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[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[Darkfall slices away at 'initial unforgiving experience' with 2.0]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/darkfall-slices-away-at-initial-unforgiving-experience-with-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/darkfall-slices-away-at-initial-unforgiving-experience-with-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/darkfall-slices-away-at-initial-unforgiving-experience-with-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Darkfall
"In the current version of the game, we've had many occasions where the steep learning curve and initial unforgiving experience, unnecessarily kept people out of the game," Aventurine's Tasos Flambouras comments on the latest Darkfall 2.0 post.

This week's post illuminates three major systems on which the team is working to make Agon a more approachable world. With Darkfall 2.0, new players will start out in a safe training zone that is designed to teach the fundamentals of the game without the risk of imminent ganking. Plus, the devs promise "a nice adventure with an epic ending" to boot.

The other two systems are coming up with a way to protect mount theft and to encourage the player economy. Mounts in 2.0 will remember their owners for a time, and any thief will have to contend with being branded a criminal and coming under fire by guard NPCs. Finally, new markets will appear in all major cities and allow players to buy, sell, and place orders for others to fill. There is one catch to shopping, however: If you buy an item from another city's market, you have to either travel there personally to get it or pay a surcharge for delivery.

MassivelyDarkfall slices away at 'initial unforgiving experience' with 2.0 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.0aventurinedarkfalldarkfall-2.0dev-blogdev-diaryeconomymarketmarket-systemmount-protectionmount-theftnew-player-experienceTasos-Flambourasupdateupdate-postFri, 24 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: New tools for the community]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/12/eve-evolved-new-tools-for-the-community/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/12/eve-evolved-new-tools-for-the-community/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/12/eve-evolved-new-tools-for-the-community/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
Earlier this week, CCP Games released a much-needed complete overhaul of the official EVE Online website. Having been in operation for nine long years, the old website had become a mismatch of marketing information aimed at new players and tools for the existing player community. The overhaul split the page into two awesome websites, with a new community site to cater to existing players and an impressive new main page to attract future players.

The main page uses HTML 5 to deliver incredible interactive views of the EVE Online galaxy and dozens of in-game ships right there on the website. The community website houses all of the news, devblogs, knowledgebase articles, fictional chronicles, and support tools that existing players use, but with a much neater layout than the old website. In web developer CCP Alice's recent In Development video, she revealed that the team would be working on new community tools following the launch of the new websites. With the community site completely de-cluttered, there's now room to incorporate a lot of the tools players want or currently use, opening up some interesting possibilities.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I discuss the new EVE Online website and community portal and speculate on awesome new community tools we might possibly see in the future.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: New tools for the community

MassivelyEVE Evolved: New tools for the community originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamescorpcorporationdotlanefteveeve-evolvedeve-fitting-tooleve-onlineevemonfeaturedforumforumsgame-designguildguild-forumshtml5icscincarnamapmarketmarketingopinionsandboxsci-fitoolswebsiteSun, 12 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aventurine 'sprinting' toward Darkfall 2.0]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/27/adventurine-sprinting-toward-darkfall-2-0/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/27/adventurine-sprinting-toward-darkfall-2-0/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/27/adventurine-sprinting-toward-darkfall-2-0/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Darkfall
As Darkfall "sprints" down the road toward its second incarnation, bloodthirsty PvPers are looking to Aventurine for more information about how their favorite game world is being remolded. Tasos Flambouras came forth today with word that not only is the project still powering forward, but the development team is growing as new hires are brought on to assist in the efforts.

Flambouras uses the post as a progress report and To Do list all in one. Perhaps the most exciting teases that he mentions are new methods of progression in the game. "These are significant and exciting changes to the way the game is played because they add more purpose to player freedom," he writes.

Currently the art team is adding and revamping many of the game's objects and animations, while the world builders are hammering away at Mahirim. As part of Darkfall 2.0, introductory dungeons will be integrated into the game to help newbies get a foothold in the cutthroat MMO.

The team is also experimenting with "alternatives" to player respawn time after deaths, as well as a brand-new market system and improved trading experience.

MassivelyAventurine 'sprinting' toward Darkfall 2.0 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.0adventurinedarkfalldarkfall-2.0dev-blogdev-diarydev-postmarketmarket-systempreviewprogression-pathsrespawnrevamptasosTasos-FlambourastradingFri, 27 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Analyst claims that Star Wars: The Old Republic points to a healthy MMO market]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/analyst-claims-that-star-wars-the-old-republic-points-to-a-heal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/analyst-claims-that-star-wars-the-old-republic-points-to-a-heal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/analyst-claims-that-star-wars-the-old-republic-points-to-a-heal/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's healing lightning. Or something.
The gaming industry is pretty morbid when you get right down to it. 2011 has seen several people predicting the death of the MMO market and the death of subscription games, often times in the same sentence. But according to analyst Colin Sebastian, the launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic makes it clear that these reports of death have been greatly exaggerated. As Sebastian puts it, the unprecedented growth of SWTOR's player figures indicates that the market still possesses a demand for new games and still responds favorably.

Sebastian goes on to predict that the game will likely move around three million units by March 2012, the end of the fiscal year, although he believes that staying power is a bit more questionable. He believes that predictions of up to two million paying users by the end of 2012 might be overly optimistic. That having been said, the game has certainly come out of the gate with real strength; it only remains to be seen if it can maintain that.

MassivelyAnalyst claims that Star Wars: The Old Republic points to a healthy MMO market originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analystanalystsbiowarebioware-mmobioware-mmorpgbioware-star-warsbioware-swtorcolin-sebastianeaelectronic-artsfinancialgame-industryindustryindustry-opinionslaunchlucas-artslucas-arts-mmolucas-arts-mmorpgmarketmmo-industrystar-wars-gamestar-wars-mmostar-wars-mmorpgstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torstarwarsstarwars-the-old-republicsw-torswtorthe-old-republicTue, 27 Dec 2011 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you buy from a vendor?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/the-daily-grind-do-you-buy-from-a-vendor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/the-daily-grind-do-you-buy-from-a-vendor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/the-daily-grind-do-you-buy-from-a-vendor/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Fallen Earth food merchant
In your average, run-of-the-mill themepark MMO, you'll encounter waves of NPC merchants tucked away in their own little market districts, offering everything from consumable potions to crafting materials to weapons, armor, and more. But often times, what they have to sell is nothing compared to the rewards you get from quest-givers.

