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F.A.Q. |
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1.1
What is EVE Online?
EVE is a massive multiplayer online game (MMOG)
set in a science-fiction based, persistent world.
Players take the role of spaceship pilots seeking
fame, fortune, and adventure in a huge, complex,
exciting, and sometimes hostile galaxy.
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1.2 What does "massively
multiplayer" mean?
The
term "massively multiplayer" describes
a relatively new form of computer game that has
gained popularity in the last decade. Players connect
to the game servers via the Internet and interact
in real time with other users worldwide.
In the case of EVE, a
nominal monthly subscription is charged for
each player¡¯s account; users are responsible
for their own Internet service fees. EVE is not
a stand-alone, single player game and can only
be played online. Unlike most MMOGs that split
a large player base up among small clones of the
same game world (called "shards") containing
no more than 3,000 people, EVE is unique in that
all of its players inhabit the same game world.
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1.3 What does the term "persistent
world" mean?
All games in the MMOG genre are created to be
"persistent worlds." This means that
unlike single player games - where the action
screeches to a halt when the user has turned it
off - the game world will keep evolving even when
a player has gone offline, much the same way as
the real world continues to evolve when you go
to sleep. The game world, and anything the player
may have left in it, such as undocked ships, will
continue to exist and will be visible to (and
possibly destroyed by) other players.
In a nutshell, EVE can be described as an alternate
reality, similar in many ways to virtual reality
as depicted in, for example, the film "The
Matrix." The only difference between the
Matrix and EVE is that instead of accessing the
world through a neural jack, it is accessed through
the Internet and participants interact with it
via a computer.
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1.4 How is it possible to connect all
the players together in one world?
The
game client, including graphics and sound, is distributed
and sold like any other game. To be able to play
EVE, however, players must connect their client
to the game world through the Internet. The game
world is based on a network of servers in London
maintained by CCP, handling all interactions between
the world and the players. When players log into
the game, they instantly become a part of the same
game world as all other players that are logged
on at that time. |
1.5 How is my persona represented in the
game?
Players are represented in the game by avatars,
both as ships and with a customized portrait created
by the player. It is not possible to exit your
ship and explore planets or space stations. Each
EVE Online account contains three character slots,
giving users ample opportunity to try out different
skills, races and appearances.
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1.6 How do I save the game so I don¡¯t
have to start all over again the next time I want
to play?
Unlike
single-player games where all the information about
your characters, actions and the game world itself
are stored on your hard drive or accessed with a
disk, most of the information about your characters
and belongings in EVE are stored on the servers
owned by CCP.
These game servers will keep track of the players
while they are connected to the game, tracking
all interactions between the players, such as
trade and combat, as well as your character¡¯s
inventories and progress. It is not necessary
for you to have the EVE disk in your computer
when you wish to play; however, EVE must be installed
on any computer you use to play the game.
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1.7 Can I let my friend play one of my
characters while I play another one on the same
account?
Players are represented in the game by avatars,
both as ships and with a customized portrait created
by the player. It is not possible to exit your
ship and explore planets or space stations. Each
EVE Online account contains three character slots,
giving users ample opportunity to try out different
skills, races and appearances. |
1.8 The game was released in May 2003,
so if I start now, won¡¯t all the other players
be far more advanced than my characters?
Unlike
single-player games where all the information about
your characters, actions and the game world itself
are stored on your hard drive or accessed with a
disk, most of the information about your characters
and belongings in EVE are stored on the servers
owned by CCP.
These game servers will keep track of the players
while they are connected to the game, tracking
all interactions between the players, such as
trade and combat, as well as your character¡¯s
inventories and progress. It is not necessary
for you to have the EVE disk in your computer
when you wish to play; however, EVE must be installed
on any computer you use to play the game.
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1.9 Is the game continuously updated with
new content?
Yes, the game frequently updated with patches
that introduce new content, address balancing
issues or resolve the occasional bug that might
rear its ugly head, as happens with all computer
software. When these patches are available, they
will be automatically installed on your computer
when you start the EVE client.
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1.10 What is basic game play like?
