Whether you happen to casually keep an eye on MMORPG land - you know, like feigning ignorance but secretly a sorcerer in the making crafting a +4 Staff of Goblin Slaying - or indeed wear your hardcore MMORPG geek hat with pride and openly discuss agility bonuses in the local boozer, you will have found the name "EverQuest II" quite simply unavoidable.

It's the sequel to one of the biggest massively multiplayer online role-playing games of all time after all, so interest is understandable. It catches the eye, pulls it out and rolls it around a bit, promises a shedload of fantasy-fuelled adventure, guarantees the forming of friendships across great divides and will no doubt see that most cringe-worthy thing of all - the MMORPG wedding.

EverQuest II is currently in beta and is expected to launch before the year is out. Which means there's still plenty of time then to corner Sony Online Entertainment for a chat about what's coming. We recently cast a Charm spell on EQ2 producer Andy Sites and got him to blab.