It's been an age since my last post, and not much has changed.
Well, a ton has changed, but the underlying sentiment from February 2015 -- that real life is displacing any time for meaningful Eve interaction -- has calcified. This week I logged in for the first time in months to reallocate attribute points and to update the skill queue, but I won't renew my subscription when it lapses in about five weeks.
I'd like to think that if I had more time, I'd be incredibly keen on jumping into World War Bee against the Imperium. Much as I enjoy TheMittani.com, my brief spell in an Imperium-affiliated corporation was repulsive. The median age of Eve's players is ~32 (more data here), but I would have guessed otherwise based on the wretched (i.e. racist, misogynist, homophobic) language scattered all over the Imperium's web presence. It's not just an Eve thing; take a loot at the gaming community's other sporadic descents into madness, e.g. "gamergate." But, for a game that so notoriously requires a bunch of smarts to master, it's a shame it doesn't always bring social graces. Or just kindness.
(Surely there are lots of very nice people on Eve: I've been one of them, and I've written before about a couple of others I encountered. I suppose this is another instance of a mindset having a loud mouth disproportionate to its adherents.)
Then again, I was an active player for a year-ish, and PvP never really caught my passion. Even before my daughter arrived, there was just so much other real-world content to latch onto.
All that said: I'm not liquidating my assets, and if circumstances change and allow me to make a subscription meaningful again, I'll jump right back in my Ishtar (or Kronos or ... something else) and happily putter around.
Showing posts with label real world. Show all posts
Showing posts with label real world. Show all posts
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Playing the long game
My daughter was born a couple of weeks ago. There's a lame joke to be made about a frigate-sized baby requiring many years of real-world skill training to pilot. But, the more apt observation is that this noob is handily piloting a pair of Titan-sized tenders.
February 15, 2014, was my first day with Eve. Since then, my family has moved, we've had a baby, and my dog has doubled in size. In the game, I've churned through five characters, whittled down to three. (Yesterday, I briefly regretted getting rid of my stripminer, Rosy: picking at asteroids seems an easy, casual way to do something in the game while doing a 3:00 a.m. bottle feeding. But, then I remembered: I'd much rather sit in our nice corner rocking chair than this creaky desk chair. So, no sweat.) In that span, I've flown over a dozen types of ships, racing up to cruisers and battlecruisers, plateauing for a spell with a battleship, clawing my way into a marauder ... only to look around and wish for the speed and energy of a frigate. It's all been very exciting.
I wrote before about trying to squeeze in as much Eve as possible before baby's arrival, but alas that didn't happen. Spent more time playing X-Wing Alliance, plus a bit of Grim Fandango. All other things being equal -- or, unchanged -- I'd be jumping headlong back into Eve. While X-Wing games have been fun, their nostalgia and neo-novelty value is waning, but Eve is always fresh, and I have plenty of goals I've barely crawled toward. But: baby!
Soon after leaving graduate school, I made one of my first Adult Decisions: I took $100 and put it in a Certificate of Deposit. A year later, I'd made $6 interest! Well, Eve is about to become my next CD, with a minimum one-year term: no-touch (much), but with higher value when it comes out of the oven. And that's due to a big change in the game in November: CCP removed the requirement that all queued skills begin training within 24 hours, and players now can queue up to 50 skills regardless of when training starts.
Well, Eemiv has 50 skills lined up, training time to complete in about a year. (Technically, a bit sooner: in April, I'll realign Eemiv's core attributes to accelerate training.) Eemiv's core ship-fitting skills are pretty well maxed out; a year hence, he'll be maxed out in additional gunnery, maneuver, and ship types. Dengar's parallel queue isn't as long, only about 60 days: I've tightly trained her up for frigates and cruisers (around which she's well maxed out) and, more recently, logistics. In about a month, her parallel training (which costs extra money) will end; when Eemiv's queue is done, Dengar's remaining 30 days will wrap up. I'll continue to update Eemiv's skill planning spreadsheet as things tick off -- thank you, Eve Droid, for keeping me posted on these developments without me needing to log in or fire up Evemon in bootcamp. My final character, Talon, has a few market orders ending in about a week: I'll need to renew them, and that's kind of a blessing because it also means I can consolidate a few of them.
