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EVE Evolved: Learning to let go

Brendan Drain — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Culture, PvP, Endgame, Opinion, EVE Evolved

Bombarded by the epic stories emerging from EVE Online's colossal social sandbox, thousands of MMO addicts per month give in to temptation and pick up a free trial. Most drop the trial for one reason or another, but those who continue on to a full game subscription often fall into a common trap. Some enjoy the concept of the game enough to subscribe for a month, and a portion of those get invested enough in skill plans and the mission grind to stick about for two or three months. It's rare for a new or trial player to actually get into PvP or start creating the same epic sandbox stories that drew them to the game in the first place, but this is exactly what they should be doing right from day one.

New players often spend their entire trial or first month of gameplay attempting to grapple with the enormity of EVE, absorbing as much information as they can in order to make informed decisions for themselves. It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking months of training skills and learning the basics of the game through reading or PvE will be required before you can PvP competitively or begin crafting your own epic story. I firmly believe that the real learning curve of EVE is in learning to let go of these ideas and to accept the loss of ships or items as part of the game. I believe new players need to discard their pre-conceived notions of death penalty, what skill points represent, and the idea of preparing for endgame.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at how EVE is actually very forgiving for new players getting into PvP immediately, I challenge the learning curve myth, and I encourage new pilots to drop themselves into EVE at the deep end.

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EVE Evolved: Learning to let go originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively looks at Capsuleer 2.0, an iPhone app for EVE Online part 2

James Egan — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, PvP

I was dreading having to manually enter that long API string linked to my EVE account, but Capsuleer's system made it quite easy. Can you tell me about the Import Control System?

Roc: The Import Control System was Sam's brainchild. Nobody wants to manually enter that string, myself included, but I also don't like applications "scraping" my game login data from the EVE Online website. The entire point of an API is to be able to access it without using your game login credentials. Since the iPhone doesn't do copy/paste (prior to OS 3.0), Sam came up with this method for effortlessly and securely importing your data to your device.

Sam: As Roc said, the API is all about security. CCP introduced it so that 3rd party applications didn't need your username and password anymore. It's a secure and simple way to provide access to a limited subset of data without exposing the credentials needed to log into your account. My initial prototype had you typing in the big long API key, and man I don't think I got it right more than twice in a row. I knew that we needed a better alternative. That's when I came up with the Import Control System. We have been foiled a bit by a few email clients that don't like the evechar:// url syntax that we use (they try to validate it and can't because they don't recognize the prefix), but with 2.0 we have an alternative http:// based url that can be used as well, so that should hopefully clear up the issues that people ran into.

Continue reading Massively looks at Capsuleer 2.0, an iPhone app for EVE Online part 2

Massively looks at Capsuleer 2.0, an iPhone app for EVE Online part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New EVE Online characters will initially train skills twice as fast in Apocrypha

James Egan — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Expansions, Forums, Game mechanics

Massively recently mentioned a few of the changes coming to EVE Online through the New Player Experience, part of the Apocrypha expansion which rolls out next month. Of particular interest, or concern, to some EVE players is CCP's decision to reduce a starting character's skillpoints to 50k from the current 800k many existing characters began with. CCP Games apparently hopes to clarify this decision, and thus stave off any torches and pitchforks, with today's dev blog. EVE developer CCP Flatboy writes,"In Apocrypha, new characters train at double speed until they reach 1.6 Million SkillPoints. That is all."

The reason that new characters will get this boosted skill training rate is to compensate for the fact that, for simplicity's sake, new characters will begin with less skills. The New Player Experience is all about reducing the complexity that someone just starting out can find themself mired in, and having more control over how the character develops.

Continue reading New EVE Online characters will initially train skills twice as fast in Apocrypha

New EVE Online characters will initially train skills twice as fast in Apocrypha originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The lowdown on EVE Online's New Player Experience

James Egan — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Expansions, Game mechanics, Professions, News items, Races

Among all the massively multiplayer online games out there, with their respective learning curves, EVE Online perhaps has the deserved reputation for being the hardest MMO to get a grasp of. Much of that confusion is because the game itself is such a departure from your standard fantasy MMO, in almost every respect: open world/single server, PvP can happen everywhere, a harsh setting, and a UI that's a far cry from anything a player has seen in World of Warcraft.

