The Remains of the Day
"Cheaters Never Prosper. At the very least, cheaters don't get to play EverQuest II." - from a news release on Sony's EQII Players site.
"That which we call sin in others is experiment for us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Experience," Essays, 1844.
Okay, tomorrow I will try my best to move on from the Station Exchange story, but I wanted to give you some more links that have come along first.
A great article from N3rfed entitled SOEBAY: He is able to explain better than I could why this won't put all the buyers and sellers on the Exchange servers.
A funny take from the Cesspit: Good stuff and he remembers to make fun of the ridiculous graphics on the official site which I forgot to do.
More stuff from Adventuring with Ark: I linked this site yesterday but since then he's added some more articles and a pretty funny picture.
The official press release from SOE: Check it out for yourself. I love how SOE talks about being in a "unique position to guide the industry." Yeah, I'm sure the other MMORPG companies appreciate SOE's guidance. Especially the part where they water down the legal basis for other companies to enforce an anti-secondary market policy with the "limited license" drivel they paid some language-twisting attorneys to come up with. Hopefully, that will come back to bite them. I am hereby predicting that someone will sue SOE in the next three years on the basis of damage SOE has done to their "limited license" in some virtual item. They don't like paying customer service reps to answer fraud complaints? Let's see how they like paying lawyers to answer lawsuits. They cost a lot more money.
The official forum: For the most part it is on both sides of the issue as unreadable as usual. One post I found interesting is the mention of NIMBY (or not in my back-yard) Syndrome. It does appear that a large number of posters are okay with the idea as long as it is not on "my server!" Well, I hate to break it you but characters are allowed to transfer to a Station Exchange server, right? Let's say I am an enterprising young plat-farmer. Why would I want to do my farming on an Exchange Server where competition is ultra-tight? No, I'm going to do my work on YOUR server then transfer my character to the Exchange Server when I'm done. Or, just mail my best stuff to a newly created alt, transfer that character, and keep it going.
This post from Brenlo: Pretty funny I thought, doing some double speak, double time. I thought we were all one big happy EQ community but I guess not.
Anyway, to show I have no hard feelings towards SOE, I even wrote them a television ad they can use for free! Here it is:
It's the Superbowl and the New England Patriots are down by six points on the fifty yard line. There are only 3 seconds left on the clock - time for only one more play. Quarterback and all-around talented guy, Tom Brady, calls the huddle.
"Guys, I know the game is on the line but I've been busy all week doing macramé with my girlfriend, Bridget Moynahan! I just don't have the arm strength to make this play!"
Wide Receiver, Deion Branch, shakes his head. "Don't worry Tom, we understand. Guess we can't win them all!"
In a flash of smoke, a jolly gnome appears in the middle of the huddle. "Mabye you can win them all!" the gnome says, gleefully dancing a jig.
"What do you mean, weird gnome?" Tom Brady asks.
"Why, with Sony Station Exchange, you can advance 40 yards for only $20.00!"
"$20! I'll take it! Guess there was no need to practice after all!"
The gnome hands Tom Brady the ball and runs to the sideline. He completes the short touchdown pass to Deion Branch and the crowd goes wild!
Coach Belichick slaps him on the back! "You did it again, Tom!"
"Nah, Coach, I had a little help...from Sony Station Exchange!" He flashes a smile and gives the gnome a thumbs up. The gnome returns the thumbs-up and the smile. Fade to black...
A barely clothed female elf appears on screen. "Sony Station Exchange! It's the sexiest!"
Fin.
Wow, Sony Station Exchange can bring fun to all games! In fact, I heard Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi are already clients!
Thanks SOE!
Okay, let me switch for a second from sports to the stock market. Let's say you buy your stocks from a broker named Jerry. He takes a small commission on each buy and sell. Okay, fine. But now let's say that Jerry just happens to also have complete control over the stock market. With a flick of the wrist he can decide which investments will be in demand and which will be flooding the market. In fact, he can create and destroy companies. And Jerry has the power to ban you from the market forever - forfeiting your current investments. Would you think Jerry had a slight conflict of interest here?
Let me be clear, I still love this game. I plan to play tonight. But it's now like loving a boyfriend or girlfriend you know has cheated on you. You still have fun, but you know deep down that everything is tainted and nothing will be quite as perfect ever again. And forget trust...
But because you love that person you try to make it work.
At least until something better comes along.
"That which we call sin in others is experiment for us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Experience," Essays, 1844.
Okay, tomorrow I will try my best to move on from the Station Exchange story, but I wanted to give you some more links that have come along first.
A great article from N3rfed entitled SOEBAY: He is able to explain better than I could why this won't put all the buyers and sellers on the Exchange servers.
A funny take from the Cesspit: Good stuff and he remembers to make fun of the ridiculous graphics on the official site which I forgot to do.
More stuff from Adventuring with Ark: I linked this site yesterday but since then he's added some more articles and a pretty funny picture.
