EVE Online: The optional Second Life
EVE Online is one of many MMORPG’s out there (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing Game) but sets itself apart from the crowd in many ways.
EVE is a Sci-Fi space RPG game where you directly affect everything around you constantly due to your actions.
The options in this game are almost limitless, whether you’re into PVP, Mining, Manufacturing, Research, Corp. Management, Mercenary Work, and Mission Running with many sub sections within them or any combination.
Firstly you create your character; here you can change your portrait completely from analogue facial structure changes to hair types and clothes.
When you start the game, the first thing that strikes you is the Interface, its quite complicated, but after playing the game for quite a while now I realise that you need absolutely everything on it and it’s a breeze to use. The second thing you’ll notice is the sheer size of the universe; it is literally a whole universe! I’ve been playing this game for a year or so and I have barely explored 10% of the total area!
The galaxy is split into 2 sections, “Empire Space” and “0.0”. Empire space is where you start the game, its safe space controlled by “Concord”, EVE’s equivalent of the police. Although it’s considered safe there are many areas within Empire that are low sec (low security) all the way down to 0.1! 0.0 is the security number for the area of space, 0.0 meaning, 0.0 coverage from Concord, this means anything goes here and its very dangerous for the likes of new players unless you manage to get into a large Corp. with protected solar systems.
Corporations are EVE’s version of a guild or clan, but with immense detail and responsibility managing tax rates, roles and permissions, shares, promotions, ops, deliveries, corp. manufacturing and much more. Being a CEO is a full time job!
It has a unique training system, which trains in real time, online, or offline making it more even for players who cant dedicate as much time as others. (i.e. those with a job J) and really rewards long time players. It could take you all the way up to a year to get that beastie capital ship you’ve always wanted and even longer to get it kitted out. But this is a good thing because ships don’t become common and when you fly round in your capital people look at you in awe.
The ultimate goal for most players is to make ISK (EVE Currency) in whatever ways they can. EVE rewards players in whichever field you choose to follow so whether you’re into PVP or Trade, both can make serious ISK.
ISK is used to buy stock for trade, ore, minerals, equipment and customise your ships with all sorts of fittings from Jump drives to Hybrid Guns and 1000’s more and provides a way to fund all sorts of adventures.
There is no ship directly better than another, they are all designed to provide a role. For example I’ve seen a Frigate based assault ship take out a Battleship class due to warp jammers, cap drainers and other electronic warfare.
If you like the idea of Industry then the games Market and Escrow will be your best friend. CCP (the developers of EVE) put certain items on the market such as skills, but the majority of items on the market are all produced and sold by human players creating a real chance for buying and selling to make profit.
The games graphics are very good, even for today’s standards (considering this game was released in 2003) and is soon receiving a graphics update for the current engine using all the enhanced features of DX9, and a TRINITY II release based on DX10 with the Windows Vista release. The games universe is constantly expanding, and new technologies and ships frequently released with expansion packs meaning you could quite possibly play this game indefinitely! There is so much in this game that it could be classed as your second optional life! You have been warned!