ive played EQ before, didn't interest me much...
I used to play UO(Ultima Online), that had worse graphics, but was pretty cool, but
FFXI beats them all, the graphics are clean, and thats why i like it, becuz i feel like I, myself, is in the game...the ability to explore places is also what interested me, i like seeing cool things and such, like when i had to find someone that was lost in Yhoatar, i really enjoyed my venture, i found the crag, got the telepoint, met face-to-face with a higher lvl malboro, found ifrits cauldron, and lots of neat things...
EQ doesnt have the graphics to have the ability to explore
also is that FFXI have a lot of events, if you havent really noticed, like Easter, Summerfest, e.t.c.
I also like the fact that you can change your job, instead of making a whole other character just to be a different job/class is not my kinda playing, i like the ability to like, for example, play as a RDM, then stop, and switch to like NIN, and i dont even have to make another character...
If they come out with more jobs, and raise the cap higher, and make more places to go, FFXI will soon outlast EQ, keep you hooked, and as the FFXI community grows, the more places we can actually level, instead of lvling in the dunes, you can go to Buburimu, ive seen many parties lately in the pennisula, also, i dont know if you know this, but instead of Qufim, you can always go and level in Jugner, Pashlow, or Meriphitaud...or instead of Kazham, you can level in Battalia, Rolanberry, or Sauromangue...you have more choices to level, i like FFXI a lot, becuz of its flexibility, i am happy to see that you dont see God-like characters everywhere, or hacked out low levels...and the non-theivery and pking is nice, in UO, i hated it when i was in this town, then i walk up to a guy and say "HI", he turns to me and kills me, steals my money, and my armor >=O
so i like the safety of not being stolen from or killed