Since CCP is fixing the district locking I’ve talked about in the last two posts, lets turn our attention to something else. Oh well, there is plenty to choose from. Like, did you ever notice that a ton of characters are being created in DUST 514? It’s mind blowing! Check out this snapshot:

Notice how DUST 514 has less than ten times the players online EVE has, but its character creation rate is through the roof? Now that’s what you call inverse proportional! Free 2 Play or not, it is very impressive when your game manages to gain 1/5 of its online users every hour, every day. And that for an extended period of time as the following picture shows:

But as we all know, DUST is not the most successful F2P game there is (yet). With more than 5.5 Million created characters the PCU on Sundays sits currently at an underwhelming 3,300 after more than three months without an update to the game. The picture on the right is giving us a hint of what is going on:

The last time I saw these kind of character names was more than half a decade ago when RMTers used to spam the tradehubs in EVE with their advertisements for selling ISK. So what are these throwaway names for?

New characters come with 250,000 ISK in their wallet. Creating a character, transferring that money to your main and preparing the 24 hour cool down for character for deletion only takes about three minutes. Since you can have multiple accounts and each one comes with three character slots, you can do this as often as you like, yielding 5 million ISK per hour. Average Joe makes around half a million per hour in battle and still has to pay for suits and equipment. So it seems that character recycling is quite profitable, but it also is against the rules and will get you banned.

To find out how deep this rabbit hole is I contacted the owner of the websites that provided the initial data from to ask for more numbers. Luckily for me it appears he wasn’t busy with a titan trade at that moment (or he is very good at multitasking). I’m talking about Chribba of course. He listened to my suspicions and soon after started to dig like a mole. He came up with all the information I asked for (and more) in practically no time. So here is the information for the last 30 days:

Click to enlarge

The total number of characters created in those 30 days is 306,929, averaging at 429 per hour. You can see the weekends and downtimes just like with the PCU graphs. The amount of game currency generated from that is a whooping 76,732,250,000 DUST ISK. This is actually close to what Planetary Conquest puts into the games economy under optimal circumstances. Here is an updated version of the ISK generated pie chart from my last article, factoring in character recycling:

I might add that this also means that hundreds of the players shown online are actually just people recycling characters and not participating in battles, which paints an even worse picture when it comes to income generated in pub matches. This hasn’t been factored into the above chart.

Chribba also kindly provided other interesting data, like the following one which shows what character names have been re-used the most:

ee333 53

sts08 50

sts06 50

sts02 49

sts05 49

sts03 49

sts01 49

sweetie pie 2 48

TCFXB 47

33eee 46

sts07 46

TCFX 46

TCFXC 45

bone 1 45

sts04 44

TCFXA 44

quack 3 42

sweetie pie 3 40

quack 2 40

quack 1 40

goo9 39

quack 4 39

wwalz 38

bone 2 38

chanisk 37

bone 3 37

isk extra 36

sts13 36

sweetie pie 1 36

sts16 36

bwalz 35

sts14 35

sts20 35

sts11 35

sts10 35

sts19 35

sts12 35

BEATCHILD 34

sts18 33

GREMLACON 33

extra isk 33

nuko2 32

nuko1 32

sts17 32

Miss Prop 31

nuko4 31

hyu 7 31

sts09 31

banana4 29

12fee 29

sanisk 29

banana1 29

SSJG2 29

smc2 29

csb2 28

321fire 28

manisky 28

jcu1 28

smc9 28

jcu2 28

smc20 27

sts15 27

smc7 27

csb1 27

ssjg 27

smc6 27

smc24 27

smc21 26

smc26 26

smc8 26

banana6 26

lugia249 26

smc25 26

smc22 26

smc23 26

smc11 25

smc19 25

nuko8 25

nuko9 25

nuko6 25

pooo1 24

ssjgt2 24

pooo4 24

smc12 24

ssjvt 24

smc13 24

t5555t 24

smc16 24

RebeIIion 24

pooo3 24

smc15 23

smc1 23

smc17 23

smc14 23

jimmy8888 23

nuko7 23

t555t 23

hjklkl 23

ewq11 23

nuko10 23

ssjgt 23

ghjklkl 23

ggghjklkl 22

ewq111 22

csb22 22

SHADOWK1 DARKK1 22

gtt444 22

SHADOW1K DARK1K 22

csb21 22

smc4 21

pooo5 21

smc18 21

jimmy6666 21

smooth malto 21

pooo7 21

jimmy9999 20

bd3 20

yahmon1 20

jimmy7777 20

gggghjklkl 20

ssjgt3 20

scandroid 20

bd4 20

pooo6 20

jcu23 20

nuko5 20

smc3 20

a-a 03 19

bi ta 19

ssjvt2 19

pooo12 19

jklo00 19

TRT 15 19

K1SHADOW K1DARK 19

TRT 16 19

VyreVoxx 19

smc5 19

SABRINAAAA 19

ta bi 19

smc10 19

TARNAAAA 19

a-a 07 18

jklaaa 18

jklaa 18

a-a 05 18

pyuu1 18

gtt44 18

pooo11 18

pooo13 18

TRT 17 18

pyuu2 18

pyuu3 18

jklo0 18

char 01 18

wilrider 18

hyu 2 18

jcu11 18

TRT 20 18

jcu13 17

fact1c 17

HOO LEE FUK 17

ryo gallente 17

mma 1 17

char 02 17

1111234 17

a-a 06 17

TRT 19 17

a-a 01 17

a-a 04 17

5tre3 17

fact1a 17

fact02 16

5tyu7 16

mma 2 16

vandoll00 16

TRT 14 16

ch 05 16

fact1b 16

ape ship crazy 16

jcu21 16

TRT 18 16

a-a 02 16

ryo amarr 16

yus21 15

ghj028 15

ssjvt4 15

ghj025 15

ghj06 15

ghj05 15

ghj010 15

11112345 15

ghj024 15

a-a 08 15

ghj04 15

ghj021 15

ghj031 15

vrwx 15

ghj029 15

ghj030 15

ghj08 15

ewq122 15

jkl99 15

ghj03 15

ghj011 15

gghjklkl 15

ghj01 15

ghj09 15

vrwxx 15

ghj018 15

ghj027 15

ghj026 15

vrwxz 15

yus2 15

ghj023 15

Voxxbot 14

ghj07 14

hnmnm 14

ch 11 14

hnmnmm 14

ghj02 14

ghj012 14

rgoon 14

rey lol 14

ghj022 14

tyu011 14

ghj015 14

ryo clone 14

HOO LEE FUK2 14

ghj013 14

jcu22 14

hnmnhh 14

ewq12 14

ch 03 14

tyu012 14

tyu013 14

ch 07 14

klq3 14

csb11 14

ghj016 14

tyu031 14

tyu023 14

hnmnhhh 14

jcu12 14

mt money 14

klq4 14

ghj032 14

tyu018 14

SAYDETH 14

ch 08 14

