Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Nine years of EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/06/eve-evolved-nine-years-of-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/06/eve-evolved-nine-years-of-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/06/eve-evolved-nine-years-of-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
Last week I celebrated the fourth anniversary of the EVE Evolved column with a competition to win one of two 30-day pilot's licenses. Congratulations to winners Dong Yi and Atrameides Denard, whose prizes have been contracted in-game. Today EVE Online itself turns nine years old, and so this week's EVE Evolved column takes a look back at the top EVE stories of the year. It's been a rollercoaster of a year for CCP, with the infamous monoclegate scandal hitting subscriptions hard during the summer and only recently starting to recover.

The drama kicked off as the much-touted Incarna expansion drew close and CCP revealed that it would contain no multiplayer elements and would introduce a microtransaction store for vanity items. Players didn't seem to mind the cash shop as long as it contained only vanity items, and CCP had previously promised that microtransactions would be limited to those types of items. When the Incarna expansion finally launched and players got a first-hand look at the cash shop, however, it became apparent that something was fundamentally wrong.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look back at the top EVE stories of the year, from the incredible videos and scams to the story of how CCP brought EVE Online back from the brink of disaster.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Nine years of EVE Online

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Nine years of EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybirthdayccpccp-gamesconsolecrucibledustdust-514eveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturedfpsincarnainfernommofpsnine-yearnine-year-oldnine-yearsplaystationplaystation-3ps3sandboxsci-fishooterSun, 06 May 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Four years of EVE Evolved]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/29/eve-evolved-four-years-of-eve-evolved/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/29/eve-evolved-four-years-of-eve-evolved/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/29/eve-evolved-four-years-of-eve-evolved/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
On April 27th, 2008, I joined the Massively crew and published the first edition of a new weekly column dedicated to the world of EVE Online. It's hard to believe that the EVE Evolved column is now four years old, spanning nine major expansions and predating CCP Games' transformation into an industry giant with three games in development. Since the column's first crude scribbling about shuttles, I've written over 200 in-depth articles, guides, stories, and opinion pieces. With its free expansions and iterative updates, EVE is a rapidly changing game that provides a constant supply of things to write about.

To celebrate the fourth anniversary of the column, I'm giving away two 30-day Pilot's License EXtensions to two lucky readers. To enter the competition, leave a comment stating which EVE Evolved article from this year is your favourite, and why it's your favorite, and what topic you'd like to see covered in the coming year. You will need an active EVE account to claim the prize, so be sure to include a character name with your comment if you want to be able to win a prize. If you're not comfortable with giving out your character name, use an alternate character or sign up a new trial account. The winners' names will be revealed in next week's column.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look back at some of the highlights from the column's fourth year.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Four years of EVE Evolved

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Four years of EVE Evolved originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversaryapocryphaccpccp-gamescolumnconsolecontestcrucibledustdust-514eveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturedfour-yearfour-year-anniversaryfour-yearsfpsincarnainfernommofpsnyphurplaystationplaystation-3plexps3sandboxsci-fishooterSun, 29 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: New info from Fanfest 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/25/eve-evolved-new-info-from-fanfest-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/25/eve-evolved-new-info-from-fanfest-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/25/eve-evolved-new-info-from-fanfest-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
The annual EVE Online Fanfest is starting to become a major event in the gaming calendar, thanks to CCP's partnership with Sony and the addition of DUST 514 and World of Darkness talks to the event schedule. This year, CCP flew gaming journalists to the event to give the press hands-on time with DUST and demonstrate the game's impressive realtime integration with EVE Online. Massively, unfortunately, is not permitted to accept such travel stipends, which meant that we couldn't produce in-depth coverage and interviews as we did last year, so instead we've pieced together information from the talks that were streamed to viewers at home.

The theme of this year's Fanfest was unmistakably DUST 514 and its integration with EVE Online. Attendees got first-hand experience with DUST 514 and a free pass to enter the beta in April. There was even a live demonstration of the EVE-DUST link during which a battleship delivered an air strike directly into a DUST match in realtime. There were several talks on EVE's upcoming Inferno expansion and its PvP revamp, with details of new modules and gameplay designed to shake up the PvP landscape for the first time in several years. Players report leaving Fanfest this year with a very real sense that CCP is back on track and recovering from the aftermath of Monoclegate.

In this week's colossal EVE Evolved, I piece together some of the information from EVE Fanfest 2012 and consider what it means for EVE players.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: New info from Fanfest 2012

MassivelyEVE Evolved: New info from Fanfest 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesccp-veritasconsolecrucibledustdust-514eveeve-evolvedeve-fanfesteve-fanfest-2012eve-onlineexpansionexpansionsfanfestfanfest-2012featuredfpshilmar-peturssonincarnainfernolagmmofpsplaystationplaystation-3ps3sandboxsci-fishootertime-dilationtorfi-frans-olafssontrailertrailersvideovideosSun, 25 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Setting the universe on fire]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/26/eve-evolved-setting-the-universe-on-fire/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/26/eve-evolved-setting-the-universe-on-fire/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/26/eve-evolved-setting-the-universe-on-fire/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
This week CCP Games announced the name and focus of EVE Online's upcoming summer expansion. The Inferno expansion aims to re-invigorate PvP with some long overdue gameplay changes. CONCORD-sanctioned wars will be iterated on for the first time in half a decade, and faction warfare will hopefully be getting the updates it should have received in 2008. Following on from the success of the Crucible expansion with its hundreds of small features and gameplay changes, Inferno will also contain dozens of small gameplay changes, usability fixes, and minor improvements.

We'll hear more about DUST 514 in the coming months as CCP reveals more concrete details of the game's link to EVE Online and the motivations behind planet-bound wars. Incarna fans will apparently also see some movement, with Team Avatar focusing on avatar-based updates for this release. While Inferno is a rather uninspired name and coincidentally would make three of the last four expansions start with the word "in," the expansion's content is genuinely exciting. Fundamental changes are coming to EVE's PvP mechanics for the first time in several years. CCP hasn't revealed the exact changes, but that hasn't stopped players from speculating on what might be heading their way.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I speculate on the changes coming in the upcoming Inferno expansion and what changes I think might be coming to EVE's PvP.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Setting the universe on fire

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Setting the universe on fire originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apocryphabounty-hunterbounty-huntingccpccp-gamesconsolecrucibledustdust-514empyrean-ageeveeve-evolvedeve-fanfesteve-fanfest-2012eve-onlineexpansionexpansionsfanfestfeaturedfirefpsgame-mechanicsincarnainfernommofpson-fireopinionplaystationplaystation-3ps3pvpsandboxsci-fishooterspeculationsummerwarwardecSun, 26 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP still planning to expand EVE's station gameplay]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/ccp-still-planning-to-expand-eves-station-gameplay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/ccp-still-planning-to-expand-eves-station-gameplay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/ccp-still-planning-to-expand-eves-station-gameplay/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

EVE Online - Rifter viewed from captain's quarters
Just when you internet-spaceship-only types thought it was safe to resume your relationship with CCP, the EVE Online studio has dropped a dev blog detailing its plans for further Incarna-style avatar development.

The recent CCP reorganization put bidpedal gameplay on the back burner due to a player outcry in favor of the game's flying-in-space elements, but as it turns out, CCP "still believes in the vision to bring your characters fully into the world of EVE." CCP t0rfifrans says it will simply take a bit longer for the firm to realize its ambitious sandbox goals. He also says those goals are currently up for debate, and while gambling minigames, corporation-owned hubs, and contraband trading haven't been ruled out entirely, Team Avatar has gone "back to the drawing board" in the interests of identifying rewarding gameplay and developing a prototype.

In other New Eden news, CCP's Power of 2 promotion is making a return engagement, and you can create a second account at a discount price through April 1st.

