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[Cryptic Studios issues security warning in response to database breach]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/cryptic-studios-issues-security-warning-in-response-to-database/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/cryptic-studios-issues-security-warning-in-response-to-database/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/cryptic-studios-issues-security-warning-in-response-to-database/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Cryptic
Cryptic Studios, purveyor of Champions Online, Star Trek Online, and the upcoming Neverwinter, has just posted an ominous security warning on its official site. Its new security procedures have recently detected that hackers gained unauthorized access to a user database back in December of 2010. According to the studio,
The unauthorized access included user account names, handles, and encrypted passwords for those accounts. Even though the passwords were encrypted, it is apparent that the intruder has been able to crack some portion of the passwords in this database. All accounts that we believe were present in the database have had the passwords reset, and customers registered to these accounts have been notified via e-mail of this incident.
While Cryptic does not believe additional information (like player names and credit card numbers) was taken, it advises vigilance all the same and warns against phishing scams. We'll keep you posted as we learn more.

(Thanks to Geoff for the tip!)

MassivelyCryptic Studios issues security warning in response to database breach originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>championschampions-onlinechampscocrypticcryptic-studiosdatabase-breachdatabase-intrusionemail-scamf2pfree-to-playperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentphishingpwescamsci-fisecuritystar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestosuperherosuperheroesWed, 25 Apr 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Five scams to avoid]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/04/eve-evolved-five-scams-to-avoid/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/04/eve-evolved-five-scams-to-avoid/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/04/eve-evolved-five-scams-to-avoid/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

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

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

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

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Five scams to avoid

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamescontractseconomicseconomyeveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturedguidemarketopinionsandboxscamscamssci-fiSun, 04 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Mask: Are grab bags a scam?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/behind-the-mask-are-grab-bags-a-scam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/behind-the-mask-are-grab-bags-a-scam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/behind-the-mask-are-grab-bags-a-scam/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Everyone's heard of the "gift box" phenomenon. It's a common theme in F2P MMOs to release an item that doesn't have guaranteed contents and instead has a random selection from a pool of items. Sometimes there are rare bonus items inside; other times there are things the buyer didn't really want. Champions Online has taken its second foray into this territory with the Service and Cursed Grab Bags, a pair of C-Store items that grant a chance at a variety of tradable goodies.

Gift box items sell to a variety of people. Some find the idea of chance more fun, and others absolutely must have the rare items and will spend lots of money trying to get them. Are the grab bags a scam, though? After the jump, we'll look at just why that is and hopefully give you enough information to come to your own conclusion.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: Are grab bags a scam?

MassivelyBehind the Mask: Are grab bags a scam? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-maskc-storecash-shopchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgift-boxgift-boxesgrab-bagluck-of-the-drawperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpwerandom-number-generatorscamThu, 01 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What MMO will never see the light of day?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/the-daily-grind-what-mmo-will-never-see-the-light-of-day/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/the-daily-grind-what-mmo-will-never-see-the-light-of-day/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/the-daily-grind-what-mmo-will-never-see-the-light-of-day/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

'DAWN' screenshot, except not really
MMO veterans probably remember DAWN, an "MMO" planned by Glitchless, which famously spawned the a company is at steak! meme before anyone called them memes. DAWN promised more features than any MMO had ever seen: permadeath, reproduction, player police and prisons, home construction, enforced roleplaying. You name it, Glitchless claimed it'd be in the game. And it would have likely been an amazing sandbox... if it hadn't been a scam meant to fool the gullible.

We've all come across games that scream vaporware, even if the developers aren't exactly in on the joke. Today, we want to know what MMO out there has you convinced it'll never actually launch, and why. Is it because of dodgy developers biting off more than they can chew? A skittish publisher with a track record for early cancellations? A naive or dated pricing scheme, graphics set, or understanding of the competition? Whatever the reason, tell us: What upcoming MMO will never see the light of day?

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: What MMO will never see the light of day? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-company-is-at-steakbrianna-royce-tdgdawnglitchlesssandboxscamtdgthe-daily-grindvaporwareThu, 29 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The MMO Report: What is this I don't even edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/the-mmo-report-what-is-this-i-dont-even-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/the-mmo-report-what-is-this-i-dont-even-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/the-mmo-report-what-is-this-i-dont-even-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Screencap -- The MMO Report
Welcome once again to Massively's coverage of The MMO report, where we get to imagine that this entire article is read by a 1930s radio announcer.

