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 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Black Friday deal for EVE players: 50% off EON Magazine and ISK Guide]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/black-friday-deal-for-eve-players-50-off-eon-magazine-and-isk/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/black-friday-deal-for-eve-players-50-off-eon-magazine-and-isk/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/black-friday-deal-for-eve-players-50-off-eon-magazine-and-isk/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

ISK guide title image
Black Friday is upon us, bringing us countless offers on everything from online games to toasters. MMM Publishing announced an enticing offer today of 50% off issues of EON Magazine, the official magazine of EVE Online. The offer also extends to MMM's other EVE publications: The ISK guide, EVE Strategic Maps and a poster pack. These are all paper-based products that will have to be sent via post, and unfortunately the price reduction doesn't extend to postage. For details on how to get in on this deal, head over to the official EON blog.

EON is published quarterly and has recently reaching its 25th issue. The magazine has a professional quality to it, and interestingly the only advertisements you'll see in it are for in-game EVE Online corporations and services. The Industrial Sized Knowledgebase is a professionally laid out print copy of the most comprehensive guide to EVE ever released. A basic version is available for free as a PDF, and the purchased product is an extended reproduction delivered as a colossal ring-bound reference manual. EVE Strategic Maps is an accurate map of New Eden ready to be filled with post-it notes on big finds, wars and travel routes.

MassivelyBlack Friday deal for EVE players: 50% off EON Magazine and ISK Guide originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-fridayccpccp-eveccp-gamesdealeoneon-magazineeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineguideguidesindustrial-sized-knowledgebaseiskmmm-publishingofferpromotionsFri, 25 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: EVE isn't the only game with PLEX]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/16/eve-evolved-eve-isnt-the-only-game-with-plex/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/16/eve-evolved-eve-isnt-the-only-game-with-plex/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/16/eve-evolved-eve-isnt-the-only-game-with-plex/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
The past several years have seen a complete revolution in the online gaming market, and with it the MMO industry as we know it. An industry once dominated by monthly subscriptions is now rapidly giving way to games with free-to-play, freemium and hybrid payment models. EVE Online developer CCP Games has repeatedly expressed concern that EVE could go the way of the dinosaurs if it doesn't adapt its business model to this new market. While I'm forced to agree with the general sentiment behind that statement, I don't think the developers at CCP recognise just how far ahead of the curve they've been with their own business model since the introduction of the 30-day Pilot's License EXtension (PLEX).

PLEX essentially allow players to pay for an EVE subscription with in-game ISK, and it provides a legitimate way for players to buy ISK in a way that doesn't harm the in-game economy. It's a clever system that undercuts illicit RMT business, generates additional revenue for the company, and has even been used for charity drives, but EVE isn't the only game to use the system. The success of PLEX in EVE has spurred several other MMOs to follow suit over the years, both in the subscription-based and free-to-play arenas. Runes of Magic, TERA, Star Trek Online and even World of Warcraft have borrowed a page from CCP's book in one way or another, and it's paying off for them big time.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I put the PLEX system under the microscope to find out exactly what makes it tick, and I look at other MMOs implementing similar systems.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: EVE isn't the only game with PLEX

MassivelyEVE Evolved: EVE isn't the only game with PLEX originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 16 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentbusiness-modelsccpccp-eveccp-gamescrypticcryptic-studiosdiamondsdilithiumeveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumgoldguardian-cubiskplexrunes-of-magicstar-trek-onlinesubscriptionWorld-of-WarcraftSun, 16 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC Online 2011: CCP on virtual goods in EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/gdc-austin-2011-ccp-on-virtual-goods-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/gdc-austin-2011-ccp-on-virtual-goods-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/gdc-austin-2011-ccp-on-virtual-goods-in-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

EVE Online
Remember Monoclegate? CCP sure does, and at GDC this week, the company reflected on some lessons learned from its introduction of virtual goods to EVE Online. Associate Producer Ben Cockerill from CCP games offered a candid look at what the team learned through both player response and market data. While the initial launch of virtual goods in Incarna sparked a fierce objection on the forums and even in-game protests and riots, things have settled down quite a bit, and CCP seems confident that it is headed in the right direction now.

Read on for a look at why virtual goods were introduced into EVE Online and what the team has learned so far.

Continue reading GDC Online 2011: CCP on virtual goods in EVE Online

MassivelyGDC Online 2011: CCP on virtual goods in EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aurumben-cockerillcash-shopCCPccp-gamesdust-514eveeve-onlinefeaturedgdcgdc-2011gdc-onlineGDC-Online-2011incarnaiskkaren-bryanmonoclemonoclegatepanelplexrmtvirtual-goodsTue, 11 Oct 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: EVE drama due to bolster waning TV soap schedule]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/free-for-all-eve-drama-due-to-bolster-waning-tv-soap-schedule/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/free-for-all-eve-drama-due-to-bolster-waning-tv-soap-schedule/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/free-for-all-eve-drama-due-to-bolster-waning-tv-soap-schedule/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Much was said recently about the latest EVE Online "drama." If you've talked and written about MMORPGs as long as I have, you'd be very rich if you were paid a nickel every time you heard the word. Drama, when applied to the world of MMOs, ends up feeling like a funeral for an insect... more than a little dramatic. As someone who has played EVE a bit off and on (I have a six-year-old account, but only a 10,000,000-SP character), I was more than a little surprised at the response -- but not really surprised.

In fact, the recent drama -- hell, any EVE drama -- comes off as rather humorous. The same thing happened when World of Warcraft began selling the infamous sparklepony or when Lord of the Rings Online decided to sell a special skeleton steed in its cash shop (I was lucky enough to get one during the holiday event). Players screamed that they would be canceling, that they would protest in some form or another, and that they would never buy a product from the developer, go anywhere near anyone who shared the same name as any of the developers, or even utter the name of their poor, lost avatars again. Yet, here we are.

Every time something like this happens, it happens for a few distinct reasons. Click past the cut and I'll fill you in.

Continue reading Free for All: EVE drama due to bolster waning TV soap schedule

MassivelyFree for All: EVE drama due to bolster waning TV soap schedule originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmcash-shopccpCCP-Gamesdramadramaticeveeve-onlinefeaturedfree-for-alliskMicrotransactionsmonoclemonoclegatereallybigtransactionsvirtual-currencyvirtual-goodsWed, 06 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA['We hear you loud and clear': CCP clarifies third-party application licensing fees]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/we-hear-you-loud-and-clear-ccp-clarifies-third-party-applicat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/we-hear-you-loud-and-clear-ccp-clarifies-third-party-applicat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/we-hear-you-loud-and-clear-ccp-clarifies-third-party-applicat/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

What should be a week of rejoicing following EVE Online's Incarna expansion going live has been soured by controversy over seemingly high-priced microtransactions and debate over fees associated with third-party application licensing.

Today, CCP has come out to address the second point and clarify its position. CCP Guard admits that the company didn't do the best job in explaining how third parties can charge a real-world money fee for their services apart from in-game currency, and he reposts an illuminating transcript of an interview with CCP Zulu regarding the licensing.

The problem came in the form of $99 licensing fees to use this new service, a charge that EVE players felt was extremely high. Apparently CCP agrees and will be looking into changing it to a "token charge" that will make the contract between CCP and the third party binding without it being a financial obstacle.

