While EVE Online was released first as a retail product many years ago, nearly all of the subscribers to CCP's space based MMO have come from the game's digital distribution model. In March, Atari will finally re-release EVE Online to retail stores and today both CCP and Atari announced what people can expect when they open up the box.

One of the cooler things about the EVE Online retail release is that CCP is giving players 60 days of free play time in the game, rather than the normal 30 day time span most MMO games give to beginning players. Existing subscribers to the game can add that 60 days to their time period if they buy the expansion or sell the time off in the game itself to other players in two 30 day increments. The box also includes a 21 day guest pass for a friend to play the game. If that player decides to become an EVE Online subscriber, you as the giver of the pass will get 30 days of free play.

In addition to the original game and all the previous expansions (including the upcoming Apocrypha) the EVE Online retail box will have an exclusive in-game ship, quicker access to space combat than the normal beginner and a web-based career guide with tips on how to play the game. The retail version ships on March 10. Meanwhile you can get more info on the Apocrypgha expansion via a new web site.