Shadow of Cerberus EVE Community Forum

"With both CCP Sreegs and CCP Soundwave leaving CCP Games this year, it puts me in an untenable position," stated The Mittani, CEO of Goonswarm Federation. He pauses for a sip of his Henri Gouges Pinot Noir. "Mmm. The fruit in this vintage is so bright. Where was I? Right. These departures put a real crimp in Goonswarm operations."

CCP Sreegs, previously a Goonswarm CEO, known in-game as Darius Johnson, was the head of CCP Games' security department for several years. He left earlier in 2013 to take a position with another game company. CCP Soundwave is leaving for a different genre of gaming as well.

It's long been rumoured that Goonswarm Federation has been involved in massive RMT (real-money trading) operations. An unaffiliated investigative reporter, Dinsdale Pirannha, has spent several years uncovering this malfeasance, unfortunately to an unbelieving public. If these departures do end The Mittani's RMT operations, forcing him to find real employment, Dinsdale's hard-work could yield the final piece to the puzzle that proves all his allegations.

Earlier in the week via Skype, Dinsdale Pirannha summed up his investigations into Goonswarm Federation. "The Mittani funnels eight trillion ISK into RMT sales every year. If he's selling one billion ISK at $20USD, then that's a $160,000USD operation per year. All made possible because the former head of CCP Games' security department is a Goon, and because the former lead designer of EVE Online is a Goon. They could deflect attention, turn a blind eye to the RMT operations he was conducting. Ask yourself how a guy does not work for three years? He wasn't a highly-paid power lawyer, he was a staffer, he doesn't have millions in savings. You don't think that website of his is supporting him, do you?"

"Dinsdale is a kook." The Mittani laughed, pausing to pop a foie gras and truffle amuse bouche into his mouth. "The operations that will be crimped, I wasn't referring to RMT. Goonswarm is very much anti-RMT and anti-botting. Our enemies, though ? N3, Pandemic Legion, Test, and the Russians ? they all engage heavily into botting. We simply relied upon Darius to nab them, put them on a level playing field with Goonswarm. We're all about fairness in gameplay, you can ask anyone. Well, except Elo Knight, Riverini, Shadoo, Gorga, Montolio, BoodaBooda, Lacco, Mactep, or Vince Draken. Those people are just jealous of our success."

The Mittani reaches out for a rabbit porchetta hors d'oeuvre, continuing, "As for Stoffer, he was responsible for great game design that gave our members a reason to log in and play everyday. Without him we worry somewhat about the direction CCP Games might take. We certainly do not want another Incarna down the road. As for those persistent RMT allegations, they are just plain silly. You've seen where I live. A modest home in the Heartland of America. I'm not living high on the hog. Just myself, my lovely Malamute and my wife. As for Dinsdale and his assumptions about my finances? It's none of his business."

Dinsdale Pirannha had warned about accepting The Mitttani's "modest" lifestyle at face-value. "He's the Gus Fring of EVE Online. It might look like he lives modestly, but he still eats at his fancy restaurants, flies off to Costa Rica whenever the mood strikes him. The modest lifestyle. Madison. It's all for appearances. It diverts suspicion. I've never claimed The Mittani is a dumb man. He knows how to stay off the radar. Look for signs that his operations may now be on the rocks."

Our entrees arrive. "You should have ordered the duck two-ways. It's to die for here." After a short pause to enjoy a few bites of our entrees, The Mittani continues, "We're certainly concerned about the loss of Goons from power positions in CCP. We have plans in motion, though. We hope to get the EVE Online executive producer position if all goes well with our candidate. Or maybe somebody to replace Stoffer. We have several developers in positions, but we're not sure CCP is ready to internally promote anyone at the moment. CCP Games is currently looking for outside talent, different and new voices to add to their team. So our developer assets might be years in the making. We'll see. It's tricky, because Pandemic Legion are now getting their people into CCP Games too. That Fozzie fellow, he's no friend of Goonswarm. Warfare in EVE is everywhere. The meta game so important now."

The rest of our meal is left to other conversation. The Mittani has said all he has to say on the subject. Afterwards I walk him to his Volvo station wagon, shake hands and thank him for the interview. On the way to my car I glimpse shopping bags through his rear window. One has fallen over. Spilled out onto the floor, at least six boxes of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, a few cans of Spam, and a two loaves of Wonder Bread. I think again about Dinsdale's warning. Maybe The Mittani is preparing for some lean times ahead.