Intro
Welcome to the Kekbur’s Community Spotlight series! Today we’re featuring Gumi Aihaken – a formidable force in EVE Galaxy Conquest, a pillar of the player community, and a well-known presence on the official Discord and early game servers. In this interview, we’ll explore who’s really calling the shots on her command deck, what drives her passion for the game, and how she sees the project evolving. This is the first entry in a new format I’m trying out, so your feedback in the comments is more than welcome. If you enjoy it, I’ve got a few more game celebrities lined up!
A bit of personal background before we dive in. I first encountered Gumi during Season 2 – and let’s just say it wasn’t a friendly handshake. Once the low-sec gates opened, my corp pushed fast into enemy territory, and just a few hours later… despair. A fully-starred Thunderchild under Gumi’s command obliterated our solders, wiping out 20–30 fleets in a single run. I immediately went into analysis mode and started switching a few characters to the enemy team for intel. It even involved faking an ID card just to sneak into their Discord, but that’s a story for another time 😀
That’s when I really got to know her. I was struck by how much effort she put into supporting not just her own corp but allied corps as well—constantly switching between accounts to share tiles, coordinate ops, and manage administration. That bloodbath of a season forged a deep respect between our corps. The synergy was so strong—and the cultural overlap so clear—that players from both sides decided to unite. We’ve now been operating as a single team for two seasons and over five months.
So yes, our shared history started in chaos: Gumi was erasing my fleets with a single deploy while I was probably annoying her with meat-shield Drake and empty decoy fleets. That early clash turned into cooperation—and eventually, friendship.
Table of Contents
The conversation that follows is originally expressed in Korean. What you’ll read here is a translated and adapted version, with only minor polishing for clarity.
Let’s undock!
Getting to Know Gumi
So, who’s the human behind the pilot? Tell us a bit about yourself outside the game.
I’m a curious gamer living in South Korea. Most of my days are spent hanging out with friends, eating delicious food, and getting some good sleep! I’m always on the lookout for interesting things to explore, and I dabble in all kinds of hobbies. But out of everything, gaming is the one I dive into the most.
So from curious gamer to lowsec siege leader, let’s rewind to launch week on Server #20 Aderkan. What made you think, “Yep, this is my new time-sink”? And why are we both still here eight months later?
Yea, I remember it well. At first, I just wanted to casually check out what kind of mobile game they [Editor’s note: CCP Games] made using the EVE IP. It was pure curiosity—no big expectations. But everything started to shift during my first siege into lowsec, at the Level 6 gate.
As you probably know, back on the original S1 server, none of us really had much information or experience. That lack of mastery extended into siege battles too. Back then, there weren’t any mega-corporations yet, and power was pretty scattered. So when it came to high-level sieges like Lv.6 and beyond, you had to cooperate. Total strangers had to communicate in real-time and work together toward what seemed like impossible goals—and that kind of teamwork is rare to find in most mobile games.
That shared effort and communication sparked the beginning of a real community among players. And honestly, that’s been one of my biggest reasons for sticking around. Everyone has their own reasons for playing, but for me, it’s the joy of taking on challenges with the friends I’ve made here—and the excitement of wondering, “How far can we go together?”
Totally on the same page! I was fascinated by how players just started self-organizing without any external guidance. And yeah, the total lack of info online felt like a challenge in itself—which probably explains why I’ve ended up writing a dozen guides by now, haha. You clearly live and breathe games—besides EGC, do you spend time with any other titles, mobile or not?
Absolutely! As a gamer, I love exploring lots of different games. But if I had to highlight one that’s especially close to my heart, it’d be Trickcal: Chibi Go [Editor’s note: KR title “트릭컬 리바이브”], a mobile gacha game full of adorable characters.
Seriously, it’s packed with charm—you can even stretch their little faces just to mess with them. Hehehehe 😼
[Editor’s note: I think I found a next Featured Games candidate!]
