While attending the New York Comic Con the MMORPG.com team had to do a lot of walking around the city and the convention center, so it's fitting that they also had the the opportunity to talk to the folks at CCP about their Ambulation Project, which will allow pod pilots to pop out and test their space legs walking around EVE's new social environments. News Manager Keith Cross reports on the status of this feature which is still under construction, and CCP's showing at the con in general.

Over the weekend just past I had the privilege of attending the New York Comic Con, and this year there was a fairly strong showing by MMO developers and the MMO community.  Among the development houses in attendance this year was CCP – Whitewolf, officially known now as CCP North America.  They were there to display and demo EVE at their booth, do a few panel presentations, and deny that they are working on a World of Darkness MMO while wearing shirts with ‘World of Darkness Dev Team’ written on their backs.  They were also showing some of the non electronic games from White Wolf including a card game called Mwahahaha!, which we demoed at the CCP booth on the first day of the convention.  In the game you play the role of a super villain and your goal is to dominate the planet while ruthlessly hampering your opponent’s ability to do the same.  The game projects an insane sense of humor which makes it easy to laugh while your minions are getting wiped out and your opponents rob you of your resources.  It was a good time, even when you’re getting your ass handed to you by a guy named Viceroy Roboticus or Doctor Hitler.  Of course similar feelings are common in games from CCP, where even if you get trounced in a PvP battle, it can still be fun if you lose.

But if you find yourself playing EVE and you just don’t feel like having the fun of getting podded today, CCP is in the process of preparing a space where pod pilots can get away from the kill or be killed environment of deep space and relax.  I’m speaking of the ongoing Ambulation Project, the addition to EVE Online which will allow players to walk around on space stations.

Read more here.

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As they said at Fanfest, why would you socialize while mining for ore out in space when you could socialize at over a beer.

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  Pant,pant,pant .drool.Patience patience.

If the station content gets as much attention as the avatars. It's ah gonna be good.

Ok fine. I know everything about this project now (however no new info in this article), but the most impotant fact. WHEN?

P.S. And yes, I'm interested in Ambulation, and I'm a every-day EVE player for some years.

"The initial concept of ambulation is simply to provide a social space for players.  As they said at Fanfest, why would you socialize while mining for ore out in space when you could socialize at over a beer.  The system is designed so that players never have to walk around on stations to be successful in the game.  It’s more like the addition of a new social utility to the existing game-play.  They’ll be phasing in more options and activities after the initial launch, which has yet to be announced, and the new options will mainly be driven by player demand."

This is all well and good, but I agree with above poster that players want something that will improve/add to their gameplay. If I wanted to socialize in an avatar, I'd go to Second Life...

Don't get me wrong tho, I think this is gonna be ridiculously sweet when it goes live.

Like mentioned, it would be better if ambulation led to some sort of activity, but its a nice piece of fluff that might be fun for a bit.  We'll see how it goes.

i'm just hoping for some sort of card game to play while in stations.

First part about the blog and about darkness devs has nothing to do with eve so next time leave other games out of it.

Next, nothing new here in the news. So they have progressed a little more. wow. How about a new trailer or screen shots or a release date like Fall 2009 or something like that. That would be news. Just rehashing the same old same old is just that........OLD!

CCP needs to continue to work on fixing the bugs that have been around since BETA before they start putting new ones in with something that is not going to increase the playerbase of the game. I think someones brain up there in Iceland froze or something. Need to stick to what works and fix what doesn't.

They aren't working on the World of Darkness MMO ?

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Originally posted by Maurauder
CCP needs to continue to work on fixing the bugs that have been around since BETA before they start putting new ones in with something that is not going to increase the playerbase of the game. I think someones brain up there in Iceland froze or something. Need to stick to what works and fix what doesn't.

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Originally posted by Fade

i'm just hoping for some sort of card game to play while in stations.

Interested in a bit or Amarrian Poker?

This additional feature to EVE could bring so much if it's well done. And so far, CCP have shown that they're as thorough about it as they are with the rest of the game. Having seen some of those interior decors in The Art of EVE (Part V - The Future), it'll look gorgeous!

CK

Originally posted by Kyleran

Like mentioned, it would be better if ambulation led to some sort of activity, but its a nice piece of fluff that might be fun for a bit.  We'll see how it goes.

 

 

Anyway, this will be sweet regardless and I think a lot of people will use it daily, which is enough to merit it's development. EVE is the most emersive MMO out there, and this can only add to that. In addition, that means that the people who play EVE likely count emersion as a prime factor for playing a game, meaning that it should be well received and utilized by the community. I know I'm stoked

I think the Ambulation idea will actually garner a whole new type of player.  Those of us that like to spend a little time just hanging out with your buddies across the galaxy will be very happy about this.  I would certainly love to see this idea expanded upon and improved, but I'm honestly quite excited for this.  I've always considered the fact that players seem melded to their ships in some way that prevents them from exiting to be a shortcoming of the game.  The devs apparently agree and are aiming to fix it.  Just because for now the Ambulation is focusing strictly on social environments doesn't mean it can't be used for other things later.  It may just be a stepping stone for all we know. 

