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[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['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 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[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<![CDATA[CCP releases EVE captain's quarters screenshots]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/ccp-releases-eve-captains-quarters-screenshots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/ccp-releases-eve-captains-quarters-screenshots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/ccp-releases-eve-captains-quarters-screenshots/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Incarna! Captain's quarters! Screenshots!

And there was much rejoicing, at least from those EVE Online players who recognize the game's need to move beyond spaceship avatars to further its quest for total sandbox domination. In service of that end, CCP has released a gaggle of images from its forthcoming Incarna update, which will bring quite a bit of newfangled gee-whiz to the worlds of New Eden.

Interested captains should plot a course for EVE's Facebook portal, as it features several interior shots showing both full-body avatars and the various high-tech interfaces that CCP will be making available to pod pilots later this summer.

MassivelyCCP releases EVE captain's quarters screenshots originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 May 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ambulationcaptains-quartersccpccp-gameseveeve-onlineincarnapatchessandboxsci-fiupdateswalking-in-stationswoooWed, 18 May 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Minmatar captain's quarters coming to EVE Online test server this week]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/minmatar-captains-quarters-coming-to-eve-online-test-server-thi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/minmatar-captains-quarters-coming-to-eve-online-test-server-thi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/minmatar-captains-quarters-coming-to-eve-online-test-server-thi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Get ready, capsuleers. Captain's quarters are coming, and sooner than you might expect. CCP Tanis breaks the news that a rough version of the Minmatar captain's quarters will be making an appearance on the Duality test server this Thursday, April 21st.

That's right: Two days hence, all you Brutors, Sebiestors, and Vherokiors will finally be able to walk around on your own two legs inside of the EVE Online client. CCP's newest dev blog cautions that the test environment is a true work-in-progress, and Tanis states that "we're still at the chisel-in-hand-in-front-of-a-marble-form stage."

Why make the environment available to the public at this point? CCP is mainly looking to gather feedback and general impressions on usability, since the captain's quarters interface is eventually slated to replace the current in-game hangar view. The test run will also feature new in-station and crash course tutorials as well as interfaces for planetary interaction, corporation management, avatar re-customization, and ship fitting.

In other EVE Online news, the new Council of Stellar Management held its first fireside chat a few days ago, and an audio recording of the broadcast is now available for download on the official EVE forums.

MassivelyMinmatar captain's quarters coming to EVE Online test server this week originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ambulationaudiocaptains-quartersccpccp-gamesccp-taniscouncil-of-stellar-managementcsmdev-blogdev-diarydualityeveeve-onlinefeedbackfireside-chatincarnainterfaceminmatarsandboxsci-fitest-environmenttest-serverwalking-in-stationswooooooTue, 19 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP taking the first steps into EVE's Incarna]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/ccp-taking-the-first-steps-into-eves-incarna/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/ccp-taking-the-first-steps-into-eves-incarna/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/ccp-taking-the-first-steps-into-eves-incarna/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In the minds of some EVE Online players, Incarna occupies shelf space with Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and new episodes of Firefly. However, according to a new dev blog from CCP Chilled, players will indeed have the ability to pop out of their pods and flop around on an in-game couch before long. The best part for those who love testing: it should be on Singularity before FanFest. This will give players a chance to check it out -- and prepare questions for the devs -- before the party at the top of the world begins. For those who don't care for monkeying with the test server, we could see the changes go live on Tranquility by summer.

The upcoming deployment will add Captain's Quarters to EVE Online for new players and vets alike. When docked at a station, players will show up on a balcony connected to their quarters and be able to look up at the grandeur and majesty (or duct-tape and bondo) of their ships. All the normal functionality of docking will be present, and the developers have stated that there won't be any major differences in terms of docking time. For those curious about this first step towards Incarna, be sure to pop over to the CCP blog and check out the meaty details of the post.

MassivelyCCP taking the first steps into EVE's Incarna originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Captains-quartersccpCcp-chilledccp-gamesDev-diaryeveeve-onlineExpansionincarnawalking-in-stationsThu, 17 Feb 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Will Incarna get you to try EVE?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/27/the-daily-grind-will-incarna-get-you-to-try-eve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/27/the-daily-grind-will-incarna-get-you-to-try-eve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/27/the-daily-grind-will-incarna-get-you-to-try-eve/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

OK, I admit it, I'm one of "those" EVE Online players. You know the type I mean: toodling around high-sec on a five-year old account that's somehow still south of 10 million skill points. EVE is something of a paradox in the MMO space: people love to read and talk about it, but for whatever reason, relatively few of those people actually play the game consistently.

With the recent announcement by CCP that the long-awaited Incarna (a.k.a. "walking in stations") expansion is not only well underway, but slated for Summer 2011, interest in the sci-fi sandbox is bound to increase over the coming months. Hopefully I won't be the only semi-permanent resident of New Eden who finally puts down roots in one of the genre's last proper virtual worlds (with several humanoid-avatar-loving friends in tow).

The question of the day, Massively readers, is how does Incarna's looming reality alter your perception of EVE Online? Do you see yourself trying it out (or returning for a lengthier stay)?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Will Incarna get you to try EVE? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avatarsccpCCP-Gameseveeve-onlineexpansionincarnaopinionsandboxthe-daily-grindwalking-in-stationswoohooMon, 27 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Incarna scheduled for summer 2011 release]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/23/incarna-scheduled-for-summer-2011-release/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/23/incarna-scheduled-for-summer-2011-release/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/23/incarna-scheduled-for-summer-2011-release/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

EVE Online is often said to be a game that's not for everyone. One of the biggest points of contention a lot of new players have with the game is the lack of any real avatar. The faces we customise on character creation are little more than passport photos, sitting next to names in chat channels and posts on the official game forum. Without a full body avatar to interact with the world, a lot of new players find it difficult to relate to their EVE characters the way they would in other MMOs. Originally named Walking in Stations, the Incarna expansion is intended to rectify this problem by giving players the ability to walk around and socialise inside the space stations of New Eden.

