One of the biggest problems EVE has is that it is very hard for new players to get into. A game should of course be challenging but challenging in the right way. Like the fact that it’s big, there are lots of things to learn and master.
But access to the information that makes you learn the game shouldn’t in my mind be limited.
On that note, one of the big problems is Item descriptions and attributes since this is a feature that new players will interact with almost imminently when they start playing and start collecting different items.
- Item Descriptions.
Many descriptions are unfortunately not descriptions. They are either written as lore or a mix between lore and a small “hint” of what an item actually is used for. Lore is interesting and many love it but it should not be mixed in with the item description, it should have its own LORE-TAB or “background story” tab. The description should be clear, straight forward and tell the player exactly what the item does (is used for).
Example: Triglavian Survey Database (but there are thousands of item descriptions like this)
"Initial analysis of this database indicates it contains a significant quantity of data generated from regular surveys of Abyssal Deadspace by the Triglavian Collective. Undoubtedly, the Triglavians have gathered a vast amount of information on abyssal environments. This data is likely to be vital to their mastery of the shifting depths of the Abyss.
Full recovery and deciphering of the data require specialist skills and equipment, but the possibilities for exploiting the information lend value to any databases recovered intact from Abyssal Deadspace. It is likely that this database will command a good price on the market from a buyer willing and able to make use of its contents."
Now, as a new player, having received this item after your first abyssal run. There is no way to know that CONCORD is in need of this item and that you can sell it to them in their stations for 100.000 isk.
Triglavian Survey Base Description should just say:
Triglavian survey database contains valuable data to CONCORD about Triglavian activity.
This item can be sold to CONCORD in their stations throughout new Eden for 100.000 ISK per unit.
(LINK) Concord stations (which take the player to an overview of concord stations)
This is how clear a description should be. Short. Clear, and tells the player exactly what they need to know. You need to both tell players that CONCORD is an NPC corp, that they have stations in New Eden where they can go to and where players might find these stations.
- Attributes of an item
For this example, I will take a simple item that new players will encounter almost imminently.
125mm Railgun l
Some attributes might be self-explanatory like “rate of fire” or “reload” but most of the attributes on this item are impossible for a new player to understand without a proper mouse over the description or link to an explanation.
Good examples are: Accuracy falloff, turret tracking, signature resolution, and optimal range.
Most new players seeing this won’t have any clue what it means and there is no in-game way of getting that knowledge which makes players leave the game to go look for answers. While they are away from the game, they are easily distracted and will in many cases start doing other things. Especially if they are very new since they don’t have a strong bond to the game at that point.
This is why most social media platforms set up their platforms in such a way so that users stay on the platform as much as possible. Because as soon as a user leaves, if only for a few minutes, the chances that they will find something else to do increases exponentially.
I’ve made this point many times here on the forums but it’s important to repeat this:
It is so so vital to have more clear information in-game and not rely upon 3rd party tools for everything because this will keep players more engaged with the actual game and not make them leave and get distracted by other things.