See you at the Top of the World!

Well it's done! In less than 120 days I'll be flying to Iceland for the 5th EVE Online Fanfest! Earlier this week I booked my flights and hotel. The only thing that's missing right now is the actual Fanfest pass, which isn't yet available for purchase on the EVE Store.

So I'll be staying at the Grand Hotel Reykjavik for 4 nights, arriving on the morning of Nov. 5th and leaving on the evening of the 9th. If you're also staying there, drop me a comment and we'll try to get together for a beer or something. I chose the Grand based on the fact that it's close to where the event will be held, though I later learned that it was far from the downtown nightlife. Oh well, I'm sure I'll find a few guys (and gals) to share a cab with.

After talking with my wife about it, we decided that I should go by myself this year. Maybe she'll join me next year and enjoy the Sisters of EVE Program. For this first time though, I'll be on my own!

If you're curious to see what the 2007 edition of the event was like, head over to Winterblink's photo set and get small taste. Or read about it in EON issue #10.

As for myself, I just can't wait to get there!

EON Issue #012 should be here any day now!

The latest issue of EON magazine shipped out of the UK on July 4th, last Friday. So it should be here any day now. I think I've checked the mailbox at least 3 times a day since Tuesday. This is a special issue for me.

You see, yours truly, has penned the cover article for the issue. With some great editorial help from Zapatero, I've written the article on the history of Mining. So I'm a little anxious to see the final results.

Hopefully it'll come out not too bad. I guess you'll be the judge of that!Here's what to expect in this next issue:

LET'S ROCK Mining is a profession that has been cruelly overlooked by E-ON, and in-game miners have been looked upon with disdain by a great many. CCP itself admits it's a part of EVE that's been left to its own devices for a touch too long. In the face of such wanton ignominy, this issue we give some love back to the grime-faced mineral extraction technicians of New Eden by looking at how mining has changed, what the profession means to EVE in general and hint at what changes lie ahead.

HUGE FREE POSTER OF THE UNIVERSE Two years ago we gave away a free poster featuring a map of New Eden and an update has been long overdue. This issue we're proud to be able to give away to our subscribers a new, even bigger version. At A1-size (841 x 594mm) it will include notice of outposts, security information, jump lines and Faction Warfare regions, system and region jump lines and of course region names. It certainly won't have the same kind of depth as the new EVE Strategic Maps book, but will certainly be complimentary to it, and will look very cool on any wall regardless. Remember, it's for subscribers only.

COUNCIL MEETING With the freshly-interred members of the Council of Stellar Management having returned from their first meeting with CCP, as well as reporting on what transpired, we ask whether what went on was just a bit of a chat or the beginning of a revolution for virtual worlds.

THREE INSIDER GUIDES In a slight departure from normal gameplay guides, in this issue we bring you a look behind the EVE forums, an idiot-friendly guide to lag and a massive how-to on writing EVE-themed fiction.

PLUS Profiles on Intrepid Crossing, Goonswarm and Ev0ke | Heavy Interdictors undocked | Interviews with GM Wyrm and prepH | Curzon Dax and DHB WildCat? tell us their histories | ...and lots of other stuff

Maybe it'll be in the mail tomorrow. Or else it's going to be a long wait until next Monday!

EVE Online Speedlinking for July 7th, 2008

Ah, the pleasures of summer. Those hot, humid and sunny days. The same pleasures that keep you away from the PC or console, and tempt you back out just when you've managed to find time to check your emails. These are those kinds of days!

Nevertheless, I've managed to find some time late at night to squeeze in a few gaming sessions. If you had witnessed and suffered through the winter we just had (so much snow!!) you'd understand why I'm enjoying being out as much as I am. You'd pardon my absence of the last few days and would know that I'm still here, roaming the EVE Blogosphere!

And, just so you know, Episode 13th of The Drone Bay was recorded last week and should be out within the next few days. With last Friday being July 4th, its publication got delayed. We're here to stay people, even if the road got bumpy the last few weeks!

So without further ado, here the new that's caught my attention over the last few days.

• For those who missed it, the New York Times had 2 separate articles on EVE:
• In a Virtual Galaxy, Assembly Is Required - What! A BoB BBQ?
  
• Face to Face: A Council of Online Gamers - On the CSM
• EVE Online Community Spotlight: a Q&A with Chribba - Massively interviews Mr EVE-Files himself!
• New EVE Blogs, soon to be part of the Blog Pack: Drawing Aggro and EVE’s Weekend Warrior
• Weekend Warrior's got an interesting Can Flipper Guide for those on the dark side, but also useful for their victims.
• And not to be left alone, Drawing Aggro has got a PVE Guide for those who, like myself, like to dwell into EVE's missions.
  
• We've blessed with some new Chronicles these last 2 weeks. two of which cover the Empyrean Age factions (Minmatar and Gallente respectively): Silent Furies and The Paths They Chose.
• Came across this post on the EVE Forums about a BattleClinic (in cooperation with CCP) Factional Warfare Recruiting Guide.
• Mynxee's got some fun comparison between EVE and RL.
• Finally got my copy of the EVE: Empyrean Age novel. I've barely touched the first few pages as I'm still finishing Deadhouse Gate. In the mean time you can check out Adam's review of the book.
  
• Oh, and lest I forget, EON issue 12th in which I have written an article, shipped out on July 4th. Looking forward to getting that one.

Fly Safe!