Perpetuum receives influx of EVE players
Amidst the recent EVE Online controversy, thousands of players declared their intention to cancel subscriptions and leave for another game. As Perpetuum Online is built on the EVE-inspired principles of a single-shard universe and takes a sci-fi sandbox approach to content design, players began posting that they were picking up the trial and giving the game a shot. Until now, we didn't really know if those players were honestly giving Perpetuum a try or if it was part of an epic rage-quit bluff.
On the Perpetuum Online forum, developer BoyC alerted players to a server load problem and at the same time welcomed the influx of players that began 48 hours prior. A login limit had to be placed on the server to balance the load, and the increased number of players trying to access the game has even highlighted a bug in the relay servers to which players connect. "The sheer number of new players caught us by surprise," said DEV BoyC, "and we're working around the clock to accommodate each and every one of you."
It's worth noting that EVE Online has in the past used the same strategy that Perpetuum is currently benefiting from. By providing the players of Earth and Beyond and Star Wars Galaxies with a similar alternative game, CCP drew in a huge number of players when those games rapidly shed customers. The shoe appears to be on the other foot this week as Perpetuum seems to be the closest alternative to EVE on the market.
But will EVE players stick with Perpetuum? Will the game that's so often been called "EVE in Mechs" really hold their attention? That's the part we're most curious to find out.
