What's the longest you've gone without playing? An EVE Online poll.

So as you probably know (or should!), I took the first month of this year off. No blogging, no EVE, no gaming. None, nadda, notin! Though it wasn't planned, it was a breath of fresh air, and aloud me to consider why I consider spending so much of my leisure time in or around EVE Online.

So why did I come back after a month hiatus? For a bunch of reasons actually.

First and foremost, the setting - science-fiction on a space-opera scale never seen before or since. CCP's space MMO is in a league of it's own when it comes to vastness. The lore also has a lot to day with this appeal. And this goes for the official EVE Chronicles and the fan material (EON, forum and all). More, give me more. I can't wait for Tony's book in June, and for CCP White Wolf's RPG books!

Second, it's a virtual world (notice I did not use the term game) that has endless possibilities, one where I can do as I please. It's not a theme park, its much more a sandbox. I can build a castle of any size I choose, I can play with others, or not, and I can share my toys, or not. I like choice; I hate being told what to do, or where to go.

Third, the EVE community, the players. I don't know if you've noticed, but EVE Online attracts a different type of player than your typical theme-park MMO (WoW anyone). It's a more dedicated crowd (hell with the learning curve it has, only addicts get beyond the tutorials!), a more mature bunch of geeks. Though we still know how to throw a god damn amazing party, especially at the top of the world! And how could I forget the unforgettable, unmistakable, Warp Drive Active podcasts by the greatest EVE fanboys out there, winterblink and urban mongral! How could I live without my regular WDA podcast!

So for all these reasons, I came back. I returned home, to New Eden. To have fun, to dream, to get podded. And to try all over again!

So what about you? While you're at it, if the poll is still up (top right of this blog), please cast your vote, let us know why you left, but most importantly, why you came back. Cause you did come back, right?

EON #010 - Table of Content

With the 1oth issue of EON, MMMPublishing have managed to out do themselves! I got the issue a while back, but only picked it up to start reading over the week-end. And boy is this one loaded with the good stuff. This issues has articles on the Fanfest 2007 (thanks to fellow Canuck Winterblink), CCP history, PVP cruisers and a ton of others!

And then there's the EVE Fanfest 2007 DVD (with printable jewel covers here and here). A godsend at the very least. If any of you out there weren't convinced that this event is the EVE geek version of paradise, then nothing will. I'm now counting the days until CCP announces the next one, and booking hotel and flight as soon as word get out. I can't wait!!

So, without further ado, here is the table of content of this latest issue. Mark your calendars boys and girls, the next one comes out in April, and will have updates on Ambulation, which should be arriving sometime before Xmas.



Table of Content - EON 010

• Page 6 --- E-ON Upfront (News)
• 14 ---- E-ON Awards 2008
• 16 ---- Post Cards from Fest (Photos of last years Fanfest)
• 18 ---- Fanfest 2007
• 24 ---- Fanfest: Round Table Round-Up
• 26 ---- In Character: Midnightter (Player Character Interview)
• 38 ---- Chronicle: A Moment's Rest by Sauili Niemelã
• 30 ---- Alliance Profile: Triumvirate
• 32 ---- Ten Years of CCP: The Original Plan (Part two)
• 38 ---- In Crowd: Helgi Mar Pordarson (CCP Employee Interview)
• 42 ---- Chronicle: Small Fish by John Kastronis
• 48 ---- Cover Story: The State of EVE
• 54 ---- Alliance Profile: Hedonistic Imperative
• 56 ---- Testflight: PVP Cruisers (Caracal, Rupture, Thorax, Stabber, Arbitrator, Vexor, Maller, Blackbird)
• 66 ---- In Crowd: Reynir Hardarsson (CCP Employee Interview)
• 68 ---- Insider's Guide: Starting Out (Player Guide)
• 78 ---- Insider's Guide: ISD - Part 4 (Player Guide)
• 82 ---- Teh Funnies (EVE Humour)

How I survived a month without EVE Online & lived to tell about it!

No, I'm not dead!

Far from it!

I'm completely healthy as a matter of fact.

But I haven't played EVE since the Xmas holidays (and haven't blogged since the 5th). Well except to change skills that is; but that doesn't count as playing in my book. That's just a necessary evil. But I never planned to stop for a month. It just happened. I got busy with getting ready for CES - which was a worked related attendance (not to say that I didn't the gadgets and all). Then, I was trying to get back to speed with everything that waited for me at work when I got back. Then the usual follow-up. I even put aside my EON issue when I got it, and will actually go through it for the first time this week-end.

Next thing you know, a month had gone by, and friends started getting worried.

But, I'm back. Back to my regular game play. Back to posting on a regular basis.

Back to New Eden! Home, sweet Home...

Here are some of the idea for articles that I'll be exploring over the next few weeks:

• Review of "The Art of EVE", as promised way back when...
• EON #10 Table of Content
• Review of my character's 33 million skill points allocation
• Revisit of my EVE wish list
• Review of the last year (posts, traffic, highlights, etc.)
• New polls

And many more.

Glad to be back!