Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[MMO Mechanics: Balancing game economies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/22/mmo-mechanics-balancing-game-economies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/22/mmo-mechanics-balancing-game-economies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/22/mmo-mechanics-balancing-game-economies/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

MMO Mechanics title image
Most players won't need an economics degree to play an MMO, but strong mechanical forces under the bonnet still guide our actions in our favourite titles. Virtually every financial exchange can be broken down into an effort equals economic gain equation: We put in our hours, and the game economy churns out new gear or money.

Since so many in-game actions financially reward players, MMOs have developed mechanics that attempt to curtail the inflation game economies usually see. Charging your character for goods and services, bind-on-pickup gear, regular destruction of valuable goods, and player-controlled auction house and farming systems all combine to keep the spiralling amount of coppers falling into player hands in check.

In this week's MMO Mechanics, I'm going to look at some ways both sandbox and themepark MMOs automatically rebalance weighted economies by exploring the systems that restrict the free trade of goods and curb players' constant accrual of money. I'll look at how each system functions and how player manipulation adds a new layer of realism to game economies.

Continue reading MMO Mechanics: Balancing game economies

MassivelyMMO Mechanics: Balancing game economies originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jan 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionauction-housebankingbind-on-pickupblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrabenccpccp-gamescloud-imperiumcolumnconsoleconsolesconsumableconsumablesdavid-brabenEconomicseconomyeliteeqneveeve-onlineeverquest-nextfantasyfeaturedffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivfrontierfrontier-developmentsgame-designgame-mechanicsinsurancemmo-mechanicsmultiplayeronline-multiplayerrepairrepair-costssandboxScamsscams-and-fraudsci-fisoulboundsquaresquare-enixstar-citizentina-laurowarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 22 Jan 2014 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Mechanics: Three fair ways to distribute loot]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/25/mmo-mechanics-three-fair-ways-to-distribute-loot/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/25/mmo-mechanics-three-fair-ways-to-distribute-loot/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/25/mmo-mechanics-three-fair-ways-to-distribute-loot/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

MMO Mechanics title image
I mentioned last week that players throw their precious characters into the MMO meat grinder in the pursuit of higher levels, new achievements, or shinier gear. We gladly jump on the seemingly endless PvE treadmill, cranking up the speed with each new patch in an attempt to catch the dangling carrot of character perfection. Of course, we don't just punish ourselves like this to say we overcame some previously impossible challenge; there's shiny new loot to be had! The best booty usually comes from completing group activities like dungeons and raids, but not everyone can agree on how to share the spoils of joint pursuits.

Several different loot distribution methods have been devised over the years to solve the problem of fairly distributing the swag, with most methods starting life as player-made agreements that weren't officially supported by hard-coded game mechanics. Players have long since rolled for gear or took turns to claim items round-robin style, leading developers to implement the most popular methods as actual game mechanics to avoid ninja-looting and then the inevitable public pity parties associated with player-led arbitration.

In this edition of MMO Mechanics, I'll break down three of the most equitable loot distribution systems used in MMOs today and look at why this age-old problem doesn't have a one-size-fits-all solution.

Continue reading MMO Mechanics: Three fair ways to distribute loot

MassivelyMMO Mechanics: Three fair ways to distribute loot originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Dec 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Guild Wars 2
Once upon a time, I worked as a game master for a very popular MMORPG. My duties were relatively simple: help players out of sticky situations and enforce the rules of the game when it came to cheating, harassment, and general player behavior. A game master's role is to protect the player from any and all potential game dangers, up to and including the player himself.

In my work as a GM, I saw many amazing things. I saw guild members contact support staff because they were worried about another player's real-life wellbeing. I saw incredibly complex scams across multiple players and accounts that, while infuriating and exceptionally against the rules, were astonishing in their genius. And of course, I saw lots and lots of cybering.

