What about just making the dueling system such that cheating is not possible?
That is basically the type of arena venue I am in favor of.

Is cheating such a big issue that having one place where it is not possible such a big thing?
Could some one explain why having one place where cheating was not allowed would just ruin EVE?

Just because EVE has survived for so long does not mean that CCP has not been fixing it and improving it on a continual bases. There have been hard times when without CCP's improvements EVE would have died.
So yes stagnation is death, open you eyes.

To introduce a formal dueling system with out cheating options would grow the game.
For every old PVPer that succumb to the temptation, there would be a more new PVPers that, disillusioned with the fairness, would be attracted to the cheating side of EVE.

People will be people and most want to have an unfair advantage.
Only a few like to earn what they get.
Most feel that if you can get away with it, then it is ok.

You don't seem to realize the safe arenas would bring more players into the game and that a good portion of them will not stay there. The temptation to be able to cheat outside the arena would be to great for a lot of new players.

Everybody wants something for nothing. Use the safe arenas to attract new players and older ones into PVPing and simply rely on human nature to handle the rest.

Sure there will be a few who will never fight outside of the arena system. They will be a good thing. They will get very good and make a name for themselves (we should have a gladiator standing board). They will cause all their opponents to feel that they can not hope to compete without an edge.

Do you ever fight without an edge or without fearing that your opponent has an edge?
It is in human nature to be that way.

The idea of safe dueling (arena) would benefit everyone

It isnGÇÖt really hard, but I think there are customers that you can lose in a good way and thereGÇÖs customers that you can lose in a bad way. If people come in and fundamentally donGÇÖt like EVE Online, then I think that might be a good way of losing customers. EVE isnGÇÖt for everyone. I wish it was, but the reality is that there are some people who just enjoy playing another game more. And thatGÇÖs not really that bad.

You seem to have failed to grasp the idea of what a sandbox concept is. Have you ever noticed that aside from docking in a station, there's not a single place within Eve Universe, where someone can't just come to you and blow you up? that is, almost by definition, a sandbox element of the game. How can't you see that a typical Arena doesn't even fit in that picture?

Expanding and improving the game doesn't mean it has to move away from the basic principle of the game itself. There are things that makes Eve unique, it's not just the spaceships. Will it drive more people in? well I'm not sure, moving away from sandbox concept would make Eve just like other games out there. But if there's one thing I'm sure, moving away from sandbox, will make a lot of people leave this game, including me.

If you imply people ganking you, blobbing you, or some other variant that revolves around others doing something you don't like as cheating, I can honestly say this is not the game for you. Another quote from one Eve dev regarding this matter,

You seem to have failed to grasp the idea of what a sandbox concept is.

You misunderstand, and you are wrong. I can play the game and never leave a station and nobody can blow me up. It is a very safe place to be. And i can play in the market there fairly safely.

So you are wrong about there being no safe place. Why would you care if there were another?

I like the idea because i think it would be good for the game not because it is what i want to do.

I think you do... Proven by the fact that you are arguing against more options/variety being added to the game

A sandbox game is just an open environment with activities to do in multiple ways. EVE is not the world of limitless possibilities some people make it out to be. We will always be limited by the world and tools CCP create.

I hope CCP add an arena but i don't think it should separate the contestants from the rest of EVE. Other players should still be able to participate e.g. spectating the fight, suicide ganks, neutral reps, betting on the outcome, etc.

I don't play other MMO so idk what you have in mind when you think arena.

To your lasts question, we need CCP to make arenas because only they can implement the game structure and mechanics to make arena combat viable.

Previouse post updated please read again.

That idea for an arena seems fine to me. Simply put, an arena is a place for contestants to compete and a spectators to be entertained.

Okay, how would this be different from the current lolpvp arena system of "warp to planet 1"? Everyone is able to watch and be entertained, and neutrals can assist according to the game rules.

neutrals can assist according to the game rules.

Because this game is a sandbox. It is the main identity of Eve, it is the base principle for it's design. Everything in Eve were made, tested and implemented with that basic premise. Sandbox means you should be able to do anything you want, but others should be able to do anything they want to you as well. If you're talking about arenas as in typical arenas like most other MMOs have, then it's big NO. Mainly because there should never be any place for such thing to exist in a sandbox concept. It drives the game away from it's base design.