As I've thought about the changes that come with having a baby, I've realized that as much as I love games, I enjoy reading and writing more. Those two things are more compatible with being interrupted by an unpredictable child. (And, when there is time for games, titles kike Grim Fandango are a better fit than Eve in my current circumstances.) Still, I plan to continue to write about Eve -- I have a few draft entries begun -- but this may be coupled with a few other topics. I've given some thought to consolidating this blog with my blog on model-building, and perhaps just broaden it to be "a place to write about stuff" (such as the books I'm reading: I just finished Leviathan Wakes, which was pretty amazing). We will see.
o7, everyone.
February 15, 2014, was my first day with Eve. Since then, my family has moved, we've had a baby, and my dog has doubled in size. In the game, I've churned through five characters, whittled down to three. (Yesterday, I briefly regretted getting rid of my stripminer, Rosy: picking at asteroids seems an easy, casual way to do something in the game while doing a 3:00 a.m. bottle feeding. But, then I remembered: I'd much rather sit in our nice corner rocking chair than this creaky desk chair. So, no sweat.) In that span, I've flown over a dozen types of ships, racing up to cruisers and battlecruisers, plateauing for a spell with a battleship, clawing my way into a marauder ... only to look around and wish for the speed and energy of a frigate. It's all been very exciting.
I wrote before about trying to squeeze in as much Eve as possible before baby's arrival, but alas that didn't happen. Spent more time playing X-Wing Alliance, plus a bit of Grim Fandango. All other things being equal -- or, unchanged -- I'd be jumping headlong back into Eve. While X-Wing games have been fun, their nostalgia and neo-novelty value is waning, but Eve is always fresh, and I have plenty of goals I've barely crawled toward. But: baby!
Well, Eemiv has 50 skills lined up, training time to complete in about a year. (Technically, a bit sooner: in April, I'll realign Eemiv's core attributes to accelerate training.) Eemiv's core ship-fitting skills are pretty well maxed out; a year hence, he'll be maxed out in additional gunnery, maneuver, and ship types. Dengar's parallel queue isn't as long, only about 60 days: I've tightly trained her up for frigates and cruisers (around which she's well maxed out) and, more recently, logistics. In about a month, her parallel training (which costs extra money) will end; when Eemiv's queue is done, Dengar's remaining 30 days will wrap up. I'll continue to update Eemiv's skill planning spreadsheet as things tick off -- thank you, Eve Droid, for keeping me posted on these developments without me needing to log in or fire up Evemon in bootcamp. My final character, Talon, has a few market orders ending in about a week: I'll need to renew them, and that's kind of a blessing because it also means I can consolidate a few of them.
As I've thought about the changes that come with having a baby, I've realized that as much as I love games, I enjoy reading and writing more. Those two things are more compatible with being interrupted by an unpredictable child. (And, when there is time for games, titles kike Grim Fandango are a better fit than Eve in my current circumstances.) Still, I plan to continue to write about Eve -- I have a few draft entries begun -- but this may be coupled with a few other topics. I've given some thought to consolidating this blog with my blog on model-building, and perhaps just broaden it to be "a place to write about stuff" (such as the books I'm reading: I just finished Leviathan Wakes, which was pretty amazing). We will see.
o7, everyone.
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Goals update update
NB my mid-September note updating some gameplay goals -- or the short, short version below:
- Train up to use tech 2 modules on Eemiv's main mission-running ship
- Clone Eemiv and stick one copy amid the dangers of low-security space
- With Dengar, participate in two RvB weekend events
- Stretch goal, not time-bound: train Eemiv up for flying logistics (i.e., essentially, medic)
I gave myself a two-month window and should've added a fifth goal, to wit: post an update two months later so that I'd have at least one post in November.