[Thanks to Kane Hart for the tip!]

MassivelyCCP still planning to expand EVE's station gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avatarsccpccp-gamesccp-t0rfifransdev-blogdev-diaryeveeve-onlineflying-in-spacehtfuincarnainternet-spaceshipsnew-edenpower-of-2promotionssandboxsci-fiteam-avatarwalking-in-stationsThu, 23 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Achievement Unlocked: A look at the Guinness world records of online gaming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/achievement-unlocked-a-look-at-the-guinness-world-records-of-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/achievement-unlocked-a-look-at-the-guinness-world-records-of-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/achievement-unlocked-a-look-at-the-guinness-world-records-of-on/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We're just over a month into the new year, and already we've got plenty to look forward to: The Secret World is expected to hit in April, TERA will follow shortly in May, and Guild Wars 2 will be out... sometime this year (we hope). But before we all start looking toward the future, let's take a moment to look back at some of the gaming achievements of the past.

Thanks to the handy-dandy Guinness Book of World Records 2012: Gamer's Edition, we've got a quick compendium of MMO-related records from the past year and then some, so if you're at all interested in the shortest-lived MMO to date or the longest time anyone's spent playing MMOs from inside a crate, join us as we take a stroll down memory lane to take a look at some notably (in)famous MMO achievements.

Continue reading Achievement Unlocked: A look at the Guinness world records of online gaming

MassivelyAchievement Unlocked: A look at the Guinness world records of online gaming originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinall-points-bulletin-reloadedapbapb-reloadedcataclysmcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdc-universe-onlinedcuoeveeve-onlinefantasy-westward-journeyfeaturedfree-realmsgamer-editiongamers-editiongaming-recordsguinnessguinness-book-of-world-record-gamers-edition-2012guinness-book-of-world-recordsguinness-book-of-world-records-2012-gamers-editionguinness-world-recordsincarnalord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromark-hamill-is-the-best-jokerplanet-calypsorecordssee-virtual-worldssoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicswgswtorthe-old-republictorultimaultima-onlineuowayne-longworld-of-warcraftworld-of-warcraft-cataclysmworld-recordswowWed, 15 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: New tools for the community]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/12/eve-evolved-new-tools-for-the-community/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/12/eve-evolved-new-tools-for-the-community/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/12/eve-evolved-new-tools-for-the-community/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
Earlier this week, CCP Games released a much-needed complete overhaul of the official EVE Online website. Having been in operation for nine long years, the old website had become a mismatch of marketing information aimed at new players and tools for the existing player community. The overhaul split the page into two awesome websites, with a new community site to cater to existing players and an impressive new main page to attract future players.

The main page uses HTML 5 to deliver incredible interactive views of the EVE Online galaxy and dozens of in-game ships right there on the website. The community website houses all of the news, devblogs, knowledgebase articles, fictional chronicles, and support tools that existing players use, but with a much neater layout than the old website. In web developer CCP Alice's recent In Development video, she revealed that the team would be working on new community tools following the launch of the new websites. With the community site completely de-cluttered, there's now room to incorporate a lot of the tools players want or currently use, opening up some interesting possibilities.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I discuss the new EVE Online website and community portal and speculate on awesome new community tools we might possibly see in the future.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: New tools for the community

MassivelyEVE Evolved: New tools for the community originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamescorpcorporationdotlanefteveeve-evolvedeve-fitting-tooleve-onlineevemonfeaturedforumforumsgame-designguildguild-forumshtml5icscincarnamapmarketmarketingopinionsandboxsci-fitoolswebsiteSun, 12 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: The benefits of a subscription]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/05/eve-evolved-the-benefits-of-a-subscription/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/05/eve-evolved-the-benefits-of-a-subscription/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/05/eve-evolved-the-benefits-of-a-subscription/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
In last week's EVE Evolved opinion piece, I tackled the question of whether it would be possible to make EVE Online free-to-play and then devised a viable hybrid freemium business model based on other apparently successful free-to-play conversions. While this was largely a thought experiment exploring the viability of a conversion, the fact that other subscription games have made the change recently makes it more than just theoretical. The possibility that executives at CCP Games have investigated the same options makes this debate an important one to hash out in a public forum.

We've established that a free-to-play EVE could potentially be viable, but this week I'd like to take the debate one step further and ask whether EVE is actually doing the right thing with its current subscription model. Subscriptions may no longer appear to be the dominant business model in the MMO landscape, but they have some major advantages that are rapidly becoming apparent as more and more games drop their monthly fees. The sale of cosmetic enhancements will only net so much money, and if a game expands into selling convenience items that circumvent grind, there's a strong financial incentive to develop grindy gameplay and then sell shortcuts. This produces a conflict of interest between developing fun games and making money that isn't present with the subscription model.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at the benefits of the subscription model, the unique position CCP is in with its PLEX system, and the hidden dangers of convenience-based microtransactions.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: The benefits of a subscription

MassivelyEVE Evolved: The benefits of a subscription originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesdebateeqeveeve-evolvedeve-onlineeverquest-2everquest-iif2pfeaturedfree-to-playfree-to-play-conversiongame-designincarnammo-industryopinionplexsandboxsci-fisubsubscriptionSun, 05 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Could EVE Online go free-to-play?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/29/eve-evolved-could-eve-online-go-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/29/eve-evolved-could-eve-online-go-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/29/eve-evolved-could-eve-online-go-free-to-play/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

EVE Online title image
When EVE Online was released in 2003, the subscription model was the dominant business model for MMOs. Subscriptions have dominated Western MMOs throughout most of EVE's reign, but in the past two years we've seen the market push toward alternative models. Although the Incarna expansion controversially introduced a cash shop for cosmetic items, EVE Online has remained a subscription MMO in the face of tremendous market pressure to change. Although CCP plans to use microtransactions heavily in World of Darkness, and DUST 514 will not have a subscription fee, no plans to significantly modify EVE's current business model have been announced.

There's no sense in trying to deny it: The market is changing, with microtransaction-supported free-to-play games producing far more money than subscription titles. Hybrid models that give players the choice between microtransactions or a regular subscription have turned the industry on its head. When Turbine first implemented a hybrid model in Dungeons and Dragons Online, not only did profit shoot up from the free players but subscriptions rose. When the studio gave Lord of the Rings Online the same treatment, profits tripled almost overnight. The money is firmly in microtransactions, and it would be disingenuous to assume CCP won't chase that kind of financial reward. But could EVE even support a free-to-play business model, and what alternatives are there?

In this week's EVE Evolved, I ask whether it would be possible for EVE Online to adopt a free-to-play business model, and I suggest a simple alternative model that could really work.
[UPDATE: World of Darkness has not been confirmed as free-to-play, and though DUST 514 will not have a subscription fee, it will have a cover charge for initial purchase]

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Could EVE Online go free-to-play?

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Could EVE Online go free-to-play? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesddodungeons-and-dragons-onlineeveeve-evolvedeve-onlineeverquest-2everquest-iif2pfeaturedfreefree-to-playincarnalord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionsandboxsci-fiturbineSun, 29 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: The new player experience]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/30/eve-evolved-the-new-player-experience/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/30/eve-evolved-the-new-player-experience/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/30/eve-evolved-the-new-player-experience/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
Ever since a graph showing a downward trend in daily peak concurrent logins started to make the rounds on blogs, players have insisted that EVE Online's recent Incarna expansion has been a complete failure. I mentioned in an earlier article that we should really have expected this as the captain's quarters were primarily designed with new players in mind. Starting the game as an avatar, even one who's been grounded in his space-room by his space-dad, helps people identify with their characters in a way that bridges the gap between EVE and traditional avatar-based MMOs. By introducing a player to his character as a person rather than a ship, the new player experience may also help make the loss of a ship not such a big deal.