Until now, it wasn't known for sure when the expansion would be released. It's been in development since as early as 2008 but has been pushed back several times since then as the enormity of the project began to fully unfold. Earlier today, Eurogamer reported that a release schedule for Incarna has finally been revealed. The first step in the feature's release will come with the Incursion expansion this winter, in which we'll get access to the new character creation and customisation process. After that, CCP's goal is to release the first iteration of Incarna, complete with the ability to walk around station environments, with the next summer expansion. Barring any major setbacks, it's reasonably safe to say that Incarna is on track for a summer 2011 release.

MassivelyIncarna scheduled for summer 2011 release originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avataravatarsbreakingccpccp-eveccp-gameseveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineexpansionexpansionsincarnaincursionincursionswalking-in-stationsThu, 23 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2010: CCP unveils EVE Online's latest expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/04/pax-2010-ccp-unveils-eve-onlines-latest-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/04/pax-2010-ccp-unveils-eve-onlines-latest-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/04/pax-2010-ccp-unveils-eve-onlines-latest-expansion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

At PAX Prime, we caught up with CCP's lead game designer Noah Ward, who paused helpfully between the roaring crowds on all sides of the booth to fill us in on the "secret sauce" to EVE Online's continued growth and success. Ward said it was simple: CCP's steadfast commitment to the game for the long haul. The dev team strongly believes in the growth of EVE and works hard to expand it both inward and upward.

Part of that growth includes continued expansions to the title, and Ward was excited to reveal the next one on deck. While it doesn't yet have a name -- at least, nothing CCP could put in print -- the team is hyped up about its latest expansion to the EVE Online franchise. Set to debut later this winter, the expansion looks to build on many of the key foundations that Tyrannis began.

Hit the jump to hear about the four new features that EVE fans will find themselves crowing about by the time Santa comes a-callin'!

Continue reading PAX 2010: CCP unveils EVE Online's latest expansion

MassivelyPAX 2010: CCP unveils EVE Online's latest expansion originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingccpcoloniescoopeveeve-gateeve-onlineexpansionfeaturedi-dressed-up-as-a-mothership-for-paxincursionincursionsiskloyalty-pointsminingmothershipnoah-wardpaxpax-2010pax-primepax-prime-2010planetary-featurespvepvpsashatyranniswalking-in-stationsSat, 04 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC10: Torfi Frans Olafsson gives details on Tyrannis, Incarna and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/14/gdc10-torfi-frans-olafsson-gives-details-on-tyrannis-incarna-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/14/gdc10-torfi-frans-olafsson-gives-details-on-tyrannis-incarna-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/14/gdc10-torfi-frans-olafsson-gives-details-on-tyrannis-incarna-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

For the last few weeks, EVE Online players have been getting excited about the up-coming Tyrannis expansion with its Planetary Interaction feature. We received our first taste of what Tyrannis will hold last month when the expansion was announced and since then we've speculated on how its planetary interaction feature might work. Although CCP haven't answered our interview questions on Tyrannis yet, we caught up with EVE Senior Producer Torfi Frans Olafsson at GDC 2010 to get the inside scoop. Torfi was keen to point out that a lot of what CCP are doing in Tyrannis is laying the foundation for future updates and expansions. He calls Tyrannis "a stepping stone toward something even bigger."

In addition to providing some inside info on the upcoming Tyrannis and Incarna expansions, Torfi revealed that there are more people working on EVE today than ever before. In contrast to MMOs that cut down their development team sizes once the game is out, CCP's ranks have been increasing at a huge rate in recent years. The ever-increasing revenue generated by EVE subscribers allows them to fund a large development team dedicated to making the game better for EVE players. "We've never had as many subscribers as we have today", says Torfi, "330,000 subscribers, like actual paying subscribers, not counting trials." It's thanks to all those subscribers that CCP are beginning to realise dreams they were never able to achieve when the game was less popular.

Skip past the cut to see what Torfi Frans Olafsson had to say about Tyrannis, Incarna and more.

Continue reading GDC10: Torfi Frans Olafsson gives details on Tyrannis, Incarna and more

MassivelyGDC10: Torfi Frans Olafsson gives details on Tyrannis, Incarna and more originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ambulationccpccp-eveccp-gamesdeveloperdeveloperseveeve-ccpeve-gateeve-mmorpgeve-onlineexpansionExpansionsexplorationfeaturedgdc-2010incarnaindustrymanufacturingminingmmo-industrynew-edenplanetplanetssocialsocial-networksocial-networkingtorfi-frans-olafssontyranniswalking-in-stationswormholesSun, 14 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: The development of Incarna]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/07/eve-evolved-the-development-of-incarna/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/07/eve-evolved-the-development-of-incarna/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/07/eve-evolved-the-development-of-incarna/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

One of the biggest differences between EVE Online and most other MMOs is the lack of a humanoid avatar. Even when you're docked up in a station, you can't leave your ship and walk around. The detailed avatars we create on starting the game are not so much avatars as passport photos; seen only as little square mug shots in chat channels and the official forums. In their never-ending quest to make EVE the definitive Sci-Fi simulation, this is something the game's developers CCP have always endeavoured to change. The introduction of a full body avatar feature, code-named "Walking in Stations", "Ambulation" and now known as "Incarna", has been undeniably the most anticipated feature since EVE went live. It's been in development since 2006 but has proven a much larger task than CCP originally anticipated. With the expansion tentatively slated for winter this year, new information on it is still harder to find than a sober Icelandic game developer.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I take a look at Incarna's development so far and why it hasn't been released yet.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: The development of Incarna

