[Danska101]

So in a move I'd never have seen coming, EVE Online has decided to go Free to Play! Full details here.

In a nutshell, Free to Play players will have a different type of clone - an Alpha Clone. These train skills slower, have a 5 million skill point limit and can only learn skills from, and up to the level of, the list shown in the article. To put that also in a nutshell, you won't be able to pilot ships from other factions than your own, fly anything larger or more advanced than a Cruiser or use weapons not associated with your faction. Any T2 items would seem to be out too, as the skill list is very restrictive.

Given that I left the game able to fly ships up to Battleships from all four factions and had multiple Pirate Ships and T2/T3 ships, I doubt I'll be taking them up on this F2P offer as I'd lose the ability to use 90% of my stuff. It might be fun for anyone looking to start a new character, though. It's a very complex game, but also stunningly pretty and just drifting through systems staring at all the gorgeous space stuff can be very relaxing.

What do people think of this?

[Three of Seven]

I have never played EVE, so I have no idea what all those fancy words mean but I'm sure this is good news and means I might one day try it!

[Kerry Malone]

I have to say, I agree with you Danska101.

When I ceased playing oh so long ago, I could fly all factions ships upto and including battleships. I could use all weapon types upto T2. I had some pretty nice T2 ships inc. a hulk and a freighter. I was on my way towards carriers & dreadnoughts (although I question why I bothered wasting the ISK on this, since I very rarely went into low sec, let alone null). I also had a T3 ship, as well as a lot of high ranked skills and gear.

I doubt I'd take up the F2P, but I do like that they're trying to branch out to get people to play. Although I didn't think they had that much of a problem getting players - since they had to expand the universe earlier this year for capacity reasons.

[Danska101]

I have never played EVE, so I have no idea what all those fancy words mean but I'm sure this is good news and means I might one day try it!

It would be like if Star Trek Online's F2P limited you to Tier 3 ships, and only the free ones you got by levelling, cut your levelling rate (and capped it at 40), didn't let you have any Skills and didn't let you use anything beyond Rare MK X weapons and equipment of your faction (phasers and photon/quantum torpedoes for Fed, disruptors for Klingons etc.) On the other hand there's no cash shop demanding your money at every turn or noteworthy in game currencies beyond ISK (EC equivalent), which is something.

I have to say, I agree with you Danska101.

When I ceased playing oh so long ago, I could fly all factions ships upto and including battleships. I could use all weapon types upto T2. I had some pretty nice T2 ships inc. a hulk and a freighter. I was on my way towards carriers & dreadnoughts (although I question why I bothered wasting the ISK on this, since I very rarely went into low sec, let alone null). I also had a T3 ship, as well as a lot of high ranked skills and gear.

I doubt I'd take up the F2P, but I do like that they're trying to branch out to get people to play. Although I didn't think they had that much of a problem getting players - since they had to expand the universe earlier this year for capacity reasons.

They've never achieved a massive playerbase like some other MMOs, but so far as I can tell have grown slowly but steadily and been able to rely on a very dedicated core of members. The F2P option should be very good for new or potential players, since you'd be unlikely to get past the free sets of skills until 2-3 months of play anyway, let alone at the slower training rate.

[Noram]

WAT
SammycanItalktoyou

[Kerry Malone]

They've never achieved a massive playerbase like some other MMOs, but so far as I can tell have grown slowly but steadily and been able to rely on a very dedicated core of members. The F2P option should be very good for new or potential players, since you'd be unlikely to get past the free sets of skills until 2-3 months of play anyway, let alone at the slower training rate.

But then these people are going to be limited to basically living in High-Sec, which is already pretty crowded. I would be extremely hesitant to take a T1 Cruiser with T1 gear into Low Sec, let alone Null. I guess you could limit yourself to doing the "quests", for lack of a better word. Wouldn't need to get beyond a Cruiser to do most missions. You can also do pretty basic mining in a cruiser. Before mining ships existed, I used to mine for hours with a Gallente Thorax. Heck, the top dog miners would use a stripped out Rokh.

Don't forget that the game was always F2P for 15 days, but you were capped at the Frigate (later Destroyer when it was introduced) level. Remember trying to mine in your Velator?


zzzzzz.....

[Danska101]

But then these people are going to be limited to basically living in High-Sec, which is already pretty crowded. I would be extremely hesitant to take a T1 Cruiser with T1 gear into Low Sec, let alone Null. I guess you could limit yourself to doing the "quests", for lack of a better word. Wouldn't need to get beyond a Cruiser to do most missions. You can also do pretty basic mining in a cruiser. Before mining ships existed, I used to mine for hours with a Gallente Thorax. Heck, the top dog miners would use a stripped out Rokh.

