Everquest, A Perfect Storm or Zeitgeist?

Video at IGN.com

IGN is running a series on 10 years of Everquest (yes I know UO was first) and it got me thinking, was it a perfect storm of talent, creativity, technology, and passion that created the MMO phenomenon or was it just Zeitgeist?

If you don't know what Zeitgeist means, it's a German phrase meaning "the spirit of the age", meaning that if it wasn't Everquest and UO that started it, it would of been something else, but it still would of happened.

Not to diminish the work of the amazing people who made those games, they played their part and poured their blood into their work for sure, but it makes one wonder, if not Everquest and UO, what would of been born in their place?