Hard to Be a God. Review of the Collector's Edition of EVE Online. Captain's Patent + Contest

[EVE Online](/games?search=EVE Online) – one of those games that many have heard about, but few dare to try for themselves. A world of limitless possibilities, where wars are fought on a single server with thousands of players involved, where any financial manipulations are permitted, and one traitor can destroy an empire. A universe where people log in every day as if going to work. Surely, many of you have heard incredible stories that the world of [EVE Online](/games?search=EVE Online) is rich with. And, perhaps, for most players, this world is better left within the realm of stories since personal encounters often end up being mired in numbers that bear little resemblance to the expected cosmic romance. Nonetheless, the edition in question — the Captain's License — is primarily aimed at newcomers to the world of [EVE Online](/games?search=EVE Online). Don’t think that the game is in such dire straits that fresh meat is needed at all costs — not at all, the galaxy is alive and will continue to thrive. However, the upcoming release of the PS3-exclusive network shooter [DUST 514](/games?search=DUST 514), set in the same galaxy, has drawn the attention of those who previously inhabited entirely different gaming spheres. Is the Captain's License worth the attention?

On the surface, the edition looks like an expensive book. Perfectly sized packaging, eliminating any “slack” in the contents, solid weight, beautiful yet non-flamboyant printing... The edition is clearly aimed at people who know what they are buying.

However, as it turns out, aesthetics come at the expense of practicality: it’s hard to pull the books out of the packaging on the first try, and difficult to return them without crumpling the corners. I did manage this for the photograph, but it didn’t turn out as beautifully as it originally was. Still, this is probably the only negative point in the edition.

Beauty, wouldn’t you agree? The white cover is the guide, the black one is the art book, and in the slipcase with the discs, there’s a leaflet describing the digital bonuses. Let’s start from there.

If you are a novice eager to shape the fates of the universe, these bonuses will significantly speed up the early stage of the game. If you are an experienced player — give the activation key to a friend through a trial account, and your account will also be credited with 30 days of play (or PLEX) [I was corrected: an account activated with the key does not give bonuses to the inviter. Well, the leaflet tactfully omitted this]. An important point: there is only one activation key in the edition, and you cannot assign the account activation to one player and the items to another. And yes, the code cannot be used to extend existing accounts.

The bonuses of the jewel and collector's editions differ in ships and costumes. The junior edition contains the “Merlin” frigate and the “Sterling” uniform jacket, while the senior edition includes the “Coercer” destroyer and the “Esquire” and “Executor” uniforms. Both editions contain an implant that accelerates the learning process. There is information on websites stating that a monetary reserve is included, but nothing is mentioned in the box itself. However, if everything is fine, the activation key will additionally provide 5000 aurum.

Under the white cover of the guide lies a red one: the fates of the gods. Full-color, 78 pages, the manual is generously decorated with illustrations and art. Almost the entire guide answers two questions: *"What can you do in [EVE Online](/games?search=EVE Online)" and "What do you need to know to engage in this"*. The reference information only includes the classification of ships by factions and classes. The rest is a narrative about EVE as a game. A separate spread is dedicated to the upcoming [DUST 514](/games?search=DUST 514).

In contrast to the guide, the art book tells the history of the world of [EVE Online](/games?search=EVE Online): "Dreams of the Future".

The volume is the same 78 pages, but the paper is of higher quality to show the maximum detail in the illustrations. I always find it difficult to find words to describe truly impressive art books:

The story of the EVE universe continues, and the Captain's License is an opportunity to keep the [EVE Online](/games?search=EVE Online) universe of 2011 on your shelf. Who knows what will happen there in five, ten years. If any of your friends are seriously building their life in a distant galaxy, and you cannot order ship models from the EVE Store, gift them the Captain's License. The art book and soundtrack will be appreciated by all players, and in this case, the activation key will surely end up with someone deserving to shape the fates of the galaxy. Perhaps, it’s you?..

>> CONTEST HERE <<

Yes, I have one copy of [EVE Online](/games?search=EVE Online), but not just any copy — a Steam version that is officially unavailable in the Russian region. I will give it to the most deserving. To avoid complicating life for myself and you, the contest will be simple: come up with an expansion for the abbreviation EVE (or Russian ЕВА, whichever is more convenient). No restrictions or preferences: just decode it so that your version is better than others. The contest will run until the end of Saturday, November 5, and I will announce the winner on Sunday.

Let’s go!