Continue reading Behind the scenes as a [REDACTED] Game Master

MassivelyBehind the scenes as a [REDACTED] Game Master originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Aug 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chat-logchat-logscheatingconfessionscustomer-servicecustomer-supportcyberingfeaturedgame-mastergamemastergmindustryitem-restorationmmo-industryNDArulesscamssecretsFri, 30 Aug 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Making your first billion ISK]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/26/eve-evolved-making-your-first-billion-isk/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/26/eve-evolved-making-your-first-billion-isk/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/26/eve-evolved-making-your-first-billion-isk/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
A lot of the people I introduce to EVE Online ask about the possibility of playing for free by buying game time codes with in-game ISK. It's a legitimate way to turn EVE into a free-to-play game, but the rising price tag of a 30-day PLEX can make it seem as if only veteran players can afford to do it. New players typically scrape together just a few million ISK by the end of their free trial periods, making the 500 million per month required to pay via PLEX seem like a tall order.

With the right guidance, a new player can actually pull in over a billion ISK in his first month or two of play and quickly become able to afford a PLEX each month. Farming missions requires a bit of time investment but can pull in 20-30 million ISK per hour once you're set up, and exploration and salvaging can lead to some unexpected big hauls. There are also plenty of newbie-friendly corps that run group activities, and those who aren't interested in grinding to their first billion ISK might try their hands at trading or turn to a life of crime. It's all possible in the sandbox.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I give some practical tips on making your first billion ISK, from scraping together the seed capital to buy your first big ship to reliable farming methods and some more underhanded methods.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Making your first billion ISK

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Making your first billion ISK originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 26 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>30-day-game-cardccpccp-gamescorpcorporationscorpseveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturedfreefree-to-playfrigatefrigatesgame-time-cardguideincarnaiskmissionmission-runningmissionsplexsalvagesalvagingsandboxscamscammingscamssci-fitheftthiefSun, 26 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Five scams to avoid]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/04/eve-evolved-five-scams-to-avoid/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/04/eve-evolved-five-scams-to-avoid/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/04/eve-evolved-five-scams-to-avoid/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
Anyone who's familiar with EVE Online will have heard stories of the game's criminal underworld, from devastating corporate infiltration to the daily grafting of common con artists. Most players will never perpetrate a scam, but those who do are constantly coming up with new tricks to part you from your hard-earned ISK. For every genuine smooth-talking con-artist who comes up with new schemes and socially engineers his way to a fortune, you'll find dozens of copycats who flood popular chat channels with scams they've seen perpetrated in the past.

On an average day, over 90% of the chat in Jita's local channel is people posting copycat scams, with legitimate offers completely drowned out. There may not even be anyone at the helm with these scams, as a script could easily paste the scam message every few minutes for an entire day. Not confined to Jita, these scams are often replicated across all of the game's main trade hubs and popular mission-running systems. Knowing how these scams work is the first step to protecting yourself from making an expensive and extremely embarrassing mistake.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I explain the trick behind five of EVE's most common copycat scams and how to protect yourself from them.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Five scams to avoid

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Five scams to avoid originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 04 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamescontractseconomicseconomyeveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturedguidemarketopinionsandboxscamscamssci-fiSun, 04 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR beta scams abound]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/21/swtor-beta-scams-abound/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/21/swtor-beta-scams-abound/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/21/swtor-beta-scams-abound/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The community and testing teams at BioWare have been made aware of some beta testing scams related to Star Wars: The Old Republic. As Admiral Ackbar says, "It's a trap!" Earlier today, the community team issued a warning on the official forums and Community Coordinator David Bass sent out an email to the fansites and guilds explaining some of the issues that have arisen. Both announcements explained how to tell the difference between a legitimate invitation and a false one:

"If you are invited to the real Game Testing Program, you will receive an e-mail with instructions from no-reply@bioware.swtor.com. Any other e-mail address claiming to offer an invitation is likely to be a scam. If you receive an e-mail and are in doubt or are concerned about its validity, please forward your concerns to bwacommunitysupport@bioware.com. If you do receive a genuine testing invitation from us, you will also be able to view the invitation and testing information at www.swtor.com/tester."

BioWare assures us that severe action is being taking against the people who are attempting to sell accounts with access to testing servers. According to the statement, the team is quick to notice when an account changes hands. Be sure to visit the official site for more information.