Games, Spending, and Earning Trust
That’s charming. But it sounds like there’s more to it than just cute art. What keeps you invested in that one?
What really makes me love this game isn’t just the cute visuals—it’s the mindset of the developers and the way the company runs things. Funny enough, this game also had a pretty rough launch, maybe even rougher than EGC. It faced heavy criticism for both its gameplay and management. At one point, they even rebuilt almost the entire system from the ground up.
And yet, thanks to the team’s consistent effort, their eye for detail, and the company’s ongoing, transparent communication with players, Trickcal has become a major success in the Korean game scene. These days, many of us—including myself—are willing to genuinely invest in the game because we believe in its potential. That kind of trust is rare, and it’s exactly the kind of growth and relationship I hope to see from EGC as well.
If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend checking out their 1-year anniversary developer roundtable. Even if you don’t understand Korean, I think you’ll still feel the genuine love and care—and just how crazy the directing team is about their game.
And when you’re not stretching chibi faces—what else is in your rotation?
Aside from that, I often hop on Steam with friends. We try out all sorts of games—indie or mainstream, doesn’t matter. If we all agree “Hey, this looks fun,” we’re in. When I’m playing solo, I tend to gravitate toward rhythm games. I usually choose what to play based on whatever sparks my interest or fits my mood at the time.
After hearing how deeply you’ve invested in Trickcal—and how much trust plays into that—it feels like a natural jump to this next topic: Spending Philosophy! You’re our resident whale 🐳 (said with love). What factors help you decide when a purchase is “worth it,” and how do you respond to the “pay-to-win” label?
For me, it usually comes down to three things: fun, efficiency, and the game’s potential for growth. First, I ask myself, am I genuinely enjoying the game? And if I spend money, will it actually enhance that enjoyment? Then I look at how efficiently that spending helps me reach my in-game goals. I only spend what I feel is necessary and within my limits, save some cash for cakes :3
The third factor is the game’s long-term health—basically, how well it’s being managed and whether it’s growing. That’s not something every game has, but for games like EGC or others I regularly invest in, it matters. If I’m spending frequently, I want to be sure the game has a future. Honestly, that’s also why I’ve scaled back on spending lately…
As for the term “pay-to-win,” my thoughts are a bit mixed. In general, whales spend money to gain an edge or to stand out—and that’s fair, especially since their spending often keeps the game afloat. So yes, I do think players who invest should be rewarded appropriately.
But things start to fall apart when in-game balance fails. If the advantage whales gain turns into something frustrating or demoralizing for F2P players, that’s a serious red flag. When people feel like they can’t keep playing unless they pay, it’s not just unbalanced—it’s toxic. I really agree with something another player once said:
“The edge you gain from spending should come from faster growth and more options—not from reaching a level of power that’s completely out of reach for F2P players.”
It’s not just your spending that gets noticed—you’re also one of the most active and helpful voices on Discord. What motivates you to spend so much time supporting others and suggesting fixes?
Umm… honestly, I think it all comes down to my own enjoyment. When the game improves, when more people get excited about playing, and when new players join and stick around—it all makes the experience better for me too.
Your feedback often reads like it came straight out of a game designer’s doc. Where did you learn to break problems down so methodically? Secret game-dev ambitions—or just too many hours theory-crafting?
Truth is… most of the ideas I share aren’t originally mine. A lot of them come from things I’ve seen in server chat, feedback from corp members, or creative suggestions posted on Discord. What I usually do is take those thoughts, organize them, and add a bit of structure and persuasion—just what I learned back in school. And GPT power 😹
You don’t just form opinions—you gather ideas from across the community, organize them, and invest your time to make them easier for everyone to understand. Bravo for that! But let’s dream a bit. If the devs gave you one instant fix or feature tomorrow, no questions asked, which ticket would you push to the top?
If I could ask for one thing—no strings attached, no conditions—it would be an EGC version of EVE Online’s CSM system [Editor’s note: Council of Stellar Management]. A system where elected player representatives can directly communicate with the dev team and take part in development discussions would be a huge step forward for EGC’s growth and long-term direction.
