Joystiq

Dust 514 launching May 14

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 15:00:00 EST

Dust 514, CCP's console companion to EVE Online, will cease its open beta operations and begin life as an officially released PlayStation 3 game on Wednesday, May 14, according to the game's official Twitter account. Get it? May 14? A date that could be written as 5/14 if one were so inclined?

See, because the game is called Dust 514, and ... You know what? Never mind. Dust 514 will be free-to-play when it launches, so curious folk can become a tiny, infinitesimal speck in EVE Online's vast shared universe without having to open their wallets.

Dust 514 launching May 14 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 27 Apr 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dust 514 dev diary and screens dig into closed beta's vehicular warfare

Sinan Kubba — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 00:30:00 EST

This dev diary and gallery of screenshots focuses on the vehicles roaming around the closed beta of Dust 514, EVE Online's interconnected sibling shooter on PS3 and Vita. Also, make sure you watch the video's intro closely.

Gallery: Dust 514 (11/21/12)

Dust 514 dev diary and screens dig into closed beta's vehicular warfare originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Nov 2012 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Connecting worlds with Dust 514 and CCP chief marketing officer David Reid

Xav de Matos — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 15:30:00 EST

There is no road map for taking a first-person shooter and injecting it into an existing MMO universe, so developer CCP Games is attempting to draw one. Combining the worlds of the (extraordinarily intimidating) cult hit EVE Online and its upcoming, self-published free-to-play console shooter Dust 514 isn't as easy as tying a narrative thread between both games, there's a sensitive balance the developer has to consider.

"If there's anything about EVE that's particularly notorious, it's the fidelity of its virtual economy. You can equate the loss of a giant ship in EVE to some real world amount of money, just based on the time and effort it takes to build," CCP Chief Marketing Officer David Reid tells Joystiq.

Reid says that because EVE's in-game economy is so unique, it's essential for the developer to introduce changing aspects - like a completely different game's economy - gradually. Currently in closed beta, Dust 514 is testing its in-game links to EVE Online, but it's a careful play of checks and balances and minuscule tweaks that will make the games work well in tandem.

Gallery: Dust 514 (8/21/12)

Continue reading Connecting worlds with Dust 514 and CCP chief marketing officer David Reid

Connecting worlds with Dust 514 and CCP chief marketing officer David Reid originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dust 514 beta codes available right here [We're all out!]

JC Fletcher — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 18:45:00 EST

Update: Hopefully you snagged one our keys, because we're all out of them now!

Dust 514 isn't in open beta just yet - that happens early next year - but it's open to you. Joystiq readers can jump into the closed beta on PS3 right now, simply by clicking the link below and getting a code for beta entry.

There just happens to be a Double Skill Point event going on right now, so you can catch up in terms of skill points while you're catching up in ... actual skill.

Dust 514 beta codes available right here [We're all out!] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Nov 2012 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dust 514 open beta in early 2013; earn 'Double SP' in closed beta until Nov. 8

Xav de Matos — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 13:30:00 EST

During an online multiplayer session pitting CCP against media, the developer's Chief Marketing Officer David Reid noted that the Dust 514 closed beta will continue throughout 2012.

"We'll be in closed beta for the rest of the year," Reid reiteratted to Joystiq following sessions of the free-to-play, PS3-exclusive shooter. "While determining the precise date for commencing open beta definitely will depend on player feedback, we're feeling confident that it won't be much longer after year end."

Reid wouldn't tell us precisely how many users have participated in the closed beta, which had been available to download for PlayStation Plus members earlier this year; however, he said the team has welcomed "hundreds of thousands of people" into the game since launching in August. Users can register for access on the game's website.

CCP seems intent to take its time with the game, with Reid citing the team's desire to run what they "think of as a 'real beta,'" a point expanded upon in our August preview of the game.

"Given the technical complexity of being the first developer to ever connect a console game to a live running PC MMO [EVE Online]. This takes time to ensure we're meeting the quality bar we've set for ourselves and our players expect, and we're committed to doing this right."

