I don’t like all the violent PvP nonsense that ‘modern’ society imposes upon CCP’s vision of the future. EVE Online is more than just a computer game, it is a statement about where we want to be in another twenty millenia. Do we really want to be squabbling like a bunch of children, bickering over veldspar. Are we mere primitives, who kill each other over trivial PI commodities? Aren’t we better than this? 

CCP has given us a choice. On the one hand, we can continue moving toward a dystopian future in which space terrorists are free to massacre and kill at will. A future in which capsuleers cast a pall of fear and terror. On the other hand, we could move toward a better tomorrow, in which the progressive forces of harmony are allowed to resonate across the galaxy. In such a future, capsuleers would be hailed as heroes, much like modern day social workers. 

The revisionist forces of virulent internet fascism seek to spread their trollish culture across New Eden, laughing with bemusement as peaceful miners and industrialists are murdered in cold blood. However, some of us have started to fight back. On the test server, Singularity, we are creating a new society which is built upon mutual goodwill and a desire to promote the common good. We frequently run mining fleets which are free from griefer guild harassment, and we share the profits equally amongst all. There are even a few individuals who for whatever reason are unable to join fleets, and we nevertheless give them a fair share, because it is not our place to cast judgment upon others. Every member of the community is valued, and none are left behind. 

I have recently been in talks with CCP, and representatives from Pearl Abyss, to discuss how we might best introduce our peaceful ways into the barbarian wastelands of the so-called ‘Tranquility’ server. One of the best ideas has been the idea of the Ore Pack. Currently, miners are forced to obtain ore by warping to a belt, where they are almost immediately set upon by rabid PvP basement dwellers. Driven into a frenzy, these wild-eyed ruffians fail to even consider the possibility of economic collaboration, and they begin shooting wildly as if they themselves were an NPC rat. Fortunately, the Ore Pack will solve this problem, once and for all. 

I’m pleased to announce that, in partnership with the Sisters of EVE, mercy is at hand for all who are oppressed by no-life space bully losers. For just $15 a month, CCP will deliver directly to your hangar a shipment of vital ores. To add a little excitement, each shipment has been randomized, and a few lucky winners will find their hangar filled to the brim with exotic specimens and rare ‘gold’ minerals. For an additional $5 per month, you will also receive a unique free fully researched blueprint. If you sign onto the premium plan, with a six month subscription, you can also conduct PI without leaving your hangar. NPC haulers will bring commodities to you, and all items will be fully insured.

In a tumultuous turn of events, it appears that beloved Brave Newbies personality, Dunk Dinkle, has been exposed as a secret leader of Goonswarm and a possible replacement for The Mittani. Rumors have circulated for several years that Dunk Dinkle enjoyed hanging out with the Bees, but a pile of photographic evidence has recently been unearthed that proves Mr. Dinkle is not just a sympathizer, but an actual handler, of the bees!

As you can see here, Dunk Dinkle is pictured commanding thousands of little bees, and is even training them to accept a new commander.

He has even been photographed receiving benefits and kickbacks from his efforts within the organization. Hinting at the importance of his role.

Mr. Dinkle’s actions indicate that he is in a leadership position, possibly in complete control of at least a large portion of the organization. This has led some to speculate that perhaps he is positioning himself as the spiritual successor to the aging supreme leader, The Mittani.

We have heard shock and outrage from the community over this betrayal of the Brave Newbies family, though Brave Newbies senior leadership has yet to comment on the developing scandal.

As COVID-19 restrictions ease across most of the regions most heavily populated by EVE players, CCP struggles to deal with unanticipated consequences. 

Accustomed to “working from home” while playing EVE full time, many EVE players have been forced to return to work in the office, reducing their available play time by an average of 60%. Many players are sublimating their disappointment with their work situation into rage against EVE Online and CCP. With less time to play, industry, incomes, and destruction all plummeted as a consequence of reduced play time, feeding Summer of Rage II. The Peak Concurrent User count steps backwards off the EVE learning cliff, feeding fears that when the Delta or Lambda variants of COVID-19 finally arrive and lockdowns resume, there will be only a skeleton crew of bots remaining in New Eden.

The rage is not constrained to the player base. CCP developers are also called back into work from the office. While CCP management celebrates the “opportunity” to return, and celebrates the “fun” they will have now that they are “all together again,” many developers are reportedly rather salty. “Oh, nice… we are locked in the house with nothing to do but play Among Us while dealing with months of dark, cold, and people asking if we’re safe from the volcanic activity, and now that Iceland’s beautiful summer is upon us we’re being dragged back into the office,” an anonymous developer complained. When asked about EVE play time, the developer responded awkwardly “Oh, no, there’s no point in doing that until… well, anyway, NDA, you know.”

CCP executive leadership offered this statement in response to discontent:

“_”

In order to keep up with the rising costs of managing an online fake news website, CEO OpusMagnum has made the executive decision to fire all staff, effective immediately. In place of thinking, mentally sound, mostly sober authors attempting to satirize the news and events of Eve Online, Eve Onion will now just focus on everything that is said on the Eve-related podcast, Talking In Stations, and then reprint it in text format. 

Having heard the recent TiS episodes, it is no surprise that the Eve Onion is moving in this direction. 

“I think this is a groundbreaking idea,” said OpusMagnum. “Rather than pay people to use their brains to think, reason, and communicate humorously, we can just not do that and save money. The more mistakes CCP makes, the more Matterall gets unhinged defending them. His every word has basically become the foundation of fake news and satire.”