Don't forget that the game was always F2P for 15 days, but you were capped at the Frigate (later Destroyer when it was introduced) level. Remember trying to mine in your Velator?

On the occasions I ventured into low/null sec, I'd usually prefer taking something reasonably cheap on the basis that I didn't want to fly anything I'd miss if it got blown up. I don't think I ever went that way in anything more advanced than a T1 Battleship. But yeah, you're not going to achieve much beyond Hi-Sec in a T1 Cruiser with T1/low meta level gear with only those available skills (although everyone has to start there). I guess the hope is that it will be like an unlimited free trial - if you like it enough and want to play with the big guns, you'll sub, but there's no rush.

[Kerry Malone]

I'd probably play again if there were people to play with. EVE on your own is incredibly boring.

[Buckaroo]

Very interesting.

I also used to play Eve Online, but stopped may years ago. Always loved the game, but I made the decision to stop playing subscription based MMOs--especially after I had kids and my time to play these MMOs was reduced drastically. I couldn't justify the subscription price with how much I was playing the games, especially when there were other games (either MMO or not) that I could pay once and play casually.

My last character was up to using battleships too--although only in one faction, but I did have a few T2 ships in that same faction that I really enjoyed flying. I may login just to see what my character can and can't do, and if it would be still fun to play within those limitations.

Addition: I wonder if after deploying this F2P configuration they would allow people to buy (micro transactions) unlocks to certain parts of the game like flying T2 ships or higher ship types (Battlecruisers, Battleships, etc), or a higher skill point maximum.

[Littlestar]

WTF i played it but no more but if it going to be F2P I WILL be playing it

[Curzon Peers]

It would be like if Star Trek Online's F2P limited you to Tier 3 ships, and only the free ones you got by levelling, cut your levelling rate (and capped it at 40), didn't let you have any Skills and didn't let you use anything beyond Rare MK X weapons and equipment of your faction (phasers and photon/quantum torpedoes for Fed, disruptors for Klingons etc.) On the other hand there's no cash shop demanding your money at every turn or noteworthy in game currencies beyond ISK (EC equivalent), which is something.

That is a TERRIBLE comparison.

A more apt one would be that you can fly any of the basic T5s (which let you do max level content, but is the lowest on the totem pole) and mk IX/X gear.
The reason for this is that EvE doesn't really have the concept of player levels or zones like most MMOs, you can do most anything in a ship fit for it, and not only are ships up to cruisers fully capable of PvP gameplay, they are the most used classes anyways. It will also let you do activities like mining, industry(crafting) and exploration (PvE where you have to look for the stuff) type stuff, so the only thing it isn't really suited for is missions (quest-giver PvE) which demand a battlecruiser above level 2, but missions suck anyways.

It seems decent enough, you won't be able to specialize and go really deep with your available skills, or use the high power/high tech items, but you can still skill to a reasonably competent level. Most of those skills are more or less in the short list of things you will be told to do if you join a big group anyways.

Indeed

[Zach]

Yeah, I'm currently subbed to EVE, and I've got my main character in TEST and Dreddit. This announcement was a bit of a shocker, if I'm honest.

[tallon2k]

Tried EVE Online, years ago, not even F2P would pull me back, got sick of being spaced by other players or bots filling up an area mining and stripping the place bare. Seems their F2P setup is to attract new players only, almost like a Demo version of the game. At the moment, I prefer STO, but it still needs some improving, like having all systems explorable or being able to site in your captains chair while traveling, i.e. interact with the main viewer to see approaching systems or access your map via stellar cartography and travel using said map to go to other systems while onboard. Just my thoughts btw but it would make RP sooo much more attractive.

[AgentZeus]

EVE is possibly the best space game bar none. It has a depth most can't match. But it requires a ton of time to get into properly.

Thats probably why trial account conversion wasn't great. Having this new method, basically an unlimited trial will hopefully get more people in. And you can have lots of fun in the cheaper ships!

Having said that I never thought I would see them go F2P, but if it helps it grow....

Perhaps I might go back and play for a bit to dabble around in a cheap ship.....

[Adster94]

I absolutely love this!!! Cannot wait! I will probably have to sub as some ships I have are too high, or may cause issues, as well as the skill point limit, as I think I'm above that! But I love the model they have gone for, I'm glad this won't be following the traditional and unbelievably horrible F2P model that so many other games have. I doubt this is to do with lack of players, but more an attempt to rope more people in and increase their sales etc.

But like I said, I will most definitely be starting EVE up again with this!