Oldmangamer_73 :
EVE can be a very complex game.
I'm going to lay it out in a easy to read question and answer format.
Question: How complex is Eve?
Answer: The single most complex online computer game known to man.
Question: How do I win?
Answer: You do not win.
Question: Fine, how do I have fun?
Answer: You have fun by starting the game 4 years ago, having several alts, and being apart of an already majority corporation not in danger of eradication at any moment.
Question: Ok, but there are safe areas where my ship can't get blown up, right?
Answer: No, your ship can be blown up anywhere, you are powerless to stop it, and you watch in horror while the other players steal your gear off your dead ship.
Question: Really?
Answer: Yes.
Question: If it is really such a terrible game, why do people play it?
Answer: Because powerful players are allowed to do almost anything in this game, and they take great pleasure in totally domineering newer and less experienced players.
Question: Ok you sound really biased. It can't be that bad, I heard you can buy insurance for your clone and ships so that you don't really lose money or experience.
Answer: Except for when you undock from a secure station to drive your newly purchased battleship that you've spent 32 days mining asteroids in mind-numbing boredom to buy so that you can test fly it with your new shiney armaments, and a huge group of pirates attack you all at once and kill you before you can redock, and then you realize you made the mistake of not having clone insurace, so that you lose both experience and money.
Question: Yeah but that was your fault.
Answer: Yeah but imagine playing WoW and losing a level and all your epic gear at the same time, and then someone else telling you it's your fault.
Question: Ok, what IS good about Eve?
Answer: The economy is extremely realistic, and teaches you real world business skills. Every item in the game but skilbooks (for learning new skills) is produced by it's players (minerals are mined, ships, items, and ammo manufactured using minerals) Also the music is soothing.
Question: Based purely on emotions, what was your overall experience playing Eve?
Answer: I had some pretty good highs, especially when in a few fleet battles with over 150 people (a breathtaking experience), but almost nothing, hardly even in real life, has filled me with more rage than several moments in this game.
Question: I'm playing this game anyway, any tips?
Answer: Never trust anyone. Never fly ships you can't afford to buy 2 or more. Play with no less than 4 close friends.
Also, be prepared to be utterly stumped by the huge volume of unintelligible vernacular you will encounter when in game chat. The game has evolved so far that even after almost two years playing I still ran into items and concepts I had not encountered before. If I had to boil Eve down to one thing it would be this
Eve: you are not safe.