Game Time Cards
Game time card
This website supports the purchase of ETC/GTC through legitimate and publisher endorsed channels such as Shattered Crystal as it makes life increasingly difficult for the ISK/Gold farmers out there.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Game Time Card (also called Game Time Code) generally refers to any one-time use code that allows you subscription time to a certain game, usually a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG). These are a quite popular alternative to normal subscription method of cyclical billing that most games offer because the GTC is usually comparable in cost and can be given as a gift or used on any account for that game.
"MMORPGs are large commercial undertakings that charge a fee to begin playing the game, to continue playing the game, or both. The Game Time Code, or GTC, is, in essence, a voucher allowing you access to the game world for a specified period of time. GTC has also been expanded to include the new account codes, also referred to as a “CD key.” EVE Online players have their own special acronym: ETC. This just means EVE Time Code and is identical in meaning to Game Time Code but is specific to EVE Online."
[edit]Alternate Uses
The term GTC, originally an acronym for Game Time Card or Game Time Code, now often simply refers to any one-use code for an online game. Some other uses include upgraded subscription cards, new account codes, and even codes you can redeem for in-game money. Many popular online games offer this great substitution for normal subscription methods; others, such as NCSoft, allow you to add this game time across all of their games you currently have an account for. Sony Online Entertainment offers game time cards that will work for any one of their online games, which allows you to easily find game time cards for even their lesser-known games.
From EVE Online:
Game time codes allow players to:
--> Exchange real world currency for ISK in an a way that complies with the EULA. Some players find themselves bored of the ISK grind or discover that they cannot play enough hours to make the ISK that they need. Some would like to buy an already trained character with ISK instead of spending a year waiting to train up skill they want to have. CCP provides a way for these players to get the ISK they need by allowing them to trade game time codes for ISK.
--> Not pay any real money for your accounts. Players have the option of purchasing a game time code (GTC, PLEX) from others thus paying for their EVE subscription entirely with ISK.
WARNING: While buying ISK through purchase of GTCs is allowed, buying ISK from various websites and other players is against the EULA. If you purchase ISK in any other way, GMs will remote it from your wallet leaving your character in negative balance. With negative wallet your character will not be able to update clone, buy or sell anything on the market, open up trade windows, start any manufacturing or research jobs, in summary it will be very similar to being banned from the game.
Commonly Asked Questions and Answers
1. Where can I purchase GTCs?
Game time codes can be purchased from ETC retailers and EVE Store. Shattered Crystal is an especially popular website. To find other retailers go to "My Account". Some other sources are listed in responses to this thread.
2. How do I receive my codes?
ETC retailer websites send codes via e-mail. You'll have to read more details on their website about delivery procedures. EVE Store mails cards to the buyers via regular mail.
3. What are the current going rates for the codes?
60 day codes sell for $34-35 and can be exchanged for 550-650 million ISK
30 day PLEXes sell at 280-350 million ISK per unit.
Average prices in ISK go up and down depending on supply and demand at any given time.
4. Do I need to own a credit card to buy GTCs?
You don't need to own a credit card. Many ETC retailers will accept payment from PayPal for which you only need to have a bank account. If you want to subscribe to the game rather than buy codes to sell for ISK using a check, money order, direct debit, bank transfer, CertaPay, Western Union, or another option there is also the Pay-by-Cash service.
5. What are PLEXes?
PLEX stands for 30 day Pilot License Extension. Currently players who purchase 60 day codes have an option to break the code up into two 30 day codes called PLEXes. The advantage of PLEXes is that they can be sold on regular EVE market or contracts in game. To break up 60 day codes into two 30s press Ecs key and you will see the option to do it on the window that pops up. PLEXes cannot be transported out of the station where you have them, but they can be applied to an account from the assets window so you do not actually have to travel to pick them up.
6. Where can I sell/buy codes for ISK?
Here: Timecode forum
Players now also have the option of breaking up a 60 day code into two 30 day codes called PLEXes and selling these on regular market or contracts. Another place to advertise or buy your codes is the "Other" trade channel.
7. Are game time codes same as game time cards?
Yes.
8. If I pay for subscription of a trial account with a game time code before the trial period is over, will it turn my trial account into full account?
Yes it will, the change however will take some time to register.
9. If I have an expired account, either trial or previously subscribed, can I use a 60 day GTC to activate it? Can I use a PLEX to reactivate?
