In today's subscription MMO market, EVE Online is in the unique position of allowing players to pay for their game time with in-game currency. To help cash-poor players afford a subscription and to aid in CCP's ongoing war against RMT, the company introduced the 30 day Pilot's License EXtension (PLEX).
Cash-rich players who want a little extra in-game ISK would ordinarily be tempted to buy from illicit sources that rely on destructive botting and hacking practices to obtain their currency. Instead of putting themselves at risk of being keylogged, banned or just outright ripped off, players can buy 60-day game time codes and convert each of them into two in-game pilot's licenses to sell on the in-game market. ISK-rich players can then buy those licenses from the in-game market and activate them to add 30 days of game time to their accounts. If an account is expired but has the funds to buy a PLEX, players can even ask for a temporary reactivation so that they can buy one and apply it to the account.
Until now, reactivations have had to be processed manually, with players filing an in-game petition through the EVE website. In a devblog yesterday, GM Grimmi of CCP announced that a new automated reactivation scheme will give players access to the game for four hours to purchase PLEX and apply them to their accounts. In addition to reducing GM workload, this scheme will allow people who have previously quit the game to temporarily reactivate their accounts and attempt to pull together enough ISK for 30 days of essentially free game time. The service has been temporarily taken offline to resolve a conflict with the current CSM voting procedure, but once it's back online it will be accessible through the account management page on the EVE website.
Reader Comments (9)
Posted: Mar 11th 2011 11:08AM Skyydragonn said
I wonder if this isn't a further attempt to combat the RMT issues that were just recently brought to light.
I have to say after reading through that database of ISK buyers I was astonished at the amount of income those services rake in.
I have to say after reading through that database of ISK buyers I was astonished at the amount of income those services rake in.
Posted: Mar 11th 2011 1:14PM Jack Kevorkian said
I am up to buy my second 30 day in the game but CCP doesn't make PLEX very easy to understand. I buy 60 days I get two cards in what? Evemail? Then I activate it where? I would like to sell one. As a potential trader struggling for isk everyday is becoming a chore I really don't have time for these days.
Posted: Mar 11th 2011 1:42PM notinterested said
@Jack Kevorkian On the character select screen there will be a gift box, you click that to redeem the PLEX and it will be in your items it whatever station you are docked.
If you plan on just selling it to a buy order for quick ISK make sure you go to the right station before redeeming your plex as they cannot be transported.
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If you plan on just selling it to a buy order for quick ISK make sure you go to the right station before redeeming your plex as they cannot be transported.
Posted: Mar 11th 2011 1:54PM Brendan Drain said
@notinterested Actually, they now CAN be transported but since you might become the victim of a suicide gank it's generally not advised to move them.
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Posted: Mar 11th 2011 2:43PM Jack Kevorkian said
@notinterested Good call I'd be really sad to lose that one. Any advice on good stations to sell big ticket items? Nita of course but I've yet to go there yet. Is Rens a decent place?
Thanks for the advice guys.
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Thanks for the advice guys.
Posted: Mar 11th 2011 2:43PM Jack Kevorkian said
@Jack Kevorkian Jita*. Stupid iOS typing sucks.
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Posted: Mar 11th 2011 7:49PM PiOmega said
@Brendan Drain
hah yeah, think last month or month before, the killboard at battleclinic reported a kill of around $1200.00 USD worth in PLEX from this guys cargo hold. Guy wasn't even cloaked, just cruising along the reports said by the two that podded him.
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hah yeah, think last month or month before, the killboard at battleclinic reported a kill of around $1200.00 USD worth in PLEX from this guys cargo hold. Guy wasn't even cloaked, just cruising along the reports said by the two that podded him.
Posted: Mar 11th 2011 7:50PM Brendan Drain said
@PiOmega I remember that, it was just after CCP made PLEX transportable! For those interested in the story, we covered it here: http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/08/eve-player-destroys-over-1000-worth-of-game-time/
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