The basics of the classic EVE Online game were in place as early as 2005, with the first expansions adding mechanics that put the majority of resources into the hands of groups who maintained military control over nullsec space. The limited nature of the valuable resources (in belts: ABC ore, and in moons: tech II goo) available in nullsec meant that, over time, they maintained their high value relative to the rest of EVE's economy. The moon-based portion of this value was accessed through territorial control, while the rest was accessed through active farming by players.
Meanwhile, the game's power curve was also established by this time: capital class ships consumed outsized resources to build, provided the necessary tools to conduct starbase warfare, and the top end (particularly titans) dominated the tactical battlespace, at the cost of massive investment in infrastructure, resources, and player time. The importance of the power curve to military contests, combined with the large investment