Amazing Video of Ambulation Character Creation

The fine folks at TenTonHammer (TTH) have done it again. Earlier this week they released a really cool video of a Comic Con presentation from Ben Mathis, Character Artist at CCP. In the video, Ben goes over the Character Creation process which we'll soon have a chance to play with, when Ambulation comes out - remember that we will all have to redo our character's look when it rolls out.

In the video Ben explains that as they've done with the ships and station with the release of Trinity, they want to move away from cartoony looking avatars and get closer to a realistic and shadowy look. The character creation process looks something like this:

• bloodline
• physique (skinny to fat)
• depending on your weight/height ratio, you will walk differently
• complexion
• facial modifiers (tattoos, scars, make-up, freckles, etc)
• facial hair
• hair styles
• costumes

He goes on to say that avatars will have mood and be allowed to portray facial expression - that depending on your mood your expressions will differ.

He then goes into details about the costumes and interior decor and how professional fashion designers (costumes) and architects (interior decors) worked on Ambulation.

There is a bit of old info, but being able to see CCP's latest work on Ambulation is really amazing.

So head over to TTH and take a look at that video!

/me wipes the drool off my chin...


[see other EVE Online videos]

The Mighty ORE Rorqual in siege mode

A few nights ago PPL members were in a low sec system mining ice. We've established a POS (Player Owned Structure) and have started our mining operation. Before heading out in my trusty (not rusty) Iteron Mark V to haul all that ice, I took some shots of the mighty and impressive Rorqual. Which reminds me, here are 3 videos showing the behemoth going into siege mode, as this one above has.

Have you seen one in transformation?

MMO Blogroll

I've decided on removing all my blogrolls from the sidebar, and instead have them in a post. This way the list is easier to update; it can by commented; you the readers can suggest new blog or cool gaming sites; and finally it makes for better SEO.

The list below is made up of blogs and gaming sites which I follow daily, thanks to Google Reader.

• Ancient Gaming Noob (The)
• Common Sense Gamer (The)
• Cuppytalk
• Deadalus Project (The)
• Destructoid
• Escapist (The)
• GameSetWatch
• Hardcore Casual
• Hudson's Hideout
• Keen and Graev Gaming Blog
• Kill Ten Rats
• Massively
• MMOABC
• MMOCrunch
• MMOG Nation
• MMO Fans
• MMORPG.com
• Mystic Worlds
• OGRank
• Plaguelands
• pΘtshΘt
• Ramblings of a Bildo (The)
• Random Battle
• Rihards Unplugged :: Games
• Scratchpad
• /random
• Van Hemlock
• Virgin Worlds
• WarCry Network
• West Karana
• Xyliana.com

Enjoy!

[LAST EDIT May 11, 2008]

EVE Online Trinity II Screenshot Slideshow

I came across this slideshow browser creator while looking for new templates for my other blogs. I thought I'd use it to share all the Trinity II screenshots I upload to Flickr. So far I've got over 250 screenshots, but that number will rise over time. Just to give you an idea, I've got 1,568 screenshots of Trinity I; EVE's old graphic engine. Yeah, I know, I'm a freak!

Hope you enjoy!

The Drone Bay: Episode 9 - Astrology V Completed

Virgin Worlds Link
EVE Forum Link (please bump!)

Show notes:

Episode 9 is here, and the cards show us that this will be a bit of a long show.

Bring on the Drones:

In the weekly recap, BoB attacks MC in Querious and Period Basis. Crovan's first article goes up on Massively! Also, CK joins the ranks at Massively. Look forward to more from the Drone Bay crew!

The DON'T PANIC topic for this week is fleet interaction, and how to deal with the confusing new boxes and buttons that show up when you join a gang.

Mail gets answered, as usual, and the guys have an mp3 submission!

Tool time returns with EVE Fitting Tool. Don't undock without it!

Back to bloopers this week, and make sure to listen in before the bloopers, after the show, for our first listener segment!

Also, from last week, the video on logical fallacies. A must-read for EVE-O forum dwellers!


Contact Info:

GAX Online Group: The Drone Bay

E-Mail:
dronebay[at]gmail.com (comments/questions for everyone)
crovan[at]eve-mail.net
crazykinux[at]gmail.com
alsedrech[at]gmail.com

Skype: Dronebay

Blogs:
Bitter Old Noob (Crovan)
CrazyKinux's Musing
The Littlest Drone (Alsedrech)

Have Clone, Will Travel - a new EVE column

Earlier today, my first feature was published over at Massively.com. The column, called Have Clone, Will Travel, is of course a play on words on Robert Heinlein's wonderful science fiction novel Have Space Suit - Will Travel. My first article, Ambulation in the EVE tutorial, is about how Ambulation could be used to improve the current EVE Tutorial.

Do not worry, I'll still be posting here on a regular basis, daily if time permits. The fine folks at Massively.com have given me an opportunity I could not refuse. For now, my column will appear weekly, but that may change to bi-weekly if RL gets in the way (summer will soon be upon us here is eastern Canada).

So head over, and let me know your thoughts!

5 Common Misconceptions about EVE Online

The RPG Vault has a great developer interview where they look at the five most common misconceptions people make about EVE Online. Head over and have a look. Here's their lists before you head out:

1. Newbies will never stand a fighting chance against old players
2. EVE is only about combat
3. Mining is the only way to earn money as a rookie
4. You can't enjoy the game if you aren't in a major alliance
5. EVE is not meant for casual players

Here's a few more you could add to the list:

• EVE is just a good looking spreadsheet
• New players can't make a difference
• The EVE Community is a bunch of ruthless hooligan

Can you think of any others?