The first order of business today is the record-breaking scam perpetrated in EVE Online, followed by the energy and weapon ability changes in the most recent test build of Guild Wars 2. Then we've got The Old Republic's first show of endgame content in the form of the Eternity Vault being showcased at Gamescom. Meanwhile, The Secret World announces a release date, slating the game for April 2012 with beta signups beginning on August 26th. LEGO Universe's transition to a free-to-play model rounds out the selections before a trip into Uncle Casey's Mailbag for some schmemes and other goodness.

So jump on past the cut and check it out. Oh, and don't ask about the beginning. We don't know either.

Continue reading The MMO Report: What is this I don't even edition

MassivelyThe MMO Report: What is this I don't even edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eveeve-onlinegamescomgamescom-2011guild-wars-2gw2lego-universemmo-reportscamstar-wars-the-old-republicthe-mmo-reportthe-old-republicthe-secret-worldtortswvideovideosFri, 19 Aug 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Biggest EVE Online scam ever recorded nets over a trillion ISK]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/12/biggest-eve-online-scam-ever-recorded-nets-over-a-trillion-isk/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/12/biggest-eve-online-scam-ever-recorded-nets-over-a-trillion-isk/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/12/biggest-eve-online-scam-ever-recorded-nets-over-a-trillion-isk/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

EVE title image
Of all the stories that come out of EVE Online's colossal sandbox, it's the tales of criminality and dirty dealings that grab our attention the most. Thefts and scams would be cause for account closure in most MMOs, but they form a legitimate and dark part of the EVE universe. The famous Guiding Hand Social Club heist of 2005, Ricdic's EBank scandal and last year's massive 800 billion ISK Titans4U scam are just a few of the most high-profile thefts and scams to hit the EVE community over the years.

Today the biggest scam ever recorded hit thousands of EVE Online players like a brick in the face, netting a record one trillion ISK in final takings. Proving that old ideas still work, Eddie Lampert and Mordor Exuel pulled off a simple Ponzi scheme on a massive scale. Promising unprecedented returns of 5% per week on invested ISK, the duo convinced over 4,000 players to open accounts in their Phaser Inc. investment scheme. Many initially dubious players were eventually convinced to invest by real testimonials from their friends and corpmates.

Over 1,831.67 billion ISK was invested, 345.18 billion of which was paid out as interest and 452.72 billion of which was withdrawn by wary investors. When the business closed up earlier today its owners collected the remaining 1,034 billion ISK. To put that massive number in perspective, it's enough to buy 2,953 30-day time codes worth a total of $51,677.50.

MassivelyBiggest EVE Online scam ever recorded nets over a trillion ISK originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingccpccp-eveccp-gamesEddie-Lamperteveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineMordor-Exuelphaser-incponziscamtheftFri, 12 Aug 2011 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Learning to let go]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/17/eve-evolved-learning-to-let-go/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/17/eve-evolved-learning-to-let-go/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/17/eve-evolved-learning-to-let-go/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Bombarded by the epic stories emerging from EVE Online's colossal social sandbox, thousands of MMO addicts per month give in to temptation and pick up a free trial. Most drop the trial for one reason or another, but those who continue on to a full game subscription often fall into a common trap. Some enjoy the concept of the game enough to subscribe for a month, and a portion of those get invested enough in skill plans and the mission grind to stick about for two or three months. It's rare for a new or trial player to actually get into PvP or start creating the same epic sandbox stories that drew them to the game in the first place, but this is exactly what they should be doing right from day one.

New players often spend their entire trial or first month of gameplay attempting to grapple with the enormity of EVE, absorbing as much information as they can in order to make informed decisions for themselves. It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking months of training skills and learning the basics of the game through reading or PvE will be required before you can PvP competitively or begin crafting your own epic story. I firmly believe that the real learning curve of EVE is in learning to let go of these ideas and to accept the loss of ships or items as part of the game. I believe new players need to discard their pre-conceived notions of death penalty, what skill points represent, and the idea of preparing for endgame.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at how EVE is actually very forgiving for new players getting into PvP immediately, I challenge the learning curve myth, and I encourage new pilots to drop themselves into EVE at the deep end.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Learning to let go

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Learning to let go originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicealliancealliancesccpccp-eveccp-gamesdeathdeath-penaltyendgameeveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedheistlearning-clifflearning-curvenyphuropinionpoliticspvpsandboxscamskillskill-trainingskillstheftveteranSun, 17 Jul 2011 18:00:00 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[SWTOR beta scams abound]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/21/swtor-beta-scams-abound/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/21/swtor-beta-scams-abound/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/21/swtor-beta-scams-abound/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Heroes of EVE