To keep Dust 514 closed beta participants locked into the game's large-scale battles, CCP is holding a 'Double Skill Point' event from now until November 8. Servers are online each day of the week at almost 24 hours a day, save for a regular daily maintenance window.

Dust 514 open beta in early 2013; earn 'Double SP' in closed beta until Nov. 8 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Nov 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dust 514 beta preview: War-torn and complex

Xav de Matos — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 18:30:00 EST

Part of the excitement lobbed at Dust 514 is its connectivity with the complex, massively-multiplayer beast known as EVE Online. Linked physically by servers in the real world and otherwise by a thin story thread, Dust 514 has escaped close examination as we fawn over its ambitious moving parts. Developer CCP has swatted the magnifying glasses away so far, showing it off at industry trade shows for us to marvel at its potential.

As of yesterday for PlayStation Plus users - and earlier for some, including press - the secrets of Dust 514 have become (mostly) public, with the widening of a closed beta for the free-to-play PS3 exclusive. Though Dust 514 is a console game, it features a complexity usually reserved for cult-hit, hardcore PC shooters. Like its MMORPG sibling, Dust 514 can be daunting.

Gallery: Dust 514 (8/21/12)

Continue reading Dust 514 beta preview: War-torn and complex

Dust 514 beta preview: War-torn and complex originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dust 514 beta available now to PS Plus members in North America, tomorrow in Europe

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:30:00 EST

CCP's closed beta for its free-to-play shooter, Dust 514, is accessible to PlayStation Plus members right now in North America, with Europe joining the fight on Wednesday.

PlayStation Plus members also receive a 50 percent discount on the "Mercenary Pack," dropping the price to $10. The pack includes items and 4,000 AUR in-game currency, which is roughly equivalent to $20.

Dust 514 beta available now to PS Plus members in North America, tomorrow in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dust 514's $20 'Mercenary Pack' lets you play the game right now

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 10:15:00 EST

If your patience refuses to be shackled by the Icelandic wooing of CCP's launch date-less Dust 514, the developer has a rogue way for you to get into its closed beta early: $20. The "Mercenary Pack" offers more than early access to the game's currently closed beta, but we're guessing a list of gun names and XP bonuses aren't getting you all hot and bothered (in case they do, we've dropped all that info after the break).

Interestingly, the pack sounds an awful lot like CCP's original pricing plan for Dust 514. CCP reps told us at Gamescom last year, "You effectively pay what we call a 'cover charge,' we're looking at likely around $20 for the initial download. That download gets you the game client plus a bundle of virtual currency which has the equivalent in-game value of $20." Since then, Dust 514 became free-to-play, eliminating the need for a "cover charge" system.

The Mercenary Pack also includes 4,000 AUR ($20 of in-game currency), which - wouldn't you know it - was planned as part of Dust's original pricing strategy. The pack should become available on PlayStation Network - for $19.99/€17.99/£15.99, depending on your territory - at some point today when PSN updates.

Gallery: Dust 514 (Merc Pack)

Continue reading Dust 514's $20 'Mercenary Pack' lets you play the game right now

Dust 514's $20 'Mercenary Pack' lets you play the game right now originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Online players can use in-game currency to pay for real-life graphics cards

Jessica Conditt — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:30:00 EST

Play vidyagames, get real stuff for vidyagames: That's how the EVE Online PLEX-for-graphics-cards thing works. Good night, everyone!

OK, fine, in more detail this time: CCP Games, the developer behind EVE Online, has struck a deal with Nvidia for players to use in-game currency -- PLEX -- to purchase GeForce 560 GTX graphics cards, which run almost $200 at retail. That's fake money for real items, folks. Nvidia and CCP will start by selling 100 graphics cards (limit one per EVE account) to test the demand. After CCP announced its Nvidia deal, the in-game price of PLEX jumped "significantly," CCP said.

PLEX (Pilot License Extension) is an in-game currency that can be used to pay for 30-day EVE subscriptions. PLEX can be purchased with ISK, EVE's main currency that can be earned throughout the game, meaning some dedicated players end up with a free subscription each month. Now they may end up with a "free" graphics card as well.

