tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1490340916886486838.post1655381646689956044..comments2023-03-26T08:01:54.112+00:00Comments on Bits of Bacon, Spaceships, and Serious Business.: SOMERtime BBQ, Now with More SauceThe Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09943719085849242739noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1490340916886486838.post-63692076346149702372014-08-20T19:21:23.171+00:002014-08-20T19:21:23.171+00:00"Sadly, as of this evening, it looks like Som..."Sadly, as of this evening, it looks like Somerset Mahm has chosen seppuku over the possibility of a public execution:"<br /><br />"Public execution" is still entirely possible, in the form of banning of all of his accounts and seizing of assets, as well as the banning of accounts of all who worked for him as participants in this business, and the revoking of Markee Dragon's status as a PLEX retailer. Frankly, this is the only acceptable course of action at this time. Somerset Mahm and his employees cannot be let off the hook just because they have voluntarily closed up shop. Shutting their doors does not excuse them from facing the repercussions of their actions, nor does it absolve CCP of the responsibility to enforce their rules evenly to all players. The worst thing that could happen in all of this is for Somerset Mahm et al to go unpunished simply because they have chosen to withdraw from public prominence.<br /><br />Forgive me for being cynical, but years of Somerset Mahm flouting the rules of this game and getting away with it has left me distrustful of his motives. The refund of ISK to Somer Blink players just stinks of an opportunity to launder ISK to alt accounts for future use, and to make CCP's job harder by creating so many new transactions as to obfuscate what may be happening. To prevent this, at the very least Somer Blink affiliated accounts should have been frozen until the investigation could have been concluded.<br /><br />No, Somer Blink shutting themselves down is not nearly enough for an acceptable solution. Do not let the collective members of Somer Blink slink off quietly into the night without being held accountable to the rules which they have broken. If CCP fails to punish these players appropriately, I will have no faith in their ability to be "impartial referees" of their sandbox, and no reason to trust them with my money (although to be fair, I already have very little trust in CCP after the last Somergate).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1490340916886486838.post-50213473369896378702014-08-20T16:47:44.878+00:002014-08-20T16:47:44.878+00:00Why do we need to be paid to generate fan content ...Why do we need to be paid to generate fan content about a game we love? If you need to be paid to do it, it's obviously not for you. Sure, it may take running costs which you need to ask the community to help with, like with EVE-radio requesting donations and offering a premium quality service to people who support them, but those shouldn't be provided by CCP.<br /><br />The affiliate programs help you do this, and they should be used for people making a choice around who they wish to support when buying their GTCs. If Somer had just used those normal methods, there would be no problem, but he's a greedy scumbag who decided to abuse the scheme for RMT and deserves to be forcefully removed from the game.Lucas Kellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03969897349629783605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1490340916886486838.post-62192578295440813402014-08-20T16:31:10.402+00:002014-08-20T16:31:10.402+00:00As much as I hate to use the anonymous angle, here...As much as I hate to use the anonymous angle, here's a bit of a thought.<br /><br />Somer's financial relation is not with CCP. It is with Markee. While I'm sure CCP pressured him, I can honestly see Markee pressuring him effectively to close down the house properly. After all, Markee has worked hard to get a foot in the door (special status, special relationship, special margins, community spotlight, etcetera) to seem legit. Same as he's done with his stunts and RMT practices in other games. <br /><br />I seriously wonder how the fuck CCP ever let that dude get a foot in the door. And chances are, he's going to get away with it again. Tossing Somer to the wolves, preserving his relation so he can find yet another way to dominate the eve player market. Each time cutting off extra fat from the meat. <br /><br />And CCP's quiet on that part of this. While Somer was angling to secure Markee's ass. Again. Especially considering how Markee has pulled off the same stunt in other games, I don't have any doubt whatsoever that he's in it. <br /><br />And yet he walks free, his special relationship intact. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1490340916886486838.post-48264381934579728842014-08-20T11:07:08.144+00:002014-08-20T11:07:08.144+00:00They are not the only ones who have sponsored comm...They are not the only ones who have sponsored community events. At Eve New England, somer was only one of about a dozen sponsors. This is less of a loss than you think.The Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09943719085849242739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1490340916886486838.post-41642394544868563962014-08-20T11:03:49.804+00:002014-08-20T11:03:49.804+00:00:) If you're this buttmad about it, considerin...:) If you're this buttmad about it, considering how I came down on blink last year when this happened, you were a fool if you voted for me the last election.The Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09943719085849242739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1490340916886486838.post-40577284957631050032014-08-20T07:15:26.092+00:002014-08-20T07:15:26.092+00:00Well there goes the program that used to sponsor a...Well there goes the program that used to sponsor a significant portion of the community events in the game :( and provide entertainment for many.<br />RMT or not this is definitely a loss for the game.Lair Osenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04999329487527719560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1490340916886486838.post-20726998718517237402014-08-20T07:08:14.549+00:002014-08-20T07:08:14.549+00:00Nice to see who not to vote on for next CSM.Nice to see who not to vote on for next CSM.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1490340916886486838.post-2027421233332157582014-08-20T06:36:05.993+00:002014-08-20T06:36:05.993+00:00Everyone is RMTing, from big 0.0 aliance leaders t...Everyone is RMTing, from big 0.0 aliance leaders to CEOs of small renting corporations. Sadly, Somer was dumb to trying it in so obvious way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1490340916886486838.post-56083402528081406922014-08-20T03:45:31.300+00:002014-08-20T03:45:31.300+00:00Now, can we turn our attentions to Markee Dragon? ...Now, can we turn our attentions to Markee Dragon? He's about as legitimate as Corleone.Alizabeth Veanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1490340916886486838.post-69984579242409123772014-08-20T03:44:27.285+00:002014-08-20T03:44:27.285+00:00There are plenty of 3rd parties supporting this ga...There are plenty of 3rd parties supporting this game AND following the rules. Battleclinic, Eve-Bet, and EOH to name a few. Also plenty of ETC resellers that don't resort to affiliates pulling dirty tricks to generate business. when I was at Eve New England last weekend, Somer was only one of about a dozen logos on the official t-shirts.<br /><br />On a side note, if you want to see some aweome ship paint jobs, I suggest following Caldari Prime Pony Club on twitter. @PaulOostermanThe Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09943719085849242739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1490340916886486838.post-41042362318642790612014-08-20T03:09:58.047+00:002014-08-20T03:09:58.047+00:00CCP are being incredibly shortsighted. You only ha...CCP are being incredibly shortsighted. You only have to look at the likes of Youtube or Dota to see the power of supporting 3rd party creativity.<br />Understand that what Somer did was not fully above board but CCP have no legitimate schemes setup to compensate those who are giving so much to their game.<br /><br />Imagine if CCP had third party developers paid with the $21m that they sank into the pit of World of Darkness and lets not even consider Dust 514. <br /><br />Give us a tools and compensation and I can see talented players creating: ships and paint jobs for the rest of us to enjoy.Stratahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16989262648248180331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1490340916886486838.post-75925892981495115232014-08-20T02:16:16.612+00:002014-08-20T02:16:16.612+00:00All resellers buy plex for the same amount, though...All resellers buy plex for the same amount, though they choose their affiliates and how much they're willing to pay them. I do not know what amount they pay for PLEX.The Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09943719085849242739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1490340916886486838.post-39771860469399461472014-08-20T01:36:20.315+00:002014-08-20T01:36:20.315+00:00Well said.
I suspect he could've probably cov...Well said.<br /><br />I suspect he could've probably covered his server costs pretty easily running as a standard affiliate, but that doesn't appear to be enough. He wanted to (continue to) make real world dollars by running an eve business, and thus he deserves all the scrutiny he got.<br /><br />I've got a question that I feel is pretty pertinent, we have some educated guesses to what Somer was making on each PLEX purchase, but do we have estimates as to what Markee Dragon is making?<br /><br />Quixilvahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17023873805585340556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1490340916886486838.post-37014871447520858972014-08-20T01:34:00.647+00:002014-08-20T01:34:00.647+00:00I'd go as far to say that this Lisa gave him t...I'd go as far to say that this Lisa gave him the go-ahead before it went through all the proper CCP departments. While she may be a representative of CCP by virtue of being an employee Lisa is not CCP in and of herself. This whole thing stinks. Tinfoil would add insider help because of RL friendship? The whole thing is wrongAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09464290627349539074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1490340916886486838.post-85941094834935298322014-08-20T01:24:31.624+00:002014-08-20T01:24:31.624+00:00Good. Good. Psianh Auvyanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13257866471563922191noreply@blogger.com