EVE Online economy upset by avatar items

CCP has caused major upset in EVE Online by introducing eye-openingly expensive customisation options, and thereby throwing the game's economy into a whirl.

CCP's promised micro-transactions allow users to purchase avatar customisation items as part of the Incarna expansion, although they're probably better classed as "macro-transactions".

Massively reports that although these items are purchased with a new, secondary in-game currency called Aurum, players can exchange PLEX for it - that is, vouchers of subscription time.

This is where it gets complicated. Since players can exchange EVE Online's primary in-game currency, ISK, for PLEX, the demand for vanity items has thrown the economy into whack, by driving the price of PLEX up to 400 million ISK.

Currently, you'll pay an amount of in-game currency for a shirt equivalent to more than it costs to buy a real shirt. Players are asked to fork out the equivalent in in-game currency of more than $20 for a skirt, and over $68 for an admittedly awesome ocular implant.

CCP is yet to comment or offer a balancing solution.

Games eh? I love 'em.