Hi CCP.

I'd like to know, and I'm sure I'm not the only one:

- How many CCP employees are assigned to actively looking for bot operations? I mean not simply waiting to receive reports, but rather things like watching 0.0 mining operations to see if they are done by humans and wallet transactions from hardcore 0.0 ratters?

- Do you have filters in place to bring to your attention accounts that stay logged almost permanently?

- Will you ever stop being so lenient with buyers and permaban them at first offense? Just taking away the isks isn't much of a detterent.

- When is the next Unholy Rage?


Thanks for your attention.

I don't think CCP will ever release any concrete details on their anti RMT efforts. Especially regarding software tools or staff devoted to the fight.

I personally believe CCP invests very little manpower, time and effort in the RMT war. Especially since some CCP staff have their fingers in the RMT pie as rumoured.

I'll address this as well as possible though to be frank I don't think the answer is one you'll find 100% satisfactory.

- We are not going to divulge numbers of employees devoted to security tasks.
- We have old and continue to implement new detections for various types of activity regularly
- Leniency is relative. The numbers we've been collecting show that the current system of administrative actions is effective at curbing the behavior.
- Never. Security is a process not a powerpoint presentation or a graph.

To elaborate on the last point however it is likely that we'll be expressing some more information to you in the near future regarding certain aspects of this subject. I can't really elaborate because timing and such are subject to change.

Regarding insinuations of staff members being involved in RMT you may report allegations of misconduct to IA. Otherwise it would be pretty peachy if you would refrain from making allegations you have absolutely no reason to believe. If you have a reason to believe it and want it to stop I can only assume you'd report it. Otherwise the alternative is that you're just trying to cause trouble and that makes my job harder which is pretty uncool.

This isn't the "make shadowy insinuations about CCP staff forum" and nothing will get resolved by doing such here.

Thanks!

I'll address this as well as possible though to be frank I don't think the answer is one you'll find 100% satisfactory.

- We are not going to divulge numbers of employees devoted to security tasks.
- We have old and continue to implement new detections for various types of activity regularly
- Leniency is relative. The numbers we've been collecting show that the current system of administrative actions is effective at curbing the behavior.
- Never. Security is a process not a powerpoint presentation or a graph.

To elaborate on the last point however it is likely that we'll be expressing some more information to you in the near future regarding certain aspects of this subject. I can't really elaborate because timing and such are subject to change.

Well, thanks for taking the time to answer, but I'll point out that keeping things like the number of security employees secret, while probably marginally beneficial to their efficiency, might have adverse effects that far outweight the benefit. Like the growing trend to believe, wether it's true or not, that null-sec is more and more dominated by RMT and that CCP do nothing about it...

But, but, CCP is selling gametime, a valuable good in the EVE universe, for real money...

I'll address this as well as possible though to be frank I don't think the answer is one you'll find 100% satisfactory.

- We are not going to divulge numbers of employees devoted to security tasks.

Regarding insinuations of staff members being involved in RMT you may report allegations of misconduct to IA. Otherwise it would be pretty peachy if you would refrain from making allegations you have absolutely no reason to believe. If you have a reason to believe it and want it to stop I can only assume you'd report it. Otherwise the alternative is that you're just trying to cause trouble and that makes my job harder which is pretty uncool.

This isn't the "make shadowy insinuations about CCP staff forum" and nothing will get resolved by doing such here.

Regarding insinuations of staff members being involved in RMT you may report allegations of misconduct to IA. Otherwise it would be pretty peachy if you would refrain from making allegations you have absolutely no reason to believe. If you have a reason to believe it and want it to stop I can only assume you'd report it. Otherwise the alternative is that you're just trying to cause trouble and that makes my job harder which is pretty uncool.

This isn't the "make shadowy insinuations about CCP staff forum" and nothing will get resolved by doing such here.

Thanks!

look.. CCP will never win the war on RMT because that would mean banning most of null sec and half of high sec.

But that's not a EULA violation. No CCP employee gets money for ISK when a player buys a PLEX for Real money.

And remember CCP is not bound by the EULA, it only applies to subscribers. For example look at the Time Dialation video and you will be several bots running.

However CCP employees are bound by it when they are playing. Ive heard rumors that the Internal Affairs people have no sense of humor when it comes to CCP employees doing something wrong.

