EVE General Discussion

'Emergent gameplay' does not include manipulating a programming error for your own gain. Where I come from, such things are often considered 'cheating'.

This was not a programming error. Its not like they fat-fingered a number. This was CCP creating a game mechanic and not spending even a second thinking about how it would work in the wild.

There was no programming error. Every individual action was legitimate, and was working as intended. However, the system as a whole had unforeseen consequences.

Your post is so full of wild rumours and strange conclusions I'm not sure a rational person can provide any kind of answer that you'll understand.

It's a very thin line that CCP has to walk. On one hand they want to be handsoff as possible and just let the game evolve but there will be times when they will have to step in and right the ship.

I think that had this remained between the parties involved and CCP any remediation, with or without additional penalties, would have a great chance of being less. By broadcasting this on the forums and having it picked up by mutiple media outlets, CCP has been put in a very awkward position. I don't know anyone who likes being in an awkward position.

At any rate I am glad that this broken mechanic was recognized and that in the future both CCP and those involved are able to learn something from it.

That reactor thing I know more about, and this isn't like that. There wasn't a coding error like there was there. CCP deliberately made the system as it was and simply failed to anticipate the consequences. There was no error other than a deficit in thinking. That's pretty different.

exploit = verb (used with object)
1. to utilize, especially for profit; turn to practical account: to exploit a business opportunity.
2. to take advantage of (a person, situation, etc), esp unethically or unjustly for one's own ends
3. to make the best use of: to exploit natural resources

You can try to portray it as something else, the fact remains it definitely wasn't noble or heroic. Clearly those involved have way too much time on their hands and instead of just playing the game, they spend their free time looking for loopholes to gain an advantage. They put pen to paper and started working the numbers in order to find a bug for the sole purpose of exploiting it for personal gain. Now if they had immediately notified CCP of their findings instead of actually putting it into action for over a month, then they would have been heroes.

Hell, it could even be reasoned that a small test was needed in order to verify the numbers on paper since it was a conceived plan of action placed on paper with specific steps. While testing it, when the facts started showing that the projected findings on paper were indeed accurate, that's when it should have been reported to CCP. It could easily have been reported after 100's of millions of ISK was made to validate the numbers on paper. Going for billions would have raised eyebrows and some questions but could still be viewed as acceptable. However, going for trillions and working it for over a month is definitely taking advantage of the situation, in other words, an exploit.

To make matters worse, they had the audacity and arrogance to gloat about it here on the forums.

As per forum rules :

Sure, gratz to them for researching the numbers on paper and finding a way to work the system for their benefit. The issue here is that instead of reporting it and asking if it was viable game play, they chose to exploit it for personal gain and then brag about it on the forums.

I managed it once, but it took a herring, 3 AAA Batteries, and a pair of LeBron's leiderhosen. I won't bore you with the details though.

If the sandbox is real, then the 1% can remove the money from the public (*cough* US financial meltdown *cough*) which the goons have done. And the 99% can pull an Iceland (and maybe a Greece) and realize that their fiat currency is no longer worth anything, declare bankruptcy, and/or switch to a new currency leaving the 1% holding worthless script.

Aurum! It's the new Plastics!

I doubt CCP would deem blowing up your own freighters filled with literally billions of ISK worth of loot to work the game mechanics for personal gain as "working as intended".

Should the mechanics have been tested better - they were probably tested adequately enough and i'm sure CCP were aware of the possibility this could happen - but they prob assumed that outliers in this magnitude would not be taken advantage of....
That was their mistake.

Its not "breaking the sandbox" to reverse any gains made by a few highly dedicated, organized and intelligent players, and any players who have received a donation from it.

I think the only question CCP are contemplating is whether or not bans are required for knowing a game mechanic could be used in such a way and taking advantage of it instead of doing the "right" thing and filing a detailed bug report - including the "uber spreadsheet".

The funny thing is that the guys involved are now minus all the ISK they invested with no profit to show.... Only gain is street (forum) credit for pulling off the heist. Which is all they Probably care about anyway.

I think its pretty cool what they did - congratz guys. But CCP do need to take your sack of loot i'm afraid :(