Woah, quite unexpected—but totally understandable! Why do you think it’s so crucial for the project?
Let me break it down into three key reasons why I believe this matters:
- It acts as a safeguard against anti-player updates. The original CSM in EVE Online was created in direct response to situations where trust between players and devs broke down. Bringing that kind of structure to EGC would give players more confidence in the game’s sustainability and future. It shows that there’s a system in place that protects the game from top-down decisions that ignore the player experience.
- It establishes a reliable and structured communication channel.
For developers, this means feedback collection becomes more streamlined, and player sentiment can be better understood at scale. For players, it’s a way to push ideas forward that aren’t just popular or loud, but well-rounded—considering multiple perspectives and deeper issues. It’s a more thoughtful, constructive feedback loop. - EGC already has incredibly capable players across the community.
In Discord and other channels, there are so many talented individuals with deep insight into fleet comps, strategy, economy, and more. A CSM-like system would give these experts the platform to participate meaningfully and consistently in the game’s evolution—not just shouting into the void, but shaping the future.
Now, to be honest… I realize that suggesting something like this might raise eyebrows—especially at the EGC dev team or even CCP Shanghai. It introduces new risks, demands additional staffing, and opens up a level of accountability that might seem uncomfortable. But I firmly believe the CSM system is one of the key reasons EVE Online has endured for so long and built such a passionate community around it.
This kind of transparency and shared responsibility aligns perfectly with CCP’s broader “community-main” philosophy [Editor’s note: see my Fanfest 2025 interview with CCP Swift, community lead for EVE Online]. More than that, a healthy, trusted relationship between players and developers lays the groundwork for a game that not only survives—but thrives.
Inside the Hangar – Fleets and Counters
Love it! Sold! Now let’s pop open your hangar. Walk us through your current favorite fleet composition and the thought process behind each slot (just… not the Tornado, please, hehe).
Lately, I’ve been experimenting with Haatakan as my core commander—especially after the recent buffs. At ☆3, I think Haatakan has huge potential, so I’ve been trying out all kinds of compositions to see what clicks.
Generally, my 1st and 2nd slots are reserved for the strongest, most meta fleets of the current season. These are my mainline comps—the ones I rely on to stay competitive against other high-level players.
My 3rd and 4th slots are dedicated to counter fleets. These are built specifically to deal with niche lineups that don’t show up often, but can be a serious problem when they do. Lately, I’ve seen rival corps running setups like Karishal–Alexsander–Vexor or Alexsander–Santimona–Drake for delay tactics, so I’ve built specific answers to those and keep them on standby.
My 5th slot is the flexible one. I rotate between siege fleets, bait setups, and testing builds. Sometimes I even copy strange enemy comps just to reverse-engineer how they work—or I leave it as a trolling slot when I’m out of resources and just want to mess around. hehe😸
Is there any fleet or commander you love—but that just doesn’t perform and really needs a rebalance?
Hyperion! It was designed as a Guristas counter, but honestly, it underperforms even in PvE. Its skill kit isn’t bad on paper, but low base HP and the unreliability of its active skill hold it back. If that activation chance got a small buff (maybe total 55–60%) I think it could finally find a real place in both PvE and PvP.
Earlier you mentioned building specific counters—so let’s flip the view. Which lineup gives your flagship fleet the most trouble, and how do you adapt?
Fleets built around Drake tend to give me the most trouble. That ship’s massive HP pool, combined with built-in electronic warfare effects and Force Shield capabilities, makes it a real headache to deal with. Things get especially tricky when the rival commander is skilled at strategy—using Drake as a front-line tank while keeping a counter fleet in reserve behind it.
To counter it, I usually go with a Korvin–Yana–Tristan setup. It helps me strip debuffs and neutralize Force Shields, which gives me a fighting chance. But even that isn’t foolproof—I still take the occasional loss 😿
Looking back at Day 1 and comparing it to Season 4, how has the game changed—for better or worse—in your eyes?