With the exception of a few necessary crafting components, I think it's safe to say that NPC vendors can be ignored, as long as you complete the area's quests successfully, which brings it down to a question of playstyle. You can ignore the quests, not craft a thing, and buy everything from a vendor... if you can somehow raise the money without doing quests. That's up to you.

So our question for you on this Black Friday is this: Do you buy your wardrobe and arsenal from the NPC merchants, or if given the chance, would you rather make the items yourself, buy from other players, or earn your keep through quests?

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: Do you buy from a vendor? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>economymarketmerchantsnpcopinionquest-giversqueststdgthe-daily-grindvendorsFri, 25 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wizard101 voyaging to China]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/wizard101-voyaging-to-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/wizard101-voyaging-to-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/wizard101-voyaging-to-china/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Wizard 101 beach
Never underestimate the power of magic or kids accessing their parents' wallets. That's what we've learned from KingsIsle over the past few years, as its Wizard101 has grown into a powerhouse slugger that knocks down barriers of all types: age, social groups, and most importantly for the accounting department, world regions.

Today we've learned that KingsIsle has struck a deal with Taomee Holdings Limited to bring Wizard101 to China, and in so doing greatly expand the game's market. Taomee specializes in online gaming that's angled for children, so this seems like a perfect match. Chinese players should see a localized version of Wizard101 sometime next year.

KingsIsle also says that Wizard101's website netted over 13 million unique visitors during the month of July, a strong indication of just how big this game has grown.

MassivelyWizard101 voyaging to China originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>13-millionasiabarrierschinachinesechinese-playersexpandexpandingf2pfree-to-playkingsislekingsisle-entertainmentlocalizationmarketorientregional-marketstaomeeTaomee-Holdings-Limitedwizard101Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: How gold farming really hurts the economy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/enter-at-your-own-rift-how-gold-farming-really-hurts-the-econom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/enter-at-your-own-rift-how-gold-farming-really-hurts-the-econom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/enter-at-your-own-rift-how-gold-farming-really-hurts-the-econom/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

RIFT: Sanctum under threat
Recently, Trion Worlds CCO and RIFT Executive Producer Scott Hartsman talked to Gamasutra about how gold farming is a much bigger threat than we assume, particularly because of the large amount of credit card fraud. Those who played RIFT at launch probably recall the large wave of hacked accounts early on. According to Hartsman, the hacking attempts were so quick and so intense that the game could have been "denial-of-serviced off the internet" when it launched.

As I was browsing the Auctioneer the other day, I was reminded of Scott's statement because gold farming has sucked a lot of the fun out of in-game economies in virtual worlds. Markets early on were lively, unpredictable, exciting, and full of freedom but very vulnerable because of the growing illegal trade of in-game currency for real money. In an effort to combat the rising real-life value of gold, games like RIFT have moved away from gold toward a system of non-tradeable tokens. But while these tokens have helped to curb the value of gold and reduce the demand for third-party RMTs, they've also removed a lot of the freedom from players. After the cut, we'll take a closer look at how exactly that's happened and why it hurts the economy.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: How gold farming really hurts the economy

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: How gold farming really hurts the economy originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>currencycurrency-tradingenter-at-your-own-riftfeaturedfree-marketgoldgold-farmingmarketplaquesreal-money-tradingriftrmtRMTsscott-hartsmanthird-party-tradingtriontrion-worldsWed, 10 Aug 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Mask: Being resourceful with resources]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/behind-the-mask-being-resourceful-with-resources/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/behind-the-mask-being-resourceful-with-resources/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/behind-the-mask-being-resourceful-with-resources/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Most of the time, we look at MMORPGs and talk about features, gameplay, community, content, and other things like that. We rarely look at an MMO's economy unless we're actually hardcore players, and almost invariably players think the economy is messed up in one way or the other.

Champions Online is really no different. People complain about overinflated auction house prices all the time, about how transaction fees and auction limits ruin the economy, and how the value of certain super-rare items has plummeted.

Overall, I'm very happy with CO's economy. Even though the AH interface is horribly broken (and I'm sure the devs are aware), many people use the AH and most goods are available for sale (even the elusive buttcape). Because the cash-shop items can be traded and sold, there's a certain strangeness in the market, but this is largely a good thing.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: Being resourceful with resources

MassivelyBehind the Mask: Being resourceful with resources originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auctionauction-housebehind-the-maskbuttcapec-storechampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosdemonflameeconomyf2pfeaturedfree-to-playglobal-is-a-stupid-name-for-a-currencyglobal-resourcesgold-making-guidemarketmarket-pvpmicrotransactionsserpent-lanternsl-blues-are-too-goodThu, 07 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Perpetuum reels from robot insurance fraud]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/perpetuum-reels-from-robot-insurance-fraud/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/perpetuum-reels-from-robot-insurance-fraud/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/perpetuum-reels-from-robot-insurance-fraud/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In an MMO so dependent on its economy, it's crucial to keep a tight rein on the flow of money so that the whole mechanism doesn't spin out of control. Unfortunately, it appears this started to happen in the relatively new Perpetuum when a number of profiteers began to unbalance the economy by manipulating the market on insured robots.

According to a Perpetuum dev blog, the fraud came about when players figured out how to game the insurance system. The game's robots are insured not according to a fixed amount, but in relation to the global market average. Developer "Zoom" explains what happened next: "Due to some additional flaws in the mechanism, with good skills and good facilities it became very profitable to manufacture robots with the sole purpose of insuring them and blowing them up as soon as they roll out of the factory."