What do we do if we have evidence that IA is in on the RMT money laundering scheme?

And half of Svalbard is in russian hands so the 'russian gold-farmer mafia' has more than a little influence in the north, as such we can never know if CCP has, or has not, been taken over and turned into a vodka-subsidies based organization.

yup, DRF disappears overnight, imagine that power vaccum
and no more goons O.o

The accusations of NC doing RMT by DRF are interesting, however I'd like to know how/why they think that... which is the one thing they didn't address. The NC was an interesting situation though, and I definitely think some things could have been done better on that level by CCP in terms of null sec development decisions.

The accusations of NC doing RMT by DRF are interesting, however I'd like to know how/why they think that...

I'll address this as well as possible though to be frank I don't think the answer is one you'll find 100% satisfactory.

- We are not going to divulge numbers of employees devoted to security tasks.
- We have old and continue to implement new detections for various types of activity regularly
- Leniency is relative. The numbers we've been collecting show that the current system of administrative actions is effective at curbing the behavior.
- Never. Security is a process not a powerpoint presentation or a graph.

To elaborate on the last point however it is likely that we'll be expressing some more information to you in the near future regarding certain aspects of this subject. I can't really elaborate because timing and such are subject to change.

Regarding insinuations of staff members being involved in RMT you may report allegations of misconduct to IA. Otherwise it would be pretty peachy if you would refrain from making allegations you have absolutely no reason to believe. If you have a reason to believe it and want it to stop I can only assume you'd report it. Otherwise the alternative is that you're just trying to cause trouble and that makes my job harder which is pretty uncool.

This isn't the "make shadowy insinuations about CCP staff forum" and nothing will get resolved by doing such here.

Thanks!

- Leniency is relative. The numbers we've been collecting show that the current system of administrative actions is effective at curbing the behavior.

It irrelevant how many people are actually involved in RMT/bot detection. Even if it's ONLY CCP Sreegs, if the tools he develops are effective the job's being done.

This isn't the "make shadowy insinuations about CCP staff forum" and nothing will get resolved by doing such here.

Thanks!

Well, thanks for taking the time to answer, but I'll point out that keeping things like the number of security employees secret, while probably marginally beneficial to their efficiency, might have adverse effects that far outweight the benefit. Like the growing trend to believe, wether it's true or not, that null-sec is more and more dominated by RMT and that CCP do nothing about it...

And half of Svalbard is in russian hands so the 'russian gold-farmer mafia' has more than a little influence in the north, as such we can never know if CCP has, or has not, been taken over and turned into a vodka-subsidies based organization.

Well, thanks for taking the time to answer, but I'll point out that keeping things like the number of security employees secret, while probably marginally beneficial to their efficiency, might have adverse effects that far outweight the benefit. Like the growing trend to believe, wether it's true or not, that null-sec is more and more dominated by RMT and that CCP do nothing about it...

its pretty hilarious to see people cowering in 1.0 systems afraid to leave talking confidently about what goes on in 0.0

It's pretty hilarious to hear a slave of one of the largest Zero Plantations like yourself speak in defense of your Slave Masters.

BTW, the name of your Corp seems appropriate given that you are taking it in the arse daily.

What do we do if we have evidence that IA is in on the RMT money laundering scheme?

I think that working on creative ways to report on that information would be far more effective to the playerbase than telling you how many people touch the problem, which is kinda the point. Communication about botting and RMT is certainly something we intend to be more open about in the future. I think as an example, I've given talks that have addressed the subject in a few venues in the past year but that information has never made its way to the forums, so I think maybe it's time to distill some of that into a blog and get it out to you guys to digest.

as such we can never know if CCP has, or has not, been taken over and turned into a vodka-subsidies based organization.

i do like the idea of zero plantations and slave masters though

we have a position open in the getting whipped department, I'll pass your resume along

lol, go boi go! get 'im!

can you give me a semi-witty reply to this post too?

Ill give you extra points if you can throw in an insult about me being a carebear, and bonus points if you can use at least two logical fallacies and an insult about my intelligence.

lol, u so funny.

