Request: Cobra Wireframe Paintjob another sell window ?
- Thread starter Systrom
- Start date
Why not? Well, one reason would be that it kills their credibility, and reduces the chance to make money in the future by selling a £10 skin or anything else labeled "limited edition."
FD probably needs to sell as many small items like this as they can get away with, to help in the interim between major expansion DLC. People will pay more when items are truly limited, and they'll buy when they might not otherwise. Those are powerful marketing tools. You throw away those tools when you go back on the promise of limited availability. Then it becomes "Oh, they said it was limited last time too, I'll just wait for the next time it comes up for sale." It transforms a must-buy into a deferred purchase.
The way to deal with hurt feelings from people who miss out on limited items, is to keep producing even more desirable items to buy, so the former limited editions aren't the only things people want. This is basic Marketing 101.
I must say I see both sides on this one, I only bought the game today so previously I had no idea I might want/need this item. However having bought the game today it is possibly the one paintjob I would actually consider paying for.
My point I supose is whilst it is definitely unfair to place the item for sale again after having touted it as a limited edition, I would say it was equally unfair to deny it to those of us who for whatever reason were not in a position to know they may want/need it at the time it was offerred for sale.
My point I supose is whilst it is definitely unfair to place the item for sale again after having touted it as a limited edition, I would say it was equally unfair to deny it to those of us who for whatever reason were not in a position to know they may want/need it at the time it was offerred for sale.
Limited edition basically means offered for a 'limited time' nowhere does it state 'one time' offer. Therefore 'limited' offer means it can be offered again for a limited time. Only if it states 'one time' offer can people complain if it comes up for sale again. Too many elitist people play MMO's and attach too much significance to owning something they think few people should own 
The special snowflake thing again. The funny thing is about most theme park MMO's is you are supposed to feel that you as the player are something special, that you are doing things that no one else can do, or has done.Too many elitist people play MMO's and attach too much significance to owning something they think few people should own
Then you visit some hub and you find loads of other players at the same rank/level as you, carrying the same weapon and wearing the same armour.
It's an illusion easily broken.
Limited edition basically means offered for a 'limited time' nowhere does it state 'one time' offer. Therefore 'limited' offer means it can be offered again for a limited time. Only if it states 'one time' offer can people complain if it comes up for sale again. Too many elitist people play MMO's and attach too much significance to owning something they think few people should own
The term is used in various ways, but also restricted in many cases by local commercial codes and regulations. Just for reference, here's what FD said about the Cobra wireframe skin when it was introducted (text from Newsletter #41):
Also there is a limited edition wireframe paint job for the Cobra which is available here. It will only be available for the 10 days of our celebrations and will be withdrawn from sale on Tuesday 30th September so get it while you can!
IANAL, but I think that clearly indicates a one-time offer. Interpreting it any other way would make this "weasel word advertising" in my view. I'm not trying to deny anyone else something they want, but I think it's important that FD stay within the bounds of standard commercial advertising practice and customer expectations.
I thought I'd enhance the clarity of the wording, for the benefit of those who cannot read it at normal size. Aren't I kind.
Additional information: the context of that highlighted statement is the 30th Anniversary of Elite.
Frontier Developments staged a 10 day celebration of the 30th Anniversary. If you take that context, plus the wording of that statement, this means that the Cobra wireframe paintjob was a one-off special. No amount of weaseling or squirming will ever change that fact. Can we end this thread now.
So all they need to do is come up with a completely independent wireframe livery that looks almost exactly the same as the original one but has absolutely no ties to the 30th anniversary event.
I assume everyone would be okay with that then, yes? Cool, now I can get a job at FD in marketing.
I assume everyone would be okay with that then, yes? Cool, now I can get a job at FD in marketing.
If there's any limited edition where I would say they should not put it back on sale, this would be it. Because of the 30th anniversary connection which is pretty unique.
That said, I have it and I personally wouldn't mind at all if they sold it again.
I bought it mainly as a sort of thank you for Elite and to support the development of E : D, not because it was limited.
That said, I have it and I personally wouldn't mind at all if they sold it again.
I bought it mainly as a sort of thank you for Elite and to support the development of E : D, not because it was limited.
Or moved around so often that I had to store my possessions in a long term storage that flooded after a major storm. Life happens, and sometimes things get damaged or destroyed.
How about not? It is what it is, and it was billed as "Limited Edition", that's that, end of story. If FD goes back on that in any form, no one will respect them and they'll have such major PR problems, they won't recover.
The very part where you (OP) are yearning for it is the very part that makes it so exclusive and special.
Its like a trophy. A beta backer Badge to show in game to anyone who meets you.
If it got re released the point of it all would be wasted (As would the $$ I spent to get it), and a lot of people who have it would become a bit let down.
On a side note, its also a marketing strategy, and a rather clever one at that: release "limited paint scheme"- never release it again- (make sure its cool)- newer players will see it and investigate it and see that it was a limited time prize that they can no longer get= the next limited time item will fly off the shelves.
Its like a trophy. A beta backer Badge to show in game to anyone who meets you.
If it got re released the point of it all would be wasted (As would the $$ I spent to get it), and a lot of people who have it would become a bit let down.
On a side note, its also a marketing strategy, and a rather clever one at that: release "limited paint scheme"- never release it again- (make sure its cool)- newer players will see it and investigate it and see that it was a limited time prize that they can no longer get= the next limited time item will fly off the shelves.
So all they need to do is come up with a completely independent wireframe livery that looks almost exactly the same as the original one but has absolutely no ties to the 30th anniversary event.
I assume everyone would be okay with that then, yes? Cool, now I can get a job at FD in marketing.
No, that would be exactly the same as releasing it again, it would devalue it, and FD would lose respect and trust of their players.
People need to accept that it's said and done, no longer available, over, enough with the begging already, it's unbecoming adults.
I tend to agree. I think this would also put paid to the idea that there will ever be player designed livery for our ships.
It's a lot more to do with not screwing up any more of their deals and sales than it is about devaluing limited editions of virtual things imo. It's easy to make infinity more retroCobra skins, but not so easy to regain your marketing credibility to sell anything else. The flagskin return and the re-pricing of them, when people thought they were a one-off deal, was poorly handled and then poorly handled again. They managed to anger people who had bought them originally, and then borked the re-sale so people who wanted them now still lost out in some cases. Not the best store work. At this point even if they wanted to re-release the retroCobra they've now got their past handling of skin deals to come to grips with.
If they did sell it again they would really kill demand for anything 'limited' in the future so from a funding point of view it would be a bad idea.
Instead they should use this interest to create amazing new skins that are Limited edition. People will now buy them up if they know it's only a one off.
There are so many other things they can create, I think it would be bad PR if they resold it.
However they could just create a wireframe for the sidewinder to coincide with release day for £10. Much bigger market for that ship!
Instead they should use this interest to create amazing new skins that are Limited edition. People will now buy them up if they know it's only a one off.
There are so many other things they can create, I think it would be bad PR if they resold it.
However they could just create a wireframe for the sidewinder to coincide with release day for £10. Much bigger market for that ship!
I'd be very unhappy if the wireframe paintjob was released again. The limited window, tied in with the 30th anniversary of Elite, made it special. I'm glad I talked myself into spending what is, let's face it, a daft amount of money to spend on an in-game paint scheme!
To the OP, I hope Frontier makes something different, but equally as desirable in the near future.
To the OP, I hope Frontier makes something different, but equally as desirable in the near future.