It's all fine and well to theorise about Incarna's success or failure, but ultimately it's only new players who can make that determination. If the captain's quarters do their job of flattening that initially jarring part of EVE's learning curve, the expansion's effect on subscriptions would be to convert more free trials into paid accounts -- an effect that wouldn't be immediately noticeable until another exciting and heavily advertised gameplay expansion brings in large numbers of new players. To help figure out if the captain's quarters have been successful in that regard, we have to turn to people who have never played EVE before.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I finally convince my friend Kajatta to try EVE for the first time. I delve into his first experiences with the game to find out what EVE does right and wrong in the new player experience.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: The new player experience

MassivelyEVE Evolved: The new player experience originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gamescommunitycorpcorporationseveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedincarnainterveiwinterviewkajattanewnew-playernew-player-experiencenew-playerstutorialuser-interfaceSun, 30 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE CEO: 'We are back in the spaceship business' [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/eve-ceo-we-are-back-in-the-spaceship-business/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/eve-ceo-we-are-back-in-the-spaceship-business/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/eve-ceo-we-are-back-in-the-spaceship-business/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

EVE Online - internet spaceships
CCP's damage control tour continues, and the latest stop is Eurogamer. CEO Hilmar Petursson recently sat down for a lengthy interview with the website and offered up what should be music to the ears of disgruntled EVE Online veterans.

"We're really focused on making kick-ass EVE expansions in the more traditional way that we've done so many times in the past. What becomes of the store and Incarna is something that's not a big priority right now," he said.

Petursson also has some interesting things to say about his own accountability during EVE's turbulent summer and the role of the player-run Council of Stellar Management. "I'm starting to get feedback from players that they worry the CSM is too pre-occupied by a certain playstyle. That might mean we may need to change the structure, but definitely the CSM has worked as a feedback tool greatly throughout the years," he explained. Head to Eurogamer for the full report.

[Update]: Petursson made similar remarks, and also touched on the recent CCP layoffs, in an interview at GamaSutra.

MassivelyEVE CEO: 'We are back in the spaceship business' [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cash-shopccpccp-gamescouncil-of-stellar-managementeveeve-onlineflying-in-spacehilmar-peturssonincarnainternet-spaceshipsinterviewmonoclegatesandboxsci-fistoreFri, 21 Oct 2011 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ship spinning returns to EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/14/ship-spinning-returns-to-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/14/ship-spinning-returns-to-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/14/ship-spinning-returns-to-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

EVE Online - Caldari ship
Everyone knows that internet spaceships are serious business. Relatively few, however, recognize the grave importance of EVE Online's late great ship spinning mechanic.

Happily for the hardcore, those few include CCP developers, and as we mentioned a few weeks ago, one of New Eden's favorite pastimes is coming back from the dead. A new CCP dev blog spills the beans on the release date, and EVE vets will probably be thrilled to hear that ship-spinning is coming to the Singularity test shard today. The feature is tentatively scheduled to return to the Tranquility live server on October 18th during an extended downtime beginning at 11:00 UTC.

CCP has also added the old hangar interface functionality back into the EVE client, and users with sub-optimal Incarna computer specs (or those who simply hate walking in stations) can opt to turn off the game's captain's quarters and party like it's 2010.

A weekend discount on PLEX has also been announced.

MassivelyShip spinning returns to EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpeveeve-onlinegame-mechanicsincarnapatchessandboxsci-fiscifiserious-businessship-spinningspinningsrs-bsnswalking-stationsFri, 14 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC Online 2011: CCP on virtual goods in EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/gdc-austin-2011-ccp-on-virtual-goods-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/gdc-austin-2011-ccp-on-virtual-goods-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/gdc-austin-2011-ccp-on-virtual-goods-in-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

EVE Online
Remember Monoclegate? CCP sure does, and at GDC this week, the company reflected on some lessons learned from its introduction of virtual goods to EVE Online. Associate Producer Ben Cockerill from CCP games offered a candid look at what the team learned through both player response and market data. While the initial launch of virtual goods in Incarna sparked a fierce objection on the forums and even in-game protests and riots, things have settled down quite a bit, and CCP seems confident that it is headed in the right direction now.

Read on for a look at why virtual goods were introduced into EVE Online and what the team has learned so far.

Continue reading GDC Online 2011: CCP on virtual goods in EVE Online

MassivelyGDC Online 2011: CCP on virtual goods in EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aurumben-cockerillcash-shopCCPccp-gamesdust-514eveeve-onlinefeaturedgdcgdc-2011gdc-onlineGDC-Online-2011incarnaiskkaren-bryanmonoclemonoclegatepanelplexrmtvirtual-goodsTue, 11 Oct 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Looking forward to the winter expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/09/eve-evolved-looking-forward-to-the-winter-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/09/eve-evolved-looking-forward-to-the-winter-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/09/eve-evolved-looking-forward-to-the-winter-expansion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
Since EVE Online's release in 2003, CCP Games has been the center of one of the most interesting success stories in the games industry. Produced by a tiny indie development studio on a frozen volcanic rock, EVE was the perfect example of how to do things right. The game's publishing deal with Simon & Schuster allowed CCP to buy back the rights to the game several months after its initial release. With no publisher taking a cut of the profits, CCP ploughed subscriptions back into the game's development and grew the development team organically. As a one-game company, CCP worked closely with players to make EVE the best game possible for its loyal playerbase.

In a recent letter to the players, CCP CEO Hilmar laments that somewhere along the line, things changed for the worse. The CCP of today bears little resemblance to the "little indie studio that could" of 2003, not just housing over 600 employees in offices around the world but also developing upcoming MMOs DUST 514 and World of Darkness. Resources are spread thin, and EVE Online has suffered for it. Last month I looked back at the blockbuster Apocrypha expansion and asked why every expansion since then has cut down on the in-space development players want. Hilmar's letter and its accompanying devblog answered that question this week with a solid plan for iteration on flying in space features during the winter development period.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look forward to the winter expansion and explain why each of the issues being tackled in the coming expansion is a big deal to players.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Looking forward to the winter expansion

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Looking forward to the winter expansion originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assault-shipsbalanceblastersCaptains-quartersccpccp-eveccp-gamesestablishmentseveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlineexpansionfaction-warfarefactional-warfarefeaturedfonthilmarincarnalagmmo-industrymothershipmothershipsnerfnullsecomg-a-new-fontopinionpvepvpship-spinningsovereigntysupercapital-nerfsupercarriersupercarrierstime-dilationtitantitanswarfarewinteryaySun, 09 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP Games CEO issues letter of apology to EVE Online players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/ccp-games-ceo-issues-letter-of-apology-to-eve-online-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/ccp-games-ceo-issues-letter-of-apology-to-eve-online-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/ccp-games-ceo-issues-letter-of-apology-to-eve-online-players/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

EVE Online title image
Just over three months ago, fans of EVE Online looked on in disbelief as the game they loved faced its biggest crisis of confidence since 2007's T20 developer scandal. The long-awaited Incarna expansion was pushed live with no multiplayer environments and only one race of captain's quarters. Players were forced to use the feature every time they docked, and it seemed that its only purpose was as a display case for overpriced cash-shop clothing. While players debated the controversial cash shop prices, a leaked company newsletter titled "Greed is Good" and a leaked memo from CCP Games CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson threw additional fuel on the flames.

In a letter to the EVE Online community today, Hilmar delivered a humble apology for everything that happened. "The estrangement from CCP that many of you have been feeling of late is my fault, and for that I am truly sorry," he began. "In short, my zeal for pushing EVE to her true potential made me lose sight of doing the simple things right. I was impatient when I should have been cautious, defiant when I should have been conciliatory and arrogant when I should have been humble."