Ummm… personally, I do think the game has improved overall. We’ve had a lot of quality-of-life updates, UI improvements, and even though the events aren’t always regular, the devs do keep trying new things. Compared to Day 1, it definitely feels more polished.
That said, I have to admit—what I initially hoped for in terms of the game’s potential to grow feels a bit more disappointing now. I expected a bigger evolution over time, the grander possibilities I imagined back then haven’t quite come to life yet.
If You Could Fix One Thing…
Okay, let’s leave the ships alone for a moment and step into something a bit more philosophical. What aspect of EGC frustrates you the most right now—and what kind of change could actually fix it?
There’s a lot I could say here, but if I had to sum it up in one word, it would be: trust—or rather, the lack of it.
Players are losing faith in the game’s sustainability. Promises from the dev team have gone unfulfilled, patch notes are often incomplete, and we’ve even seen silent ninja patches with no communication [Editor’s note: As someone who builds game guides, this hits hardest!]. Right now, many in the community simply don’t trust how EGC is being managed. And I think a lot of the hostility we see in the community stems from that deep-rooted mistrust.
Trust isn’t something that forms overnight—it’s built through consistency and transparency. In EGC’s case, I believe many of the current issues could be addressed by tackling one root cause: lack of information.
Let’s break that down—what kind of “information” are you talking about, exactly?
When I say “information,” I don’t just mean patch notes or notices—I’m talking about a deeper level of communication, which I believe can be broken down into three essential areas:
- Analysis
The dev team needs to proactively analyze the problems the game is facing—whether they’re already being reported or still under the radar. This means identifying the underlying causes, not just the surface-level symptoms. For example, when a certain feature or meta becomes problematic, it’s not enough to just nerf it—we need to understand why it became dominant, what system interactions allowed it, and how it affected different tiers of players. - Transparency
Once those issues are understood, they need to be shared openly. Players should know:
– What problems the devs are aware of
– Why those problems happened
– What the original intention was
– What solutions are being considered (even if tentative)
Even if a plan was scrapped, explaining why it didn’t work can build enormous goodwill. The goal here isn’t perfection—it’s honest communication.
- Communication Strategy
Whenever big updates or systemic changes are coming, the focus should be on framing those changes properly. Most players instinctively look for what they’re losing or how the update could hurt them. That’s natural. But if the team communicates why something’s changing, what the long-term benefits are, and how it fits into a broader vision, it can reshape the community’s perspective.
This isn’t about spin or sugar-coating. It’s about putting your strongest foot forward and explaining the intent behind every change. And right now, that intent often feels invisible.
That’s a clear framework. So what would rebuilding trust actually look like in practice?
In short, a stronger focus on informing the community, explaining the “why” behind decisions, and actively listening in return could go a long way in restoring trust. Not just with words, but with consistent actions.
EGC doesn’t need perfect balance or flawless content—it needs a relationship between players and devs that feels respectful, responsive, and rooted in clarity.
CCP Singlemono has made some recent moves toward addressing this lack of trust, and I appreciate that—but it’s still not enough.
Anyone EGC could learn from?
Honestly, I think one of the best things the EGC team could do is learn from the EVE Online team. That game had its own dark period not too long ago. But under the leadership of CCP Okami, they’ve worked hard to rebuild trust through open communication. While there’s still criticism, the effort itself is being recognized—and that matters.
I genuinely hope EGC can follow that same path.
Surviving and Thriving as F2P
Let’s flip to the feel-good side. After hundreds of hours in-game, what moment or feature still makes you stop and think “wow”? Maybe riding in with your flagship to collapse a siege rally, or capturing a Nemesis HQ?
Even now… what still amazes me most is when players come together and truly cooperate. It doesn’t matter whether it’s our side or a rival force—those moments of large-scale coordination always leave an impression.