tyu021 14

dug12 14

csb12 14

yus3 14

Mortal Sandman 14

ghj019 14

tyu014 14

tyu019 14

ghj017 14

ch 06 14

tyu024 14

hyu 3 14

hnmnh 13

ch 24 13

klq6 13

hyu 5 13

ch 30 13

ch 29 13

yus18 13

ghj 4 13

yus20 13

pyuu4 13

tyu026 13

isks15 13

TRT 25 13

ch 25 13

TRT 26 13

tyu017 13

ch 12 13

ch 16 13

tyu030 13

tyu09 13

ch 26 13

tyu028 13

pyuu5 13

yus15 13

hnmnnn 13

tyu03 13

ghj014 13

grog hoppy 13

ch 31 13

tyu025 13

CH 28 13

hnmnhj 13

tyu015 13

tyu029 13

tyu01 13

tyu022 13

yus19 13

ch 46 13

tyu020 13

ch 15 13

klq5 13

vrwxzz 13

ragenarokk 13

rgoon2 13

ch 33 13

tyu010 13

ghj020 13

ch 17 13

rgoon3 13

Mortal Sandman 2 13

federico borrell 12

yus8 12

duo11 12

ch 21 12

pyuu11 12

isks3 12

ch 18 12

asd efg 12

isks13 12

tyu06 12

TRT 23 12

TRT 33 12

isks14 12

ch 43 12

yus5 12

yus16 12

isks10 12

ch 19 12

yus13 12

TRT 22 12

MALTA-DOR 12

tyu027 12

tyu05 12

TRT 32 12

yus17 12

ch 27 12

ch 23 12

tyu08 12

TRT 21 12

isks2 12

TRT 31 12

isks9 12

ISKS7 12

pyuu12 12

pyuu6 12

csb13 12

klq7 12

ch 22 12

loterdine 12

TRT 30 12

the boston butcher 12

ch 32 12

yus7 11

ANKER 26 11

TRT 24 11

cash 3 cow 11

ch 42 11

sir sidona 11

ch 13 11

isaac umiyack 11

MIERCOLES ADDAMS 11

dwalz 11

pyuu13 11

GUN masda 11

duo12 11

tyu04 11

dug11 11

hyu 4 11

rider52 11

isks11 11

yus6 11

ch 35 11

hnmnhy 11

ghj 3 11

yus4 11

ch 34 11

TRT 29 11

cash 2 cow 11

ch 20 11

TRT 35 11

MR SPOCK 1741 11

My Immortal Guardian 11

cash 4 cow 11

cash 5 cow 11

Paloma Soraya 11

tyu02 11

TRT 34 11

ch 44 11

hnmnn 11

klq1 11

MM106 11

klq8 11

tyu016 11

tyu032 11

TRT 36 11

yus12 10

ch 48 10

53d cup 10

uriah420 10

TRT 28 10

deajo4 10

51d cup 10

ghj 22 10

54dd cup 10

blood bolts 10

56dd cup 10

1234 san 10

52dd cup 10

isks12 10

ch 14 10

53ddd cup 10

deajo14 10

isks8 10

KNIGHT 01 10

klq2 10

killkill 01 10

EREVIS BARCA 10

isks 5 10

hnmnhyy 10

Grinzler 10

tyu07 10

46dd cup 10

45ddd cup 10

kiko muffler 10

MR SPOCK 1742 10

isks16 10

41ddd cup 10

cash 1 cow 10

Andrey Player 10

lord sidona 10

420uriah 10

ch 41 10

yus10 10

deajo3 10

isks1 10

41d cup 10

asari san 10

ch 122 10

ghj 11 10

Kirgolax 10

Mortal Sandman 5 10

Lord Axios 10

ch 04 10

deajo5 10

ch 36 10

Sentry Maximus 10

55ddd cup 10

SALUD Y ANARKIA 10

hyu 6 10

54ddd cup 10

42d cup 10

BARTIMAEUS BARCA 10

43dd cup 10

isks 4 10

Ren Vestrog 9

deajo2 9

deajo1 9

pyuu8 9

11ddd cup 9

pyuu9 9

TRT 38 9

ghj 5 9

2wert5 9

MM102 9

44d cup 9

55dd cup 9

14d cup 9

nani8 9

23dd cup 9

ryo dust 9

14ddd cup 9

deajo9 9

ch 40 9

isks 6 9

14dd cup 9

44dd cup 9

54d cup 9

46d cup 9

jkl999 9

A roe 9

12ddd cup 9

41dd cup 9

loterdine 2 9

