Greetings again Capsuleers,

It’s time for more delicious brain implants. After downtime on Dec 12^th and running through Dec 21^st , you will find  the Genolution CA-2 available via the redemption system. Be sure to log in and redeem yours, the set bonus is pretty darn nice overall.

As an added bonus, we will also be unveiling the 2011 Holiday Gift during the same period. This will work just a bit differently than prior holiday gifts. There will be a list of items in your Account Management queue. You can choose one, and only one, gift from the list. That gift will then be made available in the redemption system on Dec 22^nd.

So, to be 100% clear, you can get your CA-2 only between Dec 12^th and Dec 21^st.

You can select your Holiday Gift during the same time.

Your implant appears in your hangar as soon as you redeem it, but your Holiday Gift won’t  appear until Dec 22^nd.

Implant 2: Hardwiring – Genolution Core Augmentation CA-2

• Slot 4
• Boost intelligence by 3
• Provides +1.5% CPU bonus
• Provides +1.5% capacitor recharge
• Implant set bonus: 50%

This is the second half of the Core Augmentation implant set, delivered by Genolution as a follow-up to the CA-1 just months after their first demonstration of new augmentation techniques shook up the often-stagnant industry.

The CA-2 picks up where its predecessor left off, providing a dual boost via frontal lobe enhancements and a neocortical modification that complements the CA-1′s focus on a captain’s ship-fitting ingenuity. The end result is an increase to intelligence, coupled with improved CPU output and capacitor recharge rate. Additionally, when combined the CA-1 and the CA-2 supplement each other, providing a significant increase in their overall net effect.

Item description:

Concurrent with the release of the CA-2, Genolution offered up the implant’s schematics for public inspection. They claimed the move was designed not only to allay any lingering fears about the technology – now widespread amongst the capsuleer class – but also to provide a foundation for future advances in the field.

As most of you are no doubt aware, many CCP employees were slaughtered in the Tama system yesterday in an unprecedented Live Event announced that same day. 71 members of the CCP in-game alliance took part and were (except for a handful of cowards who warped their capsules out!) eventually sent back to our home system of Polaris in need of new clones.

Our goal was to mobilize a sizeable fleet of devs that would be tough enough to not be wiped out in minutes, but eventually we hoped to attract enough attention to be overpowered and killed. We wanted to give people a fight to remember and we hope we did just that.

Click to enlarge (screenshot courtesy of throughnewbeyes.wordpress.com)

In total, CCP destroyed 430 capsuleer vessels belonging to 316 different characters. Included in this are three characters who were accidentally pod killed by the CCP horde, all of which have been reimbursed their losses (fun fact: One of them was Darius III of the CSM). To quote the infamous TomB, the pod he destroyed was because of “Lag!”. Sure, Tom…we all believe you .

In total, 2,009 ship/capsule losses were recorded in the Tama system yesterday, a rather considerable jump from the daily average of just 56 per day from the November 1^st to November 22^nd period.

CCP lost the following ship types in the engagement:

The totals for ship losses in the system seem to suggest that CCP employees have a strange tendency for firing upon rookie frigates when they see them, though many larger ships were also destroyed:

Lots of assorted parties joined the fray once word got out. The majority of ships destroyed were destroyed by characters who were not a member of any alliance, with CCP (thankfully!) coming in at the top spot for the alliances.

Our congratulations to the players who made it on to the list of top 25 killers in Tama yesterday, alongside eight developers. This list excludes capsules, rookie ships and shuttles that were killed (because come on, that’s not really sporting, is it chaps).

Additional props to Beastoria for landing the final blow on four CCP ships, with Fattymcbutterpants (a name which had the CCP fleet unified in laughter when called out as primary on EVE voice) and another character who should probably be renamed, both achieving three final blows each. We’re also happy to report that whilst NPCs did indeed manage to destroy 13 ships in Tama yesterday, no CCP ships were lost to NPCs. And that’s despite CCP Sreeg’s Nanobot Accelerator rigged buffer tank.

After the last CCP pilot was blasted full of holes and sent on his merry way via the clone express, players kept fighting in the system for almost four hours.

We had our backend tool construct a word cloud from the biggest thread discussing the event, and judging by that, fun was had.

Many thanks to everyone who took part and had fun with us, all of us here at CCP who were able to be there had an absolute blast. I’m certain that this is far from being the last time a fleet is spotted leaving Polaris.

If you have any tips or feedback for us for future events, or want to make fun of our fits, please visit the comments thread for this blog.

What if someone told you the very mistakes you should avoid doing in your young capsuleer career? Wisdom not only comes from doing, but listening to those who have been there first. Help new players by sharing your bits of wisdom in this Trial Citizens Q&A thread.

The Council of Stellar Management have finished counting ballots and have published the results of their July 2011 prioritization crowdsourcing initiative. A record 4552 ballots were submitted by players. The CSM thanks all players who participated in this initiative.

The CSM is asking you to take some time this weekend and vote for what you feel are the most important issues that they have raised to CCP. A list of these issues is available here, in the EVElopedia. Voting ends at downtime on Monday, August 1, so be sure to visit this thread and let the CSM know what you think should be prioritized.