CrazyKinux's Musing

The ever expanding EVE Blogosphere! - Part 3

CrazyKinux@gmail.com (CrazyKinux) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Just like harvesting high-end minerals, adding new EVE Online blogs is a time consuming effort that yields great rewards! It's an investment that's produced some amazing results; benefits that we get to share on a daily basis. These are the latest blogs added to my EVE Blogroll!

That's 51 new blogs added in the last few days to the EVE Blogroll. I just hope I didn't miss anyone! Please comment to let me know!

The catching up is almost over!

Wallpaper Contest Submission #10 - Caldari Raven - by Archase

CrazyKinux@gmail.com (CrazyKinux) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 03:00:00 +0000

Action Wallpaper submission by Archase. Submitted on Tuesday, March 18, 2010 AT 6:11PM
For those interested in seeing all of them, please check out my Flickr set for the Contest!

Wallpaper Contest Submission #9 - The Four Powers - by Perseus Kallistratos

CrazyKinux@gmail.com (CrazyKinux) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 01:00:00 +0000

Action Wallpaper submission by Perseus Kallistratos of Aggressive Tendencies.
Submitted on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 11:04PM
For those interested in seeing all of them, please check out my Flickr set for the Contest!

Wallpaper Contest Submission #8 - Amarr Station by Zargyl

CrazyKinux@gmail.com (CrazyKinux) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:00:00 +0000

Scenic Wallpaper submission by Zargyl. Submitted on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 AT 1:14PM
For those interested in seeing all of them, please check out my Flickr set for the Contest!

Wallpaper Contest Submission #7 - Nebula - by Lance Fighter

CrazyKinux@gmail.com (CrazyKinux) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:00:00 +0000

Scenic Wallpaper submission by Lance Fighter. Submitted on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 7:13PM
For those interested in seeing all of them, please check out my Flickr set for the Contest!

Wallpaper Contest Submission #6 The Drone Hive - by Zanthar Eos

CrazyKinux@gmail.com (CrazyKinux) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:00:00 +0000

Scenic Wallpaper submission by Zanthar Eos. Submitted on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 1:57PM
For those interested in seeing all of them, please check out my Flickr set for the Contest!

The ever expanding EVE Blogosphere! - Part 2

CrazyKinux@gmail.com (CrazyKinux) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:45:00 +0000

Here some more new EVE Blog that will also get added to my EVE Blogroll! I can barely keep with you people!! :p

Wallpaper Contest Submission #5 - by Tom Dreyfus

CrazyKinux@gmail.com (CrazyKinux) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Scenic Wallpaper submission by Tom Dreyfus. Submitted on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 AT 3:02PM
For those interested in seeing all of them, please check out my Flickr set for the Contest!

Friday Video: Black Prophecy Official Game Trailer

CrazyKinux@gmail.com (CrazyKinux) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:45:00 +0000

...or as Roc likes to call it "Fighter Drone pilots"! Still, you have to admit the game looks great! And I must say I'm happy to see another Space-based MMO see the day. It can only pressure the Devs from CCP Games to make EVE Online better!

Come to think of it, a fighter pilot FPS seems like a fun idea!

Wallpaper Contest Submission #3 and #4 - by Epegi Givo

CrazyKinux@gmail.com (CrazyKinux) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:50:00 +0000

Scenic Wallpaper submission by Epegi Givo. Submitted on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 7:13PM

Action Wallpaper submission by Epegi Givo. Submitted on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 7:13PM
For those interested in seeing all of them, please check out my Flickr set for the Contest!

The ever expanding EVE Blogosphere! - Part 1

CrazyKinux@gmail.com (CrazyKinux) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:49:00 +0000

It's been a while since I last updated my EVE Online Blogroll, and since then, plenty of new EVE blogs came into existence! Here are some of the ones missing that I've recently added!

EVE Online Tyrannis Teaser Video

CrazyKinux@gmail.com (CrazyKinux) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:28:00 +0000

Coming May 18th, eh! The wait begins!

Wallpaper Contest Submission #2 - Machariel - by Cozmik R5

CrazyKinux@gmail.com (CrazyKinux) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:00:00 +0000

Scenic Wallpaper submission by Cozmik R5 of Diary of a Space Jokey. Submitted on Sunday, March 14, 2010 AT 8:03AM
For those interested in seeing all of them, please check out my Flickr set for the Contest!

