EVE Online's democratically elected Council of Stellar Management has been the cause of a great deal of controversy since the programme's inception. The idea that players can bring their concerns on game design issues to a player-elected representative has been popular with forum-posters. Council members work tirelessly to compile lists of issues that are important to the player-base, then present them to CCP in the CSM Summit every six months. While the council has managed to push through some very important issues and work on key features, it's been the focus of several scandals and a great deal of EVE drama.
Controversial council member Eva "Ankhesentapemkah" Jobse was removed from the council today. The official reason given for her dismissal was "a breach of the non-disclosure agreement (NDA)." The exact nature of the breach has not been publicised as the sensitive nature of the data involved renders the issue a private matter between Eva and CCP Games. As usually happens when information isn't available, the forums have exploded with speculation over what exactly Eva did that breached the NDA. Although Eva has yet to comment publicly on the issue, fellow council member Sokratesz was quick to allay suspicions that it was due to information posted in her personal CSM blog.
When reached for comment, Eva had the following to say: "All I can say at the moment is that out of respect for the CSM, the players of EVE, as well as the good people at CCP, I cannot give any details besides my personal conviction that CCP's statement is not in relation to any of my recent publications, and that I do not share CCP's conclusion that there has in fact been an NDA breach. I am currently engaged in following up this situation with CCP." Eva plans to keep her followers updated on her situation via her CSM blog as the situation develops.
Reader Comments (31)
Posted: Jul 7th 2010 3:11PM Beau Hindman said
I think this kind of thing can easily happen when you trust players with insider info. I have seen it happen to SOE, too. And didn't this sort of thing happen with the CSM before?
Still, it's cool that CCP deals with the player and goes on their way, and continues with the CSM. The majority of those players obviously take that NDA seriously.
Beau
Reply
Still, it's cool that CCP deals with the player and goes on their way, and continues with the CSM. The majority of those players obviously take that NDA seriously.
Beau
Posted: Jul 7th 2010 4:36PM (Unverified) said
She probably thought she could get away with it because of her gender.
Reply
Posted: Jul 7th 2010 4:48PM Beau Hindman said
I'm not sure about that, but the people that I have known that have struggled with NDAs typically fell into two categories:
1) They got mad at the developer, quit the group and told everyone how poorly they were treated. While telling everyone that, they also let fly some of the "secret" stuff.
2) They accidentally said too much, and then it got out.
It's pretty easy for someone to "hint" at knowing something, too, and although I don't know the case, it sounds like this player might have just pushed it too far. Again, though, I am not an expert...I would have to ask Brendan! :)
I would like to say that I am a member of a similar type of board for SOE, and that developers that do host that sort of thing do not have too much to fight these type of leaks which, in my opinion, make the situation worse when the members break that trust.
Beau
Reply
1) They got mad at the developer, quit the group and told everyone how poorly they were treated. While telling everyone that, they also let fly some of the "secret" stuff.
2) They accidentally said too much, and then it got out.
It's pretty easy for someone to "hint" at knowing something, too, and although I don't know the case, it sounds like this player might have just pushed it too far. Again, though, I am not an expert...I would have to ask Brendan! :)
I would like to say that I am a member of a similar type of board for SOE, and that developers that do host that sort of thing do not have too much to fight these type of leaks which, in my opinion, make the situation worse when the members break that trust.
Beau
Posted: Jul 7th 2010 3:28PM (Unverified) said
This nut is the first CSM to be honest enough to admit the pointlessness of the CSM and they booted her off.
Hilarious.
Hope the rest are enjoying their free vacation for CCP's meaningless PR venture.
Reply
Hilarious.
Hope the rest are enjoying their free vacation for CCP's meaningless PR venture.
Posted: Jul 7th 2010 8:51PM (Unverified) said
Yep, and lodging, and food, and drinks, etc, etc. They all get together with CCP devs and go out to bars, restaurants, total schmoozefest. That's why you often see the same CSM candidates running and being elected year after year.
It's a scratch my back, I'll scratch yours way. They get to feel important, and they represent CCP to the community as "listening to their concerns." This CSM was the first to complain about not having their ideas implemented, so one of them got taken out back and dealt with, it's a message to the rest of them to remember where the bread is buttered.
I love EVE and CCP, but the CSM is a big ol' joke.
Reply
It's a scratch my back, I'll scratch yours way. They get to feel important, and they represent CCP to the community as "listening to their concerns." This CSM was the first to complain about not having their ideas implemented, so one of them got taken out back and dealt with, it's a message to the rest of them to remember where the bread is buttered.
I love EVE and CCP, but the CSM is a big ol' joke.
Posted: Jul 7th 2010 3:29PM (Unverified) said
Thank. God.
She was ruining what was supposed to be an amazing opportunity to improve player-developer relations as well as the game itself.
Good riddance.
Reply
She was ruining what was supposed to be an amazing opportunity to improve player-developer relations as well as the game itself.
Good riddance.
Posted: Jul 7th 2010 3:31PM ScottishViking said
Ankhesawallawalladingdong is a drama hound. While she may be innocent until proven guilty in this matter, I can't say I'm sorry to see her go. I wonder if this means that the person with the next highest votes will be introduced into the CSM?
