The Cost of Happiness

This is where EVE starts to show that its not for everyone. It's costly for us Filipinoes. Considering that it is a international MMO, this is to be expected. But still, even P500 is a lot per month, right?

Which is why the 14 day trial is there. 2 weeks of trying EVE out and seeing if it's for you. 14 day trials can be upgraded to a full account with a "top-up" of either a 10, 30, or 100 day game-time-code, or GTC.

Both trial and GTC availability are locally available thanks to the people over at Mobius Games. They even have their own EVE-related website, though its much sparser than I'd like.

Here's the kicker: The cost of a 10day GTC is P300.

Yes, ouch.

30day GTC is P750, and the 100day GTC is P2250. So you see the advantage of going for monthly in this case.

But wait, its very expensive! Why? Well, EVE in US$ is $14.95, which is roughly the same amount. But, to activate a trial account to an active one is $20. Thats P1000. Do the math and you'll see that you save cash already on the first installment (especially if you use the 10day GTC and set a long skill to train right before the 10day runs out, yes it'll still train, but I would not recommend doing this, and suggest only doing so for month-long skills, and using the 30day GTC).

For a game like EVE Online, and for the convenience that I dont have to use credit cards online due to security reasons, I'd gladly pay the price. Consider the fact that releasing your credit card details online always carries a risk of being found out, and thus, your credit card being used against your will. Whilst no self-respecting company like CCP will allow such (as their account system is secure, trust me, I've tried it before), would you rather pay via credit card details, or by using Mobius Games' system and top up? I know what I'd chose out of convenience.