The Elite Dangerous ingame reputation system thread

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I don't think anyone expects a version release to be bug free, but after seeing a consistent pattern of server crash as a predictable consequence of an ED update, one would begin to wonder if there isn't a better way to do an update.

Just sayin...

There is! Of couse, it would mean release would have happened sometime in approximately August.... and people were already posting several threads a day asking when 1.3 would be released. The natives were getting restless you see :D
 
I thought I'd offer my services to FD. They seemed a promising development shop, and (even though I'd taken early retirement) I could bring decades of software development, project management and program coordination experience to their cause. It seemed like a mutually beneficial synergy.

So I was interested to see Ben's post here as it seems that he and I have a lot in common. And it crystallized something that had nagged at me for a while, especially recently with 1.3. At my age, and like Manfred von Richthofen, I only fight battles I can win. When I work for a company, I do so to make a positive difference to that company. But if there are forces that are too strong that oppose that, there is no point in even starting, and I'll gladly redirect my efforts to another cause - and there are surely very many such causes - where I can make a positive difference.

I find it difficult to believe there is naivety, or lack of experience or talent in FD's case, and I'm led to suspect there are other influences that are bringing avoidable shortfalls in professionalism. I wouldn't want to join a fight against that. (Been there too many times.)

In a democracy, it is not treasonous to advance an opposing view to the status quo. On the contrary, it shows a love for one's country and a desire that it become even better (though one wouldn't think so to listen to right-wing rhetoric!). It shows vision and a willingness to act. So I applaud the balanced views here that would like to see improvements in the way FD do things; they see potential and would be disappointed if an opportunity for greatness was lost.

Senex
 
I think Titus makes some valid points but a few bugs and connectivity problems just after a release isn't something that angers me very much and I tend to expect it having gone through loads of game releases and patches.,,

And therein lies the crux of the issue. The days when customers expected service provided for funds payed to be problem free are long gone. I'm 63 and I remember those days fondly. You young'uns though never got to experience it except in the very early days of PC gaming - and many of you aren't old enough to have ever experienced it.

Lowered expectations - seems to be running rampant in society today. More's the worse for society and not just gaming.
 
I don't think anyone expects a version release to be bug free, but after seeing a consistent pattern of server crash as a predictable consequence of an ED update, one would begin to wonder if there isn't a better way to do an update.

Just sayin...

Indeed - like ensuring you scale your servers up ahead of time to be able to load-balance the expected weekend rush after launch of a major update. For example.

But that requires additional resources and $$$ (usually), and if the numbers drop back down to the lower levels the following week, but those server increases are say monthly or annual contract or perhaps even permanent, and then don't get used... what is the best business decision? I know what mine would be, but it might not be the same as FDs.
 
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I know - I just meant in terms of software development process. It is still a bug, so it is not fixed.

Edit: And the fact there is an easy and quick workaround means it is likely a low priority bug, which explains why it has not been fixed. That said, it keeps cropping up again and again for many, and it would seem such a trivial fix I am not sure why they have not implemented it. Pick the low-hanging fruit first.


Yes but it's not an easy and quick fix/workaround if you don't know about it, hence my mentioning it.
 
Again you didn't read did you?

Yes I am having problems - major problems with this release. Nothing to do with the gameplay, as I'm stuck 6000ly away from Powerplay space and I can't get back as almost every jump resulted in disconnection - before the servers decided to give up completely.

It seems that everybody who is more than 2000 ly out is having these problems. I am also struggling to move at 12k ly out. Disconnects every few jumps.

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Hey guys? I don't think they'd normally release on a Friday... I think they did it this time because Friday is the day they wanted PP cycles to tick over, and they didn't want to put us through a partial cycle. I don't think it was marketing.

Then they should have told us that.
 
I dint mean to insinuate anything, especially about you. It was an anecdote. They had a free bar :)

Dont tell me they laced your tea Ben;)
and whats that about meeting Royals?...more tea & crumpet vicar:D

Good OP Titus_Balls. My take since Beta has been the money/marketing boys took over control. Its comes across as 'what will sell, what will sell quickly. Not what many of us had hoped in that the game engine/mechanics would be the driving force.

The two sides marketing and development seem out of sync? Theres not the balance needed...my opinion.
There's also a desire for quick fixes (dumbing down) to please the masses? But leaving some of the fundamentals in alpha.

I understand the need for money. I for one would have gladly shelved more money out at beta if I thought the game was going more the way I had hoped. But after the fiasco of no offline I kind'a hung back and am holding out hoping they can turn things for the better?
 
Seems like most of the serious bugs that were released in 1.3 were reported during beta and ignored. Focus less on the console ports and more on your existing customers.
 
Seems like most of the serious bugs that were released in 1.3 were reported during beta and ignored. Focus less on the console ports and more on your existing customers.

Which, sadly, has been a repeated pattern since 1.0 was released. For whatever the reason (probably multiple reasons at different times).

Edit: FWIW, my own opinion is that they have been trying to play catch up since the ill-timed early launch of 1.0 before it was really ready for prime time, and have never really caught up. The very quick development and beta cycles for the .x releases have made it close to impossible for them to do so. And with the closure of one of their offices, combined with the probable diversion of devs and QA staff to other projects, they may not.

Edit 2: It would be interesting to know how many beta testers have taken part in each .x release. If we file bugs that then are not fixed for a release, how many then get discouraged and just start using the beta to see what new cool stuff is there, rather then help out with testing?
 
