward. Without those tenets and his passion for sticking to them, the utter reverance felt by so many for his contributions to our enjoyment would not be at all the same.
Brad and Richard Garriott play test early Everquest [PC Gamer: The Story of Everquest]