You can read the full explanation over at EVE Online, and while you're at it, you can snag yourself the expansion on Steam for $10.

Massively'We hear you loud and clear': CCP clarifies third-party application licensing fees originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesccp-guardccp-zulucontracteveeve-onlineguardinterviewisksaleservicessteamthird-partythird-party-licensingthird-party-serviceszuluWed, 22 Jun 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Controversy brewing over EVE Online microtransactions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/controversy-brewing-over-eve-online-microtransactions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/controversy-brewing-over-eve-online-microtransactions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/controversy-brewing-over-eve-online-microtransactions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

When we first heard that EVE Online was planning to add microtransaction options, players were most concerned with the effect of microtransaction items on gameplay. CCP was quick to reassure players that microtransactions would focus on vanity items for Incarna and no gameplay-affecting items would be released. Fast-forward to today, when the first phase of Incarna finally went live along with the new Noble Exchange cash shop. As promised, the store contained only vanity items for Incarna, starting with a series of alternative clothing options.

The one thing we didn't really think of while we worried about microtransactions affecting EVE's gameplay was price. The current prices on items in the Noble Exchange are far above typical microtransaction charges and an order of magnitude higher than expected. Items in the Noble Exchange are bought with a new currency called Aurum, 3500 of which can be created from one 30-day pilot's license (PLEX). With the price of PLEX set at around $19.95 US, players can expect to pay over $20 for a skirt, $25 for a blouse, and more than a whopping $68 for the much-desired ocular implant monocle.

In a bizarre twist, many of the clothing options for sale at the Noble Exchange actually cost more than real clothes of the same type. As PLEX can be bought from other players for ISK, however, most players will not be spending their own cash on these items. PLEX prices have already spiked to over 400 million each, putting the price of the monocle at over 1.3 billion ISK. CCP could not provide any more information on the issue, but we expect an issue this hot will prompt an announcement.

MassivelyControversy brewing over EVE Online microtransactions originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aurumccpccp-eveccp-gamesclothingcontroversyeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineincarnaiskmacrotransactionsmicrotransactionsmonoclenoble-exchangeplexshirtskirtTue, 21 Jun 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Emergence in the sandbox]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/15/eve-evolved-emergence-in-the-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/15/eve-evolved-emergence-in-the-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/15/eve-evolved-emergence-in-the-sandbox/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

We often hear about the amazing things players get up to in EVE Online, from full-scale political wars and massive heists to collaborative business ventures and high-profile kills. While we can all enjoy these tales of high-powered exploits from afar, they can be difficult to relate to the actual game experience. Most of us will never be the puppet master pulling the strings of alliance warfare or the mastermind of some great theft, but we don't have to be. Smaller examples of emergent and opportunistic gameplay exist all over EVE in the daily play of thousands of individuals.

I've always thought of EVE less as a game and more as a giant social sandbox with spaceships -- a story about what people do when left alone in each other's company. Players naturally take on roles for which they have a strong aptitude, crafting completely new gameplay styles for themselves in the process. The entrepreneurs among us spy opportunities never imagined by the game's developers, tech-savvy individuals sell web-services, and artists craft propaganda for recruitment or a war on their enemy's morale. Countless players carve their own game out of the EVE universe, and there's no reason you can't be one of them.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at some of the unique gameplay experiences players have engineered for themselves over the years and the community that makes EVE what it is.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Emergence in the sandbox

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Emergence in the sandbox originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gamescreative-writingdjemergenceemergent-gameplayeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineeve-radiofeaturedfictionhulkageddoniskkillboardlotterieslotterynew-edennew-eden-radiopropagandaradioRed-vs-Bluesandboxscamsomer.blinksomerset-mahmspreadsheets-in-spacesupply-and-demandthefttradingtrustvideoswritersSun, 15 May 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE anniversary lottery offers over 40 billion ISK in prizes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/eve-anniversary-lottery-offers-over-40-billion-isk-in-prizes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/eve-anniversary-lottery-offers-over-40-billion-isk-in-prizes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/eve-anniversary-lottery-offers-over-40-billion-isk-in-prizes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Since the beginning of time, or at least the beginning of the EVE Online universe, players have gambled their ISK for a chance to win it big in the BIG lottery. First launching on May 13th 2003, the BIG lottery has sold over 48,000 tickets worth a total of over 613 billion ISK. Each year, a special bumper edition of the game is launched to commemorate the birthday of both EVE Online and the BIG lottery, with CCP donating some awesome prizes.

Last year's seventh anniversary lottery included billions of ISK in prizes, including a free year of game time, a battleship model from the EVE store, and more donated by CCP. This year's eighth anniversary lottery has a similarly massive prize fund, with official prizes of 25 billion ISK and 10 billion ISK for the first and second place winners respectively. The EVE Online Hold'em poker league has sponsored two additional prizes of 5 billion ISK and a full year of EVE game time. To top things off, CCP will be giving each of the four winners a $50 gift certificate to be used in the EVE store.

Head over to the official forum thread or website for details on how to enter the contest. Tickets must be purchased before Sunday 15th May, and the drawing will occur on Monday the 16th at 2:00 p.m. EDT (18:00 EVE time) in the "BIG Games" in-game chat channel. Good luck to all those who enter!

MassivelyEVE anniversary lottery offers over 40 billion ISK in prizes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 May 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8-yearsanniversarybigbig-lotterybillionbirthdayccpccp-eveccp-gameseveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineisklotteryprizesThu, 12 May 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online players raise over $44,000 for Japan relief fund]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/03/eve-online-players-raise-over-44-000-for-japan-relief-fund/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/03/eve-online-players-raise-over-44-000-for-japan-relief-fund/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/03/eve-online-players-raise-over-44-000-for-japan-relief-fund/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Never let it be said that gamers don't have big hearts. When Japan was hit by an earthquake and the ensuing tsunami, people around the world stepped up to donate to disaster relief programs. Several MMO developers have made substantial donations using profits from their games. NCSoft made a huge donation of 500 million yen (6.3 million USD), and Sony Online Entertainment donated 300 million yen (3.6 million U.S. dollars). SOE, gPotato, Perfect World Entertainment and Hi-Rez studios have all been running schemes to help players donate, ranging from special once-only microtransaction items to just donating a percentage of all cash shop proceeds to charity.

EVE Online's developer CCP Games has encouraged donations through their unique PLEX system. Players who couldn't afford to donate cash were encouraged to buy PLEX in-game using ISK and donate them to the relief fund. CCP would then scrap the PLEX items and donate their full purchase value to charity. The scheme has been very successful at raising money in previous disasters, raising over 40,000 USD for the Haitian earthquake fund and roughly a further 20,000 USD for the flooding in Pakistan.

In a new devblog, CCP Fallout has released the final results of EVE's charity drive. A total of 2549 PLEX, each worth 17.5 USD, was donated to the scheme by players. CCP will be donating the full value of 44,607.50 USD to the Red Cross in the name the EVE Online community, and will be paying for all of the tax and management costs themselves. EVE players have now donated a total of 108,000 USD through the PLEX for Good scheme. Head over to the devblog for the details of the charity drive and some interesting information on three players who helped make it a success.

