Eve Online for download

By Kristan Reed Published 4 December, 2003

460MB, $19.99

Iceland-based Eve Online developer CCP has grabbed back the publishing rights for its MMORPG and is now offering the full game for download on its website (460MB), with a subscription offer of $19.99 for those without an account, giving you 30 days playing time at a reduced price.

The game was published in Europe by Crucial, and Simon & Schuster/Vivendi in North America, but it's fair to say its potential wasn't exactly maximised when it was released back in May. I mean, just try and find a copy in your local software store.

If you, like us, are wondering what Eve Online is all about, then imagine a massively multiplayer Elite, crusing around the universe as a spaceship captain trading, fighting and communicating with other players. Shame we never have time to devote to playing these time-sapping games.

Accordingly, CCP is pretty chuffed to have wrenched its baby back from its unloving foster parents, and has thrown in some extra content to celebrate. “We are very pleased to be in a position where we can contribute equally to both development and publishing” said CCP CEP Ivar Kristjansson.

“Our player base has been growing steadily since the launch of EVE-Online in May. Our game servers are in good shape and we are technically ready for much faster growth now.” said Hilmar V. Petursson CTO. ”The player community is a great source of new ideas for the future development of the game. EVE-Online is an evolving, living game and we can’t wait to see how the players will react to some of the new stuff we will be adding in the future.”

We never got around to reviwing this, so any readers who want to let the world know what it's like, feel free. You never know, you might win our next Reader Review prize!

Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (60) Latest comment 8 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Errol #1 9 years ago

    Yay !

    /runs off to write review/

  • Huggybear #2 9 years ago

    Join ussssssss...

  • Whizzo #3 9 years ago

    I mean, just try and find a copy in your local software store.

    My local Game has dozens of them in the two for £30 offer.

  • krudster #4 9 years ago

    My apologies for not recalling that one! I'll check it out...

  • Nemesis #5 9 years ago

    The $20 offer is a special for one week only, so if you're interested then I'd get onto it sharpish.

    EVE. Staggeringly pretty and a really cool offline skill system. It's becomes part of your routine to nip in, check/assign skill training, then bugger off again.

    Also, many thanks to Errol and Co who helped me in the early stages of EVE.

  • Tiger_Walts #6 9 years ago

    I have a couple of irl friends playing this, I feel a little tempted, especially since the latest update includes the ability for corporations to build space stations!

  • Errol #7 9 years ago

    Yes, EVE is the game I dreamed would be possible when I was much younger, playing Elite on my Amstrad.

    It is a staggering achievement to fit ALL the players into ONE single universe.

  • mingster #8 9 years ago

    Since buying this game 3 (or is it 4) months ago i have not had the time (nor inclination) to play anything else.

    I have lost my life to it.. my friends hardly see me.. going out seems pointless.. i've forgotten what my girlfriend looks like (if she rings me while im in the middle of a good npc pirate spawn i get annoyed!)

    I'm considering sueing CCP for creating a virtual drug i have become addicted to.. there needs to be a heath warning on the box!

  • Errol #9 9 years ago

    True. Playing EVE certainly saves money (that would otherwise be spent on buying other games).

  • Tipsy #10 9 years ago

    Stealth you whore, you're not meant to read EG! :)

    Stealth is my corp's director, and he sucks for not giving me a better salary. *raids corp wallet*

  • Pirotic #11 9 years ago

    i got it, tried it, and found it seriously dull - your pretty much paying a subscription just to enjoy "waiting" - waiting 20 mins to travel from one end of the galaxy to another, waiting for the mining to complete, waiting for research to be done. i just ended up using it as a glorified MSN.

    Diablo is more my cup of tea, instant action and all that :p

  • Errol #12 9 years ago

    Its the concept of Eve that is the same. I get the same sense of wonder playing it as I did when I first played Elite.

    It is easily in my top 5 games that I have ever played.

    And my top 5 looks something like this ...

    (1) Counter-strike
    (2) Quake II
    (3) Eve - Online
    (4) Deus Ex
    (5) Halflife.
    Edited by Errol at 04/12/03 @ 12:53

  • ruttyboy #13 9 years ago

    Sounds interresting, but I'm waiting for my copy of FFXI and think I will give that a good go first.

  • UncleLou #14 9 years ago

    and the idea of getting exp points whilst offline seems crazy.