Wallpaper Contest Submission #1 - Abaddon Explosion by Arukemos

CrazyKinux@gmail.com (CrazyKinux) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:49:00 +0000

In view of the amazing screenshots we've been getting for our Wallpaper Contest, I thought I take the opportunity to share them with you as I receive them. I've received 9 so far and will need to catch-up over the next day or so and present all of them. Once I have caught up to the latest one, I will post the screenshots as they come in! Thanks again to all the participants, who are fighting over the chance to win over a Billion ISKs!

Action Wallpaper submission by @Arukemos of Learning to Fly. Submitted on Saturday, March 13, 2010 AT 10:17AM

For those interested in seeing all of them, please check out my Flickr set for the Contest!

EVE Blog Banter #16: The Three Pillars of Wisdom

CrazyKinux@gmail.com (CrazyKinux) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:14:00 +0000

Welcome to the sixteenth installment of the EVE Blog Banter, the monthly EVE Online blogging extravaganza created by none other than me, CrazyKinux. The EVE Blog Banter involves an enthusiastic group of gaming bloggers, a common topic within the realm of EVE Online, and a week to post articles pertaining to the said topic. The resulting articles can either be short or quite extensive, either funny or dead serious, but are always a great fun to read! Any questions about the EVE Blog Banter should be directed to crazykinux@gmail.com. Check out other EVE Blog Banter articles at the bottom of this post!

The third Blog Banter of 2010 comes to us from ChainTrap of the Into the unknown with gun and camera EVE Blog. He asks us: "Eve University turns six years old on March 15th; six years spent helping the new pilots of New Eden gain experience and understanding in a supportive environment. EVE is clearly a complicated game, with a ton to learn, so much that you never stop learning. So, the question is; What do you wish that someone had taken the time to tell you when you were first starting out? Or what have you learned in the interim that you'd like to share with the wider Eve community?"

Having roamed the far reaches of New Eden over the last 6 years, I've had the chance and the opportunity to share through this blog a plethora of information. Information I would wish had been shared with me when I was still wet behind the ears as a capsuleer. But that is the process of learning, and looking back at the past, looking at your past mistakes, your past ambitions become obvious as foolish and silly meanderings.

If I could go back with the knowledge I currently possess, I would share with my younger self the following...

1) Train those Learning Skills - One of the first thing a new capsuleer does is spot the biggest, meanest ship he or she can find, look at the skills needed to fly one and start learning and buying those skills. Anyways, that what I did. Even as a Carebear. I think that it was years later that I came across "Learning Skills". What the hell? What are those? When I realized the months of training I could have shaved off, I felt like an idiot. I wish I had been told to split my training between learning skills and the other skills.

2) The 10 Commandments of New Eden - I wish that somewhere will missioning or mining I had had the chance to find these 10 pieces of advice. I originally wrote them almost 2 yeas ago, but they still hold very true today:

The only place where you're safe in EVE is either docked or offline, otherwise you're mostly fair game.
You will eventually get podded. It's nothing personal.
So make sure your clone is up to date
At any given time, make sure you're always training a skill.
EVE is like a sandbox with landmines. Deal with it.
You're flying in a cocoon full of liquid, known as a pod. Not behind the controls of a ship.
Flying a ship anywhere in EVE is like gambling, only fly what you're willing to lose.
CONCORD exists to punish, not to protect.
If you're going to be in a low sec system for a while, create 2 or more safe spots, just in case.
Pirates are not griefers, they're as much a part of EVE as you are.

3) The right Corporation make all the difference - This is probably the most important aspect when starting in EVE, and the main reason which sees so many newcomers leave New Eden. It took a few years for me to find the corporation that matched my playing style, my availability and goals within EVE. Years later I would write this article in hopes to avoid the bunny hopping I once did early in my career.

Much more pixels could be laid down on these screens in hopes of sharing all the wisdom us old capsuleers have. But I believe it all boils down to the above.

EVE Online is not a game. It's a world. Virtual yes, but the implications of that difference make it that much more complex. That much more enjoyable. Full of unknowns, of opportunities, of dreams.

Fly, whether safe or not, but make sure to enjoy the ride!

