For 13 years, "Eve Online" was a pure subscription massive multiplayer online game or MMO. Players pay $15 per month to access the New Eden System.
"Eve Online's" latest expansion, "Ascension" is up and running. The expansion provides everyone a free access to the MMO. Other than its free-to-play feature, "Eve Online: Ascension" categorizes characters into two. The Omega and Alpha clone characters.
In "Eve Online: Ascension's" Omega Clone category, the characters work similarly to the characters used by active "Eve Online" players. It grants unlimited access to skill progression and training. The Omega Clone Category is available for the $15 per month subscription.
Alpha Clone characters are the new base experience that is available in the free-to-play "Eve Online: Ascension" expansion. Players get to have a full access to the game. They still can train, use skills, participate in trading, industry, and exploration.
During the "Eve Online" FanFest, executive producer Andie Nordgren expressed that "Eve Online" get a lot of new players who quit shortly after starting. Their retention plan was to move to free-to-play mode and maybe more will stay.
He further explained that they were aware that the monthly subscription fee is a barrier to entry for newbies and it may have led to cancellations of current players. Nordgren also said that the fundamentals of "Eve Online" were designed as a subscription game.
"Eve Online: Ascension's" move to go free-to-play and categorizing Alpha and Omega clones might be the key to changing the game while keeping the fundamentals. It is still in its experimental stage.
"Eve Online: Ascension" have been improved with a new player experience called "Inception." The feature has fully voiced mentors, has new UI help, and a storyline that has new environments.
Other new features in the "Eve Online: Ascension" are Command Bursts, the Fitting Simulator, Effect Generators for Titans, new ships, NPC Mining Fleets, balance changes, new character sheet, as well as changes on the Roqual Industrial Capital ship. Command Bursts replace warfare links. The Fitting Simulator gives deeper experimentation and optimization for ships. Effect Generators for Titans allows players the ability to warp across a large area.
"Eve Online: Ascension" was launched last Nov 15 in PC. Free-To-Play is available via steam. The $20 Core Starter Pack and $50 premium edition is also available
if players want to start with a little extra content.