Day to day an MMO is a lot like a supermarket. A place with a purpose, profit. Players enter with a lot of other people and everyone gets something they want. Granted in that metaphor you'd pay for entry and not pay for 90% of the shop 'content', but then again players pay more for whatever micro-transaction items you decide on, by choice. Obvious choices. Just because it's a players choice doesn't mean it's good for the game or the gamers. MMO's and profit are not as simple a process once you get passed the face value. As an MMO a lot of people get what they want/need short-term; Others linger, loiter think long-term; Others do it to socialize with the tools available. A mix of all, noting or some. It's all very subjective. The players are as much the content as the game for all those varied reasons(Chat isles, PvP frozen food, PvE drapery, mining home goods); An experience that can be solo and communal at the same time. Be done as often as you like(most of the time). You can have and get as little or as much interaction as you like in whatever area you like for any reason you want. So subjective its hard to generalize. But it's the opposing sides of the business profit coin, enjoying a game that can never be meet at the same time and be on equal footing. It's not in this game, not with CCP. Profits. Profits. Profits. Profits always win out because you can't have the game without the reason for it's creation(this game from this company), profit. An eternal tug of war between players on one end and a bulldozer on the other. Yea players get the 'experience' CCP get the cash. CCP just does not do good faith. #mysterycode! Yep I'm still bitter. CCP coul dbe so much more 'good faith' and generous. If they were they would enter the good will feedback loop from players; But it's like they 'don't get it'. But now the supermarket wants you to pay 30% more for entry(because they redecorated and changed the shelves around but the increase is just to get more profit ). The new normal in the same space.
I've been getting less and less from the game over time. I've an Eve Online habit, that brings me back. Back for the friends. Back for the potential for shenanigans with them; And an ever increasing distain for CCP and their business practices. They say they have free will but given they were always prifit driven the evidence since the Pearl Abyss takeover is like ignoring the sun at midday.
I'm waffling because there's no happy status quo and I need to offload this waffle constantly. CCP has a cash cow in Eve Online and they milk it via players. Business is business and they act like it. But they also act like it's not. Go out of their way to be all 'populist' about it. They market the fun and frolics and good times but its insidious as they shove more sales with in game items that aren't worth it. There is no good faith.... Not that I've seen. A sale is only a sale if you wanted the items in the first place so maybe they are giving the majority what they want. Maybe I'm just too bitter.
Imagine CCP running No Mans Sky's with it's years of free 'good faith' expansions/patches.... They'd be more Star Citizen than Star Citizen is.... I bet CCP is jealous about that game. All profit and all potential, all R&D and no 'real' MMO to manage on a daily basis.
I can't promote the game(Eve Online) without the caveat that CCP will sponge as much money from you as you are willing to part with. All aspects of the game are tainted. As for that being good value for money.... Players perspective. When I see CCP pushing sales and price rises and micro-transactions and this and that, one phrase comes to mind; A fool and their money are easily parted. I am one such fool. For all the good the game is and brings. For all the justifications I can say about playing the game, CCP really do know how to never miss the opportunity to miss an opportunity for player good faith and trust.
If I was to recommend a space MMO for PvE I'd wholeheartedly suggest Star Trek Online. As much as it's reputation is as a Free to play pay to win game; It's a game that can 100% be played and played well without spending a penny. A game I've waffled about a lot on this blog; And a game I play on both PC and Xbox! You can 'pay to win' but winning is more than paying(the number of shiny ships I see that can't be used properly is hilarious). STO's policies seem the opposite of Eve Online's; They are generous, giving of free items that are actually worth a lot.....I'm waffling way to much now but you get the drift!
Perhaps I've too many Eve Online posts on this blog to be subjective. My love of the game and disdain for the over zealous profiteering of the company are long standing. They(hard not to paint all employees with the one brush) do not do good will well and fail at trying to even do so when more money is involved(and I'm not talking about the new MCT discount shenanigans).
And I'm waffling too much already again(plenty of that this year already, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here). Maybe I'm really banging my head against a wall; But it's good to 'get it off my chest'.