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agonyagony-unleashedccpccp-eveccp-gameschribbacrazykinuxefteveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-fileseve-fitting-tooleve-mmorpgeve-onlineeve-searcheve-unieve-universityfeaturedheroheroesoutlawsscamscammingscamsthird-partywarSun, 15 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Outlaws of EVE]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/08/eve-evolved-outlaws-of-eve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/08/eve-evolved-outlaws-of-eve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/08/eve-evolved-outlaws-of-eve/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

EVE Online's Community Manager CCP Wrangler once said that "EVE isn't designed to just look like a cold, dark and harsh world; it's designed to be a cold, dark and harsh world." That sentiment sums up the core philosophy behind the game, which permits such nefarious gameplay styles as thief, smuggler, scam-artist, pirate and market manipulator. Underhanded deals go on every day in EVE, with bounty hunters hired to ruin someone's day and spies tearing corporations apart from within. Many are drawn to EVE because it's one of the few MMOs that allows players to embrace their darker side. The opportunity to be a real villain in a sandbox universe can be intoxicating.

Perhaps more intoxicating is the notion that the presence of tangible villains affords players a rare opportunity to play the role of hero. For every pirate gang lurking at a stargate in low security space, there's an anti-pirate squad somewhere planning an attack. For every thief ready to empty their corporation's hangers, there's a security specialist weeding out spies. The true outlaws of EVE are people who have earned their infamy through acts of ruthlessness in their chosen field.

Over the years, we've interviewed and examined some of EVE's most notorious outlaws. In this article, I look back at four of EVE's most wanted, how they earned their infamy, and what they're doing today.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Outlaws of EVE

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Outlaws of EVE originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gamescriminalcsmeveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedghscguiding-hand-social-clubheisthellcatsinfiltrationistvaanistvaan-shogastsuIstvaanShogaatsumercenariesmercenarymiz-cenuijmynxeeoutlawoutlawspiracypirateprofessionssandboxscamscam-artistscammerspiestheftthiefunderworldveronevetoveto-academyveto-corpvillainsSun, 08 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE issues security alert for EQII and Station accounts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/15/soe-issues-security-alert-for-eqii-and-station-accounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/15/soe-issues-security-alert-for-eqii-and-station-accounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/15/soe-issues-security-alert-for-eqii-and-station-accounts/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ho hum, another week, another email phishing scam, not exactly news right? Well, this time around, Sony Online Entertainment thinks it is serious enough to issue a security alert via the official EverQuest II website, warning players to safeguard their login information and ensure that it is only used on the official SOE site.

While details on the new scam aren't clear, it's a safe bet that it has to do with exploiting a similar URL, as SOE explicitly states the legitimate login URL (http://auth.station.sony.com) in its press release.

With the explosion in online gaming popularity across diverse cross-sections of the general public in recent years, it's no surprise that account hacking is also on the rise, as gamers are no longer the tech-savvy demographic they once were. If you do suspect that your EQII or Station account has been compromised, you can email or chat live with SOE customer support.

MassivelySOE issues security alert for EQII and Station accounts originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>account-hackaccount-securityEQ2EQIIEverQuest-2everquest-iihackingphishingscamsecurity-alertsoeSony-Online-EntertainmentThu, 15 Jul 2010 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[AionSource.com compromised, e-mails possibly leaked to hackers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/29/aionsource-com-compromised-e-mails-possibly-leaked-to-hackers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/29/aionsource-com-compromised-e-mails-possibly-leaked-to-hackers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/29/aionsource-com-compromised-e-mails-possibly-leaked-to-hackers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Yesterday we reported that a wide number of e-mail password phishing scams were being sent out to Aion users. Today, AionSource.com has sent out an e-mail announcement to all of their users that this new wave of scams may have been due to a hacking attack on their website.

Knite Shadowbane, administrator of AionSource, has posted that AionSource.com had been under hacker attack five days ago on the 24th of January. The staff has since cleared the attack and has proceeded to beef up their security, but today's e-mail to all AionSource members warns that their database could have been used for these phishing scams. So, if you are a member of AionSource, keep an eye out for any unusual e-mails coming your way.