The letter goes on to tackle everything from the removal of ship spinning and the release of the captain's quarters as a full expansion to CCP's plans for the future. In an accompanying devblog, CCP Zulu provided an impressive list of in-space features aimed for the winter development period. The list includes the long-awaited hybrid weapon balance changes, assault ship bonus reworks, capital ship rebalancing, and even iteration on faction warfare.

MassivelyCCP Games CEO issues letter of apology to EVE Online players originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apologyarnar-gylfasonCaptains-quartersccpccp-eveccp-gamesccp-zulucommunicationeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineexpansionexpansionsexpectation-managementfearlesshilmarhilmar-peturssonhilmar-veigar-peturssonincarnaleakleaked-memomacrotransactionsMicrotransactionsmiscommunicationmonoclemonocle-gatemonoclegatenewsnewsletternexnoble-exchangewinterWed, 05 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE adds more racial captain's quarters to test server]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/eve-adds-more-racial-captains-quarters-to-test-server/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/eve-adds-more-racial-captains-quarters-to-test-server/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/eve-adds-more-racial-captains-quarters-to-test-server/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

EVE Online - Gallente captain's quarters
Those of you chafing under the constraints of the Minmatar captain's quarters released earlier this summer as part of EVE Online's Incarna expansion have reason to celebrate. The other three racially themed quarters have just been deployed to Singularity (that's the test server, for you EVE newbs).

When we say racially themed, we don't mean like an Al Sharpton monologue but rather like the Gallente, Caldari, and Amarr races who, along with the Minmatar, make up EVE's four playable factions. A new dev blog hits the highlights of each CQ, and each one boasts a visual aesthetic that mirrors its race.

Gallente quarters, for example, are "are slick and streamlined -- comfort through elegant design. The mirror is also prominent, since the Gallenteans are known to spend a lot of time in front of it." The Minmatar pad has also been tweaked, and you can read all the details at the official EVE website. Before you go, check out the preview video after the cut.

[Update: CCP has also uploaded a video explaining the new time dilation feature.]

Continue reading EVE adds more racial captain's quarters to test server

MassivelyEVE adds more racial captain's quarters to test server originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amarrcaldaricaptains-quartersccpccp-gamescqeveeve-onlinegallenteincarnaminmatarsci-fiscifisingularitytest-servertrailervideoFri, 30 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Custom video content available in EVE's captain's quarters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/26/custom-video-content-available-in-eves-captains-quarters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/26/custom-video-content-available-in-eves-captains-quarters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/26/custom-video-content-available-in-eves-captains-quarters/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

EVE Online - Player watching SWTOR in captain's quarters
Chances are you haven't really fantasized about kicking back in your captain's quarters and watching a movie or three. After all, EVE Online is about blowing people up -- or preferably, scamming them and then blowing them up, amirite? Similarly, hanging out in the game's Incarna interiors is for imaginative carebears and inept internet spaceship pilots, according to some.

Nevertheless, CCP has released a new dev blog detailing how you can go about customizing the infinite video loop that currently runs on your CQ's widescreen television. It involves converting your videos to the .BIK format and sticking them into the appropriate folder, and CCP Optimal outlines the technical details at the official EVE Online website.

MassivelyCustom video content available in EVE's captain's quarters originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bikbink-videocaptains-quartersccpccp-gamesccp-optimaleveeve-onlinehacksin-game-videoincarnamoviestelevisionvideovideo-formattingMon, 26 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Ship spinning and Incarna]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/25/eve-evolved-ship-spinning-and-incarna/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/25/eve-evolved-ship-spinning-and-incarna/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/25/eve-evolved-ship-spinning-and-incarna/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
Last week, EVE Online developer CCP Games released a devblog about an upcoming patch designed to re-introduce the ship hangar removed as part of the recent Incarna expansion. The old system involved docking into a ship hangar in which players can spin their ships around to look at them from any angle. With Incarna, the hangar was replaced by a new captain's quarters interface in which the player gets out of his ship and walks about his quarters in a full-body avatar of his character. Amidst a flood of complaints from players whose computers couldn't handle the Incarna environments, CCP reluctantly built a temporary disable switch into the system.

Developers repeatedly stated that they had no intention of letting players opt out of Incarna forever as the company wants it to be a seamless part of the game world rather than a separate game in and of itself. The announcement of the ship hangar's return has effectively overturned that statement by giving players a way to stay out of Incarna environments indefinitely if required. This is a big deal for current EVE players, but most of my friends and colleagues who don't play EVE don't see the importance of what is on the surface a purely cosmetic change.

In this week's short EVE Evolved column, I discuss the plans to bring back ship-spinning in EVE and explain why this change is a big deal for players.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Ship spinning and Incarna

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Ship spinning and Incarna originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gameseveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlineexpansionfeaturedincarnaopinionship-spinningSun, 25 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP to EVE players: We've heard you, unprecedented development refocusing in the works]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/22/ccp-to-eve-players-weve-heard-you-unprecedented-development-r/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/22/ccp-to-eve-players-weve-heard-you-unprecedented-development-r/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/22/ccp-to-eve-players-weve-heard-you-unprecedented-development-r/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

EVE Online - Incarna login screen
Significant change is afoot in EVE Online, and no, we're not just talking about the latest clothing item on the Noble Exchange or additional captain's quarters built on top of Incarna's foundation. A brief blog post on the official website indicates that CCP has taken the firestorm of criticism from long-time players over the last several months to heart.

While it's not quite a mea culpa, CCP Zulu does say that the company has been engaging in an "extensive and intense introspection and revitalization. The result of this is a refocusing and reprioritization on a scale unheard of within our company."

How extensive (and how intense)? That remains to be seen, of course, but the post points to the recent ship-spinning update and also goes a step further. "We are listening to you, we have heard you, and plans are already in motion," Zulu writes.

MassivelyCCP to EVE players: We've heard you, unprecedented development refocusing in the works originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesccp-zuludev-blogdev-diaryeveeve-onlinefisflying-in-spaceincarnamea-culpanew-edenrefocussandboxsci-fiThu, 22 Sep 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP working on EVE ship spinning patch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/ccp-working-on-eve-ship-spinning-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/ccp-working-on-eve-ship-spinning-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/ccp-working-on-eve-ship-spinning-patch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

EVE Online - Hulk ship spinning
Incarna haters rejoice! OK, maybe rejoice is too strong a word, but surely the return of ship spinning is worth a smile or two, amirite?

Today's second piece of EVE Online news comes courtesy of Torfi Frans Olafsson's latest blog post. In it, he mentions how CCP is rethinking its captain's quarters design and working toward reimplementing the ability for bored pod pilots to rotate their cameras around their active ship while docked. The ability disappeared with the introduction of full-body avatars in last summer's Incarna expansion, and Olafsson says that soon "you will simply be able to board and unboard your ship, toggling between captain's quarters and ship spinning mode."

Incarna's hefty graphical requirements have also inconvenienced players logging in via "craptop" portable computers that lack gaming-quality hardware, and the post says that fixes for this are on the way as well. Finally, there are a few blurbs about improvements to captain's quarters shaders and new turret graphics. Read all about it at the official EVE website.

MassivelyCCP working on EVE ship spinning patch originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>captains-quartersccpccp-gamesdev-blogdev-diaryeveeve-onlineincarnanew-edensandboxsci-fishadersship-spinningtorfi-frans-olafssonturretsMon, 19 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Too early to judge Incarna]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/18/eve-evolved-too-early-to-judge-incarna/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/18/eve-evolved-too-early-to-judge-incarna/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/18/eve-evolved-too-early-to-judge-incarna/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
Amidst talk of EVE Online's upcoming nullsec revamp, the Council of Stellar Management voiced legitimate concerns that CCP may not be assigning enough development time to in-space EVE features. Last year, CCP Zulu revealed that of over 400 developers at CCP Games, 124 were assigned to EVE Online. Of those, a whopping 70 were assigned to develop EVE's new avatar-based Incarna feature, several others were assigned to core technologies going into Incarna, and only 22 were focused on developing in-space features.

