EVE Online has a unique player-led history spanning over a decade. Every participant, new and old, has a part to play in the endless narrative of New Eden, but there are some names which will never be forgotten (try as we might).
In a continuation of our EVE player celebrities series, after looking at some of the ‘meta-game’ contributors, and the Gladiators of Alliance Tournament XI, we now get the drains up on EVE Online‘s dark history and discover who was responsible for reinforcing EVE‘s reputation for being a ‘sandbox for sociopaths.’
Contrary to popular myth, not everyone in EVE is a bastard.
There are those who go out of their way to help rookie players, recruit pilots to their cause or just do you a good turn. After all, EVE is a relatively unrestrictive game environment which allows the full spectrum of human behaviour. Thankfully, some people get a buzz out of community, philanthropy and doing a good deed.
But then again, some don’t.
EVE unapologetically also provides a home for those who would explore their darker side without fear of molly-coddled players running to teacher. Of course, there is still a line which should not be crossed, but you’ve got to go out of your way to reach it, let alone cross it. Some still try – and even succeed. Results may vary.
Look on the bright side: EVE Online works as a containment facility for some of the most twisted, ambitious and creative minds in gaming. Giving them free reign in New Eden keeps other MMO universes safe*.
Devils in the Dark
As I researched each of these characters, I really enjoyed discovering how interwoven EVE‘s player history really is. Despite having played EVE for more than a decade, I had no idea that it was the legendary m0o pirate corporation that terrorised everyone (including developers) in EVE‘s first few months who also destroyed the Gold Magnate which recently became a hot topic, or that m0o was a founding member of one of the most famous player alliances in EVE history.
Neither did I know the exact details of how the seemingly unstoppable Band of Brothers era came to an end or who the key players were. Nor how long it takes to infiltrate a corp, what the penalty for insider trading is or exactly how many players have been ‘suicide-ganked’ by organised piracy.
The degree of skullduggery and duplicity that some players will go to is both impressive and terrifying. If you look hard enough, certain individuals can be found keeping to the shadows, their own path intersecting with the stories of many others as they quietly exert their influence.
Others burn brightly, finding infamy as a result of their cunning, their patience or their brutality.
Here are the stories of some of the worst (or greatest) offenders…
NEXT: Lord Zap – The Serial Killer
EVE Player Celebrities: Rogue’s Gallery
- Lord Zap – The Serial Killer
- Haargoth Agamar – The Alliance Defector
- Istvaan Shogaatsu – The Corporate Infiltrator
- Larkonis Trassler – The Pirate Politician
- Helicity Boson – The Industrial Terrorist
*Although some may have escaped. Sorry about that.