Even if you aren't a member, always remember to check the source of any e-mails coming to you that request for you to "access your account" or "confirm your password" or require you to log into an unverified source.

Knite has also posted a handy guide to securing your account, such as changing your password and installing anti-virus software.

MassivelyAionSource.com compromised, e-mails possibly leaked to hackers originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>account-securityaionaionsourceaionsource.combreakinge-mail-scamhackingkniteknite-shadowbanencsoftpassword-securityphishingscamsecuritywebsite-hackwebsite-securityFri, 29 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How scammers plunder your Tales of Pirates booty]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/04/how-scammers-plunder-your-tales-of-pirates-booty/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/04/how-scammers-plunder-your-tales-of-pirates-booty/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/04/how-scammers-plunder-your-tales-of-pirates-booty/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


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

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

Continue reading How scammers plunder your Tales of Pirates booty

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apiathrebankingbanksccp-gamescharlie-eriksene-onebankebank-ricdiceconomyembezzlementeoneulaeve-onlineeveconomicsisklavista-vistamassively-interviewsplayer-run-venturesricdicrmtscamscamstosThu, 02 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New perspective on EVE Online's latest bank embezzlement]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/new-perspective-on-eve-onlines-latest-bank-embezzlement/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/new-perspective-on-eve-onlines-latest-bank-embezzlement/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/new-perspective-on-eve-onlines-latest-bank-embezzlement/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


EVE Online is a deep sandbox game with the most complex player-driven economy found in any massively multiplayer title. There's enough depth, in fact, that players can establish their own financial ventures in-game, in the forms of bonds and IPOs, and even institutions like banks. However, EVE Online is a game where some players create while others undermine or outright destroy. Trust is a valuable and rare commodity in EVE's setting of New Eden; there are always risks of deception and betrayal. But those willing to take risks are generally the ones who are most successful. Of the player-run banks presently operating in the game, EBANK has billed itself as "the largest financial entity ever seen in EVE."

The secrets of its success? A solid Board of Directors and knowledgeable staff, various safeguards preventing any one individual from accessing all bank assets and, yes, some of that rare commodity called trust.That trust was damaged recently though, when EBANK's (now-former) CEO Ricdic, well-known to the game's playerbase, embezzled the virtual funds he was entrusted with. Although this is permissible by EVE's developers CCP Games, selling in-game currency for real-world cash is not. Ricdic has been banned from the game but his actions triggered a run on the virtual bank, and have shaken the faith many players have in EBANK.

Massively spoke about the incident with LaVista Vista, a former member of the game's Council of Stellar Management who sits on the Board of Directors of this virtual bank in EVE; he also provides commentary and analysis of virtual worlds and EVE on the Eveconomics blog. LaVista told us about the parallels that can be drawn between a banking crisis in the virtual galaxy of New Eden and that of the real world, and how what happens in a game can impact real lives.

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banksccp-gamescharlie-eriksencouncil-of-stellar-managementcrimecsmebankebank-ricdiceconomyembezzlementeveeve-onlinefeaturedlavista-vistamassively-interviewsplayer-run-venturesricdicrmtscamsci-fitrustThu, 02 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Courier contracts used for theft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/21/eve-evolved-using-courier-contracts-for-theft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/21/eve-evolved-using-courier-contracts-for-theft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/21/eve-evolved-using-courier-contracts-for-theft/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Many of EVE Online's most prolific marketeers use courier contracts to collect together items from their region-wide buy orders but that's not all they can be used for. Courier contracts were originally intended as a way to pay another player to haul items for you securely using a standard collateral deal but if you know how, they can also be used for theft. Over the years, players have found ways to use courier contracts for profiteering, gambling, and even corporate theft. In EVE's Machiavellian universe, anything you can get away with is fair game. This includes twisting an innocuous game mechanic like courier contracts into a tool for theft and piracy.

In this short article, I examine some of the more creative ways pilots have used courier contracts to steal and plunder their way to the top.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Courier contracts used for theft

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Courier contracts used for theft originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamescouriercourier contractCourierContracteveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturedgamblingjoystiqfeaturespiracyscamstealtheftSun, 21 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online's largest player-run bank rocked by embezzlement]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/eve-onlines-largest-player-run-bank-rocked-by-embezzlement/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/eve-onlines-largest-player-run-bank-rocked-by-embezzlement/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/eve-onlines-largest-player-run-bank-rocked-by-embezzlement/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We've just gotten word that EBANK, a player-run bank in EVE Online self-described as "the largest financial entity ever seen in EVE" has been rocked by embezzlement from its own CEO, Ricdic. The former CEO stole roughly 200 billion ISK from EBANK, which is roughly 8.6% of the entire 2.3 trillion ISK that EVE's playerbase has deposited. EBANK chairman Hexxx has issued a statement on the game's official forums, stating that Ricdic has been banned by CCP Games for engaging in RMT, also adding that the former CEO "has scammed."

