The Daily Grind: Will you be picking up the EVE Online retail box?

by Krystalle Voecks Mar 10th 2009 at 8:00AM

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Expansions, Opinion, The Daily Grind

It's been a while coming, but EVE Online's new expansion, Apocrypha, is here - and the 13 hours of downtime that goes with it, as James noted last night. Of course, along with this enormous chunk of new expansion content, EVE players in North America also have the option of picking up a special copy of EVE Online from their favorite retailer. It comes with all updates including Apocrypha, a special ship specifically for the retail box, and two months of free game time as opposed to the normal month most games come with. (Apparently, Europe & Asia Pacific will get theirs on the 12th.)

Our question this morning is for all the die-hard fans, as well as those curious and thinking about trying it; will you be picking up a copy of the shiny EVE Online retail box? Are you picking it up just for the sake of two free months and a cool ship? Or are you totally new to EVE and it seemed like a good time to jump in and try it out?

Tags: 2-free-months, apocrypha, atari, ccp, eve, eve-online, expansion, retail-box, retail-release, special-ship

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

judas said on 8:20AM 3-10-2009

I'll be picking up a copy for my wife at least. She's always been kinda curious about Eve but put off by the vertical learning curve. But when I said some people had described it as 'Excel in space' her eyes lit up - she's an Excel genius and loves playing around with figures. I sent her a buddy account link and she's working her way through the tutorials and seems happy so far :)

John said on 8:25AM 3-10-2009

I've played the game on and off by downloading it and doing the trail version...and always really enjoyed it. When I see a box...I think it will be hard for me to resist buying it. I LOVES me some shiny new box art.

Sam said on 9:32AM 3-10-2009

I'll be sorely tempted by this. It just depends on whether NZ gaming stores will stock much of them, and what it'll retail for.

Tim said on 10:00AM 3-10-2009

I actually bought the original box version, which many people seem to forget, or were never aware of.

I'm not actually dying for a shuttle with more cargo capacity, so I think I'll forgo this new box.

mandrill said on 10:09AM 3-10-2009

Oh yes, its worth it just for the game time (60 days) which goes for about £35 here in the UK.

moo said on 11:11AM 3-10-2009

Yeh I bought the original retail box too back in 2003 and I didn't know what the game was but after Planetside I got into mmorpgs and bought SWG and Horizons too that year lol. I played Everquest and UO in the 90's but back then my connection was 28.8k and the download times seemed long and kept cutting out that I never really bothered with online games until CS, RTCW and PSO.

I remember that retail box beign Orange with really poor art on the cover and you'd open the case up and it was a sticker that was falling off the inside of the case and a light blue CD that looked like it was Homemade. Frigging the game didn't even have any wrapping or anything.

I remember borrowing EQ off a mate who bought it in 1999 and using the CD key and giving him it back saying the game sucks it takes too long to login. So he tried it and said the CD key was in use and we didn't even know you could only use a cd key once lol... unlike other games.

lethality said on 11:33AM 3-10-2009

I ordered it from Amazon, I hope it will ship today. I think this is a good time to jump into it and finally give it a try.

I am lured in by the depth and complexity, yet ironically I don't seem to have the patience to get thru the learning curve. Hopefully the new new player experience will help.

Harmen said on 11:57AM 3-10-2009

Last time I checked it was 2009. And you ask if I go to a store and buy a physical disk?

Amana said on 12:01PM 3-10-2009

ZOMG ur so bleeding edge can i has ur babees?!

*blinkblink

Harmen said on 12:20PM 3-10-2009

Fair enough. :)

But I still think it's a bit old fashioned.

Amana said on 12:28PM 3-10-2009

hehe ;p
Romance! Flavour! Vinyl Records!

Some of us are still endeared towards the tactile things in this life.
DVD cases, game boxes, books and such items still find space on my shelves because I love to display (trophy) them, and love to be able to pick them up and look at them.

Some things I'll acquire digitally for utilitarian purpose, but with other things (especially creative/artistic things such as games and literature) I like to have the choice of being able to purchase and own them physically.

I'd hate to think of the day where this wasn't possible..

=)

Harmen said on 1:01PM 3-10-2009

I know what you mean. I never use my e-reader-gadget and insist on walking to the bookstore to buy my books there, even if they have to order them for me.

But for games and music I couldn't care less about these disks with their delivery times, their out-of-stock-ness, their scratches, and their not-yet-released-in-europe quirks. All the more room for books :)

The Claw said on 9:52PM 3-10-2009

A physical box with a physical disk becomes a lot more attractive, imho, when you already have the game installed and working, and the box is just for souvenir value. :-)

_Exactly_ like vinyl records.. I don't even own a turntable but I've bought records at markets because I own the CD and love it and want the LP for souvenir value.

Rozo said on 12:03PM 3-10-2009

I was planning on picking up the box version to start an alt, however it looks like no one carries it in Canada

crsh said on 2:14PM 3-10-2009

Sure I'll pick it up, it'll go nicely with the original 2003 box package I still have. :)

SgtBaker said on 2:57PM 3-10-2009

Not big on owning boxes and pieces of plastic, but hell yeah, the box is good value (and I'm a sad EVE addict)

Norseman said on 3:20PM 3-10-2009

I'm thinking about it (Getting the box, that is)

One thing though, the disk contains the client for Quantum Rise, not Apocrypha. You will load it, and still have to patch to Apoc. This means that it won't add anything for convenience.

Firebreak said on 7:28PM 3-10-2009

Not only am I getting it I was disappointed that I could not find it in the stores yet.

wickedpheonix said on 1:49AM 3-11-2009

1) Exclusive shuttle is for new accounts only.
2) Apocrypha is not on the actual disk - whoever buys the disk will still have to download the ~2GB expansion patch.

Kaamos said on 5:19PM 3-11-2009

I am considering buying this retail box, mostly because I only play wow for the 5 hours it requires to clear all raid content a week, and because the gametime is an efficient expendature vs the normal monthly rate.

Also, i recently upgraded my comp so I can enjoy all the new graphix :D

Please Eve, make me want you full time :O