o the outsider, EVE Online is as intriguing as it is intimidating. This is the MMO which gave new meaning to the phrase "player-driven economy" — EVE's corporations and business alliances offer so much more depth than the auction houses popular amongst other games in the genre, but with that depth comes a great deal of complexity. Indeed, the game's learning curve often seems more like a cliff. CCP's Ned Coker recently took the time to chat with us about what the future holds for this truly unique experience in gaming.
Small-timer or capitalist overlord, CCP has you covered.Slated to launch on May 18 of this year, Tyrannis is EVE Online's thirteenth expansion. The most obvious change it brings to the table: planetary interactions. The worlds of EVE's universe have evolved a great deal from the game's inception, moving from static points on a starmap towards the lush bodies begging for exploration/exploitation we see in Tyrannis.
Even entry-level players will be able to engage in these new mechanics, scanning planets for valuable mineral deposits and staking out claims by laying down extractors. As power is amassed, players will be able to move beyond managing these small mining outposts to controlling vast terrestrial operations — small-timer or capitalist overlord, CCP has you covered.
Another new addition is an online portal called EVE Gate. Described as the Facebook of EVE, consider this your go-to, cross-platform social networking tool for keeping track of friends and enemies alike. Write your own biography, share news and events and communicate with the galaxy-at-large.
EVE Gate and planetary interactions will change the way EVE Online players interact with the game, while at the same time laying the groundwork for CCP's future plans. Ned wasn't at liberty to discuss details, but these additions undoubtedly lay the groundwork for the company's console aspirations. While we await more news of Dust 514 and the ways in which that console shooter will interact with the existing EVE universe, there's plenty for current and potential EVE Online players to get excited about in Tyrannis.
