EVE Online has recently seen its newest expansion, Empyrean Age, updated with the 1.1 patch. CCP, developers of EVE Online, have labeled it the "Power to the people" patch. This is due to the fact that almost all of the fixes and tweaks that were added in the 1.1 patch were based on player suggestions. The 1.1 patch notes are practically a novel, with hundreds of user interface tweaks, bug fixes and little things that players suggested CCP take a look at. Not surprisingly, there was little content added in the 1.1 patch, though the content that was added is way over due. Over seventy new rookie missions, as well as a hundred normal missions were added to the game. To anyone who plays EVE, this is a big deal; for example, while playing a few nights back I did the "Save the Damsel" mission eight times... in a three hour period. Needless to say, more missions for EVE is a welcome change in my book.

Speaking of new missions, the next update players in New Eden can expect is Empyrean Age 1.2. The 1.2 patch is all about content, according to Arend Stuhrmann, the associate producer of EVE. In 1.2 we can expect even more missions, even more than were added in 1.1, meaning mission runners might actually have something to do!

Also in 1.2, EVE will see the addition of "Certificates" a new game feature that allows players to become certified in areas of expertise, it is comparative to a high school diploma, or a college degree. These certificates will be viewable by you and other players, so it adds a valuable corporation recruiting tool for CEOs. With the addition of certificates, 1.2 allows players to finally prove that they "have what it takes" to do certain jobs, whether it be industry, or combat related. Certificates will also allow players to more accurately plan their skills without the aid of evemon and other similar programs. For example, let's say I'm new to the game and I have no idea where to start, I can go and look at the certificates menu and see what skills are needed to gain certification in the mining field, or missile specialist field, and then I can plan my skill training accordingly. The best part about this addition is the fact that I will no longer have to minimize my screen to look at evemon nearly as often as I do now.

Moving on to December, New Eden capsuleers can expect the Midas expansion. CCP has not released much information about the winter expansion as of yet, but they have let us know that the expansion will be about industry and science. A popular eve podcast, Titan Weekly recently released episode 10, in which the host Malnor Zerchan, and EVE enthusiast and blogger Crazy Kinux discuss Midas and some of the things that are rumored to be in the running for Midas inclusion. One thing that they mention is the addition of a new class of ship, the ORCA. This ship would be a high security space version of the popular mining Rorqual vessel. Also, several posts in the EVE Online forums have indicated that the "gap" between industrial ships and freighters will be closed in the Midas expansion. This is great news for anyone that stuck between industrial 5 and freighters at the moment, this will obviously make the transportation of valuable that much easier.

Even later down the road, we look toward the Ambulation Project. EVE Online players have been promised the ability to walk in stations. This highly anticipated feature was supposed to come out in 2008, which leaves only Empyrean Age 1.2 or the Midas expansion to add it in. Though, I think that they are probably saving it for the spring expansion next year (2009). The big question is, will it be in the Midas expansion? The answer is that there is no answer. There is a new rumor every day, and none is more credible than the others. It’s all a matter of opinion. Do you think that CCP would have told us it is coming, or do you think that they are going to spring it on us with just weeks before its release?

To help you decide, here are the facts about ambulation:

• Ambulation is going to be where EVE pilots finally get to walk around in the stations, away from their ships.
• The Infamous "Walking in stations" video depicts the only public footage of ambulation.
• Through the Eve-Online Flickr page you can access sketches of player avatars in ambulation, as well as some images of the environments.
• At EVE Fanfest this November, CCP has announced that they will be showcasing Ambulation... so maybe we will get a ETA around then.

As you can gather, facts on ambulation are few and far between. This only adds to the speculation and the mystery surrounding the project, causing hot discussion surrounding the subject of ambulation. The player community seems to be divided on the issue. On one side you have the players that think that ambulation would make EVE a better place, and more enjoyable to the masses, as shown in the article: "Why ambulation is going to make EVE huge". On the other side, you have the hardcore EVE gamers, the people that like the game the way it is and don't see any need to change it. They have a common belief that adding ambulation will only appeal to the WoW converts. I say this: Let's see how it looks before we go complaining about it, it can't hurt the game, as it is an optional addition. In the end, it’s your opinion that matters. That's is the power of MMOs, you may participate in what is fun for you, so go out and mine a asteroid field till its gone, save the damsel 800 times, or go gank some poor unsuspecting noob because in the end, it’s YOUR universe.