The Making of EVE Online | Escapist Documentary 

Some people here in the comments are old, retired EVE players. As a rare zoomer player, I highly encourage everyone watching to give the game a try. If you can get past the learning curve at the beginning the game really is amazing.

After 17 years, I still log in! I love it. There is no experience like it.

I remember when my cousin was obsessed with this game like 15 years ago. I can't believe this game is still going strong.

I grew up playing EVE. I still listen to the soundtrack to relax or get to sleep on rough nights. I miss it often but have never been able to get back into it.

As a player of Eve for over 19 years I never tire of watching a good, engaging Eve documentary. Thank you for adding this to the list. I love Eve because there is always something different I can do or try to approach mastery of, through ship fittings, tactics or just moving to a different part of space. I know I'll never master everything, but you can aim for one thing at a time and, if you are part of a corporation, your efforts never go unnoticed. Especially if it adds to the quality of life of your corpmates.

The best game I ever played. Played it for years, got into all sorts of hijinx, unfortunately I don't really have the time for it these days as real life is too busy, but I will never forget the awesome experiences I had in it! It truly is a work of art unlike anything other.

I played EVE for a few years at the beginning. I joined one of the earliest mega corps, Taggart Transdimensional (TTI). I became CEO but lasted a month because I quickly learned I didn’t have the mindset for leadership and didn’t have the time to commit to the role. But I did clean up the membership rolls for my successor before I left the game entirely due to real life obligations. But I never forgot the experience.

This was a damn great documentary, I don't even play EVE but I've always been interested in its mystique and all that, very well made, super super interesting to know about how this game was made and still running to this day.Amazing job

I can see why EVE approached Escapist to produce this documentary. Both place such an emphasis and importance on the value of a genuine and supportive community. I was not expecting to see my patreon name in the credits. It’s small, but seeing my name go by and knowing I helped a part of this story be told after such a long week bout damn made me cry. Great job.

Here is a fun old fact about EvE. Back before alpha or beta, CCP started running a website forum to get people engaged and to trickle info out as it became available. One of the most common questions was "but if I cant fly with a joystick, and there is no actual dogfighting, what is the gameplay even going to be?" Back then the only response I could give was.. "Think Homeworld, but much much more detailed!" Signed: former.. CCP|Loki -3D Artist, Jove builder from day 1 So amazing to see how the company has grown and evolved over time, and how some of the stuff from the very very early days lives on in spirit with in the game still.

Ten years in and looking forward to the next ten years. Enjoyed your work! Thank You!

Great video. I've worked in the games industry as an artist since 1993, and been an Eve player since 2006. It's the game I always wish I could have worked on, because the models you build are deeply valued by the players, they grind for the ships and really appreciate when they finally have it in their hangar. I've never played a game where I have so many stories, and more epic moments. More importantly I met lots friends and had a blast. CCP is very unique in the industry.

This is delightful. Well done Nick and crew!

Great stuff! Thank you The Escapist for doing EVE online justice with a top tier video documentary.

I was part of the formation of BoB back in the day. Best gaming times of my life and I still chat to the guys from those days even now. What an experience we all had :)

I remember playing Earth & Beyond when I first was told about EVE online. I've not played it for at least 7 years. But the ride I had was amazing.

Eve is the friends you made playing. The folks you faced down Snuffed with, the folks you kicked out of Deklein or Piekura, the folks you met in Mara or Tama's top belt.

Down the Rabbit Hole took so god damn long the Escapist, of all places, decided to beat him to the punch.

Great doc! I played the game for about 7 years, I always have an itch to return.

we're making our own IP and EVE is one of our inspiration!

This coming out while I am on vacation on Iceland is a gift. Thanks! :)

Thank you, so much, for the captions! I like not having to rely on RU-vid's auto closed captioning.

I will always play Eve and follow it's story. In Iceland now! It's amazing.

Such a shame we'll never get videos like this from The Escapist again.

Absolutely amazing, great work to everyone who made this documentary possible

What a great documentary. I was there for beta and early launch so it was wonderful to see the old graphics, hear the story and reminisce. I still play now :D

Well done guys! I loved it! I've never played it but always been curious as to its history.

One hell of a beautiful loop!

This is making we want to jump back in. Started playing in the Gemini beta and played for 15 years with some short breaks here and there. Haven’t played in 5 years now but been kinda getting that itch again.

The earliest pictures of Eve's prototype 2d client look a lot inspired by the Escape Velocity series. I see that bribe button too :D

This should be a good prepper for Fredrik Knudsens Down the Rabbit Hole on EVE Online.

I've been playing since 2014. Absolutely love it and i don't need to commit ridiculous hours to it. My char is skilling up even while i am not playing. Great game if you want something to hop on for a few hours a week.

Thank you for making this!

