Slashdot Mirror
EVE Online Players Rage, Protest Over Microtransactions
Several readers have written with news of a controversy that's been slowly building in space-based MMO EVE Online. "It all began with the Incarna update, which added an item shop to the long-running sci-fi sandbox. Players began to voice their concerns over the bizarrely high prices of items in the shop, with one particular item reaching an insane $68 US. Before this hullabaloo had the chance to so much as come to a simmer, an internal newsletter from CCP was leaked to the internet. The document outlined the introduction of microtransactions into EVE and mentioned that at some point, ships, ammunition, and so forth may be available for purchase with real-world currency. This naturally sent players into even more of a frenzy." Reader Ogre332 points out additional coverage, but notes that many publications are missing the punchline: "Players are angry that CCP has blatantly lied about their intentions and have responded to these customers concerns by basically telling us they know what we want better than we do. The purported e-mail from CCP CEO Hilmar Pétursson was like gas on a fire, and a response to some concerns in the form of a dev blog was not well received at all. Players are protesting, and many claim to be canceling their accounts left and right."
This is not "Not News for Nerds" nor "Stuff That Matters", and here's why:
The people that play Eve Online do so after agreeing to its Terms of Service.
Link: EVE Online TERMS OF SERVICE. One of its sections states:
CCP MAY FIND IT NECESSARY ON OCCASION TO MAKE CHANGES TO OR RESET CERTAIN PARAMETERS OF THE PERSISTENT GAME WORLD MECHANICS, INTERFACE OR FEATURES OF EVE ONLINE IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN GAME BALANCE AND ENHANCE PLAYABILITY OR PERFORMANCE FOR ITS SUBSCRIBERS. THESE CHANGES MAY AFFECT OR CAUSE SETBACKS FOR THE CHARACTERS YOU’VE CREATED.
The next paragraph states:
"THESE RULES MAY BE REVISED AT ANY TIME. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO REVIEW THEM OCCASIONALLY TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE RULES, POLICIES AND AGREEMENTS DESIGNATED BY CCP."
So, I say "Fuck 'em - even if they were too lazy to read the TOS, they are still bound by it."
They are free to gripe, bitch, etc., but in the end, they have no recourse.
It's a game, they paid to play under the terms offered. If they don't like the changes, they are free to quit. If they think that they're "owed" anything, they're delusional: They gained whatever they did, BEFORE the changes... so, they've already benefited from the money they spent.
Sorry, but I've no sympathy: I've played the original EverQuest for over 11 years now, and have occasionally been pissed off as SOE has attempted to make it more "WoW-like"... but, I CHOSE to continue to play. If I were sufficiently angered, I'd quit, but it wouldn't make me think that all of time and money spent previously was wasted, nor would I think that I was somehow entitled to protest and have such recognized simply because of the money I knowlingly spent and the time I willingly consumed.
I suppose that this is one of the ways that I'm different from the "Entitled Generations" that came after me... I actually *read* the TOS', etc., read it when it's updated, and then decide whether or not I wish to be bound by its terms.
That, of course, is contrary to many of the people here on Slashdot these days, who think that such are merely suggestions, or can be ignored 'cause they didn't read them or disagree with them.
Regards,
dj