I'm giving myself a 60% success rate on these. Here's the breakdown:
- Modules: done and on time. When I began Eve, I decided to wring myself an early advantage by cashing in (rather, ISKing in) Plex to buy more-powerful (than even T2) but easier-to-fit faction modules. However, faction and higher level modules just aren't worth the real or potential expense: the real cost being the much higher price tag without that much more power, and the potential cost coming from carrying around all that bling to become a target for gankers. (There's really no such thing as "solo" play; even if I'm content to shoot NPCs, anyone else can scan my Kronos, do a cost-benefit analysis, and decide to blow me up while compatriots raid my corpse.) Anyhow, I've sold back the faction modules, and it's nice to have back some of that ISK with which to play the market.
- Clone: I modified the goal a bit and it's still in progress. The biggest hang-up here is that I just didn't invest the time to wrap my head around jump clone mechanics. I had an errant (mis)understanding that jumping between clones requires both the current and target clones to be at stations with medical bays. I was having a devil of time (indeed, utterly failing) at finding a good home base for Eemiv: a station with whose owners Eemiv had good standing, access to level 4 missions, and close to a trade hub to get loot onto market. But, just yesterday I carefully read up on jump cloning and got my facts straight: medical bay only required to create the jump clone; afterward, jumping can happen from non-medbay stations. Eemiv now has a jump clone with a ship -- but, rather than winnowing in on low- or null-security space broadly, I'm going to send him into a wormhole again pretty soon, hopefully better trained and equipped than last time. I like the exploration component of Eve. So, goal amended and delayed, and work continues. As an aside, I like the clone changes coming this week and am curious about the additional clone mechanic shifts CCP has alluded to.
- RvB weekend events: I tried. I logged in for a cruiser event, decked out in a Thorax, but there were no fleets. I bounced between three jump gates in the neighborhood and saw maybe one ship, neither friend nor foe, who promptly jumped out. Weird. I didn't log in for a second weekend event because they were generally free-for-alls, and those just don't interest me right now. Goal not met.
- Logistics: kinda sorta, in that I shifted it from Eemiv to Dengar. I initially envisioned Eemiv as a bit of a free agent, tacking onto missions in local chat as people requested. But, I figure this would be more useful if I did it with Dengar, where logistics piloting for a group can more readily be useful. Dengar is trained up to fly a tech 2 Oneiros logistics cruiser, but I'll try experimenting initially with a less expensive tech 1 Exequror. I definitely need to further investigate good fits for these hulls.
 |
| Typical jump clones From Sony Movie Channel |
So, what now? By the end of the month, I plan to
- Have Eemiv run a hacking, relic or data site in wormhole, low-sec, or null-sec space.
- Have Dengar fly logistics in an RvB fleet once
- Train Eemiv to fly assault and covert ops frigate
- Assess Eemiv's skill training plan to identify when best to remap his attribute points, thereby adjusting the rate at which certain skills train. The character will be able (but is not compelled) to remap his attribute points come February.
- Report back to the blog my progress on the above!
And the stretch goal: have Eemiv or Dengar join a new corporation. I would like to be more engaged with other plays in blowing up internet spaceships, and I'm starting to feel the confidence now to do that.
My initial anxiety at doing this was in-game, i.e. not being able to afford to get blown up a lot as I learned the ropes. Frankly, my anxiety about trying to get more involved now involves the real word: I'm going to be a father in February, and I hesitate to jump into a group I soon won't be able to do much for. But, there are large groups out there that I'm sure can absorb "real life" just fine. And, besides, there's only so long as I can go without kicking myself for coming up with reasons not to do something. If fatherhood is going to mean less time for flying around, well darnit I better get in as much flying and pewpew! as I can now.
Monday, March 17, 2014
Pick your Axis power
This weekend, my wife and I took a cutlery class at William-Sonoma. The presenter got into the real nitty-gritty about knives, and some of it tickled my Eve brain.