MassivelyEVE Evolved: The development of Incarna originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010ambulationavatarsccpccp-eveccp-gamesdevblogdeveloperseveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlineexpansionfeaturedincarnainterviewoveurwalking-in-stationsSun, 07 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GameX 2009: Video interview with Nathan Richardsson and "Alli" Óttarsson]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/27/gamex-2009-video-interview-with-nathan-richardsson-and-alli-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/27/gamex-2009-video-interview-with-nathan-richardsson-and-alli-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/27/gamex-2009-video-interview-with-nathan-richardsson-and-alli-o/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

After their panel at GameX 2009 (and some free lunch) we got to sit down with "Alli" Ottarsson and Nathan Richardsson from EVE Online and talk shop about the future of the game. Where are we going directly after the Dominion expansion releases this year? What other product tie-ins can we expect from the White Wolf end of the company? And what's Neocom all about anyway?

Nathan and Alli were happy to take our questions and give some direct responses on what they hope to tackle in Neocom, how EVE's model is multiple game models, and what we might see take place in the highly-anticipated Incarna in regards to gambling and missions.

To check our exclusive video interview, jump after the break with the "continue reading" button below!

Continue reading GameX 2009: Video interview with Nathan Richardsson and "Alli" Óttarsson

MassivelyGameX 2009: Video interview with Nathan Richardsson and "Alli" Óttarsson originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alli-ottarssonambulationccpeveeve-onlinegamexgamex-2009incarnainterviewmobile-appnathan-richardssonneocomvideovideo-interviewwalking-in-stationswhite-wolfTue, 27 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online announces Dominion expansion, 'Walking in Stations' renamed Incarna]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/eve-online-announces-dominion-expansion-walking-in-stations-r/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/eve-online-announces-dominion-expansion-walking-in-stations-r/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/eve-online-announces-dominion-expansion-walking-in-stations-r/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


CCP Games has announced their 11th free expansion for EVE Online, called "Dominion." As the name suggests, the winter expansion focuses on territories and player control over them. We're told that the Dominion expansion focuses on conquering and holding space, and will feature a reworking of the sovereignty system of territorial control for player alliances. We don't have any further details on the sovereignty revamp yet, but according to CCP the changes have been made with subscriber feedback in mind, particularly through the player-elected Council of Stellar Management.

Given that CCP Games is tying more of EVE Online's gameplay into the planets of the New Eden galaxy, the next step they're taking with the Trinity graphics engine is to add more detail to these planets (and presumably moons).

Continue reading EVE Online announces Dominion expansion, 'Walking in Stations' renamed Incarna

MassivelyEVE Online announces Dominion expansion, 'Walking in Stations' renamed Incarna originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alliancesambulationbreakingccp-gamescosmoscouncil-of-stellar-managementcsmdominiondust-514epic-mission-arcseve-fanfest-2009eve-onlineexpansionsgame-mechanicsguildsnew-edennovelpiracypiratesplanetssci-fisovereigntythe-burning-lifetrinitywalking-in-stationsMon, 31 Aug 2009 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Fan-run EVE contest will let winner interview CCP dev on podcast]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/15/fan-run-eve-contest-will-let-winner-interview-ccp-dev-on-podcast/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/15/fan-run-eve-contest-will-let-winner-interview-ccp-dev-on-podcast/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/15/fan-run-eve-contest-will-let-winner-interview-ccp-dev-on-podcast/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


EVE Online is a space-based MMO through and through. In the six years since the game went live, EVE's galactic setting of New Eden has expanded to encompass thousands of solar systems, both charted space and far-flung unexplored systems, as the game's subscriber numbers have slowly but steadily grown. The IP is expanding in new directions as well. Novels now add more depth to the game's lore. CCP Games plans to let players step out of their ships and interact as avatars with Walking in Stations, and the devs have stated that they'd like to bring atmospheric flight to the game at some (undetermined) point in the future. And of course they also have a ground pounder FPS set in the EVE universe in the works.

It was some of these things on the horizon that got our friend CrazyKinux thinking about the possibilities that may open up for this sci-fi MMO if planetary colonization or terrestrial gameplay are introduced. In fact, he decided to make this the basis of his next EVE Online contest. It's one we think might interest some of Massively's readers, particularly as the contest winner will get to grill interview an EVE developer on the MicroWarpCast podcast.

Continue reading Fan-run EVE contest will let winner interview CCP dev on podcast

MassivelyFan-run EVE contest will let winner interview CCP dev on podcast originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ambulationatmospheric-flightccp-gamescontestscrazykinuxcrazykinuxs-musingdustdust-514eveeve-onlinegame-mechanicsground-combatnew-edensci-fiwalking-in-stationsSat, 15 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video interview focuses on emergent gameplay in EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/13/video-interview-focuses-on-emergent-gameplay-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/13/video-interview-focuses-on-emergent-gameplay-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/13/video-interview-focuses-on-emergent-gameplay-in-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Part of what's so interesting about video games, and MMOs specifically, is that players often do things the game designers never envisioned. This is especially the case with a sandbox MMO like EVE Online where the developers provide a setting and the players establish their own virtual society of sorts. The topic of emergent gameplay in EVE came up in a recent video interview from the Nordic Game Conference, where our friend Petter Mårtensson from Gamereactor spoke with CCP Games Executive Producer Nathan "Oveur" Richardsson.