I'm hyped and can't way to see it actualized.

Yep.

I will buy, and play, EVE because of this when it is launched.

I don't like being a ship, only.

The next huge step in the vast world of EVE. This new addition will add so much more diversity to the world, and the possibilities can become endless with what the developers can do. I can't wait for them to implement the walking station environments and avatars. I just request that there really be alcohol, and maybe some strippers. That's it...

Originally posted by katriell

 

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Originally posted by Maurauder
CCP needs to continue to work on fixing the bugs that have been around since BETA before they start putting new ones in with something that is not going to increase the playerbase of the game. I think someones brain up there in Iceland froze or something. Need to stick to what works and fix what doesn't.

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Ambulation WILL increase the playerbase. There are a lot of people who don't play EVE or who stop playing only because the humanoid character is represented by nothing more than a picture.

 

You are correct, sir.  I can't stand playing EVE for more than a few weeks at a time for this very reason.  I get incredibly bored being stuck inside of a spaceship 100% of the time.  If Ambulation led to a ground sandbox that is every bit as deep and engaging as the space aspect I'd actually consider playing EVE full time rather than just a time killer when I'm inbetween MMOs I actually want to play.  See my sig.

Originally posted by katriell

 

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Originally posted by Maurauder
CCP needs to continue to work on fixing the bugs that have been around since BETA before they start putting new ones in with something that is not going to increase the playerbase of the game. I think someones brain up there in Iceland froze or something. Need to stick to what works and fix what doesn't.

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Ambulation WILL increase the playerbase. There are a lot of people who don't play EVE or who stop playing only because the humanoid character is represented by nothing more than a picture.

 

Your completly right. Although it doesnt bother me very much I cant count the number of people on these forums alone who complain about not being able to leave your ship. for me, although it doesnt bother me to much that you cant leave your ship I think being able to even if you may never leave your ship will atleast give you the sence of more freedom in the game witch i think alot of us like in MMO's

Originally posted by Grifin

  Pant,pant,pant .drool.Patience patience.

If the station content gets as much attention as the avatars. It's ah gonna be good.

the typical eve player, rabid, drooling, impatient.

While Ambulation is a nice idle time killer - the real reason to develop ambulation as detailed as this (no other MMO comes close) is it will be used in the other MMO that is being developed by CCP. This way they get to work out the quirks through EVE and perfect the motion/animation in a scale larger than any beta would.

If  you are wondering which title/universe CCP is working on - read here

Originally posted by Fade

i'm just hoping for some sort of card game to play while in stations.

Ambulation should be awesome.  I like the idea of redoing my avatar.. with more features!

I just hope this makes the woman finally play the game.  I've made her sit through a few trials and she just isn't interested.  Go go Ambulation so I can stop playing WoW (again)!  I hope.

Originally posted by katriell

 

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Originally posted by Maurauder
CCP needs to continue to work on fixing the bugs that have been around since BETA before they start putting new ones in with something that is not going to increase the playerbase of the game. I think someones brain up there in Iceland froze or something. Need to stick to what works and fix what doesn't.

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Ambulation WILL increase the playerbase. There are a lot of people who don't play EVE or who stop playing only because the humanoid character is represented by nothing more than a picture.

 

When I tried the game, I didn't really see the point of the character creation.  It seemed like it was used mostly for people to stick a picture in their sig's on forums. 

Don't hold out hopes that this will increase the playerbase by that much if any. While this does seem like a missing part of the game, it has no impact on the gameplay at all really.

I will most definitely be checking this one out once its implemented. One of the main reasons I stopped playing (aside from twits trying to kill you because its fun), was because I was just a ship.

Sounds nice... was hoping they would describe what you could actually accomplish by walking around.  Seeing other people's avatars are just fine, hell thats a small reason why i go back to CoH, but if its going to be like Pocket D on Virtue where the only interaction is with other people (most likely RPers) that wouldn't interest me in the least. Though thats the Explorer/Achiever in me talking. 

Although later content that they might add to the social aspect would interest me greatly, for example:

1. Having a prerequisite Social skill/level will grant special mission from NPC contacts.
2. Purchasing Merchant License with at each port with the proper Trade skill/level will give bonus ISK for successful transactions and other bonuses.
3. Being able to view not only other player's avatars but also their ships upclose (and with this idea a possible customization option to put corporation logos, colors, designs on ships for pure looks).

I only played for the trial period, but will definitely like to followup with a subscription once the Ambulation goes live.