I think that working on creative ways to report on that information would be far more effective to the playerbase than telling you how many people touch the problem, which is kinda the point. Communication about botting and RMT is certainly something we intend to be more open about in the future. I think as an example, I've given talks that have addressed the subject in a few venues in the past year but that information has never made its way to the forums, so I think maybe it's time to distill some of that into a blog and get it out to you guys to digest.

For people asking how RMT effects them: If you subscribe via PLEX is certainly does. Maybe you have noticed the recent PLEX price rise? Some of the PLEX price is held up by the existence of RMT. People get ISK via RMT rather than purchasing a PLEX and trading it in game for ISK. The result is a lower PLEX supply and a higher PLEX price.

If you PvP, the guys you are fighting could have better stuff because they bought it with ISK obtained via RMT. RMT breaks the sandbox.

Also if more people purchased PLEX and sold them in game, lowering the isk price, then more subscriptions would be paid for via PLEX. A subscription paid for via PLEX gives CCP $17.50 a month, more than any other subscription option. Its in CCP's best interest to get rid of RMT for just this reason.

It irrelevant how many people are actually involved in RMT/bot detection. Even if it's ONLY CCP Sreegs, if the tools he develops are effective the job's being done.

The actual number of RMTer/botters is likely far less that you believe, simply because some people tend to be paranoid and see conspiracies and corruption everywhere, even when it's not.

Well I think that came from when the list of customers of one of the largest ISK-selling organisations got leaked and most of their largest buyers were... in the NC.

I'll address this as well as possible ...

Thanks!

unholy rage made the players feel better.
when ccp announced they have banned a few hundred or so bot accounts and other RMTers it just looks good for CCP and to the players.

RMT is an ubiquitous problem in MMO's and it is an endless, thankless battle for the companies who have to handle the problem. I mean **** if even one person gets mistakenly banned for botting the PR shitstorm would be extreme.

I personally believe CCP invests very little manpower, time and effort in the RMT war. Especially since some CCP staff have their fingers in the RMT pie as rumored.

Regarding insinuations of staff members being involved in RMT you may report allegations of misconduct to IA. Otherwise it would be pretty peachy if you would refrain from making allegations you have absolutely no reason to believe. If you have a reason to believe it and want it to stop I can only assume you'd report it. Otherwise the alternative is that you're just trying to cause trouble and that makes my job harder which is pretty uncool.

Kitten -> Worst idea ever, you realise that a lot of the RMT sites are scams and will just steal your credit card info? Lets not have CCP encouraging people to visit these sites please!

Everyone else accusing people of Botting/RMTing, either show some evidence or shut the hell up please. You are just making yourself look stupid (or more stupid in some cases)

While I'm sure there are botters and RMTers in game, the number from what I've seen that I would even think are bots not players is in the 0.1% range, aka not a massive problem and eventually they will get caught. The reason you often don't see action on the 'report bots' is because when they find a bot, they want to find where the money is going. There is no point in banning the botting account without banning the master and control accounts which are holding the ISK and doing the sales. These accounts been shut down are what really hurt the RMTers and thats why CCP target them.

I'll address this as well as possible though to be frank I don't think the answer is one you'll find 100% satisfactory.

- We are not going to divulge numbers of employees devoted to security tasks.

- We have old and continue to implement new detections for various types of activity regularly

- Leniency is relative. The numbers we've been collecting show that the current system of administrative actions is effective at curbing the behavior.

- Never. Security is a process not a powerpoint presentation or a graph.

Regarding insinuations of staff members being involved in RMT you may report allegations of misconduct to IA. Otherwise it would be pretty peachy if you would refrain from making allegations you have absolutely no reason to believe. If you have a reason to believe it and want it to stop I can only assume you'd report it. Otherwise the alternative is that you're just trying to cause trouble and that makes my job harder which is pretty uncool.

It irrelevant how many people are actually involved in RMT/bot detection. Even if it's ONLY CCP Sreegs, if the tools he develops are effective the job's being done.

[
I think that working on creative ways to report on that information would be far more effective to the playerbase than telling you how many people touch the problem, which is kinda the point. Communication about botting and RMT is certainly something we intend to be more open about in the future. I think as an example, I've given talks that have addressed the subject in a few venues in the past year but that information has never made its way to the forums, so I think maybe it's time to distill some of that into a blog and get it out to you guys to digest.

