Visiting EVE

EVE

We have all seen it. Heck some of us have even given it a go. But how many of us can say they "get" the game. EVE is not a simple game. Let me make that clear. EVE is not a simple game at all. A majority of people who try out EVE will not come back for more. And for the most part EVE could care less. But for those that are into challenge and wish to create their own game within a game, EVE might be what you are looking for.

With the Apocrypha expansion, released this past month, EVE Online has had a marketing push for new members. EVE much like LOTRO does not charge for expansions, once you buy into the game you get all the expansions and will in the foreseeable future continue to get all of the expansions "free" with your monthly subscription fee. One of the major reasons for this is because EVE has one server. Or more realistically one server farm that all the players play in.

If you see a ship in space, 90% of the time it is another player like you. Space is full of traders, miners, bounty hunters and yes, pirates. Being a sandbox style game means that you do what you want. You learn skills to aid you to whatever your goal may be, but there are not "Classes" in the strictest sense. There are guidelines in the form of Certificates that suggest skills that you most need to fit this role. Also some equipment can't be equipped without a certain skill or certain level of skill. But that is okay. Skills, at least the basic ones, are easily obtainable and trained. It is only a matter of time.

There is no skill or level grinding in EVE. You will not find a lone frigate in the middle of deadspace grinding out NPC pirates so that he can level a certain skill. (he may be there for salvage or bounties though) Skills that you are training automatically improve with time. Some skills take longer than others but on average you can train a skill to level 1 in roughly 10 minutes, 30 minutes for level 2, the scale will stretch higher. With the addition of the skill training queue, training is much easier and requires less babysitting.

Much has changed in the world of EVE. Most noticeably the graphics of the game have been given a major overhaul. The graphics are stunning. Visually it is easy to get enraptured by the game. Behind the scenes however the Dev team have done quite a bit to make the new player more welcomed. They have created tutorial missions that start your pilot off in the right direction as well as some nice starter ships that will get you out there.

EVE is a dangerous game. You may be killed anywhere at anytime. EVE is quite simply Everything vs. Everything. Security ratings will give an idea of how "safe" an area is, but it always pays to keep a wary eye open. High Sec zones (Sec rating 1.0-0.5) have security forces that hang around at gates and give you a warm fuzzy. Those guys disappear in Low Sec (0.4-0.1) regions. And here it is more than a good idea to be ready to fight or fly. Finally in 0.0 space, the players run it. That is also where much of the game can take place.

I have only recently started playing EVE and do not hold all the answers. I do know that it is wise to join up with a player run Corporation. I also have learned that Autopilot is not your friend. Also the security forces in High Sec space are not there to protect you, as much as they are there to destroy the offender.

A word of warning, if you get a 14-21 day trial account and then wish to purchase a full account, it might be best to extend through Steam or EVE Online themselves. The Deluxe box set published by Atari is for NEW PLAYERS ONLY. You WILL NOT get any of the extra stuff simply by putting a code into an existing account. It is for NEW ACCOUNTS ONLY.

See you on the space lanes...