Their conversation touches upon what the players are doing with wormhole exploration (with around 2500 uncharted solar systems) and CCP's excitement when player alliances clash and create their own stories of conflict. The interview also covers Walking in Stations (avatars), the COSMOS social network that will tie in with EVE, and the company's intent to alter 0.0 space with more tools to build empires and more incentives to get people out there into these lawless regions. Stick with us for a video embed of the Gamereactor interview with CCP's Nathan Richardsson.

Continue reading Video interview focuses on emergent gameplay in EVE Online

MassivelyVideo interview focuses on emergent gameplay in EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccp-gamescosmosdustdust-514eveeve-onlinegamereactorgdc-europeinterviewsnathan-richardssonnordic-game-conferenceoveurpetter-martenssonsci-fisenior-producersocial-networksocial-networkingvideowalking-in-stationsworld-of-darknessThu, 13 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online social network 'COSMOS' coming with Winter expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/21/eve-online-social-network-cosmos-coming-with-winter-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/21/eve-online-social-network-cosmos-coming-with-winter-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/21/eve-online-social-network-cosmos-coming-with-winter-expansion/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The EVE Online developers have released the first solid bit of info regarding the game's Winter expansion, which will include a social network called COSMOS. Unfortunately, the as-yet-unnamed Winter expansion won't bring Walking in Stations (3D avatars), to the best of our knowledge. Any announcement of the next expansion's features is still a long way off, but a dev blog from EVE developer CCP Caedmon focuses on COSMOS and what it will bring to the game.

COSMOS will debut with a limited feature set, with more added to the platform over time. However, if CCP Games can deliver on what Caedmon mentions, it should go down well with the playerbase since these features will be tied in with the game.

Continue reading EVE Online social network 'COSMOS' coming with Winter expansion

MassivelyEVE Online social network 'COSMOS' coming with Winter expansion originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Online senior producer CCP t0rfifrans just published a dev blog about the next major update to the game, Apocrypha 1.5. This is not a completely new expansion, just a significant update they will release in August before EVE's (as-yet-unnamed) winter expansion. While CCP hasn't released the complete rundown of Apocrypha 1.5's features and changes, they have announced a few highlights:

  • Perhaps the biggest changes in 1.5 will be factional warfare improvements. Beyond responding to the lag issues many players have been reporting with factional warfare, CCP is going to introduce Loyalty Points (LP) for kills and captures, and each militia will have its own LP store where militia players can cash in for items unique to that faction.
  • Several Level 4 epic mission arcs will be introduced, tied to specific races in New Eden. CCP t0rfifrans writes: "These captivating stories deal with moral ambiguity, intrigue, honor, and some people's lack of it. This should come as no surprise to those who know EVE and what we are about. As before with the epic arc that was released with Apocrypha, they provide a deep, interesting story, where your choices influence the outcome."
  • One of the long awaited buffs for Black Ops battleships will arrive: specialized cargo holds. The first use of this system will be to give Black Ops ships fuel bays, but this feature paves the way for similar additions to other ship classes in the future. For instance, some ships may one day be given ammo bays, freeing up valuable cargo space.
  • Rigs will be offered in different sizes, with frigate and cruiser sized rigs introduced to the game. These new small and medium rigs will be cheaper to buy or manufacture, and thus provide a lower cost way for players to trick out their ships.
CCP t0rfifrans also dropped a few hints about the forthcoming winter expansion, which will *not* be Walking in Stations. He writes: "All I can say, is that it is focused on sovereignty and you will not be able to walk in it."

We'll keep our eyes open for more about Apocrypha 1.5 as information becomes available.

MassivelyCCP Games reveals next major Apocrypha update for EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apocryphaapocrypha-1.5black-opsbreakingccp-gamesccp-t0rfifransdev-blogdev-blogsempyrean-ageepic-mission-arcseveeve-onlinefactional-warfarefuel-bayfuel-baysgame-mechanicsloyalty-pointslpmissionspatchespvprigssci-fisenior-producersovereigntyspecialized-cargo-holdstorfi-frans-olafssonwalking-in-stationsTue, 30 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP Games CEO to announce new project in GDC Europe keynote]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/11/ccp-games-ceo-to-announce-new-project-in-gdc-europe-keynote/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/11/ccp-games-ceo-to-announce-new-project-in-gdc-europe-keynote/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/11/ccp-games-ceo-to-announce-new-project-in-gdc-europe-keynote/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Hilmar Pétursson, the CEO of CCP Games, will keynote Game Developers Conference Europe 2009 in Cologne, Germany. The event runs from August 17 through the 19th at the Cologne Congress Center East. Hilmar's keynote will focus on how CCP Games rose from being a small Reykjavik-based studio with an obscure niche title to becoming a success story in the MMO industry with the growing popularity of EVE Online, now running studios in Atlanta and Shanghai, as well as their hometown of Reykjavik.

Perhaps the biggest news here is the reveal hinted at in the CCP Games press release: "As a testament to the industry's potential for growth despite widespread economic turmoil and as an inspiration for up-and-coming independent studios, Pétursson will give an exclusive first look at the company's latest project, which is currently in pre-production." We can only assume this is the World of Darkness MMO, but it could very well be a closer look at Walking in Stations or any of the other projects CCP announced at last year's Fanfest. Regardless of what this new project is, we won't know for sure until August.