MassivelyEVE Online players raise over $44,000 for Japan relief fund originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 03 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aidccpccp-eveccp-gamesdonatedonationearthquakeeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinegame-time-cardgame-time-codegtciskjapanplexreliefrelief-effortstsunamiSun, 03 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Donate EVE ISK to help disaster relief efforts in Japan]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/14/donate-eve-isk-to-help-disaster-relief-efforts-in-japan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/14/donate-eve-isk-to-help-disaster-relief-efforts-in-japan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/14/donate-eve-isk-to-help-disaster-relief-efforts-in-japan/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

When it comes to collecting aid for disaster relief, EVE Online developer CCP Games has a unique way of helping players donate. While many MMOs ask for donations or release limited-edition cash shop items, CCP has managed to devise a way for players to donate in-game currency to help people in the real world. During the relief effort for last year's earthquake in Haiti, CCP began accepting donations of 30-day Pilot's License EXtensions (PLEX) for their full monetary value in game time. With the recent devestation in Japan, CCP has once again asked for the EVE community's help to raise money for relief aid.

Each PLEX bought on the in-game market and donated to charity represents 30 days of game time that someone in the world originally paid for with cash but that won't be redeemed into game time. Because of this, CCP can donate the full cash value of that game time to a registered relief charity without taking a big loss. CCP absorbs all management and tax fees to ensure that 100% of the donated game time's value is passed on to registered charities (in this case, the Red Cross).

To donate to the relief effort in Japan, EVE players are encouraged to buy PLEX on the open market and contract them to the character "CCP PLEX For Good" before March 31st. As usual, EVE Online's normally permissive rules on scamming have been suspended in relation to the charity drive. Anyone attempting to scam players out of ISK or PLEX using this charity drive will be dealt with harshly. With notable rich players and corporations able to potentially donate thousands of dollars' worth of PLEX, this charity drive is sure to raise a substantial amount of money for disaster-stricken Japan.

MassivelyDonate EVE ISK to help disaster relief efforts in Japan originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aidccpccp-eveccp-gamesdonatedonationearthquakeeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinegame-time-cardgame-time-codegtciskjapanplexreliefrelief-effortstsunamiMon, 14 Mar 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Have you ever bought gold?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/12/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-bought-gold/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/12/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-bought-gold/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/12/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-bought-gold/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Practically every MMO ever made has some kind of currency-based trade system, and if that currency takes time or effort to acquire, you can bet someone somewhere will pay hard cash to shortcut the process. Although most game EULAs forbid the practice of buying currency for cash, players are often unaware that they could be banned if caught. Websites selling virtual currency are often linked to shady dealings such as harvesting credit card details, key-logging buyers' computers or even just not delivering purchased goods. The effects are often felt in-game too, as methods used to generate currency for sale often include abuse of exploits, farming limited resources using bots, and hacking accounts.

Developers of subscription MMOs have fought against the RMT (real money trade) business using a variety of strategies. In late 2009, CCP Games banned 6,200 accounts linked to botting and RMT in one day as part of operation Unholy Rage. RuneScape developer Jagex took an even tougher stance, putting severe restrictions on the movement of gold between players. This week, we heard the news that a leaked client database from an EVE ISK-selling organisation had named hundreds of EVE Online characters as buyers. While many of the characters named were temporary accounts created to receive ISK anonymously, life has been made very hard for all characters named in the leak. So have you ever bought gold, ISK or any other MMO currency? If so, what were your reasons for buying it, and what would you do if your character were suddenly exposed as a buyer or banned?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Have you ever bought gold? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banbottinggame-discussiongamer-discussiongoldgold-buyergold-sellerhacked-accountiskisk-buyerisk-sellermmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicsopinionrmttdgthe-daily-grindSat, 12 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE ISK buyers outed in database leak]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/eve-isk-buyers-outed-in-database-leak/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/eve-isk-buyers-outed-in-database-leak/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/eve-isk-buyers-outed-in-database-leak/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Beware, EVE Online ISK buyers! Big brother is watching you. Actually, the whole internet is watching you too, thanks to an insider leak at the IskBank.com currency-trading site. EVEnews24.com, a fan-run news site dedicated to the goings-on in and around CCP's New Eden, has published a huge list of virtual currency buyers that earned IskBank some $290,000 between April 2010 and March 4th, 2011.

As you might expect, there's a colossal discussion thread on the official EVE forums, and CCP has issued a brief comment indicating its awareness of the situation. Thus far there has been no mention of potential action against violators of the the game's EULA, but EVEnews24 has posted some reactions from a few of the formerly anonymous buyers.

EVEnews24's anonymous source apparently provided a fairly complete record of IskBank's customer and order database, including names and dates, products purchased, and email and IP addresses. EVEnews24 is withholding the personal information of the affected parties but has published a complete list of in-game character names.

MassivelyEVE ISK buyers outed in database leak originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpCCP-Gamesdatabase-leakeula-violationeveeve-onlineevenews24.comgold-buyinggold-sellingiskisk-buyersiskbank.commmo-industrynew-edenrmtsci-fiThu, 10 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE's Industrial Sized Knowledgebase guide gets a makeover]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/02/eves-industrial-sized-knowledgebase-guide-gets-a-makeover/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/02/eves-industrial-sized-knowledgebase-guide-gets-a-makeover/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/02/eves-industrial-sized-knowledgebase-guide-gets-a-makeover/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Of all the MMOs on the market today, EVE Online has perhaps one of the steepest learning curves. This is something the game's developer, CCP Games, has been trying to tackle through improved tutorials and updates to the new player experience. While CCP makes progress on that front, the EVE player community has made its own efforts in helping new players by producing helpful guides and tools. Last year, EVE players Laci and Mermalior released the impressive Industrial-Sized Knowledgebase guide, an exhaustive guide to practically everything in EVE. The guide was translated from its popular Hungarian version and released online for free as a PDF download.

Good news came last month when the publishers of EON magazine announced that they were teaming up with Laci and Mermalior to produce an updated print version of the guide. The first part of that work is now complete, with the MMM Publishing team having updated the guide with information from the Incursion expansion and given it a huge graphical overhaul. The guide has now been laid out with MMM's signature EVE style, and the PDF now has a very professional navigation system. As promised, the updated guide is available completely for free as a PDF download. A printed version will be available at some point in the future, which will be sold on the EVE store.

MassivelyEVE's Industrial Sized Knowledgebase guide gets a makeover originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gameseoneon-magazineeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineguideguidesindustrialindustrial-sized-knowledgebaseisklacimmm-publishingWed, 02 Feb 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online Industrial-Sized Knowedgebase to be released in print form]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/06/eve-online-industrial-sized-knowedgebase-to-be-released-in-print/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/06/eve-online-industrial-sized-knowedgebase-to-be-released-in-print/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/06/eve-online-industrial-sized-knowedgebase-to-be-released-in-print/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Back in August, we brought you the news that an exhaustive Hungarian EVE Online guide had been translated into English and released online for free. The Industrial-Sized Knowledgebase (or ISK for short) represented years of collaborative efforts between players to produce the ultimate all-inclusive strategy guide for EVE Online. The creators of the gargantuan guide have now teamed up with CCP Games and MMM Publishing to bring the entire book up to a professional standard and update it with information on the Incursion expansion.