There are lots of knives (bread, bond, sushi, santoku, etc.) just like Eve presents different hulls (frigates, freighters, battleships, and the like). Japanese knives are lighter, thinner, with a steeper blade angle than ze Germans'. These differences lend themselves to different cutting styles in the same way missile-heavy Caldari ships lend themselves to a different play style than the drone-happy Gallente. You need to fit the knife in your hand correctly to control it; you need to outfit your ship correctly to use it well. There are cheap knives and ships you won't mind dinging up, and plenty of high-end items that provide great power but that you'll want to use wisely. Often, there's a right knife or ship ideal for the job, and plenty to choose from -- but, you can get through most jobs with just a few you're comfortable with. And sometimes, you just do or pick things because they look pretty.
Go figure.
There are lots of knives (bread, bond, sushi, santoku, etc.) just like Eve presents different hulls (frigates, freighters, battleships, and the like). Japanese knives are lighter, thinner, with a steeper blade angle than ze Germans'. These differences lend themselves to different cutting styles in the same way missile-heavy Caldari ships lend themselves to a different play style than the drone-happy Gallente. You need to fit the knife in your hand correctly to control it; you need to outfit your ship correctly to use it well. There are cheap knives and ships you won't mind dinging up, and plenty of high-end items that provide great power but that you'll want to use wisely. Often, there's a right knife or ship ideal for the job, and plenty to choose from -- but, you can get through most jobs with just a few you're comfortable with. And sometimes, you just do or pick things because they look pretty.
Go figure.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Day 9: Welcome!?
Shortly after the first post went up, I found this interesting essay about Eve posted at Polygon.
Lots of things stand out. I mentioned one already: some kind of overlap between playing Eve and building a model ship. But the presence of just one woman quoted in the article sparked a memory of something my wife said nine days ago: she suggested I create a female character ("capsuleer") to see whether I'd be harassed because of the character's (and other players' supposition about my) gender.
Unfortunately, there are lots of examples that dovetail with that kind of behavior toward women: reporter Josh Mattingly's harassment of game designer Laralyn McWilliams, threats of violence toward Anna Sarkeesian, the #1ReasonWhy hashtag before the 2013 Game Developers Conference, a professional gamer's wretched treatment at the hands of her coach, and the inane disbelief of Aisha Tyler's love of video games, to name a few.
All of which are awful. And while I think the vast majority of game players are as appalled by this behavior as I am, I think there's also a much broader exclusionary mindset among game-players than many folks realize or want to admit. In addition to the attention toward the poor treatment of women who play games (and even as characters), there's lots of vitriol toward other populations: beyond the more obvious awful language about e.g. gays and blacks during in-game trash talk, there's much nasty language about new, unskilled, and casual game-players. I even demure from using the word "gamer" because it's often part of the "You're not a [real] gamer because [arbitrary X]." And even though I'm squarely in the middle when it comes to game-buying and -playing demographics, might innate sense of gamer-ness
Many of PBS Game/Show's videos focus on community, and most recently (as of this post, and embedded at right) tried to define "gamer"ness. Beyond this one, host Jamin Warren asks questions about racism, the portrayal and stereotypes of men in games, trolls, sexual orientation, violence, and even (relevant to my wife's initial suggestion) playing a character whose gender is opposite your own.
When it comes to language and welcome-ness online, I often think of a Penny Arcade comic from 2004 that, tongue only mildly lodged against cheek, remains relevant. That caricature, though, is a small but disproportionately loud and impactful population. A more contemporary and thoughtful look into that discomfort-minded population comes from the University of Manitoba, who found strong correlation between trolling (granted, just one type of exclusionary act) and the "dark triad" of narcissism, machiavellianism, and psychopathy. Yowser.
The aforementioned Polygon essay makes clear that trolling and griefing are a big part of Eve. And that's not my cup of tea. But, that essay also spotlights some of the polar opposite -- facilitators, helpers, and generally nice folk -- and that sounds pretty swell. I hope to stumble into more of the latter than the former. Eve lets players create three characters per account. If I decide to create a second character, I'll probably make her female, and we'll see what happens.
