EVE General Discussion

Refusing to even acknowledge an issue exists became the "proper response" a loooong time ago.

Yes - the channels the money went into were less obvious, but the amount of money 'donated' to SB was way higher and whilst T20 was a single devs misconduct which CCP apologized for and founded the 'clownpuppets to sanctify misbehaviour' as a consecquence (hi Malcanis), SB was official company policy.

Anyway - I don't want this thread to decline into some discussion on who did what and what was worse. So please, mods, remove posts not related to the primary question.

I just want an answer to the original question:

What's CCPs final word on the Somer Blink issue?

T20 was pretty bad because of the direct involvement but that was almost exclusively ingame benefits. The thing about Somer and the sweetheart deals that HE got and is still getting generate massive real life money profits.

CCP lost a lot of their balls, sad to say. They should admit they f'ed up and give everyone a damm Ish Scrop :P

They did already answer it.
IWS's were given to a number of groups. They realise that the procedure wasn't robust & transparent and have stopped all give aways while they implement a better way of handling community give aways. The fact you feel Somer are not a community group is irrelevant, CCP decided they were and recognised them along side five other groups who got IWS issued to them.

Somers ISK for GTC (In the form of Blink credits) was reviewed and reclassified as unacceptable practice when originally it had been classified as allowed, and all agencies using the method (Again, not just Somer) were given a set time period to get their house in order. Judging by the IA I got, and I believe a Dev posted something similar but can't confirm, they realised in hindsight they probably gave too long a grace period, but as it related to contractual issues & RL money, once that grace period was given, it couldn't be reviewed again without risk of lawsuits. If Somer continue to do this even in secret, then they are 'now' engaging in RMT activities and will be banned.

They already clearly answered the other give away as well, see the first paragraph for 'reviews on future give aways'

The only thing they haven't answered is what form future give aways might take, but until they answer that, they have stated they have all give aways on hold, and so far seem to be continuing that hold. If they start give aways up again without giving us that transparent process they promised, then we have a leg to stand on & complain, till then they have actually answered everything, just not the way you personally want them to so you are ignoring their replies.

And if you think any of it was an inside job, contact IA with your evidence. They will listen. Provided you have evidence linking them and not just tin foil conspiracy theories.

Except people can compete now. Blaming past environment on current affairs isn't a real argument, it's an excuse for failure, and starting from a defeatist attitude. Somer no longer can leverage any advantage from their massive pile of built up isk.

Did they get advantage in the past by taking best advantage of CCP's generic policies. Sure, no argument there, did they abuse CCP, no argument there either. But they did it within the rules (Unless someone can prove Dev collusion rather than just tin foil hat because someone else got something shiny). But so could anyone else have gotten themselves into the same position, Somer simply used the tools well.

And I'm never going to support any calls to delete peoples assets just for being jerks and taking advantage of things that are allowed. Otherwise gankers should all be banned instantly.

Except you can compete with it, you just have to do it the hard way, build yourself up using the current rules regarding all that sort of business to your best advantage and slowly expand. Somer didn't happen overnight, they have been around for years, so start & build. And in five years you might be where Somer is today.

But crying about the past isn't going to achieve anything. Nor is a witch-hunt. Why bother doing anything if when CCP changes the rules at some point in the future you can be banned for an action taken back when it was legal.

The main thing is already done. The imbalance in the playing field has been corrected. Now you just have to spend the time to build a team that can match an already existing one. That's totally different from a playing field issue.

Sure, Somer is sitting on a fat pile of isk. Don't get me wrong, I don't like what Somer did, and will tell anyone who asks me to never touch their site after their blatant money grab when CCP changed their policies.
But there really is no difference between that isk and the isk goons have from the tech moon monopoly either. It was smart use of an allowed mechanic. Even if it was a terribly poor mechanic.

I just don't have the tin foil conspiracy hat on that says CCP will change rules just for him. A rules change 'might' end up benefiting him, not every change can hurt him after all, but as long as everyone gets the same rules to play by, it's just about using them.

The one where the goons took advantage of the rules CCP had set, (I.e. the in game conditions which clustered tech & made tech a required bottleneck item for all T2 production) & made a bucket of isk with it. Smart use of something that was allowed. Exactly what Somer did to make their isk also.

They didn't break any rules. They just abused them as close to breaking as they could. Totally Jerks, doesn't make them worthy of a ban or witch hunt. Just persuade everyone they are jerks and to stop using their product and they will collapse and new people who aren't utter jerks might take their place, or a new bunch of jerks might move in.

i feel you haven't got a clue what we're discussing here.