MMM Publishing is the team behind the hugely successful official EVE magazine E-ON. The company's previous collaborations with EVE players and CCP include print copies of EVE Strategic Maps and the EVE Career Guide. A basic version of the new updated ISK guide will be released for free as a downloadable PDF document on February 1st. Following that, the team will then begin work on an extended 500-page premium edition, which will be available for purchase as a digital download or a full print copy some time this spring. The final price and release date have not yet been decided, but as the ISK guide is the closest thing EVE has to a full manual, the print copy is sure to be a popular item.

MassivelyEVE Online Industrial-Sized Knowedgebase to be released in print form originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gameseveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineguideguidesinterstellar-kreditiskmmmmmm-publishingsci-fiThu, 06 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Don't hate - appreciate!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/21/one-shots-dont-hate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/21/one-shots-dont-hate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/21/one-shots-dont-hate/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With the release date and pricing announced for DC Universe Online, beta players are busy getting their feedback and bug reports in before the end of testing. Another thing many are doing is snapping tons of great screenshots, as our One Shots mailbox would seem to indicate! Today we have a great image from Isk who captured this recently, and writes in with a very short note to explain: "Here is my DC Universe Online character. Isis was jealous of my outfit, so she sent a couple of mummies to try to take it from me."

Are you enjoying super-heroic (or villainous) adventures in your MMO of choice? If so, send in a screenshot of your hero (or villain) doing something awesome to us here at oneshots@massively.com! Be sure you include your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. Yours could be the next image we feature here on Massively.

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

MassivelyOne Shots: Don't hate - appreciate! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dc-comicsdc-universe-onlinedcuoiskone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotssoeSony-Online-EntertainmentTue, 21 Dec 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: The RMT problem]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/19/eve-evolved-the-rmt-problem/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/19/eve-evolved-the-rmt-problem/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/19/eve-evolved-the-rmt-problem/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Of all the problems that plague MMOs, RMT (real money trading) is perhaps the most disruptive to normal gameplay. By design, almost every MMO has some form of tradable currency that can be collected through normal gameplay. The time it takes to collect that currency has an inherent value, which varies from player to player as not every player values his free time at the same level. It's inevitable that cash-rich players who value their time highly will often want to shortcut normal gameplay by buying the currency directly for cash.

The negative impact of RMT and its associated problems is felt in every popular MMO, and EVE Online is no exception. The direct balance issues inherent in allowing players to buy ISK with cash are just the tip of a very unpleasant iceberg. Players who buy ISK from shady websites and services are the reason that the rest of us have to put up with spam-bots in popular chat channels, rampant account hacking, and macros taking up a disproportionately large cut of EVE's in-game resources and server load.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look into the problems caused by RMT, why macro-farming operations have become so wide-spread, and what CCP has done to combat this growing problem.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: The RMT problem

MassivelyEVE Evolved: The RMT problem originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 19 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gameseveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefarmingfeaturedhackHackedhacked-accounthackingiskmacromacrosplexreal-money-tradingrmtspamspammerssweatshopsweatshopsSun, 19 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE gambling website SOMER.Blink is the target of 125 billion ISK theft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/16/eve-gambling-website-somer-blink-is-the-target-of-125-billion-is/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/16/eve-gambling-website-somer-blink-is-the-target-of-125-billion-is/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/16/eve-gambling-website-somer-blink-is-the-target-of-125-billion-is/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It seems like almost every month there's another huge theft or insidious kill in EVE Online, with last month's 30 billion ISK suicide attack and September's record-breaking 850 billion ISK investment scam. In EVE, theft and piracy are part of the game, and players have to make a conscious effort not to put themselves at risk. Trust the wrong person with access to your assets or let your guard down and you might regret it. That lesson was learned the hard way by EVE gambling website SOMER.Blink, as last night it became the target of a 125 billion ISK theft.

The thief, Daquaris of Test Alliance Please Ignore, had access to a stash of ISK, PLEX and items as part of his role -- delivering prizes to Blink winners. Most of the prize-distributors for SOMER.Blink are real-life friends of the site's creator Somerset Mahm, a situation that limits the potential for thefts like this. Although Daquaris wasn't a real-life friend of Somer, he was a trusted old friend from a previous alliance. When reached for comment, SOMER.Blink corporation member Andrev Nox had the following to say:

"The theft was an eventuality we were prepared for. We certainly didn't expect it from Daq, obviously, but we expected it might happen eventually. The main wallet was regularly cleared to a separate corp's wallet as a 'rainy day' fund. Because of that, Blink is still fully solvent, solid, and functional. Somer has [been], and always will be, an incredibly generous and good friend to all of us. Had Daq asked for exactly the things he had stolen, Somer would have given them unflinchingly, without a doubt. Blink can always earn more ISK, it's the loss of someone we trusted as a valued part of the business, and a long time friend."

MassivelyEVE gambling website SOMER.Blink is the target of 125 billion ISK theft originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>billionccpccp-eveccp-gameseveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinegamblegamblinginterstellar-kreditiskscamsomersomer.blinktheftthieftrustTue, 16 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New EVE Quarterly Economic Newsletter discusses PvP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/14/new-eve-quarterly-economic-newsletter-discusses-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/14/new-eve-quarterly-economic-newsletter-discusses-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/14/new-eve-quarterly-economic-newsletter-discusses-pvp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Four times per year, CCP's lead economist Dr. Eyjólfur Guðmundsson publishes the EVE Online Quarterly Economic Newsletter (QEN). Each report provides a snapshot of the in-game economy, with graphs showing market trends over the previous quarter and some speculation on the reasons for them. The third quarter 2010 QEN has just been released, and it contains some interesting information. This report has a special focus on PvP and death, starting off with statistics on ship kills by race and deaths as a function of skillpoints. Dr Eyjo suggests that players tend to progress from high security space, through low security space and eventually on to nullsec PvP. He goes on to suggest his data shows that an average player needs two years worth of skillpoints to be competitive in nullsec PvP.

The QEN shows the effect of recent nullsec wars, with a mass exodus of players from the eastern regions of nullsec to those in the south and west. Following up on the previous report's look at EVE's ISK sinks and faucets, this quarter's report indicates that the total amount of ISK in the game has been rising steadily over the past year. Most of this can be attributed to a 16% rise in total bounties paid out on NPC ships. Dr Eyjo believes this rising trend began with Dominion as system upgrades made ratting more profitable in nullsec. The ISK sinks designed to counteract the massive influx of liquid ISK bounties provide are not adequately tackling the issue, with the top five ISK sinks combined taking only 31% of bounty income out of the game. The rest of the report contains the usual snapshots of various market items in addition to a special statistics segment on ship deaths and killing blows.

MassivelyNew EVE Quarterly Economic Newsletter discusses PvP originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 14 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gamesdr-eyjodr-eyjogdr-eyjolfur-gudmundssoneconomicseconomyeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineiskisk-faucetisk-sinkpvpqenquarterly-economic-newsletterSun, 14 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: ISK sinks and faucets]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/24/eve-evolved-isk-sinks-and-faucets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/24/eve-evolved-isk-sinks-and-faucets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/24/eve-evolved-isk-sinks-and-faucets/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In EVE Online's player-run economy, the flow of ISK is a vital concept. While there are many ways to make ISK in EVE, most of them only move it around from one player to another. When you mine ore and sell it on the market, for example, the mining process doesn't introduce any new ISK to the game. Only a few game mechanics can be called ISK faucets, as the game mechanics actually create ISK from thin air. Similarly, the ISK sink mechanics destroy ISK or remove it from the game in some manner.

