The inability of companies like EA and Blizzard to retain MMO subscribers might tempt you into thinking that the monthly payment model just isn't working anymore, but at least one publisher is doing better than ever with it. CCP Games recently revealed that its spacefaring MMO EVE Online just surpassed 450,000 subscribers for the first time, a record high in the game's nine-year history. In fact, the company says that the game has managed to grow every year since its launch. CCP attributes the growth to the recent release of its 18th expansion pack, Retribution, as well as the re-introduction of the game in China by new distributor TianCity (taking over from Optic Communications), which saw a surge in subscribers higher than CCP anticipated.