Space MMO EVE Online is infamous for its almost entirely player-driven universe, and the intriguing tales of espionage and betrayal that have emerged from it over the years. It's an incredibly social game, and a powerful drama generator—all thanks to Icelandic developer CCP's complete dedication to letting its players take the lead.
However, getting to the point where you can get involved in this kind of thing, or fight in those massive wars you often , takes a lot of work. EVE has traditionally been an extremely difficult game to get into. But now, aware of this reputation, CCP has revamped the game's new player experience to make it less intimidating.
"We did a lot of research into this, talking to new players and new player alliances in-game," says CCP strategist Tryggvi Hjaltason. "And the number one reason why people check out of EVE Online, and it's been this way for the past five years, is that it feels overwhelming. Too much choice, too many things to do, the UI is too complex."
"EVE Online was first published in 2003, and back then the world was a very different place," says EVE creative director Bergur Finnbogason. "The idea of an MMO was very different. Throughout the years we've tried a lot of different things, and in many ways this new player experience is the culmination of 18 years of successes, failures, and mishaps."
"We're seeing a very promising shift," says Finnbogason. "The team at CCP is really focused on helping new players and getting them over the incredible cliff that learning EVE Online is. I think we're onto something better and healthier than we've ever done before."
For Finnbogason, the most important step in attracting a new player to EVE Online is capturing their imagination, and sparking interest in a way that makes them want to play—and, more importantly, stay. "Once we've caught their eye, it's all about teaching them the core competencies," he says. "The absolute basics of playing the game, which then leads into helping them understand that EVE is a sandbox."
CCP's first job is straight-up hand-holding, guiding the players through the absolute basics of the game—moving the camera, flying their ship, docking with space stations, and so on. Then things get a bit more loose. Tutorials are drip-fed to the player, to help them get deeper into its many systems. After that they're pointed towards activities, whether that's wormhole exploration, joining player alliances, or mining.
But what about the ever-present threat of other players? EVE is notorious for having players who make sport of hunting new pilots, enjoying a second virtual life as a space pirate. It's a perfectly legitimate way to play the game, and CCP will never step in to stop them. I ask the developers how they factor this in when designing the new player experience.
"If a new player is willing to engage with this world, targeting others and becoming a target themselves, they should be able to get there as fast as they want," says Hjaltason. "But when they're learning the ropes, and too scared to even ask a question in chat because they're so overwhelmed, they should be able to avoid non-consensual PVP."
A bigger challenge is teaching a game as impossibly deep and complex as EVE. "Most people are in school for 10 or even 20 years," says Finnbogason. "We can't have new EVE players going through a 30 minute introduction, then immediately give them access to the big guns. The new player experience in EVE never really ends. You're constantly learning new things. It might be years before you fly a battleship, if at all."
"You wouldn't put a kid through a 30 minute training program in real life, then let them go and apply for a job and pay taxes," says Hjaltason. "EVE is a lifetime thing and we have to approach it like that when we design it. For new players we want to set them on a guided path, build their confidence, teach them skills, but we can't hold their hand forever."
EVE Online's improved new player experience is , with a new tutorial area designed to ease you in. It's the friendliest the game, which went free-to-play in 2016, has ever been for a first-timer. So if you've ever wanted to experience this notorious MMO for yourself, now's the perfect time to strap into a capsule and give it a shot.
