EVE Online ‘Expert Systems’ Draws Flak From Community

eve online expert system key art bannerAs most of you probably know, EVE Online isn’t too friendly when it comes to new players. The sci-fi MMORPG’s real-time skill training system requires players to spend days, weeks, or even months in the game before they can jump into the cockpit and fly a ship. With the newly-announced Expert Systems aspiring space explorers entering the game for the first time will have the option to try various skillsets and pilot advanced ships without having to immediately commit to one profession.

“Brand new Expert Systems will be coming to EVE Online in the near future! They are designed to help rookie Capsuleers discover and experience new activities by providing specific virtual skills and skill levels for a limited time that cannot be extracted through the use of Skill Extractors. For a one-week period per Expert System, Capsuleers will be able to taste the dream of a particular profession in EVE without having to commit to the skill training required by that path of progression and waiting for it to complete.”

The new system, however, comes with a price and the game’s community isn’t happy with the fact that developer CCP Games will be charging players real-world money for temporary skills. Of course there are more permanent alternatives such as Skill Injectors, but new players probably wouldn’t want to spend money on skills that they wouldn’t be using either.

“Instead of actually telling newer players the set of skills that are actually useful and worthwhile trains to get your character up to a somewhat functional point, they are going to make you pay plex to get the skills temporarily and make them available to be applied like a skillplan to your training queue,” reads one Reddit post. “I’m sure you can find a way to sell more plex but directly making money off of your lack of ingame info on skills is truly reprehensible.”

A post on the official forums also says that the Expert System takes away the potential for veteran players, Alliances, and Corporations to help get new players up to speed. Redditors also cite CCP Games’ poor performance, reported in Pearl Abyss’ Q4 2020 financial report, as the reason behind the new monetized feature.

The Expert System will be coming soon to EVE Online. Head over to the official site for more information.