Reply
Posted: Jul 7th 2010 3:45PM (Unverified) said
As a player of Eve for many years I find this whole affair unsuprising. It was clear to many during the whole voting process that she was only in it to bloat out her CV and that would of been ok if she had a grasp of the game overall. Hence I not only didn't vote for her but I'd go as far as saying that it would be the very last person I'd vote for.
Given these badly hidden intentions I wouldn't be supprised that the whole truth of what happened to get her ejected is something akin to passing on details to a competitor/blatant conflict of interests that wasn't declared.
Still as somebody said on the eve forums "Ding dong the witch is dead", too which alot share beyond the spotty GOTI brigade who voted for her.
Reply
Given these badly hidden intentions I wouldn't be supprised that the whole truth of what happened to get her ejected is something akin to passing on details to a competitor/blatant conflict of interests that wasn't declared.
Still as somebody said on the eve forums "Ding dong the witch is dead", too which alot share beyond the spotty GOTI brigade who voted for her.
Posted: Jul 10th 2010 7:39AM (Unverified) said
yeah, and the next person is mazz, who's even worse :(
Reply
Posted: Jul 7th 2010 4:41PM (Unverified) said
"enkrypt said on 3:32PM 7-07-2010
Wait ...CCP pays the traveling cost of the CSM participants?"
Yes. They will pay for CSMs to fly to Iceland and back, wherever they live in the world.
Reply
Wait ...CCP pays the traveling cost of the CSM participants?"
Yes. They will pay for CSMs to fly to Iceland and back, wherever they live in the world.
Posted: Jul 7th 2010 4:49PM (Unverified) said
@Beau
I think the original ' DRAMA ' in Eve was when it was found out that ccp had its hand in the money jar helping a war faction with original master blueprints for war ships (which is as you know would be like printing your own isk)
Reply
I think the original ' DRAMA ' in Eve was when it was found out that ccp had its hand in the money jar helping a war faction with original master blueprints for war ships (which is as you know would be like printing your own isk)
Posted: Jul 7th 2010 5:45PM Beau Hindman said
Ah, I had heard of other CSM member issues, other members getting booted. I could have "heard" (meaning read it somewhere online lol) very wrong. Still, point being that this is nothing new, being that developers have ad issues with "insider" volunteers for a long time now. Seems a little sadder in this case (if it is true) because of everything that CCP does for their players.
Beau
Reply
Beau
Posted: Jul 7th 2010 5:43PM Firebreak said
If you are going back that far for the original DRAMA in EVE then you really should go back to the infamous mOo gate camp being broken up by dev's flying CONCORD ships. Maybe that was not so much drama as really funny. I am not sure but mOo still caused more of their far share of drama.
Posted: Jul 7th 2010 5:48PM (Unverified) said
I see the people who hate her most are slagging her off here, which does not surprise me
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Posted: Jul 7th 2010 5:56PM Mr Angry said
I have absolutely no opinion on this person, I don't really know who he/she is or play EVE and the only information I have is on these boards, but I'd happily have a go too if required.
Your assertion is incorrect, it's not just the people who hate her most. It's the internet, you can slag anyone off, you don't have to even hate the person.
Reply
Your assertion is incorrect, it's not just the people who hate her most. It's the internet, you can slag anyone off, you don't have to even hate the person.
Posted: Jul 7th 2010 5:50PM Its Utakata stupid said
Too bad we can't impeach our democratically elected officials in RL that way when they go off the rails on us. :(
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Posted: Jul 7th 2010 6:37PM Dblade said
I'm wondeing how she broke the NDA, and CCP may want to pass the info along as soon as possible. It's because of her unpopularity ironically that I'm skeptical of this, because it's a lot easier to think they are using the NDA just to drive her out. If that's the case the CSM would lose a lot of respect.
They also need to replace her with someone who isn't one of the big powerblocs, and who can bring PvE issues up.
Reply
They also need to replace her with someone who isn't one of the big powerblocs, and who can bring PvE issues up.
Posted: Jul 8th 2010 9:48AM (Unverified) said
Think about your request for a moment.
She was removed for breaking the NDA - Non-Disclosure Agreement. I.E. she disclosed information she wasn't supposed to. So you want CCP to explain to the public what it was she disclosed, that isn't supposed to be public information. Do you see the conflict?
"Hello yes, CCP here. The secret that Ankheshesafruitaloopa disclosed was xxxxxx. Clearly this wasn't supposed to be known, but oops, now its out of the bag again. The jury will disregard this information."
She gave out secrets that were supposed to remain secret. If CCP tells you what secret it was, or where/how to look for it, it won't be a secret anymore.
Reply
She was removed for breaking the NDA - Non-Disclosure Agreement. I.E. she disclosed information she wasn't supposed to. So you want CCP to explain to the public what it was she disclosed, that isn't supposed to be public information. Do you see the conflict?
"Hello yes, CCP here. The secret that Ankheshesafruitaloopa disclosed was xxxxxx. Clearly this wasn't supposed to be known, but oops, now its out of the bag again. The jury will disregard this information."
She gave out secrets that were supposed to remain secret. If CCP tells you what secret it was, or where/how to look for it, it won't be a secret anymore.
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