Derelict? Delectable!

Clearly this is exactly what CCP want to accomplish in New Eden. Nothing comes close to the imagined intrepid dangers that lie in wait within all those abandoned station wrecks, ghost ships or sleeper sites. The idea is that these hulks of metal design house a complex structure - explorable vaults of discovery - making our universe a million times massive by allowing the wandering of such sites.

Mark my words: A plan for the future, and a grand one at that.

Snatch Wars

Pure genius!

Re-incarna-tion

I’ve conceded creation to CCP - the incarnation of my avatar; Mr NOXx to the captains quarters. I have reckoned the attempt is recognisable enough, but the ability for amendments is not something I have to pay for so I may continue to evolve my image as I see fit. So after 400 years I can finally change my clothes!

I like having legs, to stretch – despite the confinement to quarters. My various craft are quite a sight from the hangar balcony, but do not ‘hover’ in relation to any docking ring inside the station, it would seem that I have the best quarters every-time I enter the station looking straight down the hanger, which is nice, yet odd. With the docking now allowing pilots to infect further into a station interior than before possible, a momentous gentle glide into position is still absent, only the jarring black screen and progress bar then the unwelcome words ‘loading’ (which is typical of New Eden) welcome each visitor, but at least the option to disable the station interior is granted allowing for rapid deployments with no session timer to endure.

Without the interaction of other pilots it feels sterile and desperately void of any life save for my own but this will be addressed in time once the station interior is breathe-able for clones. It will be interesting to see 1k pilots mingling inside a station environment, particularly as this is sometimes problematic in the void.

Still, I relish the walking and sitting(a rare occurrence) and the cyclical view screens, the fundamental design of the quarters and indeed, not much impresses more than to behold the glorious sight of an Amarr battleship, at scale!

Decision Preservation

Regarding the recent revamp of the uber-tanking T1 Amarr cruiser; the Maller, I find myself confused by the theft of the previous incarnation which was apparently securely docked in HQ. Most of these ships involved a personal purchase decision, some for aesthetics and many for ability but despite this freedom to choose, this ‘right’ is not expressed when designs are revised.

I’d like to see the revisions active only from the point of sale/invention of either final product or blueprint, thus all the old hat ships would remain be present in New Eden, but any created after the revision date would use the new model, bestowing a two tier appearance for the vessel. Some may conclude that this may affect the prices of either new or old ships, then so be it, variation is key and choice; desired.

I’d speculate the presence of an asymmetric Scorpion may become a curiosity as it became less common, and may also help establish a culture of preservation for vintage vessels, a luxury akin to faction ships. This new found fame may even affect the role of the ship and its accepted fitting config, whilst adding variation to the ships; short of visible damage, corporate logos or a standard paint job. As I’ve mentioned before; the beauty of New Eden is its vast choice, available to all, big or small, so please preserve the choices we choose; powers that be.

Happy (vintage)hunting…

The Metro

Not surprisingly there's an affinity to Metro2033's design ethic and the world of New Eden. Neither can claim to be more claustrophobic or menacing, but certainly the Metro is much more grimy. An inspiration perhaps for CCP to glance and allow a little dust to grace the air filters, if only to reinforce the notion that we live, that we are flesh and that we sweat tears and blood.

Metro2033 is a clear winner where thick atmosphere is an asset, and I pray that one day New Edens' abandoned stations may boast similar environments for us to lay within, injured and desperately alone.

The sequel promises to smooth the jagged edges of the previous incarnation, and my breath is held for a due release, just as it will be when I'll finally find myself once again lost within the catacombs of this post-Apocalypse nightmare without a gas mask. Lovely...

Related Links

Metro2033 (Amazon)

Metro; Last Light (official site)

Related Soundtrack

"I Was There"

But I was cloaked, snatching stragglers from the field at will and enslaving them into a vastly shortened life of intense labour and cruel pain upon my personal demon planet.

