Polar and Non-Polar Natures

I felt clever earlier today. I was thinking about the stories in and of Eve. It was a after echo of a thought left over from a discussion that was not quite an argument. It mixed with a topic I once thought to write but never finished and combined with some things that I've read of late.

There are two stories in Eve. There are the player stories and the lore. There should be one story. The lore should be a pillar and the player population should wrap and weave around it. Supported by it and with it. Instead, the two are oil and water. Both liquids sitting in the same cup but they do not mix.

In a world of dreams and wishes, I wish that Eve's story was not so much better developed, for it is a very good story, but more important. I've said it before but I'm in the mood to say it again. The odd thing is that I don't want to be a player in Eve's story. I want to be a player in Eve's universe and the story flow around me.

It is like the villagers in Skyrim. I've installed the mods to create more villagers and random encounters. I've added to the animals and the trees. Not because I need these things to play Skyrim. It is because a richer, more vibrant Skyrim amazes me.

It is one thing I wish I had with Eve.

The second thing is that I actually am tired of how dark so many of Eve's stories are. It is such a violent place. Grim and dark. So, I went and watched a cartoon for a bit. Eve needs some more bright colors, I think. I almost feel that we depress ourselves with the dark colors and imagery. I'm to blame as much as anyone else. My own stories are often bleak and dark with violence.

Someone said, "Well how do we get this new, happier Eve?" And I shook my head. I'm not asking for Eve to be newer or happier (although some brighter colors here and there would be nice. A teal. A dash of chartreuse...). I was thinking about the amusing and whimsical. Even in the things players do...

but...

The other direction of the thought is our solo players. I asked the other week about solo players. There were a lot of fascinating response. I also talk to a lot of solo players. "Sugar, don't let CCP forget about us. We are part of the story too." And they are, but as we walk down the path of content where our content is only the players they will left behind if we don't make sure they are not.

The theme so far is the Empire's losing control. It's a big push of the story and it works. However, I think that we focus so much on losing control meaning lost control and that we have to fill the void to replace it. It makes sense with things like POCO (In truth COCO [Corporation Owned Customs Offices]) control of high security space and capsuleer created produced everywhere. And its a cool concept but it is water and the solo players are oil. They don't quite fit into that framework.

Someone commented that Empire will not go away. I agree with that. It won't. It shouldn't. There is a place for it. There are people who want to be there. There are those who truly enjoy the game of Eve online. And their smaller stories, their adventures and dreams, also make up the game.

It may be a reflection of what I consider to be my fierce individuality. For as much as I love my corporation I am also a singular player within it, and within the game. My identity matters. My wishes and dreams, failures and successes impact others in small and large ripples and they create content to. Content that we create as individuals.

That content may never build star gates but it does deserve some love. The two do mix and they are both in the same place but one does not fully melt into the other. And Eve is a game of stories. It is something that is important not to forget.