In watching some WoW news from Taliesin & Evitel's live stream clips(Taliesin & Evitel TV) I was struck by the commonality that can be drawn between the latest Diablo immortal monetization comments and how they can be applied to CCP with regard to Eve Online monetization and pricing in general(clip below). So yea, substitute Diablo immortal for Eve Online(and Blizzard for CCP) for the majority of his video:
With my Eve subs ending soon I've found myself wrapping up characters/activities. Leaving the characters in their 'main' station just in a pod. The number of characters 'just in a pod' has increased noticeably. I didn't do it all on purpose but I guess my subconscious has been pushing me that way. Marking the end of the subs as a form of cleaned up detachment from the game, no loose ends. I've done it before and I'll probably do it again. But next time will be a long time away form the game(with luck). I'm an Eve Online addict and I want to go clean.
The news that Eve anywhere is expanded and available has hit. So you get access to it no matter if your Omega or Alpha.... Omega included as part of your sub, but Alpha's need to pay 30 plex per day for access to Anywhere. That's pretty shít but no surprise there, of course it was going to cost someone. Where do I start with this. Part of me does not care. Great for any Omega sub but for me regardless of sub I'd not play remotely. I take Eve too seriously to put an expensive ship or even an inexpensive ship, on the line and loose it due to a 'blip' or lag in my WiFi/mobile coverage. If you trust open Wifi then good on you, I don't. VPN through an open wifi on the go.... No thanks. I'm not that desperate to play the game outside of my PC and home. Outside of that, when I do travel I have a laptop and my own mobile hotspot. Why pay for alpha access when I play it for free on the PC/laptop client.... I think the more Anywhere is developed the more it will cost the player and Alpha accounts in general will be more in the firing line. etc.... etc...
The new info animations for combat mechanics are a plus. I really like them. The aesthetic and visual information just 'do it for me'. It's a pity they are not seen in the game itself. The updates and information of Eve Academy in general are really good. As is the new(new, new, new new, new, current nú new) player experience.
Yesterday A few day's ago saw the voting for the next Council of Stellar Management take place. I was very meh about it all. One quick look at the forums and candidate info; None really struck me as 'my way of life'. In reading a players blog, one whom I'd voted for previously had promoted/endorsed two players as good choices(for PvE). One of those was also one I'd been more keen on(the latter). So that's how I'd decided on who to vote for. Dutch Gunner and Kshal Aideron.
Why was I so meh..... It doesn't seem like the CSM chases issues I want. CCP seems to not listen or take the CSM seriously; And the last time CSM minutes were posted was back in 2014. All very meh.
CCP business decisions override all else; It feels like the CSM don't have sway when it really matters most(like a certain price increase).
Funny that years ago I specifically extended my subscription to be able to vote.... This year I'm already nearing the end of my subs, can vote and was 90% sure I wasn't going to do so(like héll will I be paying more for further subs).
With one thing and another I ended up with another new character(created an account as a placeholder, a complicated story for a future character transfer to me). I really do like the 'current' NPE.
It looks good and so is the handheld story as a tutorial. I also like having a second character on accounts to do some hauling/trading/scouting.... So new account and a new alt.
The game in general has always looked good and the ongoing work to make it better literally shows. Quality of life for the most part is the one area I can't complain about regardless of CCP's implementing motives.
I've had an alpha alt spend some time in the Low sec pocket leading to the New Eden system(with the help of one of my mains). While I may have disturbed a lot of locals and made them uneasy; I've not been able to settle there. A solo quiet grey man is too much of a risk to chance it seems. No niche Alpha for me there. So I'm not sure it's worth perusing an Alpha life there. I guess I just really like that there are two landmarks(that I like) in the region. The New Eden Wormhole is purdy.
Enough waffle from me.... My subscription will be ending in a few days.... I've not worked out how many yet as CCP has removed that handy number from the account info page. Like the way they stick the billing auto renew on by default... Scummy practices, maybe even sly and deceitful, no wonder I have no faith in them the company.
While I may have waffled too much, thought too much and waffled way too much again last time. An Eve Echoes tweet yesterday was questionable to me and worth more waffle....
24 Hours old and only 19 likes and 2 retweets.....
But it's the analogy of the games PR labeling their game with 'return to life', that's essentially telling everyone your own game is dead; That's more than just a Freudian slip? Desperation? Hmmmm 'Waiting for your return', indeed.
19 likes and 2 retweets....
From all I've seen and read since my own views, there are a lot of flaws to the games current game mechanics still in need of dev time. If Destroyers have 'issues' then what does that say about Titans when they're up.