The loss of nearly 9% of EBANK's deposits is a serious blow to the player-run institution, perhaps as much to investor confidence in the bank as it is to their funds, but Hexxx says their liquidity is still between 400 billion and 500 billion ISK. A June 6th news item on the EBANK site written by bank auditor LaVista Vista states, "We are currently experiencing some technical problems. Therefore, we ask that people do not deposit any ISK, until we have solved the problem." EBANK's director and head teller Athre has now assumed the role of interim CEO, as the EBANK staff determines the best way forward from here.

Continue reading EVE Online's largest player-run bank rocked by embezzlement

MassivelyEVE Online's largest player-run bank rocked by embezzlement originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>athrebanbankingbannedbansbreakingccp-gamesebankeconomyembezzlementforumshexxxisklavista-vistaplayer-run-venturesricdicrmtscamscandaltheftthieftrustvirtual-currencyWed, 10 Jun 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Lame scams still profitable in Guild Wars, over 1000 bans every week]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/06/lame-scams-still-profitable-in-guild-wars-over-1000-bans-every/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/06/lame-scams-still-profitable-in-guild-wars-over-1000-bans-every/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/06/lame-scams-still-profitable-in-guild-wars-over-1000-bans-every/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


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

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

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

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

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>account-theftarenanetbanbanningbanscommon-sensegold-spammerguild-warsgwkill-ten-ratsraviousrmtscamscamssocial-engineeringspamtheftTue, 06 Jan 2009 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online player loses USD 19,000 in shady virtual currency deal]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/30/eve-online-player-loses-usd-19-000-in-shady-virtual-currency-dea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/30/eve-online-player-loses-usd-19-000-in-shady-virtual-currency-dea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/30/eve-online-player-loses-usd-19-000-in-shady-virtual-currency-dea/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


The sci-fi game EVE Online is set apart from many other massively multiplayer online games by its economy. While there are currently problems with the game's market due to a serious exploit, the economy isn't getting reset anytime soon. The currency of EVE's virtual economy is the Inter Stellar Kredit (ISK). As in the real world, money can be power in EVE's 'New Eden' galaxy. Most online games built around a virtual economy will ultimately need to deal with the real money trading (RMT) issue -- either make it a bannable offense or support and regulate it in some way. CCP Games figured if RMT is happening whether they want it to or not, they may as well have some way to regulate it.

EVE Online has a few legitimate ways to bring real world money into the game. Game Time Cards (EVE Time Codes) can be converted to ISK without risk of getting your teeth banhammered in by CCP Games. They offer a secure way to sell game time to players where neither party can be scammed, and more recently a way to turn game time into an item (PLEX) that can be sold on the open market in-game. When a player buys that item, he or she extends their account subscription. The upside for some players is that they can actually pay their subscription fees in the ISK they've earned in-game, for others it enables them to buy a faction battleship or a number of other virtual items.

But... some people just go too far with all this, and buy ISK in huge amounts. Even worse is doing so outside of the EULA-safe methods. This was the case with an EVE player in Denmark, who paid 100,000 Danish Krones (the rough equivalent of 13,500 Euros or USD 19,000) for currency from a shady ISK seller outside of the secure system, and was ultimately left with empty pockets, even after the case ended up in court.

Continue reading EVE Online player loses USD 19,000 in shady virtual currency deal

MassivelyEVE Online player loses USD 19,000 in shady virtual currency deal originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingbusiness-modelsccpccp-gamesdenmarkeconomyeveeve-onlineforumsgoldiskisk-sellerlegalmmo-industrypaypalreal-money-tradingrmtscamsci-fishadyvirtual-currencyvisawotlankorTue, 30 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Outlaws of EVE Online: Miz Cenuij Part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/12/outlaws-of-eve-online-miz-cenuij-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/12/outlaws-of-eve-online-miz-cenuij-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/12/outlaws-of-eve-online-miz-cenuij-part-2/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


How much time will you spend pulling together a confidence scam? And how integral is having a third party to facilitate what you do?