51dd cup 9

deajo6 9

deajo8 9

Veintesimo 20 9

jojo savard 9

11dd cup 9

Leezir 9

13dd cup 9

killkill 00 9

deajo15 9

ch 37 9

55 bb 9

yus1 9

52ddd cup 9

ALSOKyu1 9

Xx-Forsaken-xX 9

43d cup 9

51ddd cup 9

44ddd cup 9

21ddd cup 9

5trew2 9

guyvern 9

42dd cup 9

deajo13 9

Mortal Sandman 3 9

15dd cup 9

Crazy Inmate 9

46ddd cup 9

52d cup 9

42ddd cup 9

suzume 39 9

66dd cup 8

ilussia 8

16d cup 8

24ddd cup 8

64d cup 8

Cream XXX 8

BLADE 0000 8

LOGIC GLOBAL FACTION 8

12dd cup 8

jlo 05 8

65ddd cup 8

pyuu16 8

ISK 6 8

66ddd cup 8

7ster 8

61d cup 8

deajo21 8

56ddd cup 8

31ddd cup 8

35ddd cup 8

dug6 8

yahmon2 8

ISK 3 8

mma 3 8

TRT 37 8

ISK 2 8

22dd cup 8

MM103 8

ALSO3 8

26ddd cup 8

deajo18 8

yus14 8

23ddd cup 8

LubexTV 8

deajo10 8

ALSOKyu2 8

THE GOLD RANGER 8

deajo19 8

24d cup 8

26dd cup 8

13ddd cup 8

mma 5 8

ISK 5 8

ISK 4 8

13d cup 8

deajo12 8

61ddd cup 8

63dd cup 8

OsAuCe 8

hyu 8 8

25dd cup 8

61dd cup 8

15ddd cup 8

64ddd cup 8

65dd cup 8

Cream X 8

25ddd cup 8

16dd cup 8

ch 478 8

1dentity0wl 8

56d cup 8

youssef al king 8

Cream XX 8

deajo17 8

Nova Carbine 8

GUN ma2da 8

mma 4 8

63ddd cup 8

Mortal Sandman 1 8

Saisho Daichi 8

43ddd cup 8

CYLON 01 8

deajo7 8

64dd cup 8

mwalz 8

mma 6 8

63d cup 8

62dd cup 8

62ddd cup 7

deajo20 7

ghjkloiuytr 7

g22 g 7

deajo11 7

ISK 1 7

ISK 9 7

ISK 10 7

Grand Marshal Fendahl 7

sntx 7

L3Gn1c 1991 7

f026b 7

ISK 7 7

ALSO2 7

gt54rf 7

typ001 7

32d cup 7

21dd cup 7

62d cup 7

BUD – DANIELS 7

isks 10 7

Adiasia 7

g li1 7

36dd cup 7

F2009MS 1 7

YourKilledByA 7

34ddd cup 7

Jixette 7

XCMDR 7

deajo16 7

Volcanis IOGG 7

ISK 17 7

pyuu7 7

typ002 7

F2009MS 2 7

Dentara 7

Barnixia 7

isks 7 7

33d cup 7

Box No7 7

deajo22 7

ch 10 7

Damian CARP 7

Elemental hero Wildheart 7

ISK 8 7

larry cagnonga 7

zezu1 7

36d cup 7

Sadianaca 7

KiLLaTuerK 7

isks 12 7

Dasster 7

molly 3 7

TheOutlaw3000 7

alexius atm 7

ssj1 8 7

isks 9 7

Jasmin 23 7

31dd cup 7

molly 2 7

32dd cup 7

36ddd cup 7

Alfonso Rivas 171 7

jcu31 7

33dd cup 7

26d cup 7

Kruznic Ellecon M 7

16ddd cup 7

dug5 7

31d cup 7

noble sidona 7

12d cup 7

ISK 12 7

Jasmin 21 7

deajo24 7

F 1002 7

Ghost Envoy 7

ALSOKyu 7

ISK 11 7

jcu33 7

Templar VIII 7

32ddd cup 7

elohim kat h 7

24dd cup 7

Jasmin 22 7

kil-her 7

23d cup 7

22ddd cup 7

Pasketticia 7

bedu2 7

Jar Core 7

ALSO1 7

pyuu14 7

34dd cup 7

Zedgan 7

ZACH ORSHA 7

35dd cup 7

ssj18 7

gt567uyt 7

f026a 7

45dd cup 7

z 04 6

VGVoid 6

ffffffddddddd 6

Bane8315 6

gaq4 6

minmasy 6

uv 2 6

pyuu15 6

Captain Borgia 6

gaq21 6

vandoll03 6

Ashara Whisperwind 6

brandie01 6

gaq9 6

6001 6

Beat Feet 6

ISK 15 6

MM105 6

vandoll01 6