The concept of Arenas in most (if not all) other MMOs revolves around an exclusive instance, a place where it has certain limitations and rules, usually involves X numbers of people on one side vs Y numbers on the other side and the game mechanics controls the balance of power between those two groups. It's not what I have in mind, it's the basic concept.

Second part of your comment really doesn't make sense to me, because I've pointed out in a rhetorical question as to why we don't need an arena if it works the way you've said.

Okay, how would this be different from the current lolpvp arena system of "warp to planet 1"? Everyone is able to watch and be entertained, and neutrals can assist according to the game rules.

Vets can argue all they want but I think EVE needs a pvp arena if we want to see a less risk adverse culture grow in EVE.

Noobs need to be shown how fun pvp is and that they have the potential to have a bigger effect on the game.

I don't like to repeat my self, especially when we we are just theorising but as i said before, we need CCP need to create the rules and structure for this game within a game to work because effectively, arena pvp would become the sport of EVE and without rules and control, you can't have sport. Sure we could just go to a planet and have a duel but that is not arena combat and it does not create a showcase for the pvp in eve. As i said in a previous post:

As some people have pointed out, maybe allowing neutral reps and ganking wouldn't be a good idea but there should still be a way for the rest of EVE to get involved in an arena match they are not part of. Not allowing ganks does not necessarily go against the nature of EVE, as you can't gank someone in a station while they are doing industry either.

As some people have pointed out, maybe allowing neutral reps and ganking wouldn't be a good idea but there should still be a way for the rest of EVE to get involved in an arena match they are not part of. Not allowing ganks does not necessarily go against the nature of EVE, as you can't gank someone in a station while they are doing industry either.

tl;dr, it should be up to players to enforce rules, not for CCP to create 'safe' havens where other players cannot interact with the participants in any way, which goes against the entire design philosophy of EVE.

This argument is silly and you should stop it.

I don't like to repeat my self, especially when we we are just theorising but as i said before, we need CCP need to create the rules and structure for this game within a game to work because effectively, arena pvp would become the sport of EVE and without rules and control, you can't have sport. Sure we could just go to a planet and have a duel but that is not arena combat and it does not create a showcase for the pvp in eve. As i said in a previous post:

^ That's just your opinion

My opinion is that arenas would provide a stepping stone for other forms of PVP.

No thats a fact. We dont have arenas here and as such, EVE has never been sold as yet another small scale MMO. Our PVP is known everywhere for its massive battles.

And no, they will not be a stepping stone to pvp they will kill all pvp outside of them. They will not add more pvpers from the pve population because they will continue to have zero interest. They are the single worst thing you can add to a game like this.

B. Have a highsec culture that encourages people to fight each other and glorifies PVP to help people understand that this game is primarily about blowing ships up?

We have this already.

And no its not an opinion. Every single MMO with arenas has next to no pvp outside of them and EVE does get sold on its large battles. Examples can be found in just about every single EVE trailer and just about every single news article.

No we have option A...

I didn't start playing EVE for the massive fleet fights and after 2 years in the game i think large scale fleet fights are the lease entertaining form of pvp. That's just my opinion of course.

So yeah, again, you're talking opinion and not fact.

Given the choice would your rather:

A. Have a highsec culture where CEO tell their members to stay docked during war because they lack the knowledge and confidence to fight.

or

B. Have a highsec culture that encourages people to fight each other and glorifies PVP to help people understand that this game is primarily about blowing ships up?

I think you missed when i said "high sec culture"...

And no, all the trailers are not just about big fleet fights but that's not what we are arguing about. We are arguing because you claim that people only come to the game because of the PVP when actually, it's only one of many reasons to play this game.

Where did i say nobody promotes PVP?

You seems to have trouble looking at an argument from both sides so let me ask you a simple question:

Are you against arenas because you are scared that they will be so awesome that everyone will do nothing but 3 v 3 tournaments all day?

if not, what are you afraid of?