Whenever a Rally gets posted and you start to see fleet movement lines converging on the battlefield… I still find myself taking screenshots. There’s something powerful about seeing that many players, from all over, syncing up in real time for a single objective. It’s honestly one of the most awe-inspiring parts of the game.
Alright, advice time. If a free-to-play newcomer asked how to stay competitive without spending—what three tips would you give, coming from a whale?
Ummmm… honestly, with how heavy the P2W element has become, it’s definitely not easy for F2P players right now. But there are a few key principles that still apply to everyone—no matter how much (or little) you spend.
First, focus your investment on one main fleet. Even whales can’t afford to max out every fleet early in the season—they usually stick to just 1 or 2 core setups. So instead of spreading your resources thin, putting everything into one strong lineup will help you stay competitive longer.
Second, play strategically. Avoid fights you can’t win. Use deception tactics to waste your opponent’s stamina. Secure key tiles and structures to help your entire alliance win battles—even without direct PvP. Many whales tend to focus heavily on destruction, so by blocking their routes or stealing key objectives, you can throw off their plans. I’ve been on the receiving end of those tactics myself—sometimes they drain my fleet stamina so well, I can’t even respond. These kinds of plays might not look flashy, but they’re often what actually wins sovereignty wars.
Third, and this is more about enjoying the game: make friends and communicate. Being active in your community gives you a reason to log in every day—and it keeps morale high. Honestly, a strong social circle is one of the best ways to stay motivated and have fun, no matter what your wallet looks like.
[Editor’s note: As someone who plays truly F2P (for science!!! hehe), I create guides with this group in mind. You might want to check out my Top 10 Hidden Game Tips and New Season Starter F2P Fleet Comps.]
What the Future Could Look Like
Let’s look ahead. Picture EGC a year from today—what’s the one addition or overhaul that would make it a must-play for both whales and F2P alike?
I’ll approach this as: “What does EGC need in order to truly succeed?” I’m not a game industry professional, so please take this as one player’s personal reflection—not expert analysis.
Alright, let’s unpack that vision. What’s missing in terms of core content—and how could it be reworked to improve retention?
EGC needs more variety and depth in its core content—especially in both PvP and PvE. One recurring issue we see every season is player dropout. The primary reason, I believe, is how heavily the game is built around a single objective: Jita Occupation. Once players fall behind in that PvP race, there’s little left to keep them engaged.
To summarize, EGC currently relies too much on one endgame pillar, and that creates a fragile experience.
So how do we fix that? We need to remember what makes EGC fun for most veteran players. It’s not just the fighting—it’s the cooperation, the camaraderie, and the shared challenges. That sense of large-scale teamwork is something uniquely powerful about EGC.
We could enhance that by introducing large-scale co-op PvE content, or even parallel seasonal modes that focus less on zero-sum competition and more on creative collaboration. These would give players who fall out of the PvP race meaningful reasons to stay involved—and help diversify the kinds of enjoyment EGC offers.
More broadly, we need to build a foundation that attracts a wider variety of players. Although EGC presents itself as a 4X game, it currently plays more like a PvP-centered SLG. Adding more exploration, construction, and adventure elements could help broaden its appeal. To build the “Active server” that the community wants, EGC needs systems that keep players with different preferences engaged and online.
And what about marketing? How do you see EGC reaching a bigger audience?
Marketing is crucial—but complex. EGC is on mobile platforms like Google Play and the App Store, where store fees are notoriously high. That makes it harder to allocate budget for promotion, especially for a game that relies on long-term development cycles. That might even explain the recent shift toward a proprietary store and Galaxy Kredit system.
But even if budget weren’t a problem, the effectiveness of traditional mobile marketing is still questionable. EGC isn’t exactly a game built for streaming or casual viewing—its fun comes from playing with others, not watching from the sidelines. That puts it at a disadvantage compared to more spectacle-driven titles.
Any creative solutions—or dreams—you’d put on the table?