To the individual player, the difference between something being an ISK faucet or not is largely immaterial. When you sell something on the market for a few million ISK, or get the insurance payout on a lost ship, it doesn't really matter to you where that ISK came from. Where the concept really matters is in discussions on inflation and how the game chooses to reward us in PvE. Are ISK bounties and rewards always a good idea, or could their over-use eventually lead to runaway inflation?

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at the various ways in which ISK flows in and out of EVE Online, and why we should care about inflation.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: ISK sinks and faucets

MassivelyEVE Evolved: ISK sinks and faucets originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gamesdeflationdemanddr-eyjodr-eyjogdr-eyjolfur-gudmundssoneconomicseconomyeveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedinflationinsuranceinterstellar-kreditiskisk-faucetisk-sinkpvesupplysupply-and-demandSun, 24 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Gambling away all your ISK]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/17/eve-evolved-gambling-away-all-your-isk/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/17/eve-evolved-gambling-away-all-your-isk/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/17/eve-evolved-gambling-away-all-your-isk/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

EVE Online is said to be a game in which you can do literally anything you set your mind to. It doesn't matter whether your ambition is to climb the alliance ranks, become the scourge of low-security space or even just fly around space telling jokes. If you can conceive of an idea that can be carried out in-game, it's probably a perfectly viable way to play the game. Over the years, players have come up with a number of unique and unconventional gameplay styles. Most of them began as ways for the pilots involved to make ISK or gain notoriety, but some were created just to see if it could be done. I've seen everything from player-run graveyards for the victims of piracy to players renting kill-boards for ISK, and yet the EVE community never ceases to amaze me with the new ways people find to play the game.

The most recent development to blow me away is SOMER.blink, a website where players can gamble their ISK to win fabulous prizes. Gambling in EVE is nothing particularly new; players have been wagering ISK on everything from lotteries to hands of poker for a long time. What makes SOMER.blink special is its absolutely flawless execution. Almost everything is automated, from the transfer of ISK into your account balance to the prize lotteries themselves. The website itself is even accessible from outside EVE once ISK has been deposited in your wallet. I've spent hours so far blinking away on lotteries and losing quite a bit of ISK, but I'll be damned if it hasn't been fun.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look into the addictive phenomena of Somer.BLINK and try to explain where all my damn ISK went.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Gambling away all your ISK

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Gambling away all your ISK originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blinkcasinoccpccp-eveccp-gameseveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedgamblegamblinggaminginterstellar-kreditisklotterylottoprizeshipsomersomer.blinkwhere-the-hell-did-all-my-isk-gowinSun, 17 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Questionable EVE attack deals 30 billion ISK in damage]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/10/questionable-eve-attack-deals-30-billion-isk-in-damage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/10/questionable-eve-attack-deals-30-billion-isk-in-damage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/10/questionable-eve-attack-deals-30-billion-isk-in-damage/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's often said that EVE Online is a game that revolves around PvP. Even people who engage only in PvE aren't safe from the wrathful influence of other pilots. Players are almost forced to compete with each other in a ruthless open sandbox where all the rules are thrown out the window. Even in the relative safety of high-security space, the threat of harm isn't completely removed. Scams, spies, corporate infiltrations and suicide attacks are a common occurrence in New Eden, forcing players to stay aware of their surroundings and exercise good judgment. This week, a player by the name of Solarius became the unfortunate target of EVE's more ruthless player element. Solarius, CEO of Quantanamo Corporation, was running missions in high-security space in his Paladin when players destroyed his ship in a coordinated suicide attack.

What makes this particular suicide attack special is the sheer magnitude of the loss. Solarius had fit the ship with an impressive array of rare and expensive officer modules, putting the total value of his ship at over 30 billion ISK. Since a destroyed ship drops around half of its modules as loot, flying a ship with such an expensive setup is almost guaranteed to draw some unwanted attention. Pilots from the corporations Honorless Internet Jerks, Ex Obscuritas, Suddenly Ninjas, Alarm Clock Corp and Defner.org jointly participated in the attack and split the proceeds from the loot. To put the magnitude of this kill into perspective, 30 billion ISK could currently buy over 80 PLEX, which is around seven years of game time. To buy the same number of PLEX with cash would cost over $1200 U.S., making this a costly warning to all EVE players that you're never completely safe in New Eden.

MassivelyQuestionable EVE attack deals 30 billion ISK in damage originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Oct 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gameseveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinegankiskplexpvpsolariussuicide-ganksuicide-squadSun, 10 Oct 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE players able to donate in-game ISK to Pakistan flood relief]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/18/eve-players-able-to-donate-in-game-isk-to-pakistan-flood-relief/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/18/eve-players-able-to-donate-in-game-isk-to-pakistan-flood-relief/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/18/eve-players-able-to-donate-in-game-isk-to-pakistan-flood-relief/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Back in January, the Republic of Haiti suffered a devastating earthquake. Several MMO development studios responded by coming up with ways to help their players donate to the aid relief campaign. EVE Online developers CCP Games came up with an innovative scheme that allowed players to donate in-game ISK to help the people of Haiti. Players bought PLEX in-game with ISK and donated them to CCP's sponsored relief fund. As PLEX are worth 30 days of game time each, every one donated represented 30 days of EVE game time that someone somewhere purchased. Although CCP had to absorb all tax and administration costs, the company managed to donate the full value of donated game time to charity without taking a significant loss. In total, players donated over $40,000 worth of PLEX to the fund, which was given to the Red Cross to help the people of Haiti.

With the recent flooding in Pakistan, a huge need for donations has arisen and CCP is once again allowing players to donate in-game PLEX to charity. In a new devblog, CCP Fallout has urged players to contract unused PLEX to the EVE character "CCP PLEX for Good." The full cash value of each donated PLEX will be passed on to the Pakistan Red Crescent Society, regardless of whether you bought the PLEX for cash or ISK. If you want to donate, the deadline for sending your PLEX is the 6th of October. As with the previous fundraiser, any players perpetrating scams around this donation drive will receive harsh punishment. Perhaps this would be a good opportunity for Bad Bobby, the player who recently confirmed that he'd made over 850 billion ISK with investment scams, to do something worthwhile with his accumulated wealth.

MassivelyEVE players able to donate in-game ISK to Pakistan flood relief originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aidccpccp-eveccp-gamesdonatedonationeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinehaitiinterstellar-kreditiskpakistanplex-for-goodred-crossreliefSat, 18 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online player steals $45,000 worth of ISK in massive investment scam]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/11/eve-online-player-steals-45-000-worth-of-isk-in-massive-investm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/11/eve-online-player-steals-45-000-worth-of-isk-in-massive-investm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/11/eve-online-player-steals-45-000-worth-of-isk-in-massive-investm/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It seems like every few months we hear about another major theft or scam in EVE Online. In most MMOs, acts of theft could earn the perpetrator a permanent game ban. In EVE Online, however, it's an accepted part of the game that people are strongly encouraged to protect themselves from. Even the game's developers have acknowledged that corporate infiltration, scamming and theft are just another part of the harsh criminal underworld of New Eden. With its latest official game trailer, CCP Games told an impressive tale of corporate theft and revenge, showcasing some of the emergent gameplay that typifies EVE.

