EVE General Discussion

Well, if one was to analyze CCP's Guard OP, assuming he wrote all of that ... it's really nothing more that a fluffy damage control post which sidesteps most of the angst against it.

First few paragraphs is a subtle attempt to devalue the gifts given, lessening the impact ... whilst at the same time avoiding critical questions. The middle attempts to provide justification through weak blanket comparisons, instead of on a case-by-case basis and the rest deflects the arrow aimed at it through a "let's all move forward" routine.

I think they missed explaining on WHY those ISW weren't pulled, with all the pertaining juicy details.

The fact that they allowed a third-party to sponsor an EVE related event puts CCP at a disadvantage when it comes to negotiation. Think of it as a goodwill debt towards the third-party .... i.e. CCP owes them something. Those blind to this fact will say .. no no, it's of mutual benefit - a win-win situation. Well my dear fellow, read up on the controversies surrounding TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) Agreement and tell me, can you smell a rat? These agreements were supposedly of mutual benefits to its signatories ... supposedly. There's plenty of other cases of insidious and subtle maneuvering towards an end goal(s) that masks itself as beneficial/mutually beneficial - prev example was just from top of my head.

Hammer down policies for 3rd party sponsorship so that you'll never be put at a ransom. Evaluate each offer on a case-by-case basis.
Integrity should never, ever be compromised.

You are being far to reserved for my tastes.

The OP could be summarised as saying:

"Somer does a lot of good for the community, so to support them we gave them 30 trits worth of ships. This has upset a few people so we will be responsible and introduce new rules to give prizes by"

Somer doesnt do any good for the community. Somer is just good at raking in isk from its eve punters hand over fist, and strategically sponsoring events to get even more punters on its website losing isk.

CCP saw fit to reward said behaviour with hundreds of billions in unique rare ships and constant promotion and vouches.

Question to CCP: Are you trying to promote more of us to start up online gambling ventures in eve?

Again I dont expect an answer as CCP purely made this thread to do their 'avoid the issue' dance.

If you run the SCL, you didn't build that! SOMERBlink did.

lol

except that's not true at all.

example: the player count record thingy a while ago.

Agreed on all points.

The fact of the matter is SOMER moves plexes. All this banter back and forth with Guard is simply trying to dance around the edges of this debacle and sooth the minds of angry players with attention via blue posts.

No offense Guard, you're just the messenger.

That's a cool idea. If you guys can handle yourself in...the danger zone!

It is simple, so simple:

1) CCP should not endorse an in game corp by giving them responsibility of thousands of dollars in prizes, they should run their own raffles. They should have no close dealings with in game corporations at all that could be seen as supporting one corporation over another. Especially not if those corporations deal in isk to the extent that SOMER does. Not when isk has such real world value and a huge impact on a player driven economy.

2) If CCP wants to reward anyone directly for contributions, they should be with token, out of game prizes such as ship models, usb hubs, signed art, etc.. Honestly those prizes, to worthy recipients, would be cherished far more than a ship.

But instead of it being addressed fundamentally, (which has nothing directly to do with Somer, other than the fact they are clearly an IN GAME entity) we get continued defense of Somer by CCP Guard. Guard, it's making you look bad. Very bad.

You are a community developer and you are dismissing the concerns of members of that community to defend one in game corporation that happens to make and then throw around a lot of in game currency. You are constantly taking the side of SOMERblink in your posts, and defending them. But you state, even yourself, that you are defending them because they've handed out a lot of isk. Listen to yourself! You have been, albeit indirectly, bought.

SOMER gives a lot of isk out and they get the attention and approval of CCP Guard and others. If SOMER gains the approval of devs because they tossed isk around in the game that is wrong. It is influence peddling. It is bribery. It is conflict of interest. You do not need to take the isk directly into your pocket for it to be so.

Sorry CCP Guard, but you've failed us. SOMERblink clearly has you in their pocket - even if indirectly because they toss isk around in the game. You've been bought, and nothing you say regarding them hold any weight anymore. Sad.

Well yes that is exactly what I am saying. SOMER sponsors to make more isk for SOMER and SOMER's 'employees', and further its in game business.

You are literally trying to label an online gambling service a charity, are you mad? All Gambling organisations extensively use sponsorships as part of their business model.

Somtimes I wonder If what I am reading is real with online forums.

"Many people enjoy gambling in casinos on a weekly basis, however most people hate this idea".

This is a perfectly valid sentence, if you cant make sense of it that is a YOU thing.

Another YOU thing seems to be this implied belief that maybe the ships really are worth 30 trit?

Excellent point.

Now, if you could show me what content SB created, we will have a basis for a discussion.