Last week I looked into the issue of EVE's development time being reduced over the years, but it has been pointed out to me that I largely dismissed the development time that went into Incarna as if it weren't development on EVE. This is a common line of thought among current veteran players, who typically don't care about Incarna and want time to be spent on in-space features instead. Incarna has eaten up a significant amount of development time for very little tangible benefit, but is it too early to judge the efficacy of this massive addition to EVE?

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at what the future may hold for Incarna and how the work invested so far may not become valuable to players until certain features hit.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Too early to judge Incarna

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Too early to judge Incarna originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gameseveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlineexpansionfeaturedgameplayincarnanexnoble-exchangestationstationsSun, 18 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Expansions, not excuses]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/11/eve-evolved-expansions-not-excuses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/11/eve-evolved-expansions-not-excuses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/11/eve-evolved-expansions-not-excuses/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
Over the last few months, the phrase "Flying in Space" has been increasingly used by both EVE Online's developers and its players to describe features other than those of Incarna. It seems like a redundant phrase as all of EVE's gameplay currently takes place in space, but the distinction has become necessary when discussing the allocation of development resources. Members of EVE's player-elected Council of Stellar Management have recently spearheaded a wave of new complaints about the level of resources dedicated to EVE's in-space features, claiming that developers have been left without the resources necessary to do a good job.

In the previous three EVE Evolved columns, I discussed the upcoming nullsec revamp scheduled to begin this winter and the incredible new gameplay players might get as part of it. Members of the CSM know exactly how many people will be working on that revamp, and although those numbers haven't been made public, several delegates have gone public with their disapproval. EVE's subscription fees are currently paying for the development of CCP's upcoming fantasy MMO World of Darkness and its ambitious console MMOFPS DUST 514, leaving few resources for new EVE gameplay and content.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look back at the success of EVE's first blockbuster expansion and ask why development on EVE Online has dramatically decreased over the past two and a half years.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Expansions, not excuses

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Expansions, not excuses originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apocryphaccpccp-eveccp-gamescouncil-of-stellar-managementcsmdominioneveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlineexpansionfeaturedflying-in-spaceincarnaincursionmark-heardpeak-concurrent-usersseleenespacesubscription-numbersthe-mittanityrannisSun, 11 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP releases EVE's emergency CSM meeting minutes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/09/ccp-releases-eves-emergency-csm-meeting-minutes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/09/ccp-releases-eves-emergency-csm-meeting-minutes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/09/ccp-releases-eves-emergency-csm-meeting-minutes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

EVE Online - internet spaceship
There's no drama like internet spaceship drama, and the boohoos stemming from last summer's EVE Online Incarna expansion -- and the associated monoclegate controversy -- continue to make waves.

CCP has finally gotten around to releasing the minutes from the "emergency" Council of Stellar Management meeting that took place in Iceland from June 30th through July 1st. According to CCP Xhagen, the lengthy delay was due to the fact that "it takes time to create a document that everyone can accept. It is important to keep in mind that CSM meeting minutes are not released unless both CCP and the CSM give their approval."

The document summarizes the discussions and presents the brouhaha surrounding captain's quarters performance, the Noble Exchange, and CCP's future plans for virtual goods from the perspective of both devs and player representatives. The PDF ultimately serves as a useful summary of EVE's latest drama explosion, and you can read it in its entirety by following the link below.

MassivelyCCP releases EVE's emergency CSM meeting minutes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Sep 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boohoocaptains-quarterscash-shopccpccp-gamesccp-xhagencouncil-of-stellar-managementcsmdramaemergencyeveeve-onlinehtfuincarnamonoclemonocle-gatemonoclegatenew-edennoble-exchangesandboxsci-fivirtual-goodsFri, 09 Sep 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online Incarna patch 1.1 coming September 1st]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/eve-online-incarna-patch-1-1-coming-september-1st/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/eve-online-incarna-patch-1-1-coming-september-1st/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/eve-online-incarna-patch-1-1-coming-september-1st/#commentsFiled under: , ,

EVE Online
It's been a couple of months since EVE Online released Incarna, and players have been itching for the next step on their galactic grand conquest tour. Happily, this Thursday will see the game move forward with Incarna's 1.1 patch, a smaller-sized update that will usher in a whole new era of EVE player socializing.

With the patch comes an update to EVE Gate, with nifty features like activity notifications to keep you abreast of the news and personalized backgrounds. The forums are getting an overhaul as well and will include search options, the ability to "like" posts, utilize quick replies, and other essential tools. The soon-to-be old forums will be locked and archived for future posterity.

While 1.1 players won't be able to leave their captain's quarters just yet, the screens and menus in the room are being spruced up and a few other bugs quashed. Other features included in the patch are customizable API keys, the ability for third-party applications to access contract updates, and numerous tiny (but important!) fixes to the game.

MassivelyEVE Online Incarna patch 1.1 coming September 1st originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.1apicaptains-quartersccpcustomizable-api-keyseveeve-forumseve-gateeve-onlineforumsincarnaincarna-1.1patchpatch-1.1updateMon, 29 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE dev blog talks Incarna 1.1, additional captain's quarters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/eve-dev-blog-talks-incarna-1-1-additional-captains-quarters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/eve-dev-blog-talks-incarna-1-1-additional-captains-quarters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/eve-dev-blog-talks-incarna-1-1-additional-captains-quarters/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

EVE Online - captain's quarters
So what's the story with the next iteration of EVE Online's Incarna expansion? The newest CCP dev blog has your answer, and that answer is basically "more captain's quarters." You may recall that EVE's ambulatory makeover launched earlier this summer to a chorus of boohoos from the game's gangster elite, but CCP is nonetheless pressing on with its nefarious agenda to make New Eden into more of a sandbox.

CCP Fallout says that the devs are continuing to "improve the Minmatar CQ while pushing forward with the development of the remaining racial quarters, as well as working apace on establishments."

Incarna 1.1 will show the fruits of these labors in terms of the existing avatar environment, while the remaining quarters and establishments should make their way to the Tranquility test server "later this year."

MassivelyEVE dev blog talks Incarna 1.1, additional captain's quarters originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boohoocaptains-quartersccpccp-falloutccp-gamesdev-blogdev-diaryestablishmentseveeve-onlineexpansionsincarnaincarna-1.1internet-spaceshipsnew-edenpatchesplaying-dress-upsandboxspace-station-establishmentsFri, 19 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA['Will the door open?': CCP opens up about the future of EVE's avatars]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/will-the-door-open-ccp-opens-up-about-the-future-of-eves-av/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/will-the-door-open-ccp-opens-up-about-the-future-of-eves-av/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/will-the-door-open-ccp-opens-up-about-the-future-of-eves-av/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Tactical Gamers has a lot of nice things to say about EVE Online's latest expansion, Incarna, but more than just fawning over the truly revolutionary ability to make avatars who walk around in a room, the site roped in two of the game's leads, CCP Soundwave and CCP Flying Scotsman, to jaw about the latest and greatest in the game.

The first, and probably biggest, question for the devs was, "Will the captain's quarters doors ever open to allow avatars to interact with other players?" The devs confirmed that, yes, such a day is coming and will take place over a series of phases. The first stage is to include what CCP is calling "Establishments" in which players can mingle and take part in "various activities."

