14 DAY TRIAL // We've talked about the exploits related to mining and refining in EVE Online, the MMO created and maintained by Icelandic developers CCP. It seems that a bug, which can be traced back to 2004, was used by a select group of players to basically manufacture resources out of thin air. The resources were in turn either used to create some of the best ships available in the game or have been sold to third parties for an estimated profit of a few billion ISK, the in game currency used by EVE.
CCP has moved swiftly to tackle the problem once the public found out about it. The company's internal affairs division and chief economist went to work trying to find out how big the exploit was and how much various players profited from it. The Council of Stellar Management, which is a body elected by players to represent their interests when dealing with the creators of the game, also met to examine the problem and its implication for the players of the MMO.
CCP says that actually the mining and refining exploit could only have begun sometime in February 2007, as the game code made it impossible to be implemented before that date. Other data shows that only in March 2008 various players began using it, while the cheating was done in May and in June. The overall value of goods created out of thin air is said to be a few trillion ISK, which is less than the in game universe sees traded in one day.
Action against those who profited was taken, with the assets of seven in game corporations frozen and with about 70 pilots banned from the game. It seems that the investigation is on going and that more people could be punished after CCP consults with the CSM.
Still, there are a lot of questions which need an answer, mainly why the game ran with a known bug for at least nine months. Nonetheless, the incident clearly shows that no one can accuse EVE Online of being a dull experience.