Atari bringing EVE Online to store shelves in 2009

by: Chuck - posted: 11/10/2008 2:06:00 PM

CCP announced today that they have partnered with Atari to bring EVE Online to brick and mortar retailers in March 2009.  The box will include the game, all of the expansion packs for the game as well a few exclusives.  It will also contain a 60 day subscription card which should help bring more people into the game.  Atari will also be providing marketing support to go along with the retail launch of the game.

Even though we live in a digital distribution world I think the move is a good one for CCP and Atari as EVE Online is one of the more underrated MMO's on the market.  Sure the influx of newbs into any game will rankle the hard core players but it does expand the base of the game quite a bit. 

CCP AND ATARI ANNOUNCE RETAIL BOX DISTRIBUTION OF ‘EVE ONLINE’



- Popular Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG) for PC to Reach New Audiences through Retail Store Distribution -



REYKJAVIK, ICELAND and LYON, FRANCE – 10 November 2008 – Atari and CCP, one of the world’s leading independent game developers, today announced a partnership which will see Atari exclusively distribute boxed versions of CCP’s award winning PC MMOG, EVE Online. The game will be available in retail outlets in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific regions beginning March 2009. In addition, Atari will provide trade marketing services to augment CCP’s consumer marketing initiatives for EVE Online. This venture will enable CCP to reach a wider audience and increase the visibility and awareness of the wildly popular franchise, which has grown steadily year-on-year since its release in 2003.



The establishment of a retail distribution channel for EVE Online comes at a time of rapid subscriber growth and technical advancements. The game has attracted nearly 250,000 loyal, active subscribers. Its single shard universe has evolved technically to support massive battles of 1,000+ players with minimal lag, due to CCP’s StacklessIO™ and EVE64 initiatives. In addition, CCP will enhance gameplay within EVE Online by rolling out a series of content rich free expansions in 2009.



“Intrepid pioneering is the very foundation upon which EVE Online was built and our digital publishing strategy is an example of how innovation has been a key factor in our success. With Atari, we have found a like-minded partner and a premiere brand that is not only strong globally but also shares our vision in how retail and online services can reinforce each other,” said Hilmar Veigar Petursson, CEO of CCP. “This partnership comes at a great time in the history of EVE where, through a series of technical breakthroughs, we are able to support a vast increase in the number of concurrent players in our single shard persistent world.”



“At Atari we’re working to grow our relationships with the world's leading online gaming companies and to use our distribution strength to help grow the category for both consumers and retailers. This relationship with CCP is an example of how we can work commercially and creatively to expand the market,” said David Gardner, CEO of Atari. "I have spent time with the creative and commercial leaders of CCP in Iceland and they have built a world class group of dedicated internet game visionaries. I'm honoured that Atari is entrusted with the mission of expanding the CCP universe on earth."



The boxed version of EVE Online will include the game client, 60 days of subscription time and exclusive extras. It will also include all nine previously released EVE Online expansions. All new expansions will be free of charge to all subscribers, continuing CCP’s release policies.



Launched in 2003, EVE Online has been available exclusively as a direct download from the Web since March 2003. Petursson officially announced the Atari partnership at CCP’s annual Fanfest event, which took place in Reykjavik, Iceland from November 6-8, 2008.



About EVE Online

Set tens of thousands of years in the future, EVE Online is a breathtaking journey to the stars, to an immersive experience filled with adventure, riches, danger and glory. With nearly a quarter of a million subscribers worldwide inhabiting the same virtual universe, EVE features a vast player-run economy where your greatest asset is the starship, designed to accommodate your specific needs, skills and ambitions. EVE offers professions ranging from commodities trader to mercenary, industrial entrepreneur to pirate, mining engineer to battle fleet commander or any combination of these and much more. From brokering business deals to waging war, you will have access to a diverse array of sophisticated tools and interfaces to forge your own destiny in EVE. Learn more and sign up for a free trial at www.eveonline.com.



Definition of Subscribers
EVE Online subscribers include individuals who have paid a subscription fee or have an active electronic time code (ETC) to play EVE Online, as well as those who have purchased the game and are within their free month of access. The above definition excludes all players under free promotional subscriptions, expired or cancelled subscriptions and expired ETCs.



About CCP
CCP is widely recognized as an industry-leading pioneer of the single-server persistent universe architecture as the developer and publisher of EVE Online, the critically-acclaimed, science fiction-based massively multiplayer online game (MMOG). Utilizing a cross-discipline approach combining cutting-edge technology and artistic excellence, CCP is dedicated to providing vibrant, compelling products that transcend the boundaries of conventional MMOGs and facilitate social networking through virtual worlds. Privately held and founded in Reykjavik, Iceland in 1997, CCP’s international reach now spans the globe with offices in Atlanta and Shanghai as well as a base of operations in London. More information about CCP is available at the company’s website, www.ccpgames.com.



About Atari and Infogrames

The Infogrames group, including the Atari brand, is a global producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software for all market segments and all interactive game platforms including consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony, advanced smartphones, Personal Computers, web and online. Its games are sold in more than 60 countries through an international distribution network and direct to consumers via www.atari.com. Atari’s extensive catalogue of popular games is based on original franchises (Alone in the Dark, Test Drive, V-Rally, My Horse & Me, Backyard Sports franchise, Total Annihilation, Outcast etc.), publishing properties (The Witcher, Legendary, Race Pro etc.), international licenses (Dragon Ball Z, Dungeons & Dragons, Jamie Oliver etc.) and classic games covering the entire history of the video game industry (Pong, Missile Command, Asteroids etc).