EVE Online players can use in-game currency to pay for real-life graphics cards originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dust 514 goes free-to-play, Vita version a 'companion app'

Jordan Mallory — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 19:37:00 EST

Dust 514, the upcoming PSN exclusive MMOFPS connected both figuratively and literally to the EVE Online universe, will launch with a $0.00 price tag, according to Eurogamer. Originally, the game was to launch at $20.00, and the player would be pseudo-reimbursed with $20.00 worth of in-game currency. "We wanted to make it unambiguously that this is a free-to-play game," CCP's Brandon Laurino told Eurogamer. "We probably will still have some kind of pack like that."

The game will still be supported through microtransactions, as was always the plan, although Laurino remains adamant that Dust 514 is "not a pay to win game," and that nothing available for purchase will provide an unfair advantage.

Dust 514's Vita iteration won't be exactly the same as the newly free-to-play PS3 version. Laurino told Eurogamer that the Vita game will be a "companion app," with functionality including character customization, shopping, and setting up "strategies" with other players, all interfacing with the PS3 game.

The Vita may get other exciting functions like "playing a video game" later, as the app will be progressively upgraded. "As we continue to explore what the possibilities are, between Vita and PS3, of which there are many, we'll keep updating the app with stuff like that over time," Laurino said. As for a launch simultaneous with the PS3 game, "We haven't decided that yet."

Dust 514 goes free-to-play, Vita version a 'companion app' originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 04 Mar 2012 19:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dust 514 supports mouse/keyboard and controller

Jordan Mallory — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:01:00 EST

Dust 514 will support the use of USB keyboards and mice. That's good news for EVE Online players looking to expand the wealth of their galactic empire by partaking in some mercenarial dirty work on the PS3 shooter.

Whether using a keyboard and mouse will provide a mechanical edge over players using a controller remains to be seen, but we feel like the type of input method used isn't as crucial when you're being bombarded from orbit by planet-sized gunships.

Dust 514 supports mouse/keyboard and controller originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CCP launching EVE character names and pictures into space via giant balloon

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST

Well, it's not technically space, but it's as close as you can get without the help of some Russian rocketeers and their flying machines. As a token of gratitude, the Icelandic MMO moguls at CCP will be placing the names and pictures of every currently subscribed player character in EVE Online (as of 23:59 GMT tonight) into a capsule, which will then be sent into near-space via high-altitude balloon.

High-altitude balloons cannot actually leave the Earth's atmosphere and enter legit outer-space, but they are capable of traveling hundreds of thousands of feet into the air; high enough to see the curvature of the Earth against the blackness of space. The event will take place during CCP's own Fanfest 2012 in beautiful Reykjavik, Iceland.

CCP launching EVE character names and pictures into space via giant balloon originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 31 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dust 514 preview: Contractual murder

Ben Gilbert — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 18:30:00 EST

Here's that Gamescom preview where I tell you how shocked I was about a game I didn't expect to be all about. You've been warned. Still with me? Great. Dust 514, a first-person shooter MMO cross-platform experience from CCP Games, is without a doubt the biggest surprise for me of Gamescom. At the end of a long week of previewing dozens of games, I didn't expect to be blown away by the little hyped game from the Icelandic devs at CCP, but here we are.

As promised, Dust 514 ties the bizarre, often unbelievable world of EVE Online and its reality reflecting politics into an instanced first-person shooter MMO, seamlessly combining both games into a universe ("New Eden") that's been thriving for years now on PC. But CCP did more than offer lofty promises in a preview session I attended earlier today in a private hotel suite near Gamescom -- a team of devs from various CCP offices demonstrated the madness in real-time.

Make no mistake, Dust 514 is no Huxley. It's a very real MMOFPS with very deep economics and political systems tied to EVE Online, and it's already incredibly impressive, even though it's not set to launch until next summer.

