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Leora Nomen
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Posted - 2007.09.17 06:28:00 -
[1]
I decided to write this guide for new players because after talking to some in game and reading this forum I understood that for some of them it is not very clear from sticky posts what game time codes (GTCs) are and how players can use them. So here goes:
Sometimes players have a need to have a large sum of ISK but they have no means of earning it in game quickly. This is especially true for players who have no starting capital, few skills, and not a lot of knowledge about the game. Some players also find ISK making activities rather boring and would like to just spend ISK rather than make it. To help these players still have fun playing EVE, CCP provides perfectly safe and legal way for players to get the ISK that they want - game time codes, aka ETCs or GTCs. Players can buy these codes for real world money and sell to other players for ISK. From the buyer's end, it allows players to buy codes for ISK and not pay any real world money for the game. Anyone who can earn at least 200 mil ISK a month can opt for paying for the game with ISK only by purchasing game time codes form those players who sell them.
Commonly Asked Questions and Answers
1. Where can players purchase game time codes? Game time codes can be purchased from ETC retailers or EVE Store. Shattered Crystal is an especially popular website. To find other retailers click on "My Account" and log in. You will see "ETC retailers" showing on left hand side right under where you clicked on "My Account". Link to EVE store can be also found on left hand side listed a bit lower. EVE Store sells 50 and 100 day codes while ETC retailers sell 30, 50, 90, 100, and 180 day codes.
2. How do I receive my code? If you made your purchase from an ETC retailer, they will most likely just send you the codes via e-mail. EVE Store ships their codes to buyers.
3. Do I need to own a credit card to buy GTCs? No, you don't need to own a credit card. You will need a bank account and an account with PayPal. Many ETC retailers will accept payment from PayPal.
4. Where can I sell/buy codes for ISK? Codes get sold and bought here: Character and Timecode Bazaar Players also advertise their WTS (sell) or WTB (buy) orders in Other trade channel and in local chat in some populated systems like Jita.
5. What are the current going rates for the codes? Prices are listed in USD and ISK per one code. Prices for codes are approximate as they change with the supply and demand on codes any given day. 30 days codes - $14.95 - 160-190 mil ISK 50 day codes - $29.95 - 250-280 mil ISK 90 day codes - $38.95 - 360-390 mil ISK 100 day codes - $49.95 - 410-430 mil ISK 180 day codes - not sure - about 750 mil ISK
6. So which codes should I purchase? 30 day codes are most popular among sellers. These offer the best conversion ratio of money into ISK. But, since these are popular to sell, there is a lot of competition with other sellers and it might take a long time to sell your batch. 90 day and 100 day codes on the other hand are very popular among the buyers. They offer the best ISK to play time ratio and if you have enough ISK you'd want to buy these to extend your play time. Players who want to get their ISK quickly without too much hassle or advertising or who need very large amounts of ISK quickly sell 90 or 100 day codes. Casual sellers who just need a few hundred million ISK and don't need it asap sell 30 day codes.
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Leora Nomen
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Posted - 2007.09.17 06:34:00 -
[2]
... continued
7. So how do I actually get ISK for my codes? First make a post on GTC forum, specifying what kind of codes you're selling and your price in title of the post. Then wait for replies. You might want to be online for people to convo you in game about buying codes. Once someone places an order, go to "My Account" - "Account Services" - "Securely Sell EVE Time Code". Enter all the required information and click on "Next" - "Confirm Transaction". An ETC sell order is created that will last 48 hours. The buyer will be notified of this order by an email. The seller can cancel the order at any time and resell the code to someone else. The buyer has to go to his own "My Account" page and look under "Common Tasks" to accept the offer. At this point ISK will be deposited into seller's account and buyer's play time will get extended. Read more about secure GTC trade here.
8. Some dude named sdkjfhkjy is advertising a website which offers to sell me ISK for a lot cheaper than the codes sell for. Should I go and buy from him? This character is advertising an ISK farmer website which sells ISK for real world money. Selling ISK or anything else such as modules, ships, accounts is against the EULA of the game. GMs ban the ISK sellers and take away illegally acquired ISK from the buyers, often leaving them with negative wallet balance. Repeated offenders also risk being banned. So if you were to buy ISK from sdkjfhkjy you risk losing both your real world money and ISk bought, or even your account. Buying ISK in any other way than selling game time codes is against the EULA. To not have a big headache later on, make use of GTCs if you need ISK.
9. Why is buying ISK from ISK farmers bad? ISK farmers use all kinds of illegal methods to obtain their ISK. They log on right after downtime and use macros to mine, rat, and run missions 23/7. Thus they take away resources from other players, mine out all the good ores in asteroid belts, devalue loyalty point store items by undercutting everyone else, etc. A regular player simply cannot compete with a bot that plays from downtime to downtime. ISK farmers also engage in illegal scams. They scam with character sales, game time codes, they hack and fish for accounts, use keyloggers to gain access to accounts. Then they advertise their ISK as perfectly safe to buy, pass this illegally obtained ISK to buyers sometimes right after a scam or from hacked account, and then in a few days a GM comes and takes the ISK away from the buyer. All of these activities give a lot of extra work to CCP to take care of and ruin the game for other players. Thus, when players buy ISK from ISK farmers they give money to those people who hurt EVE Online and CCP. They also hurt themselves because if they get caught, they lose ISK and real world money that they have already paid for it. On the other hand, buying GTCs players give their money to the company that runs and improves the game. GTCs also give an opportunity for players who don't have the means to pay for the game to play it. And besides, buying from ISK sellers only encourages them in their activities, their numbers multiple, and no one wants to play a game of Farmbot and Spambot Online.
10. If I have an account which expired, can I use a game time code to reactivate it? Yes, you will still be able to log on to "My Account" and accept an offer from a GTC seller. The account needs to have the required ISK however in its wallet. If it doesn't, you can always send ISK to it from an active account. Be aware that trial account can accept ISK but not send ISK.
I think I covered most of the common questions. Game time codes are really easy to use but require some piecing together of information for someone who has never used them before, which I hopefully accomplished in this guide.
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Leora Nomen
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Posted - 2007.09.25 01:28:00 -
[3]
14. So, does CCP actually sell ISK for real world money? No, what they sell for real world money is like a license that allows players to exchange subscription time for ISK. Basically they are selling subscription time for which someone else pays real world money and can then re-sell it for ISK. The ISK comes from another player who has been earning it in game. ISK switches hands but no more is instantly created out of nowhere.
guide to game time codes |
Aprox
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Posted - 2007.09.25 07:38:00 -
[4]
Very useful. Thanks for making this guide. I often wondered how that all worked.
1 simple suggestion: drop "illegal" & "legal". No laws apply here. It is simply against CCP EULA or "allowed" by CCP.
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Akita T
Caldari Navy Volunteer Task Force
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Posted - 2007.09.25 08:08:00 -
[5]
Well, when refering to in-game assets (characters, ISK, items), the EULA "kind of" is law, since all of them are PROPERTY of CCP (you agree to that when you first start up the EVE client on a PC), and you just "lease" their use. Of course, you might try to challenge the legality of the CCP EVE EULA, but good luck with that (meaning, I don't see it happening).
So, technically, you could use the terms "legal" and "illegal" loosely, referring to things that are "allowed/disallowed" contractually, EULA-wise. _
[CNVTF] is recruiting | Char creation guide | Stack-nerfing explained |
Aphro Sia
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Posted - 2007.09.29 15:05:00 -
[6]
Still missing an important answer on a question i tend to ask on a regulary basis (no answer yet)
a) Are Game Time Codes stackable?
b) if i applied a game time code and have 15 days left to expire and i add another 30d gtc now, do the 15 days get vanished or stacked to 45days?
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Gavriel Black
Amarr Pandaemonium's Children
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Posted - 2007.09.29 15:41:00 -
[7]
Edited by: Gavriel Black on 29/09/2007 15:41:08
Originally by: Aphro Sia Still missing an important answer on a question i tend to ask on a regulary basis (no answer yet)
a) Are Game Time Codes stackable?
b) if i applied a game time code and have 15 days left to expire and i add another 30d gtc now, do the 15 days get vanished or stacked to 45days?
yes and stacked
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Nuzz604
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Posted - 2007.10.08 04:20:00 -
[8]
You know, I'd really like to agree with this and buy some game time codes, but these websites want your phone number to call you. I don't want some fat drooling nerd to have my phone number. If someone can give me a similar website that sells game time codes and doesn't call you, let me know.
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Viscount Stoko
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Posted - 2007.10.08 09:18:00 -
[9]
Originally by: Nuzz604 You know, I'd really like to agree with this and buy some game time codes, but these websites want your phone number to call you. I don't want some fat drooling nerd to have my phone number. If someone can give me a similar website that sells game time codes and doesn't call you, let me know.
Crikey! It's only a one-time thing you know the call lasts a few seconds and its only for your own good. It's not like they are going to phone you every day and ask to sniff your knickers!
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Leora Nomen
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Posted - 2007.10.08 18:00:00 -
[10]
Edited by: Leora Nomen on 08/10/2007 18:00:21
Originally by: Nuzz604 You know, I'd really like to agree with this and buy some game time codes, but these websites want your phone number to call you. I don't want some fat drooling nerd to have my phone number. If someone can give me a similar website that sells game time codes and doesn't call you, let me know.
It's a business, and as any business goes they have to deal with plenty of people who will try to scam them. They have to take certain precautions and it is only a one time deal. Also, I'm sure they don't discriminate on gender and employ some hot female customer service representatives as well
guide to game time codes |
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Nuzz604
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Posted - 2007.10.08 19:46:00 -
[11]
Edited by: Nuzz604 on 08/10/2007 19:52:53 Edited by: Nuzz604 on 08/10/2007 19:51:33 Give me a bloody break! That's the biggest load of BS I have ever heard. Really. After 10 years of doing business with e-commerce companies of all shapes and sizes, I have never had to deal with it before. Besides, I already found a few places that aren't so intrusive. I don't know how they do things in your country, but here in the United States, our businesses value our customers (except for wal-mart).
Do you understand? I don't want to hear your damn voice, and don't try to lure me with a "hot female representative" -- do you think I am a virgin and get turned on by that? Now get some sensibility before I decide to sell my own cards --at cost-- as a hobby. No phone number required.
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Leora Nomen
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Posted - 2007.10.08 20:47:00 -
[12]
Yes, they waste their money and employees' time to make phone conversations with you because some drooling nerd kid really desires to have your phone number, since spending his time talking to you is number one item on his fantasy list. I was just poking fun at you with "hot female representatives". Seriously, I have no idea why they require phone conversations, but if it was unnecessary they would long stop the practice as it would make their business inefficient and wasteful in money and their workers' time - true? There are probably a few people like you who mind these checks or can't do them for whatever reason, but many others have no problems so they get through to majority of their customer base. (Shattered Crystal is btw based in United States)
Mind sharing what is this place that you found that requires no phone confirmation? I'll add it on to the guide for players who have same concerns.
guide to game time codes |
Nuzz604
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Posted - 2007.10.08 23:11:00 -
[13]
Every one of these places either price gouges or is sold out.
http://www.egaming.co.nz/Website/catalog.php?id=1 - 30d for $26
http://www.igames.de/Time-Cards/EVE-Online-30-Tage-Game-Time-Code::353.html?MSsid=ca247385c7634692e4dd5ff085328557 - 15 Euros = $21
http://www.mobiusonline.net/products/games/eveonline.php - 30d for $18
https://shop.battleclinic.com/ - 30d for $15 but sold out
http://www.ebay.com -- There are codes for sale here but usually $18 unless you want them to call you
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Leora Nomen
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Posted - 2007.10.09 02:01:00 -
[14]
Thanks, I've added a mention as I've reached the character limit in my original post. It might not be price gouging but simply the added expense of doing business without any verification checks of their customers. If those other sources get scammed more often, they just add this cost of business on top to their prices. I really see no other reason to them to have higher prices unless they are forced to do it, because they lose a lot of their customers by selling at higher prices and there are many other places that sell codes cheaper making them less competitive in comparison. So it is probably just added cost of doing business in less secure way.
guide to game time codes |
Nuzz604
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Posted - 2007.10.09 05:50:00 -
[15]
well I hate to say it but it looks like I might just end up going for it. Since they are officially endorsed by CCP and seem to be a larger company I am less afraid of it now. I'll see if battleclinic gets any in stock the next few days first.
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Nuzz604
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Posted - 2007.10.09 17:36:00 -
[16]
well it looks like mobiusgames calls you also. Battleclinic.com has game cards right now!!!
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Leora Nomen
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Posted - 2007.11.03 17:30:00 -
[17]
Prices on codes have been updated.
guide to game time codes |
Apocryphon
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Posted - 2007.11.09 18:58:00 -
[18]
So, you cant buy without a phone call? I dont have a phone :/
So is that it? Or are they satisfied with phoning you up at work?
And thanks for the OP, cleared up a lot for me.
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Leora Nomen
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Posted - 2007.11.10 21:23:00 -
[19]
Originally by: Apocryphon So, you cant buy without a phone call? I dont have a phone :/ So is that it? Or are they satisfied with phoning you up at work? And thanks for the OP, cleared up a lot for me.
I am not sure about using a work phone. I think they need a home phone, and not a cell even. But I'm not sure how they can tell where exactly are you calling from, so it might be worth a try calling them from work.
If you order codes from battleclinic or buy them on ebay no phone confirmation may be required. And of course EVE store ships the codes to your home address, and I do not believe they require a phone confirmation to do this.
guide to game time codes |
Leora Nomen
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Posted - 2007.11.18 07:09:00 -
[20]
prices have been updated
guide to game time codes |
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Linden Dixon
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Posted - 2007.11.26 15:09:00 -
[21]
It is annoying... I work in another country from where I got my credit card, and most of them won't sell me time-code because I have to "go home" before I'm legit.
I got mine from ebay in the end. They did call after about 5 mins to check, which is fair enough. The caller was a Russian sounding girl... so imagine what you like.
No other calls back to me, or any spam whatsoever since.
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Laice
Caldari The Greater Good Novus Aevum
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Posted - 2007.12.04 16:53:00 -
[22]
Right the reason they ring you is simple, to prove that you are the card holder, and not someone else having used a card they could have STOLE from someone. Anyone can type in the details from a card into a website and these companies dont want the hassle of having to reimburse people that havent bought something frmo them because they're card was stolen.
I have used shattered crystal, they ring you once and never again if you repeat the order. They ask you basic questions such as wheres the nearest hospital/highway to confirm the location of the card.
Its simply a fraud prevention measure so lets not get upset about it :)
shattered crystal will also ring mobile phones, and thats who i use so you wont need to be home to use it.
PS, shattered crystal wont accept answers that you've been told by someone else while you're on the phone :) I have a really nice signature. It doesnt exceed the 24000 byte limit, or the height restrictions - Laice |
Ambassador Ross
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Posted - 2007.12.15 20:14:00 -
[23]
how does battleclinic send you the codes?
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Evil Darkness
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Posted - 2007.12.15 21:49:00 -
[24]
they send the codes through email
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Evil Darkness
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Posted - 2007.12.16 10:19:00 -
[25]
STICKY
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Leora Nomen
Amarr
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Posted - 2008.01.01 10:25:00 -
[26]
new year bump
guide to game time codes |
Jakben Imble
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Posted - 2008.01.01 14:15:00 -
[27]
I used shattered crystal, they phoned me on my mobile phone (I'm in the UK btw) the guy on the end of the phone was very polite and the conversation didn't last more than 2 mins, 1 minute later I had my code in my inbox.
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Leora Nomen
Amarr
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Posted - 2008.01.21 10:27:00 -
[28]
priced have been updated, looks like they dropped 10-20 mil over the past month
guide to game time codes |
Leora Nomen
Amarr
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Posted - 2008.02.01 01:41:00 -
[29]
bump
guide to game time codes |
Leora Nomen
Special Circumstances Inc.
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Posted - 2008.03.27 04:04:00 -
[30]
bump
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