Lots of things stand out. I mentioned one already: some kind of overlap between playing Eve and building a model ship. But the presence of just one woman quoted in the article sparked a memory of something my wife said nine days ago: she suggested I create a female character ("capsuleer") to see whether I'd be harassed because of the character's (and other players' supposition about my) gender.
Unfortunately, there are lots of examples that dovetail with that kind of behavior toward women: reporter Josh Mattingly's harassment of game designer Laralyn McWilliams, threats of violence toward Anna Sarkeesian, the #1ReasonWhy hashtag before the 2013 Game Developers Conference, a professional gamer's wretched treatment at the hands of her coach, and the inane disbelief of Aisha Tyler's love of video games, to name a few.
All of which are awful. And while I think the vast majority of game players are as appalled by this behavior as I am, I think there's also a much broader exclusionary mindset among game-players than many folks realize or want to admit. In addition to the attention toward the poor treatment of women who play games (and even as characters), there's lots of vitriol toward other populations: beyond the more obvious awful language about e.g. gays and blacks during in-game trash talk, there's much nasty language about new, unskilled, and casual game-players. I even demure from using the word "gamer" because it's often part of the "You're not a [real] gamer because [arbitrary X]." And even though I'm squarely in the middle when it comes to game-buying and -playing demographics, might innate sense of gamer-ness
Many of PBS Game/Show's videos focus on community, and most recently (as of this post, and embedded at right) tried to define "gamer"ness. Beyond this one, host Jamin Warren asks questions about racism, the portrayal and stereotypes of men in games, trolls, sexual orientation, violence, and even (relevant to my wife's initial suggestion) playing a character whose gender is opposite your own.
When it comes to language and welcome-ness online, I often think of a Penny Arcade comic from 2004 that, tongue only mildly lodged against cheek, remains relevant. That caricature, though, is a small but disproportionately loud and impactful population. A more contemporary and thoughtful look into that discomfort-minded population comes from the University of Manitoba, who found strong correlation between trolling (granted, just one type of exclusionary act) and the "dark triad" of narcissism, machiavellianism, and psychopathy. Yowser.
The aforementioned Polygon essay makes clear that trolling and griefing are a big part of Eve. And that's not my cup of tea. But, that essay also spotlights some of the polar opposite -- facilitators, helpers, and generally nice folk -- and that sounds pretty swell. I hope to stumble into more of the latter than the former. Eve lets players create three characters per account. If I decide to create a second character, I'll probably make her female, and we'll see what happens.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Day 8: Going to write about this
This fall, I started building a model ship, the Albatros. When the difficulty curve for this project has kicked up, I've sometimes redirected my mind toward video games: Splinter-Cell (meh), Call of Duty (blah), and Lego Marvel Super Heroes (yeah!) all distracted me from nailing planks and gluing strakes.
Most recently, though, it's Eve Online. Why? I'd heard about Eve off and on for a long time: the web occasionally lights up with videos of enormous space battles, and Eve is mentioned in the after-aftermath coverage of Sean Smith (one of the oft-unnamed in the refrain about "Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans"). Furthermore: I'm a sci-fi nerd. And as much as games divert from building Albatros, there is a shared notion of ship-ness between Eve and my model that appeals to something deep in my DNA. Plus, hey, 14-day free trial! So, last weekend: downloaded, installed, puttered.
It was about day 6 when I asked my wife whether she was okay with us paying the monthly subscriber fee.
There are a lot of things about Eve that fascinate me. There are a few things I'm absolutely wary of (that were even barriers to me giving it a try earlier). From what I've seen and read, there are some aspects of the Eve community that are hugely appealing, but also some of the same things that make me wary of the online gaming "community" in general.
As much as I like ships, I like writing. That's why I've been writing about building Albatros, and that's why I'm going to write about Eve. Whether I'm flexing my hand-eye coordination with tweezers or a mouse, it's nice to process my thinking and ideas through the written word. So, here's the first one. More to come.
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