MassivelyCCP Games CEO to announce new project in GDC Europe keynote originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atlantaccp-gameschinaeveeve-onlinefpsgame-developers-conference-europegdcgdc-europegdc-europe-2009hilmar-peturssonhilmar-v-peturssonicelandkeynotemmo-industryreykjavikshanghaiwalking-in-stationsworld-of-darknessThu, 11 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online coding honcho profiled in 'Master of the Universe']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/03/eve-online-coding-honcho-profiled-in-master-of-the-universe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/03/eve-online-coding-honcho-profiled-in-master-of-the-universe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/03/eve-online-coding-honcho-profiled-in-master-of-the-universe/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Most gamers probably aren't familiar with IEEE Spectrum, but it's a publication of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the world's largest professional technology association. Fans of EVE Online who are curious about the people behind the sci-fi title might be interested in checking out IEEE Spectrum's piece on CCP Games and the man who directs the EVE Online Software Group: Erlendur Thorsteinsson, also known to players as CCP Explorer.

The profile is written by Erico Guizzo, titled "Erlendur Thorsteinsson: Master of the Universe." Guizzo's piece sheds some light on what brought the Computer Science Ph.D. to CCP Games in order to tackle the myriad challenges of improving EVE's single world environment. The article also gives mention to the work done behind the scenes on the title's more ambitious projects, including adding wormhole exploration to the game with the Apocrypha expansion, and the forthcoming Walking in Stations where player avatars will step out of their ships for the first time.

[Via CrazyKinux]

MassivelyEVE Online coding honcho profiled in 'Master of the Universe' originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apocryphaccpccp-explorerccp-gamescomputer-scienceerico-guizzoerlendur-s-thorsteinssonerlendur-thorsteinssoneveeve-onlineeve-online-software-groupexpansionsgame-mechanicsieeeieee-spectrummmo-industryreykjaviksci-fiwalking-in-stationsTue, 03 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Players skeptical about EVE Online's introduction of Tech III]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/09/players-skeptical-about-eve-onlines-introduction-of-tech-iii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/09/players-skeptical-about-eve-onlines-introduction-of-tech-iii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/09/players-skeptical-about-eve-onlines-introduction-of-tech-iii/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Everyone loves Lego, right? That childhood pastime of snapping together pieces to create new and often bizarre creations is coming to the spaceships of EVE Online, but not all players are happy to hear about this.

The next EVE Online expansion, Apocrypha, is going to introduce some new aspects to gameplay. Some of these new features, like wormhole exploration, seem to be received positively by the player base. But others -- like the modular "Tech III" ship designs -- have drawn no small amount of criticism from EVE's subscribers. Tech III is an aspect of the game that has players pretty well divided, much like the upcoming Walking in Stations (aka Ambulation) expansion. The sentiment a number of players have been vocal about is 'Do we really need this?' Whines and tears are a daily occurrence on the game's official forums and perhaps the opinions voiced there aren't necessarily indicative of the sentiments of the larger player base. But concerns about Tech III are also beginning to show up on player blogs, far from the bandwagoning of the EVE Online forums, and in some cases from players who know the game very well.

Continue reading Players skeptical about EVE Online's introduction of Tech III

MassivelyPlayers skeptical about EVE Online's introduction of Tech III originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-misguided-adventurerapocryphaccp-gamescomplexitycontroversycruiserse-oneve-onlineeves-weekend-warriorexpansionsexplorationgame-mechanicslegomodular-ship-designnew-edenopinionsandboxsci-fitech-3tech-iiitonglilwalking-in-stationswormhole-explorationxiphosFri, 09 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Why EVE Online will be around for a long time.]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/14/eve-evolved-why-eve-online-will-be-around-for-a-long-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/14/eve-evolved-why-eve-online-will-be-around-for-a-long-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/14/eve-evolved-why-eve-online-will-be-around-for-a-long-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,


A little under five years ago, a friend of mine introduced me to a new online game he was playing called EVE Online. A key part of his pitch was that the game was less than a year old and I should get in on the ground floor. My friend correctly anticipated the massive success that EVE would be and that it would be good to get involved as early as possible. Over the years, that decision to start playing EVE in early 2004 has afforded me a lot of opportunities, not least of all being able to contribute to EON magazine and finally become a columnist here at Massively.

Getting in on the ground floor:
Five years down the line from EVE day one, it's easy for new players or those that want to sign up to feel like they've missed the boat and can't achieve what the older players have. In the same way that my friend introduced me to EVE, it's my turn to try and convince people that they can still get in on the ground floor of something new and immense. With two major expansions coming soon, including the revolutionary "Walking in Stations" expansion, I firmly believe that right now could be the best time in five years to get in on the ground floor of the incredible on-going journey that is EVE Online.

In this article, I discuss the reasons why EVE will continue to endure for the foreseeable future and how getting involved now could be just as good as getting involved from day one.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Why EVE Online will be around for a long time.

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Why EVE Online will be around for a long time. originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 14 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Everyone knows that the death penalty in EVE Online is harsh but is it really as bad as we make it out to be? Is losing a ship really a devastating blow or does the emotional factor of losing something we've put care and attention into make us exaggerate the loss? Since EVE's gameplay is focused entirely on piloting ships rather than walking around with your character, we can get very attached to our ships and feel a great sense of loss at their destruction. It can be hard to keep in mind that our ships in EVE are just tools, which can make their loss feel a lot harsher than it should be. Is this the fault of the player for getting attached to their ship or of the game design for not encouraging us to form attachments with our characters instead?

In this brief article, I discuss some of the golden rules of EVE used to minimise the death penalty and ask whether our perceptions of EVE Online's death penalty are really that accurate.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Is EVE Online's death penalty really that harsh?

