Originally by: CCP Pann

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The newsletter was not fake. I guess this is how it feels when someone reads your diary, something you hadn't intended anyone else to see. Not to deflect the heat but to explain why what I'm about to say, I wasn't involved with writing it. The only reason I mention that is because I am not going to presume to know the minds of the people who did have comments in there. I am not going to throw people I love under the bus or to the lions or whatever. I can't/won't answer questions about what they said or why they said it.

Our newsletters are written as a means to bring about discussion (that sometimes can even become heated debate) among our coworkers. That's really all I can say about it. I am not a game designer. I'm a mouthpiece. I'll admit it. By the time I get involved, the decisions have been made. Not making excuses for myself, just explaining.

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You get a pass on this, Valerie, but your bosses do not. We are beyond sick and tired of game designers and marketing jockeys hiding behind lower level employees and community mouthpieces. We need answers from THEM, and we need those answers NOW.

Originally by: Don Pellegrino

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Who the F*** though that preemptively banning vocal parts of this community would do you ANY good?

Geeze, the "community manager" that allowed it needs to be fired.

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Whoever ORDERED it needs to be fired; Pann's job is to take the heat for the people genuinely responsible. DON'T LET THEM.

Originally by: Reed Tiburon

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Originally by: Reed Tiburon

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Edited by: Reed Tiburon on 24/06/2011 00:36:39
http://www.eveonline.com/ingameboard.asp?a=topic&threadID=1534552

Do you see the bit where CCP says one thing to the players (Vanity MT only, WE PROMISE!) and another thing completely internally (selling faction standing, selling ships, selling ammo, selling more than 50 fitting slots)?

Do you understand how we might be a teensy bit angry about that? About being treated like imbeciles, children who'll lap up any shiny as long as it's presented properly and introduced slowly enough?

And most importantly: Do you understand how, on a basic level, this destroys the promise of EVE Online?

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Quoting myself so you see it.

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Originally by: CCP Manifest

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Originally by: Zverofaust

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Quote:

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Are you moving beyond VANITY AUR items?

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I was told there was a big obvious yellow message waiting for me later on.

I honestly cannot answer that right now nor should you hear any such answer from me as many have said. As Pann opened this thread, she stated, "I wonÆt be able to answer all of your questions tonight, but I promise weÆll start getting some info out tomorrow."

The reason why I am going through every post and not just skipping to the end unless someone tells me to, is so that I can make sure the nuances of the player responses are condensed, fully represented and then transmitted within CCP to the appropriate people. (Jade Constantine's post is one obvious verbatim one amongst)

Player feedback has diligently been sent from our community and PR team since time immemorial and it is my most solemn and serious duty.

It is more important right now than trying to "solve" things or crusading to answer every single post. That was pretty clear after a short second of introspection following my second or third reply at around page 5.

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I hope you are making it as clear as possible to those in power the unprecedented level of ****storm that will ensue if we get an answer that is any different than "We will never implement non-vanity MTs into EVE Online." No other answer is acceptable.

Originally by: Demure Guise

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Originally by: ACY GTMI

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Originally by: Rodj Blake

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Does anyone remember this?

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Whoa! If that isn't illegal, it should be.

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It was an April Fool joke. Was...

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Originally by: Dierdra

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I feel sad that this has happened - and sad that I need to write this post (not just because it'll probably get buried under 9000 other posts). However, I hope this will be read because I am trying to make a reasonable argument here - not a raging flame post.

As a recurring member of the CSM, whose duty it is to represent the players (something I took very seriously), I went to CCP to discuss the issue of microtransactions. In fact, this topic was discussed several times on CSM summits (both in October and in December). We were assured that microtransactions would be vanity items only.

I was told, to my face, that CCP would not sell anything in their virtual goods store that would not be a vanity item (vanity items being useless fluff, not giving any benefits). Now I read in your newsletter that one of your main game designers is openly argueing to break this promise. I take that as a personal insult and a clear sign of disrespect towards the Eve community as a whole. Shame on you for even considering to break your word!

I'm still subscribed, the but moment CCP will offer anything other than vanity items for PLEX/AURUM/etc is the moment I will cancel my accounts. In going for the 'hobbyist gamer' (casual gamers, even though eve isn't that casual gamer friendly), you seem to have forgotten a large part of your player base. The part that has shaped Eve over the years: the hardcore gamers. We don't come here as a hobby to experience an ultimate sci-fi simulator. We pay a subscription for an all-access pass to this crazy dystopian universe, where what you do, what you become and what you achieve comes down only to your skills, dedication and your effort. And because of that, our actions are meaningful.

By extending the virtual goods sales beyond vanity items you directly attack one of the things that seperates Eve from all the other MMOs out there: that actions are meaningful. If I can just buy faction standing, what meaning is there in doing missions for faction standings? What meaning is there in finally achieving 6.0 standing (for POSs) or 9.0 standing (for COSMOS missions)? And from what I read, that's not even the end of it!

Some people might enjoy spending more money 'on their hobby' like it was golf (an analogy that is inherently flawed, which I'll explain below), but due to the dystopian, merciless nature of Eve you've bred a community that exists for a large part out of hardcore players. People who see Eve as a serious business proving ground - not as a lighthearted diversion. These are the people who have allowed you to get to where you are today. These are the people who stuck by you over the past 8 years - even if they do call themselves "bittervets". To turn your back on those people is at best poor form, and at worst commercial suicide. Because Star Wars Galaxies has shown you can't just trade in one group of customers for another.

Why golf is not the same as eve
Specifically, buying golfclubs isn't the same as buying items in Eve. The equivalent would be if you could pay $100 to get one swing/strike/whatever it's called removed from your record. Instead of making a hole in 5, you could pay $400 and get it listed as a hole in one! Suddenly, your golf stats won't depend on how good you are, but simply on how much money you're willing to spend. Try to suggest that to golfers and see how they like it.

In Eve, just flying a spaceship isn't all there is to the gameplay. The effort to GET that spaceship is part of the game. The fact that it isn't easy to obtain certain things, achieve certain things or do certain things is exactly what makes these things meaningful. Meaningful to me AND to others, who can see what I have achieved. And now some game designer would like to take that away? Bad move CCP.

This illustrates it well:

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Originally by: xynix

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http://twitter.com/#!/CCP_Tardsauce

apparently the Devs have time to post on Twitter

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EVE IS NOT A THEME PARK

Originally by: Zverofaust

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Edited by: Zverofaust on 24/06/2011 13:42:13
Think this sums it up nicely.

http://eve.beyondreality.se/NeXCQResponse.html

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