Dear fellow capsuleers,
I wanted to share my perspective as a new player regarding the EVE Online experience. If you believe that new players play a crucial role in the economy and growth of EVE Online, then please continue reading as I aim to be concise in conveying my idea.
Firstly, I want to express my gratitude for the warm welcome I received in the game. The EVE community has demonstrated maturity, with players communicating in a professional manner or immersing themselves in roleplay, enriching the universe with thematic interactions. The user experience in terms of interface and learning resources is fantastic, considering the vast array of options and gameplay styles the system offers, all masterfully condensed by the designers.
Encouraged by the support I received from the customer service, I wish to share my perspective and idea with the community to make it more relevant and potentially bring about implementation. However, I must admit that I was initially hesitant due to learning about how some suggestions aimed at new players were received by veteran players, and their resistance to change. I understand that everyone has a history, and history often involves conflicts. Nevertheless, let me now get straight to the point.
EVE Online is not new-player friendly due to its extreme punitive nature.
Additionally, EVE Online is a paid game.
These two points, seemingly insignificant, are probably the main reasons for the high churn rate of new players and their premature departure before giving the game enough time to learn and progress, even after investing in PLEX or personalized promotions.
The game’s punitive nature becomes evident when players seek a more relaxing gameplay experience, such as mining and other activities in high-security space. The possibility of being attacked and facing penalties in high-security space affects the volume of players engaging in PvP, as it deters both new and old players from participating in low-security space where PvP is more common. In high-security space, most players are looking for a peaceful learning experience and are not interested in PvP.
The direct consequence of this is financial, as players work hard to earn enough to purchase their ships, only to find that someone who might be seeking mere amusement to troll and disrupts their experience. Alternatively, players may become apprehensive about trying thrilling activities like hauling, turning their journey into a nightmare for unestablished new players, driving them away from the game.
No one enjoys losing, and modern games strive to create mechanics that mitigate losses, minimizing frustration. I understand the importance of loss in EVE Online, as it drives the economy. However, considering the balance between highs and lows, as a new player, I have a simple suggestion:
Enhance the INSURANCE service by introducing the option to cover your ship and components up to 95% or even 100% of its value. This change will alleviate the fear of loss and encourage players to explore PvP and low-security areas, increasing the dynamic gameplay of ganks and attacks for those who enjoy it while allowing others to coexist peacefully in high-security space. Numerous ideas from the community can be shared to refine this system and boost the economy. Only data will determine their effectiveness.
With time, you could consider reducing the frequency of attacks from players in high-security space, making the experience more attractive to new players.
I sincerely believe that by implementing such improvements, EVE Online can become a more inviting and engaging universe for all players, fostering growth and making it a thriving community for years to come.
Fly safe, and thank you for considering my input.
Best regards,