In the current flagship title of the EVE IP, EVE Online, a variety of storylines are actively unfolding. While I can’t explain them all here, the core point is that the groundwork has recently been laid for expanding the universe into multiverse or simulated reality concepts. Based on that, I would like to cautiously suggest preparing a shared storyline saga and internal collaboration events that align with EVE Online. Doing so could potentially expand EGC’s own narrative and content, while also creating impactful marketing opportunities.
New players often discover EVE through viral stories—massive battles, player politics, betrayal. EGC has the potential for similar storytelling. With the right framing, its large-scale coordination, strategic depth, and community dynamics could become just as captivating to outsiders.
But… these are just ideas—seeds for discussion. I believe the community can build on them and refine them far beyond what I’ve written here.
Because we all know, when EGC succeeds, we all have more fun.
Culture and Community in Live-Service Games
You mentioned EVE Online just now, and I know you’re active there too. How do the two communities compare—in terms of culture, cooperation, and dev interaction?
The biggest difference I’ve noticed comes down to the platform. In EVE Online, players from all over the world coordinate to show up at the same time for the same ops. But in EGC, we usually have a shared long-term goal, while actual rallies and battles are spread out across different time zones. Once one group finishes, they hand things off to the next. It’s more flexible.
Also, EGC is much more forgiving when it comes to mistakes. I think that’s partly due to the nature of mobile gaming—players want something more casual and accessible, and EGC really leans into that. It’s not a bad thing. It fits the platform.
As for communication with the devs… well, I feel like I’ve already said a lot on that topic. Let’s just say EVE Online does a much better job on that front. I’ll leave it there. 😺
One last big question. In a live-service MMO like EGC, how important is a healthy community to fully enjoying the game? Could stellar gameplay ever compensate for weak social features—or vice versa?
In any live-service game, the community isn’t just an accessory—it’s one of the core systems that hold the game together. It’s where feedback flows, new ideas emerge, and even organic marketing happens. Naturally, the more the directing team understands and harnesses that positive energy, the greater the rewards they’ll see in return.
But with that influence comes risk, right? What’s the danger of leaning too hard in either direction—toward the devs’ vision or the players’ demands?
Community influence is very much a double-edged sword. I’m not deeply experienced in the game industry, but I’ve seen what can happen when a community heads in the wrong direction. When developers cave to public pressure and abandon their vision, the game often ends up being shaped by the loudest voices—not the right ones. On the other hand, when devs become too fixated on their own ideals and stop listening altogether, the game drifts into territory that feels disconnected from what players actually want.
So in the end… I believe both sides need to strike the right balance. Players should help keep the community healthy and self-correcting, while developers should stay true to their philosophy—but also be open-minded and reasonable when it counts.
Balancing doesn’t only happen inside the game—it has to happen outside it too. And that, I think, is exactly why running a live-service game is so challenging… and why it demands such a delicate touch.
Lightning Round – One Word Each!
- Favourite animal (I’m guessing “cat,” but surprise me)? ‘Fluffy’ cat!
- Favorite music genre? Ambient
- Go-to snack during siege? Chocolate
- One-word battle cry? Meow
- Signature emoji? 😎
Based on these responses… I return a haiku!
Fluffy cat meows loud
Ambient hum, chocolate raid—
😎 leads the charge in style
Docking Up
More than any fleet comp or theorycrafting, what stayed with me was the care. Gumi Aihaken breaks the usual “whale” stereotype entirely. Instead of demanding perks or steamrolling content, she’s constantly building bridges: between players, between ideas, and between the community and the devs. This isn’t just someone with deep pockets—it’s someone with deep investment in the health and future of the game.
We need more people like this—not just to balance the conversation, but to push projects like EGC toward a healthier, more collaborative future. I don’t know if anyone from the dev team will make it to the end of this post, but if they do: take note. Gumi Aihaken is a true community gem—and has more than earned my respect, and a place in this spotlight.
Fly fierce, meow loud. o7
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