It depends upon how much I am enjoying that particular scam. If I am enjoying it then time is never really an issue. I've spent months on individual scams, developing relationships, spending time on voice comms or the phone, whatever was required at the time. Other scams were instant 5-minute wonders. The difference between what I do and what a real life scam artist does is that in real life they are governed by money, how much time is any particular scam worth investing in? In New Eden I am driven by enjoyment and thus the time spent on any particular scam is what I choose it to be.

Continue reading Outlaws of EVE Online: Miz Cenuij Part 2

MassivelyOutlaws of EVE Online: Miz Cenuij Part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>concon-artisteveeve-onlinegame-mechanicsgriefgriefersgriftermizmiz-cenuijnew-edenopinionscamscam-artistscammersci-fiWed, 12 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Outlaws of EVE Online: Miz Cenuij]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/12/outlaws-of-eve-online-miz-cenuij/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/12/outlaws-of-eve-online-miz-cenuij/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/12/outlaws-of-eve-online-miz-cenuij/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


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

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

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

Continue reading Outlaws of EVE Online: Miz Cenuij

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

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

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

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

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

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betrayalccpccp-dr-eyjogccp-gamesconsequenceconsequencescouncil-of-stellar-managementcsmdr-eyjogeconomisteconomyeveeve-onlineeyjolfur-gudmundssongameplaygamesindustry.bizlead-economistphil-elliottscamscamssci-fisingle-shardsingle-worldsocial-structuressovereigntyterritorial-controltrustSat, 18 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[You probably didn't need that Second Life account anyway]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/12/you-probably-didnt-need-that-second-life-account-anyway/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/12/you-probably-didnt-need-that-second-life-account-anyway/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/12/you-probably-didnt-need-that-second-life-account-anyway/#commentsFiled under: ,

We feel a little odd about this one. Not because we're giving you a warning about a scam to steal your Second Life account information, but because you'd have to be just a bit retarded and greedy to fall for this ... or maybe just unsophisticated and ignorant would be enough. Certainly a level far below our regular discerning and informed Massively readers.

Nonetheless, some people are going to fall for this. Some people always do -- and it is a very convincing copy of one of the Second Life Web-pages. Remember, though, the only Web-sites that legitimately prompt for your Second Life password are at secondlife.com. If you think win-lindens.tk could be an official Second Life website, think again.

So, here's the drill. Feel free to sing along:

  • If you give your account details to any third-party, regardless of the proffered incentive, you should probably cancel your account -- because heaven knows, they can lock you out of it and keep it, or do whatever the heck they want with it.
  • If you ever get the urge to do so, because someone is offering you EXP, game-gold, Linden Dollars, free items, or whatever, go find someone responsible to talk you out of it. That would be pretty much anyone else.
  • Short version: No. No, no, no, no, no.

Got all that? Odds are, dear readers, that if you're here reading this then you aren't one of the poor unfortunates who really needs this advice.

The offending site (which we'll not grace with a link) is http://www.win-lindens.tk/ which is using one free Web-host in Amsterdam, and another in Italy for their nefarious deeds. We wouldn't be surprised if it was the same people that were behind freelindensnow.

Are you a part of the most widely-known collaborative virtual environment or keeping a close eye on it? Massively's Second Life coverage keeps you in the loop.

MassivelyYou probably didn't need that Second Life account anyway originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hacked-accountlinden-dollarsscamsecond-lifeSun, 12 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fraud and its effects on the MMO industry]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/fraud-and-its-effects-on-the-mmo-industry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/fraud-and-its-effects-on-the-mmo-industry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/fraud-and-its-effects-on-the-mmo-industry/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

As the number of people embracing MMOs has increased exponentially over the years, so too has the frequency and scale of fraud related to these games and credit card transactions. Chargebacks resulting from fraudulent credit activity are a growing problem for MMO publishers. Gamasutra has run an enlightening Q&A with Gene Hoffman, Chairman and CEO of Vindicia, a billing and fraud management company with no small amount of expertise in the MMO arena. The interview discussed the ramifications of chargebacks for MMO publishers, such as Blizzard, which sheds some light on the fact that having the dominant industry marketshare comes with a few downsides as well.

While not commenting about Blizzard specifically, Hoffman says, "We have noticed across all our gaming clients when it comes to fraud is that the 1% chargeback rate is really a marketing budget. Having your chargebacks too low often means you aren't being aggressive enough on the customer acquisition side." Have a look at Gamasutra's talk with Hoffman, a discussion which ranges from in-game theft to hybrid subscription/micro-transaction business models.