The EVE in-game tutorial has been revamped a few times in order to make it easier for new players to get a handle on things. What is currently offered is a noticeable improvement over the tutorial of a few years ago, but CCP Games is in the process of completely reworking a player's first steps into the game's setting of New Eden. EVE Online developer CCP Fear's latest blog is, in his words, required reading for anyone interested in the game, new player or not. He says, "I want to get one misconception out of the way. This blog *will* concern you and everyone else. If you have played for a year, 6 years, 3 months or a week, you will want to read further than this. Chances are there will be changes that will affect you!"

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The lowdown on EVE Online's New Player Experience originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Long-awaited skill queue coming to EVE Online

James Egan — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Game mechanics, News items

The sci-fi massively multiplayer online game EVE Online stands apart from other games in the industry in several ways, one of which is that it uses a real time skill training system rather than experience-based advancement. This is a feature many players like, as they're able to advance even when they're offline, but the downside is that you need to log in frequently to change the lower levels of skills (due to how quickly they finish.) For anyone who's bothered with it, actually getting up for 4am skill changes? Not cool.

Getting a skill queue is one of the issues that the player-elected Council of Stellar Management (CSM) brought to the game's developers, CCP Games. (The CSM are representatives of the player base that work with the devs to ensure that development reflects what EVE's subscribers really want from the game.) Apparently the message got through loud and clear. EVE Game Designer Eris Discordia announced today that a skill queue is indeed in the works, in her dev blog "More Queue Queue."

Continue reading Long-awaited skill queue coming to EVE Online

Long-awaited skill queue coming to EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Should leveling be removed?

Seraphina Brennan — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Game mechanics, Leveling, Opinion, The Daily Grind

We complain about how long it is, we complain about how short it is. We complain because it's in the game and we even complain when it's not in the game. Some believe it makes more problems, others believe it's the best solution we can insert into a game. What are we talking about? Leveling -- that's what we're talking about.

In almost every shape and form, we find a reason to hate the leveling systems we have in place in so many games today. So, the question has to be raised: Should we just ditch levels and go find something else? Skills seem to work in games like EVE Online, and there exists a possibility of using items as a faux leveling system.

But, Massively readers, what do you think about levels? Should they be kept or should they be thrown out on their behinds with all of their content-crushing luggage? And if we're throwing them out, what could we use to replace them, in your opinion?

The Daily Grind: Should leveling be removed? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE live dev blog on medals and certificates, Thursday Oct. 16

James Egan — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Events, in-game, Forums, Game mechanics, Guilds, News items

Medals and certificates are two of the new features coming to EVE Online, as recently announced by developer CCP Greyscale. These features may prove useful for newer players in dispelling some of the complexity of skill training, while providing some bragging rights and easier recruitment (less need to request another player's API) for veteran players, but there's still some confusion about how they'll be implemented in the game. With this in mind, CCP has decided to hold a live dev blog on this feature, slated for tomorrow, October 16th. CCP Wrangler announced:

"It is time for another Live Dev Blog and this time it's Chronotis and Greyscale who will answer all of your questions about Medals and Certificates. As usual Mindstar will be there to ask them your questions. This event will take place on Thursday, 16th October, in the in-game channel 'Live Dev Blog.' It starts at 20:00 GMT and lasts for about one hour." EVE players are already getting their questions in on the forum thread linked to this announcement. Given that the live dev blog will take place tomorrow, if there's anything you really want to know that wasn't addressed in CCP Greyscale's dev blog on certificates and medals, now is the time to ask in the thread.

