EVE-ONLINE: THE SECOND GENESIS ENTERS STAGE 3 BETA TESTING
By Svarthol
Wednesday 13th November 2002/... Crucial Entertainment Limited today announced that the highly anticipated Massive Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG) "Eve Online: The Second Genesis" has entered its third stage of beta testing meaning that it stays on track for a Q1 2003 release.
EVE ONLINE, which is being developed by Crowd Control Production (CCP) of Reykjavik, Iceland is the long awaited space trading / combat MMOG for the PC (Windows® XP, 2000, ME) which will allow thousands of gamers to compete simultaneously drawing gamers into what is essentially an alternate universe set some time far in the future in a place one can only dream of.
Reynir Hardarsson, Art Director / Founder of CCP said: "The team at CCP is very excited about entering the third phase of beta testing for EVE: The Second Genesis. We have implemented important gameplay features and finished major technological milestones. As a famous saying goes, "One small step for man..."
New Features Added Into Beta Stage 3
CCP, developer of EVE ONLINE will be implementing some unique features into this stage of the beta test. These will include:
Extensive Agent System - Receive missions, loans and information from Agents. Looking for a particular player to put the hit on for a Bounty Hunter mission? Use the Agents to help locate your victim.
3-D Map - Fully scaled and rotating map of the known universe. An extremely amazing addition, which will help players navigate through the immense EVE universe.
Combat Drones - This new combat mechanism allows players to launch small fighter-craft against enemy ships.
Developer ChatEVE ONLINE fans will have an opportunity to chat with CCP about this stage of development on November 22nd. The chat will be hosted by the fan site Eve Gate – www.evegate.net. Time and IRC channel will be announced soon.
Become a Beta Tester
Gamers who would like to become an EVE ONLINE beta tester can sign up via the EVE ONLINE web site at www.eve-online.com. To date more than 85,000 gamers have signed up.
Eve-Online Story
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 colonising.
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 many millennia they endured on the brink of extinction and only a handful survived. Of those surviving colonies, five 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 realises 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...
Gameplay
Players begin EVE ONLINE by developing a character to control in this massive world. They can choose to be one of four races:
Amarr – The largest of the empires in the world of EVE, Amarr spans 40% of the inhabited solar systems.
Caldari – A state built off corporate capitalism. The Caldari State is run by a few mega-corporations which divide the state between them, controlling and ruling every aspect of society.
Minmatar – A tough, no nonsense race, the Minmatars are a determined and independent people. Their home planet on Matar is a natural paradise although centuries of abuse have taken much from its beauty.
Gallente – The Gallenteans are self-righteous, meddling, pompous and tiresome, or virile libertarians and defenders of the free world. Love them or hate them, you simply can 't ignore them.
Once a race is chosen, players select a profession (which vary by race). Professions range from bounty hunters to pirates, space traders and the military. Players also have the option to choose various background info for their character, such as ancestry and physical traits. Each one provides a basic skill set from which to build a character 's personality. Better players earn more money and go further in the EVE universe. Players can fully customise the look of their characters in a unique 3-d face morphing system – from head shape all the way down to the tattoos they have.
Gaming on a Massive Scale
EVE ONLINE: THE SECOND GENESIS will be the largest online game ever. The servers for this game will be capable of handling thousands of gamers who can compete simultaneously across a fully 3D galaxy which includes 5000 solar systems. Players can choose from more than 60 ships to pilot and customise them with missiles, lasers, particle accelerators, shields, power cores, sensors, armour and engines. EVE ONLINE is an ever-changing universe. Even after a player logs off the online world will continue to evolve and change as players from around the world are actively conducting business and fighting battles. While playing online, gamers can converse with one another through an elaborate communications network including email, instant messenger and message boards. This communications system will also allow players to leave messages for those off-line via this unique email system so that when they return to EVE they will receive the message.
It's all about the Cash
Just like in the real world, money will be the commodity of choice. Players can earn cash by accepting work from Non-Player Characters (NPCs) who will reward gamers with cash which can be traded for goods or other items. Also gamers can earn money by working for a "corporation." These corporations are comprised of gamers who have pooled their resources and are working together to dominate the universe. A solo gamer can approach the head of a corporation for a job and can be paid in cash.
EVE ONLINE will have a unique "stock exchange " in which gamers will be able to purchase stock in corporations. The stock exchange will go up and down as trades occur, just like the real world. To date there are more than 200 corporations already established – even though EVE ONLINE has not yet been published. These corporations have elaborate web pages detailing infrastructure, location, business models, and mission statements.
NEWS FLASH!
Space is a busy place, and gamers will be able to keep tabs on events throughout their universe with a news update. Major events and business updates are provided on a regular basis. The news will be available on-demand by clicking a button on the display.
European Server Access
The EVE ONLINE service provider is Iceland Telecomm who will handle customer service, in-game support and server hosting. European server access will be provided in London by Cable & Wireless consisting of a giant shard of over 60 servers. Game subscription costs are as follows (quoted in US Dollars per monthly charge): 1 month $12.95, 3 months $11.95, 6 months $10.95. Current exchange rates USD $1.5 = GBP £1 and Euro 1.5 NB. These exchange rates are subject to currency fluctuations and are presented as a cost guide only.
Availability
Eve Online: The Second Genesis will ship simultaneously to North America and Europe in March 2003.
The European release will be handled by Crucial Entertainment Limited, whilst the North American release will be coordinated by Simon & Schuster Interactive.
About Crucial Entertainment Limited
Crucial Entertainment Limited was founded in 1999 by Company Director Ray McIntosh. Crucial Entertainment believes in entertainment for everyone where each title stands amongst the best in its class and is a guaranteed mark of quality and usability. Visit www.crucialentertainment.comAbout Crowd Control Production (CCP)
CCP, based in Reykjavik, Iceland is a privately held company founded in 1997. It was created on a strong vision of creating online games which focus on maximising player interaction and on utilising the new, unexplored possibilities created by having thousands of players interacting in the same game world. More info. on CCP games game be found on www.ccpgames.com