Interestingly enough, the topic of emotes is a divisive subject among the CCP staff, with some arguing for their inclusion and others fearful that emotes will turn EVE into World of Warcraft, what with the dancing Elves on mailboxes and all. Emotes will be eventually added, but they will have "meaning" behind them.

For more on Incarna, super-capitals and the future of the game, give this interview a listen!

Massively'Will the door open?': CCP opens up about the future of EVE's avatars originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>captains-quartersccpccp-flying-scotsmanccp-soundwavecustomizationdancing-elveselvesemotesestablishmentseveeve-onlineincarnasuper-capitalssuper-capssuper-carrierstactical-gamerswalking-in-stationsworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 18 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: The evolution of microtransactions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/10/eve-evolved-the-evolution-of-microtransactions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/10/eve-evolved-the-evolution-of-microtransactions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/10/eve-evolved-the-evolution-of-microtransactions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Two weeks ago, the escalating drama in EVE Online saw me drained of my normal enthusiasm as I contemplated the very real possibility that my time in the game I love was coming to an end. While the forums were filled with the most vocal and angry players, discussions with veteran players featured mainly disappointment and a distinct sadness. For those few days spent in limbo waiting for the results of the emergency CSM meeting, I and many of my in-game friends remained a hair's breadth from giving up on EVE entirely.

It was a delicate situation based more on perception and poor communication than intent or fact, and I think CCP pulled things back well with formal statements from both itself and the CSM in addition to an in-depth follow-up press conference. One of the big points to come out of the press conference was that while CCP and the CSM are both confident that none of the future microtransaction plans are game-breaking, the company did not restrict itself to vanity goods such as Incarna clothing.

While the CSM was convinced that CCP planned only to produce pure vanity goods, CCP Zulu was careful not to rule out gameplay-affecting microtransactions altogether. Both CCP and the CSM also talked about "game-breaking" sales rather than using a clearer term like "gameplay-affecting" or "non-vanity." It's reasonable then to assume that in the future we might eventually get non-vanity goods that do interact with gameplay but aren't game-breaking in terms of balance, mechanics or interaction with the in-game economy.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I show exactly why options like selling ships would be game-breaking and then let my imagination run wild as I speculate on possible non-vanity microtransactions for the far future that shouldn't disrupt gameplay.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: The evolution of microtransactions

MassivelyEVE Evolved: The evolution of microtransactions originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessbusiness-modelscash-shopccpccp-eveccp-gamesccp-zuluclothingconvenienceeveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedfree-to-playfree-to-play-is-here-to-staygrindincarnainterbusloyalty-pointslpMicrotransactionsmissionmission-runningmmo-industryneural-remappingnexnoble-exchangeplexrunes-of-magicshortcutSun, 10 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New EVE Online trailer highlights the player behind the space ship]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/new-eve-online-trailer-highlights-the-player-behind-the-space-sh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/new-eve-online-trailer-highlights-the-player-behind-the-space-sh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/new-eve-online-trailer-highlights-the-player-behind-the-space-sh/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Hot on the heels of today's announcement that EVE Online will soon be making its way to Japanese gamers, CCP released a new trailer for the Incarna expansion. Rather than focusing only on in-game action, the new trailer entitled "I was there" tells the tale of a memorable battle from the perspective of a player. Although the dialogue is pretty corny, the story and feeling behind it are things any player involved in gang or fleet warfare can identify with. We all carry stories of the epic fights we've turned around in our favour, and we all like to remember that we were there.

The trailer highlights the very real rush of fleet warfare, the real bonds we form with the players behind the ships and the communities we build and defend together. That sense of community is even extended outward into the real world, as attendees at the annual Fanfest or any one of several unofficial EVE meet-ups find out every year.

At the 2011 EVE Fanfest in March, CCP and EVE players in attendance raised $11,000 US for charity Get Well Gamers. Notable items sold included the official CCP Banhammer from the GM department, as seen in the company's absolutely not safe for work music video HTFU, and a tour of the CCP offices led by CEO Hilmar Pétursson. CCP Soundwave's impromptu art print auction raised a massive $1,500, bringing total donations up to the $11,000 mark. The money was delivered to Get Well Gamers this week and will go to help buy gaming systems for sick children to play during their stays in hospital.

Skip past the cut to watch the new Incarna trailer, embedded in HD.

Continue reading New EVE Online trailer highlights the player behind the space ship

MassivelyNew EVE Online trailer highlights the player behind the space ship originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avataravatarsccpccp-eveccp-gamesccp-soundwavecharitycommunitycool-as-fdonationeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefleetfleet-warfaregang-warfareget-well-gamersincarnanewspvpterritorial-controlterritorial-warfaretrailervideoThu, 07 Jul 2011 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online press conference answers vital questions, transcript inside]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/eve-online-press-conference-answers-vital-questions-transcript/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/eve-online-press-conference-answers-vital-questions-transcript/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/eve-online-press-conference-answers-vital-questions-transcript/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

After what should have been the celebrated release of the long-awaited Incarna expansion last week, the EVE Online community erupted into flames. The controversy began when players realised that the vanity clothing items in the game's new cash shop were ridiculously overpriced. The $68 monocle became a centerpiece that the media latched onto, in the same way that World of Warcraft made the headlines when Blizzard had the audacity to sell a $25 mount.

The story should have ended there as a piece about a crazy Icelandic game company selling virtual clothing for more than real clothing. Unfortunately, some conveniently timed leaks from inside CCP caused this simple issue to escalate to the point of panic, causing in-game riots and a significant number of subscription cancellations. The company's silence on the simple question of whether non-vanity microtransactions would be introduced was seen as an admission that gameplay-affecting items would end up in the cash shop.

CCP flew the Council of Stellar Management, EVE's democratically-elected player representative body, out to Iceland for an emergency meeting last week. The result of the meeting was a joint statement between CCP and the CSM addressing all of the major concerns players had. Last night, CCP ran two press conferences over Skype to give EVE fansites and the gaming media a chance to ask additional questions that weren't covered in the official statement. Skip past the cut for our in-depth three-page transcript from the gaming media press conference, including answers to several pressing questions sent in by Massively readers and some great issues raised by other participating members of the press. Comments can be posted on page 3.

Continue reading EVE Online press conference answers vital questions, transcript inside

MassivelyEVE Online press conference answers vital questions, transcript inside originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingCaptains-quartersccpccp-eveccp-gamescommunicationcontroversycqeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineeve-radioexpansionexpansionsexpectation-managementfearlessfeaturedincarnainterviewleakleaked-memomacrotransactionsmeetingMicrotransactionsmiscommunicationmmo-industrymonoclemonocle-gatemonoclegatenewsnewsletternexnoble-exchangepresspress-conferencesci-fitranscriptWed, 06 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Flying high]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/02/one-shots-flying-high/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/02/one-shots-flying-high/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/02/one-shots-flying-high/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Today's One Shots comes to us from Massively reader and EVE Online player Angrymatt. Incarna and character creation might be the the buzzwords lately, but the ships are still where it's at:
This is Ellohem Daehedra standing in front of her pride and joy, Elemiah II, an Amarr Anathema covert ops frigate. I acquired her mostly by running missions until I saved up the 9 mil needed to purchase her.

I know this is a pitiful sum for a lot of EVE players, but this is by far the coolest ship in my inventory. I've been playing for about three months now, steadily working the game with a handful of friends. I know some old guard are bemoaning the Incarna thing, but I find I pretty cool to get to see my character walk about and observe her ship in dock.
We're wrapping up gear week here on One Shots, and it's time to get those pet pictures in. Snap a screenshot of your favorite pet and send it to oneshots@massively.com. Let us know your name, the name of the game, and how you came by your furry, feathered, or scaled friend!