EVE live dev blog on medals and certificates, Thursday Oct. 16 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Certificates and medals coming to EVE Online

James Egan — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Forums, Game mechanics, Patches, Professions, News items

Most players who've been drawn to EVE Online enjoy the game for its complexity. For such gamers, complexity in a title can be a strength, not a drawback. However, you know what they say about having too much a good thing... Newer players especially find aspects of the game daunting to learn, particularly in terms of skills and skill training plans. This complexity surrounding skills, while not a big deal to veteran players, can be hard to grasp for newer players. Enter "certificates" -- EVE's simplified and (visually) ranked groups of skills that should help rookie players better understand what they should focus on to achieve particular goals.

If the feature does what the developers hope, certificates will remedy a problem newer players face -- "an inability to clearly see where a particular skill fits into the greater scheme of things, what it enables, how to get there and where to go next," CCP Greyscale writes in his latest dev blog "Certificates: Planning the Future."

Continue reading Certificates and medals coming to EVE Online

Certificates and medals coming to EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CCP Games kills 'ghost training' on inactive EVE accounts

James Egan — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Business models, Exploits, Forums, Game mechanics, Patches, Professions, News items

EVE Online players who habitually 'ghost train' their alts on inactive accounts are about to be given a wake-up call. The myriad options that a player can take in the sandbox game means that training up specialized alts is a common practice. The time-based skill training system in EVE means that higher ranked skills can take well over a month to train to their maximum of level five. When creating a carrier or mothership alt, for example, it's typical to simply, well, not pay $15 for a month when you're not actually playing on that character while your skill training progresses.

This isn't limited to capital ship alts though. Many players unsubscribe after queuing up a long skill and resub once skill training is complete. This is how it's always been in the game (at least since this writer began playing), and by all indications is something CCP Games has been well aware of. Those days, as confirmed in today's announcement from CCP, are over.

Continue reading CCP Games kills 'ghost training' on inactive EVE accounts

CCP Games kills 'ghost training' on inactive EVE accounts originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are you ready for EVE Offline?

James Egan — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Business models, Game mechanics, Opinion

Zubon over at Kill Ten Rats has written a bit of commentary about skill training in EVE Online. As players subbing multiple accounts used for different purposes know (particularly when training up initial skills), a fair amount of time is spent logging in and switching skill training, and not always so much actual gameplay seen with those characters. So, he suggests the idea of "EVE Offline" -- an extension of the game, played via a website or accessible with a mobile phone. The point of EVE Offline would be to turn skill training into its own game, not a peripheral activity related to EVE's standard (client) gameplay.

He presents this idea in the form of a CCP deal announcement, laying out the conditions and terms of the fictional EVE Offline. Tongue-in-cheek or is there a serious point? You decide. The post is ultimately a way of asking: How many EVE players essentially do this anyway with their characters, paying the full subscription price but not getting enough play time on those alts?

Are you ready for EVE Offline? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Online trojan warning

James Egan — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Exploits, Game mechanics, News items

CCP Games issued a warning today, regarding a trojan found in a macro for EVE Online. CCP Wrangler said that the macro is being offered by 'Gold Harvest Macro Solutions' and ostensibly allows a player to automate their skill-training with a queue, eliminating the need to periodically log in and change skills. CCP became aware of it and put it through testing; here's a shocker -- the shady software contains a trojan. Please contain your surprise.

CCP Wrangler's full announcement (login required): "A number of players have recently received an advertisement for a skill training macro, this macro is sent by Gold Harvest Macro Solutions who claims that the macro will let you create a skill training plan and have your character automatically train your skills. This macro has been tested and it contains a Trojan, so make sure you do not download any software from these people. If you downloaded the program, make sure that you run a complete scan of your system and then change all of your passwords!"

Not that anyone who uses programs like this doesn't really understand they're breaking the accepted rules of the game, but pretty much using any 3rd-party automation with the EVE client is a bad move.

EVE Online trojan warning originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Sep 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The fallacies of skill training plans in EVE Online

James Egan — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Game mechanics, Tips and tricks, Opinion

New players to EVE Online invariably receive the same advice from those more experienced: train your learning skills as soon as possible. Each skill level gained in the learning category adds a point to an attribute linked to that skill. Attributes determine your skill training times, so by boosting your attributes as high as you can, as fast as you can, you dramatically reduce your skill training times further down the road. This becomes especially noticeable when training higher ranked skills. But Dee Carson, from the Miner With Fangs blog, says that diving right into training your learning skills instead of getting a feel for the game can be a mistake. He should know. Carson is a director of EVE University, a corp that has trained thousands of new players since its inception and helped them to become competent pilots.

