The Future of EVE Online: CSM Summit Overview Part 3 – Making Players Content

CCP Executive Producer Jon Lander was candid about the task ahead for the development of EVE Online and his approach to consulting the CSM members was an example of the degree of communication and influence that CCP share with their customers. 

“We’ve got a massive job just balancing and fixing the things that we’ve got. But that alone will not make the game we want… We’re going into a new world, a new time, a second decade of EVE. So, how should we be delivering the MASSIVE amount of features that we’ve already got on our plate as well as the all of the things we’d really love to see added to our science fiction universe. And that, gentlemen, is the question that I’m asking. I want your help. I want your input.”

Making Players Content

Over the subsequent days, and indeed for throughout their terms of office, these dedicated EVE players had, and continue to have, ample opportunity to provide that input and help shape CCP’s strategy for the next decade in EVE Online. Indeed, Lander told them, “Expect to be involved guys, in January, because we’ll still need that input as Andie takes us through the new process.”

The “new process” involves delivering future expansions in a much broader manner, with an overarching theme encapsulating the progressive development of a variety of playstyles simultaneously rather than focusing on a single gameplay aspect for each expansion. Throughout the lengthy CSM summit document there are hints and indicators about what particular elements CCP is considering, but even now, a month later things seems very fluid as the EVE community, the CSM and CCP continue to vociferously discuss issues.

The Immediate Future

In the summit session, Nordgren was coy about plans for the next expansion, due for Summer release, taking care to keep expectations at a modest level. She explained the theme was not yet decided and would not be “Jesus-level quite yet”, but they would be setting out the groundwork in January so CCP can “release something in May that speaks to the science-fiction universe we have and to the sandbox nature of our game.”

As the celebrations of EVE Online’s ten years approaches and all eyes turn to Reykjavik for the much anticipated EVE Fanfest in April, it’s still not entirely clear what will be coming next for the internet spaceships of New Eden.

But things are looking as positive as they’ve ever been.

Index:

• Part 1: The Future of EVE Online: CSM Summit Overview 
• Part 2: The Devil is in the Details
• Part 3: Are Players Content?

Photo Credit: ‘Hans vs. Unifex’ by CSM7 Chairman Seleene

Source: Minutes of the Seventh CSM Winter Summit

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Source: Devblog – Delivering EVE Online Into Its Second Decade