MassivelyFraud and its effects on the MMO industry originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardbusiness-modelschargebackeconomyfraudfraudulentgamasutragene-hoffmaninterviewsmmommo-industryscamtheftthiefvindiciaFri, 15 Aug 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ten Ton Hammer takes a closer look at EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/07/tentonhammer-takes-a-closer-look-at-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/07/tentonhammer-takes-a-closer-look-at-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/07/tentonhammer-takes-a-closer-look-at-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Ten Ton Hammer's Managing Editor, Cody 'Micajah' Bye writes about EVE Online in his latest editorial, 'The Temptations of a Unique MMOG.' The piece -- the first of many to come -- is an exploration of a game where that standard MMO skillset, employed in virtually all of the industry's dominant fantasy titles, no longer applies.

Bye cites a few aspects of EVE that drew him to the game: depth, no level caps, no class restrictions, skills not determined by grinding time, and open gameplay. He also notes that EVE is becoming a game where players can (slowly) begin to change the rules and systems of the world. In these respects, EVE is largely free of many of the limitations found in other MMOs. However, he notes what many people on the outside looking in lament: EVE can be a very complex game.

Continue reading Ten Ton Hammer takes a closer look at EVE Online

MassivelyTen Ton Hammer takes a closer look at EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamescody-byecomplexityeditorialeibeveeve-onlinefantasygame-mechanicsghscguiding-hand-social-clubhardcorenew-edenopinionpvpsandboxscamsci-fitentonhammerthe-great-scamMon, 07 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Virtual items trader receives Red Herring award]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/22/virtual-items-trader-receives-red-herring-award/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/22/virtual-items-trader-receives-red-herring-award/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/22/virtual-items-trader-receives-red-herring-award/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Red Herring has named Live Gamer, a virtual items trading company, as one of the top 100 privately held companies in North America in 2008. The annual Red Herring 100 North America Awards are given to companies identified as the most promising tech startups.

Love it or hate it, RMT is not going away. The virtual trading economy, which includes avatars, items and in-game currencies, is estimated to be a market worth more than USD 1.8 billion. Much of this trading takes place on the black market, exposing buyers and sellers alike to potential fraud. Live Gamer aims to remove the sketchiness from virtual item trades, enabling secure player-to-player trading while taking business away from some of the banes of the MMO world: virtual item thieves.

Continue reading Virtual items trader receives Red Herring award

MassivelyVirtual items trader receives Red Herring award originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 May 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avatarblack-marketgold-farmergold-farminghackhackerlive-gamermicrotransactionspower-levelingred-herringrmtscamthiefthievesvirtualThu, 22 May 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free Lindens now]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/free-lindens-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/free-lindens-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/free-lindens-now/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Remember this website? Well, apparently they've given up on trying to scam people through assorted survey fakery. They've stepped up to straightforward theft, and want your account credentials -- in exchange for L$25,000 (which, quite obviously, you would never actually receive).

You'd have to be unspeakably naive, or somehow functionally retarded to actually provide them with your account details. Right now, they're spamming across the grid with a domain name that redirects to this site.

Continue reading Free Lindens now

MassivelyFree Lindens now originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 May 2008 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hacked-accountlinden-dollarslinden-labopinionscamsecond-lifeFri, 16 May 2008 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Don't go there]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/27/dont-go-there/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/27/dont-go-there/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/27/dont-go-there/#commentsFiled under: , ,

So, whose site do you think the above image comes from? No, definitely not from Linden Lab. Over the last week there have been a number of accounts (all apparently now banned) that have been spamming out a link to this site, or links that direct to it. We assume Linden Lab is even now sharpening their pens for cease-and-desist letters, based on use of trademarks alone.

The site itself contains some material that might not be safe-for-work or suitable for those under 18. The majority of content, however, is probably not safe for anyone much, really. It's a sub-site of a site that involves imagery that is quite definitely NSFW.

It's one of those fill-out-surveys-to-get-Linden-Dollars sites, and we've yet to see one that wasn't some sort of scam -- so we've got no reason to believe that this isn't also one. Given that, we cannot recommend that anyone give this site a try.

MassivelyDon't go there originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 Apr 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>linden-dollarslinden-labnsfwopinionscamsecond-lifeSun, 27 Apr 2008 13:30:00 EST