While the dev team initially sanctioned the action as part of a free market economy, this post represents a changed stance toward such practices. Players have written to Massively telling of how their wallets were sucked completely dry by the company after months of what they assumed to be legitimate market techniques.

The team retrieved over a billion NIC (Perpetuum's currency) from players and called out a number of corporations involved in these actions. Ultimately, the team elected not to ban any of the associated parties for the time being. Instead, all players should be seeing a modified version of this insurance feature within the week.

[Thanks for all the tips sent in on this one!]

MassivelyPerpetuum reels from robot insurance fraud originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-blogdev-frauddev-zoomeconomyexploitfraudglobal-market-averagehaxinsurance-fraudmarketmarket-averagenicperpetuumperpetuum-dev-blogperpetuum-onlinerobot-insurance-fraudrobot-mathscamzoomMon, 14 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Does EVE make players better at other MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/12/eve-evolved-does-eve-make-players-better-at-other-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/12/eve-evolved-does-eve-make-players-better-at-other-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/12/eve-evolved-does-eve-make-players-better-at-other-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Every now and then on the EVE Online forums, someone will make a post about World of Warcraft. Sometimes a player will ask why CCP doesn't adopt an idea or two from the industry giant, or sometimes he'll just announce that he's quitting as soon as the next WoW expansion comes out. Recently, I saw a rather inflammatory statement in one of these threads that made me think. Someone wrote that "When a player quits EVE and goes to WoW, the average IQ in both games increases," implying that only stupid people quit EVE and that even the stupidest EVE player is smarter than the average WoW player.

It's an absurd and really quite offensive statement to make, but the above quote did get me thinking about whether playing EVE actually helps players to be more effective in other MMOs. Having gone from EVE's harsh world to more forgiving lands, I've definitely found that my experiences in New Eden have taught me to play MMOs more effectively. From the situational awareness that EVE's PvP forces on players to the organisation required for co-operative ventures and the complex trading experience EVE provides, there are definitely lessons to be learned that can apply to other MMOs.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at a few of the ways playing EVE can make someone more effective in other MMOs.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Does EVE make players better at other MMOs?

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Does EVE make players better at other MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gamescorpcorporationeveeve-ccpEVE-Evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedmarketopinionorganisationpvpraidstradetradingWorld-of-WarcraftwowSun, 12 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Gil rules everything around me]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/the-mog-log-gil-rules-everything-around-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/the-mog-log-gil-rules-everything-around-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/the-mog-log-gil-rules-everything-around-me/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

My original plan for this week was to step back into the experiment with soloing that I started in Final Fantasy XI what feels like an eternity ago, but the recent updates about Final Fantasy XIV's market system prompted a comment that interested me. A reader noted that the auction block in Final Fantasy XI was partly responsible for the enormous gilselling issue that's plagued the game more or less since its release stateside, with the theory going that the market wards and so forth in Final Fantasy XIV were a specific response to this.

It seems fitting, in light of all of the gilselling issues that we've gone through in Vana'diel, to take a look at the sordid history of the currency in the game and at how likely it is to translate to the new kid on the block. I don't think the problem lies so much with the sellers as with the environment that Square-Enix unintentionally created, as well as with the perfect storm of circumstances that devalued the currency of the game to near-worthlessness with no alternatives. That's right -- it's time to look back six years or so to the launch of the game in the U.S.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Gil rules everything around me

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Gil rules everything around me originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>economicseconomyfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivgilsellergoldsellerhistorylaunchmarketmarket-wardsopinionplayer-driven-economyplaystation-2playstation-3ps2ps3rmtsquaresquare-enixstaggered-launchSat, 02 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Insurance evolved]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/25/eve-evolved-insurance-evolved/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/25/eve-evolved-insurance-evolved/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/25/eve-evolved-insurance-evolved/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


The EVE Evolved column hits its second anniversary in two days on April 27th. To celebrate, last week I gave readers the chance to win an expensive faction battleship of their choice worth around 500 million ISK. You submitted a horde of great ideas for future column posts, which I whittled down to a final list of 49 fantastic ideas that would really suit the column. It was really tough to find one topic amongst them all that I liked best and wanted to write up first. Congratulations go to Massively reader Nanoko for making my personal favourite suggestion. In addition to winning a faction battleship, Nanoko's winning idea forms the basis for this week's anniversary edition of the column on the upcoming insurance changes and the impact they'll have on EVE. Special mention goes to Massively reader Aimlis who came up with a similar idea. It was unfortunately a little too close to Nanoko's suggestion, which came first. Nanoko has been contacted to arrange receipt of the prize!

At the end of March, CCP announced that the Tyrannis expansion would include a wave of changes to ship insurance. Currently, players receive insurance payouts for losing a ship based on the value of the minerals that went into its construction. The mineral values used in this calculation are as old as EVE Online itself and over the years have slowly dropped out of step with market prices. As a result, Tech 1 ships are almost free to lose under the current insurance scheme while Tech 2 and 3 losses are barely compensated for at all. Once Tyrannis hits, CCP will periodically adjust the mineral prices used in insurance calculations based on a weighted average of market prices across EVE. This has huge implications for PvP, the composition of fleets and the mineral market.

In this speculative opinion piece, I examine the effect the insurance changes could have on everything from ships used in PvP to the mineral market.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Insurance evolved

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Insurance evolved originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Apr 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gamesdr-eyjogdr-eyjolfur-gudmundssoneconomyeveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedfleetfleetsganginsurancemarketmineralsopinionpvpshipshipsSun, 25 Apr 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online ship insurance changes to come with Tyrannis]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/30/eve-online-ship-insurance-changes-to-come-with-tyrannis/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/30/eve-online-ship-insurance-changes-to-come-with-tyrannis/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/30/eve-online-ship-insurance-changes-to-come-with-tyrannis/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

EVE Online's insurance system has been a hot topic of debate over the years. Under the current system, ships have a fixed base value calculated according to the minerals used in their production. Platinum insurance costs 30% of this base value for three months worth of coverage and if the ship is destroyed in that time, 100% of the base value in ISK is deposited into your wallet. It's a safety net designed to lower the cost of losing ships and promote PvP. The main drawback of the system is that the values it uses for minerals are fixed and haven't changed since EVE came out in 2003. The prices of the various minerals that go into a ship have changed drastically over the years but insurance costs and payouts have remained constant.

