A lot of the regulars here also dislike the way CCP Games advertises Eve Online, as if it were every other game. It isn’t.
In other games, they are predatory with your money but use dopamine hits and ego boosts to mask it, and a lot of people fall for it. „Just starting out? You’re the big hero of this world, along with 750,000 other players! Oh, oops, you’re only level 1? No problem, you’re destined to be the best hero. Completing a level 2 quest? Good work, here’s a big sword we’re handing to you for the very hard job of not dying to poorly programmed NPCs that couldn’t even kill you even if you were an underage 11 year old who stole their parents credit card — we want that money! Nevermind that this sword is given to everyone and has terrible stats — you’ll forget how cool this was when you get the next Shiny Sword at Level 3 — if you make it, I hear no hero has done it in all the realm!“
„Oh, you hit level 10? Good job Mr. Unique Hero #750001, that must have been so hard, here’s a free plot of land and a house. Responsibility? No, no! You don’t have to risk anything to have this! And neither is anyone else, you’re all safe. But if you really want to stand out from all the other Destined Heroes Of The Realm, the cash shop is right over there!“
„You got $50 worth of cash shop items? Looking good! Oh, but who is that? Your competition? He has two $75 item. How are you gonna catch up? No, no, I can’t let you PK him. That’s right, I see you reaching for your wallet, good little consumer! Now look at you two! Aren’t you so happy you spent that money? I know I am!“
Eve Online, in contrast, keeps everyone and everything flagged for PvP, even in high sec. That means either you’re a hunter or the hunted. And the power structures associated with them.
„You’re new? I’m so sorry, you’re going to die a lot. Even in the tutorial. Get used to ship loss, it isn’t failure. You call yourself ‚the unique Hero of New Eden‘? Ok, go out there and actually convince other players. Oh, you’re not strong enough yet? Well get strong. What? No I’m not going to say ‚oops, youre level 1 which means you’re destined to become The Hero‘. Actually do it and convince other players. Or don’t. The sandbox is yours.“
„Wanna fly a Rifter? Great, plan ahead, skill up, develop a fit for your purpose, buy it from a player. It’s a low SP ship but is still useful in roles like tackle even when you have high SP. It hasn’t lost it’s role and become irrelevant just because you’re flying other ships requiring more SP.“
„Someone annoying you, mining the same rocks you are? You can bump them, annoy them, gank them, or pay mercs to do it for you. More resources for you! Want a structure? Well, that’s a whole other responsibility, you’re gonna have to be willing to defend it. Nothing here is invulnerable unless it’s docked up in a NPC station.“
„Wait, who is this guy coming through. Your competition? Who cares whether his ISK came from the game or buying PLEX: go blow him up. Take their stuff. Now you’re ahead and you have less competition. Oh, what was that guy doing? He was cutting into your profits running a structure ‚just to be nice to the community‘ which no one cares about. The public just wants a station, and by golly your station is going to be the one they use.“
So if the game isn’t for you, it isn’t for you. There’s nothing wrong with that. But coming into the forums swinging ain’t the way to socialize.
