New starry backgrounds in EVE Online spotted

by James Egan Oct 15th 2009 at 9:00AM

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Expansions

CCP Games has been rolling out some major graphical improvements to EVE Online since the Trinity expansion launched, bringing with it a new graphics engine and an updated look to the game's setting through the premium client. The first iteration of graphics enhancements added a shiny new veneer to EVE's ships, but those changes weren't skin deep. The models themselves were recreated through months of effort by the game's art team, and the look of the ships is now much improved. Later space stations (both inside and out) and stargates were given a facelift with much greater detail and shadows. The Apocrypha expansion brought new effects for electronic warfare modules and weapons, but it also introduced something else to the aesthetics of EVE -- those gorgeous backdrops found in the uncharted expanses of wormhole space.

By comparison, some players feel that the nebula-laced appearance of mapped solar systems is starting to look dated. While EVE's nebulas aren't likely to change anytime soon, players on the Singularity test server are posting screenshots of starry backgrounds which have made an appearance this week. You can check out the shots taken by various players at Scrapheap Challenge and in these threads on the official EVE forums. Whether these new starry backdrops will make their way into the Dominion expansion release in December isn't certain, but combining this look with the swirling clouds on New Eden's planets would certainly kick EVE's aesthetics up another notch or two.

[Via @StMistaken]

Tags: apocrypha, ccp, ccp-games, dominion, eve, eve-online, expansions, graphics, new-eden, premium-graphics, singularity, skybox, skydome, stars, test-server, trinity

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Kronos said on 9:31AM 10-15-2009

They've confirmed the new stars are a feature of dominion at the dominion fanfest presentation, check the vid on youtube.

ChromeBallz said on 9:59AM 10-15-2009

Those screenshots are from the test server (patched yesterday). You can see it for yourself if you want. If it's on the test server it's not speculative anymore ;p

stormwaltz said on 11:07AM 10-15-2009

In my geekier moments, I wish space games used software like Celestia or AstroSynthesis to generate their starfield backgrounds. Imagine if you moved to a star five light years away, turned around, and could see the star you just left... and the positions of all the other stars shift slightly to match your new position in space.

Tyranor said on 12:34PM 10-15-2009

As far as I'm aware...they do. You see nebulae, and I think stars as well, and stuff from the correct angle, even jumping stargate to stargate.

Din A3 said on 2:44PM 10-15-2009

I wish you could actually pilot your ship, as opposed to point and clicking your way thru the galaxy.
Imagine THAT.

Psychotic Storm said on 4:11PM 10-15-2009

You would then be in a tiny fighter, EVEs ships are big... ships and behave like them, not small agile fighters, these would be the drones.

Anu said on 12:47PM 10-15-2009

What's the premium client?

GaaaaaH said on 11:27PM 10-15-2009

It's the only client now. It used to be the one with all the cool graphic options, but they are now standard (and toggle-able if you have a lower end system).

Cicadymn said on 4:43PM 10-15-2009

It honestly looks a lot like Battlefield 2142. From the video they had, and not having classes but loadouts is similar to what 2142 did. Though they still had roles.

I'm not saying that's a bad thing. I still play 2142. Really enjoy it. I just hope it'll be for PC to. These articles are making it seem like it's 100% Console based.