The 17th expansion, Inferno, to Eve Online is now live and brings with it many new changes, updates and of course new features, not to mention a graphics update.

The expansion also allows new players a lower barrier to entry, making it that much easier for new pilots to strap in and get to know the Eve universe.

The Inferno expansion adds a lot of new features, some of which are listed below, then after the jump you can find yet another kick ass trailer for the expansion.

• Missels and Launchers
• War Declaration System
• Mercenary Marketplace
• Factional Warfare Overhaul
• Kill reports
• Complete unified inventory
• Enhanced character creator
• Deadlier incursions
• 16 new modules
• graphics and UI upgrades

Eurogamer is reporting that CCP has launched an investigation against CSM chairman, Alexander ‘The Mittani’ Gianturco, after he presented at Eve Fanfest during the “unfiltered” player panel last week.

Eve Online, like the real world, is one of the few MMORPGs, if not the only, that allows its players to participate in in-game crimes and scams; allowing players to steal in-game items and currency from each other.

During his presentation, The Mittani aired out a private conversation with one of the Eve Online players that he had scammed.The victim revealed that he had recently gone through a divorce and had become depressed, to which The Mittani mocked during his rant, stating “We’re sure that he’s not dead” and “he might have committed suicide.”

The Mittani then revealed the player’s in-game username and encouraged the audience and viewers watching to find the player in-game to harrass them, in the hopes he would eventually act out on his depression and commit suicide.

CCP public relations and social media speicalist, Ned Cokes, responded with the following statements,

“I want to reassure you that CCP in no way condones the harassment of players, especially those who suffer from depression or suicidal thoughts, as we understand the possible consequences of such abhorrent behaviour,” 

While the content of online interactions between players cannot realistically be gated within our game worlds, we do take very seriously accusations of such behaviour between our players

We are undertaking a full internal review of this panel as well as the process used for vetting the panel’s materials. Even though this panel was billed as unfiltered by CCP, we expect public presentations to be courteous and professional towards others.

I realize this was the “unfiltered” portion of the event, but for the head of the Eve Online player elected CSM to blatantly show no regard for other players well-being, is quite shocking. I watched part of his speech during the live stream and couldn’t stomach his personality for more than a few mins. Sorry, but he just seemed like a complete asshole to me; I don’t care if he was drunk. I turned it off after he read the messages between him and the victim, before he gave out the players username and asked the audience to harass him, but I’m not surprised he went on to do that.

It will be interesting to see what CCP does to address the issue, but I think The Mittani can kiss his CMS chairman position goodbye.

Today at Eve Fanfest, CCP announced that it would allow players to start purchasing real-world items with ISK earned in Eve Online.

CCP will make available 100 Nvidia GeForce  GTX560 graphics cards for the price of 20 PLEX or about $299, if you bought the PLEX with real money. Eve accounts are limited to one graphics card, so if you happen to be an EvE billionare, you won’t be able to buy a bunch if you planned on reselling them.

This is quite a step for CCP to take, by allowing people to use an in-game currency to buy real-world items. Currently there’s a limited supply and only one item, but it’ll be interesting to see if CCP expands this in the future to including more items or even open up a full store if this proves to be a success.

Called the Nexus system, TERA will feature “dynamic” public events where portals will randomly open up in the game world, allowing monsters from the enemy’s realm to pour in. Pretty much the same thing that is implemented into RIFT‘s system.

When a “Nexus portal” opens up, a message will be announced on the server, and all players will receive a quest to help defend against the invasion. Players who successfully help defend will then receive rare and powerful items.

Being a MMO game with open PvP, I’m not quite sure how this will work,  as I’m sure some players, or guilds that are warring with each other, will take this as an opportunity to attack the defenders. Not that I will mind that; it’s a hell of a lot more dynamic then what RIFT has.

However, it’s still disappointing that En Masse is just copying what Trion has already done. Why not innovate some, instead of a boring scripted PvE event. Allow guilds to open up their own portals to attack players or enemy guilds? How great would that be? One guild might be in the middle of a group quest or raid, the guild they’re warring against learns where they are, teleports in, and all hell breaks loose.  That would be something to write about.

Apart from revealing the “Nexus system”, En Masse also revealed it will have a “PLEX” like system that EVE Online currently uses. An in-game item/currency will be available for players to buy, with real money, and can then be used to add game-time to their accounts. Like EVE‘s PLEX system, this will allows players to potentially play for free: if they collect enough of the currency. Although, this also creates a backdoor real money trade (RMT) market for those buying more than they need, and selling the items in-game for in-game currency.

Source: Massively