MassivelySWTOR beta scams abound originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beta-testingBioWaredavid-bassdont-fall-for-itEAElectronic-Artsgame-testingLucasArtsscamscamsStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorMon, 21 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Heroes of EVE]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/15/eve-evolved-heroes-of-eve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/15/eve-evolved-heroes-of-eve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/15/eve-evolved-heroes-of-eve/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In last week's EVE Evolved, I looked at a few of EVE Online's most famous outlaws. In the game's open-ended sandbox, players are free to turn to a life of crime. Around every corner, you'll find another thief making off with someone's loot, or a pirate waiting for an unsuspecting victim to pass by. Worse still are the many scam artists and market manipulators you'll find in trade hubs like Jita, making a dishonest living at the expense of other players. But it's not all doom and gloom, and not all players are the dark, nefarious types EVE is famous for.

For every low-life scammer trying to steal your hard-earned ISK, there are helpful individuals working to counteract scamming. For every war-mongering pirate preying on new players, there are hundreds of people willing to teach new players to defend themselves and stay safe. Despite all the talk of EVE's anti-social element, you'll also find a rich and diverse community, built around forums, chat channels and dozens of blogs. Programmers even spend their free time to provide the community with free tools to aid play. These are all people I would call heroes of EVE, either because they work to prevent the wrong-doings of outlaws, or because they selflessly enrich the EVE community.

In this opinion piece, I look at a few of the people and groups I consider to be true heroes of EVE. Who are your heroes?

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Heroes of EVE

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Heroes of EVE originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agonyagony-unleashedccpccp-eveccp-gameschribbacrazykinuxefteveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-fileseve-fitting-tooleve-mmorpgeve-onlineeve-searcheve-unieve-universityfeaturedheroheroesoutlawsscamscammingscamsthird-partywarSun, 15 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Confessions of a gold scammer and identity thief]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/19/confessions-of-a-gold-scammer-and-identity-thief/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/19/confessions-of-a-gold-scammer-and-identity-thief/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/19/confessions-of-a-gold-scammer-and-identity-thief/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

"We have met the enemy and he is us." The player identified as "Patrick" is not the malevolent monstrosity we'd like to see. Nor is he a victim of circumstance, at that. He acts for all the world like a perfectly normal gamer, and if you didn't know he'd scammed between $10,000 and $20,000 in a year of reprehensible behavior, you certainly wouldn't be able to guess. That's what makes a video interview with him, mirrored and annotated at PlayNoEvil and originally recorded by Marcus Eikenberry, so odd on many levels.

The full interview lasts thiry-eight minutes, which makes it a bit long for casual viewing. The article which mirrors the video notes some of the highlights, including when he almost breathlessly exhorts the moment he realized that there was nothing in PayPal's EULA that prevented him from not transferring his EVE Online account to a purchaser on Craigslist.

His rationalizing of the actions include the loss of his job and financial instability, even as he begins the interview explaining how he would scam players in both EVE Online and World of Warcraft for fun. His words are unsettling, but what makes them all the more eerie is the fact that without the foreknowledge... there's no way to tell his voice from any of ours. When you have the time, the whole interview is well worth looking at if you're at all interested in account security and the culture of scammers.

MassivelyConfessions of a gold scammer and identity thief originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>account-securityaccount-theftcon-manconfidence-gamecraigslisteveeve-onlinepatrickpaypalplaynoevilscammerscamsworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 19 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How the Grinch Stole Christmas EVE]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/28/how-the-grinch-stole-christmas-eve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/28/how-the-grinch-stole-christmas-eve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/28/how-the-grinch-stole-christmas-eve/#commentsFiled under: , ,

"Curzon Dax stole Christmas." Words I never thought I'd be writing here, but there it is. EVE Online player and forum personality "Curzon Dax" -- perhaps best known for his many song parodies of the game and its players -- has unveiled his in-game IPO for what it really was: a multi-billion ISK confidence scam. Curzon made the announcement on Christmas, no less, and placed the scam at 374.4 billion ISK raised.

