EVE Online Growing

[Evil Avatar]

CCP Games sends along a Press Release announcing that their online space combat sim, EVE Online (http://www.eve-online.com/), continues to gain subscribers despite competition from other big name MMORPG's.

CCP Games, an independent developer and publisher of massively multiplayer online games, announced today that since the immensely successful launch of “EVE Online: Cold War Edition,” the game has surpassed the 15,000 peak concurrent user record and smashed through the 70,000 active subscriber mark. This is a remarkable milestone for EVE Online considering the industry-wide decrease in MMOG subscriber numbers due to the impact of big-name entries into the genre.

"Despite the increasingly competitive environment following the launch of big-name titles this year, EVE Online has demonstrated consistent growth," says Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, CEO of CCP Games. "We regard this as a real testament of the game's appeal and longevity, and was clearly demonstrated when we released the latest EVE video (http://www.eve-online.com/download/videos/). The video was downloaded more than 100.000 times in 48 hours, and following that we have had a surge of new players, which still continues. Another important factor in our growth is that it is never too late for a new player to join EVE, as there is a place and role for everyone in the EVE universe."

The recent growth of EVE Online has been fueled largely by gamers defecting from other online games. CCP´s commitment to providing a dynamic, single, global-game universe plus user-empowering, demanding game play is attracting gamers seeking a deeper and more rewarding experience than what is offered by traditional online fantasy games.I highly recommend this title, it is a blast.

[Bushido]

Its a blast if you dont mind sinking more time into training than any normal person has at their disposal, sure its a great game but just tell people how long it takes to train up interceptor ships...real time fellas...some 30days. Some skills take longer.

[A-Team]

Not to rain on anyone's parade here, but when I was still writing my nightly column ("Hailing the MMO"), the only time they updated their damn page with news was to tell everyone that they had a few hundred more simultaneous subscribers than they did the previous week. Now I see that they were doing it to push their simultaneous record slightly above 15,000 so they they could start tossing it around in their press releases.

Maybe I'm just in a bad mood because I've been studying all day in the library, but I wish CCP would give non-subscribers a reason to play aside from the fact that there are 70,000 "active" subscribers that apparently *rarely* play together.

[Varsity]

I'm looking for a corp, anyone interesting in taking on a 3-day old character (don't you dare laugh) with a strong preference for trade?

[Klade]

They also have a dev-blog these days.

I played Eve in beta and again when it first came out. I dropped it because there was a complete lack of content and much of the base features promised were not in the game yet.

Flash forward to today, I just started the 14 day trial program a few days ago and I'm having a blast. I'll be paying a monthly subscription for sure when my time runs out. The real time skill training works very well for me since I can't sit down and play for 4 hours a night every night. This way I can play for 1 hour a night and keep my skills going just as well as someone who plays 16 hours a day.

Plus minus dogfighting (see that minus dogfighting I just put there?) its the best space sim ever made. You get a very very good feel for the size of space and how far away things are.

I just wish they had binary star systems, they really are more prevelent then single star systems.

[Tricky Thumb]

If the game was a bit more "new player" friendly in terms of UI and pacing they'd have a much more fun title on their hands. Sure the community is nice and all, but the truth of the matter is that most people prefer to solo and the better that general experience is than the better your game is going to be on the whole.

Still, they've got some really, really nice features in the game such as the in-game jukebox or the incredibly awesome looking starmap.

[GrinR]

If there were a simple, picturefilled, how-to guide for noobs... I might take another stab at this. I mean essentially a walkthrough for the first few hours of play, so I actually -get- somewhere.

[goc_sin]

I've been playing the trial and it about to run out, but I think I am going to subscribe. Looks like it's time to cancel my WOW account for awhile.

[ElPresidente]

most people prefer to solo

On what basis are you making this observation? It certainly flies in the face of the ridiculous amount of guild requests you see in WoW and other MMORPGs. People do not pay an online subscription fee to play by themselves, the appeal of multiplayer games is not single player life.

Even in such a situation I have had more fun soloing in EVE than I have had with any other MMO.

On the issue of the learning curve... yes it is steep but damn, it aint that hard folks. The tutorial gives you all the basics, after that the universe is your oyster.

Still the best MMO in town and getting better.

[Namielus]

Heh, because of that video a couple of days ago I signed up for EVE.

Throwing my ability into the Caldari war effort :)

If we had an EA Corp, I would sign up.

[Varsity]

Heck, why not make one?

Edit: ah, 1599800 ISK is why.