List of Participants

CrazyKinux: The Three Pillars of Wisdom
The Elitist: Helping the new guy/gal
Hands Off, My Loots: Nothing Needed
Rantuket: Blog Banter 16
EVE Opportunist: Nooby Cluey
Into the Unknown With Gun and Camera: EVE University
Zero Kelvin: We’re the young ones!
I am Keith Neilson: Set Your Destination
Prano's Journey: Just Like the Very First Time
A Merry Life and a Short One: No Seriously
Yarrbear Tales: Nublet 101
A Mule In EVE: If I only knew
The Planet Risk Show: Dared to be Bold
Diary of a Space Jockey: WTH did I get myself into?!
EVOGANDA: Why?
A Memoir From Space: 16th Blog Banter
Death’s Sweetest Kiss: Who What When Where Why How??
Freebooted: Beyond the Shortcuts
Learning to Fly: Noobing
Caldari Outcast: My First Blog Banter Post!
Roc's Ramblings: Financial Survival
Diary of a Pod Pilot: Free Knowledge Inside
Nullsec Carebear: I could've been less of an idiot
Facepalm's Ramblings: Something Smells Fishy
Kirith Darkblade: Do you wish to know more?
Autopilot Disabled: I'm still starting...
Finders & Keepers: Relax
Confounded Capsuleer: What have you got to loose?
Clan Oriana: Sixteen
Flashfresh: EVE Blog Banter #16
Rettic's The Chronofile: You Make EVE
Diary of a Bored Spaceman: Past Imperfect
Chocolate Heaven: Known Unknowns
Victoria Aut Mors: Blog Banter #16
Where the frack is my ship: If I knew then what I know now...

[Delicious Tag: eveblogbanter16]

EVE Online Wallpaper Competition - Billions of ISKs at stake!

CrazyKinux@gmail.com (CrazyKinux) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:44:00 +0000

This is a guest post by Xiphos83 from A Misguided Adventurer. You can follow him @Xiphos83.

The EVE Online universe is a captivating and awe inspiring world to view. Wonderfully detailed ships, planets, and effects grace our screens and create a canvas of color rivaling many of the other MMOs out there. The changes CCP Games has made to the environment over the years have simply been stunning and it's time to do justice to this graphical wonder.

I, @Xiphos83 (formerly of A Misguided Adventurer) am teaming up with CrazyKinux to give away some always in demand ISKies and encourage capsuleers out there to put their creative caps on, take some screenshots and build wallpapers that we can grace our gaming machines with.

RULES:

The entry fees will be a measly 10 million ISKs to be transfered to the in-game character "CrazyKinux". Only those who have deposited their participation fees will be eligible for the draw.
The contest will require that you create a wallpaper of a minimum size of 1280 x 1024 in one of two categories from screenshots taken within EVE Online - Action or Scenic.
Themes: Action (being war, mining ops, ratting, etc) and Scenic (planets, stations orbiting moons, etc).
All images incorporated in the wallpapers must be from EVE. Whichever way you decide to incorporate your screenshots into the wallpaper is up to you, as long as you stick to the Scenic or Action theme.
You may submit one (1) wallpaper to each categories, but no more.
The judges will be Brendan of Massively, CrazyKinux, and Xiphos83.
Submissions will be gathered on one of CK's Flickr Set, where size, date of submission and artist will be mentioned (and linked back to whenever possible)
Contest ends on March 26th, 11:59 PM EDT.

Now comes the juicy part.

The entry fee will be a measly 10 million ISKs and the winners will split the pot! Additionally, CrazyKinux will donate 15 million ISKs to the pot and I, Xiphos83, will be donating 100 million ISKs. So even if we have 1 person apply, there's 175 million up for grabs. That's a few new ships with fittings to boot.

How to Submit:

1) Drop a comment on the post, with URL, character name. Or on this EVE Forum thread.

2) Transfer the 10 million ISK to my character "CrazyKinux"

3) Once you see your screenshot on my Flickr Set, you know your submission has been received and approved!

Additional Donators:

Crovan - 50 million ISKs
Krispy Dingo - 50 million ISKs
AnMiTh - 1 Billion ISKs (!!!!!) and a Free year of Lonetrek Hosting Coupon

You will have 14 days to submit your entries to CrazyKinux, so get out there, fire up your Velator of Doom, and start snapping photos!

Remember, the more participants, the bigger the prizes will be!

Good luck to you all!

[UPDATE: After much back and forth with the #tweetfleet and in view of your comments, we've decided to ask for a minimum size wallpaper (1280x1024). This way, almost everyone can partake in the competition and no one is left out!]

[EVE Forum Thread Link - CK's Flickr Set - CK's Facebook Fan Page Album]

An Introduction to Planetary Interaction [video]

CrazyKinux@gmail.com (CrazyKinux) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:50:00 +0000

Planetary Interaction (PI) is almost upon us! With the next EVE Online expansion, the industrialist will have a ball with the planets of New Eden. No longer will they simply be decorations for the capsuleers enjoyment. Much work remains to be done until its release, but we got a glimpse of what the Devs are working on - or listening to - these days following the latest Dev Blog by CCP Hammerhead "Livin' on a Prayer".