Nice intro, definitely can tell you took notes from "the expanse" intro, and its awesome.

I clearly remember at 11:55, playing on a CRT monitor and seeing those thin lines in the screen, a filter or whatever but it is so nostalgic to see! They did away with that filter very quickly, but it looked unique and charming on the CRTs back then.

Still loving and playing the game after 20 years! Keep up the good work CCP! And thanks The Escapist for making this doumentary, really cool to see these behind-the-scene stuff and hearing some stories i havent heard of till today. What is EVE about? I think its to make friends while having a great time and fun in a beautifull game.

I've played eve since 08 - and this is really well put together.

Velios from M.Corp o/ Haven't played Eve in well over 12 years, but have memories of the decade I spent in the game that will never leave me.

I was going to say it’s hardly a ‘making of’ because a very small portion of footage is about ‘how was it done’. But now I think the title is more about ‘how is it being made, before and right now’. Despite sort of not liking Hilmar’s performance at the Fanfest, I’m really having enjoyed his part in this documentary. Both ‘tales of ye olde’ in the beginning (very interesting and informative), and the cute personal story at 42:28. Thank you!

Great documentary! Had a huge laugh seeing dentara rast's face again.

Tremendous documentary once again!

I'm amazed it's still going.

I used to make my ingame money by.. basically writing for and editing an EVE Online fansite. Eve is a reality people choose to partake in, which extend beyond the client, but which can also exist in a microscopic scale of a single entirely gameplay focused event. And it being a world that not even the developers fully understand anymore, is fascinating. Random people become experts in systems and mechanics of making things happen. I still find it fascinating.

Awesome job ppl, loved it, and mostly proud for being around since 2005, ups and downs but always coming back and enjoying it like the first day, cheers!! o7

A understated great game that i literally grew up on and had kids playing, thankyou.

Played on and off since 2014, and I’m on right now. Been in null sec wars and been an industrialist. This game is awesome.

one of the best documentaries I have ever seen

Great documentary!

This is pretty nostalgic, I started playing EVE in 2003 during the last open beta, and I "won" EVE in 2021. This does make me consider coming back but... I just don't have the time anymore to really play the game, which is kind of sad but at the same time... dang. Funny too, Hilmar's story around 42:30 - back in the early days, even getting a cruiser was a massive undertaking because ISK didn't come easily. I remember the first corp I joined after release, we spent a week mining Omber just to get the ISK for one of us to buy an Exequror. We promptly lost it too - I think it lived for half a day. Ah, nostalgia... Some more fun facts from the early days: jumping didn't land you at the opposing stargate, it landed you at what I guess was 0,0,0 - the center of the system. There were a few systems where it meant you were right next to a station so you could dock immediately, was kind of sad that got changed (for obvious reasons). Then there was the hilarity of being able to strap multiple propulsion mods to a ship, and get it up to ludicrous speed. One feature I hope they'll bring back at some point was taking damage to your equipped modules when your shields were gone (one reason modules still have a hitpoints property); having a module damaged reduced it's effectiveness, and when it got "destroyed" (0 hp) it would stop working, only way to make it work again was to repair it in station or buy a new one (I think they both cost about the same at the time). Been many a time I took my poor Incursus back to the station with 2 out of 3 weapons not working, afterburner only half alive, and so on.

The Subtitles are off on some points, 22:37 "was in part just a way for 30 people to make EVE Online in three years"Is maybe better then Even line. And at 43:40 "That I just borrowed from my E-friend that I like broke the trust of. "Probably better then the word thrust ;)

for get about the making of eve far more interesting to hear the story of the bat shit playerbase and what they do its crazy

This is a wonderfully executed top-notch documentary on a game that is a modern day marvel. I’ve just made an account last night and i’m downloading the client now to give it a try. As someone who deeply enjoyed the immersive and emergent gameplay of Ultima Online, I can’t wait to give EVE a try. My first plan is to see if i can make enough in-game credits to purchase a month’s subscription to access Omega account benefits while playing free. Thanks Escapist ! I’ve been a fan of your content since 2006/2007 and I’m thoroughly enjoying this new piece. What a great and timely move focusing on these wonderful devs who created something so unique.

20 years playing and its still my favorite game of all time.

Awesome presentation bois.

I love the expanse style intro!!

This was really interesting and entertaining, thank you. Great game, and yes i also do enjoy the Scope updates

It is a rich and amazing game. Been playing for over 15 years on and off. Always fresh when I come back.

Was playing it for probably 13-15 years. Eve is one love, never I played something like Eve.

I played EVE for a few years, I lived in Nullsec with TEST Alliance Please Ignore while they were in Legacy Coalition in the south. It really is all about who you play with.

Thank you for this.

Thank you!

