Wormhole exploration hearkens back to EVE Online's early days
by James Egan 
Mar 19th 2009 at 7:00PM
Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Expansions, Game mechanics, Opinion
EVE Online's latest Apocrypha expansion has elevated the exploration profession to new heights. The addition of roughly 2500 new and uncharted solar systems, expanding the game's galaxy of New Eden to over 7500 solar systems in total, brings what can honestly be called 'true exploration' to the sci-fi MMO.
Territoriality is a major aspect of EVE and wormholes allow players to emerge in far flung regions of New Eden -- sometimes places they're not supposed to be -- leading to all sorts of unexpected near-death experiences. Players have already reported emerging from wormholes and finding themselves hunted by the local territorial powers (player alliances claiming those regions of the galaxy) or by the NPC authorities, in those cases where players are involved in factional warfare. Some pilots have found themselves deep within enemy faction territory, leading to all kinds of insane chases across the galaxy.
It's exactly this element to EVE Online that caught the attention of WarCry's Steven Croop who writes, "The unfiltered tension and excitement that comes with getting genuinely lost for the first time in EVE is unmatched by anything I've done in known space for some time. I've been trapped - first on the wrong side of the galaxy, then from the frying pan to the fire of unknown space... I haven't a clue when I'll reach home, but it will be in true ghost ship fashion - abruptly spat back into a friendly system, laden with unimaginably valuable loot from unheard-of places."
In many respects, the new addition of wormholes and the gameplay that accompanies them hearkens back to an earlier time in EVE. The fact that wormhole space combines the lawlessness of 0.0 with greater risks (since you don't know if you're alone in there) captures some of how the game used to be. No Titans, no sovereignty, just open expanses of unclaimed space there to be exploited and plenty of unpredictability. As Croop puts it: "Less is more, expect the unexpected, and we're all probably going to die - all hallmarks of EVE from a younger age." The fact that these unknown reaches of space are also commingled with high security solar systems brings the potential for anyone, even solo players and high sec dwellers, to get in on the action.
For those of you who've had a chance to explore New Eden's wormholes, would you agree that the addition of true exploration has added a needed dimension of gameplay to EVE Online?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Benicio said on 8:25PM 3-19-2009
I agree it has really shaken the tree. The older players in my corp have found a new sense of enthusiasm for the game.
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ShaydeStar said on 7:18AM 3-20-2009
I am the only member of my corp, as of yet, to have survived an encounter with the sleepers, And who has brought back salvage to prove it. There was much rejoicing. This new system of exploration has dramatically altered the way I perceive this game. It no longer feels as though I wasting my time on a pointless endeavor...I feel as though I'm doing something more sophisticated than merely playing a video game. The complexity of the game and the level of attention needed to survive...the level of ingenuity and ballsy attitude needed survive, have made this a worthwhile expense of my time. After almost three years of sinking into the depths of my recliner, nearly dissolving into its downy soft abyss...I have finally sat up, gotten to the edge of my seat...and pushed my nose right up to my screen. Because if you miss something in the cold recesses of wormhole space...Your fucked.
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Duffy said on 8:16AM 3-20-2009
I agree, it's made things a lot more interesting, especially for smaller corps that can't normally get out into 0.0 space. Wormholes provide an excellent way to reach valuable resources and relatively empty space, with the chance of being trapped of course.
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Dirame said on 3:13PM 3-20-2009
I have found more wormholes than I have fingers and toes, wormhole after wormhole, a ship lost, drones lost, escaping wormhole camping, scanning down 5 sites in 5 minutes just to escape being found...i've done it all and I can't wait to do it again.
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bish said on 5:24PM 3-20-2009
Hell, yeah.
I'd just been checking into Eve to do the odd bit of NPC farming, and helping out my corp a bit, but had no real sense of what to do - I felt it was a bit too soon to ditch the corp and find a new one, couldn't be bothered retraining to do anything else, and was a bit bored of the occasional scuffles I was getting into...
But now I can't stop playing. It's like I've just got a new game. Really pleased, tbh.
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