tr 4 6

22d cup 6

tr 6 6

hc 58 6

MM107 6

gaq2 6

Federico Carrion 6

gt5432wsdf 6

jiji te mate 6

bedu1 6

uv 1 6

yuio yuio 6

jlo 09 6

cristhofer valeriano 6

deajo23 6

qwe 4 6

21d cup 6

gaq20 6

53dd cup 6

Wacko Pasko 6

Evermore Z 6

jcu32 6

B-U-D D-A-N-I-E-L-S 6

minmas1 6

Nova Cygnus 6

hc 57 6

Zahid Gonzalez 6

Zyette 6

c 50 6

habu1 6

rgoon1 6

gaq26 6

Templar XK 6

gaq25 6

c 51 6

ch 39 6

Honshitsu Kami 6

gaq8 6

CHAR 54 6

Veintesimo Argentino 6

gaq28 6

Delta Cygnus 6

youssef al bob 6

Zahzi The Beast 6

Ticania 6

ooFREDDYoo ooKRUEGERoo 6

Templar VI 6

gaq24 6

11d cup 6

bo kki 6

k bn 6

tr 8 6

Sariettana 6

ISK 16 6

MisterJambon13 6

molly 1 6

gaq7 6

ch 38 6

Karnazuz 6

isks 11 6

hj7543 6

isks 8 6

hjjuio9 6

F 1001 6

ISK 14 6

gaq27 6

yus11 6

33ddd cup 6

masaki san 6

gaq22 6

gaq6 6

Redorice 6

H2O DELIRIO 6

mysty killer 6

66d cup 6

Old chacal 6

BLADE 7777 6

yus9 6

fuuuuuug 6

ignacio piriz 6

RMHYU 6

Feacina 6

gaq23 6

f022b 6

ISKgirl1 6

44444445555555 6

Claire Eclair 6

moh blas 6

hc 56 6

ISK 13 6

gt tgt 6

qwe 5 6

c 49 6

legnic 5

gaq29 5

killbot 2964 5

ryo jinmei 5

gaq32 5

gaq35 5

gaq38 5

aassdd gghhjj 5

zeta zerro 5

Captain Vivec 5

ISKgirl2 5

Sinful Warrior 5

deck chair 5

34d cup 5

333ee 5

gaq39 5

josue rivas 5

gaq36 5

Merc X3 5

f025a 5

ffffffvvvvvvv 5

CABOos1 5

3333334444444 5

vladimir FONTENA 5

goon red 5

LUKSONG 5

tr 7 5

Sammie Cross 5

yahmon3 5

ssj 18 5

RPGpawn 1 5

4444444555555 5

25d cup 5

fffffffvvvvvvcccccc 5

0000000qqqqqqq 5

ryo deteis 5

RMHY 5

Sentry Beta 5

ryo civire 5

qwe 3 5

gaq37 5

Libitinarius 5

Castiria 5

habu2 5

Elemental hero Sparkman 5

f021b 5

gaq34 5

AZ9 5

Rau’L 5

JASON SHOCKER 5

f023a 5

respectoff 5

66666667777777 5

Soizik 5

Lord Ryker 5

qas saq 5

fuuuug 5

Kirito Horizon 5

BRIGHT EYE’S 5

f022a 5

ryo nikunni 5

qqqqqqwwwwww 5

duane smith 5

fffffddddddd 5

MALTADOR 59 5

COMANDANTE DISEL 5

hc 59 5

ghj 2 5

5555556666666 5

jlo 08 5

Templar XXL 5

MM104 5

gaq30 5

pppppppaaaaaaa 5

Exilegal 5

BEAT CHILD 5

Alfonso Rivas 717 5

kai el4 5

Belorus2 5

FLOW 26 5

gaq33 5

qwe 2 5

Mister Jambon 5

Exileant Chimara 5

Voidghoul 5

8888889999999 5

f023b 5

f024b 5

f024a 5

combol bee 5

glone 2 5

glone 1 5

gbbvcxzz 5

TRUE BLOOD 1 5

f025b 5

15d cup 5

Belorus1 5

45d cup 4

urrukk 4

przemo645 przemo 4

gt543edc 4

Zeo IOGG 4

pooo9 4

888888999999 4

500K 01 4

TonytheTigersays ThereGreat 4

XIX-Damian-XIX CARP 4

lounge chair 4

PANCHO MOLLER 3 4

yuki 04 4

axe3344 4

tr 12 4

ghjuuytyujmn 4

bgood3 4

Raidei The Blade 4

tr 14 4

Knightsmurf blood 4

Tau Lai 4

Dekorosto 4

isks5 4

kuscheln Monster 4

gt54rfv 4

tr 1 4

fgb bgf 4

543edd 4

