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now I won't get arrested for flying with an expired pilot's license

And we still have not solid answer even about multiboxing problem, wich is on first place, along with dozens other less critical problems. I am worried a lot.

The game is starting out free to new players.

-Liang

Upon recently returning I found the game to be depressingly empty, and while CCP really needs to do something to address the stagnation I fear this will not be a positive move.

The last time that CCP made a major push focusing on noobs in frigs(FW) was the beginning of the end for EVE, this could be the death knell.

FW focused on noobs in frigs and lead to everyone I knew, allies, enemies, acquaintances etc leaving the game within a short period of time.

Low sec used to thrive with just about everything. Ratters, miners, traders, industrialists, mission runners, explorers, pirates, anti-pies, mercs etc... As soon as they turned those regions into zones for noobs in frigs all of the ratters, miners, industrialists, mission runners, antipies, and generally non-combat oriented types deserted due to the startling appearance of fleets in local(give them 1 or 2 red flashy and they hardly notice, a constant fleet of noobs in frigs and they freak), node lag etc. Not long after that all the pirates left because noobs in frigs are not interesting or profitable targets for end-game piracy when you were used to going after marauders, faction bs, exhumers, capitals etc... Now we are at the point where a day-long low sec roam, even on the weekend is not likely to produce anything good because low sec was depopulated for good by FW.


So we are back at the point of adding more content geared solely towards noobs in frigs. So will we have massive t1 frig or cruiser fleets going around scaring off actual players just by being a general eyesore and/or causing node lag? Seems pretty likely to me!

Instant, unlimited and costless scaling? That can be easily grown into extraction funded Omegas at lower cost than current new accounts as well. So long as you can field the correct numbers there is no downside, especially as an augmentation to Omega clone characters.

Making limits on the number of Alphas accessible to a single player at the same time would have no effect on new players getting an opportunity to experience ganking whatsoever. I don't see any mention of adding any limits to safeties or other artificial barriers in the post you responded to so from the standpoint of a genuine new player that should be a non-issue.

This is literally a non-change since the game launched effectively. Eve has had golden ships and ammo gated behind money in one way or another since they were introduced, whether it be time that must be paid for or more recently injectors that can be obtained. And the reputation of EvE's training system will almost certainly continue to have the perception of being the greater factor separating haves and have nots in the game.

As far as reconciling differences in effectiveness, we haven't for 13 years. Why do we need to now? It's anything but a new condition and it's always been affecting new players, paid or not. What about this fundamentally changes the dynamic or creates the need for equal effectiveness on an infinite trial, which is what it is and needs to be managed as regardless of what gaming media calls it.

The worst thing they can do is back down on the limits and further confuse the nature of what Alpha clones are while diminishing the value of Omegas.

Right so the two biggest area's of concern your player base has point out, CCP is not concerned about.

/me gets popcorn.

This already exists. I can run as many ganking (or scout or PI or mining) accounts as my computer can handle today for no cost by selling my SP. In fact today, I still make several hundred million ISK per month even if I don't undock a single character on those accounts.

Why would there suddenly be a land-rush to create even more ganking accounts when anyone who has the interest can do so today? Inferior ganking accounts for that matter and ones that don't pay you to keep them running like an SP farm does.

Don't get me wrong, I think steps should be taken to limit veteran players from exploiting these Alpha accounts for all purposes including multiboxing ganking fleets. But this hysteria that highsec is going to collapse under the weight of 10 000 new highsec criminals is completely unfounded in reality. If people want to multibox free gank fleets they can do so today, no need to wait until November.

Did you not read the devblogs? CCP said that the second "clearest point" to emerge from the discussion so far was whether to use the safety system to lock Alpha accounts out from committing criminal acts. I have no problem with locking Alpha accounts to one or a few per person and think this probably will be necessary in the end. I do have a problem with locking potential customers out from a whole section of intended gameplay for unfounded reasons like the one Mr. Teg articulated.

A new feature of the game Clone states : Alpha is free, the games business model has not altered from subscription based, get your facts straight.

"As we mentioned in the Q and A, we know we can use the safety system to ensure there won’t be a problem if we need to, but we still aren’t sure if that will be necessary."

Seems like the best decision here is to err on the side of caution and enforce safeties temporarily. Lets wait a month or two for the dust to settle on Alphas and let players get used to it without having to worry about mass highsec ganking. Then after that, when things are for sure running smooth, relax the restrictions on safeties. That way you can focus on the results, players aren't overwhelmed with negative stuff on Alphas from the start, and you could revert the safeties back if necessary.

That seems like a good compromise to me.

Oh like these quotes from the larger online media pools

"After over a decade with a straight subscription model, the massively multiplayer space RPG EVE: Online is adding a free-to-play tier. While paid accounts will still exist for new and old players alike, the new free accounts will give gamers basic access to the vast EVE universe, "New Eden." "

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"13-years after its launch, EVE Online is going free-to-play, developer CCP Games has announced. The new subscription-free experience is being introduced by way of a feature called "Clone States."

The game will create two variants of players: Alpha Clones and Omega Clones. The former are able to "train and use a specific set of skills to fly some of the most often-used ships." Although these characters are able to experience the majority of the EVE Online's gameplay experience, their character development is somewhat restricted and they train skills at a slower rate than usual. They serve as a base character for those playing for free.

The Omega Clones, meanwhile, represent the current EVE players paying for access. They have "unlimited access to skill progression and rapid skill training." An active subscription can be purchased to develop an Alpha Clone into an Omega Clone. Those that allow their subscription to lapse will revert to an Alpha state; unlocked skills exclusive to the Omega Clones will be preserved, but won't be accessible until the a subscription is renewed."

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Space-bastard MMO EVE Online [official site] will go free-to-play in November, devs CCP announced today. It’ll introduce a new limited character type that anyone can play for free, keeping The Good Stuff for people who pay a subscription fee. Which is probably a good way to get more people into EVE.


So after all this hype where every single one still mentions in there articles that its still subs based but has a free option to play you still think theyre trying to dupe people .......