The fine folks of EVE University were also kind enough to put together the following How To video, based on the current state of PI on CCP's Test server SiSi, as well as a short Guide. Enjoy!

Additional EVE bloggers commentary on Planetary Interaction:

Diary of a Bored Spacemen: Planetary Interaction
The Hydrostatic Capsule: PIN Cushion
I am Keith Neilson: Dev Blog Breakdown – Special Edition
Morphisat’s Blog: Planetary Interaction on Sisi
EVE Online Wormholes: Planetary Command Center
Diary of a Bored Spaceman: A Sneak Peek at a Planetary Scan
The Midnight Sun: Making The Game: Planetary Interaction In Wormhole Space
More to come as they are found...

Have you seen Treenara's new look?

CrazyKinux@gmail.com (CrazyKinux) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:15:00 +0000

On the left the old Treenara - On the right the new Treenara

I've been playing the same character, Treenara Mazouk, since October of 2004. What you might not know this, but Tree (that's what my corp mates call her) was not my first character. My first character saw the day in August of 2004, her name was Saoundra Meezo, she was Amarr. I've always had a preference for the Amarr, both in their dramatic character looks and in their ship designs. But shortly after starting off in New Eden, some buddies of mine created Gallente characters. Since I wanted to play with them and did not want to travel all the way to Gallente space, I simply "rolled" a new character, and Treenara was born.

Fast forward 6 years and though my friends no longer roam New Eden, Treenara is still my faithful companion and will shortly hit the 60 million skill points! Suffice to say her "looks" have become something very familiar to me. And so earlier this week, I decided to give her a little makeover and took advantage of CCP's Character Portrait Swapping. After creating a new character of the same gender, race and bloodline, I proceeded to do the swap for a mere $10 fee.

Though I was all excited about the change, even after a few days, the old portraits still have yet to change. And I know all about deleting the portrait folder and all that. The forum avatar still shows the old portrait, and even the API feed used by EVEMon still has the old Treenara.

I'm hoping that I won't have to wait much longer for the switch to occur. I just don't see myself waiting until Incarna for Treenara's look to get refreshed! Where are those Icelandic Trolls when you need them! Where's my $10 value?

TRON LEGACY - Official Trailer #2

CrazyKinux@gmail.com (CrazyKinux) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:40:00 +0000

Very few movies had as much impact in nurturing my inner Geek as much as Wargames and TRON. As I explained to a friend earlier today, back in the early 80s I had very friends to share my passion for TRON. Personal computers and the networks that were about to connect them all were not things pre-teens were known to discuss, much less take pride in having an interest in.

Fast forward 30 years, and the situation has flipped completely; a 180 in the perception of Geeks! This coming December, there will be one such Geek enjoying the benefits of this cultural shift!

For unable to view the video due to their geolocation, view it here.

I can barely control my glee!

Rettic - When Art, Design and Talent come Together

CrazyKinux@gmail.com (CrazyKinux) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:15:00 +0000

Last Friday night, I got an early birthday gift, or a late Christmas gift, however you want to see it! The much talented @Rettic, of Rettic's Log: The Chronofile, was kind enough to provide his services to me free of charge as a token of appreciation for all my efforts in promoting and helping foster the right environment for the EVE Blogging Community.

This post's header as you can see was the result, and now sits atop as my blog's main header! If you're curious to see the full image, head over to my Flickr account right here! Beautiful work isn't it!

By profession, Rettic is a Senior Interactive Designer, and I'm sure that if he is as talented for Interactive Design as he is for Graphic Design, then whom ever he works for is one lucky employer!

If you're interested in have some work done by my good friend, then know that his standard fees will run you about 100-200 million ISKs for a logo/banner/forum signature, and that he also offer his services for EON ads, software skinning, etc. Contact him in any case to get a quote from him!

Thanks again sir, for some amazing work!

Iron Man 2 - The Latest Trailer

CrazyKinux@gmail.com (CrazyKinux) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:30:00 +0000

Not too many movies into the "cool techno geek" group, but Iron Man, and most likely its sequel do. Judging from the following trailer - the 2nd one - Iron Man 2 looks very promising! I for one, look forward to it!

For that matter TRON has that same effect on me! Looking forward to that trailer being released. Which I know should be soon; as in by the end of the week!