While the players who were taken for those billions will certainly be less excited by this news, Curzon accomplished something that's becoming less and less common in the game. For every player that uses cunning to profit in New Eden, there is a horde of player alts who resort to copy-paste scams in local chat at most any mission and trade hub in EVE. As these players simply try to profit from mislabeling items in contracts or spam local chat with the ubiquitous "I'm quitting EVE. Send me ISK and I'll send you 10x back!" garbage, Curzon aimed much higher and cultivated an image which he used to draw his marks in.

Continue reading How the Grinch Stole Christmas EVE

MassivelyHow the Grinch Stole Christmas EVE originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamescurzon-daxdeceptioneveeve-onlinenew-edenscamssci-fitheftMon, 28 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How scammers plunder your Tales of Pirates booty]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/04/how-scammers-plunder-your-tales-of-pirates-booty/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/04/how-scammers-plunder-your-tales-of-pirates-booty/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/04/how-scammers-plunder-your-tales-of-pirates-booty/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


For the first time in a long while, we've come across a tale of digital wrong-doing that doesn't involve internet spaceships and is definitely not allowed by the developers. The game in question is Tales of Pirates published by IGG. Apparently a number of the game's players have fallen victim to a trick, and IGG wants to publicize this to make people aware of the scam. There's a brief warning on the official Tales of Pirates site about account security, but they just put out a press release that's far more detailed.

IGG writes: "As with any popular game, IGG's Tales of Pirates has attracted its share of scammers. Even the most careful pirate can sometimes be fooled by a well-executed scam. The best way to avoid becoming a victim is to learn the common tricks scammers use. To help players, the ToP would like to highlight one particularly popular method used recently." We can only hope they emailed the full info to their playerbase, but we'll keep our own take on it short and sweet here -- five steps to violating the Tales of Pirates EULA and getting banned (and of course, what to watch out for.):

Continue reading How scammers plunder your Tales of Pirates booty

MassivelyHow scammers plunder your Tales of Pirates booty originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfantasyfree-to-playiggimpersonationkidsmmo-industryphishingscamscamstales-of-piratesSat, 04 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New perspective on EVE Online's latest bank embezzlement part two]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/new-perspective-on-eve-onlines-latest-bank-embezzlement-part-tw/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/new-perspective-on-eve-onlines-latest-bank-embezzlement-part-tw/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/new-perspective-on-eve-onlines-latest-bank-embezzlement-part-tw/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


We read about these things happening periodically, an EVE player pulls a runner with some huge amount of ISK and all sorts of drama ensues. It makes me wonder, what has the real life impact of this theft been on those of you involved with EBANK?

If you are to trust the forum trolls, EVE is JUST a game. But having spent 2 years on this project, real-life money and a lot of sweat and tears, it hurts to see EBANK's name being dragged through the mud, and putting up with the drama. It of course causes a huge amount of real-life stress, and makes you wonder about a few things. I even almost managed to miss 2 exams, due to having to deal with this. But it also gave us the opportunity to realize just how many people EBANK have helped.

2% of EVE's playerbase has an EBANK account, and we came to be the biggest investment venture in EVE, peaking at 2.5 TRILLION ISK. That, to me, is a pretty big thing, which I'm proud to take part in. But I can't answer this question on my own, hence here's my new CEO's take on it:

Continue reading New perspective on EVE Online's latest bank embezzlement part two

MassivelyNew perspective on EVE Online's latest bank embezzlement part two originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apiathrebankingbanksccp-gamescharlie-eriksene-onebankebank-ricdiceconomyembezzlementeoneulaeve-onlineeveconomicsisklavista-vistamassively-interviewsplayer-run-venturesricdicrmtscamscamstosThu, 02 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WTB scammer tears: The end of freeform contract scams in EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/wtb-scammer-tears-the-end-of-freeform-contract-scams-in-eve-onl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/wtb-scammer-tears-the-end-of-freeform-contract-scams-in-eve-onl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/wtb-scammer-tears-the-end-of-freeform-contract-scams-in-eve-onl/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The sci-fi game EVE Online changed yesterday, in a rather subtle way. The developers eliminated one of the principal tools used by players to scam their unsuspecting marks: "freeform" contracts. The change was snuck in as single green-texted bullet point in the updated patch notes:

"Freeform contracts can no longer be created. This is due to griefing problems. You will still be able to view your completed freeform contracts for now but in an upcoming expansion older freeform contracts will be removed as well."