As I said before, if your into the game, then good for you. For me there's a lot that needs to be done to draw me in and even at that it's monetization is very off-putting to me. It's a monetization test-bed for an 'alternative' Eve game and in doing things there, they will 'bring' it to Eve Online if it meets their profit needs/expectations. CCP is CCP. I've waffled so much on that score in the past(mysterycode).
A year older. Happy Birthday Eve Echoes; And joy to anyone who gets something from it.
I've previously waffled about the game(here and here and here aaaaand here). Trying the game again and doing another post about it has been difficult. I've tried to be both open minded and objective. Still I've been struggling to process my recent experiences in positive lights. The fact that this post is a few weeks(bordering on months) in drafts tells it's own tale.
I've a choice and ability to play Eve Online; There's nothing that Eve Echoes does that's different enough to draw me to it as a mobile game never mind consider it as a usurper to Eve Online. Certainly noting to playing both. So I guess that makes me biased.
Starting off from scratch again I found my new characters story was odd; My character was already on it's 8th clone.... Not created as a new capsuleer .... Already I see this game as a product with a problem. Your not new but you're a space Jason Bourne with amnesia. I was as confused as the character. The starting intro scene has my character acting as a character with his own gung ho, ye-hawing; My immersion was totally gone from that as I'm not as gung-ho and ye-hawing excited as much as that character was. All off-putting. All 'feeling' wrong. No immersion at all for a character that is supposed to be 'me'. Subtle as a brick through a plate glass window.
Starting cut-scene cuts to cut-scene to cut-scene with no real connection or explanation... The character is in an Astero, then not, then in a station.....Boring you to death in the form of voice acted waffle that confuses and explains in equally frustrated measures. I was immediately disinterested(no wonder I missed story 'facts').
Whats my initial reaction to starting a new Echoes character... Impatience, aversion to the cringe and tackiness at the NPC characters and their interactions. Which are supposed to be, I guess, immersive and motivational; But which are like I said 'not me'. So my immersion wasn't there.
As a bitter Eve Online veteran I found it funny(haha funny) that to create a character you need to tick a box that means you consent to PvP before continuing.
I was also baffled by limited time(or is it!?!) non destructive PvP. Is the market that broken! It's game-play as far removed from Eve Online principles as PvP can get.... Principle of the profit margin more like! Funny how that works out when profits are involved.
Anyway it's an odd intro to the game. The tutorial tries to be detailed but rushes and chops that story and locations into a shortcut whirlwind with teleporting. The confusion is added to by the fact that there are three main ways the game is trying to pump information into you. NPC's(with story-lines), the Intelligent Agent (Like Aura was for Eve Online) and then just popup text windows(a different form of the Intelligent Agent and NPC's). It's all too much.
Logging in there was a splash screen messages over my character creation/login . Giving info about the market in game not being able to keep up with demand and so NPC market interaction was being used.
Splash screens. A recurring annoyance. All trying to sell something or promote how better an experience it would be if you did.
More splash screens about game development changes.... Details of the non destructive ship PvP..... As I tried to click past them to see my character..... I was again left confused and frustrated...
It's become a lot more of a stereotypical 'mobile game' than I even thought it could be! A year on has not been an 'improvement' in game experience. It's massively pay to win. It all leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It's all a blatant cash grab I can do without. It's not a casuals game. Play fast and pay for it. Pay to gain skill levels, hop in ships and PvP... Typical CCP, cash for shortcuts is this game.
As with Eve Online there's always someone else with a better ship and fit with all the skills....... It's exaggerated in Echoes as it's been pay to win since day one. So catching up with bought SP is more than key if you want to 'really compete'. So the pressure to buy is there. Monetization to the max. Something CCP is exporting to Eve Online in a more hardcore way now(CSM Open letter) more than ever.
The changes to Echoes like non destructive PvP(tutorial or not) and the ship loan system(isk printing) I think mark the game on a death spiral... Maybe a slow one but one nonetheless. If those 'principles' can be altered what next; And what next for Eve if they can get away with it in one game.....
There aren't enough new players to sustain a growing fully fledged in game economy Gameplay is suffering. It's surviving financially on dedicated in game whales paying to get what they get from the game(just as Eve Online has and is being really milked for in recent years).
