My friend Q [okay, he used to be my frat-brother] recently introduced me to this game called Eve-online [hitherto unknown to me]...
I'd been considering getting into an MMRPG like WoW for a few months now [since my wife lives so far away], so I asked the one person who's been addicted to it for a long time...
Anyway, I'm really fascinated by this game... I've been playing for a couple of weeks, but the game dynamics, and the attention to detail is just mind blowing...
I haven't really read a lot of science fiction [I usually prefer post-modernism and Romantic literature], and I was wondering if there's anyone here who's studied econ/anthro/sci fiction and what they think of the game.
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
The ships are infinitely customizable, and space is pretty, but the game's story elements were terrible.
Then, of course, there's the whole getting to read a book while you're jumping between systems thing....
Posted by Abhi (Member # 9142) on :
quote:Originally posted by Storm Saxon: The ships are infinitely customizable, and space is pretty, but the game's story elements were terrible.
Then, of course, there's the whole getting to read a book while you're jumping between systems thing....
I have to agree with all of this... I haven't really come across much of a story... sometimes the better agents give you "story-missions" but they too arent all that fascinating from a story perspective.
The game-play, however, is amazing i think. All the elements of the PvP and PvE gameplay come together really well... and the economy is so fascinating...
I dont really mind the jumping... it makes it more real IMO. I travel a lot, but usually I just set the ship to galaxy 30-40 jumps away and just do work and then when I'm tired i'll do a cpl of missions or trades or something.
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
*nod*
I liked it for a while, but then decided it just wasn't my thing. Sorry, didn't mean to be a wet blanket. I think Blayne plays a bit.
Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :
EVE Online is simply a very graphically intensive spreadsheet. But if you're totally in to the idea of becoming a dispensable pawn in the ruthless, bloodsucking, exploitative capitalistic schemes of the game's big dogs, then the game's totally for you!
Posted by Abhi (Member # 9142) on :
quote:Originally posted by Samprimary: EVE Online is simply a very graphically intensive spreadsheet. But if you're totally in to the idea of becoming a dispensable pawn in the ruthless, bloodsucking, exploitative capitalistic schemes of the game's big dogs, then the game's totally for you!
sounds like life to me :)
let's just say I'm all for living. :-D
Posted by Xavier (Member # 405) on :
My experience with the 14 day free trial a while back:
1) Set my ship to auto-pilot to some other planet
2) Find something else to do for the next 1-4 hours.
3) Do whatever it is I wanted to do at the destination planet. (Probably five minutes total)
4) Repeat from step 1).
I didn't make it past the second or third time I did this.
I would love it if you could tell me what there is to actually do in the game. I've heard good things, so I wonder if I didn't get to the "meat" of the game by the time I quit. Or perhaps there was something I was supposed to be doing during the flights, and simply didn't know about it.
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
You really need a supporting corporation to do anything of note in the game, X. I played for a little while, and I drowned in the depths of the gameplay (particularly the economics).
I see Pirates of the Burning Sea (to be released in June!) as "Eve for less hardcore play-ARRRS!", and am looking forward to it.
-Bok
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
No one's going to be trying Vanguard?
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
As a former UO loyalist (and someone likes a little virtual world/sandbox in my MMOG, two great tastes that can taste great together!) Vanguard holds no allure. Though I admit Age of Conan is slightly intriguing (especially since I never got into Warhammer, which to these uncultured eyes looks like a darker WoW at this point).
-Bok
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
Just curious. Not going to be playing another MMO for some time, myself.
Posted by TheGrimace (Member # 9178) on :
I thought a lot of the ideas behind EVE were phenomenal, and enjoyed the time I spent in the Beta, but I agree with most of what's been posted about needing the support of a corp, and a lot of downtime and whatnot.
As with a lot of the MMOs out there, I desperately wish there was a single-player version of the game that I didn't have to pay monthly for. if there were I would be very happy occasionally playing for a week or so and slowly building up skills etc (though a lot of things would have to be changed)
one piece of advice that applies to most MMOs (though isn't too helpful in terms of conserving time and money) is that it takes a while to get into the game/class enough to get a good feel for it.
i.e. I always say you have to get to at least 20 (if not 30-40) on a WoW class before you get a good feel for it (generally by then you have some version of most skills and can determine what your capabilities are) or while I enjoyed the beta of EVE, only at the very end were the second class of ships coming out, so your options were still very limited up to that point...
Posted by Euripides (Member # 9315) on :
The story was on the weak side and I spent most of my trial period in auto-pilot, waiting to arrive at distant star systems. I couldn't justify the amount of time I would have spent sitting idly in front of my screen.
I was playing EQ2 at the time as well, and spent enough time travelling in that game (though travelling is more fun in EQ2; running/riding).
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
Eve is pretty good but I cant help but notic its D&D in space essentially. Its good but Ičll dump it in a second the moment Infinity Quest for Earth comes out.
Eve has a prety good system but without money and a corp helping you itll be a long time before you can make something of yourself.
My account got deactivated as I ran out of money to play =(
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
I watched a friend play EVE.
Two hours later, I woke up.
Posted by Euripides (Member # 9315) on :
The music and game art are pretty good though. There are a few great trailers around. Too bad the game itself doesn't seem to measure up.
Anyone play Earth and Beyond while it was up? It was kind of rough and ready, but I enjoyed it.
Posted by Boris (Member # 6935) on :
Earth and Beyond was great fun til my internet connection went Pthththt and I couldn't play anymore. Kinda miss it, really.
Eve's great if you can get in with a good group of people (just like most other MMO's, the social aspect drives the game). I played strong for a long while and enjoyed it greatly, but eventually the corp I was in was absorbed by a larger one and I just lost interest, since it became impossible to get together with the people I'd gotten to know. The story really suck, but mostly because I think the story plays out amongst the interactions between corporations and players. The most annoying thing is the insane number of macro-runners who just eat up all the resources in the game. There's actually quite a lot to do in game once you get used to everything, which is where getting involved in a corp early on comes in.