CCP announced last year their intention to add a feature to EVE Online that would allow players to assist real life medical science. This update, called Project Discovery, is launching today.
The update will bring a new minigame of sorts where players will be tasked with classifying and categorizing images of human proteins. Based on a series of tutorial images, players will be given an accuracy rating, and rewarded with in-game currency and items based on that rating. You can see more details about how it works in the video embedded below.
These crowd-sourced images will contribute to the Human Protein Atlas, an ongoing project which as the name implies seeks to map out aspects of human genetics. While all players are free to contribute to the program, there’s no in-game requirement to do so. ”Controls are in place to verify the validity of crowd-sourced results through consensus comparison and other methods, and new items have been added to the Sisters of EVE loyalty points store to spend accrued analysis kredits on new items including unique clothing and a new type of booster.”
A number of more traditional features were included in today’s update as well, including:
- A huge module revamp including Damage Modules, Warp Disruptors and Warp Scramblers, Damage Controls, ECM, Cap Batteries, Tracking Modules, Stasis Webifiers, Sensor Dampeners, and the merger of Sensor and ECCM Modules
- New high-strength Heavy Stasis Grapplers for Battleships and Capitals
- Force Auxiliary skills have been added in preparation for the EVE Online: Citadel expansion
- Changes to speed and orbit paths
- Increased and troubling Drifter activity