JANKOvych 4

JEY Smith 4

SOUL OF REVOLUTION 4

PARCA ARG 4

9999990000000 4

Templar VIIV 4

Zeke Logan 4

xcd vbg 4

rrrrrrrrtttttttt 4

gt56yhgfd 4

Matsuri 5005 4

ignacio vergara 97 4

dovajin Henderson 4

dddddddffffffff 4

Shipbreaker Hydra 4

callme asap 4

training clone 4

Quantum Ostridge 4

wwwwwweeeeee 4

ddddddddffffffff 4

f020a 4

uuuuuuuiiiiiiiiii 4

hj754 4

THE BLUE RANGER 4

Phillip Bodybags 4

elohim 001 4

zezu2 4

gbn nbg 4

saberw0lf 4

isks4 4

ROFLMAO IN YOURFACE 4

gfdssdfghjjkl 4

Sasheena 4

elohim h 4

MH DAIKI 4

4rty6 4

Jare Cor 4

Beardigo 4

500k 02 4

Alcatraz Thorne 4

tr 9 4

ryo intaki 4

Matchitehew Chiman 4

Beardigo Noshave 4

chode grilluxx 4

Templar VII 4

hjju765ttyu 4

bb 9000 4

Decka Warsoa 4

kondziu kk 4

ghjklkjkll 4

hjuytgbvcxsdf 4

ch 49 4

Templar XXI 4

hhhhhhhjjjjjjjjj 4

ryo khanid 4

Iskaur 4

55d cup 4

Cakia 4

biohazard 9747 4

BIT TAM 4

charron needles 4

Daynamon 4

Geese Villian 4

00000qqqqqqq 4

Autoreiji Biyondo 4

gfdfghjkl 4

The Caldari State 4

char 53 4 Name – timesRecreated

A hint to the people in the above list:

If Chribba has access to this data,

so does CCP.

When asked to comment on the data uncovered, Chribba had this to say:

“I see this as something that will break the economy, generating ISK by wrongful means. I believe it would hurt DUST if it kept being allowed. I noticed odd characters popping up and this certainly gives an explanation as to why they appear. So yeah I was quite surprised of the scale that this is being used. Surely, regardless how much anyone tries to have a solid reason for recreating their character, recreating it over 50 times in one month is a bit too much.“

The discussion that went on in IRC provided a number of possible and easy solutions; from allowing ISK transfers only after you went through the academy to simply not providing new characters with money. CPM member Jenza hinted that CCP is well aware of the issue but wasn’t available for further comment.

Lets hope we will see a fix for this exploit soon. CCP has already shown with their band aid to Planetary Conquest that they can be swift and thorough. I assume that exploits like these have to be dealt with in order to make reasonable market price balancing decisions and allow player to player trading, or even the transfer of ISK between the games.

I would like to thank Chribba for donating his time to provide pretty much everything I needed for this post. It never hurts to check out his websites and services or his Twitter for more insights and overall interesting stuff. And I also want to thank you for reading this. If you want to dig a bit yourself here is some of the data Chribba provided me with: 1, 2, 3

Until next time.

-Castor