EVE General Discussion

Except I can play Blink having never put a single ISK into it, purely because of the affiliate program.

The entire point is that you have a cash transaction that turns into ISK for the player, apart from the standard and accepted way that GTC are supposed to work.
Saying that the cash part doesn't count because it's out-of-game is the most preposterous thing I've ever seen you say.

Blink Credits should not be used in relation to isk and real money in the same capacity.

The fact they are even associated with one another is an element of money laundering and RMT being lost in currency conversions between real money and isk.

If you want to host a site that has mini games to play as a bonus to the GTC you purchased, that is legitimate.

If you host a site that has mini games you can play by purchasing credits with isk, that is legitimate.

Connecting the 2 together to not be able to distinguish which blink credit was purchased with what currency becomes a conflict of interest for the company that has a strong policy on RMT.

The fact CCP endorses this is quite simply, bad form.

Not illegal as it were, but bad form just the same. And ruins the same integrity they(CCP) work hard to uphold.

No amount of arguing will change that.

It can be if you choose it to be.

Or you can gamble for the possibility of a higher exchange rate at the risk of getting a lower rate.

Except they don't pay players in game items to use their referrals. If they did, it would be RMT.

It's Somer's ISK. They earned it and they can use it however they like.

Just like any other entity in the game. From the five dozen regulars in the Buddy Invite thread giving away the ISKies they don't have until someone actually uses their service, to corporate GTC resellers giving it away as incentive.

As long as you aren't printing it or using it against the TOS , you can do whatever you like as to giving it away.

It's the very foundation of Capitalism. Use money to make money. I'm sure if there was something hinky going on, CCP would be right on top of it. Forum lawyers don't actually know more about these things than the actual corporate lawyers that CCP pays the big bucks to, so just give it a rest, people.

Mr Epeen

Somer makes real cash off an ingame service. Its RMT. Plain and simple. And if it's not then say its not rmt to make real cash off of CCP intellectual property.

How about you remove the referral program from SomerBlink and operate independently? No? Whys that? You want that real money for your ingame casino service?

Can I charge real currency to daytrade isk in game? No? Whys that?

I assume Somerset Mahm is a play on Somerset Mom? Would that be Somerset New Jersey? Somerset County Maryland? Is there taxes being paid on this referral program? Is it a legit business? Should be public information.

http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/cogdev.net#trafficstats

Interesting demographics. Mostly American visitors.

You know online gambling is illegal in the US right?

pillsburylaw.com/siteFiles/Media/files/Make%20Sure%20Your%20Virtual%20Currency%20Doesn't%20Enter%20Illegal%20Gambling%20Territory(1).pdf

What the States Say
Elements of Gambling: Most states regulate these activities by prohibiting illegal lotteries. In states where lotteries are legal, they typically authorize state-run lotteries but prohibit private-sector lotteries.
In most states, an illegal lottery or gambling involves three elements:
1. Payment of some form
of consideration by user
2. Result determined by chance
3. Award/prize, something of value
In general, if all three elements are present, that offering may be an ille-
gal lottery and may be considered gambling. If any of these elements is removed, the offering will generally fall outside the anti-lottery/gambling laws. If payment of consideration is eliminated, the result is typically a sweepstakes. If chance is eliminated, the activity can be a lawful skill-based contest. While these three elements seem to be fairly simple definitions, interpretation is not.

Ive played EVE a few years now. Ive never been offered a blink credit yet.

I assume I have to make a purchase.

After I make that purchase I have a chance.....

to win something of value.

The value doesn't have to be of the gamblers perception. Merely the intellectual property owner. Does CCP find value in their game items? Easy enough to prove. Use their material without their explicit permission. I think you'll find they have attached a value to it.

As a player I too attach the same value for the license to use their intellectual property. Hence I and others spend our cash to purchase those licenses. Those same licenses that are being gambled for illicitly through a Markee Dragon supported front company, Somerblink. Somerblink which as far as I can tell cannot be used without first making a purchase through Markee Dragon.

You can get in game ISK too. I took the payout for 2 Raptors I 'won"

Sounds like these lotteries are a bunch of RMT isk launderers to me.. Wouldn't that be something... go back to the beginning of all this, imagine if everything that has happened completely backfired on the ones that complained the loudest, that Blink's financial state begins to crumble when they are no longer to operate in the way that they have, causing an Eve Great Depression. All of New Eden begins to horde their isk not stimulating the economy, people begin biomassing by the thousands no longer happy with their experience in Eve, all over some silly extinct ships and a "Show of Favor" like Somber Blink needed it with their Fort Knox Coffers they have built up over the years. Give me a break friends.. CCP had an idea that would be exciting and get them some marketing, not to mention have Somber make a bit of money and some guys win ships they will never undock. I love you all but its not really that serious, and if it is serious, make CCP give me the Winning Pot and I will ensure its safety, I promise...