EVE Buddy program and trial account
The Eve Online Buddy Program[92][93] was created so that full-subscription players of Eve Online could distribute 14-day free trial accounts to their friends. If the buddy account is converted to a full account the referrer is rewarded with entrance into a monthly prize raffle. The 14-day trial account is free and allows the trial player to access most of the Eve Online game, with exceptions. Trial accounts cannot train skills for some advanced ship types, for example industrial ships, they cannot create contracts and cannot directly transfer ISK to other players. Once the 14 day period ends, the trial account is locked and must be converted to a full account before the character can be accessed again. Skills that the character was training at the end of the trial period continue to train even though the account is locked. Apart from the buddy program there is another way to receive a trial account for Eve Online. All players can sign up to create a free trial account from the Eve Online Website's Trial Section.[94]
Eve Online Trial Accounts can be upgraded to full paid accounts in two simple ways. The first way is through the Eve Online website; they offer immediate activation and 30 days game time for $19.95.[95] This subscription method requires a credit card. The alternative way is to subscribe using an Eve Game Time Card (ETC or GTC), these can be purchased in digital format online. Eve Game Cards upgrade a trial account and add 100% of the game time on the card. The 30 day game time card retails for under $15 online; players save $5 using a Game Time Card to activate a trial account. Game Time Cards are readily available through third party online merchants.
