No matter the update or ‘update’ that CCP has released over the last year, there’s been a certain pattern I’ve been observing in regards to the nature of these updates; they either change something because, you know, reasons, or they make the gameplay more tedious and time consuming, often to the point where an activity I used to like is just plain unenjoyable anymore or is so irritating to do that I’ll go play another game first before subjecting myself to virtual torture running such activities in EVE.
There are a few examples of these updates making a prior activity a mix of more tedious, time-consuming, or a hassle than it used to be, and I’ll start with all the industry updates. Prior to start of the mineral ‘redistribution’ my mining activity involved a little two-ship operation consisting of a porpoise or orca and a covetor mining in a random asteroid belt for a few hours or for one night a week. The goal? Obtain minerals needed to produce T1 ammo for personal consumption and extra ammo and drones to sell at a local market, not so much for profit as just to seed the market with basic goods. It was simple and it kept me close to home so I could re-ship if needed when a threat arrives in the area.
After the “redistribution” updates, I could no longer obtain the required minerals by just mining locally. Bear in mind I lived in drone lands so obtaining minerals by melting down dropped modules doesn’t exist. This means that the only reasonable way to obtain minerals I need to continue producing ammo is through imports, which cost isk, either through purchasing what is imported locally (of which local stocks dried up pretty quickly and then jumped dramatically in price) or bring it in myself (which turns a simple or seemingly simple task into a monumental stress test; something I have no interest in dealing with after a night of dealing with drunks and psychs at work.) What I had stockpiled for minerals eventually dried up, and that side business went away with it.
The Ice changes had made one of my favorite activities less fruitful; wormhole exploration. Since there’s no longer ice in shattered wormholes, CCP’s taken away the main reason that players and corps fight over these rare and desirable systems.
The ESS update’s just been a ■■■■-show since its inception. What makes the bounty go up and down? By how much? For how long? Questions that still don’t have clear answers. The ESS itself hasn’t done much of anything to incentivize player combat where I lived. The same usual suspects still showed up and the random lone wolves looking for a quick steal were usually quick to evacuate when they see a fleet forming up on D-scan. More often than not, it was just plain not worth going out to defend the ESS because the potential loss of ships is worth far more than the contents of the ESS. As a result, it wastes everybody’s time as all players (attackers and defenders alike) sit there twiddling their thumbs while waiting for the ESS to be looted so the attackers will move on.
Any idea of this thing incentivizing more battles just doesn’t happen; since the meta is using fast, kitey, sniping ships, attackers tend to be on the edge of the ESS bubble so they are always quick to leave before a response fleet has any chance of catching the raider. If a “fight” occurs, 95% of the attacking party have a tendency to flee the instant it looks like things won’t go their way and escape with their GetOutOfJailFree Filament. The whole ESS thing doesn’t incentivize more conflicts. It just wastes everybody’s time.
Then there’s what I like to call the “Okay but why?” updates. Changes to the UI or other updates that nobody wants and are just annoying.
What was so wrong with the bookmarks that they needed an obnoxious makeover?
Was there actually a reason for flipping the location of probe scan windows?
With all the changes making so much I used to enjoy more tedious, time consuming, and just plain unenjoyable, I’m taking a long hiatus from the game. How long? Who knows, I’m just waiting for the dust to settle before I can determine if I will touch this game again. No, you can’t have my stuff. I will sell it to you for a price though (since having isk upon returning to the game is always nice). Besides, I have absolutely zero confidence in CCP and fully expect them to pull some stupid ■■■■ like Povchen or just declare all NPC stations need to go and then any assets I do save end up destroyed.
For those still playing and enjoying the game, keep your stick on the ice.
