The Unpaid Bill That Launched a Thousand Starships

The actual greatest MMORPG, everyone.

Man, this Mittani/Gianturco guy sounds so dumb and uncharismatic I'm kinda surprised he's the leader of the biggest alliance in EVE. Be that as it may, the Goonsquad's been consistently entertaining, can't wait to read what those ruffians are up to next.

@jesterroyal: You would be first man. This is all you have bee talking bout for the past two weeks, ya damn criminal. - Love Kortice

War correspondent, Patrick Klepek.

He's covered wars, you know!

Thanks for taking the time to understand that well enough to explain it on Patrick. These Eve stories are utterly fascinating .

Whoa. Just all the way around.

Woo! Excellent article Patrick (@patrickklepek) . I am glad you took the time to get the research done so I now know at least the setting for the conflict and how things panned out from people actually directly involved. It makes a lot more sense in my head now, which is greatly appreciated! I found a lot of the previous articles on the topic to be of less worth because they only had bits and pieces, and without context, it doesn't really make as much sense or give you as great an appreciation for what transpired. I'm looking forward to the interviews as well.

Incredible article Patrick.

I probably will never get into EVE, but I'm so glad that it exists.

Looking forward to the next daily feature, "The Evening EVE."

I was a long time Something Awful forum member when the first "Goonfleet" thread was ever made, setting up what is this massive corporation today. Sometimes I kind of regret not jumping on-board back then seeing these amazing stories, but on the other hand man I just don't think I'd have the time to run two lives at once.

I wish I had the time/patience to play EVE. Shit like this sounds incredible.

Stories like this make me want to re-up with Kite Co.

Great story, Glad someone parsed all the EVE online stuff and provided some context.

Quite the opposite, his charisma and intellect are what make Goons such a well oiled machine. He's a retired copyright lawyer and runs his own games journalism site that is also the biggest EVE news site. Don't let his mannerisms here fool you, he's whip-smart.

Excellent write-up Patrick, really nicely put together. Also, good job getting the various perspectives, that was really cool.

@danin: YEAH YOU DO

Nice article, expect for the parts where Gianturco speaks. If you cant go a sentence without cursing you shouldn't be speaking in public. That is saying a lot coming from me.

Dude's been sitting there F5'ing the site all morning. That's that Kite Co. dedication, right there. B|

Great write up, @patrickklepek!

I have no interest in playing EVE, but this is fascinating.

Fantastic stuff Scoops, God damn Eve be crazy!

That needs to updated with the true Kite Co. Logo

I doubt I'll ever try EVE, but I sure do love reading about it. Stellar stuff, @patrickklepek.

This is the Kite Co. dedication at it's finest Dedicated CEO

I know nothing about this game whatsoever, but this was an incredibly interesting article. Great job Patrick!

I think Kite Co. should maybe start posting our After Action Reports on the forums.

This article is insane. So excited to listen to the Dumptrucks for it. What a crazy story. My favourite quotes: "They put their dick on the table, and we chopped it off." "We're gonna take these three regions, give them the finger, and then fuck off."

I've been waiting so long for you to write this Patrick!

All your previous EVE reporting and trip to Iceland really paid off. This is hands down the most interesting telling of this story on the internet. Nicely done!

Me too. Big time.

I never want to play but FUCK If it isn't fun to read about.

This is so freaking cool. I could read a book about the history of EVE's battles and wars.

Also made me think of the story the crew brought up on the podcast, about the guy in EVE warping the Titan into enemy territory. What a crazy, unique, world it is in there. I love it.

So cool :O

I'll have to wait for the podcast to determine if Gianturco sounds like a dick, but he certainly reads like one. Of course, my opinion may be colored by him mouthing rancid shit at another person, publically.

Fascinating article, Patrick.

Can't wait for this to be turned into an episode of Law and Order where the most stereotypical computer geek imaginable kills someone over a Space Trader battle or theft or some shit.

I hardly understood any of what I just read, but I was super fascinated by every word of it.

Here's a more action packed video of the battle, right as all the Titans from both sides were joining the fight.

DO EET. I would read them. :P

Fantastic write-up, Patrick. Even though I have zero interest in actually playing EVE Online (leading one life is trouble enough for me, thank you very much), reading the stories that come from it proves eternally fascinating. This definitely gives great insight to this crazy battle that even someone like me, whom the minutiae of EVE Online completely goes over the head of, can understand. Good stuff.

Really great article Patrick, always thoroughly enjoy reading your work like this one. This is the magic MMO's are made of.

This was such a fucking rad story. I would absolutely love it if GB could swing a regular EVE feature. I want to know what's happening in the game, but I don't have the time to get invested myself.

Fantastic article, Patrick. I love reading stories from EVE. One of these days I'm actually going to get my hands dirty and play the damn thing.

Great read Patrick, I really enjoyed how the war played out and what parties were involved. I've never played EVE (and probably won't), but it's exiting and interesting to read about.

Very good article; EVE Online always has the craziest stories

Too many words and I don't know what any of it means anyway.

I already have with a recent one. Shameless plug here.

Best write-up I've read of this, great stuff!

A glitch may have instigated it (though possibilities of it being caused by a spy exists, and would likely not be publicized), but the resulting battle was anything but.

Awesome article Patrick!

It's probably relevant to note that Alex Gianturco owns the website themittani.com, and makes enough money from it that he's been able to quit his day job as a lawyer and inhabit EVE full time.