You will still be able to log in to "My Account" and accept an offer from a GTC seller or apply a code yourself. If you're buying a code from another player, the receiving character on inactive account needs to have enough ISK in wallet. Unfortunately it is not possible at this time to use PLEXes to reactivate suspended accounts, only 60 day codes.
10. I have 10 days left of my subscription/trial time and I apply a 60 day GTC to it, will I have 60 days or 70 days total?
The time will be added to the time you have left, whether you have a trial account or subscribed account. If the time is not added make sure to petition it.
11. I have a trial account and I cannot post in GTC forum!!!
Trial accounts cannot post in GTC forum or Other trade channel. You can directly convo GTC sellers ingame or ask a friend to help you get a GTC.
12. So how do I actually get ISK for my codes?
To sell a 60 day GTC first make a post on GTC forum, specifying how many codes you have and price in title. Once someone responds go to "My Account" - "Account Services" - "Securely Sell EVE Time Code". Enter all the required information and click on "Next". An ETC sell order is created. It will last 48 hours and can be canceled at any time. The buyer will be notified of this order with an email. The buyer has to go to his own "My Account" page and look under "Common Tasks" to accept the offer. At this point ISK will be deposited into seller's account and buyer's play time will get extended. Read more about secure GTC trade here. Selling PLEXes is same as selling any other items in game.
13. Can I scam with game time codes?
Scamming with actual codes is not allowed and will lead to permanent ban of your account. This includes offering to sell inactive codes or purchasing codes by the way of tricking the seller and not paying anything for them. Scamming with PLEXes is allowed as PLEXes are considered to be an in game virtual item and as will all items and ships in EVE scamming is permitted.
14. So, does CCP actually sell ISK for real world money?
No, CCP does not sell ISK. The ISK comes from another player who has been playing many hours to earn it in game. ISK switches hands but no more is instantly created out of nowhere.
15. Some dude named sdkjfhkjy is advertising a website which offers to sell me ISK. Should I buy from him?
No. If you buy from him the GMs will take bought ISK from your account and may even ban you. Farmer ISK may seem cheaper at first, but it will be definitely be more expensive after GMs take it from you so you end up paying cash to farmers for nothing.
16. Why is buying ISK from ISK farmers bad? Doesn't CCP allow people to get ISK from their real life cash anyhow? I don't understand why ISK sales are prohibited.
There are many reasons why the presence of ISK farmers in this game is bad for the game, CCP, and all of the subscribers. A lot of debate has been going on about this topic in other sections of the forum. Many players feel that it is unfair to allow people to gain advantage in a game by putting their credit card into use. But there will always be people trying to buy in-game resources with cash and allowing them to use the GTCs is better than allowing ISK sales in game for the following reasons:--> If ISK farming is made legal in game, it will turn from EVE Online into Farmbot and Spambot Online. Farmer numbers will multiply. They will form some of the richest corps and alliances in game powered by people who will play 12h a day and bots that can play from dt to dt. The farmers will attempt to take over all of the lucrative space in game, such as 0.0 space, and they can play just as well as a regular player (and even better because their wages will depend on it). A real player who plays EVE Online for fun will not be able to compete with them and will have to fight them for resources or buy them from farmers for cash.
--> ISK farmers strip the game from its resources, competing with you and making these resources unavailable to you. Then farmers spam your mail and chat channels trying to sell these resources back to you for cash. Gathering resources they use methods that are unfair and against the rules. They run macros, share accounts, and engage in scamming. They play EVE as their job. There is no way a regular player can compete with them.
--> ISK farmers use all kinds of illegal methods to obtain their ISK. They have been scamming with character sales and game time codes. They have been hacking into accounts and using keyloggers (link 1, link 2). With these activities they have hurt many players. But they do not care, because if they ruin this game they have dozens of other games they can farm.
--> ISK farmers do not do anything to improve the game. CCP on the other hand works on decreasing lag, coming up with new game features, answering petitions and rebalancing the game, in summary keeping it running. By buying game time codes players give money to CCP, the company that maintains and improves this game. By buying ISK from farmers players give money to people who hurt the game.
--> ISK farmers inject cash into EVE economy. An average player spends about 2-3 hours a day playing EVE and only a portion of that time he spends making ISK. ISK farmers work in 12 hour shifts and each of them is capable of making as much ISK as 5-10 regular players. This kind of gaming has negative effects on EVE economy for regular players.
--> Game time codes allow people to pay for the game with ISK. This means people can play EVE even if they cannot afford it. This system also allows players to hold more accounts than they would otherwise be willing to pay for. In turn this increases revenue for CCP and makes them happy and willing to work further on their game.
