There is a common fear that removing the ability to farm huge amount of ISK without risk or skill would remove large amount of subscribers. I've already mentioned that the highsec-only players don't pay for the game anyway and the others could move to farm in competitive areas. But it's indeed true that the game needs players to feel like a World and also there is a chance that the solo player will turn a content creator or a paying customer some day. So it's without doubt that losing players is a bad thing for an MMO.
However let's look at the other side: while any change alienate some, it is beneficial for others and these others can find the game worthy of playing. What kind of player could be lured to EVE if ISK could only be gained in competitive zones? Captain Obvious says: competitive players.
Let's face it, EVE isn't a competitive game. You can amass wealth and top the killboards without facing anyone who could fight back. EVE has a dark marketing that can lure competitive players who had enough of the WoW-clones where even AFK-autofollowing "players" are entitled to every reward and content is nerfed to the level of the braindead. I remember when I was hesitating about trying EVE out. I was afraid that maybe I'm not hardcore or have good enough reaction time to survive in this "cut-throat world". Then I gave a try and in half year I could afford a titan. In the first month I started shooting other players I got more kills than hundreds of "nullsec PvPers". I was disappointed and stayed only in lack of options. However those who don't just look for MMOs have options! There are several competitive e-sport-like games where they could - and probably did - move.
Now imagine if EVE would be just like it is marketed: a dark, unforgiving world where players fight for resources and power in an anything goes setting instead of "go to belt, target asteroid, go AFK, receive reward". EVE could be the competitive MMO where the players who want to test their skills against opponents could play.
EVE is in a perilous position: its marketing keeps the true "carebears" away, while those who are lured to try it leave disappointed. Practically the only way to get more players is word-of-mouth, the real life friends of current players can join. But seriously: how many real life friends does an average EVE player have?
EVE could have a unique selling point: the competitive MMO, where the skilled wins and the weak fails. Many-many players seek that game. Less than WoW sure, but more than the current EVE playerbase (which is likely around 150K humans). Instead of trying to keep those who'd fit WoW better anyway, let's keep those who fit nowhere else. I'm sure that making EVE competitive would increase subscriber count.
An example of players who is not competitive and the EVE community is probably better off replacing him with someone who is:
However let's look at the other side: while any change alienate some, it is beneficial for others and these others can find the game worthy of playing. What kind of player could be lured to EVE if ISK could only be gained in competitive zones? Captain Obvious says: competitive players.
Let's face it, EVE isn't a competitive game. You can amass wealth and top the killboards without facing anyone who could fight back. EVE has a dark marketing that can lure competitive players who had enough of the WoW-clones where even AFK-autofollowing "players" are entitled to every reward and content is nerfed to the level of the braindead. I remember when I was hesitating about trying EVE out. I was afraid that maybe I'm not hardcore or have good enough reaction time to survive in this "cut-throat world". Then I gave a try and in half year I could afford a titan. In the first month I started shooting other players I got more kills than hundreds of "nullsec PvPers". I was disappointed and stayed only in lack of options. However those who don't just look for MMOs have options! There are several competitive e-sport-like games where they could - and probably did - move.
Now imagine if EVE would be just like it is marketed: a dark, unforgiving world where players fight for resources and power in an anything goes setting instead of "go to belt, target asteroid, go AFK, receive reward". EVE could be the competitive MMO where the players who want to test their skills against opponents could play.
EVE is in a perilous position: its marketing keeps the true "carebears" away, while those who are lured to try it leave disappointed. Practically the only way to get more players is word-of-mouth, the real life friends of current players can join. But seriously: how many real life friends does an average EVE player have?
EVE could have a unique selling point: the competitive MMO, where the skilled wins and the weak fails. Many-many players seek that game. Less than WoW sure, but more than the current EVE playerbase (which is likely around 150K humans). Instead of trying to keep those who'd fit WoW better anyway, let's keep those who fit nowhere else. I'm sure that making EVE competitive would increase subscriber count.
An example of players who is not competitive and the EVE community is probably better off replacing him with someone who is:
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