Wednesday 21 May 2008

Thanks o7

I would just like to thank the EVE Community for its support throughout this campaign and for electing me on to the CSM. While I am aware that many of my own alliance and our allies voted for me, I am also aware that I garnered substantial support across the EVE universe, from all kinds of unexpected quarters, and I immensely grateful to everyone who saw fit to vote for me.

It will be both a privilege and an honour to represent the EVE Community in Iceland and I will certainly reflect this in the way I contribute going forward.I just want to reiterate that I am not going to CSM to represent any particular viewpoint or playstyle or to champion the rights of 0.0 spaceholder. I am going to CSM to represent the playerbase as a whole and to ensure that this game which we all play continues to improve. That may mean that I end up defending the rights of sov-holders on some issues and opposing them on others. It simply depends on the issue and what I feel is in the best interest of this game and its playerbase going forward.

I would also like to thank the other candidates for what was in general a clean campaign. I look forward to working with the other successful representatives and intend to respect the expertise they bring to the CSM. As I have said before I am not a 'marketeer' or an 'industrialist' and will therefore respect the views and opinions of those who have more experience in those aspects of the game! The CSM Council does represent a cross section of EVE playstyles and I sincerely believe that every viewpoint is valid and of merit even if I do not necessarily agree with all of them.

Finally, I would like to thank CCP. I think this is a very exciting opportunity and am looking forward to meeting you all in Iceland. I sincerely hope that this is not a huge publicity stunt (as many suspect) and that the CSM does get the opportunity to contribute to the development in a real (and realistic) way. I certainly intend to do my part!

Anyway (apart from the Tom Cruise love) this kinda sums up my current feelings:http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=cnCMqr1QRQw

Oh, and Amarr Victor o7

Tuesday 13 May 2008

Eurogamer article

Jim Rossignol - long time EVE player and games writer for both PC Gamer (UK) and various other gaming related publications - has just penned his latest 'masterpiece' and I got a mention o_0

Anyway to read the article pop along here:

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=139700

Wednesday 7 May 2008

EVE Cast Interview

I got interviewed by EVE Cast a few days ago as part of a CSM special edition.

Anyway, if you are interested you can listen to the episode here:

http://www.evecast.com/index.php

You can either listen to the whole episode (featuring interviews with a number of the other candidates) streamed directly from that page or download the episode (70mb).

My interview starts just under halfway through the episode. So if you have ever wanted to know what a real Amarrian fanatic sounds like - now is your chance :-)

Friday 18 April 2008

EVE Mag

Just a heads up.

For those who may not have seen it already EVE Mag has produced a CSM election special with interviews with many of the candidates participating.

My answers start on page 54 so pop on over if you want to know more about me and what I stand for both ingame and out!

You can download/view EVE Mag here:

http://dl.eve-files.com/media/corp/avguste/EveMagSpecial.pdf

Friday 28 March 2008

More questions answered...

On her blog Meritannia has posed a number of questions for CSM candidates. If you want to read my answers please visit:

http://caldarinavyibis.blogspot.com/2008/03/council-of-stellar-management-open.html

If this is your first visit to my CSM blog then please scroll down below the 'signatures' for my original pitch!

Wednesday 19 March 2008

Creativity run mad...

Get your Hardin sig here:
(Right click any image and select 'Save picture as')












































Hardin - A FAQ

Why is Hardin running?

I am running because I love this game and I want to see it get better. The issues that led to the creation of the Council of Stellar Management did damage the credibility of EVE and CCP and I had several friends who quit in disgust. While that episode is in the past now, I want to ensure that such events never occur again and believe that we, as players, should sieze this opportunity to actively scrutinise CCP's operations.

Why vote for Hardin?

I believe I have the qualities necessary to make a good CSM representative and I hope that at least some of you believe that too :-)

In brief, I have experienced both the 0.0 and Empire elements of this game. I have been involved in both the 'small gang' and 'big blob' elements of PvP. I have been taken part in both attacking and defending POSes. I have spent months mining, I have spent months mission whoring, I have spent months NPCing and I have spent even more months PvPing. All of this gives me a broad overview of game mechanics and how EVE operates (although I have to admit I wouldn't know one end of a BPC from the other :P)

I have also taken an active involvement in other 'out of game' EVE related activities. I organised the first ever EVE meet in London back in 2004 and have attended pretty much every one since. I have also been to EVE meets in places as diverse as Amsterdam, Prague, Copenhagen, Nijmegen and Southampton o_O

Ingame, I operate probably the best known and respected alliance creation service. The numerous references and comments from happy customers ( http://myeve.eve-online.com/ingameboard.asp?a=topic&threadID=492021&page=1#1 ) are testimony to my honesty and ability to get things done.

I am a member of the Curatores Veritatis Alliance (CVA) and am proud to be so. The CVA is one of only a handful of NRDS (Not Red Dont Shoot) alliances currently controlling space in EVE and has spent the past four years developing Providence into probably the most neutral friendly region of 0.0. We support neither side in the 'Great War' and I have no issues or axe to grind in relation to any other alliance or player group. (although I honestly do not expect to win much support from either Ushra'Khan or Star Fraction :P)

With regards to 'roleplay' I will be the first to admit that I am probably not the best roleplayer in EVE nor the most consistent, but I respect what roleplay brings to this game and, if I am fortunate enough to gain your support, I will ensure that roleplay/storyline issues are highlighted to CCP.

Out of game I am a Director of a small business based in Wimbledon, UK. I also have previous 'scrutiny' experience having spent four years serving as a local Councillor in London.

In summary, I believe I have the experience both in and out of game to do a good job in representing the EVE playerbase in Iceland.

Oh and... Amarr Victor!

Hardin has a real life job can he spare the time?

I have already booked those days off as holiday time. If selected I will ensure that I also spend more time online and be accessible in the evenings so that players can contact me with any issues or questions they would like me to highlight with CCP.

The CVA is only a small alliance does Hardin really expect to get elected?

I wouldn't be standing if I didn't think there was a good chance that I would get elected. Whilst the CVA is only a small alliance (and I am not even taking their votes for granted :P) I have made many friends and allies in EVE during my five years playing the game and believe I can count on a lot of support across the galaxy. I believe I offer a strong 'neutral' option for anyone worried about the CSM being dominated by members of the mega-blocks.

Is Hardin standing because he wants a free trip to Iceland?

While Icelandic babes, hospitality, geysers and fermented shark are all legendary I am quite happy to pay for these pleasures myself :p. I am not looking for a 'free trip'. I fully intend to attend this year's Fanfest whether or not I get chosen for the CSM!

Is Hardin biaised?

Yes. I think anyone who says they are not biaised should be shot as a liar right now. There are things in my EVE history and how I play the game which have influenced my perspective on certain things. These perceptions could be regarded as 'bias' but similarly can simply be seen as my point of view. While I do believe I am open-minded and open to new ideas (as every Amarrian should :p) I will be honest and say that I am not a blank page and that I will not automatically endorse every idea suggested to me in an effort to win this election. That said I am in general an amiable chap and will judge every idea on its merits - not on the basis of which person or alliance proposed it.

Is Hardin only standing for the prestige of the position?

Again I think it would be disingenous for anyone standing to say that ego and prestige did not play some part in their decision to stand. After all the chance to be elected and represent over 200,000 people is not one that comes along every day! However, while that is all good, the fact remains that this is an opportunity for the players of EVE to really get an insight into how CCP operates, to scrutinise those operations and to have an opportunity to improve things. That is my prime motivator.

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I will answer additional questions and provide further information as the campaign progresses...