All I think of is how Dust 514 was unplugged. No player compensation or migration, Dust bunnies had their fun and it's end of business from CCP, goodbye. I'm still put off about that; A dedicated playerbase just cut loose. As if a few free gifts along the lines of an eve starter pack for Dust players to move to Eve... It would have been a nice gesture no matter how small a number took it. Then again I've still not forgotten about the Mystery Code mistreatment. CCP does not do good will, Not well if at all.
I can see Echoes breaking badly before CCP ever admits to doing it wrong. CCP is profit before principles( something, something Eve Valkyrie, something, something). They are using echoes as an experimental testbed to see what cash'in can be done to Eve Online.
That's not to say they don't just 'mess' about with their bread and butter. CCP is still CCP. Stress test popup screens in Eve Online? Just to be like Echoes; Or just my paranoia setting in a lot more.... Both?
At least they canceled it. Because live production servers are all about experimentation!
I've read a very pro Echoes article and as gushing as it was it still described the game as having 'growing pains'. Understatement of the century.
I wasn't, I was happy to get a free ship!
So what can I say that's new since I've seen the game last. Honestly nothing but more of the same. CCP/Netease seem to have doubled down on their choices. Subscriptions and monetization are the key mechanics to 'playing'. No surprise there as it's a CCP problem(from a gamer perspective) that's only getting worse(I'll keep mentioning it). So much so that I don't think the game is playable(not seriously) without money/subscriptions(yes multiples) one way or another. So for a casual 'free' player looking to 'get into' it, your going to run into 'roadblocks', or more aptly, paywalls. There's no subtlety to it and as such no motivation to 'invest' financially or emotionally, not for me.
A review of the game on the play store says it all....
"Market is inflated and pvp is impossible for a newer player.......Not to mention the game being completely dead compared to other games in the genre. Overall not worth your time."
That's not to say there aren't good reviews, there are. Each to their own but for me I can more easily associate with the above review; And from what I've seen it's an accurate description.
Flying in game, systems around Jita have between 1 to 6 characters and Jita(trade hub) itself has about 300-400. Rough numbers but you get the general idea. Not 'huge' numbers.
I still can't help but smirk at the memory of the tweets from CCP about the millions of players pre registering for the game.... Did they really think that even 1 million would turn up and keep playing never mind 4 Million!!! Hubris.
I wasn't into the game on launch and I'm even more so now. It's a very off-putting game the more I play it! I can bítch and moan about what I dislike re monetization and yet here I am on a blog post trying to think it though as a game.... Down to the nuts and bolts of why play this game? I really can't think of any other reason then as a player/gamer that's 'desperate' for the Eve universe on a mobile device.... Talk about being niche of a niche. Or a shill's paradise.
Purchase.... Purchase.... Purchase
They may have the same ships but a Merlin or Kestrel in both games is a different beast and fitting knowledge is not truly interchangeable between platforms. Again it's not an easily accessible game and I keep going back to thoughts of Eve Aurora (clip) and what could have been(more accessible).
Eve Echoes is not a simplified version of Eve Online for broader playerbase appeal. It's different from Eve Online, it has the same broad base conceptual elements; But it's just as complex. For all the wrong reasons. Monetization being on top.
The looks are similar, there's familiarity; But there's so much difference. The variance is both small and large. As I said regarding ships and fits, similar but different. A feel of familiarity is all you can interchange between the games. Eve Echoes is not Eve 'lite' but it is very much an echo of Eve Online.
As a game on a mobile device such as it is, there are good elements. I like a lot like the graphics and audio. There's a lot of work and effort gone into it which shows. The layout of the in game systems and gameplay mechanics show finesse but it's all overshadowed and once in that shadow it's hard to not see it all as dark. Yes the UI is good for what it's trying and does do. The changes for ship layouts and how they work in game as selectable/controllable 'abilities' in space is good. But there are too many BUTS elsewhere for me. It's good gets dragged down by so much more that's dead weight 'monetization'.
I guarantee a new player will find even the tutorial a long drawn out mass of game mechanic explanations and hands off practicality(more than Eve Online ever was). See my video below for a brief peek.
Here's a 47 minute player explainer for starting the game. A FOURTY SEVEN minute player explanation of how to get started. As Eve a thing as ever but not a game to casually play or get into.
