General Discussion

MMORPG.com Community Manager Laura Genender has written a review of CCP's EVE Online that we've split into two parts. Part one looked at some of the background of the game and the different aspects of its gameplay. Today's part two will focus on the traditional review aspects of the game and produce a score.

Economics

Lastly for the gameplay talk we have economy. I haven’t done much in the way of manufacturing, trading, or market jockeying, but I’m fair impressed with what I know of the system. While there isn’t a complicated crafting mini-game like you find in games like Vanguard or A Tale in the Desert, EVE has its own level of complication in a player-generated market in a shardless world – this is to say that there is only one EVE server, where everyone plays and trades together. It’s interesting to watch natural trade-hubs form (Jita, anyone?) and to watch how the market fluctuates when new technology becomes available.

One of my favorite parts of the economy is the contract system, a completely unique trade system. While there’s a normal market system which allows players to buy/sell common items, the contract system allows players to create auctions, sell uncommon items, or sell items in groups. In addition, players can set up courier contracts where player A puts up a collateral and carries player B’s goods from one place to another.

Read it all here.

Not a bad review IMO given that its quite a short article for a game which has such complex depth. I think the real special aspect of this game is its ability to be so popular whilst being a distinct genre and where the economy and game is largly player influenced.

I really enjoyed my time with Eve, especially as it forced me to think about how i wanted to play rather than just grind a level after a level. The community are excellent and I made many new friends in this game.

The game will not appeal to huge sections of the MMO community, in its curent guise, due to its over-riding PVP focus and the lack of easy pick up and play charachetristics. I hope that it continues to grow and develop, especially the planet side avatar aspects that are coming soon.

Truly this is a true success story for the genre and the developers.

Well done.

Enjoyed reading this review which I though feelt fresh and also did the game justice. Especially part1 which I forwarded to several none-EvE playing MMO-playing friends to try to make them understand what makes EvE such a special experience. It's a year I quit playing, but I'm always tempted to go back.

while I agree with what you wrote, I do not agree on your choice of words when talking about "griefing".

because all the things you are describing are part of EVE by design, it is not griefing.

griefing is, at least in other MMORPGs, if you exploit a design flaw or a hole in the system to cause grief to other people, just for the heck of it.

in EVE, as you rightfully state, it is usually to earn money and a conscious part of the game design

As pieces by underqualified reviewers go, very pleasant.  If that 8.5 becomes MMORPG.COM's new official rating, it should appear with an asterisk, because it's meaningless.

If you are going to review a five year old game  with a slow development path, it's not enough to roll a toon and play for a few months, then cheerily admit "I didn't try" half of the game's mechanisms.  You look over the shoulders of one or two veteran players who can demonstrate the advanced features and zones that your noob toon isn't ready for.

Originally posted by Clattuc

As pieces by underqualified reviewers go, very pleasant.  If that 8.5 becomes MMORPG.COM's new official rating, it should appear with an asterisk, because it's meaningless.

If you are going to review a five year old game  with a slow development path, it's not enough to roll a toon and play for a few months, then cheerily admit "I didn't try" half of the game's mechanisms.  You look over the shoulders of one or two veteran players who can demonstrate the advanced features and zones that your noob toon isn't ready for.

While I see your point in what you are trying to say here, your comments are at BEST insulting. Laura Genender is in no way under qualified to write this review. She has been working with this site for over 3 years and serves as MMORPG.com's Community Manager. She has a wide variety of play experience and has a strong understanding  of MMORPGs both as games and as a business.

Obviously MMORPG reviews are never going to nclude every possible aspect of the game, every nook and cranny. While I would personally love to be able to give someone an assignment that says: "Play this game for five years, then write a complete review."  The logistics of such an endeavor would be insane.

As time goes on, we have our reviews add to their original review through update features.

Again, I see your point, but don't you think perhaps you could have found another way to express it that didn't  attempt to belittle someone with a great deal of MMORPG journalism experience?

Hope that clears things up for you.

No, it doesn't clear up anything at all.  Her qualifications to review the game have nothing to do with her term of service here at MMORPG.COM.  They have everything to do with whether she has experienced and evaluated the core features of the game.  For a serious review, if some features take time to access, it is customary to get help.  In this case, to take one example, rarely has a true MMO been as PvP-centric as EVE.  So if the reviewer says "I haven't really tried PvP but I hear it's great," that's not really a review.  Similarly, the whole world of blueprints and manufacturing is an enormous subgame within EVE.  So when she says that EVE doesn't really have a complex crafting minigame - but she hasn't tried manufacturing - it's clearly a partial review.  That's why the score is meaningless.  Basically I stand by my remarks above, and I think your perception of them as insulting is off base.

On manufacturing - The difference between the ATITD/Vanguard systems (which I cited) and the EVE system is that, in ATITD/VG, you actually have a minigame for each item you craft.  You have to cut the gems, you have to smith the items, etc.  In EVE, you get a blueprint, have the skills/materials, and start your research/production at a station from what I understand.  No, the trade system is not SIMPLE, but there's no minigame of complications or gem and blade angles, etc.

In terms of my experience with the game, there is a big difference between reviewing an MMO and reviewing a single player title.  In single player games, I absolutely agree that the reviewer needs to finish the game and have complete knowledge of its functions, however, single player games are also FINITE.  MMO worlds have a plethora of experiences; at best it would take years to complete them all, at worst it's actually impossible.  I've never seen a review of LOTRO written by someone who has taken every class/race to max level, AND ever PVP race to max skill.

Personally, I'd rather say "I haven'treally tried PvP but I hear it's great" then publish hearsay under my name.  I intend to continue playing EVE and will probably move into 0.0 very shortly.  In the meantime, if you'd like to do a manufacturing or PVP-centered article, check out our Opportunities page :)

Originally posted by Neopsych

Not a bad review IMO given that its quite a short article for a game which has such complex depth. I think the real special aspect of this game is its ability to be so popular whilst being a distinct genre and where the economy and game is largly player influenced.

I really enjoyed my time with Eve, especially as it forced me to think about how i wanted to play rather than just grind a level after a level. The community are excellent and I made many new friends in this game.

The game will not appeal to huge sections of the MMO community, in its curent guise, due to its over-riding PVP focus and the lack of easy pick up and play charachetristics. I hope that it continues to grow and develop, especially the planet side avatar aspects that are coming soon.

Truly this is a true success story for the genre and the developers.

 

Well done.

Did you see part 1?! ;)