A window into Eve Online

• Published in: Journal of Technology Management in China
• Main Authors: Steinke, Adam, Millage, Phil
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Emerald 2014
• Subjects: Iceland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/jtmc-01-2014-0001; http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/full-xml/10.1108/JTMC-01-2014-0001; https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JTMC-01-2014-0001/full/xml; https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JTMC-01-2014-0001/full/html

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study Eve Online. Most people use their computers to surf the Web, check e-mails, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or various other social networking sites. Although computer gaming has been around for years, only in the past 10-15 years has it really taken off as a primary use for a desktop. Design/methodology/approach – Individuals use computers as a tool, to relax and get away and, in the case of Massive Multilayer Online games (MMOs), they use computers as a gateway to a virtual world. MMOs are fairly new to the gaming world, yet the concept is simple. Combine all the game players and throw them into a single intractable game, where they can deal with other players on a daily basis, essentially creating a metaverse. Findings – Eve Online is unlike any MMO out there on the market today. Created by the company CCP that is based in Iceland, Eve Online is the world’s only true sandbox game. A sandbox game is a game that allows the player to do whatever they want with no or few restrictions. Originality/value – Everyone that plays Eve Online is put on a single server called Tranquility. However, there is a separate server for people who play in the People’s Republic of China because of legal reasons imposed by the government. We examine Eve Online and make suggestions for future research to examine country differences with China.