Auto pilot is a no no in Eve Online but a given option in Echoes and it just feels wrong to me! Never mind the teleporting. Even if it bends the rules of it's Eve Online principles; It's not for 'Alphas', not for casuals. So it's pay to play and pay more to 'win'. Again no CCP surprise there but a whole lot of frustrations.
Why play this game? .... I really don't have an answer. I've found no reason to stick with it other than to try and write about it here. I'm a Eve Online bitter Veteran so I've tangential interest. I ponder and scratch my head about the mobile version; Wince at the monetization and pray it does not bleed through to Eve Online. Echoes is a game that should have been done as a game every Eve Online player 'needed'. That it's not says a lot.
The draw that Eve Online has is freedom, Eve Echoes has that freedom but your blinded by popups and blinkered by paywalls.
Like Eve Online if you get in with a friend/friends or the right group; If you click with players and use the social side to progress then fair enough, best of luck to you. I'm a mainly a solo casual carebear so.....yea. But if your playing with friends then it's not really the game your having fun with, if you know what I mean.....
As a mobile game on a 7" screen the ui is good but not the best and so much of the on screen text was so small as to be uncomfortable for me. So much so(uncomfortable to read) that I went into a World of Warcraft quest accept mode, clicking to just get past all the flavour text....I wouldn't choose it as a mobile device mainstay for gaming. My eye's would get sore after 15 minutes(Even with Samsung 'eye comfort shield').
While I got tired fast of using my phone to squint at small text; I used a Chromebook to test it some more and still wasn't impressed by the ui comfort overall. In my honest opinion you'd need to be really hard pressed for a mainstay space game to play Echoes let alone as a mobile game. Monetization really is a killjoy. If this is your chosen game then it's your time, your money and best of luck to you. But please keep an eye out for other titles and if you can then Eve Online is a much better gaming experience(for now). Harsh and judgmental view maybe; But I really don't see why a gamer should go out of their way for this game! If phones are your only platform for gaming then I'd still say to steer clear of this game. I see monetization as predatory. Maybe it's me and my old fuddy duddy ways but I don't see paying a subscription or multiple subs for a mobile MMO as a 'good thing', when it still wants your credit card to it's veins!
Did I mention I was an Eve bitter verteran...... And 'slightly' biased....
On the Chromebook front while I created my character on my mobile and played it on Chromebook. I've since tried to create another character(and record the experience) on it; Only to be told new characters can't be created through emulation. Bit harsh for a Chromebook. It's not like I was using bluestacks on a PC. With android apps coming to Windows 11 I wonder how Echoes will fare there(yea I'd not hold my breath). Again I wonder why a gamer would choose this over Eve online..... Especially on PC; But the try it nerd in me is interested.
When I tried it a year ago I had no issues with Bluestacks emulation or with lag that I can recall. I've not had any issues while running it on my phone now. Maybe a tiny bit and I mean tiiiiiiny bit of lag(mainly on the map screen) but nothing major. It's a subjective thing; Depending on a users phone and phone service provider as well as network coverage when travelling(it's a mobile game right?)....
The game on the Chromebook did/does have issues with lag after all transitions like docking etc.... And sometimes it was bad lag. The kind of lag where things get skipped or tapping multiple time's only gets executed after the lag has caught up. Which is probably more annoying. But the biggest issue I've had is with the graphics. My chromebook is a few years old at this stage(An Acer 4-core Intel Celeron N3160, 1.60 GHz, 2 MB Cache; 4GB DDR3L SDRAM; 32 GB eMMC storage; Intel HD Graphics 400 & an 11.6″ HD (1366 x 768) display). Echoes on it goes to plaid! Well not all, just my ships and station interiors(meta of the meta). I can do all else normally and all else does look normal. Given I'm not into the game I'm ok with that for testing. But it does look 'fun'.
My phone is a Samsung Galaxy A51 and while playing I didn't notice the camera cut-out section at all. The phone notifications, while the game was running, were discreetly noticeable and again didn't affect the game/game-play. Medium game settings did noting to 'stress' the phone. At max graphical settings the phone worked well and battery didn't seem to be affected but the phone did heat up a lot. Not to a point I couldn't hold it but it was noticeable.
I like getting the most from my tech and when I buy I 'invest' for max usage given purchase choice/constraints etc.... They are what they are and they are what I'm using. I'd not go out of my way to buy hardware to run this game. Dust was worth it for me in that time and circumstance; Eve Echoes in the here and now, not so much at all.