Last week, the latest big scam to come out of the criminal underworld of New Eden came to completion. The popular investment scheme Titans4U turned bad, with the creator "Bad Bobby" stealing all of the company's assets. The theft was the ultimate conclusion of a plan that was set in motion years ago. Bobby began his investment career by running several smaller schemes to build up a positive public image. Over the years, he ran increasingly larger and more popular schemes and always returned on investments. Just over a year ago, his reputation-building efforts paid off as his good name secured the successful launch of the massive Titans4U investment fund.

Skip past the cut for the full story of how this apparently secure investment scheme turned into one of EVE's biggest scams to date.

Continue reading EVE Online player steals $45,000 worth of ISK in massive investment scam

MassivelyEVE Online player steals $45,000 worth of ISK in massive investment scam originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bad-bobbybillionccpccp-eveccp-gamescorporationeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedinterstellar-kreditiskscamscammingsharestheftSat, 11 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2010: CCP unveils EVE Online's latest expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/04/pax-2010-ccp-unveils-eve-onlines-latest-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/04/pax-2010-ccp-unveils-eve-onlines-latest-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/04/pax-2010-ccp-unveils-eve-onlines-latest-expansion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

At PAX Prime, we caught up with CCP's lead game designer Noah Ward, who paused helpfully between the roaring crowds on all sides of the booth to fill us in on the "secret sauce" to EVE Online's continued growth and success. Ward said it was simple: CCP's steadfast commitment to the game for the long haul. The dev team strongly believes in the growth of EVE and works hard to expand it both inward and upward.

Part of that growth includes continued expansions to the title, and Ward was excited to reveal the next one on deck. While it doesn't yet have a name -- at least, nothing CCP could put in print -- the team is hyped up about its latest expansion to the EVE Online franchise. Set to debut later this winter, the expansion looks to build on many of the key foundations that Tyrannis began.

Hit the jump to hear about the four new features that EVE fans will find themselves crowing about by the time Santa comes a-callin'!

Continue reading PAX 2010: CCP unveils EVE Online's latest expansion

MassivelyPAX 2010: CCP unveils EVE Online's latest expansion originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingccpcoloniescoopeveeve-gateeve-onlineexpansionfeaturedi-dressed-up-as-a-mothership-for-paxincursionincursionsiskloyalty-pointsminingmothershipnoah-wardpaxpax-2010pax-primepax-prime-2010planetary-featurespvepvpsashatyranniswalking-in-stationsSat, 04 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Unintended source of passive income to be removed from EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/23/unintended-source-of-passive-income-to-be-removed-from-eve-onlin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/23/unintended-source-of-passive-income-to-be-removed-from-eve-onlin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/23/unintended-source-of-passive-income-to-be-removed-from-eve-onlin/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There are many of ways to make ISK in EVE Online, from mission-running and ratting to trading and research. Some methods, like mission-running, are very active processes in which the amount of ISK made is directly proportional to the amount of time spent playing. Other processes, such as trading or moon-mining, are largely passive endeavours in which ISK is made even while the pilot is offline. One such source of passive income, which has been around since the tech 2 invention system came in, is datacore collection. Players with high enough standings and the right skills trained in the science field can sign up to do research with various R&D agents throughout EVE. The agents automatically give players research points every day for free, which can later be redeemed for datacores to be sold on the market.

Datacore collection itself is an intended game mechanic, and this system for supplying datacores doesn't look like it will be changing any time soon. The issue is that characters on expired accounts will still accrue research points every day. Using this so-called "ghost research" loophole, some players have been farming datacores with an unfair advantage over active pilots. Abusers typically set up accounts with three research characters each, then let those accounts expire. Several months later, each account will be re-activated to harvest the datacores. In a recent devblog, CCP Soundwave explained that this issue came from a list of important player-voted issues that was presented to CCP by the Council of Stellar Management. The unintended loophole will be closed in a hotfix in the near future.

MassivelyUnintended source of passive income to be removed from EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bugccpccp-eveccp-gameseveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineexploitghost-researchiskmaking-moneyresearchresearch-and-developmenttech-2Mon, 23 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Latest EVE Quarterly Economic Newsletter highlights Tyrannis insurance changes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/latest-eve-quarterly-economic-newsletter-highlights-tyrannis-ins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/latest-eve-quarterly-economic-newsletter-highlights-tyrannis-ins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/latest-eve-quarterly-economic-newsletter-highlights-tyrannis-ins/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

EVE Online is a game with complex economic activity that often mirrors real-world economic systems. The similarity is so pronounced that CCP even hired its own Lead Economist, Dr. Eyjólfur Guðmundsson, to examine the in-game markets in detail. Each quarter, the economist and his team of researchers publish the EVE Quarterly Economic Newsletter (QEN). The report provides a timeline of market indices and major economic changes over the past several months. This quarter's report focuses on the effect of the insurance changes that came with the Tyrannis expansion. It also has a special segment on ISK sinks and faucets, and their changes following the release of planetary interaction.

Continue reading Latest EVE Quarterly Economic Newsletter highlights Tyrannis insurance changes

MassivelyLatest EVE Quarterly Economic Newsletter highlights Tyrannis insurance changes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gamesdr-eyjogdr-eyjolfur-gudmundssoneconomicseconomyeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineinterstellar-kreditiskmmo-industryqenquarterly-economic-newslettertyrannisWed, 11 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE player destroys over $1000 worth of game time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/08/eve-player-destroys-over-1000-worth-of-game-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/08/eve-player-destroys-over-1000-worth-of-game-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/08/eve-player-destroys-over-1000-worth-of-game-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Like many MMOs, EVE Online has a problem with players buying ISK from shady websites to short-cut the ISK-making process. On the other end of the spectrum, many players are great at making ISK but unable to afford the monthly subscription. To kill two birds with one stone, CCP created PLEX. Sixty-day game time codes purchased for cash can be converted into two 30-day Pilots License Extensions, which become items in the game. The PLEX can then be traded to other EVE players for ISK, creating a legitimate way to buy ISK without fear of being hit by the ban-hammer. Players with some ISK to spare can buy PLEX from the market and redeem them for game time, essentially playing for free. It's an innovative system, and until recently it was a completely safe market to deal in.

Continue reading EVE player destroys over $1000 worth of game time

MassivelyEVE player destroys over $1000 worth of game time originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Aug 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>billionbreakingccpccp-eveccp-gameseveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinegankiskpilot-license-extensionplexpvpSun, 08 Aug 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: First impressions of planet industry]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/13/eve-evolved-first-impressions-of-planet-industry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/13/eve-evolved-first-impressions-of-planet-industry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/13/eve-evolved-first-impressions-of-planet-industry/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

As I sat down to write a guide to planetary interaction in EVE Online, I realised that I hadn't explored the system fully enough to come up with any definitively good deployment strategies. A few great guides to planet industry have been circulating since the expansion came out, but it will be some time before people really start to figure out the best ways to use EVE's newest feature. It's a complicated business and since a lot of the products made on planets are still currently available to buy from NPCs, the market potential hasn't yet been fully realised.

