With the game release season in full swing, there are enough new games being released every day to make my head spin. So many new toys are being released, just begging to be tried. From Warhammer Online to Fallout 3, as well as the imminent release of the Wrath of the Lich King, there are a lot of great choices for the avid gamer. But in the midst of the release frenzy, I am called back to the game I love the most, EVE-Online.
Don’t get me wrong. I love the fast action, no frills PvP you find in Warhammer Online, but despite how easy it is to jump right in to combat with other players in that game, the lack of personal consequences found in WAR’s PvP leaves a void that EVE-Online fills perfectly. Right now, EVE-Online is updating to its latest expansion, Quantum Rise. The servers will be down until tomorrow, so I’ve got plenty of time to miss it.
To get an idea about why I love the PvP in EVE so much, check out EVE Online PvP Masterclass, a series of articles on Massively written by Brendan Drain in Ireland. The articles provide a wonderful overview of the PvP depth offered by EVE, and is a wonderful read. It really boils down to this: in EVE, you can choose any style of PvP you like, from small gang or solo to massive fleets, and there is something in EVE to cater to you. What’s more, there are actual consequences to your decisions, so forethought and quick thinking are rewarded, while poor planning is punished severely.
The latest free expansion includes the controversial speed rebalancing (explained in this article, also by Drain), so it is likely that many EVE players are going to have to rethink their ship fits to compete. The list of changes is truly impressive. For those interested, you can find the patch notes here. For those who aren’t interested, maybe this will get your juices flowing:
CCP’s trailers never fail to send chills down my spine. For those of you who don’t play: yes, that’s pretty much what the game really looks like.