Over the years I have seen more games than I can recall, however only a few have left an impression that still make me go back to them. Total Annihilation, Alpha Centauri, Neverwinter Nights, Mechwarrior and Star Fleet Command are the list that really stand out in my mind, and of course EVE.
I have played many of the MMOs out there, I am still active in LOTRO, I have played WoW and CoH as well as many others but all the others get played for a while and then I move on. EVE however is something that has gotten in my blood and will not leave. I started EVE quite a while back, played for about a year and then left to try City of Heroes. CoH lasted for about 5 months and then i was drawn into various non MMO games but something kept pulling me back and eventually I ended up at EVE again.
For a little over a year I played and once more I stepped away. This time to play LOTRO with some real world friends and my wife. While LOTRO is fun and I enjoy the game with my friends the hold of the One Ring has diminished and I find myself again looking at other games, of course to the top of list crept EVE.
I can think of a lot of reasons for this, the fact that I am a space scifi nut does not hurt. I love the open ended play style, more open than any other MMO I have played. I like the fact that I do not have to limit my play to a set class and deal with leveling. Of course there is the amazing community and CCP has supported this game in a many that other companies would do well to model.
EVE is not for everyone, I know that. The game has a pretty steap learning curve,. The open design I love is something that scares a lot of players. It is not a game for those seeking instant gratification or those that want to have everything handed to them in game. It is not the perfect game for everyone but it is the perfect game for me.