Gallery: One Shots: 2011

MassivelyOne Shots: Flying high originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gameseveeve-onlinegalleriesgalleryincarnaone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotsSat, 02 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: The day that EVE Online died]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/26/eve-evolved-the-day-that-eve-online-died/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/26/eve-evolved-the-day-that-eve-online-died/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/26/eve-evolved-the-day-that-eve-online-died/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

I think it's safe to say that this week has been an unmitigated disaster for CCP Games. Following last week's $99 license fee fiasco for third-party developers, CCP Zulu managed to claw back some player support with a segment addressing the issue during the alliance tournament. This week CCP followed up with the release of Incarna 1.0 and its long-awaited captain's quarters. Players logged in to walk around their private rooms and check out the various cosmetic items available for purchase in the new microtransaction store.

It didn't take long for people to realise that something was fundamentally wrong with the prices on the Noble Exchange. At around $40 for a basic shirt, $25 for boots, and $70 or more for the fabled monocle, items in the Noble Exchange were priced higher than their-real life counterparts. As players made some noise about the ridiculous prices, an internal CCP newsletter all about the company's microtransaction plans was purportedly leaked. In it, plans to sell ships, ammo, and faction standings for cash were revealed, plans that strictly contradict previous promises on gameplay-affecting microtransactions. Shortly afterward, all hell broke loose as a private internal memo from CCP CEO Hilmar was leaked to the press.

In the past few days, I've been contacted by dozens (if not hundreds) of concerned EVE players who are afraid that the game they love is coming to an end. I've even been in contact with an insider who is scared of the risks CCP is taking with the jobs of over 600 employees in four countries, scared enough to leak internal documents and emails. In this week's colossal EVE Evolved, I delve into EVE's latest controversy and shed some light on the biggest community flashpoint since the T20 developer corruption scandal.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: The day that EVE Online died

MassivelyEVE Evolved: The day that EVE Online died originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bluescreenCaptains-quartersccpccp-eveccp-gamescommunicationcqcrasheveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-gateeve-mmorpgeve-onlineeve-radioexpansionexpansionsexpectation-managementfearlessfeaturedgpuincarnaleakleaked-memomacrotransactionsMicrotransactionsmiscommunicationmonoclemonocle-gatemonoclegatenewsnewsletternexnoble-exchangepredictably-irrationalprice-anchorradiosystem-requirementsSun, 26 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online controversy erupts in protests]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/25/eve-online-controversy-erupts-in-protests/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/25/eve-online-controversy-erupts-in-protests/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/25/eve-online-controversy-erupts-in-protests/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Over the past few days, our inboxes here at Massively have been positively overflowing with tips and comments from readers about the ongoing turmoil in EVE Online. It all began with the Incarna update, which added an item shop to the long-running sci-fi sandbox. Players began to voice their concerns over the bizarrely high prices of items in the shop, with one particular item reaching an insane $68 US. Before this hullabaloo had the chance to so much as come to a simmer, an internal newsletter from CCP was leaked to the internet. The document outlined the introduction of microtransactions into EVE and mentioned that at some point, ships, ammunition, and so forth may be available for purchase with real-world currency. This naturally sent players into even more of a frenzy.

The whole ordeal came to a head yesterday when CCP Zulu attempted to douse the flames by addressing the issues directly in a dev diary. The play backfired, however, as players took issue with the dev blog's tone and attitude toward the upset players. Not long after that, an internal CCP email was leaked explaining the reasoning behind the controversial blog post, which only added fuel to the flames.

The result of this blazing hellstorm of controversy? Riots, of course. Players have gathered en masse at Rens, Jita, and Amarr to show their displeasure. As of the time of this writing, the protests are still going strong and show few signs of stopping.

What will come of these protests, though? Hopefully we'll be finding that out soon enough. Be sure to stick with Massively in the coming days as our resident EVE expert will be covering the topic in his column this Sunday while we await response from CCP Zulu. Until then, be sure to go check out Brendan's appearance on EVE Radio for an in-depth discussion of the issues at hand.

MassivelyEVE Online controversy erupts in protests originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arnar-gylfasonarnar-hrafn-gylfasoncash-shopccpccp-gamesccp-zulucontroversydev-blogdev-diaryeveeve-onlineeve-rmtincarnaleaked-emailleaked-memoleaksmicrotransactionsmonoclemonocle-gatemonoclegateprotestsriotsSat, 25 Jun 2011 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Controversy brewing over EVE Online microtransactions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/controversy-brewing-over-eve-online-microtransactions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/controversy-brewing-over-eve-online-microtransactions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/controversy-brewing-over-eve-online-microtransactions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

When we first heard that EVE Online was planning to add microtransaction options, players were most concerned with the effect of microtransaction items on gameplay. CCP was quick to reassure players that microtransactions would focus on vanity items for Incarna and no gameplay-affecting items would be released. Fast-forward to today, when the first phase of Incarna finally went live along with the new Noble Exchange cash shop. As promised, the store contained only vanity items for Incarna, starting with a series of alternative clothing options.

The one thing we didn't really think of while we worried about microtransactions affecting EVE's gameplay was price. The current prices on items in the Noble Exchange are far above typical microtransaction charges and an order of magnitude higher than expected. Items in the Noble Exchange are bought with a new currency called Aurum, 3500 of which can be created from one 30-day pilot's license (PLEX). With the price of PLEX set at around $19.95 US, players can expect to pay over $20 for a skirt, $25 for a blouse, and more than a whopping $68 for the much-desired ocular implant monocle.

In a bizarre twist, many of the clothing options for sale at the Noble Exchange actually cost more than real clothes of the same type. As PLEX can be bought from other players for ISK, however, most players will not be spending their own cash on these items. PLEX prices have already spiked to over 400 million each, putting the price of the monocle at over 1.3 billion ISK. CCP could not provide any more information on the issue, but we expect an issue this hot will prompt an announcement.

MassivelyControversy brewing over EVE Online microtransactions originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aurumccpccp-eveccp-gamesclothingcontroversyeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineincarnaiskmacrotransactionsmicrotransactionsmonoclenoble-exchangeplexshirtskirtTue, 21 Jun 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online's new agent finder detailed [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/eve-onlines-new-agent-finder-detailed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/eve-onlines-new-agent-finder-detailed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/eve-onlines-new-agent-finder-detailed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Hey capsuleers, did you take the day off work to sample the wonders of Incarna? We hope not, because CCP has extended the downtime for EVE Online's latest update. If you did take a day, or if you're simply in need of some juicy New Eden-related reading material, you'll want to have a look at the newest CCP dev blog.

The entry examines the new agent finder functionality, and CCP Punkturis has some interesting tidbits to share along with a few interface screencaps. The goal, as outlined in an earlier agent-related dev blog, was to simplify the convoluted mission-running system and allow players to more easily find agents of an appropriate skill level, faction, and activity.

The new finder filters agents by faction standing and also sorts them by distance (meaning you'll get info on the closest contacts first). Players may also filter various agent-related searches like mission types, and you can read all the details and leave feedback at the official EVE website.

[Update]: CCP's dev blog gnomes are apparently working overtime today, as the company has just released an extensive look at the making of Incarna's turret system renovation.

MassivelyEVE Online's new agent finder detailed [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agent-finderagent-missionsagentsccpccp-gamesccp-punkturiseveeve-onlineexpansionincarnamission-runningmissionsnew-edenpatchpvesandboxsci-fiTue, 21 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online Incarna goes live]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/eve-online-incarna-goes-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/eve-online-incarna-goes-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/eve-online-incarna-goes-live/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

EVE Online players, rejoice! The day you've been waiting for is finally here. Today marks the release of EVE Online's much-anticipated Incarna expansion. The most notable addition with this update is undoubtedly the new ability for players to finally exit their spaceships and explore the universe's many space stations on their own two feet. All players will be required to (re)create their avatars upon logging in after the patch in order to allow them to experience the new ambulatory features.