In this short opinion piece, I give my first impressions of planetary interaction and the Tyrannis expansion.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: First impressions of planet industry

MassivelyEVE Evolved: First impressions of planet industry originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gameseveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlineexpansionfeaturedFirst-Impressionsindustryiskopinionplanetplanetary-interactionplanetstyrannisSun, 13 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New EVE Quarterly Economic Newsletter talks wormholes and tech 3]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/11/new-eve-quarterly-economic-newsletter-talks-wormholes-and-tech-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/11/new-eve-quarterly-economic-newsletter-talks-wormholes-and-tech-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/11/new-eve-quarterly-economic-newsletter-talks-wormholes-and-tech-3/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Four times per year, CCP Lead Economist Dr. Eyjólfur Guðmundsson and his team of researchers publish the Quarterly Economic Newsletter (QEN). In addition to providing trackable statistics on EVE Online's in-game market, each issue focuses heavily on analysing one particular topic. This quarter's report focuses on wormhole systems and the state of the tech 3 market. Updated player demographics show more and more players entering wormhole space, with a drop in the number of characters in high-security space. Statistics for the number of jumps in wormhole space over the past year show a similar trend of growing activity.

This QEN provides some enlightening graphs on the popularity of various tech 3 offensive subsystems and how tech 3 material costs have changed in EVE over the past year. Perhaps most illuminating is the sharp rise in the use of tech 3 strategic cruisers in locations that put them at risk. While the majority are being flown in mission hubs and market systems, over 35% were found outside the safety of high-security space. In addition to this quarter's focus on wormholes, the report contains the usual graphs tracking in-game prices, trade volumes, ships in use and other useful metrics.

MassivelyNew EVE Quarterly Economic Newsletter talks wormholes and tech 3 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gameseconomicseconomyeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineeyjolfur-gudmundssonhulkinterstellar-kreditiskmarket-trendsmmo-industryqenquarterly-economic-newsletterFri, 11 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Ratting, part 2: Flying safe!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/30/eve-evolved-ratting-part-2-flying-safe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/30/eve-evolved-ratting-part-2-flying-safe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/30/eve-evolved-ratting-part-2-flying-safe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Last week I discussed the basics of the "ratting" profession in EVE Online, from picking a good system to three popular ratting strategies. If you're planning to hunt NPCs in nullsec, of course, you'll need to get there first. Pilots who aren't in an alliance with secure access to nullsec will have to run the gauntlet from empire space to their chosen ratting system. The entry points into EVE's nullsec regions are often camped during peak hours and you can expect to run into roaming gangs. Things get a little easier once you're at your destination, but you can still expect to see the occasional pilot or gang passing through the system. Your ability to get into nullsec safely and your efficiency at ratting will be determined largely by the ship you're using and how it's set up. For someone who's never been to nullsec before, setting up a ship for the task and heading into the void can be a daunting task.

In this article, I look at selecting the appropriate ship for ratting, some popular ship setups and important safety tips that will help keep your ship safe in hostile territory.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Ratting, part 2: Flying safe!

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Ratting, part 2: Flying safe! originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 May 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>angel-cartelblood-raiderbubbleccpccp-eveccp-gameseveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedguidesisknpcnpcspiratespveratsrattingsanshaserpentistipsSun, 30 May 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Ratting, part 1: Strategies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/23/eve-evolved-ratting-part-1-strategies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/23/eve-evolved-ratting-part-1-strategies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/23/eve-evolved-ratting-part-1-strategies/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

There are plenty of ways to make ISK in EVE Online, from exploration and mission-running to trading or any number of alternative professions. One of the oldest and most popular ways to make a reliable income in EVE is hunting the pirate NPCs that spawn in asteroid belts, an activity known as "ratting". Ratting is probably the best way to repair the low security status you'll be left with if you engage in piracy or suicide ganks. For those who live in nullsec, it's often the primary way to farm ISK for replacement ships to support PvP activities. Some players who don't have access to nullsec through their corporation or alliance even sneak characters in for the sole purpose of ratting. If done properly, it can make more ISK than level 4 missions and there's always that chance of finding rare faction and officer NPCs with valuable loot.

In the first of this two-part guide, I look at where to find the best NPCs, how to find a good system for ratting and the three most popular ratting strategies.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Ratting, part 1: Strategies

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Ratting, part 1: Strategies originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 23 May 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gameschainchainingeveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefarmingfeaturedisknpcnpcsratsrattingSun, 23 May 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online devblog discusses account security]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/10/eve-online-devblog-discusses-account-security/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/10/eve-online-devblog-discusses-account-security/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/10/eve-online-devblog-discusses-account-security/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Every MMO suffers the horrors of gold spammers and EVE Online is no different. The RMT (Real Money Trading) industry is massive and EVE's developers CCP have waged a constant war against it in recent years. The PLEX initiative gave players a way to safely buy ISK for cash while at the same time helping players who couldn't afford their subscriptions pay with ISK. The result was a dramatic hit to the RMT market, who had to drop their prices to compete with a legitimate service replacing their own.

As part of Operation Unholy Rage in August of last year, EVE GMs also banned over 6200 accounts belonging to farmers known to be supplying the RMT industry. The effect on the market was instant, with the population in farmed mission systems like Ingunn disappearing overnight. Almost immediately, the farmers reacted with a spate of account hackings to claw back some ISK.

Continue reading EVE Online devblog discusses account security

MassivelyEVE Online devblog discusses account security originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>account-hackaccount-hackingaccount-hacksAccount-Securitybanbansccpccp-eveccp-gameseveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinegm-grimmigold-spamgold-spammergold-spammingiskisk-sellerplexrmtspamspammersunholy-rageWed, 10 Mar 2010 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Latest EVE Quarterly Economic Newsletter shows effect of Hulkageddon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/25/latest-eve-quarterly-economic-newsletter-shows-effect-of-hulkage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/25/latest-eve-quarterly-economic-newsletter-shows-effect-of-hulkage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/25/latest-eve-quarterly-economic-newsletter-shows-effect-of-hulkage/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

EVE Online is a game that's often lauded for its sandbox style and realistic economic structures. Every quarter, CCP Lead Economist Dr. Eyjólfur Guðmundsson and his team of researchers wade through mountains of EVE usage logs to find some interesting economic statistics. In their Quarterly Economic Newsletters (QEN), CCP deliver graphs tracking in-game prices, trade volumes, ships in use and a whole host of other useful metrics.

Read on for an overview of this QEN's main highlights.

Continue reading Latest EVE Quarterly Economic Newsletter shows effect of Hulkageddon

MassivelyLatest EVE Quarterly Economic Newsletter shows effect of Hulkageddon originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gamesdrakeeconomicseconomyeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineeyjolfur-gudmundssonhulkhulkageddonhulkageddon-2hulkageddon-iiinterstellar-kreditiskmarket-trendsmmo-industryqenquarterly-economic-newsletterThu, 25 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Hey big spender!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/16/the-daily-grind-hey-big-spender/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/16/the-daily-grind-hey-big-spender/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/16/the-daily-grind-hey-big-spender/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Gil. Gold. Adeena. ISK. Influence. Infamy. Chips. Crowns. Whatever the game calls it (and there are a lot more words aside from those) money is an important part of most MMOs. Much like money in the real world, it generally follows three simple rules: you need it, you don't have enough of it, and you can't get it fast enough. And we all deal with it in our own way.

