Incarna's Impact

  It seems that in the time from my last post, hardly much time at all, Incarna has made splash after splash. In the end I had to re-download my entire client, find my preferences folder and replace it with my old one since they moved its location. That was fun. But, I was able to get in and have my own glances over the new shinies.

  So where to start? We'll go with impressions and pictures first. While it is a bit of a nuisance to wait for your person to load just at docking, I don't think it takes too long after the initial time. You can also click a setting to take off the requirement of walking around all together if you really feel it is necessary. I do not. I enjoy it as I had hoped I would ad I find that even just walking in a limited space for now is infinitely better than spinning a ship in circles repetitively. The interfaces are pretty neat too.

The new digs. Click for bigness.

  On the left in that picture is your corp windown, then all the news and whatnot in the center with PI on the right. The table holds your ship model and an agent finder. That finder is pretty cool, since I was always tired of having to go to standing, find the corp, find the agents and then try to figure out who is where. This is quite handy and much appreciated by this capsuleer. 

The new agent finder. Click for bigness.

Chillin' on the couch catchin' up. Click for bigness.

  

  And of course, now your ship looks a little more impressive and, while some feel otherwise, I feel a bit more scale from the models. 

Loving that Legion view. Click for bigness.

  While this may only be a 20 minute distraction right now, keep in mind that many things are now able to build on this and there is plenty of content to come. I do find it a bit ridiculous that after 5 or so years, this is the most they can give us, but it is what it is. 

  Other changes came in the form of turret redesigns. It is something that is small, but sweet and just adds more to the game in details. New players might be able to appreciate is more than the bittervets, but even so it's another tool for immersion. And scouting, since now you can match high slots to actual turrent positions. So win, win. \o/

  An unexpected change, at least for me, was the probing change. All probes that you use are able to contribute to the strength of a signature, meaning you could get a warpable hit with just three probes. It also makes full Astrometrics skill viable and worth training.  Eve-O has a thread going on this if you want to follow along.

  The change to jump bridges was finally implemented. This means that no system can have more than one jump bridge and networks are going to be a bit different from now on. This change was delayed, but now that it is in game it seems there are reports of more sub cap fleets fighting for sov and not supercap hotdrops. This is good news for many.

  Then, after all the fun of patching and breaking and shinies, came the storm. Aurum prices were found to be a bit ridiculous and the (in)famous example being the monocle. This thread is one giant troll, which can be funny but a bit stupid at the same time. Also..how is it so hard to spell monocle right? Oh, :internet:. It cost over a billion in conversion just to buy a completely useless and frankly ugly pixelized piece for your avatar. It is the definition of waste. But people can do it, so they will. For that $60, you might as well get a real one though.  

  Not all were receptive to this new business model, however. Pandemic Legion has gone beyond just talking and is now implementing a policy of kicking anyone who finds it necessary to waste resources in such a way and not allowing anyone to be recruited that has history of dealing in these MTs. They are reported to be in talks with other alliances to push this initiative further and give the middle finger to CCP. Eve does have quite a unique community and when they are motivated, you may want to watch out. 

  But the MT drama hardly stopped there. Rumors started flying about a leaked document from CCP internals, later given credit by Massively. The leak was an internal newsletter that talked about taking micro-transactions further and making non-vanity items available, a move that would anger much of the player base. However, in the original leak a second page was not shown that held a disclaimer stating all of that information to be opinions and not policy. So, do not go throwing Molotovs into CCP buildings just yet. 

  It seems this expansion, with all the anticipation, hate, tears, and praises, has been quite the event this summer. And here I thought it was going to be another slow summer for Eve Online. Silly me.

  What are your thoughts and impressions?

-Mem 

Aurum: The Beginning of the End

  Now my title may be a bit dramatic, but it is certainly the sentiment that many seem to hold with CCP's recent press release. While the idea of micro-transactions was thought to have already been shot down, CCP has shown otherwise by giving a new system of currency called "Aurum".  Anyone else notice the Spanish there? Little weak to use it, but what do I know.

   What does this mean? Using the middle man of a PLEX for the conversion it means that people can by pretty pretty things for their avatar. Completely useless items that will royally screw PLEX prices that are already in the ridiculous zone. Have you looked at the prices lately? Within 2 days I watched prices go from selling for 375 to 392 million ISK. This is getting out of hand and will only be worsened by this new Aurum system. CCP supposedly reserves the right the screw with PLEX prices and not tell us, but I find that stupid, frankly.

  At this rate, I won't be able to play much longer. I have zero money IRL...zero, since all of it is going towards a certain ring and nobody will hire me for the summer. That's a different headache altogether. No, the only way I can play my favorite game is PLEXing it with ISK I work to save up each month. On top of that I am PLEXing two accounts so that I can function in wspace. That's definitely not going to keep up. This makes me rather angry, but why would CCP care about just one or two people that can't keep it up?

  The real problem for them will come if they ever give items that directly affect flying by giving an advantage to the pilot that others will have to spend real money on as well to even the field. That is when you will see a mass cancelation of accounts. Will I go that far? It may be moot with prices so high, but I may if I am still around. CCP is quickly pulling their sandbox out of the stars and into the mud. I would advise them to seriously consider their aim. I understand that they are a relatively small developer in the industry and young. I know that in business you must adapt or die. But do not destroy such a long running and loved universe for your business model. It will only breed contempt.

  My words, however, will go unnoticed and unheeded. The only thing we can do at present is watch and hope they don't go the wrong way or that we can push them back on track. We have that, as much as many don't think so, with the CSM who has already been giving CCP a stern talking to.

  Needless to say, I am a bit pissed. Perhaps, though, it will get to a point that buying PLEX with USD will become viable for me to get rich and keep my account alive. ISK is devaluing so very quickly these days.

  Stay strong, capsuleers, and stand united when needed.
-Mem