tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942059813481083566.post6343676282787315422..comments2023-10-25T07:19:08.019-05:00Comments on The Nosy Gamer: SOMERblink, A SOMER Clone, And GTCsNoizyGamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17315716516032999133noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942059813481083566.post-69469348542427136382013-10-30T22:06:53.374-05:002013-10-30T22:06:53.374-05:00I think that the point everyone seems to miss is t...I think that the point everyone seems to miss is that CCP isn't responsible to anyone except CCP. They are not a government which needs to pretend to be consistent or fair in the application of any laws or regulations. <br /><br />So, if they choose to interpret the EULA one way today for one player, and another way tomorrow for another player, that is entirely within their rights, and they really don't owe any explanation to the players.<br /><br />Clearly, SOMER is allowed to continue because it has demonstrably contributed to CCP's revenue stream. That, in the final analysis, is what EVE is all about for CCP.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942059813481083566.post-47384463910841601012013-10-30T03:18:10.381-05:002013-10-30T03:18:10.381-05:00Obviously I was wrong in making a distinction betw...Obviously I was wrong in making a distinction between RMT where all profit goes to the seller and RMT where CCP gets 90% of the profit.<br />Now we can all sleep soundly and focus on what is wrong with Rubicon instead.Raziel Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02545370350482232205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942059813481083566.post-25185581871109714532013-10-30T00:57:27.369-05:002013-10-30T00:57:27.369-05:00Because according to CCP, what SOMER was doing wit...Because according to CCP, what SOMER was doing with its promotion is against the EULA. They sent an email to all the GTC resellers stating that is the case. But that is Wednesday's post.NoizyGamerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17315716516032999133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942059813481083566.post-34960744751444143672013-10-29T18:51:01.128-05:002013-10-29T18:51:01.128-05:00People ask "why is gold/ISK/gil/plat selling ...People ask "why is gold/ISK/gil/plat selling bad" a lot. That's understandable because most game companies don't come right out and tell you. I know Blizzard does, but that's about it. I've been planning on writing why I personally think illicit RMT is bad for the MMO industry, but all of this type of stuff keeps happening. I'm on vacation now so hopefully I'll get the chance to write some basic information on RMT soon. But I really want to grind out SoE LPs!NoizyGamerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17315716516032999133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942059813481083566.post-77950578714815542462013-10-29T12:55:22.808-05:002013-10-29T12:55:22.808-05:00When it comes to RMTing this situation doesn't...When it comes to RMTing this situation doesn't count because ETC is a sanctioned method of converting RM to ISK. Any money that SOMER gets in the agreement with shattered crystal/markee dragon LLC. (As an affiliate acct holder my self, I can say that the base is 5% though it would not be out of the realm of possibility for that to increase if enough traffic is generated) is taken from the company's profits from the sale. (They prepay for these anyways... CCP has had their money from the PLEX you just bought for like a month now) <br /><br />When it comes to incentives for link clicking, I still think it is fine. Somer is offering pseudo-ISK. They are offering credit in their system, which people can use to attain ships, PLEXes, and other assets with odds at 1-10 (10%) minimum. Meaning that in the smaller "blinks" you have a 10% chance of winning, and in larger ones (for like caps) you have 1-20 (5%) chance of winning . (Percents are PER TICKET)<br /><br />Basically what it boils down to is SOMER.blink is rewarding you for using their service and helping them out. You buy a PLEX and can get 500m (ish) so why can another player not give you 200m for buying it?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16598245129716584364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942059813481083566.post-61203873947589802012013-10-29T11:31:13.353-05:002013-10-29T11:31:13.353-05:00I'm sure this will pop in your inbox nosy --- ...I'm sure this will pop in your inbox nosy --- <br /><br />http://www.reddit.com/r/Eve/comments/1pgs9r/somer_is_not_allowed_to_give_incentives_for_etc/<br /><br />Apparently CCP has decided the issue ... official announcement soon.Ragellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10285176601838226959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942059813481083566.post-91965794445272125522013-10-29T11:28:08.338-05:002013-10-29T11:28:08.338-05:00"PLEX and GTC/ETC are already RMT, which most..."PLEX and GTC/ETC are already RMT, which most people are fine with."<br /><br />RMT can be a two-way street. A player paying CCP cash for a virtual good is one thing. A player paying another player cash for a virtual good is another thing. If CCP were to facilitate that in some official capacity, the marketplace they would create would be subject to sundry regulations, differing by country. This creates a giant headache. (Take a look at Planetside 2's European distributor, ProSieben. Players who created their account through them instead of Sony directly don't have access to purchase player-created content because of all the red tape involved with European regulations.)<br /><br />I think isk for cash is ok, mainly because it has limited application. The most "cash" I can make (or rather, save) by selling my isk (a.k.a. purchasing plex on the market) is the cost of a monthly subscription. So there's absolutely no incentive to for me to sell more than 600 mil isk per character per month.