EVE Online Goes All-In on Blockchain

Okay, I admit it; that subject line is _more than a little_ hyperbolic
(it got you to read this message though ;-). If anything, CCP Games is
actually downplaying any connection of their latest game - "EVE
Frontier" - has to the blockchain; it's barely mentioned, while they
are quick to quash any rumors that the blockchain is coming in anyway
to "EVE Online".

Still, they've remained firm on the idea that there will be
blockchain technology. Although details are scant, it would allow for
a third-party marketplace where users could buy and sell in-game
assets or 'custom currencies'. Of course, there's no actual advantage
to this; sure, I could buy 10,000 hydrogen or 200 ISK or a star
cruiser via blockchain... but I can still only use those things in the
game itself. It has no value outside of "EVE Frontier", so there's
really no point to not selling it through the official marketplace.
The only advantage is to those who speculate on the value of such
worthless digital knickknacks, which does nothing to make the game
more playable or accessible to anyone _outside_ of that community of
speculators. It's a bad idea all around.

EVE fans are almost overwhelmingly opposed to the idea. The fact that
crypto games attract the worst low-life scammers probably does nothing
to make the idea any more palatable. I can only assume the concept is
pushed by somebody at CCP Games that has an overly large investment in
Ethereum (the crypto-coin that's backing "EVE Frontier's" blockchain)
and is desperate to drag some new rubes into that marketplace to prop
up the value of their nonsense-money. It just doesn't seem a
worthwhile investment to design an entire game around otherwise.