Carson points out that training up learning skills right off the bat serves to crush a new player's interest in the game. In those first weeks and months, when players could be out trying new things in EVE, they're limited by the fact that they're simply not progressing in any noticeable way. Yes, training up your learning skills is important if you're in for the long-term, but for those just trying out the game, locking yourself into skills that don't unlock new ships and modules kills the fun.

Continue reading The fallacies of skill training plans in EVE Online

The fallacies of skill training plans in EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Track EVE skill training on your iPhone

James Egan — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, News items

Having a pared-down, mobile version of the EVE Online client has been on the wish list of many players, as well as the to-do list of the CCP Games developers. Unfortunately, EVE mobile doesn't yet exist. The closest thing to this currently offered are mobile applications that monitor skill training and the market. However, there seem to be more and more of them lately, perhaps largely driven by the popularity of the iPhone and iPod touch.

One of the shinier apps out there for the iPhone is EVE Tracker from Saggy Software, an application that also runs on the iPod touch. As its name implies, EVE Tracker can track a pilot's stats and training status; it displays your avatar and isk balance, in addition to your attributes and skillpoints. You can review your character's skill progression (skills previously trained) and flip through related info with a skill browser. EVE Tracker can handle multiple characters and multiple accounts, which could be handy for those who took advantage of EVE's Power of Two subscription offer a little while back.

Continue reading Track EVE skill training on your iPhone

Track EVE skill training on your iPhone originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The 10 Commandments of EVE

James Egan — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Galleries, EVE Online, Game mechanics, PvP, Tips and tricks, PvE

EVE Online tends to appeal to MMO players who like the depth and complexity of a sci-fi game where players have the freedom to act as they wish in a vast galaxy. But that freedom comes with a price; EVE can be a harsh setting, particularly for newer players trying to get a handle on the game.

For the newer player who's recently completed the tutorial, EVE largely remains a mystery... one which only reading, learning from other players, and just 'going for it' can solve. Still, it's always good when someone passes on advice to newer players as many of us learned our lessons the hard way. To that end, we bring you The 10 Commandments of EVE. Truth be told, there are a lot more than ten essential things to know about the game, but this is a good start. Feel free to add your own "commandments" or lessons learned in the comments below.

Behold The 10 Commandments of EVE >>

Gallery: The 10 Commandments of EVE Online

The 10 Commandments of EVE originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The tyranny of skill training

James Egan — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Game mechanics, Opinion

One of the nicest features of EVE Online is the fact that skill progression doesn't go hand-in-hand with a monotonous grind. Rather, the game uses a time-based system of advancement. But this seemingly casual aspect of the game is a double-edged sword; in the earlier stages of skill training, a newer player needs to log in very frequently to switch up low level skills. Some EVE players set their alarms and drag themselves out of bed in the early morning hours to switch their skill training, so as not to lose hours of time where progression halts. PC gaming blog 'Life is a Mind Bending Puzzle' has a post about how EVE's system "creates significant pressure to log on and pop a new skill on every time one finishes." Logically, a new player would assume that it's possible to queue skill training in advance. That assumption, however, would be wrong.

Thus the early career of an EVE pilot is one of setting alarms, calendar reminders, and sticky notes... all to avoid that guilt over losing hours of advancement because of something trivial like sleep or a job. But as time goes on, skill training intervals lengthen at higher levels and thus require far less maintenance. Implementing a skill queue was one of the issues brought to CCP Games by the player-elected Council of Stellar Management (CSM), as it's one of the complaints most players have when getting to know the game. How do you feel about skill queues? Is it a necessary feature that CCP should implement, or should the developers be focusing on more pressing matters?

[Via]

The tyranny of skill training originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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