Tell us about the most impressive things EVE players have ever done!

We can talk for an endless time of the most impressive in-game moment in our history, but for me, it’s the activities we do outside the game that really impress me.

Beyond the year-long display of EVE Online in the New York Museum of Modern Art (2013-2014) and even the standing monument outside of CCP headquarters (a monument which is considered a nationally protected landmark by the government of Iceland), it is the players’ capacity to come together in the face of tragedy that really makes us shine and stand out amongst every other videogame.

Two things come to mind: PLEX For Good and Sean Smith.

PLEX For Good is a charity drive wherein CCP partners up with the Icelandic Red Cross and other relief organizations to help raise money for their choice organizations whenever a major international disaster strikes. The drive focuses on players donating timecards and PLEX back to CCP, and in return, CCP donates the equivalent amount of real-world money following conversion to the Icelandic Red Cross or other relief program. The initiative first began in 2005 following the tsunami in Southeast Asia, raising over $25,000. The contributions for almost every PLEX For Good drive have increased in amount, with well over $700,000 donated up until 2022. That year, PLEX For Good was held to raise money to support relief efforts in the Ukraine following the Russian invasion. In 2022, over $500,000 was raised, smashing apart every other record set during the PLEX For Good drive. The initiative continued into 2023, and continues to reward contributing capsuleers with apparel for their avatars.

Sean Smith was Foreign Service Officer for the U.S. State Department. He was one of the four individuals killed on September 11, 2012, during the storming of the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi, Libya. He was also a major diplomat (and some consider the number-two-man) to the Goonswarm alliance. Stories of Sean Smith speak of his tenacity at establishing the equivalent of the Central Intelligence Agency in Goonswarm, as a major espionage and spy network which monitored rival alliances. There has even been talk that Sean Smith as “Vilerat” was responsible for engineering the dissolution of the former Band Of Brothers. Sean Smith was a friend to developers and even made an appearance at Fanfest on the Council of Stellar Management.

Upon news of his death circulating amongst the EVE Online community, tributes from friends, fellow pilots, and developers poured in. CCP at Fanfest the following year held a tribute to Sean Smith during their presentations. The iconic lighting-of-the-cynos memorial ceremony was held by capsuleers. Outposts throughout null-sec were renamed in Vilerat’s honor. Likewise, the EVE Online and Something Awful communities came together to raise money and provide donations for Sean Smith’s family, to the tunes of $127,000. Some of these pilots had never met Sean Smith/Vilerat in person, but had merely flown with him during his time in EVE Online.

In both of these cases, all of this money and these contributions were brought forth over the community coming together in the course of a videogame. I know of only one other gaming platform that has ever come close to this kind of charitable activity, and it is us as the player base who are centrally responsible for setting EVE Online apart from its counterparts.

We as the EVE Online community are what is truly impressive. Remember this always, and fly safe!

There are several landmark events like the ones mentioned here, but a very interesting one also took place in 2020, when the community of the 4 great empires joined forces with CONCORD to form EDENCOM in the “Triglavian Invasion”, an event that I believe transformed the game universe forever. It was incredible to see players from everywhere collaborating or competing to influence the invasion of the Triglavians, a major threat that was conquering star systems. It was a coordination of massive fleets, with thousands of pilots fighting to save or sacrifice entire systems. As a result, some systems were highly defended and still hold EDENCOM Fortresses, but also many systems were permanently transformed into Pochven, this chaotic and very dangerous new region; which was for me a very clear proof of how the collective actions of players can shape the very map of New Eden.

The Capsuleer Monument in Molea is a good answer, as it represents a great tribute to the players. It is located in the Molea system, next to the POS tower of the old Capsuleer cemetery, in orbit around Moon 1. Its construction was a great union between Concord and the community. It has 3 slabs and a permanently lit cyno.

It gives me a certain sadness but at the same time respect for those who have passed on, almost like a memorial to those who have gone to war. I think it's important that people at least know of its existence.

Each cane dedicated to someone lost.

I'm impressed by the unity and respect that only a game with so many years and a huge community could generate. You're not just a number, your legacy is there.

It’s been three months, so I think it’s safe to finally highlight and properly cover Clear Skies.

Ian Chisholm and his Clear Skies

Clear Skies is a brilliant EVE Online-based machinima series created by Ian Chisholm. It offers three episodes, with the first released on May 29, 2008, followed by two successful sequels in 2009 and 2011. Each episode runs over 40 minutes and combines the Half-Life engine for character animation with EVE Online assets for space scenes.

The story follows Minmatar captain John Rourke and his adventures with a crew on a board of the Tempest battleship. The series struck into long-standing dreams like walking in stations and the romanticised narrative of capsuleers as freedom-loving drifters (not current drifters). I think Clear Skies captures that timeless sci-fi vibe: the always-broke bounty hunter and his faithful crew constantly getting into trouble, something fans have loved since the 1950s.

From a cultural standpoint, Ian’s work became a benchmark in machinima. It raised the bar for voice acting, cinematic tricks, and narrative-driven gameplay footage. It was widely discussed and celebrated across other creators and inspiring a new generation of machinima directors.

At the time, I was actively playing Warcraft, and even then, I heard about Clear Skies. That’s how far its impact reached across the gaming community.

EIB and Largest virtual theft in an MMORPG

This is a well-known story, widely covered in the media, and at the time, everyone was talking about it.

Some call it a scam, others a heist or even a financial pyramid scheme. No matter what you name it, the strategy is as old as banking itself.

A player known as Cally created a classic loan bank, where players with unused funds could deposit their ISK in exchange for interest payouts, as the bank used those funds for loans and financial projects.

But once the balance hit 790 billion ISK, Cally cashed out and disappeared. To those who might laugh at that sum today (where it barely buys a Faction Titan) back in 2006, it was an astronomical amount.

🔹 Online "banker" runs off with cash, avatars cry foul - Ars Technica
🔹 Largest virtual theft in an MMORPG | Guinness World Records
Video The Infamous EVE Online Bank Heist | The Stuff of Legends