The Top Ten Commandments of the Capsuleer Parent

CrazyKinux@gmail.com (CrazyKinux) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:50:00 +0000

Every EVE Online player who became a parent during his capusleer career, knows how difficult it can sometimes be to juggle a professional career, a marriage and children, while giving in to the calling of New Eden. But with time, through sheer effort and good planning, it can be done. I know, I've struggled myself to manage to do all of the above, but I'm still here, playing the game, blogging about it and having a great time doing it, despite the occasional trolls!

How do I do it? Well over time I've come up with a few basic rules that seem to work for me. And so I wanted to share them with you, and see what you yourselves can come up with!

Thou shall put real-life first. Always!
Thy children shall always come before the pod
Nighttime shall become my best friend
Thou shall master the art of flying a ship while changing a diaper
A game schedule thou shall agree upon with thy better-half
Thou shall learn the EVE Bushido of the Parent Warrior
EVEMon shall be installed on every PC I can come in contact with
Thou shall know all the ins and outs of of the EVE Skill Planner
...
...

I didn't want to finish the list, not because I ran out of steam or ideas, but simply because I want you to add the last two! Come on!

Blizzard, the MMORPG that has yet to be made

CrazyKinux@gmail.com (CrazyKinux) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:00:00 +0000

For a while it looked like the only successful MMORPGs would be Fantasy-based. Well most were using a Tolkienesque universe in which to allow players and their characters to explorer and roam.

But then, slowly but surely, we started seeing science-fiction based MMOs, some successful (EVE Online), some not so much (Earth & Beyond anyone?). Now, with Star Trek Online and Black Prophecy soon to be released, it looks like that genre is finally coming into the main stream of MMO games.

But science-fiction is not just limited to futuristic space combat! So many settings have yet to be explored by developer and players a like, that one would think we lack creativity and a need for diversity?

(Image used with permission from Wm. Robert Johnston. Original can be found here.)

Take for example an Ice Age, or Glacial Age since that's really the correct term. Now here's a setting that would be amazing for an MMO. Think of pockets of humanity scattered on cold and desolate continent of ice, where huge pack of 5-feet high wolves roam in packs of 20, 30 or even hundreds. A land where the Mammoth are once again the biggest beast on land, or where the illustrious Yeti walks the land terrorizing human outposts. Hell why not! A world where one has to travel far south to visit the last remaining cities on Earth. Can you picture it?

I could probably go on and on, but I think you get the idea. Now, I no Game Designer, so I have thought of all the details and possibilities, but I just can't fathom that we're going to limit ourselves to Elves and Dwarves or Spaceship and asteroid fields.

There's gotta more out there then dusting off an old franchise and wrapping it up in an MMO carcase.

What other settings would you like to see come to life? I'd love to know your ideas!

Do you have what it takes to be the next Tony Gonzales?

CrazyKinux@gmail.com (CrazyKinux) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:05:00 +0000

If you believe there's a Tony Gonzales hiding somewhere in you, waiting to come out and write some brilliant novellas such as Ruthless and Theodicy or even a novel (Empyrean Age), then this is your chance!

Silver Night is currently running the first annual fiction contest, and the prizes are pretty interesting. Hell I might even give it a try myself, if I wasn't busy running this blog! Have a look:

1st Prize: Winner's choice of any one of the following faction battleships, with a 300m fitting stipend. Choices are: Bhaalgorn, Vindicator, Rattlesnake, Machariel, Nightmare, Raven Navy Issue, Tempest Fleet Issue, Apocalypse Navy Issue, Megathron Navy Issue, Dominix Navy Issue, Typhoon Fleet Issue, Armageddon Navy Issue, or Scorpion Navy Issue.

2nd Prize: Choice of any one of the Navy Issue or Fleet Issue battleships listed above. There will be 2 second prize winners.

3rd Prize: Choice of Empire Faction Cruisers from the following list: Caracal Navy Issue, Omen Navy Issue, Vexor Navy Issue, or Stabber Navy Issue. There will be 4 3rd place winners.

So if you ever wanted to write some fiction set in New Eden, than this might just be the carrot that gets you going!

EVE Online Postcards for Tuesday March 2nd, 2010

CrazyKinux@gmail.com (CrazyKinux) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:00:00 +0000

With a new widescreen monitor comes a new screenshot resolution. After my initial excitement with this new geek toy, I of course jumped at the chance to capture some vast and majestic scenery we've become accustomed as capsuleers. The following are but examples. Enjoy!

See them in full size!