EVE Online Memories

Arend "Whisper" Stuhrmann

Former position: Player and volunteer in ISD Aurora

Current position: Associate Producer

Best memory of EVE: "Fly safe"

The first time I had someone use the words "fly safe" as a parting comment stands out for me. Through the use of those two little words, even those players who don't go for the role-playing aspect of the game still acknowledged that it was a big, dangerous universe out there, and that the best thing you could wish for someone was that their travels would leave them unharmed. It is a saying unique to EVE, and that our living universe inspired something like this and continues to do so is the main thing I love about it.

The comments from voice communications were pessimistic, saying I wouldn't be able to make it in time, or I'd get blown up, too, but as I got closer, everyone was cheering like a bunch of cheerleaders

Former position: Volunteer ISD senior events producer

Current position: Live Testing Lead

Best memory of EVE: The community

After EVE launched, I quickly joined ISD as a volunteer and eventually got hired on with CCP, but the thing that sucked me in - and to this day, keeps me going as both a player and an employee - is the community that we and the players have built together. Having met people from literally all over the world and formed meaningful and lasting friendships with many of them is something I doubt I would have found anywhere else. That, coupled with how closely we interact with our players, is what makes so many people such rabid fans of EVE.

Hjalti "Abraxas" Daníelsson

Former position: Customer support

Current position: Fiction writer

Best memory of EVE: Is that an egg in your pocket?

My favorite memory, after years of GM duty, was the one time I risked my job. A player sent in a request for a reward; he claimed to have espied the face of Albert Einstein in one of our nebulas, and was convinced that this was an Easter egg we'd planted. While he was completely sincere about this, he was also very chatty and clearly didn't take himself seriously at all, which was good, because we were very busy at the time, and the only reward I could find for him on short notice was a link to an informational page about psilocybin mushrooms.

Chantal "Eris Discordia" Zuurmond

Former position: ISD volunteer forum moderator

Current position: Game Designer

Best memory of EVE: Fighting like a girl

A few years ago, there were many small pirate corporations running amok in the EVE universe, and I was a proud member of one. The feeling of being part of a small, focused and well-oiled fighting machine is one I won't ever forget. One of my best moments with it was when I was the only tackler left (the person responsible for keeping victims where they are), and had to travel a distance as fast as possible before a victim would get away. The comments from voice communications were pessimistic, saying I wouldn't be able to make it in time, or I'd get blown up, too, but as I got closer, everyone was cheering like a bunch of cheerleaders, and the feeling of destroying that ship in the end was fantastic.

Daniel "Redundancy" Speed

Former position: Volunteer lead bug hunter

Current position: Senior Graphics Programmer

Best memory of EVE: Will work for beer

I remember getting to Iceland as one of the first interns, working for room, board and a little bit of beer money while frequently staying at CCP so late into the evening that I would turn the alarm on and go down to the basement to curl up on one of the mattresses down there rather than face the Icelandic sideways rain.

We're well aware that EVE Online's path to prominence involved numerous obstacles and hardships, one of which was being located in Iceland, where the weather can be inhospitable, and which has little or no game development history. Of course, we also know CCP overcame such issues. As we conclude this second article marking the game's fifth anniversary, we thank all the team members who took part in it, and look forward to seeing the landmark title evolve for years to come.

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