Since Talking in Stations fills the needs of Eve Onion so perfectly, the news site will be able to operate with a small core team, consisting of a single person to do all the transcribing, editing, photoshop artwork, copy review, publishing, website maintenance, and advertising, and OpusMagnum, to take all the revenue and credit.

Posted as a notice on the front door of CCP Headquarters this morning was an announcement of the release for the latest EVE PLEX Package, the “Elite Player Retention Package” for only $200 million.

This package offers to help CCP recover their losses to come back stronger and better than before, it also comes with a complementary bundle of 110 PLEX.

A CCP insider recently told me “This package is truly essential to the lifeblood of this game, we have reached the summer months and the world is reopening from lockdown so the PCU is taking the traditional summer dip, this offer will help us retain players until everyone else returns to the game for our legendary third decade.”

The effects of the package currently remain to be seen, but we here have the utmost trust that they can manage the situation.

H.S.—A study performed by the Amarr Research Institute found a strong link between happiness and not knowing who The Mittani is.

“We found that players who do not know who The Mittani is or why there is a controversy around him are up to 850% happier than those who know anything about the person at all,” reads the study. “It seems there is a very strong correlation and possible causation here. Players who don’t know about him enjoy Eve Online much more and have a really optimistic disposition about other players.”

The study also found that players who don’t know who The Mittani is are more likely to be on comms, playing in wormholes, whistling in pure blissful ignorance, enjoying their family, corporation, and friends — while those who do know who The Mittani is are much more likely to currently be on Reddit and staring into the abyss.

“For your own mental health, we can’t recommend not knowing anything about The Mittani any more emphatically,” said head researcher Dr. Riyn Arturlo. “Seriously — it does wonders for your wellbeing.”

“BUT BEWARE! THOSE WHO KNOW WHO THE MITTANI IS, ARE LIKELY TO GO THE WAY OF MADNESS!”

At publishing time, you had googled “who is The Mittani” after reading this article and are now much less happy with your life.

Delve – After 3 sleepless weeks of false-alarm pings in preparation for “the big one”, line members from both TAPI+ and The Imperium formed up for their much-anticipated big fleet event in the region’s top tourist destination, 1DQ. 

The line members found joy and camaraderie for the entire form-up period as hundreds of coalition members joined and jovially asked “what are we flying, where are we going, what squad should I be in, who’s the FC” without reading a single word in the fleet message of the day. Laughter and smiles could be heard on both sides, as friends gave answers to their bewildered and illiterate corporation members.

However, as soon as the opposing fleets warped to their first gates, mysterious communications issues emerged, plaguing the lead Fleet Commanders with constant unaligned ships, bad warps, and missed target opportunities all along the adventure. 

12-year veteran, PlaugeDeth68, received an alert that his ratting super carrier was in hull after the 3^rd jump and frantically tabbed between accounts trying to figure out which bot was dying, causing him to miss a warp and lose his doctrine Munnin to a Raptor. Meanwhile 16-year player, LauraDangr, couldn’t figure out how to stop her stream viewers from hearing every command her FC was giving, yet simultaneously failed to follow any of the commands herself. 

The only Sabre to accompany PAPI+ bubbled it’s own fleet 2 jumps from their destination, and sub-commander Villy had to pause and force someone else to take over after hearing his last remaining FC, ProGodLegend, scream for 32 seconds straight then disconnect with a loud BANG.

Both fleets turned around 1 jump out of 1DQ when they each remembered that the timers they thought they were fighting over were for tomorrow.

“Sir? A trio are here requesting…”

Scarlette’s voice trails off as the door opens sufficiently to reveal Chance Ravinne’s back facing the door, his gaze resting upon the framed poster to his right. The CEO spins around in his chair, definitely _not_ wiping a single tear from his cheek.

“Send them in, Scarlette. Thank you.”

“Another rough one, sir? I know you were hoping the big E3 announcement might disclose progress towards Legion… Nova… whatever they’re calling the Dust 514 successor.”

“Frankly, yes,” Chance replies softly. “The Academy is nice, but they’re no Eve Uni. And have you seen Battlefront? This is what Dust/Legion/Nova is up against. This. CCP can’t be the ‘coolest sci-fi shooter.’ It won’t happen. The appeal of Dust is first-and-foremost its integration into and influence over the EVE Universe. One universe, one war. The technology, systems, gameplay and lore are almost irrelevant. Ask 500 gamers if they can name a single ship, faction, or solar system in EVE Online. They can’t. Ask those same 500 gamers if they’d like to be able to put virtual bullets in the backs of capsuleers during the EVE wars they’ve read IGN articles about…”

Chance clenches his fist, then relaxes his grip.

“Sorry, sir. I know how difficult it has been since you discovered the glimmer of hope in Echoes was a mirage.”

“Anyway, who’s this next trio, Scarlette? I don’t recall seeing anything on my calendar.”

“Um…. I’m not exactly sure, sir. One said his name is Blunt, and the other grumbled something in a thick Polish accent. I wasn’t able to catch her name. The third gave me this card and said you would welcome them without an appointment.”

Chance reached out his hand and took the monochrome business card. “Allen Edwards,” he read quietly.

A broad smile spread across the CEO’s face.

“Send them in and cancel the rest of my appointments today, Scarlette. This may be the best day of my life since the neut Cruors were born. Whatever CCP stepped in must really stink if the ‘unannounced projects’ team out of London is ready to talk.”