EVE ONLINE, which is being developed by Crowd Control Production (CCP) of Reykjavik, Iceland is the long awaited space trading / combat MMOG for the PC (Windows® XP, 2000, ME) which will allow up to100, 000 gamers to compete simultaneously across a full 3D galaxy of 5000 solar systems. Currently, EVE ONLINE is in phase three of beta testing with thousands of gamers play-testing the game daily, trading in more than 300 fan and player corporation sites. To date there are more that 80,000 gamers signed up for the beta test and at least 50,000 are estimated to participate before the game is launched.

Ray McIntosh, Managing Director of Crucial Entertainment Limited said: "EVE ONLINE is one of the first of a new breed of computer games that draw gamers into a persistent universe of space trade and commerce. We are delighted to be the European publisher for this highly acclaimed title. It is an awesome melding of gameplay and technology and will have a major impact when it launches in March."

Eve-Online Story
EVE is a world far away from mankind's original habitat, planet Earth. How far away, and where no one knows. Humans got there through a natural wormhole and gazing upon a sky never before seen, were completely unable to determine the whereabouts of this new world. From the system of New Eden, where the gate of EVE that once led to the old world lies, humans expanded in all directions at a great pace, exploring and colonising.

Then, seemingly out of the blue the EVE gate collapsed in an apocalyptic catastrophe of a scale never before witnessed by the human race, ruining the New Eden system in the process. Thousands of small colonies were left in isolation to fend for themselves. For many millennia they endured on the brink of extinction and only a handful survived. Of those surviving colonies, five were to rise up and become the major empires that hold between them the balance of power in the world of EVE today. These are: the Amarr Empire, the Gallente Federation, the Caldari State, the Minmatar Republic and the Jovian Empire, plus several small independent factions and states.

For more than a century the five empires have lived together in relative peace. They've strived hard to maintain this peace as each of them realises only too well the grave consequences of a massive inter-stellar war. Recent technological breakthroughs in FTL travel, and the ensuing increase in space travellers has shaken, but not broken the fragile peace - at least not yet…

Gameplay
"EVE ONLINE is a unique title in that the game takes the best elements from the classic trading game 'Elite ' and combines them with the sci-fi action of 'Wing Commander,'" said Simon &&Schuster Interactive Producer Mike Wallis. Players begin EVE ONLINE by developing a character to control in this massive world. They can choose to be one of five races:

Amarr – The largest of the empires in the world of EVE, Amarr spans 40%of the inhabited solar systems.

Caldari – A state built off corporate capitalism. The Caldari State is run by a few mega-corporations which divide the state between them, controlling and ruling every aspect of society.

Jove – The most mysterious and elusive of all the peoples of EVE. The Jovians number only a fraction of any of their neighbours, but their technological superiority makes them powerful beyond all proportion.

Minmatar – A tough, no nonsense race, the Minmatars are a determined and independent people. Their home planet on Matar is a natural paradise although centuries of abuse have taken much from its beauty.

Gallente – The Gallenteans are self--righteous, meddling, pompous and tiresome, or virile libertarians and defenders of the free world. Love them or hate them, you simply can 't ignore them.

Once a race is chosen, players select a profession (which vary by race). Professions range from bounty hunters to pirates, space traders and the military. Players also have the option to choose various background info for their character, such as ancestry and physical traits. Each one provides a basic skill set from which to build a character 's personality. Better players earn more money and go further in the EVE universe. Players can fully customise the look of their characters in a unique 3-d face morphing system – from head shape all the way down to the tattoos they have.

Gaming on a Massive Scale
EVE ONLINE: THE SECOND GENESIS will be the largest online game ever. The servers for this game will be capable of handling upwards of 100,000 gamers who can compete simultaneously across a fully 3D galaxy which includes 5000 solar systems. Players can choose from more than 60 ships to pilot and customise them with missiles, lasers, particle accelerators, shields, power cores, sensors, armor and engines. EVE ONLINE is an ever-changing universe. Even after a player logs off the online world will continue to evolve and change as players from around the world are actively conducting business and fighting battles. While playing online, gamers can converse with one another through an elaborate communications network including email, instant messenger and message boards. This communications system will also allow players to leave messages for those off-line via this unique email system so that when they return to EVE they will receive the message.

It's all about the Cash
Just like in the real world, money will be the commodity of choice. Players can earn cash by accepting work from Non-Player Characters (NPCs) who will reward gamers with cash which can be traded for goods or other items. Also gamers can earn money by working for a "corporation." These corporations are comprised of gamers who have pooled their resources and are working together to dominate the universe. A solo gamer can approach the head of a corporation for a job and can be paid in cash.

EVE ONLINE will have a unique "stock exchange " in which gamers will be able to purchase stock in corporations. The stock exchange will go up and down as trades occur, just like the real world.

European Server Access
The EVE ONLINE service provider is Iceland Telecomm who will handle customer service, in-game support and server hosting. European server access will be provided in London by Cable & Wireless consisting of a giant shard of over 60 servers. Game subscription costs are as follows (quoted in US Dollars per monthly charge): 1 month $12.95, 3 months $11.95, 6 months $10.95. Current exchange rates USD $1.5 = GBP £1 and Euro 1.5 NB. These exchange rates are subject to currency fluctuations and are presented as a cost guide only.

About Crucial Entertainment Limited
Crucial Entertainment Limited was founded in 1999 by Company Director Ray McIntosh. Crucial Entertainment believes in entertainment for everyone where each title stands amongst the best in its class and is a guaranteed mark of quality and usability. Visit www.crucialentertainment.com

About Crowd Control Production (CCP)
CCP, based in Reykjavik, Iceland is a privately held company founded in 1997. It was created on a strong vision of creating online games which focus on maximising player interaction and on utilising the new, unexplored possibilities created by having thousands of players interacting in the same game world. More info. on CCP games game be found on www.ccpgames.com