The official press release from SOE: Check it out for yourself. I love how SOE talks about being in a "unique position to guide the industry." Yeah, I'm sure the other MMORPG companies appreciate SOE's guidance. Especially the part where they water down the legal basis for other companies to enforce an anti-secondary market policy with the "limited license" drivel they paid some language-twisting attorneys to come up with. Hopefully, that will come back to bite them. I am hereby predicting that someone will sue SOE in the next three years on the basis of damage SOE has done to their "limited license" in some virtual item. They don't like paying customer service reps to answer fraud complaints? Let's see how they like paying lawyers to answer lawsuits. They cost a lot more money.
The official forum: For the most part it is on both sides of the issue as unreadable as usual. One post I found interesting is the mention of NIMBY (or not in my back-yard) Syndrome. It does appear that a large number of posters are okay with the idea as long as it is not on "my server!" Well, I hate to break it you but characters are allowed to transfer to a Station Exchange server, right? Let's say I am an enterprising young plat-farmer. Why would I want to do my farming on an Exchange Server where competition is ultra-tight? No, I'm going to do my work on YOUR server then transfer my character to the Exchange Server when I'm done. Or, just mail my best stuff to a newly created alt, transfer that character, and keep it going.
This post from Brenlo: Pretty funny I thought, doing some double speak, double time. I thought we were all one big happy EQ community but I guess not.
Anyway, to show I have no hard feelings towards SOE, I even wrote them a television ad they can use for free! Here it is:
It's the Superbowl and the New England Patriots are down by six points on the fifty yard line. There are only 3 seconds left on the clock - time for only one more play. Quarterback and all-around talented guy, Tom Brady, calls the huddle.
"Guys, I know the game is on the line but I've been busy all week doing macramé with my girlfriend, Bridget Moynahan! I just don't have the arm strength to make this play!"
Wide Receiver, Deion Branch, shakes his head. "Don't worry Tom, we understand. Guess we can't win them all!"
In a flash of smoke, a jolly gnome appears in the middle of the huddle. "Mabye you can win them all!" the gnome says, gleefully dancing a jig.
"What do you mean, weird gnome?" Tom Brady asks.
"Why, with Sony Station Exchange, you can advance 40 yards for only $20.00!"
"$20! I'll take it! Guess there was no need to practice after all!"
The gnome hands Tom Brady the ball and runs to the sideline. He completes the short touchdown pass to Deion Branch and the crowd goes wild!
Coach Belichick slaps him on the back! "You did it again, Tom!"
"Nah, Coach, I had a little help...from Sony Station Exchange!" He flashes a smile and gives the gnome a thumbs up. The gnome returns the thumbs-up and the smile. Fade to black...
A barely clothed female elf appears on screen. "Sony Station Exchange! It's the sexiest!"
Fin.
Wow, Sony Station Exchange can bring fun to all games! In fact, I heard Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi are already clients!
Thanks SOE!
Okay, let me switch for a second from sports to the stock market. Let's say you buy your stocks from a broker named Jerry. He takes a small commission on each buy and sell. Okay, fine. But now let's say that Jerry just happens to also have complete control over the stock market. With a flick of the wrist he can decide which investments will be in demand and which will be flooding the market. In fact, he can create and destroy companies. And Jerry has the power to ban you from the market forever - forfeiting your current investments. Would you think Jerry had a slight conflict of interest here?
Let me be clear, I still love this game. I plan to play tonight. But it's now like loving a boyfriend or girlfriend you know has cheated on you. You still have fun, but you know deep down that everything is tainted and nothing will be quite as perfect ever again. And forget trust...
But because you love that person you try to make it work.
At least until something better comes along.
posted by Aggro Me at 5:16 PM
8 Comments:
your two posts on this subject are great, as well as the rest of your blog. you do good work here.
Thanks a lot dread, it's comments like that keep me going!
You got me thinking...
What is there to stop SOE from creating a false sense of increased value in any highly sought item by lowering the drop-rate of the item which in-turn would inflate its sale price? Would this not be akin to the oil moguls messing with production rates crude?
I was also wondering, has anyone read whether SOE plans on a flat fee for selling stuff or if they plan on taking a percentage? If it is a percentage, then the above becomes even more troubling for me.
Update: SOE says that existing servers will NOT be converted
http://tinyurl.com/bpzjn
This is a BIG step in the right direction. Now if they only stick with it.
SoE also noted that transfers to an "Exchange Enabled" server will only be permitted for a short time when they open. This minimizes the risk of the "move an alt with gear" scenario painted in the blog.
Yeah, that's good news Scot and ddrak, I'll be updating on that this coming week.
As always, it would seem that people are quite content running around with blankets over their heads screaming about stuff they don't have a clue about. Can anyone link a statement from any official SOE representative that states that SOE themselves are selling anything? From the way everyone's talking you would think you could just fill out a form specifying a character's level and abilities and SOE would deliver the next time you logged in. Don't be getting my hopes up like that...
Earn Money by Discussing- Stock Market and Commodities, Visit- http://www.onlimoney.com
Post a Comment
<< Home