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Is EVE Online's death penalty really that harsh? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ambulationccpccp-gamesclonedeathdeath penaltyDeathPenaltyeveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturedjoystiqfeaturespodtipswalking-in-stationsSun, 07 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP Games releases more EVE Fanfest 2008 video footage]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/29/ccp-games-releases-more-eve-fanfest-2008-video-footage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/29/ccp-games-releases-more-eve-fanfest-2008-video-footage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/29/ccp-games-releases-more-eve-fanfest-2008-video-footage/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


For most of us who weren't able to attend EVE Fanfest 2008 earlier this month in Reykjavik, at least there have been videos of the various presentations and panels. CCP Games released quite a number of these just over a week ago, but they recently went ahead and added more.

The new footage, which can be seen in higher resolution on the EVE Online Videos page or on the CCP Games YouTube page, gives viewers a look at:

  • The Fanfest 2008 PvP Tournament
  • Roxor
  • QA! Are we ready to ship?
  • TQ Servers: Making mountains out of molehills
All footage on the EVE Online Videos page is available in two resolutions, viewable as embedded video or downloadable.

MassivelyCCP Games releases more EVE Fanfest 2008 video footage originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gameseveeve-fanfest-2008eve-onlineexpansionsgame-mechanicsguildsicelandmmo-industrypanelspresentationspvppvp-tournamentreykjaviksci-fiwalking-in-stationsyoutubeSat, 29 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online's Senior Producer on expansion plans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/21/eve-onlines-senior-producer-on-expansion-plans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/21/eve-onlines-senior-producer-on-expansion-plans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/21/eve-onlines-senior-producer-on-expansion-plans/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Some new directions for EVE Online were announced at Fanfest 2008 earlier this month. Torfi Frans Olafsson is the Senior Producer for EVE Online, who presented many of these new features. Eurogamer's Oli Welsh recently spoke with Torfi Frans about the Fanfest announcements and how they'll impact the game as it moves forward.

The interview focuses heavily on the Walking in Stations expansion, which -- despite no small amount of negative sentiment from some of the playerbase -- has the potential to expand the limits of gameplay in New Eden. "The expansion is about growing EVE Online as the general-purpose science fiction simulator out there... the whole idea is just to deepen the experience," Torfi Frans tells Welsh.

Continue reading EVE Online's Senior Producer on expansion plans

MassivelyEVE Online's Senior Producer on expansion plans originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avatarccpccp-gamesccp-t0rfifranscustomizationeurogamereveeve-fanfest-2008eve-onlineexpansionsinterviewsmmo-industryoli-welshpvpwalking-in-stationsworld-of-darknessworld-of-darkness-onlineFri, 21 Nov 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP Games and Atari partner on EVE retail box sales]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/08/ccp-games-and-atari-partner-on-retail-box-sales/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/08/ccp-games-and-atari-partner-on-retail-box-sales/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/08/ccp-games-and-atari-partner-on-retail-box-sales/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

When EVE Online launched in 2003, it came in a box through the game's publisher, Simon and Schuster Interactive. But for much of EVE's lifespan, it's been a digital product. Nothing to buy at a store, no physical media to save. It seems CCP Games has gone retro, from what was announced by CCP's CEO Hilmar Pétursson today, live from EVE Fanfest 2008 in Reykjavik. He announced that CCP Games will be partnering with Atari to establish a retail presence once again... which is fitting really, as Atari will also be publishing Ghostbusters. Hilmar introduced a short presentation by David Gardner, Atari's CEO, who discussed the partnership with CCP Games.

EVE typically has a winter expansion and a summer expansion. The winter expansion, Quantum Rise, is just days away. The summer expansion is expected (but not confirmed) to include Walking in Stations, only there's a little twist with the timing... They're not waiting for summer. It's coming in March. In a box. In your local game store. That's the information we have at this time, but we'll keep you informed as more details surface.

Update: Note that we haven't locked down a release date with Walking in Stations yet. Massively will report on Walking in Station's official release date once that's available -- at this time we only know it's tentatively slated for 2009.

MassivelyCCP Games and Atari partner on EVE retail box sales originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 08 Nov 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In further news coming from EVE Fanfest 2008, CCP Games has given a press-only presentation detailing the upcoming Walking in Stations expansion for EVE Online. While this is an aspect of the game that's so far been a divisive issue among EVE players, the expansion will allow players to step out of their ships and interact as highly detailed avatars in ship station interiors and captain's quarters aboard their own ships (presumably while docked in a station hangar).

Walking in Stations is a project that's drawn on the talents of "special effects artists from the world of television and movies into the video game medium, a number of whom have been brought on to the team at CCP," writes Jon Wood of MMORPG.com, reporting from Reykjavik.

Continue reading Fanfest details emerge on EVE's Walking in Stations expansion

MassivelyFanfest details emerge on EVE's Walking in Stations expansion originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ambulationavataravatarsbarsccpccp-gamescustomizationeveeve-onlineexpansionsiskjon-woodmini-gamesmmorpg.comsocializationwalking-in-stationsFri, 07 Nov 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Fanfest presentation discusses graphics enhancements]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/06/eve-fanfest-presentation-discusses-graphics-enhancements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/06/eve-fanfest-presentation-discusses-graphics-enhancements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/06/eve-fanfest-presentation-discusses-graphics-enhancements/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


EVE Online's Fanfest 2008 is now underway, and reports are already coming through on what's happening in Reykjavik. CCP Games held a press conference that discussed EVE's technical side, namely its server technology, but also touched upon EVE's impending graphic enhancements in 2009. EVE Online's Premium 'Trinity' graphics engine was a significant leap forward in the game. While some players felt that the graphics as they were prior to Trinity were still ahead of the curve in terms of what's expected of an MMO, the look of the game changed dramatically with Trinity. However, the Trinity deployment wasn't a complete revamp of EVE's look. Ships and stations benefited from Premium graphics, but other celestial objects did not, jump gates notwithstanding.