Gallery: Dust 514

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Dust 514 preview: Contractual murder originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 20 Aug 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here's how Dust 514's microtransactions work on your PS3

Ben Gilbert — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST

When Dust 514 was revealed back in 2009, its Icelandic devs at CCP also explained that it'll be microtransaction-based when it launches sometime next summer. Given that the game is now heading exclusively to Sony's PlayStation 3, I couldn't help but wonder exactly how PlayStation Network would handle microtransaction purchases in the game, not to mention what kind of price point Dust 514 would launch at given its business model.

"You effectively pay what we call a 'cover charge,' we're looking at likely around $20 for the initial download. That download gets you the game client plus a bundle of virtual currency which has the equivalent in-game value of $20. So you're basically getting that bundle of cash that you're using to start the game, and from there if you choose to play for free and just grind, you're welcome to do that. But of course we know a lot of people will convert," a CCP rep explained to me this afternoon. As of now, the plan is to release Dust 514 exclusively via the PlayStation Network.

Additionally, the player-driven marketplace so popular in CCP's other big MMO, EVE Online, will also be made available to Dust 514 folks, giving gamers a chance to build up their virtual empires without the use of their hard-earned spondulicks. "Bought currency items and non-currency items can be freely exchanged between the players," creative director Atli Mar Sveinsson added. To CCP, the free flow of the two marketplaces will keep the user base from splitting into two separate factions. "It avoids the buy/win problem that some microtransaction-based games have."

Like EVE Online, CCP expects some players to never even touch the actual first-person shooter gameplay of Dust 514, and simply spend all their time acting as virtual businesspeople. "I wouldn't be surprised if we get quite a few EVE players that join Dust but actually don't play Dust at all, they're just on the market speculating ... and they never go into a match," the rep added with a laugh. Here we go again!

Gallery: Dust 514

Here's how Dust 514's microtransactions work on your PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 20 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mobile version of EVE Online demoed for smartphones and tablets

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 01:00:00 EST

No longer satisfied with completely absorbing the lives of its spacefaring businessmen via their personal computers, CCP Games recently demonstrated a simpler version of its MMO EVE Online that runs on Tegra 2-powered tablets and smartphones. CCP Chief Technology Officer Halldor Fannar explained that the application -- which was given absolutely no release details whatsoever -- could be used for "doing market transactions, managing your skill queue and, for instance, fitting your spaceship."

Wait, there's more to EVE Online than those things? Here we just thought it was a game about interstellar business mergers and hypergalactic corporate greed. You know: stuff like that seems like a pretty natural fit on a thing that could easily fit in the pocket of a tailored pair of business pants.

Mobile version of EVE Online demoed for smartphones and tablets originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Online trailer shows upcoming collaboration with Dust 514

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 11:30:00 EST

During the EVE Fanfest held earlier this week, the MMO's developers revealed a new three-minute cinematic trailer demoing the game's interactivity with its upcoming sister title, Dust 514. Sorry, that sounded way more boring than it is: Watch the trailer below, because it has so many explosions.

Continue reading EVE Online trailer shows upcoming collaboration with Dust 514

EVE Online trailer shows upcoming collaboration with Dust 514 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 27 Mar 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World of Darkness by CCP revealed at The Grand Masquerade

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 10:45:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Descending from the rafters and morphing from a bat into an exciting reveal trailer, CCP Games unveiled forthcoming Vampire: The Masquerade-based MMO World of Darkness this past week at the Grand Masquerade convention in New Orleans. Ardwulf's Lair reports that the game will "focus on player politics and social interaction," but we won't see that in action until the game launches at some point in 2012.

A shaky-cam video of the teaser trailer reveals a modern-day setting for the game. Interestingly, CCP Games' White Wolf studio in Atlanta, Georgia is handling development (and consequently hiring) rather than the company's Iceland studios.