The biggest change from a year ago... Shows that the game/it's company(CCP) are in full cash grab mode with it. 3 different subscriptions. More in game currencies than I can shake a stick at in more locations then I want to navigate..... Playing this game is like visiting Vegas. Bright lights and the warm wafting smell of monetization from every alley.
As a game, can you tell I'm off-put by it... I'm struggling to find constructive criticism. The more I try to do anything in the game the more I'm averse to it. Large and small things have irked me. It's not just the paywalled content that abounds but 'just' general frustration in navigating it's screens. Less would have been so much more. So yea annoyance and frustration are my big takeaways.
They have tried to create the magic of Eve Online not for game-play but for the a cash bottom line. Give and take works both ways. CCP has not shown the ability to consistently show good will to players; Like they struggle with empathy. Especially if that's to 'give' players something they could/can buy from them. CCP weren't always like that but the more time passes the more I think CCP would choke on their own tongue at the idea of actual worth to daily login gifts never mind other anniversary/event freebies. Like the game it's easy to paint all of CCP with one brush. Devs are not all powerful employees and management have to answer to overlords as well. Complex. What ever happend to the 'customer is always right'. Why pay for a service if this is the service..... Perspectives!
Makes me appreciate other games like Star Trek Online which had an anniversary week and gave away in game store gifts..... Freebies for days that would have cost cash normally!
Downtime seems to get extended a lot and as such players are 'gifted' skill points.... Can you feel the love in such messages...... As if players have a choice. Then again I'm not paying for game access.
I'm still confused as to the clone types in Echoes. There's a clone type lower and more limited than Alpha? Is a noob a whole other clone class?
What is Eve Echoes..... A space game? Sure it is, in the broadest terms, similar to Eve Online. But the option that lets a player teleport to mission sites and back..... About as un-immersive as you can get.
And here's that tutorial gamplay footage I took....
The overriding sense I get from the (basic) tutorial is that my character and his reactions/answers to NPC's(cos I have no choice in the matter) makes him more of a dim schmuck as it goes on.... Very annoying and very frustrating and very, very, very immersion breaking. Not good story telling at all.
I like the way Eve Online generalizes conversations. Not every conversation starts with my name in real life, especially from people I know/work with! Yet in Echoes it's always the first thing said(yea yea I blanked out the name in the above image 'cos I'm that way). It's not only NPC's but the game in general; In putting together that 21 minute video of gameplay my characters name was used 26 times!
The NPC script, narrative and story-lines are woeful! Cringworthy and left me pondering how this was all written and signed off on!
The (basic)tutorials themselves are overly long in all the wrong ways. The 'skip quest text' tap tap tap method is strong and when I get to pilot my ship the game wants to teleport or autopilot for me. It's all so very lowest common denominator, hand holding in practicality with the highest of theory expectations for a playerbase. The advanced tutorial is the opposite(hands off and very practical, in a jump in at the deep end, kind of way), like pushing a lemming off a cliff.
Just do it
I'd gripe about the number of 'help' systems in the game but it's this game all over. Overly complicated. The one thing that I do like about the help that's given in the learning about the game process, is from the interactive help(the 'Intelligent Assistant'), how-to animations. If only there were more of that rather than narrative driven 'game-play' for learning.
I always liked the Eve Online starter systems and I appreciate them a lot more now. Eve Online has had almost a decade of change in it's new player 'experience'. CCP seem to think they can't 'get it right'. They are overthinking it way too much. They can't see the forest for the stats.
But what IS Eve Echoes? PvP... PvE... Mining... Marketeer..... A mix....? It's everything and nothing in game-play terms. You can do lots but nobody seems to..... If a player is into it they seem to pay cash and roll with it that way. The free to play elements may as well be a limited demo experience. Boxed in with paywalls. Limiting in both interest and crushing for player expectation. The game lacks a lot of the player motivations to make the in game economy and mechanics work. In a pay to win game why not pay to win. I don't blame players for that if this is 'their' thing'.
Is it more Eve Online... Or not?
So it's self described as "a next-gen mobile spaceship MMO game based upon hallmark EVE Online design principles". That's quiet the mouthful. However what it says it is... Isn't what all players will see or say. It's so very, very niche! Niche as Eve Online is Echoes is more so.