<br /><br />From Noizy's numbers, it appears as though Somer is selling MUCH more than that. Somewhere around half a trillion isk per month ($7500 total earnings / $15 per billion isk). When you have an unlimited incentive to cash out, it leads to detrimental gameplay. All of a sudden, the real world price listed on killboards actually means something because there is a real opportunity cost. Get a frigate exploded? That'll be $0.25. A T1 cruiser? $0.50. Mackinaw ganked? $3. HAC? $4. A faction battleship? $15. Carrier? $25. As if people aren't risk averse enough already, it will just get worse. That's not good for the health of Eve.Araziahhttp://araziah.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942059813481083566.post-72084075149675651552013-10-29T04:46:08.293-05:002013-10-29T04:46:08.293-05:00Your posts are interesting, but tbh it somewhat ba...Your posts are interesting, but tbh it somewhat baffles me why so many people get hinged on the RMT. PLEX and GTC/ETC are already RMT, which most people are fine with.<br /><br />So then we get the distinction which you make between sanctioned RMT and illicit RMT. The "somer" system being a mix of the two where via the construction you get ~80M illicit RMT on your ~600M sanctioned RMT money. <br /><br />But why should we as players dislike illicit RMT? If we look at communications from CCP it's because illicit RMT is facilitated by hacking accounts and botting. However, via somers system the illicit RMT is fed by gambling people. Not by the above listed methods of acquiring ISK.<br /><br />Now some people claim that somer also gets used to "launder" ISK, as such enabling these underground activities. Which may or may not be true. However the kickback has zero influence on this. The site could run 100% without the 100M blink credit kickback. <br /><br />So in the end, while I fully understand the situation as far as I know. I fail to see why people are getting upset about this.<br /><br />Now you do make a very valid point in that people can use a variant of this to cash-out their in-game assets for real money. Which is something CCP will have to look at. But again, it's hardly detrimental to the player base. I also don't see how established illicit RMT'ers could make use of this new system, since it hinges on the GTC sales. I would find it unlikely that more traditional RMT operations would like to share their profits with CCP and GTC resellers.<br /><br />As Somer making a potential RL profit from this. All the more power to him and kudo's to CCP for creating a platform where 3rd parties can build a business on. While perhaps still somewhat novel, it's certainly not unique. For instance with the game DOTA2 many of the items players can buy are made by 3rd party artists who get a cut of the sales made on the item. And beyond video games it's everywhere, just look at facebook or twitter or any other platform that invites 3rd parties to create their business around their service.<br /><br />I again fail to see why people think this is a bad thing? I'm not saying you hold this opinion. I'm not trying to put words in your mouth. But in posts and comments about the Somer issue it's a common thing people tend to find objectionable.<br />roigonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942059813481083566.post-78392929441034883592013-10-29T02:52:32.682-05:002013-10-29T02:52:32.682-05:00You can also get a refund from ebay/paypal. He nee...You can also get a refund from ebay/paypal. He needs to send you a item tracked else he has no case and paypal give the money back. If he sells you a paper clip with free plex. Just send the paper clip back tracked to get a refund. Its the same with character sales on ebay.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942059813481083566.post-61100420192722145962013-10-29T00:35:31.835-05:002013-10-29T00:35:31.835-05:00@NoizyGamer...The damn website @blogger.com just a...@NoizyGamer...The damn website @blogger.com just ate my reply to regarding your suggestion about my own blog. Will try again tomorrow. For all your efforts, you certainly deserve an answer.Dinsdale Pirannhanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942059813481083566.post-64870997886634450862013-10-28T21:48:23.874-05:002013-10-28T21:48:23.874-05:00@Dinsdale - Have you ever considered creating your...@Dinsdale - Have you ever considered creating your own blog and gathering evidence for everyone to see? You could even go through my blog and find things like the post where I posted a screenshot of a null sec corp advertising for botters to operate in its space.<br /><br />I'm not suggesting this as a troll. I'm truly interested to see what you would come up with.NoizyGamerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17315716516032999133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942059813481083566.post-66259471493494004592013-10-28T20:04:31.303-05:002013-10-28T20:04:31.303-05:00You got me. I admit it. I never cared about whethe...You got me. I admit it. I never cared about whether anyone did illicit RMT before everyone started jumping on SOMER. If I had I would have written posts like this a long time ago...<br /><br />http://nosygamer.blogspot.com/2011/06/generalstab-logs-mittani-on-rmt.html<br /><br />http://nosygamer.blogspot.com/2012/04/ccp-sreegs-unleashed-three-week-update.html<br /><br />I guess I'll just have to make up for lost time.NoizyGamerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17315716516032999133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942059813481083566.post-23331637794647572052013-10-28T20:04:11.287-05:002013-10-28T20:04:11.287-05:00About eBay's prohibition on the sale of virtua...About eBay's prohibition on the sale of virtual items, I'm not sure if its still the same now, but people were getting around that rule by offering the virtual items as a bonus to a physical item purchase (i.e. a paper clip). That was enough to satisfy eBay's rules, and still allowed the sale of virtual items. That may have changed in the last while though for all I know (I don't deal with eBay anymore these days).