Continue reading World of Darkness by CCP revealed at The Grand Masquerade

World of Darkness by CCP revealed at The Grand Masquerade originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Sep 2010 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Online raising money for Pakistan flood victims

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 03:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

In a second act of charity springing from the eerily lifelike financial depths of EVE Online, players are being offered a chance to donate to victims of flooding in Pakistan using 30-day subscription codes (or "PLEX") as currency. The game's proprietor, CCP Games, will convert the month's worth of playtime into actual, real-life dollars -- worth between $11-$15 each, depending on the subscription plan -- which will then be given to the Pakistan Red Crescent Society. Players are allowed to donate as many times as they'd like.

CCP raised over $40,000 for Haiti during its last PLEX donation drive, though we're sure the game's economically studious players can do even better this time around. Right?! That said, we should probably note that CCP sees "any scamming attempts surrounding this effort to be morally reprehensible" and warns that "they will be met with swiftest action." For specific details on the donation process, the CCP dev blog and FAQ page have more.

EVE Online raising money for Pakistan flood victims originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Online devs opening new UK studio

Ben Gilbert — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST

Other than birthing one of our favorite female singers and one of our favorite unicorns, Iceland isn't a country that comes up a lot around Joystiq. Today, however, we've got one such occasion where Iceland-based CCP -- developer of EVE Online and upcoming MMO FPS Dust 514 -- was able to bring our Scandinavian friends to the front page. According to a GamesIndustry.biz report, the developer is expanding, announcing plans to open a new studio in Newcastle, UK.

Apparently the studio will be "initially targeting" a 10 - 20 person head count, with a handful of ex-Midway Newcastle employees being picked up in the process. Additionally, the company confirmed that the UK-based offices would be targeting "current and future" console projects, rather than the PC-focused content CCP has been known for in the past. Presumably, this means the aforementioned MMO FPS, said to be headed to current-gen systems. With a mess of trade shows in the not-so-distant future, we'll likely see what CCP has cooking fairly soon.

EVE Online devs opening new UK studio originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DUST 514 details revealed, gameplay intertwines with EVE Online

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EST

A recent interview from German gaming blog Gamona with CCP Games CEO Hilmar Pétursson is likely going to turn a few heads in the MMO gaming realm -- it reveals a few savory details about the recently revealed spin-off of EVE Online, titled DUST 514. It sounds like they're trying something groundbreaking with this new title -- it'll be a console MMOFPS with real-time strategy elements, in which mercenary players take job contracts from EVE Online players.

Considering the constant power struggle between EVE's player alliances (that's space-talk for "guilds"), there'll be no shortage of odd jobs available for DUST 514's hired guns. For more information on how these two games will interact, you can check out the full video interview after the jump.

Continue reading DUST 514 details revealed, gameplay intertwines with EVE Online

DUST 514 details revealed, gameplay intertwines with EVE Online originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Online developer trademarks 'DUST 514'

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST

EVE Online developer CCP Games is set to announce its upcoming project at the swiftly approaching GDC Europe in a little under two weeks. The identity of said project has heretofore been unknown, but a recent trademark filing may have parted the veil -- the company just reserved the title DUST 514, as well as the gas mask-equipped logo you see above.

What could be the premise of this new title? Our MMO-lovin' brethren over at Massively have spun a few theories, including the overdue appearance of the oft-rumored World of Darkness MMO, as well as an EVE Online spin-off game (as evidenced by the similar-looking logo, also seen above). Our hypothesis? Given that 514 is the area code for areas in the province of Quebec, we're guessing CCP is working on an MMO about Canadian silt.

EVE Online developer trademarks 'DUST 514' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Online source code stolen, seeded

Ross Miller — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Online, RPGs, MMO

Space piracy has transformed into actual piracy, as source code for EVE Online has been stolen and unleashed onto the web via torrent. While it may not be the full source code -- one Slashdot commenter said it was just Python source -- developer CCP is expectedly none too happy.

According to Community Manager "CCP Wrangler" on the official forums, "Anyone found distributing or discussing decompiled client code will face an in game ban." As to how they know who's distributing the code, various reports say CCP is seeding the torrent themselves and using the associated IP to ban the related accounts. Now that's just dirty.

[Via Massively]

EVE Online source code stolen, seeded originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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