Hi all, apologies if that has been suggested before. But I feel there is something that is missing from the NPE of Eve Online that I think could have a positive effect on retention. Some of the most impactful and well liked Eve Online trailers such as:
- This is EVE
- The Core of EVE
- The Butterfly Effect
- Causality
All of these have a lot of things in common, but primarily it describes what the Universe is, and how you can effect the Universe we all play in.
I would gander most people that try Eve have seen a trailer or two, saw some marketing material, and finally bit the bullet to try. They login for the first time, go through the NPE, it gives them what the marketing has promised: a ship, a conflict larger than yourself, directions on how to play the game literally, and being told you can effect the universe. But outside of that, Eve is a dark world where anyone can be either you next best friend, or your greatest enemy. So what is missing from the NPE is clearly communicating what is ahead of you and how to figuratively play the game. Once you get to the part where you finally leave the starter solar system for the first time and it starts to talk to you about system security. They should add an additional unskippable cinematic that always plays the first time you leave your starter system that prepares you for the metagame.
Show the scary as you embark into the world of Eve:
- High security space is not safe from player pirates (Show mission runners, freighters and miners getting ganked)
- Low and Null security space is riddled with people who want to destroy your ship as you explore
- The police are there to inflict consequence, not to save you
- You can and will be stolen from (isk doubling, contracts that are scams, etc)
- You will die, many many times, and it is OK
But give them hope:
- That these things are not to be feared, take caution “Don’t fly what you can’t afford to lose”, but also take risks for rewards
- That you can be what you want, from the pirate to the massive industrialist
- That you and your fellow players can work together to have small corps, to massive empires. Encouraging players to join others!
And finally:
- Convey that you should be wary of the Universe, but it is also their oyster as they embark on their story in New Eden
And I think this could potentially do wonders in setting the expectations of players as soon as they leave the new player system. Thoughts?