EVE can be played a lot of different ways, but the novelty in each eventually wears off and it becomes monotonous.
This is especially true for large-scale alliance warfare, which, if you're at the top is something like a full-time job, and if you're merely rank and file, it's more like a part-time job.
In my opinion, the meta-game is more fun than the game itself in this context. There's an entire ecosystem that exists outside of the game that involves communication infrastructure, propaganda, spying, gambling, player services, etc.
Large power blocs have to be able to control the message, mobilize thousands of players on a moment's notice, and continually infiltrate their enemies to glean intelligence.
It's often jokingly said that EVE is "serious business." Players who fly the larger ships (supercapitals) typically receive SMS push notifications so they can mobilize faster. At the very top, certain players have been known to cash out (albeit illegitimately) on their power and wealth, earning a healthy real-life income stemming from their activities. Think hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Of course, as cool as all of that is, 15-hour-long battles suck. The game client, networking code and engine are a lot better than they used to be, but they're still woefully lacking for the purposes of extreme large scale warfare, to the point where participating in such battles is something akin to torture.
For me the novelty wore off in about an hour. Discovering that you it takes (significant) time just to spend skill points so that you can fly the new ship you just bought that it will take you (significant) time just to go and pick up in a game where pretty much all the game play consists of clicking on lists and waiting.
I think it's great the EVE has such an entertaining meta-community. I suspect it's precisely because the game itself is so slow-paced and dull that this is true (the real game takes place in your imagination, and the pace is such that you can spend a lot of time chatting with other players, etc.)
It's worth noting that EVE is an idealized capitalist society, with all the realistic drawbacks that comes with that. I agree that the back story is essentially fantasy, but what you miss is that this doesn't mean you're a classic solo adventurer for whom the world bows down as you pass. (This isn't a jab; in most MMOs, this is the case.)
EVE is principally about market simulation, and pretty much everything you do is either a market externality (e.g., going to war) or a market action (e.g., mining). Contrast with WoW, which is an adventure simulation (if you're not on an adventure, WoW failed), EVE doesn't leave out the boring parts because they're critical to actually simulating the economics.
Which means arbitrage. Which means location matters. Playing the game is about figuring out what kind of entrepreneurship you want to engage in, and then optimizing it to maximize profits.
Yeah, this is non-obvious, and EVE is notoriously bad at teaching newbies. They've been trying to improve it, but it still comes down to finding mentors. Your criticisms are thus on the mark without actually criticizing the game itself; you just never got to play.
I'm not trying to get you to play. You criticized it. I'm explaining what parts of your criticism were off mark. You don't want to hear it, don't criticize it where the fanboys are.
From quick reading: 1) I agree the time-based skilling isn't necessarily a good thing. 2) You didn't seem to realize you could get your stuff FedExed, by any of the player-operated services.
The latter illustrates the good point of the game: there's enough leeway/sandbox aspects that this is actually possible. This, and not the game being slow and dull are why it has a large following. There's plenty of slow and dull games no one plays.
Edit: Didn't realize your review was 8 years old. The game did change quite a bit since, particularly for new player introduction.
I agree. I wish there was something that was EVE-lite or something. If the realism was notched down 2-3 levels it would be much more enjoyable. You can't be a casual (here meaning play 2-3 hours a week) and still enjoy EVE.
This is especially true for large-scale alliance warfare, which, if you're at the top is something like a full-time job, and if you're merely rank and file, it's more like a part-time job.
In my opinion, the meta-game is more fun than the game itself in this context. There's an entire ecosystem that exists outside of the game that involves communication infrastructure, propaganda, spying, gambling, player services, etc.
Large power blocs have to be able to control the message, mobilize thousands of players on a moment's notice, and continually infiltrate their enemies to glean intelligence.
It's often jokingly said that EVE is "serious business." Players who fly the larger ships (supercapitals) typically receive SMS push notifications so they can mobilize faster. At the very top, certain players have been known to cash out (albeit illegitimately) on their power and wealth, earning a healthy real-life income stemming from their activities. Think hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Of course, as cool as all of that is, 15-hour-long battles suck. The game client, networking code and engine are a lot better than they used to be, but they're still woefully lacking for the purposes of extreme large scale warfare, to the point where participating in such battles is something akin to torture.