Play begins by selecting which of the four Empires you'd like to come from. Olafsson is quick to point out that in the freeform nature of the EVE universe, biology doesn't equal destiny. There isn't any profession or career path that a player might want to pursue that isn't open to any race. Coming from a particular Empire (or bloodline, school and background within that Empire) will give a player certain bonuses; however, someone who grew up a citizen of the ruthlessly mercantile Caldari would probably have a better head for business (and subsequent skill bonuses) than a warrior of the Minmatar.

Each player will also select his or her avatar. Although players won't have a human figure within the game world, their avatar is like a driver's license photo that will identify them to other denizens of EVE. The creation process for this is quite impressive, as players pick basic head models that can be decorated by choosing individual characteristics such as hairstyle, eye color, skin tone, clothing, and background. Even better, players can also morph the face and change the tilt of the head or eyes and the lighting to create a completely different look.