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EVE Online

EVE Online is a sandbox MMORPG set in a science fiction universe. Players command their spaceship in an enormous galaxy where they can participate in piracy, mining, manufacturing, trading, combat, and epic fleet warfare.

Publisher: CCP Games
Playerbase: High
Type: MMORPG
Release Date: May 6, 2003
Pros: +Enormous universe to explore. +Varied PvP options. +Mature and helpful community. +Player-driven economy.
Cons: -Steep learning curve. -Solo-gameplay becomes repetitive. -Controls and interface can feel clunky.

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Overview

EVE Online Overview

EVE Online is a sandbox MMORPG set in a sprawling science fiction galaxy. Enter "New Eden," a galaxy located in the distant reaches of the universe and containing over 7,200 star systems to explore. The cosmos are immense and gorgeous. Choose from a miscellany of starships ranging from the size of school buses to small cities. Carve out your own place in the galaxy by pursuing combat, trade, piracy, politics, manufacturing, or espionage. There is no right way to play. All decisions in EVE Online are driven by player interactions. The economy hinges on players' supply and demand, allowing for savvy entrepreneurs to manipulate markets and create monopolies. Or, choose to join a corporation (guild) that works in the industry of your choice. Pilot a mining ship and tear apart asteroids for valuable resource or engage in epic warfare where thousands of ships fight in star systems at the edge of civilization. Laws and rules are designed and enforced by the players. Scamming, piracy, and racketeering are all intricate parts of the game. CCP Games is releasing 10 expansions per year, greatly expanding upon New Eden and the choices available to players.

Eve Online Key Features:

  • Sandbox Galaxy – over 5,000 star systems as well as 2,500 wormhole systems to explore.
  • Innumerable Ships – hundreds of ships to pilot with no one ship reigning supreme.
  • Player-driven Economy - operates under player supply and demand, allowing for market manipulation on a large scale.
  • Epic Thousand-person Fleet Warfare - player-run corporations (guilds) engage in battles for control of star systems.
  • Player Justice - piracy (ship-to-ship), protection racketeering, theft, and ransom are all permitted.
  • Rapid Release Cycle - ten expansions are planned per year on a six-week cycle per expansion.

EVE Online Screenshots

EVE Online Featured Video

EVE Online - Official Gameplay Trailer

Races

EVE Online Races

Amarr – The largest and oldest race in the New Eden galaxy, the Amarr empire stretch across forty percent of the inhabited solar systems. A theocracy embedded in ritual, the empire exerts authoritative rule over their territories. They were the first of the new races to discover interstellar technology and develop the jump gate. As they expanded into new solar systems, the Amarr encountered two human races who they swiftly enslaved. In recent years, the Amarr empire has faced threats from all corners of their domain. They suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Jove, and the Minmatar seized the opportunity to rebel against their slave-masters. Learning from their mistakes, the Amarr are slowly rebuilding their empire.

Minmatar – The Minmatar identify themselves by the tribe they belong to. They warred between themselves for centuries on the planet Matar. Finally learning cooperation, they created a flourishing empire focused on mechanical excellence but fell prey to Amarr colonization. After enduring centuries of enslavement, the Minmatar rebelled against their masters and many earned their freedom. The Minmatar live as nomads of the starsroaming from one system to the next in search of work. Some Minmatars choose to work in the underbelly of New Eden. They live by delving in questionable activities for the promise of fortune.

Caldari – Corporate Capitalism has elevated the Caldari to a sprawling empire. Operated by a few mega-corporations that have each taken a share of the state, every aspect of Caldari society is dictated by the whims of business. All aspects of society, from law enforcement to real estate, are independently owned. Because of their corporate nature, other empires struggle to deal with the Caldari politically. The Caldari's military prowess and robust economy makes them an empire that cannot be ignored.

Gallente – The Gallente inhabit the only true democracy in New Eden. They are firm believers in human rights and liberty. They have produced some of the most progressive leaders in the galaxies history including scientists, politicians, and scientists. Pioneers of artificial intelligence, the Gallente once relied on AI fleets to patrol its borders. The lacking human element prevented further expansion. Now Gallente starships are manned by people and drones, setting sail to distant worlds to champion their virtues.

Full Review

EVE Online Review

By Sean Sullivan

EVE Online is a player-driven, science fiction MMORPG developed and published by CCP Games. It was officially released on May 6, 2003 and is available for download on its website and through Steam.

As Earth’s resources depleted, humanity set sail to the stars. After discovering a natural wormhole (christened New Eden), the colonizers ventured to a distant galaxy and founded dozens of colonies. However, the wormhole suddenly collapsed leaving the explorers stranded. The colonies crumbled but over thousands of years their societies rebuilt and eyed the stars once more. Choose from one of four races—Minmatar, Caldari, Amarr, or Gallente—and seize your place among the star systems of New Eden.