In other news, there can now be only one jump bridge in a system at a given time, and character creation and the new player experience have both been revamped in order to make the game's notoriously steep learning curve a bit more welcoming for new capsuleers. The full patch notes include far more than can possibly be squished into this post, so if you're anxious to know what exactly this new update entails, head on over to the official site.

MassivelyEVE Online Incarna goes live originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ambulationccpccp-gameseveeve-onlineeve-online-incarnaexpansionincarnapatchpatch-notessci-fiwalking-in-stationsTue, 21 Jun 2011 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online's Incarna 1.0 coming Tuesday]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/17/eve-onlines-incarna-1-0-coming-tuesday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/17/eve-onlines-incarna-1-0-coming-tuesday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/17/eve-onlines-incarna-1-0-coming-tuesday/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's almost Incarna time for residents of CCP's New Eden, and EVE Online's website has been updated with a brief blurb warning users to prepare for some extended downtime on patch day.

The update process is scheduled to last for 14 hours on Tuesday, June 21st, so make sure you've got some long-haul skills in your training queue this Monday. Incarna version 1.0 is bringing the much-ballyhooed captain's quarters patch to EVE, and it represents the first step towards fully functional space station interiors. The update will also feature a new tutorial experience (though the familiar voice of Aura isn't going anywhere) as well as new agent finder and corporation recruitment tools.

CCP says that full patch notes are in the works, and in the meantime, you can join the forum discussion at the official EVE website.

MassivelyEVE Online's Incarna 1.0 coming Tuesday originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agent-finderambulationcaptains-quartersccpccp-gamescorporation-recruitmenteveeve-onlineexpansionsincarnaincarna-1.0internet-spaceshipspatch-daypatchessandboxsci-fiupdatewalking-in-stationsFri, 17 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE dev blog talks increased system specs, Incarna performance]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/14/eve-dev-blog-talks-increased-system-specs-incarna-performance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/14/eve-dev-blog-talks-increased-system-specs-incarna-performance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/14/eve-dev-blog-talks-increased-system-specs-incarna-performance/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Performance is always a concern when it comes to MMORPGs, and EVE Online is no different. The game has traditionally run quite well on older hardware despite graphical upgrades and thousands of simultaneous users sharing the same virtual space. In the latest EVE dev blog, CCP Zulu addresses the impact that the upcoming Incarna expansion is likely to have on client performance, and to make a long story short, CCP is upping the game's minimum and recommended hardware configurations.

Zulu says that the change is mostly directed at users with lower-end Nvidia 6000 or 7000 series graphics cards who are trying to run multiple EVE clients on a single machine (a common practice due to the number of alt accounts and the fact that only one character per account can actively skill-train).

"We therefore decided to temporarily add the option to not load the Incarna interiors while still retaining full access to all options and menus. This allows us to accommodate users with old and gnarly hardware [... and] also develop for those with top-of-the-line gaming computers," Zulu explains. Check out the blog entry, and the system specs, on the official EVE website.

MassivelyEVE dev blog talks increased system specs, Incarna performance originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesccp-zuludev-blogdev-diaryeveeve-onlineexpansionsincarnaminimum-specsperformanceperformance-optionssandboxsci-fisystems-specswalking-in-stationsTue, 14 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP video blog talks EVE immersion, Incarna deployment]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/ccp-video-blog-talks-eve-immersion-incarna-deployment/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/ccp-video-blog-talks-eve-immersion-incarna-deployment/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/ccp-video-blog-talks-eve-immersion-incarna-deployment/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

As the clocks ticks down on EVE Online's long-awaited Incarna update, CCP is starting to roll out more PR to get fans in the mood (and to catch the eye of casual observers). The eight-year old title has long been considered one of the massive genre's premier sandboxes, but Incarna's deployment is adding a radical new dimension to the game that is taking time to both design and deploy.

A new video blog featuring EVE creative director Torfi Frans Olafsson and senior designer Craig Scott looks to fill fans in on what Incarna has to offer. It's all about immersion, according to Olafsson, who says that the new avatar-based sections of the game will give players a stronger sense of self and a deeper awareness of the game environment and the scale of New Eden. Olafsson also explains why CCP is taking its sweet time with Incarna's rollout and why it's chosen to do it in stages (the first of which is the captain's quarters update on June 21st). In a nutshell, the staggered deployment is due to the update's complexity as well as to the fact that it's being grafted onto a live service that cannot be taken down for extensive tweaks.

"To be honest, it's like changing the engine on a race car while it's doing 200 mph on a race track," he explains. Check out the full clip after the cut.

Continue reading CCP video blog talks EVE immersion, Incarna deployment

MassivelyCCP video blog talks EVE immersion, Incarna deployment originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-flying-scotsmanccp-gamescraig-scottdev-diaryeveeve-onlineexpansionsimmersionincarnasandboxsci-fitorfi-frans-olafssonvideovideo-diaryFri, 10 Jun 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE's Incarna countdown kicks off]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/eves-incarna-countdown-kicks-off/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/eves-incarna-countdown-kicks-off/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/eves-incarna-countdown-kicks-off/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

This has got to be a tough week for stick-in-the-mud EVE Online vets who are convinced that an expanding New Eden is a bad thing. First it was yesterday's official Dust 514 E3 reveal (consoles, platform exclusivity, and shooters, oh my!), and today we've got an official countdown clock to the EVE version of dress-up... er, Incarna.

Yes, the long-awaited walking-in-stations/ambulation/EVE-with-legs update is less than two weeks away, and CCP has prepared a new section of its official EVE website devoted to all things Incarna.

The new portal has a good bit of info on the expansion, including a new video dev blog featuring Team BFF and its commitment to improving and expanding EVE's minutia. If you're newly interested in EVE, Incarna, or really anything to do with New Eden, head to the new site and have a look at the video after the cut.

Continue reading EVE's Incarna countdown kicks off

MassivelyEVE's Incarna countdown kicks off originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ambulationccpccp-gamescountdowncry-moar-vetsdev-blogdev-diarydust-514eveeve-onlineexpansionincarnainternet-spaceshipsnew-edenpatchsandboxsci-fivideoTue, 07 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE captain's quarters coming June 21st, CCP shows off new video]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/25/eve-captains-quarters-coming-june-21st-ccp-shows-off-new-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/25/eve-captains-quarters-coming-june-21st-ccp-shows-off-new-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/25/eve-captains-quarters-coming-june-21st-ccp-shows-off-new-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The times they are a-changin' in EVE Online, and CCP has officially set a date for the first salvo in a planned update campaign that will remake the face of the long-running sci-fi sandbox title. Incarna, CCP's integration of 3-D avatars into the game's ship-based environment, has been hinted at for so long that it's somewhat shocking to see an actual date bandied about.

That date is June 21st, and it will bring about the official deployment of Incarna's first phase to EVE's live server. CCP Zulu has all the details in a new EVE dev blog, and there's also a new video clip featuring an extensive tour inside a prototype captain's quarters zone as well as voiceover commentary.

"This is only the first step of many that continues EVE Online's progress towards the ultimate, immersive science fiction world. It unlocks a whole new experience for those already contributing to EVE's social and political fabric and provides a fresh beginning for those curious about becoming part of the deep universe that holds it," Zulu explains. View the video after the cut and head to the official EVE website for more details.

Continue reading EVE captain's quarters coming June 21st, CCP shows off new video

MassivelyEVE captain's quarters coming June 21st, CCP shows off new video originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 May 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ambulationcaptains-quartersccpccp-gamesccp-zulueveeve-onlineincarnapatchessandboxsci-fitrailerupdatesvideowalking-in-stationsWed, 25 May 2011 12:00:00 EST