But when the time comes, almost every one of us will pony up seemingly astronomical sums for that one thing. It might be a mount, maybe weapons or armor, perhaps a piece of furniture in a game with player housing. Whatever the item is, the cost of obtaining it becomes a non-obstacle, and your cash display turns into a new experience bar that you need to fill for your precious treasure.

So, what was your biggest purchase? Was it something that was once expensive but now cheap, or is it still pricey as ever? Were you happy to have it or regretful at blowing your bankroll? And perhaps most importantly, do you still have it and use it, or has it long since been replaced?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Hey big spender! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adeenacashchipscrownsexpensivefundsgilgoldinfamyinfluenceiskmoneymoolahtdgthe-daily-grindTue, 16 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP Games 'PLEX Aid for Haiti' initiative to help Red Cross relief efforts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/29/ccp-games-plex-aid-for-haiti-initiative-to-help-red-cross-reli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/29/ccp-games-plex-aid-for-haiti-initiative-to-help-red-cross-reli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/29/ccp-games-plex-aid-for-haiti-initiative-to-help-red-cross-reli/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The devastating January 12 earthquake which struck the Republic of Haiti claimed many lives, and has left even more people homeless. It's a terrible situation, but at the very least there are numerous aid efforts underway, and some companies in the MMO industry are finding ways to help as well. CCP Games now ranks among them, with their PLEX Aid for Haiti initiative. The company is offering a way for the EVE Online playerbase to get involved and help with donations.

Here is the message from Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, CEO of CCP Games, in its entirety:

Continue reading CCP Games 'PLEX Aid for Haiti' initiative to help Red Cross relief efforts

MassivelyCCP Games 'PLEX Aid for Haiti' initiative to help Red Cross relief efforts originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesccp-hellmarcharitydonationseveeve-onlinehaitihilmar-peturssonhilmar-v-peturssoniskplexrelief-effortsFri, 29 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Trading: Tips and tricks, part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/29/eve-evolved-trading-tips-and-tricks-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/29/eve-evolved-trading-tips-and-tricks-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/29/eve-evolved-trading-tips-and-tricks-part-2/#commentsContinue reading EVE Evolved: Trading: Tips and tricks, part 2

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Trading: Tips and tricks, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buyingccpccp-gameschribbaeveeve-evolvedeve-onlineexpansionfeaturedguideisklotterymanipulationmarginmarketnyphuropinionpatchprofessionsprofitpvepvpsellingspeculationtipstips-and-trickstradetradingSun, 29 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Trading: Tips and tricks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/29/eve-evolved-trading-tips-and-tricks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/29/eve-evolved-trading-tips-and-tricks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/29/eve-evolved-trading-tips-and-tricks/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

So far in this guide to trading in EVE Online, I've covered the jobs best suited to new players and some of the more advanced trading techniques like margin trading, market speculation and price manipulation. This is by no means the entirety of what can happen in EVE's marketplaces, but serves as a good foundation for those trying to break into the trading game. In the hyper-capitalistic world of New Eden, the markets are hugely competitive and any edge you can get will help. With that in mind, this final part of the guide will cover a few of the tips and tricks I've learned over the years that have given me an edge in the marketplace. Some are common sense rules that most traders will learn eventually and will be invaluable to newer players. Others are more closely-guarded secrets that I've gleaned from years of gameplay.

What is a cyclic product and what do you do when you spot a price manipulation? In this final part of the trading guide, I dish out some of my personal top tips for budding marketeers.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Trading: Tips and tricks

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Trading: Tips and tricks originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buyingccpccp-gameschribbaeveeve-evolvedeve-onlineexpansionfeaturedguideisklotterymanipulationmarginmarketnyphuropinionpatchprofessionsprofitpvepvpsellingspeculationtipstips-and-trickstradetradingSun, 29 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Morning Report provides news-style daily snapshot of game's economy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/23/eve-morning-report-provides-news-style-daily-snapshot-of-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/23/eve-morning-report-provides-news-style-daily-snapshot-of-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/23/eve-morning-report-provides-news-style-daily-snapshot-of-games/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


EVE Online is a game that can be different things to different people. While some players are intent on the destruction of their fellow capsuleers, others prefer to focus on other aspects of the game like trading and mass production. After all, EVE's setting of New Eden is one largely dominated by megacorporations. For those involved in the complexities of the game's economic side, having frequent snapshots of New Eden's virtual economy would be a boon. The game's would-be tycoons now have this, thanks to EVE Online player Utemetsu and the EVE Morning Report -- short, 5-minute audio recordings released daily that convey information about major commodities traded on the open market in New Eden.

EVE Morning Report with Erik Mumm is presented in the style of NPR or the Marketplace Morning Report. It also provides players with the graphed price history of major commodities, captured from the in-game tools. The sponsors of the EVE Morning Report are other players whose various services are mentioned each day in exchange for their patronage. Although Utemetsu's program has only been running for a few days, EVE Morning Report is already expanding to include interviews with New Eden's marketeers. Individual EVE players, corporations, or alliances interested in sponsoring EVE Morning Report can contact Erik (Utemetsu) via email or let him know in the program's thread on the official EVE forums.

MassivelyEVE Morning Report provides news-style daily snapshot of game's economy originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gameseconomyerik-mummeveeve-morning-reporteve-onlineinterstellar-kreditisknew-edenpodcastssci-fiutemetsuvirtual-currencyvirtual-economyMon, 23 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Trading: Advanced trading, part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/22/eve-evolved-trading-advanced-trading-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/22/eve-evolved-trading-advanced-trading-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/22/eve-evolved-trading-advanced-trading-part-2/#commentsContinue reading EVE Evolved: Trading: Advanced trading, part 2

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Trading: Advanced trading, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buyingccpccp-gamescontractsDominioneveeve-evolvedeve-onlineexpansionfeaturedguidehaulingiskmanipulationmarginmarketprofessionsprofitpvepvpsellingspeculationtipstips-and-trickstradingSun, 22 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Trading: Advanced trading]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/22/eve-evolved-trading-advanced-trading/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/22/eve-evolved-trading-advanced-trading/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/22/eve-evolved-trading-advanced-trading/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In the first part of this guide I covered the basics of trading in EVE Online and some of the jobs best suited to newer players. There's a lot more to trading than buying low and selling high and in this week's installment, I'll cover some of the more advanced trading and marketeering tactics that have proven themselves effective in EVE. From margin trading on the market to making a living off the contracts page, anyone with enough dedication can learn to rake in hundreds of millions of ISK per day without even leaving the station. For the gamblers and risk-takers among you, market speculation and price manipulation can produce incredible short-term profit but with significant risks attached.

In this second part of my concise guide on trading, I look at margin trading on the market, playing the contract pages, market speculation around patches and the dirty art of market manipulation.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Trading: Advanced trading

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Trading: Advanced trading originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buyingccpccp-gamescontractsDominioneveeve-evolvedeve-onlineexpansionfeaturedguidehaulingiskmanipulationmarginmarketprofessionsprofitpvepvpsellingspeculationtipstips-and-trickstradingSun, 22 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST