The CSM pointed out that the source of much of the dissatisfaction was that people were afraid it
would become mandatory to spend real life money on things like ships and ammo to remain
competitive. The CSM emphatically reiterated their stance that EVE players should not have to spend
real life money to have an advantage over other players, since anything of that nature would render the
EVE sandbox pointless. CCP clearly stated again that there are not, nor have there ever been, any plans
of this nature.

CCP mentioned what an amazing feeling it is to see such passion for EVE from the community. Even
though the source of the display was unfortunate, the level of emotion and dedication involved was
both touching and humbling.

The CSM further stated it was necessary that any and all further development of virtual goods strategy
needs to be done in cooperation with the CSM and the players. This cooperation is necessary as, due to
the complexity of EVE, there are many gray areas where services can be GÇô and/or are already being GÇô
offered that need community input.

CCP clearly stated that the investment of money in EVE should not give a player an unfair advantage
over the investment of time.

Is there any comment by the CSM about how they feel about these minutes?

The CSM pointed out that the source of much of the dissatisfaction was that people were afraid it would become mandatory to spend real life money on things like ships and ammo to remain competitive.

The CSM emphatically reiterated their stance that EVE players should not have to spend real life money to have an advantage over other players, since anything of that nature would render the EVE sandbox pointless.

If the CSM did really voice these concerns as represented in the minutes I cannot help but think that it did a poor job at representing the players' concerns.

They appeared to represent my concerns fairly well. A secondary isk market is ultimately irrelevant if the primary market involves performance boosting items that must initially be purchased with cash.

The CSM pointed out that the source of much of the dissatisfaction was that people were afraid it would become mandatory to spend real life money on things like ships and ammo to remain competitive.


If the CSM did really voice these concerns as presented in the minutes I cannot help but think that it did a poor job at representing the players' concerns.

They appeared to represent my concerns fairly well. A secondary isk market is ultimately irrelevant if the primary market involves performance boosting items that must initially be purchased with cash.

They appeared to represent my concerns fairly well. A secondary isk market is ultimately irrelevant if the primary market involves performance boosting items that must initially be purchased with cash.

Players: "Players are concerned with having to spend RL money to stay competitive"

CCP: "No single player has to spend real-life money, any player can just buy AUR with ISK (via PLEX)."

Players: "But someone has paid for that PLEX..."

CCP: "So players are concerned with other players spending RL money on ISK (via PLEX)?"

Players: "yes... no... but this would increase PLEX demand! PLEX prices would go up, up, up! Everything would be very expensive..."

CCP: "Ahh... so this is about the ISK cost of (game-affecting) NeX items?
"And as long as we manage to maintain an agreeable balance between ISK (aka time investment) and PLEX/AUR (aka money investment) power MTs are fine?"

Players: "ahem... no ... power MTs are BAD!"

CCP: "But why???"

Those minutes didn't really seem to say anything we didn't already know, and no new specifics seem to have been clarified further... Given the rather banal nature, I'm left even more confused as to why it took so long and caused so much back and forth between the CSM & CCP...