CCP Games has not only made friends with the announced transition regarding the in-game currency Plex of the space MMO EVE Online.
Plex will be split into smaller units to make them easier to use for purchases. Additionally, it will be possible to always access Plex; they no longer need to be transported. Furthermore, Aurum will be abolished as the second in-game currency.
This is causing trouble.
Already, players are upset about the fact that some will no longer transport their Plex with ships, as they enjoy attacking and destroying the transporters, causing the Plex of the “victims” to be lost.
Less than 1,000 Aurum can be exchanged
But the removal of Aurum also met with some backlash. Because CCP Games originally intended to convert only existing Aurum into Plex when a player possesses more than 1,000 of it. Everything below that was to fall by the wayside: a virtual expropriation.
However, some found this unfair – especially since there was a Christmas gift of 300 Aurum from the developer studio. A gift that would have been worthless under this regulation.
Now, CCP Games has turned around and states that even Aurum below 1,000 can be exchanged, but only three months after the transition, to avoid disturbing the market.
Insider trading disrupts the market
However, according to some fans of EVE Online, it is already disrupted. Because apparently, some players got wind of the transition before it was announced. This resulted in insider trading. Those in the know were able to manipulate the market and gain some unfair advantages.
It is suspected that these individuals are members of the Player Council, who are in close contact with the developers. They are believed to have known about the transition beforehand.
CCP Games is aware of the criticism but did not address the alleged insider trading. Instead, the company reaffirmed that there are currently no plans to sell game time in smaller units than 30 days, even though this would be indeed possible with Plex in smaller portions. The transition of the currency is expected to take place either in spring or early summer.