Skip past the cut for a breakdown of the problems with the current insurance system and details of CCP's new plans.

Continue reading EVE Online ship insurance changes to come with Tyrannis

MassivelyEVE Online ship insurance changes to come with Tyrannis originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gamesdeathdeath-penaltydev-blogdevblogeconomyeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineexpansionfeaturedgame-mechanicsgankinsurancemarketmineralmineralspvpsuicidetyrannisTue, 30 Mar 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: When social and market values collide, part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/17/eve-evolved-when-social-and-market-values-collide-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/17/eve-evolved-when-social-and-market-values-collide-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/17/eve-evolved-when-social-and-market-values-collide-part-2/#commentsContinue reading EVE Evolved: When social and market values collide, part 2

MassivelyEVE Evolved: When social and market values collide, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gameseveeve-evolvedeve-onlinemarketrelationshipssocialsocial-networkingSocialNetworkingteamworkSun, 17 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: When social and market values collide]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/17/eve-evolved-when-social-and-market-values-collide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/17/eve-evolved-when-social-and-market-values-collide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/17/eve-evolved-when-social-and-market-values-collide/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Research into the social sciences suggests that people interact with each other in two separate modes. One mode is governed by primarily social influences and the other by basic market forces. Which one we choose in any given interaction has a profound impact on the way we interact with each other. Perhaps nowhere in the gaming world are these forces played out as strongly as in EVE Online, with its lack of economic regulation and tight-knit social structures. EVE players routinely form social relationships with other pilots, their corporation leaders and corpmates. On the flip-side, we interact with hundreds of players we don't know using more selfish market-driven rules as we trade, haggle over prices or even just buy something from the market. But how do these two types of player-to-player interaction coexist in the same universe and what problems can arise when they collide?

In this complex and in-depth article, I examine the relationships we form with other players, why they're important and what can happen when we inadvertently cross the line from an implied social contract to a market-based business one.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: When social and market values collide

MassivelyEVE Evolved: When social and market values collide originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gameseveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturedmarketrelationshipssocialsocial-networkingSocialNetworkingteamworkSun, 17 Jan 2010 18:00:00 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 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<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Trading: The basics, page 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/15/eve-evolved-trading-the-basics-page-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/15/eve-evolved-trading-the-basics-page-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/15/eve-evolved-trading-the-basics-page-2/#commentsContinue reading EVE Evolved: Trading: The basics, page 2

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Trading: The basics, page 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buyingccpccp-gamescontractscouriereveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturedguidehaulingiskmarketprofessionsprofitpverefiningsellingtipstips-and-trickstradingSun, 15 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Trading: The basics]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/15/eve-evolved-trading-the-basics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/15/eve-evolved-trading-the-basics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/15/eve-evolved-trading-the-basics/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Of all the moneymaking endeavours you can take in EVE Online, trading is perhaps the one with the highest potential for profit. While mission-running profit tops out at a few tens of millions per hour and the profit margin from production isn't that big, trading is limited only by the amount of effort you're willing to put in and is much improved by inherent business talent. At the low end of the trading spectrum, beginners can make a healthy income ferrying items from A to B. At the other extreme, a market-savvy individual can pull billions per week out of the players in EVE's great conglomerated marketplaces.

In this first guide in a short series on trading, I look at the different types of trading options available to newer EVE players.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Trading: The basics

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Trading: The basics originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buyingccpccp-gamescontractscouriereveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturedguidehaulingiskmarketprofessionsprofitpverefiningsellingtipstips-and-trickstradingSun, 15 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[US free-to-play MMO market oversaturated?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/12/us-free-to-play-mmo-market-oversaturated/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/12/us-free-to-play-mmo-market-oversaturated/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/12/us-free-to-play-mmo-market-oversaturated/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


With new free-to-play titles, like Earth Eternal, in development while other titles are being ported over from Asia to the US at a rapid-fire rate, the question of oversaturation is being spread amongst the lips of the industry. Are we looking at a market too filled with low-budget free to play titles?

The answer is yes, if you're speaking with Reality Gap's J. Mark Hood, co-founder of the company specializing in free-to-play MMOs. Thanks to a AAA game market mostly locked down by the immense budgets of Blizzard and EA, the small developers turn to the F2P market as a place to compete. However, the market is now crowded with all sorts of titles not only developed here, but also many titles ported from Asia.

The Asian titles, however, don't seem to strike the same chords here as they do in Asia. Our market is more focused on gameplay, while theirs can be focused on a number of other different options.

"Things that are more important here are actually how the game plays, getting yourself more advancement and skill," Hood said to Gamasutra. "So, it is really different."

For Hood's full comments, check out both his thoughts on free-to-play MMOs and the entire Gamasutra interview.

MassivelyUS free-to-play MMO market oversaturated? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaa-titlebudgetfree-to-playj-mark-hoodmarketportsreality-gapsaturationSat, 12 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: One account is good enough]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/30/eve-evolved-one-account-is-good-enough/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/30/eve-evolved-one-account-is-good-enough/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/30/eve-evolved-one-account-is-good-enough/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,


In a typical MMO, players will have one main character that they dedicate most of their time and effort to. They may also have alternate characters on the same account that they use to try out different classes or starting areas. EVE Online is different in that it's not really feasible to play multiple characters on the same account. While each EVE account has three character slots, only one can be actively training skills at one time. Taking a break to train up another character means losing training time on your main one. And since any character can learn any skill, it's often better to just train those skills on your main character rather than making a dedicated alt for it. Many players suggest getting a second account but is that really necessary? And what do you do with those two extra character shots on your account?

