General Discussion

Recently, Community Manager Laura Genender had the oportunity to sit down and talk to Petur Oskarsson, a Researcher and Developer at CCP who is currently working on the Council of Stellar Management, EVE's forray into democracy.

Five years ago, at the launch of EVE Online, CCP developers were advised by a council of players, hand-picked from the EVE Online users, based on their playstyles. This practice died out a year after launch, in ’04, due to a lack of resources and time…but as EVE grows to become one of the leading sci-fi MMOs, the council is on its way back.

During the Game Developer’s Conference I sat down with Petur Oskarsson, Researcher and Developer with CCP. Petur gave me some insights into the upcoming EVE council – the Council of Stellar Management. While the council is an old concept, the new council will be implemented in an entirely different manner.

First and foremost, the council members will not be chosen by the CCP developers – instead, they will be picked by the EVE players. Petur explained that the idea of this is to get something good and realistic from the playerbase. If CCP handpicks the council members, the council could be biased. An election, explained Petur, would be a much more fair and realistic way to get the player point of view.

Find out more about the Council here.

have fun.

A little too real for me - if i want politics on this scale ill turn on CNN.

it might seem like a step in the right direction and maybe for some it is so cudos for that. Maybe it will help eve become less elitest, i however, see this as a marrying of ingame corp /alliance elitest politics with "real world" development direction.

Eve already mirrors the real world enough with its economy and player-driven politics. The council idea is a natural progression of the way Eve already works. I, for one, welcome it. I love my MMOs to be as realistic as possible. I don't simply want to be a consumer of a game, but to be a part of something that can be shaped by any player who chooses that path. However, I do believe that the council will most likely be controlled by the most powerful and most populous player corps.  Like in real life, those with the most exposure and  money to throw around will most likely be elected time and time again. And, if the rest of the player base can't rise to that challenge, then the whole system of electing council members will fail...much like real world politics today! :)

interesting approach to the game pretty inventive to say the least. too bad im not too crazy about the game anymore.

Yet another reason why EVE Online is considered one of the best MMO out there today.  This concept is a good way to get the players and payers of the game involved more than just launching the game and playing.  This goes beyond the normal player feedback on forums.  And while there are alot of unknowns about it, such has big alliances taking power, and of course the DEVs simply over ruling what the Council may suggest, I believe it's a step in the right direction.  After all, it's us players that pay for these software companies paychecks.

In terms of biased Councils, perhaps something like this could be purposed:

A member of each type of community, like miners, builders, researchers, PVE, PVP, alliance, corps, etc.

Perhaps something along the lines of only one member of a corp, alliance, etc can be on the council.  That would keep Goons, BoB, and the other big alliances from stacking the deck.

One thing is for sure, this election process and the Council it self, will be just like real life politics, Which along with EVE's economy and current political system, would fit in just fine.  Maybe this will open other gamers eyes to see EVE for what it is, not just a game, but a living breathing MMO.  Something I think MMO's were suppose to be like all along.

Fly Safe!

Well i know anarchy online have the professional program, this includes 2 people for each profession in game that is choosen by the community to be the link between player <-> developer, hopefully CCP will listen more to the feedback given, but i think the idea behind it is great.

Originally posted by MChavez

Eve already mirrors the real world enough with its economy and player-driven politics. The council idea is a natural progression of the way Eve already works. I, for one, welcome it. I love my MMOs to be as realistic as possible. I don't simply want to be a consumer of a game, but to be a part of something that can be shaped by any player who chooses that path. However, I do believe that the council will most likely be controlled by the most powerful and most populous player corps.  Like in real life, those with the most exposure and  money to throw around will most likely be elected time and time again. And, if the rest of the player base can't rise to that challenge, then the whole system of electing council members will fail...much like real world politics today! :)

as for your second statement on the ones with members and money your spot on with politics. seeing my friends that still play complain about this is almost comical as it coincides with our US elections. The damn devs need to quit playing the game and let the players force and shape eve, reallly tired of these tard devs infuencing and screwing with corps, helping or otherwise, and to say they arent is being ignorant. When you play a game for a devs enjoyment you need to move on.

still, the devs have time to clean things up before the newer mmo's hit. will they?

Originally posted by Sweede

Well i know anarchy online have the professional program, this includes 2 people for each profession in game that is choosen by the community to be the link between player <-> developer, hopefully CCP will listen more to the feedback given, but i think the idea behind it is great.

your hoping you get someone with maturity and common sense that isnt wrapped up in their own politics to make sane requests and unbiased constructive input, heh, good luck on that.

I'd much rather see CCP focus on game development under the hood than trying to include significant business practices (such as balance issues) as part of this 'Council'. Besides, I pay them to be smart, I don't think it follows that I paid for other people to play favorites (politics) with the core game mechanics. If they want feedback, try a QA team. If they want extra interactivity, try to add more features to system management for 0.0 corporations. But, please, do not try to give random players the ability to change the fundamental nature of the game. The beauty of EVE is that it's not democratic, it's a conditional free for all, but you have to learn what rules work for you, and your friends, and those that don't, and that's the part that makes EVE fun. Please, CCP, don't kill that fun.

-- Brede

Originally posted by MChavez

Eve already mirrors the real world enough with its economy and player-driven politics. The council idea is a natural progression of the way Eve already works. I, for one, welcome it. I love my MMOs to be as realistic as possible. I don't simply want to be a consumer of a game, but to be a part of something that can be shaped by any player who chooses that path. However, I do believe that the council will most likely be controlled by the most powerful and most populous player corps.  Like in real life, those with the most exposure and  money to throw around will most likely be elected time and time again. And, if the rest of the player base can't rise to that challenge, then the whole system of electing council members will fail...much like real world politics today! :)

I think the idea of players forging their own destiny is a good one but if you're trying to offer a balanced product that appeals to casuals and hardcore alike this model needs checks and balances.  CCp's model translates into one that greatly rewards that have 20 hours a day to play eve. Casuals such as myself can either play on the lower end content or obey those that have the said 20 hours. Again this is a pvp game i realize.

Root cause analysis of this move goes something like this: Hey we caught some devs cheating and that raised an eye brow with the game community so our fix is to have a popularity contest and elect a council of players.

--- why not just develop the game have your devs not influence the game world as players?

Anyway, I'm being kinda hard on CCP and Eve- i think their game is extraordinailry interesting in some regards - Its the one game I can watch unfold without even having to subscribe.