It is and once was, for me, a very unique and excellent game indeed. 👍👏 There is so much to say above it and my time in it that i always end up writing a novel about my time in EvE. 2006 - 2013

Im actually a new eve player lol. Only 1 week in so far. Loving it.

30,000 boxes, of EVE Online only in the world.... Well I have one of them! Was given to me in a big box of games as hand me downs from my Uncle, I never realised there was a small amount of copies.

Awesome doco 👏

awesome Documentary

OMG! BoB v. Goon was epic. As a MINOR (exceedingly) daughter corp, it was amazing to be a part of

0:17 that's Minmatar building

Simply beautiful.

This is so good

Amazing stuff

Wholesome video ccp needed desperately.

11:22 oh dude i've always thought Eve looks peerless. I still keep getting happier over the graphical improvements. You guys show me theirs no limit to how many times you could polish a corvette and still make it sexier. Actually seeing the photage of the beta really threw me off. I thought their was a super retro era i missed. I missed too much anyway only half paying attention. "Mining can get lonely" Man i'm older, peace quiet and menial hobbies are all i look forward to after work. XD

This documentary makes me really want to come back 🙃

Keep up the good work

I still have the original box and cd. Turns out it is one of the 30,000. Good thing i kept it. Thank you for the video. And thanks for the game CCP.

I never played this game, but I was always intrigued by it. I guess if I had unlimited time, I'd try to get into it. But still, it's a fascinating concept... a fascinating world.

Is that a teaser at the end!? :O

alot of people are half lit on mining fleets. yep 100% still the same and the rorq pilot fell asleep to

A hidden gem

One of the best, if not The best game I've ever played! I love it, and always will! Keep up the good work and fly safe! o7

hey I got a mention!! 😄😄😄

For me it was poking my nose into a wormhole with absolutely no idea what I was doing. Spent 3 days in J-space and had 20x more money in my cargo than I had ever made in the game. Lost my way home and got trapped in J-space. Finally find a way out and the door is being camped. So I panic, and it all comes down to this one moment weather I get the good ending or bad ending.

As an early 2005 player at one point EVE for me was the greatest game I ever played. I have moved away from it for the last few years and it lost a bit of its sparkle at some point. Its interesting that they mention the UI as actually for me some parts of it got worse with time rather than better although that was not helped by the addition of my features that all needed to have their own way of being interacted with.

Ive played EVE since 2004, it has really taken a hit lately because decisions are being made by marketing and not people who know how the game works. With some of the decisions that have happened the last few years, you begin to doubt the devs even play their own game.

Lol I remember the days torpedoes went off like nuclear explosions, it was satisfying but in huge battles it would crash players lol. It's insane how much the game has improved/change and evolved since those days. If there is a few things I miss in this game, it's the combat, players and music. It really is unique in this regard, I can't tell you all the unique individuals I've met playing this game, and how much they taught me, and it was always sad to see a longtime friend leave the corporation for Lowsec/Null sec.. But that is just the way the game works, just like real life, your friends get a job in another state for example, and move on with their new lives. No other game has given me such an personal experience quite like Eve. Eve is brutal, and it will NOT hold your hand. And some people may not like it for this reason some may view this game as math class/economics class, but I loved Eve for this realism. No one holds your hand in reality, you HAVE to communicate and make friends in order to move forward in this life, and Eve teaches real world logic and even skills to young teens the longer they play. It not just a video game, it literally is an escape to another world, it IS an experience if you are willing to understand.

Eve is a fun game. I played it for about 4 years. But it turns into more like a job and It was impossible to play "casually" at a higher level. I was not satisfied with what I could accomplish in a short gaming session and playing the game more and more hours was affecting my real life negatively and I had to quite. It would be great if EVE had more things to do casually. It would also be great if Eve had like a gladiator mode where you could do smaller skirmish battles in high security space against other players.

I played this game for a few years and then quit, but couldn't stop returning time and time again. I think I'm finally free of the pull but the game was really awesome

I wonder if making a completely new EVE-2 would be better, that has more freedom of changing things, or continuing on the original.

The Lead Narrative Designer sounds exactly how I'd expect him to sound.

I loved Eve, I played for a few years and have dipped my toe back in every now and then, but the time sinks are just too much.

EVE keeps getting better 😌

Praise the Space Pope

How has no one pointed out just how big of a sociopath Hilmar must be to build a game with the end goal of causing more social drama and "death"

The games I loved the most, the games I hated the most... But the games I always come back to... just for the emotional rollercoaster...CCP great job.

yeah, this is EVE !

100h weeks back to back for 3 years. That's 14.5h workdays, IF it's a 7 day workweek. Sounds super healthy. /s

spent nearly 15 years in EVE. Great MMO Era, second to best after Ultima Online.

Great times.

NetEase should watch and learn from this video.