In this article, I look at some nifty things you can do with your main account's two extra character slots without paying for a second account.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: One account is good enough

MassivelyEVE Evolved: One account is good enough originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accountaltaltitisccpccp-gamescharactercynoeveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturedhaulerjoystiqfeaturesmarketopinionprobesuicideSun, 30 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: EVE's economic underworld]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/14/eve-evolved-eves-economic-underworld/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/14/eve-evolved-eves-economic-underworld/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/14/eve-evolved-eves-economic-underworld/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

EVE Online's in-game economy has been the subject of intense study over the years. The markets of EVE react very effectively to accomplish goals with the same economic laws that apply to many real-life marketplaces. The game's developers CCP even hired a professional economist to analyse the in-game economy, advise them on problem issues and deliver interesting quarterly reports. The driving force behind EVE's markets is often assumed to be basic supply and demand but this isn't always the most potent component. In the hyper-capitalistic universe of New Eden, all bets are off and the only rules are those players enforce themselves with an iron fist. Cartels, market manipulation and theft run rife in EVE, with far-reaching consequences.

In this succinct article, I examine the hidden forces pushing and pulling EVE's markets and show that EVE's economic sandbox comes complete with quicksand and land mines.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: EVE's economic underworld

MassivelyEVE Evolved: EVE's economic underworld originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 14 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When many of us think about MMOs, we think about companies who rake more money than we could dream about. Enough money to put together a scale model of Paris made out of 20 dollar bills.

Yet the truth is that many of these companies are operating in loss, as a recent article published in the Beijing Times has shown. Over 70% of Chinese online game companies are spending more than they are earning, while only a few notable names, like The9, the operators of World of Warcraft in China, stand to even make a profit.

Many games spend more in development and marketing costs than they stand to make in monthly subscriptions, leading to these problems occurring in many companies in the market. Analysts say that for every 10 online games made, only one stands to be a profitable venture.

For the full report on this, check out the article over at TradingMarkets.com.

MassivelyChinese online game market operating in loss originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beijingbeijing-timeschinadevelopmentdevelopment-costseconomygame-companieslossmarketmoneyonline-gamesprofitthe9world-of-warcraftFri, 13 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively interviews EVE Online Lead Economist Dr. EyjoG]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/19/massively-interviews-eve-online-lead-economist-dr-eyjog/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/19/massively-interviews-eve-online-lead-economist-dr-eyjog/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/19/massively-interviews-eve-online-lead-economist-dr-eyjog/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The sci-fi game EVE Online is unique amongst the other massively multiplayer online titles on the market. One major aspect of the game is that its far future setting of New Eden functions as one server, where players can build up empires -- or topple those of their rivals -- across more than 5000 solar systems. Beyond its scale, what distinguishes EVE Online from other games is that it has a player-driven virtual economy, the backbone of the game. EVE's economy has been a major draw for players interested in market and crafting sophistication generally unseen in an online game.

EVE's creators, CCP Games, have fostered a setting where players can do what they want in the 'sandbox', a setting where the tools are in place for players to use as they see fit. Nearly every ship, module, and item used by a player in the game was produced by another player in New Eden at some point. Fight for military dominance and control vast regions of space, or corner the market as part of an industrial conglomerate -- it's all possible in EVE. In fact, the game's warfare and industry are very much intertwined, making EVE's virtual economy a dynamic one. Monitoring and researching this economy is important to CCP Games, and to further that goal, they've hired real world economist Dr. Eyjólfur Guðmundsson (aka CCP EyjoG).

Massively recently caught up with Dr. EyjoG, who told us about his rather unique position at CCP Games, and what he's learned about virtual economies along the way.

Continue reading Massively interviews EVE Online Lead Economist Dr. EyjoG

MassivelyMassively interviews EVE Online Lead Economist Dr. EyjoG originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banksccpccp-gamescouncil-of-stellar-managementcraftingcsmdr-eyjogdynasty-bankingeconomic-theoryeconomicseconomyeveeve-onlineeyjolfur-gudmundssonfeaturedicelandinstitutionsiposjoystiqfeaturesmarketmassively-interviewsnew-edenplayer-run-venturesreykjaviksci-fivirtual-economicsvirtual-economyThu, 19 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[An update on the EVE Online starbase exploit]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/14/an-update-on-the-eve-online-starbase-exploit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/14/an-update-on-the-eve-online-starbase-exploit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/14/an-update-on-the-eve-online-starbase-exploit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In the wake of last week's revelation of a market disrupting exploit in EVE Online, a growing number of players have been calling for increased transparency on the situation. EVE's developer CCP Games has stated they've discovered seven player-run corporations taking advantage of the player owned station (POS) exploit, which yielded a vast amount of materials used in the EVE Online's manufacturing (crafting) system. Three of those corporations were in two alliances, and over 70 accounts have been banned thus far in connection with the exploit. The starbases used in the exploit have been destroyed by CCP, and they've stated that the corporations in question are now effectively inactive following the bans.

CCP Games has not released the names of characters, corporations, or alliances linked to the exploit, but a player named "moppinator" of the AMT. corporation (part of Ev0ke alliance) stepped forward and issued the following statement on the extent of his alliance's involvement:

Continue reading An update on the EVE Online starbase exploit

MassivelyAn update on the EVE Online starbase exploit originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 14 Dec 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amtbanbanningbansccpccp-gamescheatingcontroversycraftingeconomyev0keeveeve-onlineevokeexploitsinvestigationmarketmoppinatorplayer-owned-stationpossci-fistarbaseSun, 14 Dec 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WoW Enchanting mats are selling high, opportunists -- to the auction house!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/24/wow-enchanting-mats-are-selling-high-opportunists-to-the-auc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/24/wow-enchanting-mats-are-selling-high-opportunists-to-the-auc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/24/wow-enchanting-mats-are-selling-high-opportunists-to-the-auc/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Virtual economies are a fascination for us, and EVE Online isn't the only game with people who spend much of their time playing the markets, of course -- World of Warcraft is rife with opportunities for rampant capitalism. Case in point: gold-making advice blog The WoW Economist reports that some materials used by the Enchanting profession are selling for outrageously high prices at the auction house post-Wrath of the Lich King launch -- an excellent time for money-minded players to cash in.

