tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238324579504790.post1326128823643688208..comments2024-03-05T12:41:20.217-05:00Comments on Low Sec Lifestyle: Somergate 2014Sugar Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437978687639772023noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238324579504790.post-51678407723394993672014-08-24T02:09:12.127-04:002014-08-24T02:09:12.127-04:00oh cute, anyone notice how some dude who just got ...oh cute, anyone notice how some dude who just got back from their weekend/vacation/acidtrip is used as an excuse to stonewall some more? sound familiar? "oh, HAI GAIZ! sorry i'm completely clueless about something mysterious"<br /><br />really? oh right, i so must have missed the memo. Sorry about us assuming some scammer being obvious about it means it's obviously in the EULA preventing that...silly us.<br /><br />oh waitSeneschalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15394834866404413832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238324579504790.post-18026974005951437682014-08-21T13:00:08.506-04:002014-08-21T13:00:08.506-04:00So an out of game business named "Somer Blink...So an out of game business named "Somer Blink" using an in-game corporation of the same name, and advertising their services in various chat channels and on the forums (things which they have done), is somehow different than McDonalds using in-game accounts to advertise their services?<br /><br />The only distinction I see is one of scale, and the EULA does not say "only large multinational corporations may not use EVE accounts for business purposes".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238324579504790.post-45575830344663905812014-08-21T08:08:31.303-04:002014-08-21T08:08:31.303-04:00This is interesting - but the purpose of such a cl...This is interesting - but the purpose of such a clause is to prevent eg McDonalds from registering 1000 accounts and going around in a hamburgler fleet in lowsec or some such spamming the fk out of Jita local with offers for pizza or whatever. <br /><br />More broadly should The Mittani or Chribba or even The Angel Project be permabanned as they make money from their eve accounts. Hmmm does Sindel Pellion advertise her music with her toon? Or maybe Sugar Kyle if she decides to makes money from her position on CSM by selling ad space on this blog?<br /><br />Arguably if Somerset Mahm advertised Somer Blink without CCP approval by spamming Jita local then there could be an issue here. Otherwise you have someone playing eve while running a separate eve related business. If the business involves playing Eve a particular way then the clause is not violated. But if eg you are selling Geiko in Jita - which is so easy a Minmatar slave can do it then you got a problem. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238324579504790.post-91918034189490036482014-08-19T02:19:36.228-04:002014-08-19T02:19:36.228-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07788987233569602876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238324579504790.post-10946219288182992882014-08-18T20:06:53.432-04:002014-08-18T20:06:53.432-04:00I also added it to the forum post because I think ...I also added it to the forum post because I think it is a very, very good question.Sugar Kylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15437978687639772023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238324579504790.post-67213176129749826672014-08-18T18:29:08.772-04:002014-08-18T18:29:08.772-04:00Thanks!Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238324579504790.post-75683523124700610032014-08-18T17:43:42.557-04:002014-08-18T17:43:42.557-04:00Bot farms don't require players present apples...Bot farms don't require players present apples/oranges.Kaeda Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13954843678698092456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238324579504790.post-8631808677410343022014-08-18T17:40:22.393-04:002014-08-18T17:40:22.393-04:00Done. :)Done. :)Sugar Kylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15437978687639772023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238324579504790.post-75867184693852182522014-08-18T17:33:13.469-04:002014-08-18T17:33:13.469-04:00Sugar, there is one aspect of this issue which was...Sugar, there is one aspect of this issue which was brought up during the last Somer Blink scandal, and which I've seen mentioned again, but which has been consistently ignored and gone unaddressed by any CSM or CCP representative. I would like to hear your take on it, and whether you would be willing to bring it up in your discussions with CCP.<br /><br />The question in particular is in regard to this portion of the EULA, under the section on creating new accounts:<br /><br />"Accounts may not be used for business purposes. Access to the System and playing EVE is intended for your personal entertainment, enjoyment and recreation, and not for corporate, business, commercial or income-seeking activities. Business entities and anyone who is acting for or on behalf of a business or for business purposes may not establish an Account, access the System or play EVE. Accessing the System or using the Game for commercial, business or income-seeking purposes is strictly prohibited."<br /><br />During the last discussion, Somer Blink's previous PLEX affiliate (prior to Markee Dragon) reported that in their time working with Somer Blink, Somer's portion of the profits amounted to over $130,000. It is estimated that after switching to Markee Dragon, Somer has at the very least netted this same amount, but most likely much greater (based on lottery participation statistics from Somer Blink's site during these time periods).