"EVE is in a state where, if you run the Premium graphics edition, half of it is done, you could say," said Chief Technologist Halldor Fannar of CCP Games, at Reykjavik's Fanfest 2008, as reported by Oli Welsh of Eurogamer. Future graphics updates will bring celestial objects in line with what's currently seen in Trinity, and may well arrive with the forthcoming Walking in Stations expansion which is slated to launch after the Quantum Rise expansion, just around the corner.

Continue reading EVE Fanfest presentation discusses graphics enhancements

MassivelyEVE Fanfest presentation discusses graphics enhancements originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While the official EVE Online forums have always been very active, there are other options out there. For those who like how busy the official forums are, but not the rules that govern it, there's Scrapheap Challenge. SH-C is a forum which is chiefly dedicated to discussing EVE Online, but not moderated by CCP Games themselves. Recent months, however, have seen a large number of EVE players striking out on their own, with their own blogs that focus on a particular aspect of the game linked to that blogger's playstyle. Industry, finance, piracy, 0.0 alliance warfare, and now even boosters (drugs) are being written about on a daily basis.

While over 100 of these blogs are out there, the more prolific among them have joined under the banner of CrazyKinux's Blog Pack. By all accounts, it's been a successful community effort by EVE players, and now CrazyKinux is adding another dimension to the Blog Pack: conversation topics that are collectively tackled by the various bloggers, called "Blog Banter." The first Blog Banter got underway this past week, and the first issue up for discussion has been a timely one: EVE's Walking in Stations expansion, formerly known as Ambulation, which Fanfest attendees will get to try out firsthand in just a few more days. The question itself was proposed by PsycheDiver, who asked, "Ambulation: What are your hopes for your avatar and new functionality of stations?"

Continue reading EVE 'Blog Banter' discusses Walking in Stations expansion

MassivelyEVE 'Blog Banter' discusses Walking in Stations expansion originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Nov 2008 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Given all the EVE Online news of the past two weeks, not limited to new features being added to the game and old 'features' being taken away, CCP Games has announced a Live Dev Blog for tomorrow, October 23, at 20:00 GMT. The event is expected to last for about one hour. This time, the Senior Producer of EVE Online, CCP t0rfifrans, will be fielding questions from the players. As with the last few live dev blogs, the way this works is you need to post in the announcement thread with the questions you'd like answered.

You can listen to the dev blog tomorrow by joining the in-game channel 'Live Dev Blog' and enabling EVE Voice via your right-click options once you're in. No doubt there will be a wave of Ghost Training nerf questions but it seems unlikely that this issue will be addressed any more beyond the two dev blogs on the matter. Then again, why should that stop you from trying if you've got legitimate concerns? But this would also be an excellent time for people to get Walking in Stations (Ambulation) questions answered as CCP is prepping a playable demo of it for Fanfest attendees, not to mention asking about new ship models like the Orca capital industrial ship.

MassivelyLive dev blog with EVE Online Senior Producer, October 23 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ambulationccpccp-gamesccp-t0rfifransdevdev-blogeveeve-fanfesteve-fanfest-2008eve-onlineeve-voiceexpansionsfanfestforumsgame-mechanicsghost-traininglive-dev-blognerforcaquantum-risesenior-producerwalking-in-stationsWed, 22 Oct 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP Games updates on Walking in Stations expansion for EVE]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/03/ccp-games-updates-on-walking-in-stations-expansion-for-eve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/03/ccp-games-updates-on-walking-in-stations-expansion-for-eve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/03/ccp-games-updates-on-walking-in-stations-expansion-for-eve/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


The latest EVE Online dev blog comes to us from CCP Eris Discordia. Her post, "Boozing in Stations", deals with the Walking in Stations expansion (formerly known by the much cooler name 'Ambulation'). She states that CCP Games is making good progress on Walking in Stations, but some more feedback from the players is needed: "We are continuously testing, designing, integrating, iterating and polishing on our internal server, but something is missing... the MM part from MMO -- the massively multiplayer part. Our fix? Open up the internal release for the Fanfest attendees so that for a few days our internal release will be public!" As reported earlier, EVE Fanfest 2008 attendees will get to preview Walking in Stations firsthand, well in advance of the expansion's release.

She writes that this preview is not a public beta or even an alpha, just that CCP wants to share what they've done with the players. "There is only so much that we can explain through pictures and visual aids. In the end, you need to experience it in order to get a good idea of what we are truly doing." Eris also writes that EVE Fanfest 2008 will have a number of presentations by CCP devs on the Walking in Stations expansion, as well as roundtable discussions. Check out her "Boozing in Stations" dev blog for more info about where the Ambulation... no, Walking in Stations expansion is in terms of its development and what EVE Fanfest 2008 attendees can look forward to.

MassivelyCCP Games updates on Walking in Stations expansion for EVE originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ambulation, or 'Walking in Stations' as it now seems to be known, is a hotly anticipated feature coming to EVE Online. It represents the first effort by CCP Games to add a more interactive dimension to the game, where players will finally be able to step out of their ships to socialize, play games, and ... modify one another's bodies? Apparently so.

While some information about Walking in Stations is already known, EVE Stratics recently turned up more details. Trish "Seridove" Bennon and Michael "Solace" Lutes recently got some face time at PAX 2008 with CCP Games devs Jeremy Albert (Associate Producer) and Noah Ward (Lead Game Designer, aka CCP Hammerhead) who talked about aspects of the expansion.