Writer John Murphy points out that Infinite Dust and Greater Cosmic Essences are selling for 150g and 250g per stack, respectively, and that he made 2,300g in one Sunday afternoon taking advantage of the situation. The recommendation: disenchant, sell now! Level up Enchanting later! There are always these oddly destabilizing surges after expansions in these games, so it's good to know how to exploit them to the max. Go forth and become filthy rich, guys and gals!

MassivelyWoW Enchanting mats are selling high, opportunists -- to the auction house! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ahauction-houseblizzardcraftingeconomisteconomyenchantingmarketprofessionstrade-skillsworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrathwrath-of-the-lich-kingMon, 24 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Establishing trust in EVE's player-run financial institutions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/07/establishing-trust-in-eves-player-run-financial-institutions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/07/establishing-trust-in-eves-player-run-financial-institutions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/07/establishing-trust-in-eves-player-run-financial-institutions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The player-driven economy of EVE Online is very much a playground for those interested in being financiers, traders, or whatever variant of corporate tycoon their greedy little hearts desire in the virtual space. EVE is a far cry from most MMOs in that its market isn't manned by NPC vendors, it's almost entirely player driven and remains dynamic due to the fact that EVE is a single-world game, where all player interactions can conceivably affect the game's economy. For some players, EVE's economics is where they immerse themselves. Indeed, in some cases it's even where they PvP with their rivals in price wars and market manipulations. To them, the market is where they live and breathe, just as much as lowsec is the ideal environment for many pirates, and lawless 0.0 space is where players interested in large-scale alliance warfare feel at home.

While EVE doesn't officially support a stock market or banking institutions, the sandbox approach CCP Games took to the game has allowed players to establish their own financial ventures in-game. However, without safeguards put in place by CCP Games, and with New Eden being a place where players can act as they wish, there's always the risk of embezzlement in any large-scale, player-driven financial institution. While it doesn't happen as often as most assume, there have been incidents like the EVE Intergalactic Bank (EIB) scam that have eroded investor confidence in such ventures. Fortunately, not all players are daunted by this, both in terms of those with a vision to establish a financial venture and the investors they rely upon. One such visionary in New Eden is "Ricdic", Founder and Managing Director of EBANK.

Continue reading Establishing trust in EVE's player-run financial institutions

MassivelyEstablishing trust in EVE's player-run financial institutions originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamescraftingebankeconomicseconomyembezzlementeveeve-mageve-onlinefinancegame-mechanicsinterviewsinvestor-confidenceiskjacob-meimarketmmo-industrynew-edenricdicsci-fitrustFri, 07 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mercs and their role in EVE's industrial warfare]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/30/mercs-and-their-role-in-eves-industrial-warfare/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/30/mercs-and-their-role-in-eves-industrial-warfare/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/30/mercs-and-their-role-in-eves-industrial-warfare/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


Much of what's written about EVE Online focuses on the darker aspects of the game. It's not surprising, as those topics are often the ones most interesting to players and non-players alike, but EVE has a very deep industrial side to it as well. It's a side that gets much less fanfare; R&D (invention), manufacturing, trading, and investment are all possible within the game and occur in tandem with EVE's more violent pursuits. Most every ship, after all, has been manufactured and sold (or re-sold) by another player. Those who engage in EVE's industry on a serious level often come into conflict with rival corporations and alliances in wars played out on the market, which sometimes spill into formal war declarations and combat. But if you're not interested in or inept at PvP, what are EVE's industrialists to do?

While an industrialist may not be well-versed in the art of war, he or she can play to their own strength: financial influence. EVE has a number of merc corps who are willing to solve problems, be it through armed escorts in hostile space or simply obliterating your opposition... assuming you can meet their price. Benilopax, of Warp Drive Active: Industry podcast fame and an E-ON contributor, relates his experience with contracting mercenaries to solve such problems, in what he refers to as 'the dark side of industrialism'. "There is a growing use of mercenaries by industrial entities to either take out the competition or keep them from easily making a profit," Benilopax writes for EVE Tribune. If you're interested in knowing a bit more about this side of the game, start with Benilopax's article (and A-Team reference) to see what it's like to deal with mercenaries in EVE Online.

MassivelyMercs and their role in EVE's industrial warfare originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-teamalliancesbenilopaxccpccp-gamescorporationse-oneveeve-onlineeve-tribunefinanceindustrial-warfareindustrialistindustrymarketmarket-pvpmarket-warfaremercmercenaryprofitresearch-and-developmentthe-a-teamwarwardecwarp-drive-activewdawda-industryThu, 30 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Quarterly Economic Newsletter for EVE Online released]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/quarterly-economic-newsletter-for-eve-online-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/quarterly-economic-newsletter-for-eve-online-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/quarterly-economic-newsletter-for-eve-online-released/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


EVE Online is unique among MMOs in that its economy is so complex and dynamic that CCP Games hired an economist, Dr. Eyjólfur Guðmundsson, to keep track of how the market evolves. One would imagine this is no easy task, with an overall trade value of all EVE markets ranging between 2 and 2.5 trillion isk per day. Lead Economist CCP Dr. EyjoG released a Quarterly Economic Newsletter (QEN) for EVE Online today, which is 18 pages full of data which should keep EVE's market and industry-oriented players happy (and hopefully make up for the delayed QEN, which Dr. EyjoG addresses in his announcement).

