It's been quite a controversial week for EVE Online. The launch of the Incarna expansion brought with it a virtual goods store, and many players were surprised and angered by the high price tags. For example, a monocle costs almost $70. A leaked internal newsletter added fuel to the fire, leading Senior Producer Arnar Hrafn Gylfason to respond in a dev blog entry. Here's an excerpt from his discussion on the pricing structure:

"What do other people think about you when they see you wearing [designer jeans]? For some you will look like the sad culmination of vainness while others will admire you and think you are the coolest thing since sliced bread. Whichever it is, it is clear that by wearing clothes you are expressing yourself and that the price is one of the many dimensions that clothes possess to do that in addition to style and fit. You don't need to buy expensive clothes. In fact you don't need to buy any clothes. Whatever you choose to do reflects what you are and what you want others to think you are."

Some players didn't appreciate the tone of Gylfason's post, and he apologized in a follow-up entry. He said that CCP needs to "strengthen the deep mutual trust and respect" with their players and emphasized that there "never have been plans to sell 'gold ammo' for Aurum."

In order to decide how virtual goods and services will evolve in EVE Online, CCP has invited the Council of Stellar Management to Iceland for a special meeting on June 30 and July 1. CCP plans to refrain from making any further comments on the topic until after the meeting.