There are a number of ways to make money, including trade, crafting, mining, hunting pirates, or being a pirate. Players typically start out mining, hunting hostile NPCs, and doing missions to get the capital needed for bigger ventures. These activities can be tedious at first, but when you start to coordinate your efforts with other players, everything becomes more efficient and profitable. This is one of many benefits to be had from joining a Corporation, Eve's equivalent of a guild.
The sheer size of the Eve universe factors into the economy of the game, since items in remote regions often bring a higher price than the same item in densely populated areas.
All Out War
Combat follows RPG conventions pretty closely. You lock onto a target and activate your weapons; there is no FPS style aiming involved. Naturally, different ships and weapons have different strengths and weaknesses, creating a fairly solid group dynamic.
The end-game is all about player versus player (PvP) combat between Corporations in low security space, though this certainly isn't your only option. Since the release of Exodus, territorial conquest has been possible, and it's given players entirely new causes to fight for. Large PvP conflicts can involve armadas of dozens of ships in spectacular displays of firepower.
Big Corporations are in the best position to finance a fleet of warships, and they can also afford to recover their losses with coordinated mining and trade operations. Unlike most guilds, Corporations in Eve operate in a democratic fashion. Leaders are elected and members vote on declarations of war, which gives the game a robust political element.
It almost goes without saying that there are ongoing balance issues, because the same could be said about virtually every MMORPG on the market. Odds are that quite a few more adjustments will be needed.
A Different Kind of Fun
I can easily image someone playing a trial of Eve for a week or two and thinking, "Bleh, mining game = boring." Okay, mining in secure space isn't exactly exciting, but going after rare minerals in a low security area, perhaps with an escort to protect you from pirates and hostile Corporations, can turn into quite an adventure. Although mining is a good way to get a little money when you're starting out, there are other ways to earn your keep.
Eve offers an unusually open play style. If you want to play a lone wolf pirate or trader rather than get involved in Corporate politics, there's really nothing stopping you. Anyone with the entreprenuerial spirit will appreciate the complexity of Eve's player-driven economy, which is remarkable in itself.
This game is not a quick fix; beginners have a considerable learning curve to overcome. The appeal is in longer term goals like contributing to the prosperity of your Corporation, aligning yourself with a political cause, or being part of an empire with a lethal fleet of ships.
Bottom Line
Eve isn't a game for everyone. Those who want an action game, or a steady stream of creatures to bash until they reach the level cap, probably won't take to it. Many will find the pace intolerably slow, especially in the beginning, but the longer you play, the more likely you are to enjoy it. If you have some patience and a willingness to get involved in the game's economic and political structure, there is depth to Eve Online that few MMORPGs can match.