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942059813481083566.post-69506623332198839362013-10-28T19:11:26.513-05:002013-10-28T19:11:26.513-05:00You guys make me giggle. Goons have been RTMing fo...You guys make me giggle. Goons have been RTMing for years.Only now do you all get mad about SOMER legal RMT (of sorts). You have to pay to get into goons by way of the SA forms/website. They then give you free ISK to start you off in game and they also give you FREE 500m ISK carrier skill books. #TweetFleet I Have known this for years. But only now does everybody wake up to the RTMingOddsodzhttp://www.oddsodz.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942059813481083566.post-90243244794604314352013-10-28T18:13:26.335-05:002013-10-28T18:13:26.335-05:00the funny thing with poetic is if he really did ju...the funny thing with poetic is if he really did just screw over his buyers, and ebay decides to care he could end up much more screwed in the real world than he is thinking. that 1300 could go away very quickly, and i for one am hoping on that Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942059813481083566.post-49187001585950899922013-10-28T14:51:06.578-05:002013-10-28T14:51:06.578-05:00A+ reporting sir.A+ reporting sir.Darkwaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07016947176110935170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942059813481083566.post-6893525936232455682013-10-28T14:29:01.750-05:002013-10-28T14:29:01.750-05:00BTW, you did a terrific job of research and fact f...BTW, you did a terrific job of research and fact finding on this one NoizyMoxNixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12407914481361718041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942059813481083566.post-28174023564895860372013-10-28T14:26:23.266-05:002013-10-28T14:26:23.266-05:00That might be the real underlying issue. Favortism...That might be the real underlying issue. Favortism.<br /><br />Myself I'd actually be for an officially sanctioned RMT so long as it's controlled by CCP, is equally accessible to *all* players and does not require joining the good old boys club or going through favored 3rd parties (GTC resellers, etc.) taking a cut.MoxNixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12407914481361718041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942059813481083566.post-72155600680794265672013-10-28T12:02:31.989-05:002013-10-28T12:02:31.989-05:00Every day I just laugh more and more, quite sadly,...Every day I just laugh more and more, quite sadly, at the obvious fact that CCP has one set of rules for the typical player, and another set of rules for the favoured class.<br /><br />To suggest that the null sec cartels are not RMT'ing using whatever scheme they have devised is ludicrous. Why would anyone think that Somer-Blink is an isolated case of CCP looking the other way at RMT operations.Dinsdale Pirannhanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942059813481083566.post-48337407314295964022013-10-28T11:24:20.446-05:002013-10-28T11:24:20.446-05:00Ebay rule enforcement isn't necessarily consis...Ebay rule enforcement isn't necessarily consistent .. a lot of it requires actual complaints to be filed, but the proof does need to be presented beyond a face value statement.Ragellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10285176601838226959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942059813481083566.post-58038004307056403102013-10-28T11:08:27.475-05:002013-10-28T11:08:27.475-05:00They are not equal in that Poetic, if he really di...They are not equal in that Poetic, if he really did sell his PLEX for money, violated the EULA/ToS. Katarina, even though I believe she is violating the EULA/ToS, apparently isn't in CCP's eyes. And since CCP is the ones enforcing the rules, their opinion is what matters. Unsanctioned RMT is always worse than sanctioned RMT. Now if CCP will just change the rules so that Katarina's method can't be used anymore.<br /><br />Also, I have to caution everyone that Poetic's story sounds fishy to me. eBay has a rule against selling virtual goods like PLEX on their site. I'd need to hear exactly how he got around that prohibition before I believed it. I'm considering Poetic's story just like I considered the story that DNSBLACK was selling his main character; a troll until proven otherwise.NoizyGamerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17315716516032999133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942059813481083566.post-15373851546295756442013-10-28T09:17:54.291-05:002013-10-28T09:17:54.291-05:00Both Katarina and Poetic have engaged in RMT. Do y...Both Katarina and Poetic have engaged in RMT. Do you think both cases are equal and should be be against the tos/eula? <br />I find one of these despicable while the other gets nothing more as a shrug.<br />Raziel Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02545370350482232205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942059813481083566.post-4417193635085317582013-10-28T08:15:43.566-05:002013-10-28T08:15:43.566-05:00Thanks for getting some numbers which aren't s...Thanks for getting some numbers which aren't sensationnal or plain invented .<br /><br />Never thought that so many people would buy GTC's, even with the Somer Credits incentive. My next GTC will be from Katarina if she still is in business :-P<br /><br />Can't wait for CCP's answer to this xDChrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942059813481083566.post-16314802776134774682013-10-28T07:56:27.272-05:002013-10-28T07:56:27.272-05:00$4700/mo = $56,400/yr, $7500/mo=$90,000/yr. Not b...$4700/mo = $56,400/yr, $7500/mo=$90,000/yr. Not bad money for building a website. And if all your volunteers are paid in ISK then it works out even better.<br /><br />After due consideration I want to withdraw my objection to CCP giving Somerblink (30) of the IW Scorpions. It's clear that given the everyday scale of the money flowing through Somerblink those ships wouldn't amount to more than a few extra bucks for coffee.Ragellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10285176601838226959noreply@blogger.com