    No, it's a brilliant idea for an MMORPG. I would never have subscribed to EVE if I couldn't make progress offline. While you still need to play many hours to make financial progress, it's ideal for people with less time to make at least skill progress. And it keeps you hooked to the game. I have hardly any time (and need a little break) for EVE at the moment, but ti's satisfying to know my character is busy learing stuff.

  • FWB #15 9 years ago

    Played it for a month or two and then dropped out. Not because its a bad game but because I just didn't have the time to commit to it anymore (strangely that occurred with me being unemployed). It also didn't help that I was having major resolution problems.

  • mentat #16 9 years ago

    is it any good if you are away all week and can only check in for an hour or two at the weekends?
    Worth bothering with, or not?

  • Errol #17 9 years ago

    Well, I only play for a bit at night and at the weekends, and I manage ok.

  • mingster #18 9 years ago

    Hmm MENTAT - difficult call I'd say yes if you didn't have to pay anything it will last u forever.
    you may not get your moneys worth if you can only spend a few hours a week then again £7 a month isnt a lot.

  • AOFanboi #19 9 years ago

    It's incredibly beautiful, with a nice interface to boot, but I canceled after three months or so when I noticed I generally just fired it up to start training a new skill (which occurs whether you're online or not) and then fired up the somewhat more interactive Anarchy Online or ToonTown.

    But it's definitely recommended to people who want to try a MMOG without much of a leveling-focus.

  • oddheadshape #20 9 years ago

    ''Played it for a month or two and then dropped out. Not because its a bad game but because I just didn't have the time to commit to it anymore''

    about the same scenario for me. it was fun while it lasted but to be honest i got to a point where i just didnt want to play it any more. it takes up alot of time and i just got that sense that i was spending hours doing literally nothing. if it were less time consuming, and if there was more to do (something that seems like it requires some sort of skill) maybe i would have kept it up.

  • Errol #21 9 years ago

    Just getting better and better at the moment. Really accelerating.

    EVE has some exciting times ahead.

  • oddheadshape #22 9 years ago

    ''Just getting better and better at the moment. Really accelerating.''


    what have i missed? whats changed in the past 4 months or so?

  • Lutz #23 9 years ago

    I'm still of the opinion that X2 will kick Eve all over the show.

  • Errol #24 9 years ago

    Rain man - You have missed loads of things. And you are about to miss some of the biggest changes yet.

  • Errol #25 9 years ago

    Yes, the graphics still leave me feeling all warm inside ! (and thats after months of play). They are truly stunning.

  • Errol #26 9 years ago

    When was the last time you played ? It has virtually 0 bugs now.

  • FWB #27 9 years ago

    Errol opened a wormhole into fanboy space.

    Tis a good game though.

  • Errol #28 9 years ago

    <a href= "http://www.eve-i.com/">Eve-i.com</a> mentions eurogamer story.

  • Errol #29 9 years ago

    The Pvp element is, imo, quite a small part of eve. Ive been playing since uk release and have NEVER engaged in pvp really.

    It is the economics, the interaction, the equipment, the single universe, the stunning graphics, the intrigue that is interesting. That is what eve is all about.

    Its a game for adults really.

  • Errol #30 9 years ago

    I think you have missed the 'point' of eve completely.

    It is not a problem it just means that you are probably not suited to this sort of game.

  • Errol #31 9 years ago

    for instance, Whizz - I can have endless fun (and I mean hours) just checking market prices, and shipping various items to various systems to sell at competetive prices.

    I also have lots of fun attempting to control the buy/sell prices for various ores in Gehi - without ever even moving from station. I did this for 2 hours a few days ago, whilst keeping up with CFS navy reports of pirate engagements in the CFS public channel.

  • Velios #32 9 years ago

    After playing EVE for over six months I still cant put it down... My work has suffered, my RL social has suffered... but I still have EVE :) Its the most amazing game I ever played bar none. Time consuming yes, absorbing definately. Like so many others here sucked into EVE life i have no desire to play anything else and the game is just going to get better and better as time goes by.

    Hope to see more of you in space soon!

    HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

  • Gizzz #33 9 years ago

    Since Eve My weekends look like this
    Play eve in the morning, while dt do some fast shopping and food,
    play eve all afternoon, get some food, play eve all evening till late night
    then sleep for a couple of hours dreaming playing eve,
    get up real early to play again

    --------------------
    A wife ?? Is that a real life thing that is always nagging to you that you play to much eve ?

