A future vision of a whole universe…

Another weekend is nearly over, and along with it this year’s EvE Fanfest 2011. Although I didn’t attend it directly, the stream really did a fine job to make me catch the most important information for the future, add some crazy amounts of Facebook coverage on top of it and I had their schedule brought to me wheter I wanted it or not. However, their intrusion really was worth it, as I prefered to want it. This certainly made me feel that laziness is asked for, but only for a slight glimpse of course!

Although most people expected some station walking, and Dust514 coverage, CCP really did a fine job to delay these demands at least until monday, when the hard reality of a normal work-day’s schedule in tandem with the dreaded, utterly pointless summer-time kicks in, making people bash everything without any reason.
To sum up the Saturday, there was a lot more talk than walk in my eyes. I certainly don’t mean it as negative as it it sounds, but I just hope CCP is up for the challenge their hype caused. When it comes to content which we might see in the near future, I’m certainly impressed, but as a (totally) new player I’d probably not really care about those features.
I’m talking about redesigned totally awesome looking (actually something I really look forward too) nebulae, and (also great looking) animated turrets!

I’m so looking forward to seeing those, the latter announcement actually really came by surprise, very refreshing to still see gaming companies which don’t neglect the small things, which still count! Thumbs up CCP.

“Eat it Drone- and Missile-Users” – A shame I’m one of those, but still looking forward to it. =P

But that’s not all, Friday also revealed a preview of a new feature, which hits Singularity (PTR) in the next few weeks. And it actually counts as content which probably will attract new players aswell. Indeed, I’m talking about Officer’s Quarters, the beginning of station walking!
Totally looked unfinished (and in my eyes even underwhelming), but there certainly is some time left until summer keeps us chained at the PC because of hot temperatures! Yes, that last sentence is misleading, and I guess that was intended.
This feature basically will get rid of the basic icon UI when docked at stations, quite refreshing, I just hope it won’t get annoying too fast. I somehow love my excel and ship spinning, but in the longrun it’s just a part of something even bigger.
Walking in space stations itself still has been mentioned, and all I can say is, if it’s only implemented partially, it still will be a a huge success. Adding socializing elements like gambling and aspects which come close to a black market – including smuggling – really feel comfortable in the already intriguing and dark world of EvE online. Smuggling actually should be mentioned on its own, as in the future it’s quite possible that cargo is not scanned by NPCs but by players itself, allowing them to tag illegal transports.
Still a vague vision, but I’m really looking forward to it!
All these activities you find on stations most certainly will involve ISK in some way, and it also has been revealed that corperations really have an influence on how things work out, literally, as they even can add new NPCs with unique features.

The Fanfest 2011 didn’t end with a well advertised party for most people however. The big bang being a video of CCP’s future vision.
I’m not sure if it’s such a great idea to hype it too much, but the crowd even asked to have it played again… quite a bold move on CCP’s behalf, let alone the seamless transition between EvE Online and Dust514. Quite a feeling to see console players being the PC gamer’s bitch. ;]

Anyway, enjoy the walk:

I’m not sure if I should be sceptical though. It certainly is just a vision, but from what I can see here, it fits to the whole theme of EvE Online. So yeah, I’m looking forward to see what the future brings to EvE Online, the ever evolving MMO. The stakes are high CCP, and a lot of companies have failed from what I can tell in that regard, but for whatever reason I have faith in you.

“Now keep going, and do what I’m paying you for…” – speaking of that, the Hardware has been upgraded aswell…