The Q1 2008 QEN kicks off with an editorial, and here are some brief highlights of what follows:
  • Demographics (number of accounts, most and least populated regions)
  • Price Level Changes (Mineral prices, Primary Producer Price Index, Secondary Producer Price Index, and Consumer Price Index)
  • Mining ship production and losses (with the venerable "Hulk" exhumer losses accounting for a staggering 6 trillion isk in destroyed property in Q1 2008)
  • Market Snapshots
  • Five years of EVE Market history
If you're interested in reading the Q1 2008 economic newsletter, you'll find the download link to the PDF in Dr. EyjoG's dev blog. A discussion of his findings is already underway on the EVE forums.

MassivelyQuarterly Economic Newsletter for EVE Online released originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-dr-eyjogccp-gamesdevdev-blogdr-eyjogeconomisteconomyeveeve-onlineeyjolfur-gudmundssonforumshulkindustryiskmarketmineralsminingnewsletterqenquarterly-economic-newslettertradetradingThu, 16 Oct 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A brief overview of EVE Online's trade and industry]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/a-brief-overview-of-eve-onlines-trade-and-industry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/a-brief-overview-of-eve-onlines-trade-and-industry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/a-brief-overview-of-eve-onlines-trade-and-industry/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Every time a player in EVE Online loses a ship in a fiery explosion, along with its modules and cargo, they turn to the market or look through contracts to replace what they've lost and stock up for the next time. EVE Online's sandbox and the inevitable PvP conflict that results when players can do what they choose in that sandbox provides economic opportunities for some. Combat burns up ships, and players heavily into the manufacturing side of the game are happy to supply the endless demand for new equipment, be it an unassuming frigate or a massive dreadnaught.

In EVE, items aren't supplied by NPCs, they're created by other players (or bought in quantity and resold at a markup by traders). Aside from certain items like skillbooks and blueprint originals, most of the items a player can possess in the game have been produced by other players. Thus, EVE's setting of New Eden has a true economy, providing a great amount of depth for those who are willing to learn its complexities.

Continue reading A brief overview of EVE Online's trade and industry

MassivelyA brief overview of EVE Online's trade and industry originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gameseurogamereveeve-onlinehighsecindustryjim-rossignolmarketnew-edenrock-paper-shotguntradetraderThu, 09 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A trader's mindset in EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/03/a-traders-mindset-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/03/a-traders-mindset-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/03/a-traders-mindset-in-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


In EVE Online, it's usually the harsher side of the game that gets the most attention and has the greatest allure. Piracy, large-scale alliance warfare, and in general the dark side of EVE are what most players find interesting. But still, there are many players who engage in non-violent gameplay and find it rewarding. While hardcore PvP-ers lambast them as carebears, some corporations and individuals have attained considerable wealth and influence in the game through their own form of PvP applied to finance -- market warfare.

Among the player-created corporations and alliances in EVE Online that are devoted to helping newer players attain their goals in an often complex system, EVE University and Agony Unleashed are the most prominent. However, there are other corporations in the game that help their members along the way, which are more focused in their pursuits. One such corporation is Trader's Academy, corp ticker: [TRACE], formed in 2005 and devoted to helping pilots maximize profits from trading, mining, and mission running.

Continue reading A trader's mindset in EVE Online

MassivelyA trader's mindset in EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agony-unleashedcarebearccpccp-gamescraftingeconomicseconomyeveeve-mageve-onlineeve-universityfinancemarketmarket-pvpminingmission-runningnon-violentprofessionsscion-starcastertradetradertraders-academytradingFri, 03 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: EVE Online's server model]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/28/eve-evolved-eve-onlines-server-model/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/28/eve-evolved-eve-onlines-server-model/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/28/eve-evolved-eve-onlines-server-model/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


Almost any time a discussion about EVE Online comes up, one way or another we end up talking about the server. EVE Online is unique among today's most popular MMOs for its single-server approach. While most MMOs deal with large number of users by starting up large numbers of separate servers with identical game universes, EVE maintains only a single copy of its game universe on a massive cluster of servers. CCP's decision to go with a server model that doesn't use any sharding or instancing whatsoever has had a major impact on in-game activities and how the game has developed.

Server woes:
Unfortunately for CCP, maintaining their vision of a single game universe has proven a lot more difficult and costly than anyone anticipated. Working with IBM, the EVE server cluster is maintained in London and is currently the largest supercomputer employed in the gaming industry. Even with this massive power behind the EVE universe, there are still problems as CCP tries to keep the server upgraded ahead of its ever-expanding playerbase.

In this article, I discuss the unique gameplay that is possible thanks to EVE's server model, the problems the server currently faces and what CCP is planning to do about it.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: EVE Online's server model

MassivelyEVE Evolved: EVE Online's server model originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 28 Sep 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpclustercrashdevdev-blogdevblogeconomyeveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturedinfinibandjoystiqfeatureslagmarketnodepvpserverterritorywarSun, 28 Sep 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft to push evolution of Korean-style MMOs through Aion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/06/ncsoft-to-push-evolution-of-korean-style-mmos-through-aion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/06/ncsoft-to-push-evolution-of-korean-style-mmos-through-aion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/06/ncsoft-to-push-evolution-of-korean-style-mmos-through-aion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


We love The Escapist over here at Massively. Take for instance Jared Rea's recent article, "Beautiful 21st Century" -- a piece about one company's attempt to overcome the stigma attached to most older Korean MMOs that make it to the western market: beautiful but grindy. Perhaps the most notable Korean title currently played in the west is NCsoft's Lineage II which, despite being a beautiful game, has drawn some flack from gamers about its steep grind (although this is becoming less of a problem).

NCsoft is working to change this perception of their forthcoming Korean-developed titles, particularly in light of their upcoming MMO Aion: The Tower of Eternity. Much of the problem that NCsoft faces is similar to what all companies, game or otherwise, face when taking their brand overseas -- being recognized as a global brand rather than seen in the limited light of their offerings in a given region of the world.