[Crabby]

EVE Online is like the 21st century gaming answer to the industrial revolution. Or rather, its imitation.

[Zeal]

This is one of the best games I've ever played, to be honest. The only drawbacks are that the learning curve is HUGE and that, like previously said, it can literally take MONTHS to train abilities and progress. This is a MMORPG that people play for years to get where they are.

If you play this game, expect to dedicate your entire social life to it.

[downtempo]

The videos and the story in PC Gamer UK about that super organized corporation heist convinced me to give EVE a try again after a free trial about a year ago. Despite a fairly significant learning curve, its a fairly hands-off type of game. The default video setting was in windowed mode, so its easy to minimize and do other sorts of things while the game is running. It makes the long travel and training times go by relatively fast. Its nice for people who don't have time to play all that often. I agree though that a being in a corporation would make things a lot easier and more interesting. Too bad I'm broke.

[Varsity]

Just remembered this (http://www.eve-online.com/files/pcgamer_eve.pdf), the article that first got me interested in EVE. It's PDF and (because it was made for a print magazine) image-heavy. But well, well worth it.

[DannoHung]

How do you actually play this game? I know it's not like there's any "real" time combat... is it just mining and then getting your ass kicked by people who are incredibly organized?

It's a beautiful looking game, and the concept, as I understand it, is everything I EVER wanted in a MMORPG, however, It looks PHENOMENALLY complicated.

Even more than that... is there actually stuff to do before you have a gigantic investment in the game already?

I'm interested... but hesitant.

[Tricky Thumb]

On what basis are you making this observation? It certainly flies in the face of the ridiculous amount of guild requests you see in WoW and other MMORPGs. People do not pay an online subscription fee to play by themselves, the appeal of multiplayer games is not single player life.

The mere fact that players join guilds does not prove that the majority of them participate in group activities. Many people join a guild and simply chat with fellow members or at the most craft items in some way, but on the average of what I 'myself' have seen they do not play together more than %49 of the time.

Sure everyone has been in a group here and there, maybe some more than others, but most people like to play at their own pace when they want. That's part of the reason WoW is so successful, because it allows for easy soloing should the player desire that experience.

That's my take on it.

[downtempo]

How do you actually play this game? I know it's not like there's any "real" time combat... is it just mining and then getting your ass kicked by people who are incredibly organized?

Its one of the hardest games to explain to I think. I guess you can say you play it by doing whatever the heck you feel like. Its the most freedom I have seen in a game, horrible, horrible freedom. It boggles the mind. Trade, mine, run a corporation, blow stuff up and collect bounties. A lot of that is easier said than done though. Gamespot is still giving away free 14 day trials so its worth a shot. I think this is the link:

http://www.gamespot.com/promos/eveonline/

[[GH-SC]Ryctor]

The videos and the story in PC Gamer UK about that super organized corporation heist convinced me to give EVE a try again after a free trial about a year ago. Despite a fairly significant learning curve, its a fairly hands-off type of game. The default video setting was in windowed mode, so its easy to minimize and do other sorts of things while the game is running. It makes the long travel and training times go by relatively fast. Its nice for people who don't have time to play all that often. I agree though that a being in a corporation would make things a lot easier and more interesting. Too bad I'm broke.

Pretty damn good story in PC Gamer UK if I do say so myself. :D

[Klade]

If there were a simple, picturefilled, how-to guide for noobs... I might take another stab at this. I mean essentially a walkthrough for the first few hours of play, so I actually -get- somewhere.

Heh there is a walkthrough, its turned on by default when you make your account. Your ships computer speaks to you and tells you what to do. It covers pretty much all the major aspects of the game.

The big reason why I gave the game a try is because you download the client, then sign up for one of the 14 day trials and play the game for free all that time and never enter a credit card. Only reason not to try is if you don't have the time.

[Iron Maiden]

http://fraps.ddcorp.org/equinox_-_ascendant_frontier_genesis.wmv

rightclick save as


movies on how pvp looks like, some footage on how big numbers of small ships can kill few battleships, and at the end there is a fleet battle of just battleships pounding on each other. strategy plays a big roll and you can notice how one side took no losses because it was more organized

[Savok]

God dammit, I only just got back into WoW (yes, I still hate Blizzard, I simply hate myself now as well).

[Thenetcase]

Hardest.
Learning.
Curve.
EVAR.

[jacktion]

I've seen harder learning curves. This one might be too advanced for some people *ahem*(see above). But it is a great game. Free client download. Free 14 day key. Try it out people. 'scool.

[Zeal]

Me want EVE Online Time Code generator.