Engineering Your Character

After selecting your race, players are prompted to choose one of three bloodlines. Are you a freed slave or an industrialist? Are you an aristocrat or a soldier? Your choice determines a predefined appearance that can be fully customized within the limits of your choice. Sliders for every portion of your body enable players to mirror themselves or engineer ridiculous characters. Notably, your character's physical model is largely irrelevant to gameplay. The way you are viewed by other players is through your character portrait, which is a snapshot of your character model you take at the end of character customization.

The first thing that greets you when you're in-game is a seemingly overwhelming interface. It is highly advised that you complete the extensive tutorial before venturing on your own.

Leveling Up

Unlike most MMORPG's, skills in EVE Online are acquired passively. Simply select the skill you want to train—such as “Battlecruiser”—and wait the allotted time to complete your training. Payers don’t have to actively play to gain skills on their character. As long as they login after their skill queue is finished to queue more skills, they will always be expanding their character's abilities. Some skills do require that prerequisite skills are trained first. You cannot train "Battleship" before training for "Frigates." Also, the more advanced the skill is the more time is takes to train that skill. The skill to fly a Titan ship takes eight times as long to train as a frigate ship, with an immense number of prerequisite skills that must also be trained. Choosing skills is largely tactical. You must plan your character in advance to determine what skill chain you will follow.

Flight School 101

Undocking from a space station for the first time unveils a gorgeously rendered cosmos. New Eden is breathtaking and the immensity of the space station back-dropped against your ship encapsulates the sweeping scale of the galaxy. You travel among the stars by mostly pointing and clicking. The "Overview," located on the right side of the screen, displays every object in the vicinity of your craft. That include cargo, stargates, players, and enemies. Traveling consists of right clicking an object listed in the Overview and selecting "Warp to," "Approach," or "Orbit."

Battlecruiser Operational

There are eleven classes of ships to choose from with an overwhelming number of ships within each class. Each race has ships built in its name but any character can train to use any ship. They range in size from tiny frigates to space-station sized warships. They vary in size, speed, hull strength, and firepower. Bigger does not mean better. While capital ships fire with immense strength, they struggle to hit small, mobile targets like frigates. Every ship has a strength and weakness, meaning no ship reigns supreme. They are each suited for a specific purpose.

Ships are uniquely fitted by the player. Different modules are needed for different tasks and suited to a ship's characteristics—CPU, capacitor size, armor, maximum velocity, energy shield, etc. Mining ships need lasers to tear valuable resources away from asteroids, while battleships need kinetic armor hardeners when facing enemies that dish out kinetic damage. There is no right or wrong to fit a ship but there are plenty of guides to help new players to decide on what items to use. The community is more than willing to oblige requests for help. Everyone had to start somewhere.

Every ship in the game is classified by a tech level, indicating its design use. Tech 1 indicates a ship that is general purpose; it can be fitted to perform any task. The first ship you have will be a Tech 1 ship. Tech 2 ships, on the other hand, are designed for a specific purpose such as scouting. Tech 2 ships are harder to manufacture and require more skills to fly. They are also more powerful and sought after. Flying a Tech 2 ship also makes you a more valuable target while traveling across the galaxy.

Endless Space

New Eden is a staggeringly large galaxy. There are over 7,200 star systems to explore—filled with planets, asteroids, pirates, NPCs, and space stations—connected by stargates that ebb the incomprehensible distance between suns. In the year 23341 C.E., systems are classified by their security status on a scale from -1.0 to 1.0. High security systems, ranging from 0.5-1.0, are patrolled by Consolidated Co-operation and Relations Command (CONCORD). The NPCs are law enforcement and will warp to aggressors targeting unprovoked ships and disintegrate them. System ranging from 0.1-0.4 are classified "low sec." CONCORD does not actively patrol low sec systems but they monitor them for unlawful actions, and strategically placed sentries will target lawbreakers.

There are systems where CONCORD doesn't dare to fly or monitor. Low sec systems include those ranging from 0.0 to -1.0 and are also called "zero space" or "null sec." Low sec systems are the Wild West of New Eden. Player Alliances define the law and exert their control relentlessly, monitoring stargates for enemy fleets and spies. It is unwise to enter dangerous regions whose sovereignty your alliance does not fall under. However, low sec space harbors the most profitable income resources, providing a valuable incentive for players to risk their lives. Your best bet is join a corporation that can offer protection in the dangerous regions of space.

Immerse Yourself in New Eden

Beginners to EVE are not ready to join rogue bands of pirates and risk their ship in cataclysmic warfare. It's best to learn the game's combat through EVE Online's PvE element. Missions, or quests, are available at most space stations for players. They come in a variety of flavors such as "Transport," "Mining," or "Combat." Choose missions that serve the type of playstyle you're looking to pursue or try each one and see which you like best.

Missions range from Level 1 to Level 5, with Level 5 Missions typically requiring players to band together to defeat overwhelming numbers of NPC brigands. Starting at Level 1 you can accept a mission from any agent, regardless of their allegiance. But as you complete missions you begin to earn reputation with the faction you're working for and lose reputation with their rivals. Completing missions unlocks new agents and harder tasks. As mission levels increase they typically require more powerful ships or comrades to help you complete them.

Engage. Lock On. Fire!

