Although CCP or White Wolf haven't said anything about it recently I think it's probably time to call the Eve CCG dead. The last of the fan sites are shutting down and the official site was down for a couple of days seemingly without anybody noticing. The last news was in April, and there was a big gap before that too. Most telling there's no moderation on the forums anymore, swearing doesn't seem to get you censored as you would expect. CCP/White Wolf have no visible interest in the game any more. Worse of all it's been far too long between expansions and the CCG world has forgotten about the game.
When I was younger I was into CCGs, but moved on. When the Eve one came along I ordered a few cards and started playing and really enjoyed it. The game wasn't perfect and there were decks you could make that would be a guaranteed win if you only had two players, but between friends that's not a problem. The two player games were all very short, but where the game shined I though was when you had more. A Minmatar Kamikaze deck might be hard to beat in two player, but if you had three then it would just lead to you being killed next and the remaining guy winning because you had to overextend yourself and ignore defence.
The game was more complex mechanics wise than Magic the Gathering, but not too complex to make it unplayable which gave it the subtleties of play that you need to keep a game interesting. It could have done with some better and actually achievable victory conditions but it was a fun way to pass an evening.
So what went wrong? We got the original game and then one delayed expansion, which is the first big problem. Delaying a CCG release really pushed you off the radar in the shops as it's a really cutthroat business if you're game isn't called Magic. Part of this delay was a printing error but there was always a feeling of a lack of support at CCP and then White Wolf too. The game always seemed to need just that bit more manpower on it. Now it just seems to need some manpower. The original expansion every six months plan came and went, and with it any chance to keep on the shelves in the shops. There's been no word on a second expansion for a long time now, but it doesn't matter. You're going to be hard pressed to find any cards in the shops and it would take a relaunch to get the game back there. With only online stores to sell it you're not going to pick up new players.
So the game will fade into history. The last couple of die hards on www.eve-ccg.com will move on and it'll be a game only ever played in the corners of Fanfest by the old timers welcoming the chance to meet somebody else with a deck.
I think it's telling that it's just being left to fade away and forgotten. RIP the Eve CCG. I, at least, will miss you and will still crack the cards out every so often.
Maybe CCP could do what Everquest did and put the game inside the MMO. It's got to be better than staring at an asteroid, right?
posted @ Wednesday, June 11, 2008 1:21 PM