My vote for deterrence is to have published information on the log-in screen about the anti-botting and anti-RMT effort, information that is always there, always up to date, continuous and persistent. Something like "Last week xx players were banned for botting, yy were banned for RMT and zz billion isk bought via RMT was removed from the game". That will make sure everyone is always reminded that CCP Sreegs and customer services will come for any EULA violator.

Since CCP is active in this thread, I might as well ask a few questions myself...

look.. CCP will never win the war on RMT because that would mean banning most of null sec and half of high sec.

Not too mention who cares, as long as players can buy isk for $$ from CCP the whole game is Pay 2 Win...

Hi CCP.

I'd like to know, and I'm sure I'm not the only one:

- How many CCP employees are assigned to actively looking for bot operations? I mean not simply waiting to receive reports, but rather things like watching 0.0 mining operations to see if they are done by humans and wallet transactions from hardcore 0.0 ratters?

- Do you have filters in place to bring to your attention accounts that stay logged almost permanently?

- Will you ever stop being so lenient with buyers and permaban them at first offense? Just taking away the isks isn't much of a detterent.

- When is the next Unholy Rage?


Thanks for your attention.

Yeah, it looks real good for CCP, but how many of those 100s were actually botters authorized by CCP? None, it's just the little guys that get hurt. The one man corp botters. They take all the hits so CCP can keep botting those bots, all while making it look like they're actually working to stop bots. Which they may be doing, but it's just those bots they don't authorize that they're looking for. Can't have anyone cutting in on their profits now can they.

Anyone who thinks otherwise is a damn fool. PLEX is a clear sign of CCPs stance on RMT.

that's "bottling" company
not "botting" company

how are your ice mining skills, and your complaining in local when goons blow you up for funsies skills

I would love to see an update from CCP on what is being done to combat botting/RMT in EVE.

Thank you for proving, once again, how irrelevant to the rest of us you actually are.

Pompous, myopic little prat.

Next!

Yeah, it looks real good for CCP, but how many of those 100s were actually botters authorized by CCP? None, it's just the little guys that get hurt. The one man corp botters. They take all the hits so CCP can keep botting those bots, all while making it look like they're actually working to stop bots. Which they may be doing, but it's just those bots they don't authorize that they're looking for. Can't have anyone cutting in on their profits now can they.

Anyone who thinks otherwise is a damn fool. PLEX is a clear sign of CCPs stance on RMT.

They take all the hits so CCP can keep botting those bots, all while making it look like they're actually working to stop bots. Which they may be doing, but it's just those bots they don't authorize that they're looking for. Can't have anyone cutting in on their profits now can they.

In even simpler words, try thinking before you speak.

that's "bottling" company
not "botting" company

I'll address this as well as possible though to be frank I don't think the answer is one you'll find 100% satisfactory.

- We are not going to divulge numbers of employees devoted to security tasks.
- We have old and continue to implement new detections for various types of activity regularly
- Leniency is relative. The numbers we've been collecting show that the current system of administrative actions is effective at curbing the behavior.
- Never. Security is a process not a powerpoint presentation or a graph.

To elaborate on the last point however it is likely that we'll be expressing some more information to you in the near future regarding certain aspects of this subject. I can't really elaborate because timing and such are subject to change.

Regarding insinuations of staff members being involved in RMT you may report allegations of misconduct to IA. Otherwise it would be pretty peachy if you would refrain from making allegations you have absolutely no reason to believe. If you have a reason to believe it and want it to stop I can only assume you'd report it. Otherwise the alternative is that you're just trying to cause trouble and that makes my job harder which is pretty uncool.

This isn't the "make shadowy insinuations about CCP staff forum" and nothing will get resolved by doing such here.

Thanks!

But, but, CCP is selling gametime, a valuable good in the EVE universe, for real money...

But that's not a EULA violation. No CCP employee gets money for ISK when a player buys a PLEX for Real money.

And remember CCP is not bound by the EULA, it only applies to subscribers. For example look at the Time Dialation video and you will be several bots running.

However CCP employees are bound by it when they are playing. Ive heard rumors that the Internal Affairs people have no sense of humor when it comes to CCP employees doing something wrong.

look.. CCP will never win the war on RMT because that would mean banning most of null sec and half of high sec.