Continue reading New details surface about EVE's 'Walking in Stations' expansion

MassivelyNew details surface about EVE's 'Walking in Stations' expansion originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ambulationbarsbody-modificationccp-gamesccp-hammerheadcharacter-creationconversation-treeseconomyeve-fanfesteve-fanfest-2008eve-onlineeve-straticsexpansionsfanfestgame-mechanicsicelandinterviewsmini-gamesnoah-wardpax-2008plastic-surgerypromenaderaceswalking-in-stationsMon, 08 Sep 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Strategy Informer interviews CCP Games about the future of EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/strategy-informer-interviews-ccp-games-about-the-future-of-eve-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/strategy-informer-interviews-ccp-games-about-the-future-of-eve-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/strategy-informer-interviews-ccp-games-about-the-future-of-eve-o/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Gaming site Strategy Informer recently spoke with CCP Games about what the future may hold for EVE Online. The interview focused on two facets of the game: EVE's economy, and the fact that with other sci-fi MMO titles like Jumpgate Evolution on the way, EVE may face increased competition in the coming months and years.

CCP's Lead Economist, Dr. Eyjólfur Guðmundsson talked with Strategy Informer about the game's economic depth, which dwarfs other titles, despite having a subscriber base that's a fraction of what Blizzard enjoys. The interview touched on the possibilities of new trade hubs being established by players over time, the scarcity of certain technologies and their increasing prices, and how the market moves in general. However, the main aspects of the game he discussed were the player-run financial services that have sprung up in EVE, what the community has come up with on its own.

Continue reading Strategy Informer interviews CCP Games about the future of EVE Online

MassivelyStrategy Informer interviews CCP Games about the future of EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Split Infinity Radio, a gamer-run internet radio station (with a noticeable sci-fi MMO bent) recently interviewed Scott Holden, Lead Content Creator of EVE Online at Gen Con 2008. Holden has been integral in building up all the mission content that's about to drop in the upcoming Empyrean Age expansions over the next few months. Split Infinity asks Holden a question that's been on the minds of a number of EVE players: Can player actions really influence the storyline?

Holden's answer is 'yes'... to a point. He discusses the initiative at CCP to create a system where events are announced in contested parts of space, prompting players to get involved. Their actions would be reported on through the in-game news, and in this way affects (or creates aspects of) the storyline. Participants in factional warfare, or anyone who reads the Interstellar Correspondents news pieces, know that this already exists to some extent in EVE, but Holden states that CCP would like to take the idea further as time goes on.

Continue reading EVE Online interview discusses players determining storyline

MassivelyEVE Online interview discusses players determining storyline originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 31 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ambulationbackstoryccpccp-gamesembedded-reporterembedded-reportingempyrean-ageeveeve-onlinefactionfactional-warfarefactionsfictionguildsimmersioninterstellar-correspondentsinterviewsisdlead-content-creatorloremilitiamilitia-missionsmissionmissionspveracesroleplayingsci-fiscott-holdensplit-infinitysplit-infinity-radiostorylinevolunteerwalking-in-stationsSun, 31 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Official EVE Flickr images show Ambulation concept art]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/official-eve-flickr-images-show-ambulation-concept-art/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/official-eve-flickr-images-show-ambulation-concept-art/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/official-eve-flickr-images-show-ambulation-concept-art/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Ambulation, or 'Walking in Stations,' is a hot topic among EVE Online players, but for opposing reasons. Some are excited about the prospect of being able to get out of their capsules and ships and finally interact on an avatar level with one another. Other players feel that Ambulation offers little that will benefit the game as it's played by EVE's pilots.

Regardless of what detractors from Ambulation are saying, CCP Games has been moving ahead with the project. Players will decide for themselves whether or not this is a positive addition to EVE Online when they get to try it out at Fanfest 2008 in November. Until then, CCP has provided a few images on their Flickr account that give EVE players a glimpse at how their avatars are going to look later this year, and what the station environments will be like.

[Via CrazyKinux]

Gallery: Early Ambulation Concept Art

Gallente JinmeiCaldari DeteisStation AirlockStation Bar

MassivelyOfficial EVE Flickr images show Ambulation concept art originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Online's Council of Stellar Management (CSM) is the title's first attempt at having elected representatives work with CCP Games on improving the game as well as the company's relations with its player base. The initial idea behind the CSM was that it would act as an oversight committee on behalf of the players, in the wake of the 'T20 incident' when a CCP developer unfairly provided a player corporation with certain resources. But this first CSM is largely tasked with improving the transparency of CCP's inner workings, while shaping the game to better fit the play styles of their constituency. The CSM has met online in recent weeks, and with mixed results, but they've now met in-person in Reykjavik, where they also had face-to-face time with the creators of EVE Online.

Jordan Deam from WarCry interviewed EVE Online dev Noah Ward (aka CCP Hammerhead) about what this experiment in 'democratic community management' has yielded thus far, and what it may yet become. The interview focuses heavily on the dynamic between players wanting features added to the game and the undertaking necessary on CCP's part to make these changes a reality. Factional warfare has only just been realized in the game and was four years in the making. Ambulation, or 'Walking in Stations', is slated for a launch in the coming months, after three years of being in the pipeline, Ward said. Have a look at the WarCry interview, and decide for yourself if the CSM is living up to its potential, and if CCP is recapturing the transparency of a small, independent game company as it grows into a much larger entity.

MassivelyWarCry interviews EVE Lead Designer Noah Ward about the CSM originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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