[EVE has a contract system which players use to conduct business transactions between different parties for items or services. They're generally used for legitimate purposes like auctions and item exchanges, but the more flexible "freeform" contracts could be structured so that a seller received in-game cash for items never actually given to the buyer.]

This otherwise unannounced elimination of the feature is perhaps a fitting demise for freeform scams. Those who haven't played EVE Online may be wondering why this is significant, if you scam another player you simply get banned, right? Not in EVE... It's one of the few MMOs out there where all manner of player villainy is permitted by the developer CCP Games, provided it happens in-game.

Continue reading WTB scammer tears: The end of freeform contract scams in EVE Online

MassivelyWTB scammer tears: The end of freeform contract scams in EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccp-gamescrimeeveeve-onlinefreeform-scamsgame-mechanicsgriefgriefingmiz-cenuijnew-edenopinionscamssci-fiTue, 30 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online extended Thursday downtime to bring numerous fixes to game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/13/eve-online-extended-thursday-downtime-to-bring-numerous-fixes-to/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/13/eve-online-extended-thursday-downtime-to-bring-numerous-fixes-to/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/13/eve-online-extended-thursday-downtime-to-bring-numerous-fixes-to/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


CCP Games has announced that EVE Online will be patched to Apocrypha 1.2 on Thursday, May 14, and will require extended server downtime. Downtime is expected to last from 05:00 GMT to 12:00 GMT. The game's official forums will be unavailable for at least part of the downtime, CCP states.

The sheer number of changes being made to EVE Online with this patch -- some minor, others major -- is beyond the scope of this post. However, there are a few significant aspects of Apocrypha 1.2 we'd like to point out for our readers:

Continue reading EVE Online extended Thursday downtime to bring numerous fixes to game

MassivelyEVE Online extended Thursday downtime to bring numerous fixes to game originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 May 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apocryphaccp-gamescloakcloakingcontractsdreadnaughtdreadnaughtseveeve-onlineforumsgame-mechanicsnaglfarnerfpatchpatch-notespatchesscamssci-fiserver-downtimeWed, 13 May 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lame scams still profitable in Guild Wars, over 1000 bans every week]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/06/lame-scams-still-profitable-in-guild-wars-over-1000-bans-every/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/06/lame-scams-still-profitable-in-guild-wars-over-1000-bans-every/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/06/lame-scams-still-profitable-in-guild-wars-over-1000-bans-every/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Would you fall for this? (Please say 'no'...): A complete stranger approaches you on the sidewalk outside of your bank and shows you a rare coin he says is worth twenty thousand dollars. "I want to just give this coin to you," he says, "but I don't want anyone to know we did this... tax issues, you see." The stranger suggests putting it in your safe deposit box, but because he's so concerned about privacy, he wants access to your safe deposit box to be sure the rare coin gets there, with no one the wiser. The problem is that he can only get in there with your express permission...

We're guessing 99.99% of you would never get suckered by something asinine like this, but why then do people fall for the exact same thing in the virtual realm? Specifically, it seems that Guild Wars players regularly turn over their login info to account thieves in hopes of getting something for nothing, as mentioned by Ravious over at Kill Ten Rats. This ultimately leads to a continuous deluge of stolen accounts, tears, and rage.

Continue reading Lame scams still profitable in Guild Wars, over 1000 bans every week

MassivelyLame scams still profitable in Guild Wars, over 1000 bans every week originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>account-theftarenanetbanbanningbanscommon-sensegold-spammerguild-warsgwkill-ten-ratsraviousrmtscamscamssocial-engineeringspamtheftTue, 06 Jan 2009 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Outlaws of EVE Online: Miz Cenuij]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/12/outlaws-of-eve-online-miz-cenuij/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/12/outlaws-of-eve-online-miz-cenuij/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/12/outlaws-of-eve-online-miz-cenuij/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


There are many criminals in EVE Online, but some push their chosen profession to a whole different level, sometimes even at the expense of their fellow outlaws. Being an outlaw in EVE Online's setting of New Eden isn't just about prowess in combat. For some, the pull of New Eden's underworld is all about the social fabric of the game... and how to exploit it. Deception is their greatest weapon, and paired with the endless opportunities for social engineering in EVE, that weapon can be put to devastating use. Among all of the conmen and scam artists in New Eden, there's one name that conjures up more rage and misery than most others: Miz Cenuij.