Combat in EVE Online hinges on calculations. Trajectory, distance, and speed factor into how much damage your ship will output. Missiles, artillery, cannons, and lasers are all suited for a particular playstyle and each possess its own accuracy falloff that must be monitored to effectively damage enemy ships. In addition to accuracy falloff, plays must know the optimal range that dictates the precise distance to deal maximum damage.

Enemy ships will appear in your Overview as red cross-hairs. Target by right clicking in the Overview or Ctrl + Clicking targets in space. Depending on how fast the enemy is moving, it is typically easier to engage from the Overview. Once targeted, weapons can be activated by using your function keys (F1, F2, F3...) or clicking the icons for weapons at the bottom-center of your screen.

Due to its calculating and "hands-off" nature, EVE Online has been termed an "Excel-in-space game." Combat is dictated by your ship's fitting, the weapons you employ, and distance. Skill is not derived from active gameplay but tactical preparation in lieu of a battle.

Boardroom Meetings

Corporations are the guilds of EVE Online. They are organized under a chief executive officer (CEO) who controls the "corp's" assets. Some corporations band themselves together into alliances, a network of allied corps with greater military and economic might. Some corporations specialize in a business, such as mining, manufacturing, or "ratting" (killing enemy NPC's in low-sec space). Some become roving bands of pirates and hunt players embarked on high security missions. Corporations and Alliances can also declare war on other corporations and alliances in the name of securing systems. It is in the fight for territory that EVE Online's headline-making PvP is realized.

Too Many Ships

EVE Online's thousand player brawls have made the headlines before. Large-scale player-versus-player battles in EVE dwarf any other MMORPG for their immense scale and destruction. Trillion ISK battles are a maelstrom of missiles, bullets, and lasers that become difficult to decipher. Large engagements are often decided before either fleet fires a missile. It boils down to who is better prepared for the engagement. The only way to immerse yourself in such large-scale galactic warfare is to join a corporation. Learn from other players, participate in meetings, and be sociable.

Flying Through Space is Hard

EVE Online's biggest impediment to success is not just its steep learning curb but its reliance on player interaction. Playing EVE solo eventually becomes laborious and unfulfilling. There are only so many Level 3 missions that can be done before you question what you were thinking paying fifteen dollars a month. You must be willing to engage with other players, go on TeamSpeak, and immerse yourself in EVE Online's society. Out of any MMORPG, the EVE universe mimics reality almost too well.

Final Verdict - Great

No other game operates from the axiom of player choice like EVE Online. It is a sprawling persistent universe with too much to see and do. The immense scope of the game can be overwhelming to new players; it takes years to fully appreciate its scale. Flying through space is a visual treat and the unique design of starships offers enough variety to satiate any science fiction addict's taste. The developers' hands-off approach to laws and rules create some of the most interesting scenarios found in gaming. However, its steep learning curb seems impossible to scale at first. Casual players need not apply. To full appreciate EVE Online, it is imperative that you commit yourself fully. Join a corporation and interact with other players. Flying solo is not an option.

Screenshots

EVE Online Screenshots

Videos

EVE Online Videos

Playlist: EVE Online

System Requirements

EVE Online System Requirements

Minimum Requirements:

Operating System: Windows XP Service Pack 2 / Vista / 7 / 8, OS X, Linux
CPU: Intel Dual Core @ 2.0 GHz, AMD Dual Core @ 2.0 GHz
Video Card: GPU with 256 MB VRAM or more that supports Shader Model 3 and DirectX 9.0c (AMD Radeon 2600 XT or NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS)
RAM: XP SP2 – 1 GB / Vista and newer – 2 GB
Hard Disk Space: 20 GB free space

Recommended Requirements:

Operating System: Windows 7 / 8, OS X, Linux
CPU: Intel Pentium i7 Series or AMD X4 @ 2.0 GHz or greater
Video Card: AMD Radeon 6790 or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 or better with at least 1 GB VRAM
RAM: 4 GB or greater
Hard Disk Space: 20 GB free space

EVE Online is MAC OS X and Linux compatible

Music

EVE Online Music & Soundtrack


Additional Info

EVE Online: Additional Information

Developer: CCP Games
Publisher: CCP Games
Game Engine: Trinity, Ambulation
Composer: Jón Hallur Haraldsson aka Real-X

Launch Date: May 6, 2003

Foreign Release:

Europe: May 23, 2003
United Kingdom: May 6, 2003
China: June 12, 2006

Steam Release Date: January 22, 2008
Free To Play Date: November 11, 2016

Other Platforms:

Mac OSX: November 6, 2007
Linux: November 6, 2007

Development History / Background:

EVE Online was developed by Icelandic video game developer and publisher CCP Games. The game went live on May 6, 2003. It was originally published by Simon & Schuster Interactive from May to December 2003, after which CCP acquired the rights to EVE Online and self-published the MMORPG through a digital distribution service. In 2013, CCP announced an EVE Online comic book, to be published by Dark Horse Comics, and a television series, to be directed by Icelandic director Baltasar Kormákur. Both mediums will be based on player-driven storylines from the game but no additional information has been revealed since the announcement.