EVE General Discussion

Sure, and I'm not saying CCP should ban people willy-nilly, or just because there's angry people posting on the forums. But nothing requires CCP to have an air-tight case. If they decide that it's more likely that Somer intentionally tried to deceive them, that's a perfectly fine reason to take action.

Maybe my wording distracted from my intent. I was implying that CCP will have trouble finding enough evidence to warrant a ban as all the relevant info regarding this being RMT is between SOMER and the GTC affiliate.

Excellent question. +1

Due to eye cancer, I have not read the previous posts. After finally re-sub'ing earlier tonight, I loaded to see "This channel is closed now."
I'm from Kentucky, live on a farm and try to live RL and gaming by honour and integrity.
I'm really hoping all this gets worked out. I tend to ramble, but there are a couple points embedded.

I've won enough isk to make most in this game puke. I've been a Blinker since close to the beginning. In the beginning was a lot of drunk luck. As with anything of random ordered chaos, I got pretty good noticing the patterns. A lot of players played the odds, I played the beauty. I even tried to convince Somer on how to program the music I could see so others could listen while they played.
I was the first and second person to reach a trillion won on Blink. The original first person was found out by a 'samaritan hacker'(i like that phrase, TM) to have been purchasing isk illegally. Which In no way could SomerBlink be at fault. Here in the states we have incredible problems with the good prince of Nigeria and others who try to extort and steal. A problem for ALL enterprises in and of Eve.
I also remember in the beginning and after, there were convo's btwn CCP and Somer (that I only heard/read about in public channels) as he worked and crafted Blink to find out what were the rules. And rules such as the 3rd party licensing stuff (things i don't understand and which is probably not even an issue here) were not even invented yet. Some confusions just may lie in that the sandbox is also applicable to some of the ever changing and ever sculpted parts of Eve's evolution. Some parts are needing a re-balancing so to speak.

Mostly when I won, I would credit the winnings for the extra credit. I thought the practice by some of quick recycling the isk to get a certain award a bit gouche (which is legal and w/in those players rights of play). But really I didn't like the idea of adding tedium to the staff, they have stuff to deliver. Believe I only asked for pre-auth once over the years.
Kind, considerate, gentle, fun, honourable, genuine and sincere of spirit, word and task is how I describe Somer, Andrev and staff.
When I started to sell off my larger items in game for my hiatus, while Everyone I spoke with wouldn't give over 10%-ish of value, Blink not only gave me fair price, they gave the absolute fair price. No haggle, no wait btwn days to never to unload. And it felt wonderful. Those in industry understand the 'albatross sorrow'(TM) of building some items.

I used to purchase plex from BattleClinic(is a good place and good ppl). I believe in supporting good endeavours. Then came Blink, I watched for a time and I found everything in the people, the fun, the programming all to be a rather rejuvenating atmosphere for Eve. So I bought plex through SomerBlink even when there was only a pittance of an incentive. (seriously, it was a pittance.)
From the time of when I was a stranger, to an acquaintance, to my fevered ramblings in channel (which I always found myself very adorable), always I was treated kindly and never did I even feel a hint of deception or malicious intent.

For now I purchase plex through Amazon. I've only purchased once through the Markee Dragon link as I had been waiting until issues with CCP were resolved.
Reasons I buy plex: Those of us who are all grown up and can afford some play money in their budget, have the right. I believe in CCP and their abilities, so while I could take advantage of the PLETHORA of ways to use ingame currency to play for free, I choose to support CCP as a company I believe in by purchasing my play. I try to buy locally in RL to support my community and so I do for Eve.
(Note to some, yes I do buy plex, but when you have a few 6yr old accounts, it's pretty easy to get in game isk if you want. Be patient, skill up and play on.)

Summary: However this turns, It's not a deal breaker for me with CCP. They are good people, who in the end, do what's right by the community for both fairness and fun. (except i just got a PS4 and haven't gotten to try Dust. 'sup?)
And Somer, if ever in KY, you're welcome to come figure out this damn computer in my tractor for me. Andrev too, but only if he brings suckling meats we may smoke.
(Notice I just invited strangers. That's how much I respect and believe in Somer's steadfast character.)
YOUR KING AND LOVED ONE, L'amour Sauvage

This entire situation raises a worrying aspect about how CCP operates as a company.

I find it very disturbing / worrying that CCP Falcon who is the Community Manager was only made aware of this by the CSM.

Surely this should of been something that was brought to his, or at least his teams attention when the proposal was first brought forward by Somer. I would of also thought that sites such as Somer, Eve Bet, Dotlan etc fall under the Community Teams jurisdiction so to speak.

Something should of been in put in place where if a player or entity approaches CCP with a proposal of this nature that it would be bounced over the Community Team for vetting especially after what happened last year.

Maybe in the future CCP should create some kind of framework where fan created sites that use the Eve IP such as those already mentioned have a direct contact with the Community Team and any new ventures or ideas must be run past them first and not just some VP in Sales / Legal who most likely has never played the game or even cares.

Communication can be is a great thing, maybe its time CCP really used it

It's a general fault in many gaming companies that their sales rep or top brass for that matter have very little understanding of the product they're actually selling.
This if of c. a smaller matter when dealing with in game promotional stuff for COD XI and not for an MMO game such as EvE.

Thank you very much for answering. You are the sole statue of trust in CCP rightnow and you got a heavy bourden on your shoulders. I again admired your dedication today.

Hope everything will be good for us all.

For the sake of gaining the trust of the community back, that change is crucial.

Being the sole sane guy in there, your job is hard but I am sure that you wil achieve this also.

Although please, let CCP know that, to prove they are treating people equally, they have to treay somerset mahm like every other RMT'r out there.

I am not trying to "hang" the guy, but I simply demand equal treatment.

The CSM has been given an incredible amount of access and data on all of this, and is of course considering all angles as well. We'll be as open as we can when we can, for now though we're going to keep doing our jobs to help ensure the best end result for the EVE community as a whole.

We just need to wait till someone fills the void after SOMER