From the earliest days of New Eden, Miz was on the path to becoming a major antagonist in EVE. While some players love him, most just love to hate him, and he wouldn't have it any other way. Over time, Miz has become one of New Eden's most notorious thieves and hell raisers, an evil celebrity of sorts. His manipulations have triggered alliance wars, brought him numerous threats from other pilots, thousands of confirmed kills, and raked in a fantastic amount of wealth in the process. His preferred modus operandi in EVE is the long con, but since he learned to convert his wealth into influence over others, he's found that corruption and practiced deception make a formidable combination. As if a counter to restlessness, his apparent goal of keeping New Eden set in motion, if not set ablaze, has ensured that Miz Cenuij lives on a steady diet of tears and rage.

Massively caught up with Miz Cenuij, who told us what motivates him to engage in activities that oppose the interests of so many other citizens of New Eden, and why he enjoys igniting controversy in EVE.

Continue reading Outlaws of EVE Online: Miz Cenuij

MassivelyOutlaws of EVE Online: Miz Cenuij originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bozl1nccpccp-gameschribbaconconfidence-scamconmancrimecriminaleveeve-onlinefeaturedgriftgrifteriskjoystiqfeaturesmizmiz-cenuijnew-edenoutlawoutlawspiracypiratescamscamssinssmacktackulartheftthiefWed, 12 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP Games lead economist on social structures in EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/18/ccp-games-lead-economist-on-social-structures-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/18/ccp-games-lead-economist-on-social-structures-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/18/ccp-games-lead-economist-on-social-structures-in-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Phil Elliott from Gamesindustry.biz recently conducted an interview with CCP Games Lead Economist Dr. Eyjólfur Guðmundsson (known as CCP Dr. EyjoG) titled "Star Bucks." While the interview discussed the importance of social structures in EVE Online given the game's single-shard nature and of course the game's economics, he was asked questions about gameplay and some of the core foundations of the game -- namely the freedom to act and the consequences that result (or the perceived lack of consequences).

Dr. EyjoG was asked about the concept of trust in the sandbox game, how some players feel there's not enough reciprocity in terms of consequences for one's actions in EVE. "Should we provide more security, more traceability -- that would help it out, but it's definitely a game design and balance question. For us we see the universe as it is, we don't see that need... at this point at least," Dr. EyjoG responded. The interview also hinted at some of the as-yet unrealized possibilities in the game such as player-requests to tie sovereignty in with rules that govern those regions of controlled territory and what the game might be like years down the line.

MassivelyCCP Games lead economist on social structures in EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betrayalccpccp-dr-eyjogccp-gamesconsequenceconsequencescouncil-of-stellar-managementcsmdr-eyjogeconomisteconomyeveeve-onlineeyjolfur-gudmundssongameplaygamesindustry.bizlead-economistphil-elliottscamscamssci-fisingle-shardsingle-worldsocial-structuressovereigntyterritorial-controltrustSat, 18 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The 7 Deadly Sins of EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/the-7-deadly-sins-of-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/the-7-deadly-sins-of-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/the-7-deadly-sins-of-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


EVE Online is by design a darker game than most other MMOs, which means certain actions unthinkable in other games are allowed in EVE's setting of New Eden. It's a game that rewards cunning and brutally punishes stupidity.

Players can assume many roles in New Eden, but the villains in a story are often the most interesting. In EVE, you get to be one. While there are many wrongs a pilot in New Eden can commit, these are seven of the worst. Some players specialize in one of these 'sins,' while others manage to indulge in all seven.

Gallery: The 7 Deadly Sins of EVE Online

PiracyScammingSuicide GankingNinja SalvagingEspionage

MassivelyThe 7 Deadly Sins of EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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