The Empyrean Age is a new expansion that has just been released for the popular EVE Online:

EVE Online: Empyrean Age destroys the peace of New Eden as long suppressed political tensions between the four major Empires of EVE boil over into direct conflict. Stalwart starship pilots join the newly mustered militias and make solitary strikes deep within enemy territory. By choosing sides in this epic war, players have the power to direct the course of the conflict. New players can quickly immerse themselves in the EVE universe by diving into large-scale factional battles.

The press release has a feature list and some more information. If you want to test it out you can sign up for a free trial on the official site and nab the client locally from AusGamers (~1.3GB).

+60 new systems in a new region called Black Rise... means a mess of corps shooting at each other trying to get their POSs up on the good moons. As well as a load of politics around who are joining militias etc... New players throwing themselves in the deep end with factional warfare and being parts of large "pick up" fleets is fraught with disaster I think. A bit like having a lame team in PvP in WoW, but worse because the the cost of dying is much higher...

For the carebears, like me, not a lot of difference. It's easier to align to a gate or station whilst mining or salvaging with the new "align to" command... that's about all I've noticed so far. And they've replaced the seksay Trinity login screen with the EA planet thing :/

Well as part of a 0.0 alliance cant say this expansion had much in the way of content for me either.

Though if any of this faction warfare gets even some of the thousands of carebear mission runners out of their pimped battleships and into cheep throwaway frigates/cruisers blowing the shiet out of other people AND having a load of fun doing it, then id call this expansion a total success. Hell some of the best times ive had in 0.0 is flying around in a 20-30man tech 1 cruiser fleet engaging any target available and usually getting podded to the man, though not before we've destroyed targets worth 10 times the cost of our entire fleet.

What is a 'carebear', in this context?

Someone who dosent engage in any form of PvP.

Hrm, maybe it's time I sold my Eve-O chars..

carebear is classed as someone who cares about making more money in game and takes no risk at all.

I've always had a soft spot for EVE. Might get back in to it.

Someone who dosent engage in any form of PvP.

I wouldn't say that. If an ore griefer is pissing me off enough, I'll exploderise him. But I don't actively go looking for PvP, more like the PvP comes to me :)

carebear is classed as someone who cares about making more money in game and takes no risk at all.

And I would say "minimises risk"...

I just signed up for the 21 day trial from Steam. I'm actually enjoying this game so far.

The learning curve is pretty huge, but I think I'm getting a hang of the basics, got my missile frigate now, 3 standard missile launchers - woot :)

Hey Tim, I'm guessing you're a Caldari:) In game I'm Harvee Normarn if you want to add me.

Tempted to reactivate and just train for another 12 months.