The
diversity and flexibility of EVE makes it difficult
to categorize it by conventional standards. What
it is depends on the level at which it is played.
The game is set in an unknown portion of space,
spanning thousands of solar systems, many of which
are settled. Players begin by creating an in-game
character equipped with a basic spaceship ready
to explore the world. As they get acquainted with
life in EVE, players can trade goods between systems
or conduct other money-making ventures such as
mining asteroids, transporting goods as a courier
or even cleaning up debris for recycling. Financial
gains made through such activities can be used
to upgrade the ship with weapons and equipment
and also to develop the character by purchasing
skill packs used for training him or her in various
skills he will need to advance in the world of
EVE.
When a player has mastered the basics of the
game, aquired some money and equipment and advanced
his or her character through basic skills, the
possibilities become almost endless. Players who
wish to explore peaceful paths may continue to
upgrade their ships to bigger and better cargo
vessels with high-end defenses, purchase advanced
mining or research equipment and continue to develop
their characters by specializing in their preferred
skills. Others may elect to pursue a more dangerous
path such as piracy, smuggling or bounty hunting.
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1.11 How does the massively multiplayer
aspect of the EVE affect game play?
The basic role-playing and space simulation aspects
of EVE are really just the tip of the iceberg.
When players band together to form factions and
alliances, the game progresses to a more grand-scale
strategic level. Political intrigue, corporate
espionage and the very essence of Darwinism bring
dimension and depth to the game as the struggle
for fame and fortune ebbs and flows with each
new day in EVE.
However, the level at which each player decides
to participate is a matter of personal choice.
The game leaves ample room for continual progress
and variety in all its solo playing aspects. For
those who opt to do so, becoming the best lone-wolf
pirate or bounty hunter is a never-ending task
as the competitors are other human players who
will employ every method at their disposal to
gain an edge over the rest. Solo players are also
able to hire out their services as mercenaries
or hit men to other players or player-run corporations.
The bottom line is that we at CCP have strived
to create a rich and immersive universe centered
on human interaction. Players can play the game
as a simple space trading game or endeavor to
control the largest, most powerful company in
the universe. We provide the rules and tools,
but it is the players themselves who create the
adventures.
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1.12 What is the interface like?
The
ship
control panel offers
an easy point-and-click interface for managing your
ship speed, defensive and offensive modules, power
and other fittings.
The NeoCom
provides access to features you¡¯ll be using
often during gameplay, such as your character
sheet, in-game e-mail, map, wallet and much more.
The fully
interactive map makes navigating the large
galaxy much easier, allowing you the opportunity
to set a course avoiding - or seeking out - hostile
regions of space or to find the shortest route
for speedier travel.
Communication between players is done through
an IRC-style
chat interface. Players can create their own
channels for private conversations or join one
of the many public channels available.
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1.13 What are the system requirements?
Minimal
hardware:
CPU: PIII - 450 MHZ or higher
RAM Memory: 128MB (256MB for 2000/XP)
Hard Drive Capacity: 1 GB
Connection: 56k modem or faster
Operating System:
Win98 SE
Windows 2000
Millennium, WinXP
Please note that Windows 95 and NT are not supported.
DirectX
9.0 or later
Video cards:
GeForce 2 or better, ATI Radeon 7200 or better,
Matrox Parhelia.
To check whether your card meets these requirements
check with your card manufacturer:
NVIDIA GeForce cards
ATI cards
Matrox Parhelia
The minimum screen resolution for EVE is 1024x768.
Audio hardware must be Direct Sound compatible.
For optimum performance, use latest drivers available.
Recommended system for optimal performance:
Processor: P4 1GHz+
RAM Memory: 256MB or higher
3D Accelerator: 64MB or higher video card
Read more about the technical aspects of Eve
in Section
7 of this FAQ.
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1.14 Who created Eve?
EVE was created and developed by
CCP
in Reykjavik, Iceland. EVE is CCP¡¯s first
MMOG, though the company plans to develop additional
titles in the future, focusing exclusively on
MMOG¡¯s.
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