<br /><br />These amounts are clearly far above the purpose of using PLEX sales to support website costs which has been allowed by CCP, and fall squarely in the realm of a profit-generating business. As I recall, Somerset Mahm has even boasted about the multi-monitor top end computer he uses to play EVE, which was paid for by his site.<br /><br />So my question is this: setting aside all technicalities and legal loopholes of what is and isn't RMT, why are the accounts of any individuals associated with the Somer Blink website allowed to persist when they are obviously engaged in an income-seeking business which is facilitated through said EVE accounts?<br /><br />No one has ever offered a satisfactory answer to this question. For that matter, no one in any authority has even acknowledged this question. To my knowledge, no one has ever tried to argue that Somer Blink is not a business. So when the case is so clear, why is such a blatant violation of the EULA allowed to continue? I attempted to petition it myself, but was only met with the standard canned response which essentially amounted to "we'll look into it, but can't tell you what we decide." As Somer Blink is still operating, it's pretty certain that nothing ever came of it.<br /><br />So my request to you as a CSM member is whether you will confront CCP with this question, and see that they give their customers an explanation as to why their policies are not being equally applied or enforced? The primary purpose of the CSM has always been to provide transparency to the players, and to be a check against CCP misconduct. This situation would certainly seem to fall under that role.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238324579504790.post-11557590864305441902014-08-18T16:17:10.147-04:002014-08-18T16:17:10.147-04:00The problem, at least the way I see it, is not wha...The problem, at least the way I see it, is not what Somer are doing. It's that they are the only ones allowed to do it.Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238324579504790.post-57304056852475606942014-08-18T16:01:57.070-04:002014-08-18T16:01:57.070-04:00"Frankly I didn't see an issue last year ..."Frankly I didn't see an issue last year and I still don't see one now vOv"<br /><br />I totally agree. As long as I can cash out my isk in the same way I have no problem with it.Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12833194832880119225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238324579504790.post-87011120406780779402014-08-18T14:57:26.050-04:002014-08-18T14:57:26.050-04:00Naoru, somer did get stuff from thin air, remember...Naoru, somer did get stuff from thin air, remember magnategate/AT stratioses??<br /><br />Also, bot farms also dont produce anything from thin air.Michael Hararinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238324579504790.post-91019158383821900892014-08-18T13:10:46.690-04:002014-08-18T13:10:46.690-04:00Last year there was a sort of implied approval and...Last year there was a sort of implied approval and grey area, until it got out of control with players using the same scheme Somer was using to cash out their ISK. Then CCP issued an "Enough is enough, now cut the shit" order and it stopped. No bans were handed out, or at least made public.The Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09943719085849242739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238324579504790.post-86437702327726289352014-08-18T09:50:29.364-04:002014-08-18T09:50:29.364-04:00Special relationships are what keep EVE going!
Wh...Special relationships are what keep EVE going!<br /><br />Why are CCP so keen to avoid any mention of special relationships and details of ALL the parties?<br /><br />It must be terrible to be in this position...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238324579504790.post-12793641083249516742014-08-18T09:33:42.803-04:002014-08-18T09:33:42.803-04:00Or if they approved it, they you know approved it ...Or if they approved it, they you know approved it and know exactly what is going on and stand by their approval. And have to do absolutely nothing at all. Because CCP makes CCP policy and not EVE's players.<br /><br />Frankly I didn't see an issue last year and I still don't see one now vOv Nothing is being introduced into the in game economy from thin air and as long as that doesn't happen I have no quarrel with it.Kaeda Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13954843678698092456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238324579504790.post-5520799715041209822014-08-18T08:42:39.098-04:002014-08-18T08:42:39.098-04:00Posting here to avoid the noise elsewhere.
There&...Posting here to avoid the noise elsewhere.<br /><br />There's a lot of talk around about Somer breaking the EULA last year. I don't recall any bans or similar action. So either Somer is getting preferential treatment, or as was suggested by some people at the time, Somer technically wasn't in breach of the EULA.<br /><br />What CCP did last year, was change the conditions of resale for PLEX, and basically told the resellers that if they wanted to continue they'd have to stop any such deals.<br /><br />So CCP cut the PLEX supply, they didn't punish Somer.<br /><br />Presumably Markee have checked with CCP over this new scheme, it would be huge risk for them to allow Somer to do this without doing so. Somer "CCP approved" statement probably follows from this.<br /><br />If CCP did approve this, then somebody needs to hauled over the coals for this - they should've known what was going on.<br /><br />If CCP didn't approve this, then CCP should close Markee's reseller account, and warn any others that if they deal with Somer they're likely to go the same way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com