Continue reading NCsoft to push evolution of Korean-style MMOs through Aion

MassivelyNCsoft to push evolution of Korean-style MMOs through Aion originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionasiaasianclassescultureffxifinal-fantasy-xigame-mechanicsglobalgrindgrindyindustryjared-reakoreakoreanlineagelineage-2lineage-iilord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromarketmmo-industryncsoftnew-titlesopinionpvepvpthe-escapistworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 06 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Strategy Informer interviews CCP Games about the future of EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/strategy-informer-interviews-ccp-games-about-the-future-of-eve-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/strategy-informer-interviews-ccp-games-about-the-future-of-eve-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/strategy-informer-interviews-ccp-games-about-the-future-of-eve-o/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Gaming site Strategy Informer recently spoke with CCP Games about what the future may hold for EVE Online. The interview focused on two facets of the game: EVE's economy, and the fact that with other sci-fi MMO titles like Jumpgate Evolution on the way, EVE may face increased competition in the coming months and years.

CCP's Lead Economist, Dr. Eyjólfur Guðmundsson talked with Strategy Informer about the game's economic depth, which dwarfs other titles, despite having a subscriber base that's a fraction of what Blizzard enjoys. The interview touched on the possibilities of new trade hubs being established by players over time, the scarcity of certain technologies and their increasing prices, and how the market moves in general. However, the main aspects of the game he discussed were the player-run financial services that have sprung up in EVE, what the community has come up with on its own.

Continue reading Strategy Informer interviews CCP Games about the future of EVE Online

MassivelyStrategy Informer interviews CCP Games about the future of EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ambulationarend-stuhrmannccpccp-gamescraftingcultureeconomicseconomyeveeve-onlineeyjolfur-gudmundssongame-mechanicsinterviewsjumpgate-evolutionmarketnetdevilplayer-runsci-fistrategy-informerwalking-in-stationsWed, 03 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP Games economist speaks about EVE's pure capitalist market]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/ccp-games-economist-speaks-about-eves-pure-capitalist-market/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/ccp-games-economist-speaks-about-eves-pure-capitalist-market/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/ccp-games-economist-speaks-about-eves-pure-capitalist-market/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The player-driven economy of EVE Online is large and complex, mirroring some of the intricacies of real-world economics. As the player base and the collective scope of their activities in-game expanded, CCP Games sought out an economist to monitor and, if need be, regulate New Eden's economy. CCP's Lead Economist, Dr. Eyjólfur Guðmundsson, recently spoke at the Edinburgh International Festival about how who he is and what he does at CCP Games.

His talk in Edinburgh dealt with how EVE's economy has evolved from a system dependent upon NPCs, as is the case with most other MMOs, to "a pure capitalist market" driven by players. Much of the economy's evolution is predicated on CCP's single-server approach, where all players interact in the same space. Thus, commerce remains more dynamic and linked to large scale player activities, rather than being based off of a collection of NPC-seeded goods iterated across various duplicate shards. Check out Gamasutra's coverage of Dr. Eyjólfur Guðmundsson's talk during his session at the Edinburgh International Festival for the full scoop on the economics of EVE Online.

MassivelyCCP Games economist speaks about EVE's pure capitalist market originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capitalistccpccp-gamescraftingeconomyeveeve-onlinegamasutragame-mechanicsmarketWed, 27 Aug 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The good and the bad of EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/19/the-good-and-the-bad-of-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/19/the-good-and-the-bad-of-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/19/the-good-and-the-bad-of-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , ,


MMO blogger Ardwulf has been running a series of posts on what he views as the best MMOs on the market, recently covering EverQuest II and now EVE Online. His piece is a basic overview of EVE, but one that looks at the concepts behind the game, rather than how they're executed through game mechanics.To that end, Ardwulf views the title as something that captures the essence of 'space' -- cold, vast, and often hostile. Perhaps even intimidating. He notes that EVE's PvP isn't limited to breaching the hulls of your opponents in space. PvP is alive and well in terms of market warfare and propaganda, two avenues a character may take in their career that might not seem readily apparent.

Still, despite Ardwulf's praise for the unique aspects of the game, he also cites some of the negative aspects of the title: "There are no classes, no levels, no bosses, no avatars, no aggro, no pets, no text dumps telling you where to go next... someone coming in from a few years of WoW and nothing else has every right to be caught flatfooted." So while EVE Online certainly isn't a game for everyone, it does appeal to players seeking something different from the standard fantasy MMO fare which dominates the industry. If you're interested in reading more about the game from the perspective of someone who's acutely aware of the good as well as the bad in EVE Online, check out Ardwulf's piece on what he views as one of 'the best MMOs on the market.'

MassivelyThe good and the bad of EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ardwulfccpccp-gameseveeve-onlinefantasygame-mechanicsindustrymarketopinionpropagandapvpsci-fiSat, 19 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Freeform professions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/eve-evolved-freeform-professions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/eve-evolved-freeform-professions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/eve-evolved-freeform-professions/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


EVE Online is a game often lauded for its sandbox style open-ended gameplay. Some of the best parts of the game have been entirely developed by the players and this trend continues in the field of professions. At launch, CCP advertised the professions miner, trader, bounty hunter and pirate. Little did they know that players would add double-agent, stock broker, artist and many others to that list.

What makes a profession freeform?:
Put simply, a freeform profession is any job a person can fill that wasn't explicitly created by the game's developers. While mining and mission-running were deliberately created by CCP, there are plenty of professions that the players themselves came up with. In EVE's hyper-capitalistic world, everything and everyone has a price and if there's a demand for something, you can make a career out of it.

In my early days in EVE, I noticed a shortage of research labs in the game and decided to capitalise on it. I flew around the fringes of empire space renting all the available labs and then sold them on to players for a huge profit. Going from a run-of-the-mill miner to a self-made real estate agent made me realise that EVE was something really special.

Find out what innovative professions the players of EVE Online have come up with over the years.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Freeform professions

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Freeform professions originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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