EVE: The Second Genesis (a must see)

[TrailblazingScot]

http://www.eve-online.com/background/

E V E - The second genesis

EVE is a world far away from mankind's original habitat, planet Earth. How far away, and where, no one knows. Humans got there through a natural wormhole, and gazing upon a sky never before seen, were completely unable to determine the whereabouts of this new world. From the system of New Eden, where the gate of EVE that once led to the old world lies, humans expanded in all directions at a great pace, exploring and colonizing.

Then, seemingly out of the blue, the EVE gate collapsed in an apocalyptic catastrophe of a scale never before witnessed by the human race, ruining the New Eden system in the process. Thousands of small colonies were left in isolation to fend for themselves. For millennia they endured on the brink of extinction and only a handful survived.

Of those surviving colonies, 5 were to rise up and become the major empires that hold between them the balance of power in the world of EVE today. These are: the Amarr Empire, the Gallente Federation, the Caldari State, the Minmatar Republic and the Jovian Empire, plus several small independent factions and states.

For more than a century the five empires have lived together in relative peace. They've strived hard to maintain this peace, as each of them realizes only too well the grave consequences of a massive inter-stellar war. Recent technological breakthroughs in FTL travel, and the ensuing increase in space travellers, has shaken, but not broken the fragile peace - at least not yet.

I've been considering for a while whether like "Americas Army: Operations" to preview and hype a game (again). I have weighed the evidence in my mind, read the forums and have decided to give my full support to "EVE: The Second Genesis".



Link to the Official Website: http://www.eve-online.com/


Simply put I think this has every potential of being the first worthwhile MMORPG. The Universe created looks fanastic and seems to have real atmosphere and to a certain degree credibility which Everquest and others (Asherons Call) distinctly lacked in my opinion (it was a merely a brainless exercise in patience). It also appears to avoid the inevitable "munchin" and hitting rats etc problems that makes most of these MMORP games moronic.



I could try and explain the whole concept, design etc of this game here...but the official website does a splendid job of it already.

Needless to say I have put up some screenshots to fire your imaginations!

For a quick run-down of what the game is like I provide a link to the beta-tester diaries...enjoy!!!

Link: to beta-tester diaries: http://www.eve-online.com/beta/diaries/

 

[TrailblazingScot]

I couldn't resist this one either:

 

[TrailblazingScot]

I can't believe this wonderful looking game has generated absolutely no response!


Maybe you just need more screenies to encourage you

 

[Dell19]

Those screens are AMAZING!

 

[TrailblazingScot]

Having played a little in the beta I can say a bit more.


The game is beautiful and has easily the best character generation I've seen in a MMORPG.

The problems include some factors such as it being rather confusing at first to understand what is going on and learn how to navigate the Universe etc and mining seems to be a big issue.

Planets appear to be purely cosmetic and flight is controlled by mouse, not a joystick and not from a first person perspective (which is in my opinion is the best for creating the illusion of realism).

On the FPS perspective in games I want to say:

I want space games where I can walk about my ship, to see my ship get loaded up with cargoes, check for stowaways etc, meet passengers who may have ulterior motives, to conduct repairs and damage control, to replace crew at turret positions that have been killed and to be thrown about my ship when large explosions, impacts occur. I want to believe I am in a ship, in space and that it is nice and warm inside whilst outside it is cold and damn hostile. But oh, no, despite the fact that it would be cool to fight boarders, hi-jackers etc with a blaster in the interior of YOUR ship, to be affected by combat whilst inside your ship we are denied this. Surely, I wouldn't be the only one wanting to get out my ship to visit space stations on foot and wander some planets on foot etc. Oh for games with ambition and scope.


Back on track: Eve is shaping up nicely, but doesn't look like it will draw me in as such and will probably not see me buying it after the beta. But it is worth a look.