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I just wonder whether the pressure to release was financial/organisational. FD's forecasts for ED run to the end of May each year. I wonder if they had planned with their board/institutional backers/major investors to release during May, then PP slipped, and beta release in May with Friday 5 June as the backstop for 'release' was agreed. This would seem to echo releasing 1.0 no matter what on Dec 16. I am not a businessman, and if I were, I'd expect DB to be cannier than me, so maybe there are bigger reasons in play than FD's good release management standing with some software engineers in the community.
 
I wish we had monthly subscription model. That'd guarantee more quality in development.
The "Friday-effect" is just like the before-Christmas release. I don't really get the idea behind this or how it is better than polishing out everything first and avoid the absolutely unnecessary partial fail and depressing feedback but maybe that's waht motivates them to pick the work up the next day. Or - as most of you say - there's that mysterious power behind their indoor powerplay which likely to have the influece to override any quality considerations and converts the devs enthusiasm into a deadline-infected work of slavery.
Best way to burn out. And of course the feedbacks don't help too.

From the last AMA it was clear to me that DB would not give firm answers for the most frequented questions touching the fundaments of the game. Not because he would not do that with all the glare in his eyes like a 5 year old child but because the "coreography" doesn't let him do that.
Sad thing for sure, the vision is in chains...
 
It's been going on far longer than that, blaming development of the Xbox One version for every bug in ED is plan wrong.

I'm not blaming the Xbox One version for the bugs, I'm blaming FD for speeding through the development cycle and beta portion of PP, and throwing out an update onto live servers that they knew had issues. Just like they did with the last update. I would bet a lot this speed demon path their on has everything to do with the Xbox version.

The new integrity "bug" for one (if it even is a bug and not just FD being indecisive again). How many millions of credits have other CMDR's probably lost? Way to many for being a live server I assume. Stuff like that is just silly this late in the game.
 
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The "Friday-effect" is just like the before-Christmas release. I don't really get the idea behind this or how it is better than polishing out everything first and avoid the absolutely unnecessary partial fail and depressing feedback ...

I wonder when the next quarterly stock exchange report is due? And what influence that has on release dates?
 
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I wish we had monthly subscription model. That'd guarantee more quality in development.

Honestly bro, they would need a TON more content to run a subscription model, and the game would've probably needed another year or more in beta. If they tried to go with a sub model right now, that thing would go F2P within 6 months if not less.
 
Honestly bro, they would need a TON more content to run a subscription model, and the game would've probably needed another year or more in beta. If they tried to go with a sub model right now, that thing would go F2P within 6 months if not less.

I'm afraid so.
But it's only theoretical of course, as we have the one-time entrance fee. Which doesn't make the devs cater to those who already paid.
I'm curious though how the planned paid expansions will sell and whether it reflects the quality or the fanatism of "let's support FD to have a great game". Both valid, both will generate revenue so FD gets the chunk.
Will the players?

Right now I'm not unhappy or so but I know I would pay monthly for a great Elite remake if it really fascinates me and the effort to make it even better would be more genuine from both parties than as it is now.
 
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Subscription and im outa here. I bought a non subscription game, but that's another road to go down and a whole other multitude of posts.

I'm a bit undecided on that. I got premium beta, which means that everything is paid for. And that shows in Frontier's attitude.
Apart from my self-imposed embargo on ship skins, there isn't much I can do to withhold money from them etc.
If it were subscription based, I could just cancel and that would be an incentive for FD to do a better job.
 
Honestly bro, they would need a TON more content to run a subscription model, and the game would've probably needed another year or more in beta. If they tried to go with a sub model right now, that thing would go F2P within 6 months if not less.

I'm a bit undecided on that. I got premium beta, which means that everything is paid for. And that shows in Frontier's attitude.
Apart from my self-imposed embargo on ship skins, there isn't much I can do to withhold money from them etc.
If it were subscription based, I could just cancel and that would be an incentive for FD to do a better job.

Subscription and im outa here. I bought a non subscription game, but that's another road to go down and a whole other multitude of posts.

There is an optional subscription model, it's called Skins. There is enough on there that every player could pay £5-10 a month to give additional money, at least in return for "content". Beyond that, they don't need a forced subscription model.

The problem for me is being thousands of LYs away from anywhere, there is no point in me buying any right now as I can't even apply them. Oh for having mobile depots in this game ;) Secondly, the game is so unstable right now I'd rather go spend that £10 down the pub.

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I wonder when the next quarterly stock exchange report is due? And what influence that has on release dates?

Ahh I think you might be on to something....

http://www.frontier.co.uk/investor_relations/reports/news/?artid=476&pageNum=0&blk=275:



Years ending 31 May 2015 2016 2017

Online game ‘base’ scenario Units sold 0.25m 1.0m 2.0m
Revenue £2.5m £10.0m £20.0m

Online game ‘mid’ scenario Units sold 0.50m 2.0m 8.0m
Revenue £5.0m £20.0m £80.0m

Online game ‘bull’ scenario Units sold 0.75m 4.0m 30.0m
Revenue £7.5m £40.0m £300.0m
 
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There is an optional subscription model, it's called Skins. There is enough on there that every player could pay £5-10 a month to give additional money, at least in return for "content".

As I said, payments for skins are already on hold from my side. It remains Frontiers decision to stop disappointing me and come up with something that is worth paying for.

I agree with the pub spending though ;-).
 
They'll have to produce some better skins before I buy anymore. I'm not paying for the simple plain colour ones they've been offering lately, the last one I've actually liked was the Onionhead one for the Cobra (and the less said about the non-chrome chrome the better).
 
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