The Future is Now

EvE Online has finally felt the impression of the most simplistic, yet empowering ability; to wander the spaces of stations. The Captains Quarters upgrade is a milestone in New Edens persistent development which many have longed for so very long. Although only a short meander between the hangar and the quarters, it shows just how grand the scale is intended, and allows a more natural connection to the avatar than before.

I'm convinced that the freedom posed by this patch is the beginning of a new phase in EvE's life cycle and popularity, which must grow relentlessly. New players not before considered self suited to this environment will relate quicker to a humanoid form to within PODed spacecraft, perhaps why new players by default are configured to start with legs.

But since CCP announced 'Ambulation' so many moons ago, many more contenders have risen in this genre. Some already boast of walkable stations, some claim to be free. But due to sheer perfectly realised complexity, EvE Online can still comfortably claim the best sci-fi game in the world; but the perfect equation of game elements still eludes developers due partly to decisions made during EvE's conception.

The mind control interface between our thoughts and the ship we are plugged prevents us moving naturally as we may all now become accustomed. The decision to have this interface: the POD, may haunt the development of future features such as ship interior interaction. The love affair we have with our vessels should surely eventually extend into the natural form of walking so we may really feel inside the ship, thus the game.

I imagine rising from slumber on an abandoned outpost I discovered orbiting a moon. Wandering on-board a glorious Amarr battlecruiser, I take stock of the systems and instruct the outpost security script to unlock docking clamps and press helm to roll the mighty vessel onwards into the massively complex worlds of New Eden; jumping wormholes and invading sleeper sights, exploring the depths of their architecture, their lost secrets, pillaging whatever remains; holding victims of piracy or bounties, hostage aboard prison ships wreathed in defences; the prisoner considering suicide at the cost of billions in implants; secret meetings aboard cloaked ships hidden within silent nebula; and assassins deploying devious steps when privy to this knowledge. This ultimately adventurous dynamic was hinted during Fan Fest.

Looking back there have been attempts already at this common ideology. Mace Griffin; Bounty Hunter is a superficial example of this perfectly empowering ability; to connect with the heavens and the ground beneath. Star Wars Battlefront 2; Elite Squadron shows just what's possible at the minute level; an online universe in your pocket.

But the laws of New Edens ever evolving universe are certainly not set in stone, I've seen many ships become illegal, impossible or impractical. CCP persistently tackle issues with confidence and ingenuity and I'm sure of an 'upgrade' to allow such fantasy.

It's simply a question of time as the slow infection into the interiors of the stations begins. It may generate an entirely new demographic and may also introduce massively multiplayer twitch based interactions on-board gloriously giant station spaces, as demonstrated.

Whatever the future , EvE Online can claim not only ambition, but accomplishment. This is what makes EvE Online the future, now.

Related Soundtrack

Similarity Hilarity

Behold the latest in telepathic ears and observe the amusing similarities between the native creatures infesting minmatar's wildness and the indigenous sentient race. Surely they are not the true concern...

"'till death us do part...perhaps"

Ever since my mind was welded to a Jovian POD, I have rarely rested in the steel bosom of a station for more than a few days, preferring instead to remain cloaked within the vast void enveloping our worlds. The enduring infinite space quietly soothes my toils, I reflect upon sins born of rage then fire, whilst considering my future in this incredible virtual environment.

My inevitable conviction is that; save for the end of the world where I physically reside I’ll succumb to my mysterious demons for as long as breath remains within my lungs, failing to shy from the challenge of a lifetime of malevolence for the greatness of EvE Online, and the dissolution of prey.

I take solace in the presumption that I have found a path to my destiny and that New Eden is the theatre in which my horrors and honours are expressed. The consequence of this choice is to assume that, with the aid of potential technology, cyberspace may one day cradle my mind entirely, and when/if this happens I shall revere in the delectable experience that is EvE Online for as long as my mind virtually exists.

Happy(everlasting) hunting...