  • mingster #34 9 years ago

    I feel so much better. I thought it was only me that had ruined my social life for EVE. I know i am not alone now. Breaths sigh of relief! Umm maybe we need a group therapy session thing to help us readjust...

  • Errol #35 9 years ago

    b35t g4m3 3v4r.

  • oddheadshape #36 9 years ago

    velios still sticking around i see. hows the shadow boxer-less corp doing these days??

  • Ginger #37 9 years ago

    Well it IS a great game, but I have to say it's becoming a little stale for me now. I've been in since UK launch, had great fun in a great corp (guild equivalent) but I'm in the process of leaving in order to try and drag some enthusiasm for this game up again.

    At times it just all feels so samey.

    Having said that it has sucked up a huge amount of time since it's release becuase it was so much fun. Most of the ppl are great too, but it's true that you do get a few l33t kiddies flying around exploiting the flaws in the software.

    /rant off

  • Errol #38 9 years ago

    <a href= "http://www.bluesnews.com/cgi-bin/board.pl?action=viewthread&threadid=45781">Eve gets a mention on Bluesnews</a>.

  • Errol #39 9 years ago

    Leftbollock - If you think its boring, it simply means that this game is not for you. Get over it. Move on.

  • Errol #40 9 years ago

    lol. I play all sorts of games. I love Counter-strike, I've been amongst the best Quake II players in the world, I love strategy games etc.

    I hate rubbish games. EVE does not fall into this category. EVE is easily in the top 5 games I've ever played - and I judge harshly.

    A game has to be really good - the best of its kind - to get into my top 10.

  • Errol #41 9 years ago

    Ashfelt - its only dull if your imagination is dull.

    Also, have you not heard of insurance ?

  • Errol #42 9 years ago

    Catherine - How you doin ?

  • oddheadshape #43 9 years ago

    i must have alot of people on ignore or something....all i see is errol arguing with himself for most of this comments section......

  • UncleLou #44 9 years ago

    Looks like you're ignoring unregistered users in general. Unignore them NOW, you don't know what you're missing in some of the threads! ;-)

  • Velios #45 9 years ago

    Hey Shadow Boxer, good to hear from you... Yeah the corp is ticking over, I had to take leave of the corp while I moved house and unfortunately there has been a slight member drift. Thats natural, and I'm presently in the process of regrouping with the best of what we have now and moving base to a new system. We are moving onto teamspeak for better comms also.

    EVE still rocks though, and I doubt Final Fantasy XI will be able to tear me away.

    Hope you are well Rain_Man
    Vel

  • Errol #46 9 years ago

    Velio - move to the Gehi area. CFS space is cool.

  • WoodenSpoon #47 9 years ago

    Sounds kinda sad and life consuming to be honest...

    /Runs from incoming flames.

  • Errol #48 9 years ago

    That is only your opinion.

    I thrive on excitment in games. I get the same excitment from eve, as I do from UT2003 or CS.

    Its a stunning game. And frankly, if you don't like it why bother posting on this thread ?
    Edited by Errol at 07/12/03 @ 23:22

  • mingster #49 9 years ago

    Mingster in EVE reader review shocker! Check it out.

    Hi to all EVE addicts in the universe.

  • Errol #50 9 years ago

    Yes, its excellent. I've been playing for 6 months + already and stil lovin' it.

  • Mike_Hunt #51 8 years ago

    Bah! It's 1/10 at best!

    3 MONTHS FFS!!one

    [MH]

  • Harry  #52 8 years ago

    Quite a high score MH, after all they don't even let you fly your own ships in this. I think the game's been created for those kids who are only allowed sporks to eat their dinner.

  • BartonFink #53 8 years ago

    Seems like a fair enough score.
    3 Months FFS three months wasted while you could be playing something else. Sheesh.

  • sam_spade #54 8 years ago

    Well they are giving it away free, that says it all really.

  • BartonFink #55 8 years ago

    True can't be much good then can it?

  • sam_spade #56 8 years ago

    It's like that Desert Combat mod for BF1942. Free! Don't make me laugh. Shit, more like!

  • mustardkid #57 8 years ago

    hey sounds good i might give this a try

  • mustardkid #58 8 years ago

    ..what?

  • sam_spade #59 8 years ago

    This isn't a review, this a news story.

    Most inane post ever!

  • Errol #60 8 years ago

    heh.