Next EVE Online expansion named Apocrypha, launches March 10
by James Egan 
Jan 8th 2009 at 11:30AM
Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Expansions, Game mechanics, Launches, MMO industry, News items
The other day we picked up on a video interview with the CEO of CCP Games, who announced a firm March 10th release date for the next EVE Online expansion -- but until today, that expansion wasn't given a name. CCP Games announced the "Apocrypha" expansion this morning, and a bit of what it'll bring to EVE.
The Apocrypha feature page isn't up yet -- so more details are likely to emerge -- but thus far they've confirmed two new game mechanics will be coming to EVE in March. Wormhole exploration is an upcoming feature that will allow EVE's explorers to discover new technology, used to create the next iteration of ships in New Eden -- Tech III. These modular ship designs will potentially allow for thousands of different configurations of ships to suit different purposes, and are a far cry from the Tech I and Tech II ship hulls currently flown in New Eden. In addition, Apocrypha will bring Epic Mission Arcs. The release states: "These branching, far-reaching mission strings are full of meaningful stories and more intelligent and deadly adversaries."
EVE Online's Apocrypha expansion will also mark the first time the game has been sold in stores since its launch over five years ago. The partnership between CCP Games and Atari will have an added benefit for the game's Mac users -- the boxed version will include Premium graphics support (the Trinity graphics engine) for the Mac client. However, you won't need to buy the retail version to get this functionality, CCP confirmed for Massively this morning. They added that Premium graphics on Mac will be included in the regular client update to Apocrypha in March, and like all of the game's expansions, is free of charge. This is a long-awaited change that the Mac users among EVE's playerbase have been calling for.
While the game itself is pushing ahead, Apocrypha will also offer a New Player Experience to ease rookies into EVE, and may well be worth going through for returning players who've been away from New Eden for a while.
Keep an eye on Massively for more on the Apocrypha expansion as the March release date approaches.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
double9s said on 12:14PM 1-08-2009
Ambulation. When.
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Darkdust said on 12:24PM 1-08-2009
Hopefully the winter expansion. Get this one out of the way early so they have 8 months to code and polish it.
Abriael said on 12:47PM 1-08-2009
I'm pretty disappointed by how lackluster this "expansion" looks. At least it's free, but their priorities seem to ba a tad off. Ambulation should have top priority, given how it would make the game more enjoyable and accessible for new players. This new expansion seems to expand the gap between new and existing players further.
Honestly, i'm a tad tired of my character being just a portrait...
double9s said on 12:54PM 1-08-2009
That's what I'm saying. Put everything you have into Ambulation, let's go already. I mean, "hopefully" we'll see it a year from now?
Firebreak said on 1:28PM 1-08-2009
I could really care less about Ambulation compared to Tech 3. I have been waiting for Tech 3 for years now. Combine that with a better mission system and wormholes and you have a killer expansion.
I can't wait to blow up my first Tech 3 ship, err I mean fly.
PsiFire1 said on 1:05PM 1-09-2009
I too could give a rat's bottom about Ambulation. The OP's icon makes me suspect he wants ambulation so it can be more like WoW. EVE ain't WoW. Give us better ships and game mechanics and fix the plethora of bugs that STILL exist. If you want to walk around, stick to WoW or other ambulatory MMOs. EVE is about flying ships in space.
double9s said on 1:17PM 1-09-2009
Seems that everyone has WoW as their default icon, including you, so ease up on the assumptions, buddy. EVE is just barely about flying ships in space, I'd give more of that credit to Jumpgate which looks like it will actually be fun to fly, not a series of dropdown menus.
EVE intrigues me because of its freedom and depth, but a terrible UI, lack of immersion (Ambulation would help), and boring combat keep me from subscribing. You're happy with their priorities? Fine, I don't want to suggest that they ignore their existing core audience. I was just hoping the game could evolve to the point that I could enjoy it, but forget it.
Adam F said on 1:08PM 1-08-2009
Maybe I'm the only eve player that doesn't give a crap about ambulation? From the feature list it seems nothing more than a fancy chat. I'd rather they fix the jump clone bug, or give me some new ship models and weapon types. Perhaps we can see a the Jovians show up?
Ambulation might be cool I guess if they add some combat and missions ( maybe those features are there? ). I'd have a Lvl 50 mage with a staff of power! I'd rule every amarr station inside and out!
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Brian! said on 2:20PM 1-08-2009
I really tried EvE. I love the idea of a huge sandbox universe, but as a new player to the system I found it painful to do much of anything interesting.
I am really hoping that the new Jumpgate offers a sandbox universe while giving me that in-the-cockpit sensation of flying a ship.
EVE is more like a RTS with a single ship. I never really felt like a Pilot really, but more like an outside observer commanding the people on my little ship.
Ideally, I would love a game where there were 2 different types of ships. The small ones where you dogfight and your flying skill makes a difference and the larger capitol ships where a group of players control the massive ship together. Sort of like the new Battlestar. The base ships have a crew manning guns, engines, armor, navigation, etc... but they launch small fighters. That would be cool in an MMO. Tricky to implement to be sure, but very cool.
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Letrange said on 3:49PM 1-08-2009
um... you realize that according to EVE lore, that's just what you're doing as a Pod Pilot? Commanding the ships systems and giving orders to your crew. Although you don't game it, you've theoretically gone and hired all the crews of the ships you own. Although they have much less chance of survival than you do as a pod pilot (not to mention the fact that they don't get clones as far as we know from the lore since they don't have pod pilot implants). From what I remember only one class of frigate has no crew, and T2 ships have a much reduced crew due to being optimized for pod pilot use. Think of T1 being standard ships converted to Pod pilot use. They still have rather large crews.
Brian! said on 10:44PM 1-08-2009
Yea, according to lore you are correct. However, regardless of the ship size, piloting in EvE is not a cockpit experience like Elite, X-Wing vs. Tie Fighter, and similar games were.
I think I would prefer the feeling of using a joystick and really piloting the smaller ships.
I do admire EvE though. I just starting getting sooooo bored as a new player sort of all out there on my own. At first it is a very slow, slow game.
fester said on 8:03PM 1-08-2009
LOL @ suckers who think "Ambulation" aka "walking in stations" aka "3 year vaporware" is coming anytime soon. You must be new to the EVE scene, otherwise you'd have realized that like most promised features from CCP, they never arrive. Hell, I'd be impressed if the smartphone client ever saw the light of day.
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Abriael said on 8:12PM 1-08-2009
LOL @ the sucker that thinks he's the smartest of them all.