It's a spaceship game based upon Eve Online principles....... As damning a statement as any.
Don't be fooled by it. It's not Eve Online.
Like comparing Superman and Dark Superman or in this case two versions of Dark Superman.....
If you know Eve Online and the Eve Online principles, then Echoes version of Eve Online principles are to get your cash and only that while milking any 'feels' you have for Eve Online. In some ways I'm baffled that this is a thing. This game is as it is and is so cash grab..... Talk about lowering the bar!
Some describe it as "a smaller and simpler version of its big brother". Not to harp on the previous points..... I find that hard to believe from what I've seen. It's a different game when compared to Eve Online for sure. A bit like a shopping channel that's got a space theme and you get no products even when you pay for them..... Just the joy of watching the channel.... And paying for stuff. Again I'm a biased bitter Eve Online and CCP cynic; So I see Eve Echoes as the companies true form of cash grab idealism. It's shockingly so to me...... I'm kind of gobsmacked.....
The game is playable. It's playable for free.... In limited and specific ways(if you know, you know). If you can endure it's sales pitches. But again there are far better things to do with both time and cash..... And if neither matter to you and you want to play it; Again I say best of luck to you.
As for "design principles"..... Again a lot is the same in look and 'feel' as Eve Online.... The theme is there. As for game mechanics that's a pretty large grey area. They seem to have a LOT more work to do to balance tings out.
Ships in space, do look the same as Eve Online and have the same in space 'mechanics'(feel)....But to 'fit' ships as well as their use between games is very different.
Saying both games have the same elements like the player markets is again a grey area. Eve is the pinnacle of Eve markets, Echoes version is just broken.....
So broadly speaking Eve is and is not Echoes and vice versa. Even if your going down the 'lite' comparison path Echoes is far from Eve Online(not in good ways imho). Echoes is a cash grab perversion of Eve Online. That can't be argued. I'm looking for positive justifications here and I've none to offer. It's a pyramid scheme that bets on players being suckers for it, then milks them for all the cash it can. Eye's open if your going into it!! It's so blatant I'm shocked and I shouldn't be!!
I'm sure there's enjoyment if you pay and want to be there... Again if your in a group that helps. Then again your there for the group as your game-play not the game..... I see monetization and don't want to be tainted by it.
It's not a 'free' game and an Alpha in Echoes is a far cry from an Alpha in Eve Online. Did I mention I'm a CCP Cynic!!! Getting a player to be a paying customer for me at least takes good will... CCP has no good will at all(cough mystery code cough); And Echoes is the pinnacle of that lack of 'good will'.
The more I see of the game the more I wish Eve Project Aurora was developed to fruition. Then again I'm sure CCP would have killed it's spirit with a pillow of monetization over it's face.
Eve Echoes as I see it is 100% over-ambition, 100% over monetization and only delivers on 10% Eve Online game-play.
It would seem that there's a lot of developer triage and hand holding needed to make the game and it's players act as they do in Eve Online.
The economy may not work but the new limited time ship insurance/loan thing as well as no ship loss PvP is anathema when considering a game based on Eve 'principles'. Really strange especially since you start the game and 'have' to tick a box agreeing to nonconsensual PvP! Again I can't eye roll hard enough. CCP's red line principles out the window when the cash gets involved.... The only red line CCP has is the profit margins!
There I go harping on again.
For best reactions lets look at the community response to some recent patch notes and a dev open letter.
On a very personal note and as I mentioned; I really don't like my character saying or doing things that I've no choice in... I find it character breaking and a massive knock to my immersion. I'd rather have an NPC imply what I've said.... Like thanking me for my report.... etc.
That said I have a lot of questions about the nature of the text that's in the game... I've already had to do a lot of double and triple takes as to what they are waffling about. It got so bad that I ended up just rapidly tapping through it all to get to the objective..... World of Warcraft quest style... Worth mentioning again as it's not just a grammar thing. CCP and storytelling never mind lore is was a high bar!
Grammar matters, I'm not a grammer fundamentalist but cohesive stories are just the same. Noting gets 'explained', not properly. Anyway the little things do matter as much as the larger....
"I"
There are so many little things that feel wrong never mind those that are wrong that this game is very much not worth the time.
A gilded cage is still a cage.
Now to uninstall this thing from my phone and post this blog, it's been too long in the works.
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