About me as a player
I like eve most when it is hard mode. I started out in eve as many do, mining in highsec belts. I very quickly made the leap to mining in lowsec and wormhole space and here I learned that internet spaceships are just tools for me in a complex game of chess. I have had many adventures in eve, learning to survive and prosper in many different play styles from nullsec warfare, to lowsec, to wormhole space, small gang, fleet warfare, piracy, trade, and tournaments, I’m happy to embrace all play styles at least once.
Not long after I started playing I watched an Alliance Tournament stream (ATVII) and was instantly hooked. I took part in my first tournament with Brick Squad years ago and have since taken part in pretty much every CCP tournament thereafter and had successes and a lot of fun with both Ministry of Inappropriate Footwork & The Tuskers.
More recently I have been heavily involved in organising tournaments, through the organisation run by close friend Nashh Kadavr and myself, EVE_NT. I have organised and executed four 64 player tournaments at EVE_NT Nottingham, 6 online seasons (Collides, Fight Club EVE_NT Championship), 2 weekend cups and a bunch of other one off events in which hundreds of players have taken part, both as competitors and volunteers. For the first weekend of Alliance Tournament last year and two weekends this year I was producer and creative director of the EVE_NT coverage which was fantastic fun and we received a lot of high praise for our efforts.
I have also been a big part of helping to organise the 5 Nottingham EVE_NT meetups through which I have met some fantastic people in the community - many who I keep in touch with. Attending and organising these events has really helped me appreciate that EVE is no longer just a computer game, but it is a portal through which a like minded group of people share their lives, from all places on the planet, and as a not-so-bittervet of 8+ years that is what I now appreciate most about the game.
Why am I running for CSM?
I started getting involved with tournaments at a time when CCP had reduced a lot of it’s budgets for community events and staff, and both NEO and the Alliance Tournament were on the chopping block.
My theory was that by stepping up and demonstrating a demand for tournaments that CCP management (via the community team) could justify putting time and resources into them - and thanks to the smooth talking of Nashh and hard work form volunteers this is what we achieved. CCP Logibro was super dedicated to supporting the tournament team and CCP Guard, Fozzie, Falcon and others have gone out of their way to support us as well.
With the recent restructuring of the community team I feel it is super important once again that players who can provide insight and energy step up and help keep our community going. CCP have given assurances that they want to continue to support both the tournament scene and out of game events, and I feel that it is important to have as many people on the CSM who can assist and advise CCP about where best to put their resources in this regard.
In addition to being a passionate community & tournament advocate I have a strong interest in games design and games theory, and would love the opportunity to help guide CCP’s development of Tranquility.
Why should you vote for me?
A big part of my life is constantly listening and working to improve the customer experience based on feedback from all levels, and I feel these skills give me a good understanding that the CSM is a critically important tool to help CCP to maintain and steer this fragile ecosystem of a game. I am a self-confessed eve junkie and read and listen to a wide variation of eve content to gather opinions of the player base on a regular basis, and (shock!) log in and play almost every day.
I feel that my work designing tournaments has given me great experience about how the developer/player relationship works, having to live in that neutral ground and survive with a foot in both camps and try and see each scenario from every perspective. I understand the difficulties of taking risks and pushing change in an established environment. As evidenced by my commitment to the projects I have worked on, once I commit I tend to throw everything I can at it, and like to do a job properly. If you vote for me as your CSM representative I will promise to do my best to work hard as a conduit between CCP and the playerbase.
If you would like my opinion on any given topic I’d be happy to take the time to discuss with you, post questions below or drop me a mail in-game.
You can find me on twitter and if you would like to find out more about me listen to Rixx Javix interview here. If you would like to hear what I am up to currently and some of my thoughts on current events I was recently a guest on the Decelerations of War podcast.
Some very flattering posts from my space-famous friends;
"Bei ArtJay is a fantastic bloke and he deserves your vote to be on the CSM.
Co-Ran the biggest and best eve UK meetup
Co-Ran and masterminded the EVE-NT/Plus 10 Gaming tournaments, rule sets.
Absolutely knows his stuff ingame. One of the most knowledgeable guys out there that has took part in a variety of playstyles from small gangs and high-end tournament play to taking sov and running a big alliance in a coalition.
He has brought joy to thousands of eve players and on the CSM he’d bring joy to many thousands more.
Good luck and I hope you get it!"
Suitonia
"Bei might shoot you in the ass whilst you’re downed in PUBG, but I don’t think anyone can dispute that Bei is someone who is willing to sit down and work for what he wants in EVE. EVE_NT is not a simple operation, and Bei has managed to steer it to the right place (and put the right people around him to ensure that) since day 1.
If Bei is willing to put that level of effort into the CSM, I can only see it being a massive positive for the CSM and the game as a whole. It’s a tough field this year already, with a lot of big names, personalities and straight up great candidates, but Bei is one I absolutely have faith in, and will be taking a place in my ballot, no matter what happens."
Jin’taan
“very capable and co-lead +10 gaming and eve_nt to greatness.”
rhiload Feron-drake
"I’m fortunate enough to have been voted on the CSM for two terms (CSM 6 & 7), and having been around for so long I know a thing or two about what it takes to be a successful CSM representative. Without a doubt, Bei’s got it. I’ve worked with him for almost 3 years now with Eve NT - a player-run group dedicated to tournament style PvP. It’s a niche even for Eve markets, and as such it requires a lot of work to get off the ground. In that timeframe, though, we went from being just a group of players having fun to being the first players to run the Alliance Tournament broadcast for the early rounds. While Bei has no bloc to push him through, he has proven himself through his work; that type of energy and gumption in the CSM is a massive improvement to an already strong body, and he is worth being on your ballot.
Though being on the CSM isn’t just about your work ethic, a factor that plays in is game knowledge. Not only does Bei know the game as good as anyone else, he also has the social connections through his community work to access nearly every aspect of the game. Being able to communicate with others outside your own spheres of influence is a significant aspect that’s often overlooked in the CSM.
tl;dr you should seriously consider including Bei Artjay on your ballot - he’s knowledgeable and has a proven track record of hard-work and excellence."
Elise Randolph
I have very high standards when advocating for someone to be on the CSM. I don’t throw out my support to anyone if I don’t think they are up to the level I expect of the best of the playerbase who I want interacting with CCP to have a deep connection with the development of the game. I will probably only endorse up to 5 people at a maximum this year.
That said, I am absolutely certain that Bei would be an extraordinary asset to the CSM and CCP as a CSM rep for the player-base. I have seen first hand the level of dedication,. hard work and passion Bei puts into the game, and even when we disagree on issues he is a person who can push for his standpoint without dismissing your own opinion or issues. He’s communicative, articulate and exactly the kind of person and player I want representing the interests of the EVE community in the bowels of CCP.
Bei will be #1 on each of my accounts votes.
Apothne