[UnderHero5]

It's an excellent game.
I just reactivated my account the day they hit that 15000 player mark, oddly enough.
Having a ton of fun. Getting more involved in the community in game. It's a great time.
Anyone even considering it should download the trial. Like others have said, no CC is needed, so the only think that should be stopping you is your lack of time.

[Varsity]

I know it's not like there's any "real" time combat
Yes there is. ;)

[Eon]

I got out of Eve just after I started getting somewhere. Eve is an immense game, but the fact remains that your are not going to get to see most of it for a long, long time.

[TrackZero]

After watching this demo movie (which already won bonus points since I enjoy JunkieXL ever since the first Wipeout) and having a co-worker keep asking me "have you tried EVE yet?, have you tried EVE yet?, have you....etc) I buckled and got a 30-day account. Let's see how this goes......

[Anastazius]

As great as that new official trailer is, it's not the best I've seen. There is a fan-made trailer which I think is absolutely amazing, you can get it from my site, here (33.5mb):

Eve Online video - Vanguard (http://www.tleg.net)

[Savok]

EVE is already miles better then Dynasty Tactics on PS2. In EVE you at least know you're in space, and have a space ship that moves in space. Dynasty Tactics, you don't even have that, you press buttons and things happen, what exactly is utterly cryptic.

[Morratut]

Mmmm i'm still waiting for a Tie Fighter type space combat sim. Action heavy game :D

[Mjolk]

Heh there is a walkthrough, its turned on by default when you make your account. Your ships computer speaks to you and tells you what to do. It covers pretty much all the major aspects of the game.

The big reason why I gave the game a try is because you download the client, then sign up for one of the 14 day trials and play the game for free all that time and never enter a credit card. Only reason not to try is if you don't have the time.

And if that's not enough, try this (http://www.eve-online.com/guide/en/)

[Librum]

All this talk about EVE Online, I might have to resubscribe. I had a moderately successful run the first time out, so I could bankroll a small corp, but my previous experience with corporations is that you really set yourself up for some pain since other corps can then declare war on you, and can do so as often as they're willing to spend the cash to do so. So unless you're really out to fight tooth and nail, you might just find yourself constantly station-camped and spend all your time in a pod.

That is, at least, what I ran into - at least with non-corp play, you're fairly safe except in the low security systems.

[51|RandoM]

On what basis are you making this observation? It certainly flies in the face of the ridiculous amount of guild requests you see in WoW and other MMORPGs.

You know why those guild requests are there? They're not there because people like to do everything as a group.

They're there because you can't solo the high end content.

If you could solo molten core, you can bet most people would, for instance.

I don't know if you played DAoC, but when people figured out you could handle most of the encounters with a manachanter+manament, people rolled up characters to do just that with dual box setups.

Personally, I hate anything that ends up being a 'raid'. What that means to me is that A) I'm going to sit around wasting a lot of time before it even gets off the ground, and B) I'll be lucky to get even one item, much less the one I want.

[Savok]

Played a bit on a trial, quite nice, a little overwhelming in the detailed stuff but in general pretty simple to understand. Combat is a prick so far though, if it controled like Freelancer we'd be golden.

[ElPresidente]

You know why those guild requests are there? They're not there because people like to do everything as a group.

They're there because you can't solo the high end content.

If you could solo molten core, you can bet most people would, for instance.

Guild requests do not come just for high end content although I am not disagreeing that a lot of high end content is reserved for team play. However guild requests come from throughout the experience strata. It isn't just people who have hit a hump with their solo-ing.

All of this is largely conjecture as we can't present stats to say one way or the other. However without the social element these games stagnate very quickly. For the added cost there is a much more rewarding solo experience to be had in any number of games that aren't MMOs.

[woodentaco]

Guild requests do not come just for high end content although I am not disagreeing that a lot of high end content is reserved for team play. However guild requests come from throughout the experience strata. It isn't just people who have hit a hump with their solo-ing.

All of this is largely conjecture as we can't present stats to say one way or the other. However without the social element these games stagnate very quickly. For the added cost there is a much more rewarding solo experience to be had in any number of games that aren't MMOs.

I for one enjoy soloing, but prefer it in a multiplayer environment. MMOs feel more alive and less like carefully cultured gardens or zoos than true singleplayer games do. Dynamic, vibrant economies are much more engaging than your average singleplayer one. However, when it comes to combat and questing I generally like to solo. So in the end, my ideal game would be an MMO focused on soloing, and I'd bet there are others who share my view.