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[An angle on EVE's New Player Experience and the game's harsh realities]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/27/an-angle-on-eves-new-player-experience-and-the-games-harsh-rea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/27/an-angle-on-eves-new-player-experience-and-the-games-harsh-rea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/27/an-angle-on-eves-new-player-experience-and-the-games-harsh-rea/#commentsFiled under: , ,


There are few MMOs on the market today that can seem as intimidating to a new player as EVE Online. Some of this comes from the infamous things people have heard about the game, tales of deception and betrayal, but there is a fair amount of complexity to EVE as well and no shortage of digital villains prowling New Eden's thousands of solar systems injecting risk into the game.

The first days and weeks of gameplay experienced by many pilots has led to more than a few descriptions of the experience as an initiation of sorts, conjuring up images of hazings, an analogy that actually holds true in many respects. Anyone who sticks with the game learns through trial and error that the setting of New Eden, by design, can be quite harsh. Even if you're not into PvP, it pervades EVE Online; at the very least players who are to succeed in the game must ultimately learn to adapt and evade the more malevolent players, if not defend themselves from attackers directly.

While EVE will likely never be as easy to get a handle on as some other MMOs out there -- the game's depth and complexity actually being a major draw for its subscribers -- CCP Games has taken steps to better ease new players into New Eden with the New Player Experience (NPE) which was part of the Apocrypha expansion launch. But is EVE's New Player Experience, which does not separate rookie pilots into a safe zone to learn the ropes, the right way to introduce players to the game? This is the focus of a WarCry article by Steven Croop titled "Aura is Aura by Any Other Name".

Continue reading An angle on EVE's New Player Experience and the game's harsh realities

MassivelyAn angle on EVE's New Player Experience and the game's harsh realities originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 May 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apocryphaauraccp-gameseveeve-onlinenew-edennew-player-experiencenpeopinionrookierookiessci-fisteven-crooptutorialtutorialswarcryWed, 27 May 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Careers Guide available as free download]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/20/eve-careers-guide-available-as-free-download/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/20/eve-careers-guide-available-as-free-download/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/20/eve-careers-guide-available-as-free-download/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


A major strength of the sci-fi massively multiplayer online game EVE Online is that there are no classes and certainly no professions that a player is locked into. EVE's professions are freeform, but this can lead to new players being unsure about what to do (or be) in the game. The title's developer CCP Games is attempting to remedy this. One of the resources that complements EVE Online's New Player Experience in the Apocrypha expansion is the "EVE Careers Guide", which introduces new players to the gameplay possibilities in New Eden. It's largely put together by Benilopax of Warp Drive Active: Industry podcast fame and Richie Shoemaker (aka "Zapatero"), the Editor of E-ON -- the official magazine of EVE Online -- who we've interviewed at Massively in the past. The EVE Careers Guide is a PDF file with interactive links throughout to navigate between sections, providing a comprehensive look at the game for rookie pilots.

Zapatero welcomes new players to EVE Online, explaining the game in broad terms: "Many have found their own path in EVE by taking turns that are wildly divergent from what its makers envisaged. EVE is about relationships, prejudices, trust, greed and creativity more than it's about spaceships, trade and combat. New Eden is a very human universe, and with almost 300,000 people making up the population, it's a very dynamic one. Yes, it's harsh and uncompromising, frustrating and callous, but it's also illuminating in scope, vast in stature and utterly unique."

Continue reading EVE Careers Guide available as free download

MassivelyEVE Careers Guide available as free download originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apocryphabenilopaxbreakingccp-gamese-oneoneveeve-careers-guideeve-onlineexpansionsfreeformfreeform-professionsguidesisdmmm-publishingnew-edennew-player-experiencenpepdfprofessionsrichie-shoemakerroleplayingrookierookiessci-fiwarp-drive-activewda-industryzapateroFri, 20 Mar 2009 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Varying perspectives on EVE Online's new player experience]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/17/varying-perspectives-on-eve-onlines-new-player-experience/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/17/varying-perspectives-on-eve-onlines-new-player-experience/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/17/varying-perspectives-on-eve-onlines-new-player-experience/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


The sci-fi massively multiplayer online game EVE Online has long been known for its harsh setting but also for its (almost) equally unforgiving learning curve. That is, until the Apocrypha expansion launched, bringing EVE's New Player Experience (NPE) with it. CCP Games aims to slowly ease new players into what is a rather complex game, giving them a feel for what they can already do and what they want to do in New Eden over time.

So how well does the New Player Experience for EVE Online tackle the difficulties of learning how to play one of the most complex MMOs on the market? Writing for Eurogamer, both Jim Rossignol and Oli Welsh write about the New Player Experience. Rossignol, from the viewpoint of a veteran player, and Welsh from the fresh perspective of a rookie. The end result is an overview of how EVE has changed, including a revamped tutorial and Neural Remapping (attribute respecs), as well as Epic Mission Arcs that allow players to make choices in how EVE's mission storylines progress.

Continue reading Varying perspectives on EVE Online's new player experience

MassivelyVarying perspectives on EVE Online's new player experience originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apocryphaattribute-respecsccp-gamescriticismepic-mission-arcseurogamereveeve-onlineexpansionsgame-mechanicsjim-rossignollearning-curveneural-remappingnew-player-experienceoli-welshopinionpraiserespecreviewsrookiesci-fitutorialuiuser-interfaceTue, 17 Mar 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Beginner's guide to WoW raiding]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/30/beginners-guide-to-wow-raiding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/30/beginners-guide-to-wow-raiding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/30/beginners-guide-to-wow-raiding/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Always wanted to get into raiding but don't know where to start? Our sister site WoW Insider has compiled a 3-part series to get you up to speed:

  • Learn2raid: A beginner's guide, part 1
    If you too are looking to step into the raiding arena, here's a how-to guide to give you some idea as to what you should do.
  • Learn2raid: A beginner's guide, part 2
    So you want to be a raider, eh? Plenty of people will argue against it, tell you it's not worth the time, but in the end, in your heart of hearts you know you want to see that end game content and wield those ungodly weapons. Not sure how to go about it? Well, that's what this guide is for.
  • Learn2raid: A beginner's guide, part 3
    Today we will finish up our 3-part series with the final step: how to apply for a raiding guild.
  • Learn2raid: Raid speak
    Entering into the world of raiding, eh? Now that you've gotten ready, it's time to get you familiar with some of the concepts you might encounter during the raid.

MassivelyBeginner's guide to WoW raiding originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Oct 2007 20:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beginnerguidehow-toraidingraidsrookieworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 30 Oct 2007 20:06:00 EST